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THE 


HISTORY  AND  ANTIQUITIES 


or 


BOSTON, 


THE   CAPITAL    OP   MASSACHUSETTS   AND   METROPOLIS   OF   NEW   ENGLAND, 


FROM  ITS  SETTLEMENT  IN  1630,  TO  THE  YEAR  1770. 


ALSO, 


^n  IntMfottctffrg  fistotg 


DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT   OF   NEW  ENGLAND. 


WITH  NOTES,  CRITICAL  AND  ILLUSTRATIVE. 


By    SAMUEL    G.JDRAKE,    A.M., 

MEMBER   OF   THE   ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   NORTHERN    ANTIQUARIES  AT   COPENHAGEN,  CORRESPONDING   SECRETARY   OP 
THE   NEW   ENGLAND   HISTORICAL   AND   GENEALOGICAL   SOCIETY,    AND    HONORARY  AND    CORRESPOND- 
ING MEMBER   OF   THE   NEW  HAMPSHIRE,   RHODE    ISLAND,   CONNECTICUT,   NEW   YORK, 
PENNSYLVANIA   AND    MARYLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETIES,   ETC.   ETC. 


BOBTOtt  COLLEGE  LTHRAKf 

CHESTNUT  HILL,  MASS, 
BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED    BY    LUTHER    STEYENS, 

186    WASHINGTON    STREET. 

1856. 


Ti  .1 

,077 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  numbers,  during  the  years  1852,  1853,  1851,  1855,  and  1856,  by 

SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Btuieo*/p«d  Kjr 

HOBART   b  BOBBINS, 

If**  England  Type  and  Btereotyps  Founder?, 

BOSTON. 


ALLEGE  LIBRARY 

.STNUTHILL,  MA 02167 


PREFACE. 


THE  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston,  to  the 
year  1770,  is  now  completed,  and  must  abide  the 
judgment  of  posterity.  Whatever  that  judgment 
may  be,  the  writer  will  rest  conscious  of  having 
performed  a  service  which  will  prove  of  some 
value  to  those  who  desire  to  obtain  a  knowledge 
of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Metropolis  of  New 
England. 

Although  above  five-and-twenty  years  have  passed 
since  the  author  began  to  collect  materials  for  the 
work,  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  he  determined  to 
draw  up  a  history  from  them,  never  before  having  found  a  proper  time 
to  devote  to  it.  At  length,  after  some  changes  of  circumstances  not 
necessary  to  be  detailed,  he  was  induced,  "partly  through  the  influ- 
ence of  friends  in  whose  judgment  he  had  much  confidence,  to  enter 
upon  the  composition  of  the  work. 

About  four  years  ago,  application  was  made  to  the  writer  to  edit 
an  edition  of  the  work  of  Dr.  Caleb  H.  Snow,  and  arrangements 
were  accordingly  entered  into  with  a  bookseller  for  that  purpose  ; 
but,  on  a  cursory  examination  of  the  work,  it  was  found  to  be  very 
far  from  such  a  history  of  the  City  as  ought  to  be  expected  at  the 
present  day,  and  that  it  could  not  be  made  at  all  satisfactory,  even 
by  encumbering  it  with  very  extensive  annotations,  owing  to  the 
great  chasms  in  the  original  text.  This  being  represented  to  the 
undertaker,  he  at  once  changed  his  plan,  and  a  new  History  was 
determined  upon.  The  result  is  at  length  before  the  public,  or  that 
part  of  it  previous  to,  and  including  a  portion  of,  the  year  1770. 

As  unthankful  and  unprofitable  as  the  task  of  a  local  historian  is, 
he  cannot  always  escape  the  envy  of  sordid  and  narrow  minds.  Even 
John  Stow,  the  famous  Chronicler  of  England,  had  his  envious  tra- 
ducers ;  but  it  is  pleasant  to  reflect,  that,  while  their  names  are 
quite  forgotten,  that  of  Stow  is  becoming  more  and  more  renowned 


IV  PREFACE. 

and  resplendent.  Those  who  would  monopolize  all  knowledge  seldom 
excel  in  any  of  its  departments,  though  they  may  shine  for  a  time 
with  the  borrowed  lustre  of  others.  Stow  was  not  deterred  by  threats 
and  intimidations  from  occupying  ground  open  to  all.  Had  he  been, 
the  world  would  have  been  deprived  of  one  of  its  greatest  antiquarian 
treasures. 

The  author  of  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston  hopes  to  fare 
no  worse  than  did  his  ancient  brother,  the  Chronicler  of  London,  who 
had  the  privilege  of  dying  in  poverty,  notwithstanding  "James,  by 
the  grace  of  God,"  gave  him  high-sounding  "  Letters  Patent," 
allowing  him  ("  then  on  the  verge  of  his  80th  year  ")  to  sell  as  many 
of  his  books  as  he  could  !  Fortunately,  in  the  present  undertaking, 
no  "  Letters  Patent "  are  necessary  to  give  permission  to  the  author 
or  publisher  to  dispose  of  his  work. 

How  many  persons  have  had  it  in  contemplation  to  write  a  History 
of  Boston  is  unknown  to  the  author ;  but  the  only  one,  probably, 
who,  within  the  last  thirty  years,  has  seriously  thought  of  it,  was  Mr. 
Alonzo  Lewis.  That  gentleman  was  very  competent  for  the  task, 
and  had  he  been  at  liberty  to  prosecute  it,  agreeably  to  his  announce- 
ment about  twenty-five  years  ago,  it  would  have  rendered  this  under- 
taking unnecessary. 

Respecting  those  persons  who  have  specially  aided  the  author,  by 
the  loan  of  documents,  suggestions,  or  otherwise,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  speak  without  incurring  the  charge  of  partiality,  and  he  would 
therefore  observe  that  nothing  can  be  further  from  his  intention  than 
to  give  the  slightest  ground  for  such  a  charge.  Several  of  the  gen- 
tlemen hereafter  named,  having,  perhaps,  too  much  confidence  in  the 
author's  ability  for  the  undertaking,  strongly  recommended  to  him  the 
preparation  of  a  new  work,  instead  of  spending  time  upon  one  neces- 
sarily very  defective,  and  which  could  not  be  made  such  a  History  of 
Boston  as  the  present  time  required.  These  were  honest  convictions 
and  valid  arguments,  the  author  acknowledged,  and  all  without  any 
intention  of  disparagement  to  the  works  which  had  hitherto  appeared 
upon  the  historical  and  descriptive  condition  of  the  City ;  those  works 
being  presumed  to  have  been  all  that  the  times  would  warrant  in 
which  they  were  produced. 

The  names  of  several  of  the  gentlemen  to  whom  allusion  has  been 
made,  as  encouragers  of  this  work,  the  author  does  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  omit,  namely,  William  "Whiting,  Esq.,  President  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Historical  and  Genealogical  Society  ;  the  Hon.  Timothy  Farrar, 
Vice-President   of  the    same    society  ;    the   Hon.    Francis   Brinley, 


PREFACE.  V 

Recording  Secretary  of  the  same  ;  Mr.  John  Dean,  its  Treasurer  ; 
ILon.  George  S.  Hillard,  Frederic  Kidder,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  W. 
Parker  of  Roxbury  ;  the  lion.  David  Soars,  Mr.  John  F.  Eliot, 
Mr.  Edward  Tuckerman,  Mr.  William  B.  Trask,  Dr.  William  Jenks, 
Dr.  Charles  Lowell,  Nathaniel  I.  Bowditch,  Esq.,  T.  L.  Turner,  M.D., 
Mr.  James  S.  Loring,  and  William  G.  Brooks,  Esq.  From  these,  and 
likewise  from  many  others,  much  kindness  has  been  received  in  vari- 
ous ways  ;  and,  for  their  approval  and  commendation  of  the  work 
from  time  to  time,  as  portions  of  it  have  appeared,  the  author  tenders 
to  them,  one  and  all,  his  unfeigned  gratitude.  To  one  of  those  above 
named,  however,  a  more  special  acknowledgment  is  due,  namely, 
to  Mr.  John  Dean,  by  whose  quick  perceptions  and  ready  memory  the 
author  has  been  much  benefited  throughout  his  labors.  The  valuable 
aid  of  the  friends  referred  to,  although  in  almost  every  instance  ten- 
dered unsolicited,  is  not  the  less  appreciated  by  the  author.  Nor 
should  the  laborious  services  of  Mr.  Isaac  Child,  upon  the  extensive 
Index  to  this  work,  be  passed  over  without  particular  acknowledg- 
ment. 

As  the  work  has  appeared  in  parts,  or  numbers,  it  may  be  of  use 
to  specify  the  time  of  the  appearance  of  those  parts,  in  the  event 
that  questions  may  arise  as  to  the  work  in  which  certain  facts  first 
appeared.  The  following  statement  is  therefore  given,  which  can 
easily  be  verified  by  the  books  of  the  publisher  :  Part  I.,  including 
pages  1  to  48,  was  issued  Sept.  1st,  1852  ;  pages  49  to  96,  Jan.  6th, 
1853  ;  97  to  144,  March  22d,  1853  ;  145  to  192,  May  26th,  1853  ; 
193 'to  240,  July  25th,  1853  ;  241  to  288,  Sept.  23d,  1853  ;  289 
to  336,  Dec.  10th,  1853;  337  to  384,  March  17th,  1854;  385  to 
432,  June  13th,  1854  ;  433  to  480,  Sept.  18th,  1854  ;  481  to  528, 
Dec.  12th,  1854  ;  529  to  576,  March  13th,  1855  ;  577  to  624, 
June  11th,  1855  ;  625  to  672,  Nov.  14th,  1855  ;  673  to  720,  Feb. 
11th,  1856  ;   721  to  768,  April  2d,  1856. 

Some  account  of  the  materials  used  in  compiling  the  work  may  be 
expected  ;  but,  as  justice  cannot  be  done  to  that  subject  within  the 
compass  of  a  Preface,  it  is  thought  best  to  pass  it  by  with  only  a 
remark  or  two.  The  Town  Records,  from  the  time  of  their  com- 
mencement in  1634,  are  the  most  important,  being  full  and  perfect 
from  that  date  to  the  present  time.  To  these  the  author  has  had  free 
access,  granted,  in  the  most  obliging  manner,  by  the  Mayors  of  the 
City  for  the  time  being,  the  City  Clerk,  and  others  connected  with 
his  office.  Beyond  the  Records  in  the  keeping  of  the  City  Clerk,  and 
the  author's  own  collections,  very  little  assistance  has  been  received 


VI  PREFACE. 

besides  that  for  which  due  acknowledgment  is  given  in  the  notes  to 
the  work. 

It  will  readily  he  perceived  that  to  give  an  account  of  the  materials 
consulted  by  the  author,  which  have  been  collected  by  him  through  a 
period  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  would  be  a  task  not 
easily  performed.  As  one  item,  however,  his  series  of  pamphlets 
may  be  mentioned.  These  alone  number  above  five  thousand,  con- 
sisting of  Town  and  City  Documents,  Reports  of  Societies,  Historical 
Discourses,  Hand-Bills,  and,  in  short,  everything  of  a  fugitive  char- 
acter, which  might  in  any  way  illustrate  the  History  of  the  Town  and 
City.  To  these,  and  a  large  collection  of  Newspapers,  which  have 
been  laboriously  consulted,  the  author  is  much  indebted. 

Respecting  the  works  of  the  late  Dr.  Snow,  printed  and  manuscript, 
put  into  the  author's  hands  by  the  original  undertaker,  it  is  proper  to 
remark  that,  having  laid  aside  the  plan  of  a  new  edition  of  that 
author's  History  of  Boston,  those  materials  have  been  of  but  very 
little  service  in  this  work. 

Jhe  author  has  been  earnestly  urged  by  numerous  friends  to  con- 
tinue his  work  to  the  present  time,  and  his  inclination  is  to  do  so ; 
but,  as  yet,  no  definite  arrangement  has  been  made  for  that  purpose. 
It  may  be  said  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  public.  An  immense  outlay 
has  been  made  to  produce  the  present  volume,  for  which  no  adequate 
return  has  yet  been  realized.  To  bring  the  History  down  to  near  the 
present  time,  another  volume  of  the  same  size  as  the  present  would 
be  required,  the  materials  for  which  are  abundant. 

As  the  work  has  been  upwards  of  three  years  in  passing  through 
the  press,  some  of  its  patrons  may  have  become  impatient  to  see  the 
end  of  it,  and  some  may  have  been  misinformed  as  to  the  time  it 
would  take  to  complete  it.  It  is  therefore  proper  to  state  that  no  time 
for  its  completion  was  set,  nor  could  it  be  with  any  degree  of  cer- 
tainty. This  it  is  thought  necessary  to  bear  in  mind,  because  some 
of  the  agents  engaged  in  its  distribution  may  have  made  promises 
without  any  authority. 

In  presenting  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston  to  the  public, 
the  author  is  far  from  presuming  that  it  will  be  found  perfect.  All 
he  pretends  is,  that  he  has  endeavored  to  make  it  as  near  so  as  the 
nature  of  the  undertaking,  and  the  limits  prescribed,  allowed.  He  is 
well  aware  that  numerous  facts  exist  of  much  interest,  of  which  notice 
could  not  be  taken,  notwithstanding  there  may  be  those  who  will 
wonder  that  so  much  has  been  found,  and  others  may  be  disposed  to 
complain  of  the  unwieldy  size  of  the  volume.     To  them  it  may  be 


PREFACE.  VII 

said  that  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the  Histories  has  not  kept  pace 
with  the  growth  of  the  City,  and  that  it  cannot  be  doubted,  but,  by 
the  end  of  another  quarter  of  a  century,  one  will  be  required  much 
larger  than  the  present.  Most  readers  of  local  history  of  the  present 
age  are  not  satisfied  with  general  statements;  they  want  minute 
details,  those  which  will  bring  scenes  and  events  home  to  their 
minds,  and  awaken  associations  enlivened  by  their  own  experience. 

As  it  respects  the  commission  of  errors,  the  author  would  expressly 
state  that  he  is  well  aware  that  many  exist  in  his  work  ;  and  that, 
however  many,  others  may  detect,  he  feels  quite  sure  that  no  one  can 
discover  as  many  as  himself.  But,  at  the  same  time,  he  believes  his 
work  to  be  quite  as  free  from  them  as  any  other  historical  work  of 
the  same  magnitude.  There  are  those  who  sometimes  acquire  among 
the  superficial  a  reputation  for  knowledge  and  accuracy  by  carping 
at  every  error,  or  supposed  error,  pointed  out  to  them  in  works  of  this 
kind  ;  while  the  same  individual  could  not  produce  a  single  octavo 
page  without  such  blemishes.  Who  ever  saw  a  perfect  book, —  one 
free  from  errors  ?  Curious  stories  are  told  about  immaculate  typog- 
raphy and  amateur  printers.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  Magnalia, 
has  some  very  good  hints  for  those  who  would  have  it  understood 
that  errors  in  a  book  are  unpardonable  sins. 

It  may  incur  the  charge  of  vanity  for  an  author  to  append  to  his 
name  his  honors  or  titles  ;  but  if  a  long  period  of  labor  in  historical 
fields  can  be  any  excuse,  that  may  be  offered  in  this  instance  ;  for  it 
is  above  thirty  years  since  the  writer  commenced  his  historical  and 
antiquarian  labors,  and  he  has  now  reached  the  fifty-seventh  of  his  age. 
This  may  be  considered  an  unnecessary  apology  for  adopting  an  ancient 
custom,  especially  as  there  are  some  instances,  at  the  present  time, 
of  ostentatious  displays  of  this  kind  to  names  in  works  to  which  even 
a  claim  to  editorship  may  be  questionable. 


ENGRAVINGS. 


Portraits 39 

Autographs, 134 

Others 125_ 

Whole  number, 298 


Adams  (arms), 675 

Adams,  Matthew  (autograph),       675 

Adams,  Samuel  (autograph), 613 

Adams,  Samuel  (portrait), 671 

Addington,  Isaac  (autograph), 472 

Andros,  Edmund  (autograph), 477 

Appleton  (arms), 765 

Appleton,  Samuel  (autograph), 411 

Aspiuwall,  William  (autograph),  • 225 

Author  (arms), in 

Author  (autograph), vn 

Belcher  (arms), 607 

Belcher,  Jonathan  (portrait), 585 

Belcher  (autograph), 607 

Belliugham  (arms),       178 

Bellingham,  Richard  (autograph), 257 

Bernard,  Francis  (autograph), 654 

Bilboes, 114 

Blackstone's  Residence, 97 

Boyle,  Hon.  Robert  (portrait),      317 

Boylstou,  Zabdiel  (autograph), 726 

Boys,  Antipas  (autograph), 340 

Bradford  (arms), 231 

Bradford,  William  (autograph), 132 

Bradstreet  (arms), 446 

Bradstreet,  Anne  (autograph), 446 

Bradstreet,  Simon  (autograph), 446 

Bradstreet,  Simon  (portrait), 512 

Brattle  (arms), 369 

Brattle-street  Church, 519 

Brattle,  Thomas  (autograph), 388 

Brenton  (arms), 328 

Brinley  (arms),     .    .  - 718 

Brinley,  Francis  (autograph), 718 

Bromfield,  Edward  (autograph), 598 

Broughton,  Thomas  (autograph), 341 

Bulfinch  (arms), 663 

Burnet  (arms), 578 

Burnet,  William  (portrait), 581 

Burroughs,  Francis  (autograph), 595 

Byfleld  (arms),      592 

Byfield,  Nathaniel  (autograph), 481 

Cabot,  Sebastian  (portrait), 2 

Calfe,  Robert  (autograph), 568 

Cartier,  James  (portrait), 5 

Catholic  Costume, 104 

Chaffe,  Matthew  (autograph), 243 

Charles  Second  (portrait), 451 

Chauncy  (arms), 393 

Checkley  (arms), 459 

Checkley,  Anthony  (autograph), 459 

Chesebrough,  William  (autograph), 126 

Christ  Church, 567 

Church,  Benjamin  (autograph), 398 

Clarke,  Thomas  (autograph), 454 

Clarke,  Thomas  (autograph), 341 

Coddington,  William  (autograph), 118 

Coins  of  Massachusetts, 330 

Colbron,  William  (autograph), 285 

Colman,  Benjamin  (portrait), 543 

Colony  Seal, 472 

Conant,  Roger  (autograph), 139 

Cooke,  Elisha  (autograph), 484 

Cooke,  Richard  (autograph), 340 

Cooper,  Samuel  (portrait), 670 

Cotton  (arms), 157 

Cotton,  John  (portrait), , 158 


Cotton,  John  (autograph), 161 

Corwin,  Jonathan  (autograph), 500 

Cutting,  John  (autograph), 340 

Daille,  Pierre  (autograph), 488 

Davenport  (arms), 426 

Davenport  defacing  the  Cross, 168 

Davenport,  John  (portrait), 76 

Davenport,  Nathaniel  (autograph), 413 

Davis,  John  (autograph), 243 

Davis,  William  (autograph), 340 

Deane,  Thomas  (autograph), 371 

Diving-bell; 257 

Douglass,  William  (autograph), 623 

Drake,  Sir  Francis  (autograph), 8 

Dry  Goods,  sign  of,  1757, 642 

Dudley  (arms), 137 

Dudley,  Joseph  (autograph), 473 

Dudley,  Joseph  (portrait), 472 

Dudley,  Thomas  (autograph), 123 

Dunton,  John  (autograph), 595 

Eliot  (arms), 313 

Endicott  (arms), 115 

Endicott,  John  (autograph), 56 

Endicott,  John  (portrait), 58 

Fac  Simile  of  Records, 173 

Faneuil  Hall,      611 

Faneuil,  Peter  (autograph), 536 

Fayerweather,  John  (autograph), 600 

Federal-street  Church, 576 

First  Baptist  Church, 433 

First  Church, 548 

Flag  of  New  England, 330 

Fording  a  River, 146 

Foster,  John  (autograph), 538 

Eoxcroft  (arms), 4S7 

Fuller,  Samuel  (autograph), 14a 

Gage,  Thomas  (autograph), 750 

Gage,  Thomas  (portrait), 750 

Gallop,  John  (autograph), 243 

Gedney,  Bartholomew  (autograph), 499 

Georgian, 290 

Gilbert,  Sir  Humphrey  (portrait), 9 

Gookin  (arms),     27^ 

Gookin,  Daniel  (autograph), 281 

Gorges  (arms), 292 

Gorges,  Sir  Ferdinando  (autograph), 54 

Great  House,  Charlestown, 106 

11 

681 
673 
681 
499 
166 
647 
410 
72i 
590 
414 
289 
452 
52 
417 
218 
406 
526 


Hakluyt,  Richard  (autograph), 

Hancock  House, 

Hancock,  John  (portrait), 

Hancock,  Thomas  (autograph), 

Hathorne,  John  (autograph), 

Haynes  (arms), 

Henchman  (arms), 

Henchman,  Daniel  (autograph), 

Hieroglyphics, 

Hollis-street  Church, 

Hubbard,  William  (autograph), 

Hudson,  William  (autograph), 

Hull,  John  (autograph),      

Humphrey,  John  (autograph), 

Hunting,  Samuel  (autograph), 

Hutchinson  (arms), 

Hutchinson,  Edward  (autograph), 324, 

Hutchinson,  Ephraim  (autograph), 


ENGRAVINGS. 


Hutchinson,  Thomas  {autograph), 7C1 

Hutchinson,  Thomas  (portrait), 701 

Indians,  first  interview  with,     83 

Indian  Fort, 45 

Indians  visit  Boston, 121 

Indian  Wigwam, 40 

Jacklene,  Edmund  (autograph), 243 

Jackson,  Edmund  (autograph), 243 

Johnson,  Isaac  (autograph), 404 

Johnson,  James  (autograph), 243 

Joylifie  (arms), 509 

King's  Chapel, 470 

Knollys,  Hanserd  (portrait), 254 

Lake,  Thomas  (autograph), 340 

Leverett,  John  (portrait), 289 

Loom, 272 

Lowell  (arms), 749 

Lynde  (arms), 544 

Lynde,  Joseph  (autograph), • 526 

Mather,  Cotton  (autograph), 579 

Mather,  Cotton  (portrait), 579 

Mather,  Increase  (autograph), 448 

Mather,  Increase  (portrait), 448 

Mayhew,  Jonathan  (portrait), 666 

Meeting-house,  First, 104 

Meeting-house, 142 

Miantonimo's  execution, 274 

Monument  to  Ven, 67 

Mountfort  (arms), 522 

Mosley  (arms), 408 

Mosley,  Samuel  (autograph), 402 

Mylom,  John  (autograph), 243 

Negus,  Jonathan  (autograph),  . 243 

Nelson,  John  (autograph), 540 

New  North  Church, 547 

New  South  Church, 552 

Ninigret  (portrait), 215 

Old  South  Church, 386 

Old  State  House, 350 

Old  Store,  Dock  Square, 435 

Oliver  (arms), 300 

Oliver,  James  (autograph), 293,  340 

Oliver,  John  (autograph), 243 

Oliver,  Peter  (autograph), 341 

Otis  (arms), 692 

Otis,  James  (portrait), 667 

Paddy,  'William  (autograph), 340 

Parker,  Richai-d  (autograph), 340 

Parsons  (arms), 555 

Pateshall,  Robert  (autograph), 341 

Penn,  James  (autograph),     '. 390 

Pequot  Fort,  stormed, 208 

Philip  (King)  (autograph), 387 

Philip,  King  (portrait), .388 

Pillory, 437 

Poole,  Jonathan  (autograph), 411 

Poole,  William  (autograph), 341 

Pownall  (arms), 654 

Pownall,  Gov.  Thomas  (autograph), 654 

Pownall,  Gov.  Thomas  (portrait), 644 

Powning,  Henry  (autograph), 341 

Prat,  Benjamin  (autograph), 714 

Pratt,  Phinehas  (autograph), 41 

Primitive  House, 61 

Prince  (arms), 637 

Prince,  Thomas  (autograph), 156 

Prince,  Thomas  (portrait), 646 

Printer,  James  (autograph), 422 

Printing  Press, 242 

Protestant  Costume, 104 

Purchis,  Oliver  (autograph), 371 

Pynchon,  John  (autograph), 454 

Pynchon,  William  (autograph), 90 

Pyramid, 722 

Quincy  (arms), 495 

Randolph,  Edward  (autograph), 443 

Raynsford,  Edward  (autograph) 335 

Khode  Island  Captives, 276 

Rovve,  Owen  (autograph), 194 

Russell  (arms),      354 

Russell,  Richard  (autograph), 355 


Sailing  of  the  First  Colony, 56 

Sailing  of  the  Mary  and  John, 78 

Sailing  of  the  Second  Colony, 80 

Saltonstall,  Nathaniel  (autograph), 447 

Savage  (arms), 401 

Savage,  Thomas  (autograph), 403 

Scotto,  Joshua  (autograph), 243 

Scottow  (arms), 349 

Sears  (arms), 733 

Second  Church, 311 

Sergeant,  Peter  (autograp  h), 512 

Sewall,  Samuel  (autograph), 501 

Sewall,  Samuel  (portrait), 500 

Shawmut, 51 

Ship  of  1594, 1 

Ship  of  1620, 17 

Shirley  (arms), 627 

Shirley,  William  (portrait), 63i) 

Shirley,  William  (autograph), 628 

Shrimpton,  Samuel  (autograph), 511 

Shute,  Gov.  Samuel  (autograph), 557 

Smith,  Capt.  John  (portrait), 19 

Spinningwheel, 266 

Spinningwheel,       560 

Stamp  (Colonial), 639 

Stamp  of  the  Stamp  Act  (half-penny), 689 

Stamp  of  the  Stamp  Act  (five  shillings), 715 

Standish,  Miles  (autograph), 43 

Stationer's  Sign, 566 

St.  Botolph's  Church, 103 

Stocks, 246 

Stone  Chapel, 472 

Stoughton  (arms), 210 

Stoughton,  Israel  (autograph), 214 

Stoughton,  William  (autograph), 501 

Stoughton,  William  (portrait), 524 

Tailer,  William  (autograph), 551 

Thacher  (arms), 385 

Thomas,  JZva.n,(autograph), 340 

Townsend,  Penn  (autograph), 486 

Traske,  William  (autograph), 57 

Triangular  Warehouse, 174 

Trimountain, 99 

Trinity  Church 583 

Turen,  George  (autograph), 243 

Turner  (arms), 416 

Turner,  William  (autograph), 418 

Tuttell,  Richard  (autograph), 243 

Underhill  (arms), 197 

Upsall,  Nicholas  (autograph), 345 

Usher,  Hezekiah  (autograph), 340 

Vane  (arms), 188 

Vane,  Sir  Henry  (portrait), 186 

Verazzani,  John  (portrait), 4 

View  of  Boston  1630, 150 

View  by  Pownal, 655 

View  by  Revere, 747 

View  in  1S53,  to  face  title. 

View  in  1853,  of  vicinity,  to  face  p.  I. 

Walking  in  great  boots, 321 

Warren  (arms), 707 

Wendell  (arms), 619 

West  Church, 601 

Wheeler,  Thomas  (autograph), 406 

Wheelwright  (arms), 435 

Wheelwright,  John  (autograph), 220 

Whiting  (arms), 332 

Willard  (arms), 533 

Willard,  Samuel  (portrait), 533 

William  and  Mary  (portraits), 685 

Williams,  Roger  (autograph), 117 

Willis,  Nicholas  (autograph), 243 

Willoughby,  (arms), 375 

Winslow  (arms), 339 

Winslow,  Edward  (autograph), 210 

Wilson,  John  (autograph), 93 

Wilson,  John  {portrait), 98 

Winter  Scene  at  Shawmut, 101 

Winthrop  (arms), 128 

Winthrop,  John  (autograph), 70 

Winthrop,  John  (portrait), 314 

Winthrop,  John  Jr.  (autograph), 151 

Winthrop,  John,  Jr.  (portrait), 151 

Witches, ." 322 

Wussausmon  (autograph), 397 


!E&f£i&& sobsid  y  on wjl&k&§>  mim.'  oiir  dw ib  dut  on  a 


&;;. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Boston,  the  Metropolis  of  a  vast  Country.  —  Events  which  led  to  its  Settlement.  —  Cabot's  Discoveries. 
—  Influence  of  Columbus.  —  Spanish  and  French  Enterprise.  —  Cortereal.  —  Aubert.  —  Verazzam's 
Discoveries  —  Their  Importance.  —  Cartier.  —  DeMont's  Discoveries.  —  Hawkins.  —  Hoare.  — 
Frobisher.—  Hakluyt.  —  Robert  Thorn.  —  School  of  Discovery.  —  Overthrow  of  the  Spanish  Ar- 
mada. —  English  Energy  transferred  to  America. 

The  vast  tract  of  country,  of  which  Boston  is  the  most  important  place 
or  metropolis,  if  New  York  be  excepted,  seems  first*  to  have  been 
known  to  the  French  with  far  greater  accuracy  than 
to  the  people  of  any  other  European  nation.  It  is 
true  the  Cabotsf  were  before  the  French  in  the 
American  seas,  in  point  of  time,  or  the  seas  of  this 
New  World,  (for  it  was  before  Americus  had  con- 
ferred his  name  upon  the  continent),  but  there  is  no 
evidence  that  they  ever  landed  anywhere  on  the 
North  American  coast,  although  it  is  probably  true 
ttIp  of  1594.  t  that  Sebastian  Cabot,  in  his  voyage  of  1498,  by  some 

means  not  now  known,  secured  two  or  three  of  the  natives  of  the  north- 
ern parts,  supposed  to  be  Newfoundland,  whom  he  conveyed  to  England. § 
Upon  Cabot's  discoveries,  it  may  gratify  the  curious  reader  to  see  a 


*  It  requires  more  credulity,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  writer,  than  a  historian  should  be  pos- 
sessed of,  to  recount  in  his  text  the  vague  sto- 
ries of  the  discoveries  and  possessions  of  the 
Scandinavians  or  Northmen  along  the  shores  of 
New  England.  If  they  deserve  notice  anywhere, 
it  should  not  be  in  a  work  of  higher  pretensions 
than  one  which  might  be  well  entitled  "  Specu- 
lative History." 

f  In  1497,  John  Cabot  and  his  son  Sebastian, 
at  their  own  expense,  discovered  land  far  to  the 
north.  Neither  Columbus  nor  Vespucius  had 
yet  seen  North  America.  Thus  did  this  voyage 
of  the  Cabots  give  England  its  original  claim  to 
the  New  World,  such  as  it  was.  But  it  was  in 
a  second  voyage  that  Sebastian  Cabot  ranged 
this  coast  from  about  57°  north,  to  the  latitude 
of  the  "  Fretumllerculeum,"  according  to  Peter 
Martyr ;  that  is,  to  about  36°  N.  lat.    See,  also, 


Stow's  Chronicle,  805,  ed.  1600  ;  or  p.  480. 
ed.  1631. 

J  This  is  a  perfectly  correct  representation  of 
an  armed  ship  of  the  armada  age,  as  published 
in  Blundevile's  treatise  on  "  Nauigation,"  4to. 
1594. 

§  Lord  Bacon,  at  the  end  of  his  "  History  of 
the  Keign  of  Henry  the  Seventh,"  devotes  two 
pages  to  '■'■The  Remarkable  Occurrences  "  in  that 
reign.  "This  year,  the  seventeenth  of  this 
king's  reign  [which  chronology  is  erroneous], 
Sebastian  Cabot  brought  three  Indians  into  Eng 
land.  They  were  clothed  in  beasts'  skins,  and 
eat  raw  flesh.  Two  of  them  were  seen  two 
years  after,  dressed  like  Englishmen,  and  not  to 
be  distinguished  from  them."  See,  also,  Pur- 
chas,  738,  ed.  1614.  Robert  Fabian  in  Hakluyt, 
515,'  ed.  1589.  Works,  Hakluyt  Son.  for  1850, 
p.  23. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1497. 


SEBASTIAN    CABOT. 


few  other  particulars  in  this  place  ;   they  therefore  follow,  as  Sebastian 

himself  related  them  :  *  "  When 
my  father,"  he  writes,  "departed 
from  Venice  many  yeeres  since  to 
dwell  in  England,  to  follow  the 
trade  of  merchandizes,  he  tooke 
me  with  him  to  the  citie  of 
London,  while  I  was  very  yong, 
yet  hauing,  neuerthelesse,  some 
knowledge  of  letters,  of  humanity, 
and  of  the  sphere. f  And  when 
my  father  died  in  that  time  when 
newes  were  brought  that  Don 
Christofer  Colonus  Genuese  [Co- 
lumbus] had  discovered  the  coasts 
of  India,  whereof  was  great  talke 
in  all  the  court  of  king  Henry  the 
Seventh,  who  then  raignecl,  inso- 
much that  all  men  with  great  admiration  affirmed  it  to  bee  a  thing  more 
diuine  than  humane,  to  saile  by  the  West  into  the  East  where  spices 
growe,  by  a  way  that  was  neuer  known  before  ;  by  this  fame  and  report 
there  increased  in  my  heart  a  great  flame  of  desire  to  attempt  some 
notable  thing.  And  vnderstanding  by  reason  of  the  Sphere,  that  if  I 
should  saile  by  way  of  the  Northwest  winde,  I  should  by  a  shorter  tract 
come  into  India,  I  thereupon  caused  the  king  to  be  aduertised  of  my 
deuise,  who  immediatly  commaunclecl  two  Cam  els  J  to  bee  furnished 
with  all  things  appertaining  to  the  voiage,  which  was,  as  farre  as  I 
remember,  in  the  yeere  1496,  in  the  begining  of  Sommer.  §  I  began 
therefore  to  saile  toward  the  Northwest,  not  thinking  to  find  any  other 
land  than  that  of  Cathay,  and  from  thence  to  turne  towards  India,  but 
after  certaine  clayes  I  found  that  the  land  ranne  towards  the  North, 
which  was  to  me  a  great  displeasure.  Neuerthelesse,  sailing  along  the 
coast  to  see  if  I  could  find  any  gulfe  that  turned,  I  found  the  land  still 
continued  to  the  56  deg.  vnder  our  pole.  And  seeing  that  there  the  coast 
turned  toward  the  East,  despairing  to  find  the  passage,  I  turned  back 
again,  and  sailed  down  by  the  coast  of  that  land  towards  the  Equinoc- 
tiall  (ever  with  intent  to  find  the  said  passage  to  India),  and  came  to 


*  To  Galeacius  Butrigarius,  the  Pope's  Le- 
gate in  Spain,  in  Hakluyt,  512,  ed.  1589.  But 
it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  passage  ex- 
tracted in  the  text  is  somewhat  erroneous  in 
several  particulars,  but  not  affecting  our  pur- 
pose. See  Biddle's  Mem.  of  Sebastian  Cabot, 
ch.  i.  Hakluyt  appears  to  have  copied  from  an 
exceptional  translation  of  Ramusio. 

f  Thomas  Lanquet,  in  his  Chronicle,  says, 
Sebastian  Cabot,  son  of  a  Genoese,  born  m  Bris- 
towe,  professing  knowledge  in  the  circuit  of  the 
earth,  was  sent  from  Bristowe,  to  discover 
strange   countryes,  and   he   fyrste  founde  out 


Newfoundelande  in  1498. — Barrett's  Hist,  of 
Bristol,  172. 

|  Caravel  or  Carvel,  a  kind  of  light,  round 
ship,  with  a  square  poop,  rigged  and  fitted  out 
like  a  galley,  holding  about  six  score  or  seven 
score  tun  :  These  are  accounted  the  best  sail- 
ers on  the  sea,  and  much  used  by  the  Portu- 
gueses.— Phillips  and  Kersey's  World  of  Words 

§  "  In  the  year  1498,  on  St.  John's  day,"  as 
it  is  in  a  manuscript  in  my  possession,  "was 
Newfoundland  found  by  Bristol  men,  in  a  ship 
called  the  Matthew."—  Barrett's  Hist,  of  Bris- 
tol, 172. 


1497-1508.]  CABOT COIITEREAL AUBERT.  3 

that  part  of  this  firme  land  which  is  now  called  Florida,*  whore  my  vict- 
uals foiling',  I  departed  from  thence  and  returned  into  England,  where 
I  found  great  tumults  among  the  people,  and  preparation  for  warres  in 
Scotland  :  by  reason  whereof  there  was  no  more  consideration  had  to 
this  voyage." 

In  another  account  f  it  is  said  that  "  one  Sebastian  Cabot  with  three 
hundred  men  directed  his  course  so  farre  toward  the  North  Pole,  J  that 
even  in  the  mooneth  of  July  he  founde  monstrous  heapes  of  Ise,  swim- 
ming on  the  Sea,  and  in  a  manner  continual  day  lyght."  "  Thus  seying 
suche  heapes  of  Ise  before  him,  he  was  enforced  to  tourne  his  sayles." 

It  is  even  doubtful  whether  Cabot  saw  any  of  the  promontories  on  the 
coast  of  what  is  now  New  England, §  and  all  that  can  be  gathered  with 
certainty  is  that  he  did  sail  along  the  coast  to  a  point  not  far  from  Roan- 
oke Inlet,  and  then  bore  away  for  England.  Nevertheless  he  gave  the 
name  Baccalaos  ||  to  the  country  along  which  he  sailed,  "because  that 
in  the  seas  thereabout  hee  found  so  great  multitudes  of  certaine  bigge 
fishes  much  like  vnto  Tunnies  (which  the  inhabitants  call  Baccalaos), 
that  they  sometimes  stayed  his  shippes." 

From  this  notice  of  Cabot,  it  is  evident  that  the  expeditions  of  Colum- 
bus had  kindled  "  a  great  flame  "  for  discoveries  in  England,  and  not 
only  in  England  but  likewise  in  France,  as  will  appear.  Owing,  how- 
ever, to  intestine  wars  and  commotions,  little  was  done  for  many  years 
by  any  of  the  English  nation  ;  yet  the  French  and  Spaniards  were  not 
idle  in  the  mean  time,  and  the  Portuguese  took  some  part  in  western 
discoveries.  One,  of  the  nation  last  named,  Gaspar  Cortereal,  in  the  year 
1500,  visited  all  the  coast  of  Newfoundland,  and  a  considerable  part  of 
Labrador.  But  he  **  did  little  more  than  Cabot,  and  in  a  second  voyage 
he  was  lost,  as  was  his  brother  in  an  attempt  to  find  him. 

In  1508,  Thomas  Aubert,  of  Dieppe,  made  a  voyage  to  Newfound- 
land, and  was  the  first  European  who  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  On 
his  return  to  France,  he  carried  thither  several  of  the  Indians,  which 
were  the  first  ever  seen  in  that  country. 

*  The  limits  of  Florida  must  not  be  consid-  §  lis   reconnurent  l'isle    de    Terre-Neuve  et 

ered  as  they  have  since  existed.     The  northern  une  partie  du  continent  voisin.  On  ajoute  meme 

boundary  was  not  denned  for  several  ages.    It  qu'ils  ramenerent  a  Londres  quatre  sauvages  de 

suited  the  parallel  cutting  Roanoke  Inlet,  and  ces  contrees ;  mais  de   bons  auteurs  ont  ecrit 

the  straits  of  Gibraltar.  qu'ils  n'avoient  debarque  en  aucun  endroit,  ni 

•j-  Eden's  Decades,  chap.  vi.  Dec.  3,  as  trans,  de  l'isle,  ni  du  continent.  —  Charlevoix,  His- 

by  Lok.  —  Hakluyt,  v.  282-3,  ed.  1812.  toire  Gen.  Nouv.  France,  i.  4,  ed.  6  T.  12°. 

JVntillhe   came,  the  11  of  June,  1498,  to  ||  The  Baccalaos  are  certaine  lies  lying  against 

the  septentrionall  latitude  of  67^  degrees,  and  the  influxe  of  Canada,   nigh  vnto    Corttrialis, 

finding  the  seas  still  open,  said,  that  he  might  and   owe   their   first   discovery  vnto  Sebastian 

and  would  haue  gone  to  Cataia,  if  the  enimity  Cabot. —  Heylyn's  Mikrokosmos,  805,  ed.  1631. 

of  the  master  and  mariners  had  not  beene.  —  **  A  la  verite  on  ne  scauroit  nier  qu'il  n'ait 

Stowe,  Chronicle,  805,  ed.  1600,  or  p.  480,  ed.  mis  pied  a  terre  en  plusieurs  endroits,  et  im- 

1631.     "  There  is  a  strong  presumption  in  favor  pose  des  noms,  dont  quelques-uns  subsistent  en- 

of  Cabot's  having  actually  discovered  Hudson's  core.  —  Charlevoix,  i.  4.    And  the  same  may  be 

Straits,  and  gained  the  67th  degree,  through  said  at  this  day,  as  it  regards  the   names  of 

Fox's  Channel." — /.  Winter  Jones,  in  Works  places. 
of  Hakluyt  Soc. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1523. 


JOHN     VERAZZANI. 


The  next  voyage  of  importance  to  that  of  Cabot  was  performed  by 
John  Verazzani,  by  birth  a  Florentine.  Pie  was  in  the  employ  of  Fran- 
cis I.,  who  fitted  him  out  in  1523, 
and  the  following  year,  as  he  him- 
self related  to  his  master,  *  as  fol- 
lows :  On  "  the  17  of  Ianuary,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  wee  departed  from 
the  dishabited  Rocke  by  the  Isle  of 
Madera,  with  fiftie  men,  well  pro- 
uided  for  eight  moneths :  And  sayl- 
ing  westwards  with  a  faire  Easterly 
winde,  in  25  dayes  wee  ranne  500 
leagues,  and  the  20  of  Februarie 
we  were  ouertaken  with  as  sharp e 
and  terrible  a  tempest  as  euer  any 
saylers  suffered  :  whereof  with  ye 
diuine  helpe  and  mercifull  assistance 
of  Almightie  God,  and  the  goodnesse 
of  our  ship,  accompanied  with  the  good  hap  of  her  fortunate  name,f  wee 
were  deliuered,  and  with  a  prosperous  wind  followed  our  course  West  and 
by  North,  and  in  other  25  dayes  wee  made  aboue  400  leagues  more  : 
where  we  discouered  a  newe  land,  neuer  before  seen  of  any  man,  either 
ancient  or  moderne." 

This  "  newe  land"  was,  very  probably,  no  other  than  the  coast  of 
South  Carolina.  Verazzani  hove  his  little  ship  to,  had  intercourse  with 
the  natives,  and  was  delighted  with  the  country  ;  and,  after  "  seeking 
some  convenient  harborough  whereby  to  come  a  lande,"  and  finding 
none,  he  lay  along  the  coast  southward,  "  fiftie  leagues  invaine."  The 
Dolphin  was  then  headed  to  the  north,  and  by  July  he  had  looked  all 
along  upon  the  coast  of  New  England,  and  attained  the  50th  degree  of 
northern  latitude.     Thence  he  returned  to  France.  J 

Verazzani  probably  saw  nothing  of  the  land  of  Massachusetts,  except 
its  promontories,  and  possibly  some  of  the  hills  of  its  more  interior  parts, 
yet  no  other  European  had  seen  as  much,  nor  had  any  Englishman  then 
set  foot  on  any  part  of  it. 

That  part  of  the  continent  discovered  during  this  voyage  was  called 
Norumbega,  §  which  name  has  since  been  applied,  sometimes  to  a  cer- 


*  Divers  Voyages,  in  Works,  Hakluyt  <Soc.,55-6. 

f  Which  name  "happened"  to  be  the  Dol- 
phin. 

\  In  the  fancy  of  some  modern  writers,  Veraz- 
zani is  made  to  look  miserly  for  mineral  wealth 
upon  the  hill-tops  of  New  Jersey,  and  to  be 
struck  with  the  conveniences  of  the  harbor  of 
New  York ;  and,  although  he  lay  at  anchor 
many  days  in  the  harbor  of  Newport,  nothing 
is  said  about  his  having  even  seen  the  wonder 
of  the  place  —  the  "stone  mill." 

§  Or  Nurumbega,  as  appears  by  the  follow- 
ing passages,  from  a  piece  entitled  "  Discorso 


aVun  gran  Capitano  di  Mare  Francese"  in- 
serted by  Ramusio  in  his  Collection,  vol.  iii.,  p. 
425,  edit.  1565  :  "  Delia  terra  di  Norumbega." 
.  ..."  La  terra  e"  dette  da  paesani  suoi  Nu- 
rumbega," etc.  According  to  Michael  Lok's 
map,  and  also  that  of  Ortelius  and  some  other 
geographers,  Nurumbega  comprised  the  district 
between  the  river  and  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  Hudson  River.  Cluverius,  however,  in 
his  Introduclio  ad  Universam  Geographiam,  p. 
552,  Amstel.  1697,  says  :  "  Pars  tamen  ejus 
[Nova  Francia],  quo  ad  mare  accedit  Norum- 
bega ab  urbe  cognomine  dicta."     And  this  cor- 


1534-41.] 


DISCOVERIES    OF    VERAZZAN1 


CARTIER. 


tain  tract  of  country  now  included  in  Maine,  and  sometimes  to  another 
in  that  region,  by  which  writers  about  it  have  confused  themselves  as 
well  as  their  readers.  Fishermen  and  traders  to  those  parts,  in  after 
years,  had  probably  heard  something  of  a  place  called  Norumbega,  and 
may  have  confined  it  to  a  much  smaller  tract  of  country  than  it  origin- 
ally included,  while  in  reality  it  embraced  all  New  England.* 

It  is  necessary,  in  the  next  place,  to  notice  the  three  voyages  of  Car- 
tier,  performed  between  the  years  1534  and  1541.  From  the  time  of 
these  voyages  a  constant  inter- 
course appears  to  have  been  kept 
up  between  Europe  and  America. 
James  Cartier  performed  a  great 
service  by  these  voj^ages.  He  led 
the  way  into  the  heart  of  Norum- 
bega, by  ascending  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  Hochelaga,  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Montreal.  He 
spent  the  winter  of  1535-6  in 
Canada,  and  returned  to  France  in 
the  spring.  He  returned  again, 
and  spent  another  winter  in  Can- 
ada, in  the  service  of  Roberval, 
who  had  made  vast  outlays  to  es- 
tablish a  colony  in  New  France  ; 
but  the  severe  winters  and  the 
provoked  Indians  had  probably 
not  a  very  inconsiderable  effect  in  bringing  to  an  end  the  hopes  and 
lofty  projects  of  a  nobleman  of  the  mild  and  sunny  fields  of  France. 

Indeed,  proof  is  abundant  that,  from  near  the  time  of  Cabot's  voyage, 
numerous  vessels  were  upon  the  coast  of  New  England  continually.  In 
1527,  an  English  captain  found,  in  the  harbor  of  St.  John,  Newfound- 
land, eleven  sail  of  Normans,  one  Breton,  and  two  Portuguese,  engaged 
in  the  fishery .f     In  1585,  Queen  Elizabeth  sent  some  of  her  ships  of 


JAMES    CARTIER. 


responds  with  the  map  in  Ramusio  (vol.  iii.,  p. 
424,  edit.  1565),  where  Nurumbega  appears  to 
comprise  the  southern  portion  of  that  district, 
from  Long  Island  Sound  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 
—  /.  Winter  Jones  in  Works  of  Hak.  Soc. 

*  On  Dr.  Peter  Heylyn's  exceeding  rude  map 
of  America,  dated  1656,  "  Norumbega  "  is  the 
first  name  north  of  Cape  Cod  ;  but  whether  in- 
tended for  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  or  the  coun- 
try from  this  cape  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  there 
is  nothing  to  certify.  But  in  his  Mikrokosmos, 
before  cited,  he  describes  Norumbega,  as  hav- 
ing "  on  the  north  Nova  Francia,  on  the  south 
Virginia.  .  .  .  The  chiefe  towne  is  called  Norum- 
bega, and  is  possessed  by  the  French."  p.  786. 
There  is  a  "  Mappe  of  the  World  "  in  a  copy 
of  Boterus  Relations  of  the  World,  1630,  in  my 
possession,  on  which  "  New  France  "  extends 


north  from  the  parallel  of  40°.  north  lati- 
tude, to  "  New  England,"  which  extends  south 
from  50°  north ;  and  Virginia  extends  from 
40°  north  latitude  to  the  peninsula  of  Flori- 
da. In  his  work,  p.  62,  he  says,  "  America 
Septentrionalis  contains  the  Provinces  of  Estoti- 
landt,  Terra  de  Labrador,  Terra  de  Baccaleos, 
Nova  Francia,  Norimbega,  Florida,  Nova  His- 
pania,  and  others  ;"  saying  nothing  of  New  Eng- 
land in  this  connection.  But  near  the  end  of 
his  book,  p.  636,  he  says  :  "  The  Northerne 
parts  of  Virginia  be  called  New  England,  better 
discovered  and  inhabited.  Both  Plantations 
have  severall  Townes  and  forts  of  the  English 
upon  them." 

\  Hall  6f    Grafton's    Chronicle,  as  cited  by 
Purchas,  747,  ed.  1614. 


6  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1530-1605. 

war  into  the  New  England  seas,  to  drive  away  vessels  which  might  be 
found  fishing  here,  contrary  to  the  rights  of  her  subjects.  Many  were 
found,  and  some  were  captured  and  carried  prisoners  into  England. 
Ten  years  before  this,  one  hundred  and  fifty  French  vessels  were  at 
Newfoundland  in  a  season  ;  and,  in  1604,  a  man  named  Savalet,  an  old 
mariner  who  frequented  Canseau,  had  made  no  less  than  forty-two  voy- 
ages to  those  parts.* 

Had  the  French  maintained  their  claim  to  Norumbega,  Boston  would 
have  been  a  French,  instead  of  an  English  town.  They,  indeed,  claimed 
it.  In  1605,  De  Monts  explored  all  the  coast  of  New  England,  from  its 
northern  limit  to  Cape  Cod.  No  minute  description  remains  of  his 
explorations,  and  if  he  looked  as  far  into  Massachusetts  Bay  as  the 
peninsula  of  Shawmut,  no  account  of  it  has  been  found.  Three  years 
afterwards,  De  Monts  sent  over  three  ships  with  families,  and,  under  the 
conduct  of  Champlain,  they  effected  the  first  permanent  settlement  in 
Canada,  at  a  place  called  Quebec  by  the  Indians ;  ever  since  the  capital 
of  the  province. 

From  the  expeditions  of  the  Cabots,  to  the  actual  colonization  of 
Canada  and  Virginia,  the  voyages  of  the  English  to  the  northern  coasts 
of  America  were  much  less  frequent  than  those  of  the  French.  But  the 
nature  of  their  situation  would  not  admit  of  their  remaining  idle,  without 
the  natural  incentive  of  rivalry.  As  early  as  1530,  Capt.  William 
Hawkins,f  of  Plymouth,  father  of  Sir  John  Hawkins,  sailed  to  and  from 
Brazil.  One  bold  enterprise  stimulated  the  undertaking  of  others ;  and 
"Master  Hore,  of  London,"  may  have  naturally  enough  said^  "If 
Hawkins  can  go  to  Brazill,  I  can  go  to  Newfoundland."  This  he 
undertook  to  do  in  1536;  being  "  a  man  of  goodly  stature  and  of  great 
courage  and  giuen  to  the  studie  of  cosmographie."J     This  voyage,  so 

*  There  was  a  port  named  Savalet,  for  this  among  the  names  of  the  "divers  gentlemen" 

French  captain.     De  Monts  probably  gave  the  whom  Master  Hore  "  encouraged  to  accompany 

name  in  honor  of  him;    he  having  fallen  in  him,"  are  recognized  several  of  those  which 

with  him  in  his  progress  southward.     See  Pur-  have  always  been  prominent  in  New  England. 

chas,  751.     Another  port  was  named  Rossignol,  Although  Master  Hore's  company  "  were  about 

that  being  the  name  of  an  unfortunate  captain  six  score  persons,  whereof  30  were  gentlemen," 

whose  ship  was  confiscated  for  trading  with  the  these    only   are   named   by   Hakluyt  :  —  "  M. 

Indians.     "  A  poore   preferment,"  says   Pur-  Wickes  a  gentleman  of  the  West  country  of 

chas,  "  to  leave  name  to  a  port  by  his  miserie."  five  hundred  markes  by  theyeere  living.     Mas- 

A  harbor  and  a  lake  still   bear  his  name  ;  the  ter  Tucke  a  gentleman  of  Kent.     M.  Tuckfield, 

former  on  the  southern  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  to  M.  Thomas  Buts  the  sonne  of  Sir  William  Buts, 

the  south-west  of  L'Heve  ;  the  latter  in  the  in-  knight,  of  Norfolke,  which  is  yet  alive,  and  from 

terior  of  the  same  province,  little  known,  except  whose   mouth  I  wrote  most  of  this   relation, 

to  the  Indians  seventy  years  ago.  Master  Hardie,  master  Biron,  master  Carter, 

f  He  was  the  first  Englishman  who  made  a  master  Wright,  master  Rastall  Serieant  Ras- 
voyage  to  Brazil.  His  wife  was  Joan,  daugh-  tail's  brother,  master  Ridley,  and  diuers  oth- 
ter  of  William  Trelawney,  Esq. ,  of  Cornwall,  er,  which  all  were  in  the  admirall  called  the 
Their  son,  the  celebrated  Sir  John  Hawkins,  Trinitie,  a  ship  of  seuen  score  tunnes.  In  the 
had  a  monument  erected  to  his  memory  by  his  other  shippe  whose  name  was  the  Minion,  went 
widow,  Margaret,  in  St.  Dunstan"s  Church,  a  very  learned  and  vertuous  gentleman,  one  mas- 
London,  "with  a  large  inscription,  giving  an  ter  Armigil  Wade,  father  to  the  worshipfull  mas- 
account  of  his  life  and  death."  He  had  lived  ter  William  Wade  now  [1589]  clerk  of  the  priue 
in  the  parish  connected  with  this  church  "at  counsell,  Master  Oliver  Dawbeney  merchant  of 
least  thirty  years." — Magna  Britannia,  iii.  85-  London,  M.  Joy  afterward  gentleman  of  the 
6.  —  A  copy  of  this  exceedingly  rare  andvalua-  Kings  chappell,  with  diuers  others  of  good  ac- 
ble  work  is  in  the  library  of  the  N.  Eng.  Hist,  count."  — Hakluyt,  Voyages,  517,  ed.  1589.  — 
Gen.  Soc. — Six  volumes  4to.  See  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.  iii,  9. 

tit  may  not  be  unworthy  of  remark,  that, 


1588.]  FROBISHER THE   ARMADA SPAIN.  7 

ostentatiously  begun,  ended  in  great  misery.*  Of  Master  Robert 
Thome's  voyage  to  Newfoundland,  nine  years  before,  Hakluyt,  in  his 
day,  could  find  no  one  to  give  him  any  particular  information,  though 
he  says,  "  I  have  made  great  inquirie  of  such  as  by  their  yeeres  and 
delight  in  nauigation  might  giue  me  any  light."  He  had  learned  from 
"  master  Hall  and  master  Grafton's  "  chronicle,  that  Master  Thorn e  had 
with  him  "  cliuers  cunning  men  ;"  and  though  Sir  Martin  Frobisher  had 
heard  the  same  related,  he  could  not  tell  Master  Hakluyt  the  name  of 
one  of  them. 

That  those  men  who  contributed  to  bring  about  the  settlement  of  this 
country,  in  a  very  remarkable  degree,  or  that  were  the  prime  movers  of 
the  great  undertaking,  should  stand  out  in  bold  relief  on  the  pages  of 
history,  requires  no  argument  to  support  it.  Among  those  men,  Martin 
Frobisher  holds  a  station  in  the  front  rank,  but,  unfortunately  for  his 
fame,  his  hardships  and  sufferings  to  make  discoveries  in  the  north 
were  not  crowned  with  any  golden  returns.  Success  in  those  days,  as 
well  as  in  these,  it  must  be  allowed,  was  measured  by  its  immediate 
pecuniary  returns. 

The  great  school  of  discovery  was  thus  opened  in  the  time  of  Henry 
the  Eighth  ;  but  "  the  Spaniard,"  as  Spain  used  then  to  be  termed,  was 
master  of  the  sea.  The  English  were  compelled  to  go  stealthily  from 
port  to  port,  and  to  pay  exorbitant  tribute  for  the  use  of  the  common 
highway  of  nations,  and  to  brook  such  insults  as  their  haughty  lords 
thought  proper  to  impose. 

But  the  future  master  of  this  great  school  of  discovery,  he  who  was  to 
show  his  countrymen  that  their  career  upon  the  ocean  was  but  begun  ; 
that  the  arrogance  of  Spain  should  not  drive  them  from  the  seas,  and 
that  the  world  could  be  encompassed  by  an  Englishman  as  well  as  by  a 
Spaniard,  had  just  drawn  breath,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tavy.  A  few 
years  more,  and  he  is  wending  his  way  into  the  Indies,  there  to  stem 
adversity,  administered  in  injuries,  by  overbearing  bigotry.  These 
were  days  when  might  triumphed  over  right ;  days  of  reprisal  and 
revenge.  Philip  of  Macedon  was  not  more  arrogant  than  his  namesake 
of  Spain.  England  had  dared  to  assume  some  importance  on  the  seas  ; 
for  this  assumption,  England,  heretical  England,  must  be  humbled  and 
become  a  province  of  Spain.  The  little  island  is  already  parcelled  out 
to  greedy  followers,  and  its  nobility  and  gentry  are  consigned  to  slavery 
and  the  inquisition.  To  carry  this  lofty  manifesto  into  effect,  an  armada 
is  prepared  to  enforce  the  decree  ;  an  armada  such  as  the  world  never 
before  saw.  It  approaches  the  coast  of  England,  as  the  eagle  hovers 
over  its  victim,  nothing  doubting  of  its  prey.  All  eyes  are  upon  the 
mariner  of  Tavistock  ;  so  long  as  he  is  in  the  van,  every  Englishman  is 
invincible  —  no  man  doubts  the  issue  —  the  armada  is  overthrown,  Spain 
is  humbled,  nor  is  ever  itself  again. 

*It  is  said  that  this  "  Master  Hore  brought    New  Albion,  (in  Force,)  17  and  18,  but  this,  I 
home  diuers  of  the  chief  Indian  Kings  to  Eng-    think,  is  very  doubtful, 
land  ' '  from  Newfoundland.  —  A  Description  of 


8  HISTORY  OF  BOSTON.  [1537-1580. 

The  English  energy  and  confidence,  then  and  there  exhibited,  could 
not  long  be  confined  within  the  narrow  limits  of  a  small  island.  Noth- 
ing less  than  a  continent  was  sufficient  for  its  full  development,  and  thus 
it  became  transferred  to  America. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Influence  of  the  Mariner  of  Tavistock  in  bringing  about  the  Colonization  of  New  England.  —  Raleigh. 

—  Gilbert.  —  Frobisher. —  Harcourt.  —  Smith.  —  Hakluyt.  —  His  Notice  of  North  America  in  16U0. 

—  State  of  Europe  then.  —  Gosnold's  Discovery  and  Attempt  to  colonize  in  Massachusetts.  —  Inci- 
dents of  the  Undertaking.  —  Priug's  Voyage  to  Cape  Cod.  —  Weymouth  on  the  Coast.  —  Sir  Ferdi- 
nando  Gorges.  —  Challounge.  —  Pring. 

It  has  been  conceded  on  all  hands,  that,  but  for  the  extraordinary 
energy  and  perseverance  of  one  man,  New  England,  and  indeed  all 
North  America,  would  not  have  been  inhabited  by  Englishmen  for  many 
years,  perhaps  ages,  after  the  period  in  which  its  permanent  settlement 
was  made.  Few  readers  will  require  to  be  told  to  whom  reference  is 
here  made.  The  navigator  of  a  northern  sea  would  as  soon  require  to 
be  pointed  to  the  polar  star,  as  the  reader  of  the  annals  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth would  require  to  be  pointed  to  the  morning  star  of  her  reign.  This 
star  was  not  only  the  wonder  of  that  age,  but  of  all  succeeding  ages,  and 
will  continue  to  be  the  admiration  of  those  which  are  to  come.* 

By  the  wonderful  achievements  of  that  great  seaman,  a  spirit  of  emu- 
lation was  brought  into  practical  activity,  one  of  the  results  of  which 
was  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  as  it  was  then  and  long  after- 
wards called ;  the  capital  of  which  the  history  is  undertaken  in  these 
pages. 

The  inspiration   diffused  by  Drake  into  his  countrymen  is  distinct 

*  The  achievement  which  had  the  greatest  about  the  year  1537 ;  died  on  board  his  own 

influence  on  the  world,  in  the  opening  of  the  ship  near  Portobello,  in  the  West  Indies,  28 

maritime  age  of  England,  was,  doubtless,  the  Jan.,  1596.     Though  married,  he  left  no  pos- 

circumnavigation  of  Drake  ;    of  whom  it  was  terity.     He   sailed  on   his  voyage   round  the 

said  by  a  cotemporary,  that  "  he  had  a  head  to  world,  15  Nov.,  1577,  and  returned  to  the  same 

contrive,  a  heart  to  undertake,  and  a  hand  to  port  whence  he  sailed,  "  Plimouth,'*  26  Sept., 

execute,  whatever  promised  glory  to  himself,  or  1580.  —  See  North  American  Review.  July,  1844, 

good  to  his  country."     He  was  the  first  that  in  which  I  have  stated  some  reasons  for  placing 

discovered  gold  in  California,   which  was   in  the  date  of  Drake's  birth  very  different  from 

1579.     "  There  is  no  part  of  earth  here,"  says  other  writers.     The  date  of  his  return  to  Eng- 

a  writer  of  one  account  of  his  voyage,  "  where-  land  is  wrong  in  almost  every  account, 
in  there  is  not  a  reasonable  quantitie  of  gold  or        For  a  beautiful  tracing  of  the  autograph  of 

silver."  —  Hakluyt.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  I  am  indebted  to  R.  H.  Ma- 

Sir  Francis  Drake  was  born  near  South  Tavi-  jor,  Esq.,  of  the  British  Museum  ;  an  accurate 

stock,  in  the  village  of  Crowndale,  Devonshire,  copy  of  which  is  here  presented. 


1578-83.] 


DRAKE  —  RALEIGH  - 


GILBERT. 


and  clear,  from  the  moment  that  a  knowledge  of  his  successes  was  cir- 
culated among  them.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  was,  by  the  first  marriage 
of  his  father,  connected  with  the  family  of  Drake,  and  the  connection  of 
the  illustrious  and  lamented  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  with  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  is  well  known.  Gilbert  pointed  out  the  way  in  which  Raleigh 
reaped  his  chief  renown.  Capt.  Robert  Harcourt,  of  Stanton  Harcourt, 
ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  that  name,  and  Capt.  John  Smith,  succeeded, 
and  added  lustre  in  the  field  of  discovery  and  enterprise.  It  was  during 
the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  that  British  perseverance  first  showed  itself  able 
to  surmount  all  obstacles.  Men  not  courtiers  came  to  be  patronized  by 
royalty,  and  merchants  and  mariners  could  hold  meetings  in  London  and 
elsewhere,  to  mature  plans  for  the  extension  of  commerce,  without  being 
suspected  of  plotting  against  the  state. 

Little  more  can  be  done,  in  this 
review  of  the  progress  towards 
the  settlement  of  New  England, 
than  merely  to  glance  at  a  few  of 
the  stirring  spirits  of  that  age  ; 
among  whom  must  be  mentioned 
Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  as  de- 
serving more  than  a  passing  no- 
tice. He  was  born  the  same,  or 
if  not  the  same  year  with  Sir 
Francis  Drake,  he  was  not  more 
than  two  years  his  junior.  They 
were  indeed  kindred  spirits.  Gil- 
bert was  wanting  in  none  of  that 
thirst  for  daring  adventure,  of 
which  Drake  was  so  large  a  pro- 
prietor ;  and  while  his  early  ca- 
reer was  more  prosperous,  he 
having  been  cut  off  almost  in  the 
beginning  of  his  career.  When  about  thirty-three  years  of  age,  he 
published  that  masterly  "Discourse  to  prove  a  passage  by  the  North- 
west" to  the  East  Indies,  which  is  in  a  style  superior  to  most  writings  of 
that  age.  In  1578,  he  obtained  a  patent  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  empow- 
ering him  to  discover  and  possess  any  unsettled  land  in  North  America. 
By  the  energy  and  perseverance  which  he  employed  to  improve  the 
advantages  under  his  ample  charter,  he  has  been  declared,  by  some 
writers  of  respectability,  "the  real  founder  of  the  English  possessions  in 
America."  He  made  two  voyages  to  Newfoundland  between  1578  and 
1583.  At  St.  John  he  gave  leases  to  certain  individuals,  under  which 
permanent  settlements  were  eventually  there  made.  On  the  9th  of 
September,  of  the  year  last  named,  having  embarked  for  England,  his 
ship  foundered,  and  he  was  swallowed  up  in  the  sea. 

When  on  the  "  Gold  Coast"  of  North  America,  Drake  did  not  doubt 
but  that  he  could  sail  around  the  north  point  of  the  continent,  and  return  to 
2 


SIR   HUMPHREY  GILBERT. 

From  a  copy  of  a  portrait  of  Sir  H.  Gilbert,  in  Holland's  He 
rologia. 

was  less  fortunate  in  the  end 


10  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1600. 

England  by  the  North  Sea,  as  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean  was  then  called. 
Circumstances,  however,  prevented  his  satisfying  himself  of  its  utter 
impracticability.  But  while  this  bold  navigator  was  upon  his  voyage  of 
circumnavigation,  Capt.  Frobisher,  by  three  several  voyages  to  the 
northern  regions  of  America,  settled  the  question  for  a  time,  with  regard 
to  a  north-west  passage  —  a  question,  it  is  a  pity  it  had  not  remained 
settled  to  this  day,  contrasting  the  immense  sacrifices  made  from  that 
time  to  the  present,  with  the  small  benefits  that  have  accrued  to  the 
world. 

Frobisher' s  name  became  indelibly  fixed  upon  a  northern  strait  of 
North  America,  as  maps  show  to  the  world  ;  but  the  part  he  acted  with 
Drake,  subsequently  to  his  northern  discoveries,  is  often  read,  and  bet- 
ter known.  But  to  him  is  undoubtedly  due  whatever  honor  attaches 
to  the  revival  of  discoveries  in  the  north.  He  had  the  confidence  of 
Drake  in  a  high  degree.  When  Frobisher  and  his  friends  proposed  a 
fourth  voyage  to  the  north,  Drake  subscribed  seven  hundred  pounds 
towards  it. 

After  Drake,  no  man,  perhaps,  deserves  greater  credit  for  pushing 
onward  the  current  of  discovery  and  settlement,  than  the  learned  and 
persevering  Richard  Hakluyt.  He  came  upon  the  stage  just  in  time  to 
participate  in  those  memorable  enterprises  which  have  characterized  the 
age  of  Elizabeth.  His  views  were  by  no  means  confined  to  discoveries 
alone  ;  colonization,  western  colonization,  was  his  favorite  theme,  and  he 
did  not  fail  to  enforce  it  with  ability  and  learning.  "  Sir  Francis  Wal- 
singham,  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  the  Lord  High- Admiral  Howard,  Sir  Philip 
Sidney,  and  Sir  Francis  Drake,  were  among  those  who  supported  him 
in  his  labors  by  their  commendations,  and  encouraged  him  to  proceed."* 
These  are  but  few  of  those  that  might  be  named,  as  his  encouragers  and 
co-workers.  In  a  dedication  of  a  bookf  to  the  last  named  gentleman, 
printed  in  1589,  now  of  great  rarity,  the  author  says  he  was  moved  to 
dedicate  his  work  to  him  by  his  very  good  and  learned  friend,  Mr. 
Richard  Hakluyt,  "  a  man  of  incredible  devotion  towarde  yourselfe." 

If,  indeed,  as  was  doubtless  the  case,  gentlemen  encouraged  Hakluyt 
"  to  proceed,"  he  in  his  turn  encouraged  them.  Of  Raleigh's  exertions 
in  settling  Virginia,  he  says  to  that  nobleman,  in  one  of  his  dedications, 
"If  your  enterprise  may  speedily  and  effectually  be  pursued,  it  will 
proue  farre  more  beneficiall  in  diuers  respects  vnto  this  our  realm,  than 
the  world,  yea  many  of  the  wiser  sort,  haue  hitherto  imagined."!  And, 
in  the  year  1600,  in  a  dedication  to  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  he  says,  "  Your 
good  testimony  of  myself,  together  with  the  infallible  signes  of  your 
earnest  desire  to  doe  mee  good,  which  very  lately,  when  I  thought  least 
thereof,  break  forth  into  most  bountiful  and  acceptible  effects."  Al- 
though he  does  not  express  in  what  those  "  bountiful  and  acceptible 
effects  "  consisted,  it  is  probable  they  were  of  a  pecuniary  nature,  to 

*  Works  of  Hakluyt  Society.  f  Certain  Briefe  and  Speciall  Instructions,  &c. 

|  Voyages,  iii.  365.  By  Philip  Jones.  —  Ibid. 


1589-1G00.]  LABORS    OP   HAKLUYT.  11 

enable  him  to  complete  his  great  work,  the  "Trafiques  and  Discoueries 
of  the  English  Nation." 

The  dedication  to  which  allusion  is  here  made,  is  to  the  "third  and 
last"  volume  of  his  voyages,  which  volume  is  especially  devoted  to 
America ;  the  earliest  voyages  to  it,  and  discoveries  in  and  about  it. 
This  dedication  is  a  learned  and  excellent  introduction  to  the  work,  and 
discovers  great  intellectual  sagacity,  and  a  comprehensiveness  of  under- 
standing, as  well  in  relation  to  the  future  greatness  of  America,  as  to 
the  past  events  of  the  world.  He  speaks  "  of  the  new  and  late  dis- 
eouery  of  America  by  Columbus  in  1492,  a  world,  in  respect  of  the  huge 
extension  thereof,  which  to  this  day  [1600]  is  not  thoroughly  discouerecl, 
although  on  the  hither  side  it  be  knowen  vnto  vs  for  the  space  of  flue 
thousand  leagues  at  the  least,  and  for  3000  more  on  the  backe  side  in 
the  South  Sea.  So  that  it  seemeth  very  fitly  to  be  called  A  Newe 
Worlde."*  "Howbeit,"  he  adds,  "it  cannot  be  denied  but  that  Antiq- 
uitie  had  some  kinde  of  dimme  glimse,  and  vnperfect  notice  thereof." 
He  then  refers  to  the  since  noted  passages  of  Plato,  Diodorus,  and  oth- 
ers, of  "a  mighty  and  fruitful  yland  discoueredinthe  Westerne  Ocean," 
"  bigger  then  all  Africa  and  Asia,"  and  then  continues,  "  Of  this  New 
World  and  euery  speciall  part  thereof  in  this  my  third  volume  I  have 
brought  to  light  the  best  and  most  perfect  relations  of  such  as  were 
chiefe  actours  in  the  particular  discoueries  and  searches  of  the  same, 
giuing  vnto  euery  man  his  right,  and  leauing  euery  one  to  mainteine 
his  own  credit."  Hakluyt  then  closes  his  dedication  with  the  following 
modest  reference  to  his  own  endeavors:  "  I  have  portrayed  out,"  he 
says,  "  in  rude  lineaments  my  Westerne  Atlantis  or  America  :  assuring 
you,  that  if  I  had  been  able,  I  would  have  limned  her  and  set  her  out 
with  farre  more  liuely  and  exquisite  colours  :  yet,  as  she  is,  I  humbly 
desire  you  to  receiue  her  with  your  wonted  and  accustomed  fauour  at 
my  handes,  who  alwayes  wil  remaine  most  ready  and  devoted  to  do  your 
honour  any  poore  seruice  that  I  may.  From  London  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, the  yeere  of  our  Lord  God  1600. 


QiJLd-  jfrnmi  * 


t 

\^J  <-*^ r  y       Preacher." 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  expeditions  which  had  been  under- 
taken to  discover  the  coast  of  America,  there  were  not,  at  the  termina- 
tion of  one  hundred  and  ten  years  after  Columbus'  discovery,  any 
Europeans,  saving  Spaniards,  who  had  made  any  effectual  settlements 

*  A  new  world  it  may  be  called,  for  that  the  heere  inhabited,  who  with  a  deluge  of  sinne 

world  of  new  and  unknown   creatures  which  might  procure  that  deluge  of  waters. — Purchas, 

the  old  world  neuer  heard  of,  and  here  only  are  His  Pilgrimage,  717,  ed.  1614. 

produced  :  the  conceit  whereof  moued  Mercator  f  Copied  from  a  fac-simile  in  "  Hakluyt's  Di- 

to  thinke  (which  I  dare  not  thinke  with  him)  uers  Voyages,"   published  by  the  Hakluyt  So- 

that  the  great  deluge  in  the  dayes  of  Noah,  ciety. 
drowned  not  these  parts,  because  men  had  not 


12  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1585-1602. 

in  the  New  World.*  But  in  1598,  France  was  quieted  by  the  edict  of 
Nantz,  in  April,  and  by  a  peace  in  May,  with  Philip,  King  of  Spain 
and  Portugal.  Just  before  Queen  Elizabeth  died,  the  disturbances  in 
Ireland  were  quelled,  and  she  expired  in  peace  [on  the  24th  of  March, 
1603]  with  all  the  princes  and  states  in  Europe,  except  Philip,  King  of 
Spain,  and  Archduke  Albert,  sovereign  of  the  Spanish  Netherlands. 
And  King  James,  as  King  of  Scotland,  being  then  in  amity  with  all  the 
world,  upon  his  accession  to  the  English  throne,  the  two  British  crowns 
became  united  in  him  ;  and,  as  King  of  England,  he  soon  left  the  Dutch 
to  defend  themselves.  The  French  and  English,  being  thus  at  liberty, 
began  to  look  more  seriously  now  than  ever  to  the  new  found  world. 
The  English  at  this  time  extended  Virginia  from  Florida  to  the  bay  of 
Fundy,  and  divided  it  into  North  and  South  Virginia.f 

One  year  wanting  two  days  before  Queen  Elizabeth  died,  Capt.  Bar- 
tholomew Gosnold  sailed  from  Falmouth  for  the  north  part  of  Virginia, 
in  a  small  bark  called  the  Concord  ;  and  although  he  had  but  thirty-two 
people  J  in  his  company,  with  this  small  number  it  was  intended  to  begin 
a  settlement  in  what  is  now  New  England. 

Capt.  Gosnold  was  the  first  Englishman  who  had  come  in  a  direct 
course  to  this  part  of  the  continent,  and  the  first  of  any  nation  who  had 
reached  any  part  of  what  is  now  the  United  States,  except  Verazzani ; 
the  circumstance  of  the  shortness  of  the  voyage  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
he  had  in  his  company  several  of  the  old  mariners  who  had  been  with 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  who,  in  his  voyage  of  1585,  made  the  very  short 
passage  of  forty  days  from  Virginia  to  England.  Gosnold  would  have 
made  a  still  shorter  passage,  but  for  the  weakness  of  his  ship,  which 
would  not  bear  much  sail. 

After  a  voyage  of forty-nine  days,  namely,  on  the  14th  of  May,  "early 
in  the  morning,"  Capt.  Gosnold  made  the  land  of  New  England,  in  lat- 
itude 43°.§     From  a  rocky  point  not  far  off,   "  came  towards  us,"  says 

*  "  I  cannot  find,"  says  the  accurate  Prince,  feels  warranted  in  the  conclusion  that  it  was  in 

"  at  this  point  of  time  [1602],  so  much  as  one  the  vicinity  of  Great  Boar's  Head,  in  Hampton, 

European  family  in  all  the  vast  extent  of  coast  that  Gosnold  first  anchored  on  the  coast ;  true, 

from  Florida  to  Greenland."  indeed,  as   he  says,  "  in  no  good  harbor,  and 

f  Prince,  Chronological  History  of  New  Eng-  withal,  doubting  the  weather. "     Hence  "  Sav- 

land.  age  Rock"   is  not  difficultly  located  from   this 

J  Whereof  eight  mariners  and  sailors,  twelve  vicinity,   if  they  were   at   anchor  near  Great 

purposing  upon  the  discovery  to  return  with  Boar's  Head,  "  an  out  point  of  woody  ground, 

the  ship  for  England,  the  rest  remain  there  for  the  trees  thereof  very  high  and  straight,  and 

population. —  Gosnold' 's   Voyage.  from   the  rock  east  north-east."     There  is  to 

§  This  being  about  the  latitude  of  the  Isle  of  this  day  a  point  of  rocks  near  Cape  Ann  known 

Shoals,   or  Boon  Island,   it  was   hereabouts,  as  the  "  Salvages."     If  Gosnold  made  the  coast 

doubtless,  he  made  his  land-fall ;  though  Old-  in  latitude  43°  —  as  it  seems  both  from  Archer 

mixon,  and  others  following  him  probably,  sup-  and  Brereton  that  he  did,  "  about  6  o'clock  in 

pose  "  Savage  Rock  "  to  have  been  that  part  of  the  morning  "  —  and  did  not  come  to  anchor 

the  northern  shore  of  Massachusetts  Bay  about  till  noon  of  the  same  day,  but  was,  meantime, 

Nahant.     The  facts  to  be  found  in  the  reliable  "  standing  fair  along  by  the  shore,"  he  must, 

accounts   are   too  vaguely  stated,  perhaps,  to  in  all  probability,  have  been  in  the  vicinity  of 

warrant  a  positive  decision  as  to  the  precise  lo-  the  noted  headland  before  mentioned.     "  The 

cality   of  "Savage   Rock."     Opinions,    under  shore  full  of  white  sand,   but   very  stony  or 

such  circumstances,  are  generally  worth  but  lit-  rocky,"  noted  by  Brereton,  as  seen  soon  after 

tie  in  the  judgment  of  the  writer  ;  however,  on  a  land  was  discovered,  corresponds  exactly  to  Rye 

careful  comparison  of  the  several  accounts,  he  beach   and  neighborhood.     Archer  is  not  so 


1602.]  VOYAGE  OF  GOSNOLD.  13 

the  writer  of  the  account,  "  a  Biscay  shallop  with  sail  and  oars,  having 
eight  persons  in  it,  whom  we  supposed  at  first  to  be  Christians  dis- 
tressed." But  they  proved  to  be  Indians,  were  friendly,  and  desired 
the  English  to  tarry  with  them.  The  principal  man  among  them  was 
dressed  chiefly  in  European  clothes  ;  as  waistcoat,  breeches,  stockings, 
shoes,  hat  and  band,  &c.  One  or  two  of  the  others  had  "  a  few  things 
made  by  some  Christians."  It  was  soon  discovered  that  they  had  not 
been  strangers  to  Europeans.  "  With  a  piece  of  chalk  they  described 
the  coast  thereabouts,  and  could  name  Placentia  of  the  Newfoundland, 
and  spoke  divers  Christian  words."  In  short,  the  voyagers  confess  that 
these  Indians  understood  what  was  said  to  them  much  better  than  they 
understood  the  Indians.  How  they  came  by  their  European  bark  and 
other  things,  does  not  appear,  but  probably  by  way  of  trade  ;  for  they 
showed  no  signs  of  fear,  as  they  probably  would  have  done,  had  they 
been  guilty  of  mischief.  "They  came  boldly  aboard  us,"  says  the 
account,  "  being  all  naked,  saving  about  their  shoulders  certain  loose 
deer  skins,  and  near  their  wastes  seal  skins  tied  fast  like  to  Irish  climmie 
trowsers.  They  are  in  color  swart,  their  hair  long,  uptied  with  a  knot 
in  the  part  of  behind  the  head."  The  place  whence  these  Indians  came 
Gosnold  named  Savage  Rock. 

Leaving  that  part  of  the  coast,  Capt.  Gosnold  stood  to  the  southward, 
and  the  next  day,  May  15th,  came  to  anchor  near  a  cape,  where,  taking 
"great  store  of  cod-fish,"  he  called  it  Cape  Cod;  a  name  which  it 
bears  to  this  day,  and  which  it  is  ever  likely  to  bear.*  Here  the  cap- 
tain, with  Mr.  Brereton  and  three  others,  landed  the  same  day,  and  saw 
a  young  Indian  with  copper  ornaments  in  his  ears,  and  a  bow  and 
arrows  in  his  hands,  who  came  to  him,  and  seemed  desirous  to  serve  him 
in  some  way.  The  day  following  he  coasted  the  land  southerly,  about 
twelve  leagues,  and,  discovering  a  point  of  land,  named  it  Point  Care. 

clear  in  his  account  of  this  part  of  the  voyage  found  ourselves  embayed  with  a  mighty  head- 
as  Brereton,  though  he  is  more  minute.  He  land,"  which  was  Cape  Cod.  With  these  facts 
says  nothing  of  anchoring;  but,  after  the  inter-  before  us,  where  are  we  to  locate  "Salvage 
view  with  the  Indians,  he  says,  "  Finding  our-  Rock"?  From  the  account  of  Capt.  Pring's 
selves  short  of  our  purposed  place,  we  set  sail  voyage,  Dr.  Belknap  "  supposes  it  to  be  situated 
westward."  And,  "About  sixteen  leagues  on  the  northern  shore  of  Massachusetts  Bay." 
southwest  from  thence  [the  place  of  the  inter-  This  is  a  very  indefinite  location.  The  truth 
view  with  the  savages],  we  perceived  in  that  seems  to  be,  that  the  Doctor  found  himself  as 
course  two  small  islands,  the  one  lying  east-  much  perplexed  about  the  situation  of  "  Salv- 
ward  from  Savage  Rock,  the  other  to  the  south-  age  Rock  "  as  his  predecessors,  and  therefore 
ward  of  it.  The  coast  we  left  was  full  of  good-  avoided  committing  himself  further  in  regard 
ly  woods,  fair  plains,  with  little  green  round  to  it.  The  chief  difficulty  seems  to  be  the  un- 
hills.  The  fifteenth  day  we  had  again  sight  of  certainty,  as  to  the  lands  noticed  in  the  ac- 
land,"  &c,  which  proved  to  be  Cape  Cod.  counts,  whether  they  were  all  islands  that  were 
And  Brereton  says,  "  about  twelve  of  the  clock  supposed  such.  If  they  were  mistaken  in  this 
the  same  day,"  after  "standing  fair  along  by  respect,  and  doubtless  they  were,  the  Salvage 
the  shore,"  "we  came  to  an  anchor,  where  Rock  could  not  have  been  to  the  west  of  the 
eight  Indians  in  a  Basque  Shallop  with  mast  Salvages  of  the  present  day ;  nor  can  I  with 
and  sail,  an  iron  grapple,  and  kettle  of  copper,  much  confidence  fix  upon  that  point  as  the  real 
came  boldly  aboard  us,"  &c.     "About  three  of  one  in  question. 

the  clock  the  same  day  in  the  afternoon  we        *  It  is  probably  a  mere  fancy  by  which  some 

weighed,  and  standing  southerly  off  into  the  writers  would  lead  their  readers  to  suppose  that 

sea  the  rest  of  that  day  and  the  night  following,  Gosnold  saw  the  coast  of  Massachusetts  in  the 

with  a  fresh  gale  of  wind,  in  the  morning  we  vicinity  of  Cohasset. 


14  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1603. 

The  same  now  called  Sandy  Point,  the  extreme  southern  land  in  Barn- 
stable county.  Here  they  saw  Indians,  all  having  pipes  and  tobacco, 
copper  ornaments,  &c.  "  One  of  them  had  his  face  painted  over,  and 
head  stuck  with  feathers  in  manner  of  a  turkey-cock's  train."  "  These 
Indians  call  gold  wassador,  which  argueth  there  is  thereof  in  the 
country."* 

On  the  21st  of  May,  Gosnold,  having  overshot  the  Vineyard  Sound 
in  the  night,  discovered  an  island  which  he  named  Martha's  Vineyard. 
Not  that  since  so  called,  but  a  small  one,  known  as  Nomansland,  lying 
very  near  the  southern  extremity  of  the  large  island,  since  called  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard.  Gosnold  took  the  great  island  to  be  a  part  of  the  main 
land,  but  when  itf  was  found  to  be  an  island,  the  name  conferred  on  its 
appendage  very  naturally  extended  to  it,  and  the  name  Martha's  Vine- 
yard J  has  continued  since  the  time  of  this  discoverer. 

From  Nomansland,  Gosnold  sailed  round  into  the  Vineyard  Sound. 
The  striking  cliffs  now  known  as  Gay  Head  he  called  Dover  Cliff,  prob- 
ably after  those  of  the  same  name  in  his  native  island.  On  the  24th  of 
May  he  discovered  the  island  which  the  Indians  called  Poocutohhunkun- 
noh  (Kutahunk  or  Cuttyhunk).  "  This  island  Captain  Gosnold  called 
Elizabeth's  isle,  where,"  says  the  writer  of  his  voyage,  "  we  determined 
our  abode."  Here  it  was  that  the  first  attempt  was  made  to  settle  a 
colony  in  New  England. 

After  spending  three  weeks  in  preparing  a  store-house,  when  they 
came  to  divide  their  provision,  there  was  not  enough  to  victual  the  ship, 
and  to  subsist  the  planters  till  the  ship's  return.  Some  jealousy  also 
arose  about  the  intentions  of  those  who  were  going  back  ;  and  after  five 
days'  consultation  they  determined  to  give  up  their  design  of  planting, 
and  return  to  England.  They  accordingly  sailed  on  their  homeward 
voyage,  June  18th,  and  on  July  23d  arrived  at  Exmouth  in  the  south- 
west of  England,  §  the  same  year  in  which  it  was  begun,  ||  with  a  profit- 
able cargo  of  sassafras. 

The  next  year,  1603,  Massachusetts  Bay  is  again  visited.     Some 

#See  a  very  judicious  note  on  Gosnold's  voy-  §  Belknap,  American  Biography,  i.  238. 

age,  by  Mr.  Harris,  in  his  most  valuable  edi-  ||  Of  those  who  were  in  this  voyage,  we  find 

tion  of  Hubbard's  History  of  New  England,  the  names  of  these  only  : 

677-8.  Bartholomew  Gosnold,    Captain,  who  died  in 

f  Yet  a  writer  in  the  North  American  Review,  Virginia  in  1607. 

vol.  v.,  p.  315,  marvels  that  such  a  change  could  Bartholomew  Gilbert,  second  officer. 

possibly  happen  !     The  same  writer  is  shocked  William  Strete, master.  Same  after  mentioned? 

beyond  description  at  the  name  "  Cuttyhunk,"  John    Brereton,   gentleman,  journalist  of  the 

and  fled  with  horror  from  the  "Sow  and  Pigs,"  voyage. 

and  from  "  Quawck  Island,"  as  though  he  had  Gabriel  Archer,  gentleman,  journalist,  went  to 

been  an  M.  D.  !  Virginia  afterwards.     Archer's  Hope,   near 

J  That   the  name  Martha's  Vineyard  should  Williamsburg,  bears  his  name, 

be  Martin's  Vineyard,  as  some  have  supposed,  James  Rosier,  gentleman,  journalist. 

is  to  be  utterly  rejected.     The  name  was  con-  William  Strete,  who  discovered,  the  sassafras. 

ferred  by  Gosnold  himself,   a  year   before  the  Robert  Salterne,  who  was  also  with  Pring  the 

voyage  of  Pring.     Why  the  name  Martha  was  next  year,  and  was  afterwards  a  clergyman. 

chosen,  is  not  known.     It  may  have  been  the  [ABiddefordname.  See  Watkins,  Hist.  Bid.] 

name  of  bis  own  lady,  or  some  other  valued  John  Angel. 

female  acquaintance.  Tucker,  and  perhaps  Hill. 


1603.]  GOSNOLD  —  PRING  —  WEYMOUTH.  1 5 

Bristol  merchants,  by  leave  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  sent  over  Captain 
Martin  Pring,  in  a  small  ship  of  fifty  tons,  called  the  Speedwell,  thirty 
men  and  boys  ;*  and  William  Browne  in  a  bark  of  twenty-six  tons,  called 
the  Discoverer,  thirteen  men  and  one  boy.  These  sailed  from  Milford 
Haven  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  arrived  on  the  coast  near  the  same 
point  Captain  Gosnold  did  the  preceding  year.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
entered  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot,  and  to  have  examined  the  coast 
pretty  minutely  all  the  way  thence  to  Martha's  Vineyard.  There  is  no 
certainty  that  he  went  very  deep  into  Massachusetts  Bay,  though  he 
looked  up  the  Pascataqua  several  leagues,  and,  after  doubling  Cape 
Ann,  probably  laid  his  course  south-westerly  until  he  found  that  the  land 
to  the  southward  did  not  consist  of  islands  through  which  he  could  pro- 
ceed on  his  course. 

Pring  was  in  pursuit  of  a  cargo  of  sassafras,  and  he  soon  found  his 
way  around  the  cape,  and  commenced  loading  his  ship  with  it  from  the 
Vineyard  islands  and  main  land  in  the  vicinity.  By  the  9th  of  August 
he  was  ready  to  return  to  England,  and  on  that  day  he  sailed  from  the 
American  coast,  and  on  the  2d  of  October  following  he  arrived  in  King- 
Road,  not  far  below  Bristol,  whence  he  had  sailed.  Here  he  found 
Captain  Browne,  who  had  arrived  about  a  fortnight  before  him.  Thus 
was  a  successful  voyage  performed  into  the  New  England  seas  in  the 
space  of  six  months'  time. 

Captain  George  Weymouth's  voyage  falls  next  under  consideration. 
It  is  memorable  on  account  of  discoveries  in  Maine,  and  for  having  more 
deeply  interested  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  in  colonizing  New  England  ;  a 
gentleman  of  great  energy,  perseverance  and  liberality. f  Gorges  him- 
self, however,  lays  great  stress  upon  certain  circumstances  or  accidents 
connected  with  the  voyage  of  Weymouth,  who,  he  says,  "  falling  short 
of  his  course,  happened  into  a  river  on  the  coast  of  America,  called 
Pemmaquid,  from  whence  he  brought  five  of  the  natives.  And  it  so 
pleased  our  great  God,  that  Weymouth,  on  his  return  to  England,  came 
into  the  harbor  of  Plymouth,  where  I  then  commanded."  Three  of 
which  natives,  namely,  Manida,  Skettwarroes  and  Tasquantum,  "I  seized 
upon.  They  were  all  of  one  nation,  but  of  several  parts,  and  several 
families.  This  accident  must  be  acknowledged  the  means,  under  God, 
of  putting  on  foot  and  giving  life  to  all  our  plantations." 

The  undertaking  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  ended  in  misfortune  and 
losses,  —  a  striking  instance  that  the  best  prospects  are  sometimes 
strangely  blighted,  and  the  best  directed  endeavors  at  once  baffled  and 
ruined, —  for  no  one  had  entered  upon  the  design  of  settling  New  Eng- 
land under  better  auspices  than  had  that  gentleman.  He  made  it  his 
business  to  understand  those  Indians  which  "  accident  "  had  placed  in 

*  It  may  be  well  to  note  thatCapt.  Browne's  ly,  for  their  object  was  to  make  settlements  in 

mate  was  named  Samuel  Kirkland.  — See  Bel-  the  country,  and  so  propagate  the  Gospel  among 

knap,  Amer.  Biog.  ii.  124.  them. — Stith's  Hist.  Virginia,  Book  i.,  pp.  33-4. 

f  Weymouth  was  sent  by  the  Earl  of  South-  —  And  Vindication  of  the  Bishop  of  Landajfs 

ampton  and  the  Lord  Arundel  of  Warder.     He  Sermon  by  A  Lover  of  Truth  and  Decency,  pp 

was  by  them  directed  to  treat  the  Indians  kind-  12,  13,  ed.  8vo.  New  York,  1768. 


16  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1606. 

his  hands.  He  says  he  found  them  "  of  the  better  sort,  and  far  from 
the  rudeness  of  our  common  people  ;"  that  he  learned  from  them  "  what 
goodly  rivers,  stately  islands  and  safe  harbors  those  parts  abounded  with. 
And  having  kept  them  full  three  years,  I  made  them  able  to  set  me 
down  what  great  rivers  ran  up  into  the  land,  what  men  of  note  were 
seated  on  them,  what  power  they  were  of,"  &c* 

Thus  having  gained  a  knowledge  of  the  country,  Sir  Ferdinando 
fitted  out  a  ship  for  New  England,  in  which  "Mr.  Henry  Chal- 
lounge  "  went  as  master.  With  him  also  went  two  of  the  before-men- 
tioned Indians  to  serve  him  in  the  business  of  the  voyage.  But  Captain 
Challounge,  owing  to  adverse  winds,  was  not  able  to  hold  a  northern 
course,  and  finally  made  the  West  Indies.  Thence  sailing  northward, 
was  captured  by  a  Spanish  fleet,  and  carried  into  Spain;  "where," 
says  Sir  Ferdinando,  "  their  ship  and  goods  were  confiscate,  themselves 
made  prisoners,  the  voyage  overthrown,  and  both  my  natives  lost." 

In  the  mean  time,  it  appears  that  Chief  Justice  Popham  had  agreed 
to  send  a  vessel  to  the  aid  of  Challounge,  which  was  accordingly  done 
before  his  miscarriage  was  known  in  England;  "for,"  says  Gorges, 
"  it  pleased  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  according  to  his  promise,  to  des- 
patch Captain  Pring  from  Bristol,  with  hope  to  have  found  Capt.  Chal- 
lounge ;  but  not  hearing  by  any  means  what  became  of  him,  after  he 
[Pring]  had  made  a  perfect  discovery  of  all  those  rivers  and  harbors  [of 
New  England],  brings  with  him  the  most  exact  discovery  of  that  coast 
that  ever  came  to  my  hands  since  ;  and  indeed  he  was  the  best  able  to 
perform  it  of  any  I  met  withal  to  this  present."  f 

The  success  of  the  English,  thus  far,  to  establish  themselves  in  New 
England,  might  well  have  caused  them  to  doubt  of  the  justice  of  their 
proceedings,  in  the  sight  of  Providence.  And  whether  the  Frenchmen, 
as  was  the  custom  of  the  age,  taunted  them  for  having  brought  their 
misfortunes  upon  themselves  by  their  attempts  to  rob  them  of  their 
justly  acquired  territories,  is  not  known  ;  but  certain  it  is,  if  discovery 
and  actual  possession  gave  a  valid  claim  to  territory,  it  is  plain  that  the 
French  had  a  better  right  to  New  England  than  ever  England  had  before 
the  settlement  of  Plymouth.  They  had  been  permanently  seated  in 
Canada  sixteen  years  when  Plymouth  was  settled,  and  twenty-six 
before  Boston  existed.^  But  a  nation  torn  within  by  its  own  hands,  is 
sure  to  be  robbed  without  by  the  hands  of  others.  France  could  not 
protect  itself  at  home,  and  England,  under  the  pretence  —  and  it  was 
nothing  better  —  that  it  was  theirs  by  prior  discovery,  contrary  to  the 
usual  course  of  things,  made  that  good  by  perseverance  which  was  and 
ever  will  be  bad  in  the  abstract. 

*  The  veteran  sea-captain,  John  Foster  Wil-  f  What  became  of  this  map  by  Pring,  is  un- 

liams,  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  first  land  known.    If  lost,  it  is  to  be  lamented,  as  it  might 

seen  by  Waymouth ,  was  that  point  of  the  isl-  settle  many  questions  now  remaining  in  doubt 

and  of  Nantucket  called  Sankoty  Head,  and  that  and  obscurity. 

he  then  bore  off  north-westerly,  and  next  fell  in  J  There  are  a  multitude  of  authorities  for  this 

with  the  island  of  Monhegan  ;  which  was  May  statement  in  Chalmer's  Annals,  82,  and  Holmes' 

17th,  1605.     He  saw  Nantucket  three  days  be-  American  Annals,  vol.  I.,  sub  anno  1604. 
fore. — Belknap,  Amer.  Biog.,  ii.  146. 


1607.] 


COMMERCIAL   DISCOVERIES. 


17 


CHAPTER  III. 

Colony  of  Sagadahock.  —  Spread  of  England's  Commerce.  —  Explorations.  —  Harlow's  Voyage  to  New 
England.  —  Indians  carried  off.  —  Cape  Cod.  —  Capt.  John  Smith's  Voyage  to  New  England.  — His 
"  Trials."  —  Surveys  the  Coast  of  New  England.  —  Hunt's  Conduct  in  Relation  to  the  Indians.  — 
Smith  names  the  country  New  England.  —  Why  so  named.  —  First  Maps  of  New  England.  — Massa- 
chusetts the  Paradise  of  New  England.  —  Smith's  Intercourse  with  the  Indians.  —  Hobson  sent  to 
New  England  for  Gold. — Sir  Eerdinando  Goi'gcs.  —  Harlow's  Return  to  England.  —  Smith's  con- 
tinued Efforts  for  New  England.  —  Captain  Dermer.  —  Smith  falls  into  the  hands  of  Pirates.  — 
His  Literary  Labors.  —  His  l)eath  and  Inscription  to  his  Memory. 


In  1607  was  the  abortive  attempt  to  settle  a  colony  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Kennebeck  river;*  and  the  same  year  a  more  successful  one  was 

made  in  Virginia.  There  the  enterprising  Gos- 
nold,  who  had  explored  Cape  Cod,  and  the 
resolute  John  Smith,  effected  a  permanent  set- 
tlement. But  the  original  Jamestown  at  this  day 
presents  ruins  of  not  much  greater  interest  than 
are  to  be  found  on  Cuttyhunk  or  Stage  Island.f 
By  this  time  England  began  to  send  out 
its  rays  of  commerce  to  almost  every  part 
of  the  world.  Such  an  interest  was  there  in  a 
trade  to  the  East  Indies,  that  James  chartered 
a  number  of  merchants  with  exclusive  privi- 
leges to  trade  there  forever.     Other  companies 

SHIP  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  THE  PIL-  °  ,       .,       .  ,  .  n      .1 

grims4  soon  spread  their  charters   over   all  the  new 


1609. 


*  The  colony  consisted  of  one  hundred  men. 
The  winter  was  extreme  ;  their  Governor,  Pop- 
ham,  died  ;  Captain  Rawley  Gilbert,  their  Ad- 
miral, hearing  that  his  brother,  Sir  John  Gil- 
bert, had  died,  to  whom  he  was  heir,  and 
"  finding  nothing  but  extreme  extremities,  they 
all  returned  for  England." —  Smith,  ii.  174. 

f  It  has  been  supposed  by  some  that  the  Gos- 
pel was  first  proclaimed  in  North  America  by 
those  who  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kenne- 
beck, in  1607.  This  is  a  mistake.  Frobisher 
and  his  companions  proclaimed  it  in  Newfound- 
land in  1577,  and  two  years  after,  Richard  Hak- 
luyt  proclaimed  the  fact  to  the  world.  An 
Episcopalian  friend  is  desirous  that  it  should  be 
understood  at  this  day,  that  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land service  was  performed  in  New  England 
prior  to  any  religious  services  by  dissenters. 
The  following  extract  from  a  journal  of  the  voy- 
age of  the  Sagadahock  Colony  will  show  the 
grounds  of  his  claim  :  "August  17th,  1607, 
Capt.  Popham,  in  his  pynnace,  with  thirty  per- 
sons, and  Capt.  Gilbert  in  his  long-boat,  with 
eighteen  persons  more,  went  early  in  the  morn- 
ing from  their  shipp  into  the  river  Sachadehoc, 
to  view  the  river,  and  to  search  where  they 
might  find  a  fitt  place  for  their  plantation. 
They  sayled  up  into  the  river  neere  forty 
leagues,  and  found  yt  to  be  a  very  gallant  river, 
very  deepe,  and  seldome  lesse  water  than  three 

3 


fathomes  when  they  found  sest ;  whereupon 
they  returned  homewards.  August  19th,  they 
all  went  ashoare,  and  there  made  choise  of  a 
place  for  their  plantacion,  at  the  mouth  or 
entry  of  the  ryver  on  the  west  side  (for  the 
river  bendeth  yt  self  towards  the  nor-east,  and 
by  east),  being  almost  an  island,  of  a  good  big- 
nes,  being  in  a  province  called  by  the  Indians 
Sabino,  so  called  of  a  Sagamo  or  chief  coni- 
maunder  under  the  graund  bassaba.  As  they 
were  ashoare,  three  canoas  full  of  Indians  came 
to  them,  but  would  not  come  neere,  but  rowed 
away  up  the  river. 

"August  19th,  they  all  went  ashoare,  here 
they  had  made  choise  of  their  plantation  and 
where  they  had  a  sermon  delivered  unto  them 
by  their  preacher ;  and  after  the  sermon,  the 
president's  commission  was  read,  with  the 
lawes  to  be  observed  and  kept." — Strachey, 
Hakluyt  Soc.  171-2. 

Since  the  preceding  part  of  this  note  was 
written,  some  portion  of  Strachey's  work  has 
been  reprinted  in  this  city.  But  for  its  very 
recent  issue  in  London,  it  would  strongly  com- 
mend itself  to  the  notice  of  the  Maine  Histori- 
cal Society. 

J  In  a  corner  of  Captain  Smith's  map  of  New 
England  is  found  a  view  of  a  ship,  from  which 
the  above  is  copied. 


18  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  1611-1614.] 

countries  to  which  England  could  lay  claim.  Meanwhile,  the  Dutch 
were  not  idle.  Henry  Hudson,  in  their  service,  explored  the  river  which 
bears  his  name  for  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  its  mouth ; 
and  four  years  later,  New  York  began  to  be  settled. 

Thus,  by  degrees,  New  England,  though  not  yet  so  named,  is 
coasted  wherever  the  sea  gives  access  to  its  boundaries,  and  every  suc- 
ceeding voyage  to  its  shores  adds  to  the  common  stock  of  knowledge, 
soon  sufficient  to  enable  the  persecuted  fathers  to  take  and  keep  posses- 
sion of  its  soil.     But  other  attempts  are  yet  required. 

Notwithstanding  the  failure  of  the  Sagadahock  colony,  Henry,  Earl 
of  Southampton,  and  some  merchants  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  fitted 
out  Captain  Edward  Harlow,  "to  discouer  an  island  supposed  about 
Cape  Cod,"  but  their  charts  so  "  much  abused  them  "*  that  they  fell  in 
with  "  Monahigan."  And  afterwards  sailing  southwards  "  they  found 
onely  Cape  Cod  no  Isle  but  the  maine.  There  they  detained  three  Salua- 
ges  aboord  them,  called  Pechmo,  Monopet  and  Pekenimne,  but Pechmo  leapt 
ouerboard  and  got  away  ;  and  not  long  after,  with  his  consorts,  cut  their 
boat  from  their  sterne,  got  her  on  shore,  and  so  filled  her  with  sand,  and 
guarded  her  with  bowes  and  arrowes,  the  English  lost  her.  Not  far 
from  thence  they  had  three  men  sorely  wounded  with  arrowes.  An- 
choring at  the  ile  of  Nohono,  the  Saluages  in  their  canowes  assaulted 
the  ship  till  the  English  guns  made  them  retire  ;  yet  here  they  tooke 
Sakaweston,  that  after  he  had  liued  many  yeers  in  England  went  a  soul- 
dier  to  the  warres  of  Bohemia.  At  Capawe  they  tooke  Coneconam  and 
Epenoiv,  but  the  people  at  Agawom  vsed  them  kindly  ;  so  with  five 
saluages  they  returned  for  England."  f 

From  these  accounts,  by  eye-witnesses  as  it  were,  no  one  will  be  at  a 
loss  to  account  for  whatever  hostilities  succeeding  voyagers  met  with 
from  the  Indians  of  Massachusetts. 

Captain  John  Smith  had  acquired  a  world-wide  reputation  by 
his  extraordinary  adventures,  which  had  now  been  of  "  near  twice 
nine  years"  continuance.  The  four  quarters  of  the  world  had  witnessed 
his  enterprise  and  bravery,  and  now  New  England  is  to  become  the  the- 
atre of  his  operations.  A  new  era  begins  in  its  annals  with  the  voy- 
age of  Smith  to  its  shores  in  1614  ;  nor  must  he  be  overlooked 
among  its  fathers  ;  especially  as  he  prosecuted  the  planting  "  of  New 
England,"  as  he  himself  says,  "  for  the  increase  of  God's  Church,  con- 
uerting  Saluages  and  enlarging  the  king's  dominions." 

*  After  mentioning  that  "  Capt.  Bartholomew  their  true  descriptions  are  concealed,  or  neuer 

Gosnold  "  had  printed  an  account  of  "  Eliza-  well  obserued,  or  died  with  the  authors  :  so  that 

beth  lies,"  and  that  "  Capt.  Waymouth  "  had  the  coast  is  yet  still  but   euen  as  a  coast  vn- 

printed  another  of  Pemmaquid,  he  says,  "  From  knowne  and  vndiscouered.     I  have  had  six  or 

all  these  diligent  obseruers,  posterity  may  be  seauen  seuerall  plots  of  these  northern  parts,  so 

bettered  by  the  fruits  of  their  labours.     But  for  vnlike  each  to  other,  and  most  so  differing  from 

diuers  others  that  long  before  and  since  haue  any  true  proportion,  or  resemblance  of  the  coun- 

ranged  those  parts,  within  a  kenning  sometimes  trey,  as  they  did  mee  no  more  good,  than  so 

of  the  shore,  some  touching  in  one  place,  some  much  waste  paper,  though  they  cost  me  more." 

in  another,  I  must  entreat  them  pardon  me  for  — Smith,  Descrip.  of  N.  E.,  1616,  p.  3. 
omitting  them  ;  or  if  I  offend  in  saying  that        f  Smith,  ii.  174. 


1614.] 


SMITH  S   VOYAGE   TO    NEW    ENGLAND. 


19 


JOHN    SMITH. 


Bat,  with  all  these  honest  intentions,  Smith  had  his  calumniators 
-those  who  affected  to  sneer  at  his  undertakings.  Of  them,  how- 
ever, he  had  vastly  the  advantage. 
He  could  not  only  hold  them  up 
to  contempt  in  his  own  day,  but 
there  they  remain  posted  for  all 
time  to  come  in  his  imperishable 
"  Historie,  writ  with  his  owne 
hand."  His  traducers,  he  says, 
were  such  persons  as  could  not 
"  say  their  compasse,  yet  would 
tell  what  all  England  is  by  seeing 
but  Milford  Haven."* 

What  time  Smith  sailed  on  his 
first  voyage  to  New  England,  he 
does  not  state  in  his  first  publica- 
tion of  the  account  of  it,  but  he 
says,  "  In  the  moneth  of  April, f 
1614,  at  the  charge  of  Capt.  JVlar- 
maduke  Roydon,  Capt.  George  Langam,  Mr.  John  Buley  and  William 
Skelton,  with  two  ships  from  London,  J  I  chanced  to  arriue  atMonahigan 
an  He  of  America,  in  43.4  of  northerly  latitude  :  our  plot  was  there  to 
take  whales,  for  which  we  had  one  Samuel  Crampton  and  diuers  others 
expert  in  that  faculty,  and  also  to  make  trialls  of  a  mine  of  gold  and  cop- 
per ;  if  those  failed,  fish  and  furs  were  then  our  refuge  to  make  ourselues 
sauers  howsoeuer  :  we  found  this  whale  fishing  a  costly  conclusion.  We 
saw  many,  and  spent  much  time  in  chasing  them,  but  could  not  kill  any  ; 
they  being  a  kinde  of  Iubartes,  and  not  the  whale  that  yeelds  fins  and  oile 
as  we  expected  ;  for  our  gold  it  was  rather  the  Masters  deuice  to  get 
a  voyage  that  proiected  it  than  any  knowledge  he  had  at  all  of  any  such 
matter."  Hence  much  time  was  lost  before  it  was  found  that  fishing 
and  trading  with  the  Indians  were  all  they  had  to  depend  upon  "  to 
saue  themselues  howsoeuer."  Therefore,  "  whilest  the  sailers  fished," 
continues  Smith,  "  myselfe  with  eight  others,  ranging  the  coast  in  a 
small  boat,  wee  got  for  trifles  neere  eleuen  thousand  beuer  skinnes,  one 
hundred  martins,  as  many  otters,  and  the  most  of  them  within  the  dis- 
tance of  twenty  leagues.  We  ranged  the  coast  both  east  and  west  much 
furder,  but  eastward  our  commodities  were  not  esteemed.  They 
were  so  neare  the  French  who  affords  them  better :  and  right  against  vs 


*  One  of  Captain  Smith's  friends,  in  some  po- 
etry "  to  his  honest  Captaine,"  says  : 

"  I  neuer  knew  a  Warryer  :  and  I  make  the  bolder, 
For,  many  a  Captaine  now,  was  neuer  a  Souldier. 
Some  such  may  swell  at  this  :  but  (to  their  praise) 
When  they  haue  don  like  thee,  my  Muse  shall  raise 
Their  due  deserts  to  Worthies  yet  to  come, 
To  liue  like  thine  (admir'd)  till  day  of  Doome." 
JV".  England's  Trials. 

fin  his  "New  England's  Trials  "  he  says, 
"I  went  fro  the  Downes  the  third  of  March, 


and  arriued  in  New  England  the  last  of 
April,"  and  that  he  sailed  for  England  the 
18  th  of  July.  In  the  same  work  he  says  he 
had  "but  fortie-five  men  and  boyes ;"  that 
they  "  built  seuen  boates,  and  that  37  did 
fish."  Dr.  Belknap  loses  his  usual  care  when 
he  says  Smith  sailed  from  London  in  April. 
—  Amer.  Biog.,i.  305. 

J  In  another  part  of  his  "  Generall  Historie," 
he  says,  "  I  was  sent  forth  at  the  sole  charge  of 
foure  merchants  of  London."  —  ii.  262. 


20  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1614. 

in  the  Main  was  a  ship  of  Sir  Francis  Popham,*  that  had  there  much 
acquaintance,  hauing  many  yeares  vsed  onely  that  porte,  that  the  most 
parte  there  was  had  by  him.  And  forty  leagues  westwards!  were  two 
French  ships,  that  had  made  there  a  great  voyage  by  trade,  during  the 
time  wee  tryed  those  conclusions,  not  knowing  the  coast,  nor  Saluages 
habitation  :  with  these  furres,  the  traine  oile  and  cor-fish,  I  returned  for 
England  in  the  barke,  where,  within  six  moneths  after  our  departure  from 
the  Downes,  wee  safely  arriued  backe.  The  best  of  this  fish  was  sold 
for  51i.  the  hundred,  the  rest  by  ill  vsage  betwixt  three  pounds  and 
50  shillings.  The  other  ship  stayed  to  fit  herself  for  Spaine,  with  the 
dry  fish,  which  was  sold  at  Maligo  at  forty  rials  the  quintall,  each  hun- 
dred weighing  two  quintalls  and  a  half.  But  one  Thomas  Hunt,  the  mas- 
ter of  this  ship  (when  I  was  gone)  thinking  to  preuent  that  intent  I  had 
to  make  there  a  plantation,  thereby  to  keepe  this  abounding  countrey 
still  in  obscurity,  that  onely  he  and  some  few  merchants  more  might 
enjoy  wholly  the  benefit  of  the  trade,  and  profit  of  this  countrey,  be- 
traied  foure  and  twenty  of  these  poore  Saluages  aboord  his  ship,  and 
most  dishonestly  and  inhumanly  for  their  kinde  vsage  of  me  and  all  our 
men,  carried  them  with  him  to  Maligo,  and  there  for  a  little  priuate 
game  sold  those  silly  Saluages  for  rials  of  eight ;  but  this  ville  act  kept 
him  euer  after  from  any  more  imploiment  to  those  parts."  J 

During  this  voyage  of  Smith,  he  made  a  map  or  chart  of  the  coast, 
and  named  it  New  England, §  which  is,  as  he  expresses  it,  "  that  part 
of  America  in  the  Ocean  Sea,  opposite  to  Noua  Albion  in  the  South  Sea, 
discouered  by  the  most  memorable  Sir  Francis  Drake  in  his  voyage  about 
the  world,  in  regard  whereof  this  is  stiled  New  England." 

On  the  map  of  which  Smith  speaks,  the  names  strike  the  eye  of  a 
modern  observer  with  a  kind  of  surprise,  like  that  which  might  arise 

*  This  ship  of  Popham  was  probably  com-  under  hatches,  and  carried  them  to  the  Straights 

manded  by  "  one  Capt.  Williams,"  who,  before  of    Gibraltar,  and  there  did   he  sell  as  many 

1611,  had  "  diuers  times"  been  there  to  trade  as  he  could  of  them  for  20/.   a  man,  until  it 

and  fish,  ' '  but  for  any  plantations  there  was  no  was  known  whence  they  came  ;  for  then    the 

more  speeches." — Smith,  Gen.  Hist.,  ii.  174-5 .  Friars   in  those   parts  took  away  the  rest  of 

f  Thus  it  appears  that  the  French  were  before  them,  that  so  they  might  nurture  them  in  the 

the  English  in  and  about  Cape  Cod.     They  popish  religion." 

probably  came  in  to  the  present  harbor  of  Bos-       §  "  Now  because  at  this  time  I  had  taken  a 

ton,  and  the  harbors  in  Narraganset  Bay.     This  draught  of  the  coast,  and  called  it  New  Eng- 

may  account  for  the  French  coin  which  have  land,  yet  so  long  he  [Hunt]  and  his   consorts 

been  digged  up  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  as  will  drowned  that  name  with  the  eccho  of  Canna- 

be  hereafter  mentioned.  day,  and  some  other   ships  from   other   parts 

|  If  these  were  really  the  sentiments  of  Cap-  also,  that  upon  this  good  returne  the  next  yeear 

tain  Smith,  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  were  at  went  thither,  that  at  last  I  presented  this  dis- 

the  time  he   published  them,  he  saw  cause  to  course  with  the   map,   to   our    most  gracious 

change  his  mind  subsequently,  in  some  degree,  Prince    Charles,  humbly  intreating  his  High- 

probably,  as  will  be  seen.     Dr.  I.  Mather  is  nesse  hee  would  please  to  change  their  barba- 

particular  relative  to  the  kidnapping  of  the  In-  rous  names  for  such  English  [names]  as  poster- 

dians,  of  which  unfortunate  affair  he  thus  speaks  itie   might  say  that  Prince  Charles  was  their 

in  his  Relation  :     "  Hunt  enticed  Indians  into  God-father."     Thus  Smith's  Indian  names  on 

his  vessel,  they  in   confidence  of  his  honesty  his  original  map  of  New  England,  became,  on 

went  aboard,  to  the  number  of  twenty  from  Pa-  that  we   now   have,  Boston,  Cambridge,  Ply- 

tuxet,  since   called  Plimouth,  and  seven  from  mouth,  Bristow,  &c.  —  See  Smith,  Gen.  Hist., 

Nosset  (now  known  by  the   name  of  Estam),  ii.  176. 
these  did  this  Hunt  seize  upon,  stowed  them 


1G14.]  SMITH    IN    MASSACHUSETTS    BAY.  21 

were  he  to  look  on  a  mirror  expecting  to  see  his  own  face,  which, 
though  indeed  he  might  see,  he  could  scarcely  recognize  it  for  the 
numerous  deformities  upon  it.  Yet  it  is  no  small  matter  of  wonder  that 
Smith  has  presented  an  outline  of  the  coast  of  New  England  so  near  the 
actual  outline  as  it  unquestionably  is.  This  map,  though  drawn  six 
years  before  Plymouth  was  settled,  and  sixteen  before  Boston,  yet  both 
these  names  find  a  place  on  it.  So  do  Cambridge,  Sandwich,  Dart- 
mouth, Ipswich,  Hull,  Barnstable,  Bristow,  London,  Oxford  and  many 
others.  But  Boston  has  given  place  to  Portsmouth,  Hull  to  Hampton, 
Cambridge  is  far  "  down  east,"  Smith's  lies,  Cape  Anna,  Talbott's  Bay 
are  conspicuous.  The  last  named  bay  is  Boston  harbor,  but  instead  of 
Boston  at  the  head  of  it,  we  read  Bristow  ;  yet  Cape  Anna  is  Cape  Ann 
to  this  day,  and  Tragabigzanda,  the  name  of  Smith's  deliverer  from 
slavery,  is  handed  down  only  in  the  history  of  his  eventful  life. 

This  same  map  bears  in  one  corner  a  portrait  of  "  Captayne  Iohn 
Smith,"  in  the  background  of  which  the  observer  discovers  that  the 
author  was  but  thirty-five  years  of  age  when  he  surveyed  the  coast  of 
New  England. 

In  his  account  accompanying  his  map,  Capt.  Smith  describes  the 
whole  coast  of  New  England,  from  Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod,  with  much 
accuracy,  which  he  says  he  has  done  "as  he  gathered  from  the  nig- 
gardly relations  in  a  broken  language  to  his  vnclerstancling,  during  the 
time  he  ranged  those  countries."  The  "  Tarrantines "  lived  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Penobscot,  with  whom  "the  French  lived  as  one  family," 
and  they  were  "mortall  enemies"  to  the  Indians  on  the  west  side.  As 
he  proceeds  westward  he  mentions  nearly  all  of  the  important  bays  and 
headlands,  chiefly  known  by  the  same  names  at  this  day ;  speaks  of 
numerous  cornfields  and  great  numbers  of  people.  The  great  bay  he 
speaks  of,  north  of  Cape  Ann,  is  doubtless  that  extending  thence  to  the 
Isle  of  Shoals.  Flowing  into  that  bay,  "the  Indians  reported  a  great 
river  [the  Merrimac]  and  at  least  thirtie  habitations." 

"And  then  the  countrie  of  the  Massachusits  which  is  the  paradise 
of  all  those  parts:*  for  here  are  many  lies  all  planted  with  corne  ; 
groues,  mulberries,  saluage  gardens,  and  good  harbors  :  the  coast  is  for 
the  most  part,  high  clayie  sandie  cliffs.  The  Sea  Coast  as  you  passe, 
shewes  you  all  along  large  corne  fields,  and  great  troupes  of  well 
proportioned  people  :  but  the  French  hauing  remained  heere  neere  sixe 
weekes,  left  nothing  for  vs  to  take  occasion  to  examine  the  inhabitants 
relations,  viz.  if  there  be  neere  three  thousand  people  vpon  these  lies ; 
and  that  the  riuer  doth  pearce  many  daies  iourneies  the  intralles  of  that 
countrey.f     We  found  the  people  in  those  parts  verie  kinde  ;  but  in 

*  "  I  would  rather  liue  here  then  any  where,  the  extract  in  the  Hist,  of  Dorchester,  p.  3,  witty 

and  if  it  did  not  maintaine  it  selfe,  were  we  but  a  full  extract  from  Smith,  "  namely,  if  there  ba 

once  indifferently  well  fitted,  let  vs  star ue." —  neer   three   thousand  people  vpon  these  lies; 

Smith's  Gen.  Hist.,  ii.  184.  and  that   the  Riuer  doth  pearce  manie   daies 

| The  historian  of  Dorchester  entirely  mis-  iourneies,"  as  he  understood  by  the  information 

takes  Capt.  Smith,  and  seriously  misleads  his  he  got  from  the  Indians, —  See  Smith  (in  Force) 

readers,  by  his  quotations  from  him.     Compare  p.  15. 


22  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1614. 

their  furie  no  lesse  valiant.  For,  vpon  a  quarrell  wee  had  with  one  of 
them,  hee  onely  with  three  others  crossed  the  harbor  of  Quonahassit 
[Cohasset]  to  certaine  rocks  whereby  wee  must  passe,  and  there  let  flie 
their  arrowes  for  our  shot,  till  we  were  out  of  danger."* 

From  Cohasset  rocks  Smith  proceeded  along  the  west  side  of  the  bay 
to  Accomack,  since  Plymouth,  "an  excellent  good  harbor,  good  land, 
and  no  want  of  anything  but  industrious  people."  All  along  experi- 
encing much  kindness  from  the  Indians,  until,  "vpon  a  small  occasion," 
a  quarrel  arose,  and  a  fight  was  unavoidable.  A  smart  skirmish  ensued, 
in  which  were  engaged  "fortie  or  fiftie"  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  and 
notwithstanding  "  some  were  hurt  and  some  were  slaine,  yet  within  an 
houre  after  they  became  friends. "f 

The  place  where  this  fight  happened  was  probably  about  Nauset, 
though  Smith  mentions  no  place  except  Chawum  between  Accomack 
and  Cape  Cod ;  which  cape,  he  very  aptly  observes,  is  "in  the  forme  of 
a  sickle,"  on  which  "  doth  inhabit  the  people  of  Pawmet." 

It  is  evident,  on  a  comparison  of  Smith's  accounts,  that  he  did  not 
proceed  up  the  bay  as  far  as  the  peninsula  of  Shawmut,  and  possibly  he 
stretched  across  from  about  Cape  Ann  to  Cohasset,  and  may  not  have 
landed  higher  up  the  bay  than  that  place.  Had  he  done  so  he  would 
hardly  have  failed  to  obtain  the  names  of  such  places  as  he  visited. J 
That  he  had  no  accurate  knowledge  of  the  bottom  of  this  bay,  is  not 
only  evident  from  his  map,  but  from  his  own  faithful  account  in  1631, 
in  which  he  says  he  mistook  "  the  fairest  reach  in  this  bay  for  a  river, 
whereupon  I  called  it  Charles  River,  §  after  the  name  of  our  royall  King 
Charles ;  but  they  [later  observers]  find  that  faire  channell  to  divide 
itselfe  into  so  many  faire  branches  as  make  forty  or  fifty  pleasant  islands 
within  that  excellent  Bay."  || 

While  Smith  was  on  his  voyage,  or,  as  he  expresses  it,  a  little  before 
his  return  from  his  service  on  the  coast  of  New  England,  "some  of 
Plimouth,  and  diuers  gentlemen  of  the  West  Countrey  [Plymouth  and 
places  adjacent]  in  search  for  a  mine  of  gold  about  an  He  called  Capa- 
wuck,  southwards  from  the  Shoales  of  Cape  lames"  [Cape  Cod]  had  set 

*"  Yet  one  of  them  [Indians]  was  slaine  and  since  called  Charles  River.  He  undoubtedly 
another  shot  through  his  thigh."  —  Smith's  supposed  what  is  now  Boston  harbor  was  the 
Gen.  Hist.,  ii.  194.  mouth  of  a  great  river,  such  as  appears  on  his 

fin  his  "  Generall  Historie^  Smith  gives  a  map.  Writing  in  1629,  he  speaks  of  "the  Bay 
few  additional  facts.  He  says  the  Indians  con-  of  Massachusetts,  otherwise  called  Charles  Riv- 
tinued  the  fight  "till  they  had  spent  all  their  er."  And  it  is  evident  that  Capt.  Squeb  sup- 
arrowes,  and  then  we  tooke  sis  or  seuen  of  their  posed  he  was  in  Charles  River  when  he  turned 
canowes,  which  towards  the  euening  they  ran-  our  fathers  ashore  at  Nantasket,  as  we  shall 
somed  for  beuer  skinnes."  —  lb.  see  hereafter. 

Jit  is  true  he  speaks  of  "  the  lies  of  Matta-  ||  Here  again  the  Historian  of  Dorchester  has 
hunts  on  the  west  side  of  this  Bay,"  but  not  as  made  Capt.  Smith  say  in  his  work,  what  Smith 
having  seen  them  ;  nor  is  it  unlikely  that  by  does  not  say  in  his  own.  Compare  Hist.  Dor- 
Mattahunts  we  are  to  understand  Mattapan ;  a  Chester,  p.  3,  with  the  extract  in  the  text,  and 
neck  of  land  like  Shawmut,  easily  mistaken  for  the  charge  of  "  a  direct  contradiction"  in  Smith, 
an  island,  especially  as  he  had  his  knowledge  will  at  once  disappear.  That  the  quarrel  be- 
of  them  from  the  Indians.  tween  Smith's  men  and  the  Indians  "hastened 

§  From  Smith's  later  "Relations,"  it  is  evi-  his  explorations,"  does  not  appear  certain,  for 
dent  he  had  no  information  about  the  stream   they  were  "  friends  again  in  an  hour." 


1614.]  smith's  trials  —  adventures  at  cape  cod.  23 

out  an  expedition  to  secure  it.  They  had  been  assured  of  its  existence 
by  Epanow,  the  Indian  before  mentioned,  hoping  thereby  to  regain  his 
liberty,  "being  a  man  of  so  great  a  stature,  he  was  shewed  vp  and 
downe  London  for  money  as  a  wonder;"  who,  continues  Smith,  "it 
seemes  of  no  lesse  courage  and  authoritie,  than  of  wit,  strength,  and 
proportion ;  for  so  well  he  had  contriued  his  businesse,  as  many  report- 
ed, he  intended  to  haue  surprised  the  ship  ;  but  seeing  it  could  not  be 
effected  to  his  liking,  before  them  all  he  leaped  ouer  boord.*  Many 
shot  they  made  at  him,  thinking  they  had  slaine  him,  but  so  resolute 
they  were  to  recouer  his  body,  the  master  of  the  ship  was  wounded,  and 
many  of  his  company  ;  and  thus  they  lost  him  ;  and,  not  knowing  more 
what  to  do,  returned  againe  to  England  with  nothing,  which  so  had  dis-^ 
couraged  all  the  West  Countrey  men,  they  neither  regarded  much  their 
promises,  and  as  little  either  me  or  the  countrey,  till  they  saw  the  Lon- 
don ships  gone  and  me  in  Plimouth  according  to  my  promise,  as  here- 
after shall  be  related." 

This  was  one  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges'  unfortunate  enterprises.  In- 
stead of  attributing  the  misfortune  attending  it,  however,  to  the  real 
cause,  he  attributed  it  to  the  enmity  of  the  Indians  to  the  English, 
growing  out  of  Capt.  Hunt's  conduct  already  spoken  of.  But  he  strongly 
intimates  that  Hunt  did  not  steal  his  Indians  near  enough  to  Cape  Cod 
for  it  to  cause  the  effect  which  Gorges  imagines.  He  kidnapped  them, 
according  to  Smith  himself,  far  down  the  eastern  coast,  and  Capt.  Hobson's 
repulse  and  Epanow's  adventure  were  at  Martha's  Vineyard.  More- 
over, the  affair  at  the  Vineyard  must  have  happened  very  near  the  time 
Hunt  left  the  coast. f 

1614.  Capt.  Smith's  return  to  England  was  before  the  return  of  Capt. 
August.  Hobson,  and  hence  Hobson's  bad  success  was  not  then  known. 
Reporting  "himself  to  his  honourable  friende  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorge,  and 
some  others,"  who,  hearing  from  Smith  himself  the  success  which  had 
attended  him  in  his  voyage,  they  encouraged  him  to  continue  in  the  ser- 
vice, and,  as  an  inducement,  offered  him  the  government  of  New  Eng- 
land for  life.  Accordingly,  he  engaged  to  go  again  for  that  country, 
and  Sir  Ferdinando  and  his  associates  agreed  to  get  ready  "  four  good 
ships  to  his  hand  "  for  the  voyage,  by  the  next  Christmas  ;  and  Smith's 
affairs  calling  him  to  London,  he  proceeded  thither,  accompanied  by 
Michael  Cooper,  the  master  of  the  bark  in  which  Smith  had  returned 
from  New  England,  and  some  others  who  had  been  in  the  same 
service. 

Meantime,  the  ship,  which  had  been  sent  to  Cape  Cod,  under  Capt. 
Harlow,  with  the  crafty  Epanow,  returned  to  Plymouth,  bringing  the 
news  of  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  voyage,  by  the  loss  of  the  Indian 
pilot,  who  had  engaged  to   conduct  his  credulous  followers  to  a  gold 

*  In  my  Book  of  the  Indians,  this  affair,  in       f  Compare  New  England's  Trials,  16,  Gorges'1 
which  Epanow  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part,  is    America,  and  Smith's  Qen,  Hist,  ii,  206. 
more  fully  treated  of,     See  that  work,  Book  n. 
ch,  i.  pp.  72^4,  ed.  1851. 


24  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1615-1617. 

mine.  The  news  of  this  disaster  very  much  damped  the  ardor  for  anew 
undertaking,  and  several,  who  had  been  very  forward  to  fit  out  the 
necessary  ships,  thought  their  money  of  more  consequence  than  their 
honor,  and  so  would  not  fulfil  their  engagements ;  while  Gorges'  ideas  of 
integrity  would  not  allow  him  thus  to  shuffle  off  obligations.  Yet  the 
affairs  were  much  retarded  by  those  desertions  from  the  company. 

Things  lying  in  this  state  of  inactivity  with  the  Plymouth  company, 
the  London,  or  South  Virginia  Company,  always  jealous  of  its  rival  at 
Plymouth,  stimulated  as  well  by  an  emulation  as  by  the  accounts  of  the 
country  by  those  who  had  been  with  Capt.  Smith,  without  loss  of  time 
got  ready  four  ships  for  New  England,  and  offered  the  command  of 
them  to  Smith.  Under  other  circumstances,  Smith  would  willingly  have 
embarked  with  the  London  Company,  but  he  was  under  obligation  to 
that  of  Plymouth,  and  would  not  act  dishonorably  in  the  matter  ;  but  he 
used  his  utmost  endeavors  to  try  to  bring  the  two  companies  to  act  in 
concert  in  the  work,  and  to  unite  their  interests  for  the  common  good 
of  colonizing  New  England;  but  that  he  says  "was  most  impossible," 
and  "  might  well  have  been  a  worke  for  Hercules."  And,  having  spent 
some  time  in  trying  to  bring  this  about,  and  the  day  having  arrived  for 
1615.  him  to  be  at  Plymouth,  "with  two  hundred  pound  in  cash  for  ad- 
Jan.  venture,  and  six  gentlemen  well  furnished,"  he  left  London  for  that 
place.  On  arriving  there,  instead  of  the  four  ships  that  were  promised, 
he  "  found  no  such  matter."  He  found,  too,  that  the  great  forwardness 
among  many,  when  he  left  for  London,  to  adventure  in  the  enterprise 
was  "  extinct  and  qualified."  "Notwithstanding,"  to  use  Smith's  own 
forcible  language,  "  at  last,  with  a  labyrinth  of  trouble,"  and  the  chief 
burthen  upon  himself  and  a  few  of  his  particular  friends,  "  Sir  Ferdi- 
nando  George  and  Master  Doctor  Sutliffe,  Deane  of  Exeter,"  a  ship  of 
200  tons  and  another  of  50  were  got  ready,  and  Smith  departed  again 
1615.  for  New  England.  But,  he  says,  "ere  I  had  sayled  120  leagues, 
March,  g^g  brake  all  her  masts ;  pumping  each  watch  five  or  6000  strokes ; 
onely  her  spret  saile  remayned  to  spoone  before  the  wind,  till  we  had 
reaccommodated  a  iury  mast  to  returne  for  Plimouth,  or  founder  in  the 
Seas."  The  smaller  ship,  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  Dermer,  pur- 
sued her  voyage  unharmed,  and  returned  to  England  in  about  five 
months,  making  a  prosperous  voyage. 

As  soon  as  he  could  refit,  Smith  put  to  sea  again,  but  in  a  short  time 
was  taken  by  pirates,  who  stripped  him  of  everything,  kept  him  above 
three  months,  and  from  whom  he  escaped  in  the  most  surprising  man- 
ner ;  "  far  beyond  all  men's  reason,  or  his  expectation." 

If  Smith  had  been  a  fatalist,  he  would  hardly  have  undertaken,  or 
attempted  to  have  undertaken,  another  voyage  to  New  England,  as 
he  did  within  two  years  from  his  disasters  by  storms  and  pirates.  But 
he  was  one  of  those  whom  no  success  could  enervate,  or  misfortunes 
discourage,  and  we  find  him  in  the  spring  of  this  year  ready,  with  three 
good  ships  at  Plymouth,  and  men  to  begin  a  settlement  in  the  country. 
His  ill-fortune,  however,  still  pursued  him, —  he  was  wind-bound  three 


1617-1631.]       smith's  disappointments  and  reverses.  25 

months,  and  the  voyage  was  finally  abandoned.  In  consequence  of  his 
losses  and  disappointments  about  New  England,  it  is  said  that  the 
Plymouth  Company  conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  Admiral  of  that 
country,  which  office  he  was  to  hold  for  life. 

It  was  thus  by  a  combination  of  untoward  events,  which  continued 
for  several  years,  that  Captain  John  Smith  was  prevented  from  being 
the  founder  of  the  first  colony  in  New  England,  and  probably  the  first 
settler  of  the  peninsula  of  Boston — for  his  skilful  and  practised  eye  could 
not  have  overlooked  the  most  favorable  point,  and  the  best  harbor  in 
the  country,  that  he  had  himself  denominated  the  "  Paradise  of  New 
England."* 

How  Captain  Smith  employed  his  time,  after  the  year  1617  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1631,  there  is  nothing  to  show  farther  than  is  con- 
tained in  his  General  History ;  from  which  it  is  certain  he  had  the 
great  object  of  settling  New  England  continually  in  view.  The  publi- 
cation of  his  works  gave  him  some  employment.  After  he  had  published 
his  "  Grenerall  Historie,"  Sir  Robert  Cotton  and  others  of  his  friends 
found  that  he  "  had  likewise  undergone  diuers  other  as  hard  hazards  in 
the  other  parts  of  the  world,"  requested  him  "to  fix  the  whole  course 
of  his  passages  in  a  booke,"  which  he  consented  to  do,  because  his 
"  fatal  tragedies  had  been  acted  on  the  stage,  and  his  relations  had 
been  racked  at  the  pleasure"  of  those  who  had  exhibited  no  disposition 
to  do  him  justice,  and,  to  "prevent  future  misprisons." 

There  is  ample  evidence  that  Capt.  John  Smith  was  a  generous  friend, 
as  well  as  a  magnanimous  foe.  In  writing  of  his  own  achievements,  he 
never  forgets  those  of  others  who  shared  his  fortunes.  "  To  speak  only 
of  myself,"  he  says,  "were  intolerable  ingratitude.  I  cannot  make  a 
monument  for  myself,  and  leave  them  unburied  in  the  fields,  whose  lives 
begot  me  the  title  of  a  soldier  ;  for  as  they  were  companions  with  me 
in  my  dangers,  so  shall  they  be  partakers  with  me  in  this  tomb."  At 
the  same  time  he  thus  remembers  his  enemies,  whose  "  envie  hath  taxed 
me  to  haue  writ  too  much  and  done  too  little  ;  but  that  such  should 
know  how  little  I  esteem  them,  I  haue  writ  this." 

Speaking  in  the  third  person,  Smith  himself  says  "he  was  born  in 
Willoughby  in  Lincolnshire,"!  and  from  a  reference  already  made  to  one 

*  The  names  of  the  men  that  were  to  have        Thomas  Watson  )  Were  to  learn 
begun  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts,  in  1615,        Walter  Chisell      >  to  be 

are  given  by  Captain  Smith,  as  follows  : —  lohn  Hall.  )        Sailers. 

Iohn  Smith,  Admirall  [or  Governor]']  f  There  can  be  no  mistake  in  what  Smith 

Thomas  Dermer  ■  himself  says,  so  far  as  his  own  knowledge  went, 

Edward  Stallings  [Rocroftl]  >Gent.       but  it  is   remarkable  that  Fuller,  who  wrote 

Daniel  Cage  during  and  after  the  civil  wars,  should  say  in 

Francis  Abbot  J  his  Worthies,  that  "  Captain  Smith  was  born 

Iohn  Gosling       ~|  in  the  county  of  Cheshire."     This  statement 

of  Fuller   is  the  more  remarkable,  because  he 

unqualifiedly  says,  "Master  Arthur  Smith,  Capt. 

Smith's  kinsman,  and  my  old  school-master  did 

William  Ingram  ^Soldiers.  inform  me  so."     But,  although  Fuller  makes 


Thomas  Digbie 
Daniel  Baker 
Adam  Smith 


Robert  Miter 
Dauid  Cooper 
Iohn  Patridge 
and  two  boies 


up  quite  a  story  about  Smith,  he  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  very  well  informed  with 
regard  to  him,  and  was  unfavorably  impressed 
towards  him,  as  is  very  evident  from  the  sneer- 


26  HISTOKY    OF    BOSTON.  [1617-1631. 

of  his  maps,  it  appears  that  he  was  born  in  1579  ;  and  from  a  monu- 
ment to  his  memory  in  St.  Sepulcher's  Church,  London,  erected  by  "  a 
friend,"  it  also  appears  that  he  "  departed  this  Life,  the  21st  of  June, 
1631."  And,  as  the  inscription  upon  his  monument  has  never,  to  the 
writer's  knowledge,  been  published  in  the  land  for  which  he  made  so 
many  sacrifices,  it  is  here  presented.* 

"  To  the  living  Memory  of  his  deceased  Friend,  Capt.  John  Smith,  some  time  Governour  of 
Virginia  and  Admiral  of  New  England,  who  departed  this  life  the  21st  of  June,  1631. 

Accordiamus,  vincere  est  vivere. 
Here  lies  one  conquer'd,  that  hath  conquer'd  Kings, 
Subdu'd  large  territories,  and  done  things 
Which  to  the  world  impossible  would  seem, 
But  that  the  truth  is  held  in  more  esteem. 
Shall  I  report  his  former  service,  done 
In  honour  of  his  God  and  Christendom  ? 
How  that  he  did  divide  from  Pagans  Three, 
Their  heads  and  lives,  types  of  his  chivalry  : 
For  which  great  service  in  that  climate  done, 
Brave  Sigismundus  (King  of  Hungarion) 
Did  give  him  as  a  Coat  of  Armes  to  wear, 
Those  conquered  heades,  got  by  his  sword  and  spear. 
Or  shall  I  tell  of  his  adventures  since, 
Done  in  Virginia,  that  large  continent? 
How  that  he  subdu'd  Kings  unto  his  yoke, 
And  made  those  heathen  flee,  as  wind  doth  smoke  • 
And  made  their  land,  being  of  so  large  a  station, 
A  habitation  for  our  christian  nation  ; 
Where  God  is  glorified,  their  wants  supply 'd, 
Which  for  necessaries  might  have  dy'd. 
But  what  avails  his  conquest  now  he  lies 
Interr'd  in  earth,  a  prey  to  wormes  and  flyes? 
0  may  his  soul  in  sweet  Elysium  sleepe, 
Until!  the  keeper,  that  all  souls  doth  keep, 
Return  to  judgement ;  and  that  after  thence, 
With  Angels  he  may  have  his  recompence." 

New  England  as  well  as  Old  owes  the  memory  of  Captain  Smith  a 
debt  which  remains  unpaid.  Let  Virginia  look  to  this.  Her  sons  will 
by  and  by  be  inquired  of  for  the  monument  which  they  have  not 
erected  to  his  memory.  So  far  as  books  go,  we  have  several  that  aim 
at  doing  him  justice,!  an(i  paintings  and  prints  are  not  wanting,  but  an 
edited  edition  of  his  works  1 — there  is  none  ! 

ing  manner  in  which  he  speaks  of  ' '  his  ranting  *  Maitland's  Hist.  Lond.  ,p.H80.  2  v.  fol.  1760. 

Epitaph,"  as  he  calls  it,  and  which  he  did  not  f  The   neat   and  classic  memoir  of  Captain 

think  worth  his  while  to  copy.     That  Fuller  Smith,  by  Mr.  G.  S.  Hillard,  is  creditable  to 

knew  little  about  Smith,  is  evident  from  anoth-  its  gifted  author.     It  forms  half  of  the  second 

er  fact,  namely,  his  supposing  him  to  have  died  volume  of  Mr.  Spark's  American  Biography ; 

in  old  age  ;  whereas  he  was  but  52  when  he  but  loses   its  importance    by  sleeping  in  the 

died.     This  is  only  one  instance  among  many,  same   bed  with  Wilson,  the  Ornithologist.  — 

wherein  this  curious  author  bends  his  facts  to  Mr.  W.  G.  Simms  has  given  the   most  elaborate 

his  conceits.     He  wished  to  say,  that  "  Smith  life  of  Smith  that  has  yet  appeared,  but  he 

had   a  prince's   mind   imprisoned   in   a   poor  does  not  pretend  to  give  us  anything  new.     It 

man's  purse,"  which  obliged  him  to  add,  as  he  would  be  difficult,  indeed,  to  find  anything  in 

fancied,  that  "he  led  his  old  age  in  London."  the  same  compass,  superior  to   the  memoir  of 

Now  Smith's  Life  and  Travels  were  common  Smith,  by  Dr.  Belknap  ;  although  it  is  to  be  re- 

when  Fuller  wrote,  and  he  has  no  excuse  for  gretted  that  the  part  in  which  we  are  most  in- 

errors  about  his  birthplace,  or  age  when  he  terested  is  so  slightly  touched  upon  by  his 

died.  able  hand. 


1617-1631.]  NEW    ENGLAND,  1607  to  1029.  27 

Among  the  last  labors  of  Capt.  Smith,  was  probably  that  of  superin- 
tending the  printing  of  his  "  Advertisements  for  the  inexperienced 
Planters  of  New  England,  or  any  where."*  It  bears  the  date  1031  on 
its  title-page,  and  this  was  the  year  "he  finished  his  earthly  career," 
as  has  just  been  stated. 

About  one  year  before  the  settlement  of  Boston  by  the  company  which 
came  with  Winthrop,  Captain  Smith  recapitulated  the  affairs  of  New 
England,  as  follows  :  "  When  I  went  first  to  the  north  part  of  Virginia, 
[in  1614]  where  the  Westerly  Colony  [of  1607]  had  been  planted,  which 
had  dissolved  itself  within  a  yeare,  there  was  not  one  Christian  in  all 
the  land.  The  country  was  then  reputed  by  the  Westerlings  [the  Plym- 
outh Company]  a  most  rockie,  barren,  desolate  desart ;  but  the  good 
return  I  brought  from  thence,  with  the  maps  and  relations  I  made  of  the 
country,  which  I  made  so  manifest,  some  of  them  did  beleeve  me,  and 
they  were  well  embraced,  both  by  the  Londoners,  and  Westerlings,  for 
whom  I  had  promised  to  undertake  it,  thinking  to  have  joyned  them 
all  together.  Betwixt  them  there  long  was  much  contention.  The  Lon- 
doners indeed  went  bravely  forward,  but  in  three  or  four  yeares,  I  and 
my  friends  consumed  many  hundred  pounds  amongst  the  Plimothians, 
who  only  fed  me  but  with  delayes,  promises  and  excuses,  but  no  per- 
formance of  any  thing  to  any  purpose.  In  the  interim,  many  particular 
ships  went  thither,  and  finding  my  relations  true,  and  that  I  had  not 
taken  that  I  brought  home  from  the  French  men,  as  had  beene  reported ; 
yet  further  for  my  paines  to  discredit  me,  and  my  calling  it  New  Eng- 
land, they  obscured  it  and  shadowed  it  with  the  title  of  Cannada,  till, 
at  my  humble  suit,  King  Charles  confirmed  it,  with  my  map  and  booke, 
by  the  title  of  New  England.  The  gaine  thence  returning  did  make 
the  fame  thereof  so  increase,  that  thirty,  forty,  or  fiftie  saile,  went 
yearely  only  to  trade  and  fish  ;  but  nothing  would  bee  done  for  a  plan- 
tation, till  about  some  hundred  of  your  Brownests  of  England,  Amster- 
dam, and  Leyden,  went  to  New  Plimouth,  whose  humorous  ignorances, 
caused  them  for  more  than  a  yeare,  to  endure  a  wonderful  deale  of  mis- 
ery, with  an  infinite  patience ;  but  those  in  time  doing  well,  divers 
others  have  in  small  handfulls  undertaken  to  goe  there,  to  be  severall 
Lords  and  Kings  of  themselves,  but  most  vanished  to  nothing  ;  notwith- 
standing, the  fishing  ships  made  such  good  returnes,  at  last  it  was 
ingrossed  by  twenty  Pattenties,  that  divided  my  map  into  twenty  parts, 
and  cast  lots  for  their  shares  ;  but  money  not  comming  in  as  they  ex- 
pected, procured  a  proclamation  none  should  goe  thither  without  their 
licences  to  fish  ;  but  for  every  thirty  tunnes  of  shipping,  to  pay  them 
five  pounds.  Besides,  upon  great  penalties,  neither  to  trade  with  the 
natives,  cut  downe  wood  for  their  stages,  without  giving  satisfaction, 
though  all  the  country  is  nothing  but  wood,  and  none  to  make  vse  of  it 

*  This,  a  tract  of  some  fifty  pages,  contains  be  very  justly  entitled  the  "Book  of  Good 
history,  natural  as  well  as  civil,  and  a  variety  Counsel,"  as  well  to  undertakers  as  actual  set- 
of  things,  told  in  an  agreeable  way.     It  would   tiers. 


28  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON.  [1617-1631. 

with  many  such  other  pretences,  for  to  make  this  country  plant  itself,  by 
its  owne  wealth.  Hereupon  most  men  grew  so  discontented,  that  few 
or  none  would  goe  ;  so  that  the  Pattenties,  who  never  one  of  them  had 
beene  there,  seeing  those  proiects  would  not  prevaile,  have  since  not 
hindered  any  to  goe  that  would  ;  so  that,  within  these  few  last  yeares, 
more  have  gone  hither  than  ever." 

Thus,  how  affairs  stood,  and  what  influences  operated,  alternately,  to 
retard  and  forward  settlements  in  New  England,  is  quaintly,  yet  graph- 
ically set  forth,  by  one  who  lived  in  and  among  those  affairs  and  influ- 
ences ;  one  who  not  only  knew  them  better  than  any  other,  but  also 
was,  unquestionably,  better  than  any  other  qualified  to  describe  them. 
And,  to  do  him  full  justice,  his  own  summary  recapitulation  of  his  vari- 
ous fortunes  shall  here  follow,  which  would  suffer  in  any  hands  but  his. 
Although  delivered  in  the  third  person  it  is  nevertheless  his : — 
"Now  to  conclude,"  he  writes,  "the  travels  and  adventures  of  Cap- 
tain Smith,  how  first  he  planted  Virginia,  and  was  set  ashore  with  about 
an  hundred  men  in  the  wild  woods  ;  how  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Savages,  and  by  the  King  of  Pamaunke  tied  to  a  tree  to  be  shot  to 
death  ;  led  up  and  down  their  country  to  be  shown  for  a  wonder ; 
fatted  as  he  thought  for  a  sacrifice  to  their  icloll,  before  whom  they  con- 
jured him  three  dayes,  with  strange  dances  and  invocations,  then  brought 
him  before  their  Emperor  Powhatan,  that  commanded  him  to  be  slaine ; 
how  his  daughter  Pocahontas  saved  his  life,  returned  him  to  lames 
towne  ;  releeved  him  and  his  famished  company,  which  was  but  eight 
and  thirty  to  possess  those  large  dominions  ;  how  he  discovered  all  the 
severall  nations,  upon  the  rivers  falling  into  the  Bay  of  Chisapeacke  ; 
stung  neere  to  death  with  a  most  poysoned  taile  of  a  fish  called  Sting- 
ray ;  how  Powhatann  out  of  his  Country  tooke  the  Kings  of  Pamaunke 
and  Paspahegh  prisoners,  forced  thirty  nine  of  those  kings  to  pay  him 
contribution  ;  subjected  all  the  Savages  :  how  he  was  blowne  up  with 
gunpowder,  and  returned  for  England  to  be  cured. 

"  Also  how  he  brought  our  new  England  to  the  subjection  of  the 
Kingdom  of  great  Britaine ;  his  fights  with  the  Pirats,  left  alone  amongst 
a  many  French  men  of  Warre,  and  his  ship  ran  from  him  ;  his  sea  fights 
for  the  French  against  the  Spaniards  ;  their  bad  vsage  of  him  ;  how  in 
France  in  a  little  boat  he  escaped  them  ;  was  adrift  all  such  a  stormy 
night  at  sea  by  himselfe,  when  thirteene  French  Ships  were  split,  or 
driven  on  shore  by  the  He  of  Kee  ;  the  generall  and  most  of  his  men 
drowned,  when  God  brought  him  safe  on  shore  to  all  their  admirations 
that  escaped."  * 

In  another  place  he  says,  "I  have  spent  five  years,  and  more  than 
five  hundred  pounds,  in  the  service  of  Virginia  and  New  England,  and 
in  neither  of  them  have  I  one  foot  of  land,  nor  the  very  house  I  built, 
nor  the  ground  I  digged  with  my  own  hands ;  but  I  see  those  coun- 
tries shared  before  me  by  those  who  know  them  only  by  my  descrip- 
tions." 

*  Gen.  Hist.  Virginia,  ii.  278-9. 


1615.]  PROMOTERS    OF    THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    NEW    ENGLAND.  29 

Such  are  some  of  the  last  words  of  an  honest  man,  one  who  shrunk 
from  no  responsibilities,  and  never  knew  fear  ;  and,  that  friends  and 
foes  should  never  differ  about  what  he  said  and  did,  he  closes  by  saying 
"  Iohn  Smith  writ  this  with  his  own  hand." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Promoters  of  New  England  Settlements.  — People  early  in  the  Country.  — Voyages  of  Whitbourn.  — 
Hawkins.  —  French  Ship  surprised  by  the  Indians.  —  Indians'  Idea  of  an  Almighty  Power.  —  De- 
stroyed by  Disease.  —  Does  not  affect  the  English.  —  Sir  F.  Gorges.  —  Sir  John  Popham.  —  Origin  of 
the  two  Virginia  Companies.  —  Discoveries  Continued.  —  Baffin.  —  Death  of  Capt.  Dermer.  —  Capt. 
Rocroft.  —  Charter  of  1620.  — A  Settler  in  Massachusetts  Bay.  — Settlement  of  Plymouth. 

The  distinguished  men  by  whose  exertions  New  England  had  become 
known,  and  by  whom  the  minds  of  the  people  of  England  had  been  pre- 
pared for  the  great  work  of  colonization,  had  chiefly  gone,  one  by  one, 
to  the  tomb,  before  any  great  settlements  had  been  effected  in  the  coun- 
try. Gilbert  had  perished  in  the  commencement  of  his  career ;  Frobisher 
was  sacrificed  to  the  blindness  of  those  who  controlled  his  services ; 
Drake  had  fallen  a  victim  to  disease,  while  in  the  service  of  his  Queen  ; 
envy  and  misfortune  had  paralyzed  the  exertions  of  Raleigh,  who  finally 
perished  upon  the  scaffold.  Smith  alone  saw  the  sailing  of  a  frail  bark 
or  two,  with  a  feeble  colony,  for  New  England  ;  he  did,  indeed,  live  to 
witness  a  second  governor  sent  to  the  country  of  which  he  had  held  the 
office  of  Admiral.  But  death  closed  his  eyes  before  he  had  very  san- 
guine hopes  that  these  efforts  would  found  a  permanent  state. 

It  is  true  that  there  were  a  few  fishermen  scattered  along  the  coast, 
who  had  made  lodgments  in  several  places  upon  islands  and  on  the  main 
land,  even  from  the  time  of  Smith's  last  voyage  ;  but  who  they  were, 
and  where  they  were  located,  remain  in  as  much  uncertainty  as  the 
times  of  their  arrival.* 

Voyages  had  become  so  frequent  to  the  northern  parts  of  Amer- 
ica, that  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  people  to  remain  in  the 
country,  while  the  ships  which  brought  them  returned  home  and  came 
again  to  the  same  coasts. 

Captain  Richard  Whitbourn,  who  made  a  voyage  to  Newfoundland 
this  year,  says  there  were  then  on  that  coast  two  hundred  and  fifty  sail 
of  English  ships  fishing,  "  greate  and  smale."  He  had  a  commission 
equal  to  that  of  governor,  held  courts  and  corrected  abuses.  In  a  short 
time  he  heard  complaints  from  one  hundred  and  seventy  captains  or  mas- 
ters of  vessels,  of  injuries  committed  on  their  trade ;  nor  is  this  to  be 
wondered  at,  when  the  fact  is  considered  that  there  were  congregated 

*  "  The  time  when  these  things  happened  is  controverted  more  than  the  things  themselves." — 
Mather's  Relation,  3. 


30  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1616. 

in  those   seas  "  many  thousands  of  English,  French,  Portuguese,  and 
others." 

Sir  Richard  Hawkins,  not  long  returned  out  of  a  Spanish  captivity, 
son  of  the  famous  Sir  John  Hawkins,*  was  the  same  year  on  the  coast 
of  New  England.  He  was  president  of  the  Plymouth  Company,  and 
came  over,  on  its  behalf,  to  search  into  the  nature  of  the  commodities 
of  the  country,  but  finding  a  war  raging  among  the  Indians  along  the 
coast,  he  judged  it  unsafe  to  proceed  in  his  intentions.  Sailing  hence 
to  Virginia,  he  returned  to  England,  without  accomplishing  anything  of 
moment.  At  least,  there  appears  no  record  of  anything. 
1616  ^n  ^e  au^umn  or  fall  of  this  year,  a  French  ship  was  cast  away 
somewhere  about  Cape  Cod,f  but  the  crew  succeeded  in  getting  safely 
to  land.  They  were  soon  discovered  and  made  prisoners  by  the  Indians, 
who  treated  them  in  their  barbarous  manner,  and  eventually  killed  them 
all  but  three  or  four.  These  they  sent  as  curiosities  about  the  country, 
from  one  sachem  to  another.  Three  years  after,  when  Captain  Dermer 
was  at  Cape  Cod,  he  found  two  of  them  alive,  whom  he  redeemed  out 
of  their  hands.  As  an  illustration  of  the  ignorance  and  simplicity  of  the 
Indians,  it  may  be  interesting  to  observe  here  their  ideas  of  an  Almighty 
power.  When  the  English  inquired  of  them  why  they  killed  the 
Frenchmen,  they  justified  the  murders  on  some  frivolous  grounds  ;  and 
when  they  were  told  that  the  great  God  was  angry  with  them  for  their 
crimes,  and  would  destroy  them,  they  looked  significantly  on  one  an- 
other, and  inquired,  sneeringly,  of  the  English,  if  they  thought  they 
were  such  fools  as  to  believe  that  God  could  kill  all  the  Indians  ? 

It  was  very  remarkable  in  this  case,  and  the  superstitions  of  the  In- 
dians might  well  lead  them  to  the  belief  that  the  white  people  truly 
held  their  fate  in  their  hands :  for,  immediately  after  they  had  so 
cruelly  treated  the  poor  French  mariners,  a  deadly  sickness  broke  out 
among  them,  which,  as  old  authors  say,  caused  them  "  to  die  in  heaps 

*  I  have  no  authority  expressly  to  this  point,  pentance."  This  so  disturbed  Sir  Richard  that 
Southey,  the  biographer  of  Sir  Richard,  makes  he  would  not  undertake  the  voyage  in  her. 
no  mention  that  he  ever  made  a  voyage  to  New  Among  a  great  many  examples  of  ships  with 
England,  nor  does  the  editor  of  his  "  Observa-  unfortunate  names,  he  mentions  the  "  Thun- 
tions,"  republished  by  the  Hakluyt  Society,  derbold  of  London,  who  in  one  voyage  had  her 
make  any  mention  of  it,  or  that  he  was  a  mem-  mast  cleft  with  a  thunderbolt." 
ber  of  the  first  parliament  of  James  I.  He  was  f  Captain  Dermer's  letter  in  Purchas.  Der- 
a  most  expert  seaman ;  had  served  under  Drake,  mer  says  the  ship  was  cast  away  to  the  "  North 
and  was  in  "  the  iourney  against  the  Spanish  East  of  Cape  Cod,"  which  is  not  a  very  definite 
Armada."  His  "Observations,"  a  copy  of  the  locality.  Morton,  of  Ma-re-Mount,  learned 
original  edition  of  which  is  before  me,  shows  some  important  facts  from  the  Indians  relative 
him  to  have  been  a  man  of  learning,  and  pos-  to  the  French  ship,  which,  he  says,  was  riding 
sessing  an  excellent  judgment  and  great  expe-  at  anchor,  by  an  island,  afterwards  called  Ped- 
rience  in  sea  affairs ;  yet  he  was  superstitious,  dock's  Island,  that  the  Indians  set  upon  the 
as  probably  were  nearly  all  seamen  of  that  age.  men  at  disadvantage,  killed  many  of  them,  and 
He  believed  there  was  much  of  good  or  evil  to  burnt  the  ship.  The  captives  they  distributed 
happen  to  a  ship,  as  she  had  a  fortunate  or  an  among  five  sachems  of  different  territories, 
unfortunate  name.  When  he  had  caused  an  This,  so  far  as  it  goes,  agrees  with  what  Dr.  I. 
elegant  ship  "to  be  builded  in  the  river  Mather  relates  of  the  same  tragedy.  His  in- 
Thames,"  for  his  famous  South  Sea  expedition,  formant  gave  him  the  name  of  the  French- 
he  requested  his  mother-in-law  to  give  it  a  man  living  in  his  time,  which  was  Monsieur 
name,  "who,  knowing  what  voyage  was  pre-  Finch. 
tended  to  be  vndertaken,  named  her  the  Re- 


1G06.]  PESTILENCE    AMONG   THE   INDIANS. GORGES.  31 

all  up  and  down  the  country,  insomuch  that  the  living  were  in  no  wise 
able  to  bury  the  dead."  What  kind  of  malady  this  was  that  swept  them 
off  in  so  fearful  a  manner  was  never  known.  Some  have  conjectured  it 
was  the  plague,  and  others  that  it  was  the  small-pox  ;*  but  whatever  it 
was,  its  ravages  were  very  extensive,  even  several  hundred  miles  along 
the  coast ;  probably  from  the  Penobscot  to  Narraganset  Bay  ;  but  nei- 
ther the  Penobscots  nor  Narragansets  were  affected  by  it. 

The  disease  that  carried  off  the  Indians  with  such  fatality  seems  not 
to  have  affected  the  English  at  all ;  for  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  says 
his  agent,  "  Mr.  Richard  Vines,  and  the  rest  with  him,"  were  with  the 
Indians  in  the  time  they  were  "  dying  mightily,"  and  though  they  lived 
and  slept  in  the  same  cabins  with  the  Indians,  yet  "  not  one  of  them 
ever  felt  their  heads  to  ache." 

To  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  who  persevered  so  long  and  so  unsuccess- 
fully to  colonize  New  England,  something  more  than  has  yet  been  said 
in  these  pages  is  justly  due.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Raleigh, 
and  appears  to  be  first  noticed  by  the  English  historian  in  connection 
with  the  unfortunate  Earl  of  Essex,  with  whose  conspiracy  against 
Queen  Elizabeth  he  had  knowledge,  which  he  communicated  to  Raleigh. 
In  the  latter  wars  with  Spain  he  served  with  reputation  in  the  navy,  and 
when  James  I.  came  to  the  throne,  and  peace  was  settled,  Gorges  was 
appointed  governor  of  Plymouth,  in  Devonshire.  He  was  of  an  ancient 
family,  the  ancestor  of  which,  as  appears  by  the  roll  of  Battle  Abbey, 
and  other  ancient  records,  came  over  with  William  the  Conqueror. 

Gorges'  interest  in  New  England  grew  out  of  the  mere  accident  as 
he  relates,  of  some  Indians  happening  to  be  brought  into  Plymouth, 
whom  he  took  into  his  keeping.  Having  at  much  pains  learnt  from 
them  something  of  the  nature  of  their  country,  his  imagination  was  soon 
brilliant  with  golden  harvests  to  be  reaped  in  the  western  continent,  and, 
naturally  endowed  with  a  sanguine  temperament,  he  pursued  his  favorite 
project  with  a  constancy  that  deserved  a  better  issue  than  that  which 
happened  to  him. 

The  high  moral  standing  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  is  apparent  from 
the  fact  of  his  interesting  with  him,  in  his  plan  of  discovery,  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench,  Sir  John  Popham  ;  f  by  whose  ac- 
quaintance with  many  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  an  interest  at  Court 
secured  a  patent  for  making  settlements  in  America. 

1606.       The  patent  to  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  became  void  soon  after 
April  10.  his  death,  J  and  that  to  Raleigh,  by  his  attainder,  had  reverted  to 

*  Major  Gookin  says,  in  his  valuable  Histori-  were  to  be  numbered  about  900,000  persons." 

cal  Collections,  that  "some  old  Indians,   who  — Proceedings  in  the  House  of Commons,  1621,  i. 

were  then  youths,  told  him,  that  the  bodies  of  317.  — Chief  Justice  Popham  died  on  the  10th 

the  sick  were  all  over  exceeding  yillow  before  of  June,  1607,  at  the  age  of  76  years.  — Har- 

they  died,  which  they  described  by  pointing  to  ris  in  Hubbard's  New  England,  682. 

a  yellow  garment."  J  The  terms  of  his  patent  were,  to  secure  his 

f  In  the  30th  of  Elizabeth  (1588)  Judge  Pop-  discoveries  to  himself  forever,  provided  he  made 

ham  did,  "  by  the  Queen's  command,  inquire  settlements  in  the  countries  discovered,  within 

how  many  men,   women  and  children  there  sis  years  from  the  date  of  its  execution, 
were   in  London,  and   then  found  that  there 


32  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1616. 

the  crown,  after  the  melancholy  death  of  the  former  ;  therefore,  there 
remained  no  obstacle  in  the  way  for  whatever  grants  of  territory  the  king 
thought  proper  to  make  in  North  America.  The  first  step  was  to  divide 
the  whole  country  into  two  parts,  because,  "  being  found,  upon  experi- 
ence and  tryall,"  too  large  for  one  government.  This  division  being 
made,  the  respective  territories  were  named  North  and  South  Virginia. 
The  latter  of  these  districts  was  entrusted  to  the  care  of  certain  noblemen 
and  gentlemen,  who  styled  themselves  the  London  Company,  because  the 
principal  part  of  them  resided  in  and  about  London  ;  the  other  was 
under  the  direction  of  gentlemen  of  Bristol,  Exeter  and  Plymouth. 
These  were  called  the  Plymouth  Company,  because  they  held  their  meet- 
ings at  Plymouth.  Of  this  company,  Gorges  and  Popham  were  proba- 
bly the  most  enterprising  members.  The  proceedings  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  procurement  of  these  charters,  so  far  as  deemed  necessary 
to  a  full  understanding  of  their  bearing  upon  this  history,  have  been 
detailed  in  the  preceding  chapter. 

Notwithstanding  the  disasters  which  attended  the  Sagadehock  col- 
ony, Gorges  continued  his  efforts  to  further  his  great  object  of  coloniz- 
ing New  England  almost  alone  ;  and  although  ships  in  considerable 
numbers  were  sent  by  the  London  and  Plymouth  Companies  every  sea- 
son, fishing  and  trade  with  the  Indians  seem  to  have  been  the  only 
thing  aimed  at  in  their  voyages. 

Voyages  of  discovery,  too,  were  kept  up  in  the  North  American 

'  seas.  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  an  eminent  writer  on  government,  and 
then  Governor  of  the  Virginia  Company,  with  other  gentlemen  in  Eng- 
land, sent  out  a  ship  for  the  fifth  time,  named  the  Discovery,  to  search 
for  a  passage  to  China  by  the  north-west.  William  Baffin  went  as  pilot, 
and  the  captain's  name  was  Robert  Bylot.  The  Discovery  sailed  from 
Gravesend  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  March.  In  this  voyage  Horn  Sound, 
Cape  Dudley  Digges,  Wolstonholme's  Sound,  Sir  Thomas  Smith's 
Sound,  Whale  Sound,  Hakluyt's  Island,  Cary's  Islands,  Alderman  Jones 
Sound,  and  James  Lancaster's  Sound,  were  discovered  and  named. 
Thus  far  Captain  Bylot  seems  to  have  had  no  ambition  to  leave  his  own 
name  on  any  of  the  frozen  sounds  or  gulfs  in  the  north.  But  when  the 
discoverers  entered  a  great  sea  or  bay  in  78°,  it  was  named  for  the  pilot, 
Baffin's  Bay,  who  was,  very  likely,  the  most  important  man  in  the  voy- 
age. He  is  said  to  have  been  a  great  mathematician,  and  the  first  of  nav- 
igators who  made  use  of  lunar  observations  for  finding  longitudes  at  sea. 
He  was  afterwards  an  engineer  in  the  war  against  the  Portuguese,  and 
was  slain  at  the  siege  of  Ormuz,  "  as  he  was  trying  his  mathematicall 
projects  and  conclusions,"  before  the  year  1629.* 

Captain  Thomas  Dermer,  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  seamen  of  these 

'  times,f  of  whom  but  slight  notice  has  been  taken,  was  engaged  to 

*  Hutton,  who  professes  to  notice  mathema-  who  were  thought  the  wisest  of  their  craft,  de- 

ticians   in  his  Mathematical  and  Philosophical  cided  that  no  such  bay  as  that  laid  down  by 

Dictionary,  has  not  the  name  of  Baffin.     Per-  Baffin  existed  !      It  is  somewhere  stated   that 

haps  the  omission  may  be  accounted  for  from  Baffin  was  killed  in  1622. 

the  fact  that  the  geographers  of  Hutton's  time,  fLedyard's  Naval  History,  ii.  457. 


1619.]  DERMER.  —  ROCROFT — EPENOW'S    CONSPIRACY.  33 

carry  out  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges'  views  in  his  endeavors  to  colonize 
New  England  ;  but  his  death  prevented  all  hopes  Gorges  may  have  en- 
tertained from  his  tried  services  and  abilities.  He  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  the  midst  of  his  enterprises  in  this  manner  :  Being  at  New- 
foundland, Gorges  prevailed  upon  the  Company  to  send  Captain  Ed- 
ward Rocroft*  to  New  England,  with  orders  to  remain  there  until  Cap- 
tain Dernier  should  join  him.  On  his  arrival  Rocroft  fell  in  with  a 
French  ship,  which  he  took  as  a  lawful  prize,  and  sailed  with  it  to  South 
Virginia.  Here,  in  some  private  quarrel,  Rocroft  was  killed  and  his 
bark  sunk.f  Meantime,  Captain  Dermer  returned  to  England,  and 
having  conferred  with  Gorges  and  the  Company,  sailed  for  New  Eng- 
land in  a  ship  which  Gorges  owned,  expecting  to  meet  Rocroft  there  ; 
but,  disappointed  in  this,  he  ranged  the  coast  and  examined  it  minutely ; 
and,  transmitting  the  result  of  his  observations  to  Gorges,  sailed  for 
South  Virginia.  J  Here  learning  the  fate  of  Rocroft,  and,  disappointed 
of  supplies,  he  returned  again  to  the  coast  of  New  England.  At  the 
island  Capawock  he  met  with  that  subtle  Indian,  Epenow,  who  escaped 
so  adroitly  from  Captain  Hobson  five  years  before.  Suspecting  some 
sinister  design  upon  himself,  knowing  that  Captain  Dermer  was  in  the 
employ  of  his  old  master,  Epenow  conspired  with  the  other  Indians  to 
kill  him  and  those  with  him,  or  to  make  prisoners  of  them.  Watching 
his  opportunity,  therefore,  when  they  came  on  shore  to  trade,  not  ex- 
pecting mischief,  he  laid  violent  hands  upon  Captain  Dermer,  and  his 
accomplices  at  the  same  moment  fell  furiously  upon  his  men  ;  and  thus 
was  a  very  desperate  fight  begun.  The  English  fought  only  to  escape, 
while  the  Indians  fought  for  victory  as  well  as  for  revenge  of  former  in- 
juries.    But  Captain  Dermer,   "  being  a  braue,  stout  gentleman,"  de- 

*  This  person  went  under  the  name  of  Stall-  they  were  worthy  of  it.  Therefore  he  resolued 
ings  at  some  period,  and  some  of  the  old  writ-  to  leave  them  in  the  wilderness,  not  knowing 
ers  say  Rocroft  alias  Stallings.  Prince  is  copious  but  they  might  haply  discover  something  which 
in  regard  to  him  and  his  misfortunes.  His  name  might  be  advantageous.  Accordingly  he  fur- 
is  written  Ricroft,  Rocraft,  &c.  nished  them  with  ammunition  and  some  vict- 

•j- Rocroft   was   expected   to   winter    on    the  uals  for  their  present    subsistence,  and  turned 

coast,  but  his  men  mutinied,  and  some  of  them  them  ashore  to  Sacodehock,   himself  with  the 

left  him  and  went  to  Monhiggon,  where  they  rest   of   his   company   departing   to   Virginia, 

spent  the  winter.      Monhiggon  then    or  soon  These  English  mutineers  got  over  to  the  island 

after  belonged  to  Mr.  Abraham  Jennings,  of  Monhegin,  three  leagues  from  the  main,  where 

Plymouth,  in  Devonshire.     These  men  wereaf-  they  kept  themselves  safe  from  the  fury  of  exas- 

terwards  taken  off  by  Capt.  Dermer.     Sawgua-  perated   Indians,  until   the  next  spring.     One 

tock,   the   place   where   Rocroft   captured  the  only  having  died  of  sickness." 

Frenchman,  is  said  by  Willis  to  be  Saco.     See  Jin  his  way  thither  he  sailed   through  the 

Prince,    145-6,    151;    /.    Mather,   Rel.    3-4;  whole  length  of  Long  Island  Sound,  discovering 

Willis,  Portland,  9.  —  Report  on  Lincoln  Diffi-  the  island  to  be  such  ;  the  Indian  name  of  which 

culties,  40.  is  rather  uncertain  ;  while  it  may  be  said  to  be 

The  facts  collected  by  Dr.  I.  Mather  concern-  quite  certain  that  it  had  many  names  ;  as  Ma- 

ing  Rocroft  are  thought  worthy  a  place  in  this  touake  —  the  residence  of  the  Manito  ;  Saiva?i- 

note.  He  says  Rocroft's  men  "  conspired  against  hake  —  wampum  island,  or  the  place  or  resi- 

him,  intending  his  death,  who  having  secret  in-  dence  of  the  wampum-makers,  &c.     These  ap- 

telligence  of  this  plot  against  his  life,  held  his  pellations   were   probably   conferred   by   other 

peace  untill  the  day  was  come  wherein  the  in-  than  resident  Indians.     Montaukett  and  Mon- 

tended  mischief  was  to  be  put  in  execution,  tauk   are   probably  variations   of  the  original 

then  unexpectedly  apprehending  the  conspira-  name  of  the  east  end  of  the  island,  whatever 

tors  ;  he  was  loth  to  put  any  to  death,  though  the  primary  name  may  have  been. 
5 


34  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1619. 

fended  himself  with  his  sword,  and  finally  escaped  though  not  without 
fourteen  wounds.  All  his  men  who  accompanied  him  on  shore  were 
killed,  excepting  him  who  kept  the  boat,  and  this  man,  in  the  last  ex- 
tremity, saved  the  life  of  his  captain,  who,  as  he  regained  his  boat,  was 
about  to  receive  a  fatal  blow,  which  was  warded  off  in  a  moment  of  the 
utmost  peril. 

No  mention  is  made  of  the  number  of  men  killed  in  the  onslaught 
upon  Captain  Dermer,  but  it  put  an  end  to  his  labors  in  New  England  ; 
for,  going  to  Virginia  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  to  have  his  wounds  cured, 
he  died  there  not  long  after  his  arrival.  He  was  a  very  worthy  man, 
whose  loss  so  discouraged  Gorges,  "that  it  made  him,"  he  says,  "al- 
most resolue  neuer  to  intermeddle  again  in  any  of  these  courses."  But 
soon  after  this  a  prospect  began  to  open  from  a  quarter  where  it  was 
least  expected.  When  Virginia  was  divided  into  two  colonies,  there 
was  this  singular  proviso,  that  neither  company  should  settle  within  one 
hundred  miles  of  the  other. 

By  the  regulations  of  the  South  Virginia  Company,  none  were  allowed 
to  trade  or  plant  within  their  limits  not  authorized  by  them,  while  the 
North  Virginia  Company  had  no  such  restrictions.  More  effectually  to 
place  themselves  on  equal  footing  with  their  rival  neighbors,  some  of 
the  principal  members  of  the  North  Virginia  Company,  among  whom 
Gorges  was  the  most  active,  solicited  of  the  king  a  new  Charter, 
which  after  some  delay  they  obtained  ;  and  this  is  the  famous  charter  of 
the  third  of  November,  1620,  which  became  the  foundation  of  all  the 
grants  which  were  subsequently  made  of  territory  in  New  England.  Its 
extent  was  from  the  40th  to  the  48th  degree  of  northern  latitude,  and 
between  these  parallels  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.* 

*  The  charter  recites,  that,' '  henceforth,  there  Edward  Lord  Zouch,  Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinque  Ports, 

shall  be  forever  hereafter,  in  our  towne  of  Plym-  Edmond  Lord  Sheffield, 

outh,    in  the   county  of  Devon,  one   body  pol-  Edward  Lord  Gorges 

...      '  ■■  ,*'    „u •  i      i    I.  i  j.  Sir  Edward  beymotir,*  Knieht  and  Bart, 

ltique  and  corporate,  which  shall  have  perpet-  gir  Robert  Manselle, 

uall   succession,   which    shall    be    called  and  Sir  Edward  Zouch,  Knight  Marshall, 

knowne  by  the  name  the  Councill  established  Sir  Dudley  Diggs,* 

at  Plymouth,  which  shall  have  perpetuall   sue-  Sir  Thomas  Roe,* 

cession,  which  shall  consist  of  the  number  of  sjr  Ferdinando  Gorges, 

fortie  persons  and  no  more,  and  shall  be  called  ^r  jrfnci?  PoP^am'* 

and  knowne  by  the  name,  the  Councill  estab-  g|£  ThomasrG°ates 

lished  at  Plymouth,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  for  q-it  pochard  Hawkins 

the   planting,    ruling,  ordering,  and  governing  Sir  Richard  Edgcombe, 

of  New  England  in  America,"  &c.  Sir  Allen  Apsley, 

The  names  of  the  forty  gentlemen  composing  Sir  Warwick  Hale, 

the  council,  here  follow,  as  they  are  printed  in  §ir  Richarcl  Catchmay, 

Hazard's  State  Papers :  £  ^jB^gu*, 

Lodowick,  Duke  of  Lenox,  Lord  Steward  of  the  King's  Sir  Edward  Giles,* 

household.  Sir  Giles  Mompesson,* 

George,  Lord  Marquess   Buckingham,  High  Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Wroth,  Knights, 

of  England.  Matthew  Sutteliffe,  Dean  of  Exeter, 

James  Marquess  Hamilton,  Robert  Heath,  Esq.,  Recorder  of  London,* 

William,  Earl  of  Pembrocke,  Lord  Chamberlaine  of  the  Henry  Bourchier,  Esq., 

King's  household.  John  Drake,  Esq.,* 

Thomas,  Earl  of  Arundel,  Rawleigh  Gilbert,  Esq., 

William,  Earl  of  Bath,  George  Chudley,  Esq., 

Henry,  Earl  of  Southampton,  Thomas  Hamon,  Esq., 

AVilliam,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  John  Argall,  Esq. 

Robert  Earl  of  Warwick,  Those  Qames  tQ  which       gtar  •    adde(j  were 

John  Viscount  Haddington,  ,  P    T  T  ,      ,,.    ,  -,-,    ,.  ,       f 

&  members   of  James  I.  a  third  Parliament,  of. 


1619.]  DAVID    THOMPSON.  SETTLEMENT    OF    PLYMOUTH.  35 

While  these  apparently  more  important  public  affairs  were  in  prog- 
'  ress,  an  individual,  David  Thompson  by  name,  explores  the  islands 
in  Boston  harbor  with  a  view  of  making  some  one  of  them  his  permanent 
residence.  Having  fixed  upon  one — that  which  to  this  day  bears  his 
name — he  with  the  Indian  Sachem  of  Agawam,  as  a  witness,  takes  for- 
mal possession  of  it.  The  name  of  the  Indian  chief  is  believed  to  be 
Mascononomo,  who  says  this  island  was  made  choice  of  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, "  because  of  the  smale  river,  and  then  no  Indians  vpon  it,  or  any 
wigwam  or  planting,  nor  hath  been  by  any  Endeans  inhabited  or  clajmed 
since,  but  two  years  agoe,  Harmlen,  an  old  Indian  of  Dorchester."* 
Thompson  did  not  reside  regularly  on  the  island.  It  is  not  unlikely  that, 
soon  after  he  took  possession  of  it,  he  returned  to  England,  and  may 
have  influenced  the  emigration  of  others.  He  was  afterwards  interested 
in  the  settlement  at  Pascataqua,  and  may  have  been  there  to  select  a 
location  for  others  before  this  time.     He  had  a  grant  of  the  island. f 

Meantime,  the  small  number  of  English  families  which  had  fled  into 
Holland  to  avoid  persecution  under  the  laws  enacted  against  dissenters, 
having  resolved  upon  a  removal  to  America,  obtained  leave  of  the  South 
Virginia  Company  to  settle  within  its  territory.  Accordingly  they  sailed 
for  South  Virginia,  and  probably  intended  to  fix  upon  some  point  not 
far  from  the  mouth  of  Hudson's  river  ;  but  the  Dutch,  knowing  or  sup- 
posing this  to  be  their  destination,  bribed  their  pilot ;  and  the  force  of 
circumstances  prevented  their  compelling  him  to  perform  his  promise  of 
carrying  them  to  Hudson's  river,  and  thus  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ment in  New  England  was  made  within  the  bay  of  Cape  Cod,  on  the 
Eleventh  of  November,  1620,  0.  S.,  eight  days  after  James  I.  had  signed 
the  new  patent  of  New  England,  of  which  notice  has  been  taken,  but  of 
which  they  knew  nothing. 

Thus  the  Pilgrims — as  these  emigrants  were  afterwards  with  much 
propriety  called — found  themselves  within  the  North  instead  of  the 
South  Virginia  patent ;  and  thus  to  an  iniquitous  and  highly  criminal  act 
New  England  became  indebted  for  its  first  permanent  colony.  And  hence 
it  may  with  truth  be  said,  that  sometimes  from  accident  and  sometimes 
from  iniquitous  designs  the  most  important  and  beneficial  consequences 
flow. 

Notwithstanding  their  hardships  and  sufferings,  these  pious  Pilgrims 
found  themselves  intruders  upon  territory  to  which  they  had  no  claim  ; 
but  fortunately  for  them  it  was  very  agreeable  to  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany to  learn  that  there  was  at  length,  though  very  unexpectedly,  a  set- 

1620-1 ,  or,  there  were  persons  in  that  Parlia-  justices  of  the  peace,  whose  wife,  alliances  [con- 
ment  of  the  same  names.  The  thirteen  noblemen  nections],  or  children  are  papists. "  —  Proceed- 
fast  on  the  list  were  probably  members  of  the  ings  and  Debates  in  House  of  Commons,  i.  314. 
upper  house  ;  but  I  have  not  a  list  of  that  house  *  Depositions  of  Miles  Standish,  Wm.  Tre- 
at hand.  In  the  same  Parliament  there  was  a  voyre  and  Mascononomo,  in  1650  ;  copied  from 
good  deal  of  puritan  spirit.  Papists  were  ar-  the  originals,  and  communicated  to  me  by  Wm. 
raigned  and  their  conduct  scrutinized  with  an  Gibbs,  Esq.,  of  Lexington,  in  1834.  The  same 
earnestness  that  a  remembrance  of  the  flames  has  been  since  printed  by  Mr.  Thornton  in  his 
of  Smithfield  was  calculated  to  excite  in  the  Examination  of  Mr.  Young's  Chronicles  of  Mas- 
minds  of  those  whose  kindred  had  suffered.  A  sachusetts.  See  Bost.  Dai.  Cour.,26  Aug.  to 
neniber  from  Devonshire  moved  that  "  none  be  28  Sept.,  1846.                                f  Ibid. 


36 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1622. 


tlement  begun  within  their  limits.  Therefore,  Sir  Ferclinando  Gorges, 
ever  the  friend  of  New  England,  caused  a  patent  to  be  issued  for  them 
to  Mr.  John  Pierce,  their  agent  in  England. 

Fortunate  it  was  for  the  Pilgrims,  in  another  respect,  there  were  no 
Indians  in  the  place  where  they  settled,  nor  does  it  appear  that  any 
ever  laid  claim  to  it  afterwards.  The  occupants  had  all  died  of  the  pes- 
tilence before  mentioned.* 


CHAPTER  V. 

Colony  of  Wessaguscus.  —  Weston.  —  Thomas  Morton.  —  Weston's  Colony  Dissolved.  —  Standish 
attacks  the  Indians.  — Pratt's  Narrative.  — Settlement  of  Nantasket.  —  Of  Pemaquid.  —  First  Set- 
tler in  New  England.  —  Settlements  on  the  Pascataqua.  —  Robert  Gorges.  —  Capt.  West.  —  First 
Governor  of  New  England.  —  Parliamentary  Action  relative  to  Trade  and  Fishing  in  New 
England. 

1622.  There  came  into  the  harbor  of  Plymouth  a  ship  called  the  Sparrow, 
May.  which  had  been  on  a  fishing  voyage  at  Damaris  Cove  at  the  east- 
ward. It  was  sent  thither  by  Mr.  Weston,  a  merchant  of  London,  and  Mr. 
Beauchamp,and  there  were  then  about  thirty  other  ships  there  upon  the 
same  design.  In  the  Sparrow  came  a  letter  for  Governor  Carver,  from 
Mr.  Weston,  dated  the  preceding  January,  in  which  he  informs  him  that 


*  The  following  is  an  exact  list  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Plymouth,  or  of  such  as  arrived  there 
in  the  Mayflower,  Dec.  1620 ;  the  Fortune,  9 
November,  1621 ;  the  Ann,  &c,  July  or  August, 
1623.     All  these  are  usually  considered  as  the 


Pilgrims.  For  its  preparation  I  am  indebted  to 
the  excellent  little  volume,  "Guide  to  Plym- 
outh, by  W.  S.  Russell,  Esq.,  1846.  The  small 
letters  at  the  end  of  each  name  refer  to  the 
respective  ships  in  which  they  came  over. 


Adams,  John  / 
Alden,  John  m 
Allerton,  Isaac  to 
Allerton,  John  to 
Annable,  Anthony  a 
Bangs,  Edward  a 
Bartlett,  Robert  a 
Bassite,  William  / 
Beale,  William  / 
Billington,  John  to 
Bompasse,  Edward  f 
Bradford,  William  m 
Brewster,  Fear  a 
Brewster,  Jonathan  / 
Brewster,  Patience  a 
Brewster,  William  to 
Brigges,  Clement  / 
Britterige,  Richard  m 
Brown,  Peter  m 
Bucket,  Mary  a 
Burcher,  Edward  a 
Cannon,  John  / 
Carver,  John  to 
Chilton,  James  to 
Clarke,  Richard  to 
Clarke,  Thomas  a 
Conant,  Christopher  a 
Coner,  William  / 
Cook,  Francis  to 


Crackston,  John  to 
Cushman,  Robert  / 
Cushman,  Thomas  / 
Cuthbertson,  Cuthbert  a 
Deane,  Stephen  / 
Be  la  Noye,  Philip  / 
Dix,  Anthony  a 
Dotey,  Edward  m 
Eaton,  Francis  to 
English,  Thomas  m 
Faunce,  John  a 
Flavell,  Goodwife  a 
Flavell,  Thomas  / 
Flavell,  son  of  the  above  / 
Fletcher,  Moses  to 
Flood,  Edmund  a 
Foord,  Widow  / 
Fuller,  Bridget  a 
Fuller,  Edward  to 
Fuller,  Samuel  to 
Gardiner,  Richard  to 
Goodman,  John  m 
Hatherly,  Timothy  a 
Heard,  William  a 
Hickes,  Robert/ 
Hickes,  Margaret  a 
Hickes,  —  her  children  a 
Hilton,  William's  wife  and 
two  children  a 


Hilton,  William  / 
Holman,  Edward  a 
Hopkins,  Stephen  m 
Howland,  John  m 
Jenny,  John  a 
Kempton,  Manasses  a 
Leister,  Edward  to 
Long,  Robert  a 
Margeson,  Edmund  m 
Martin,  Christopher  to 
Mitchell,  Experience  a 
Morgan,  Bennet  / 
Morton,  George  a 
Morton,  Thomas  / 
Morton,  Thomas,  Jr.  a 
Mullins,  William  m 
Newton,  Ellen  a 
Nicolas,  Austin  / 
Oldham,  John  a 
Palmer,  Frances  a 
Palmer,  William  / 
Perce,  Mr.,   his   two   ser- 
vants, a 
Penn,  Christian  a 
Pitt,  William  / 
Pratt,  Joshua  a 
Prence,  Thomas  / 
Priest,  Degory  m 


Rand,  James  a 
Rattliffe,  Robert  a 
Ridgdale,  John  to 
Rogers,  Thomas  to 
Simonson,  Moses  / 
Snow,  Nicholas  a 
Soule,  George  to 
Southworth,  Alice  a 
Sprague,  Francis  a 
Standish,  Barbara  a 
Standish,  Miles  to 
Statie,  Hugh  / 
Steward,  James  / 
Tench,  William  / 
Tilden,  Thomas  a 
Tilly,  Edward  to 
Tilly,  John  to 
Tinker,  Thomas  m 
Tracy,  Stephen  a 
Turner,  John  to 
Wallen,  Ralph  a 
Warren,  Richard  to 
Williams,  Thomas  to 
White,  William  to 
AVinslow,  Edward  to 
Winslow,  Gilbert  m 
Winslow,  John/ 
Wright  William  / 


A    few    of   these    names    have    undergone  Doten ;  Simonson,  Simmons;  Southworth,  South- 
changes  ;  Bassite  is  now  Bassett ;   Bompasse,  er ;  and  perhaps  a  few  others.  —  See  Guide  to 
Bumpas    (originally    Bon    passe)  ;     Burcher,  Plymouth,  128-31. 
Burchard  ;  De  la  Noye,  Delano  ;  Dotey,  Doty, 


1622.]  SETTLEMENT    OF   WEYMOUTH WESTON'S    COLONY.  37 

he  is  about  to  begin  a  plantation  near  Plymouth,  on  his  own  account. 
The  Plymouth  settlers  are  somewhat  disturbed  at  this  news,  because 
they  had  calculated  upon  his  cooperation  in  their  own  undertaking.  It 
was  afterwards  insinuated  that  he  had  dealt  unfairly  in  the  matter,  but 
those  insinuations  are  so  vaguely  made,  that  they  do  not  authorize  any 
unfavorable  decision  against  his  honest  intentions.  He  had  adventured 
large  sums  of  money  to  aid  the  Pilgrims,  and  for  furthering  settlements 
in  New  England,  and  he  may  have  had  reason  for  believing  that  the 
community  system  adopted  by  the  Plymouth  settlers  did  not  promise 
any  immediate  returns ;  and  that  therefore  a  plantation  for  profit  was 
necessary  in  his  affairs,  and  at  the  same  time  the  two  plantations  might 
be  of  mutual  help  to  one  another. 

June  or  Accordingly,  there  arrived,  about  one  month  later,  two  other  ships 
July-  of  Mr.  Weston's,  the  Charity  and  the  Swan,  with  about  sixty 
men.  These  were  to  begin  a  plantation,  for  which  Mr.  Weston  had  a 
patent.  Many  of  them  being  sick  on  their  arrival,  the  people  of  Plym- 
outh took  care  of  them  until  they  could  take  care  of  themselves.  In 
the  mean  time  a  place  was  selected  by  those  who  were  able,  and  had 
the  matter  in  charge,  and  a  settlement  was  begun  at  a  place  called  by 
the  Indians  Wessaguscusset  or  Wessagusset,*  and  afterwards  by  the 
white  people,  Weymouth.  Of  the  affairs  of  this  colony  it  is  necessary 
to  be  somewhat  particular,  as  Weymouth  was  afterwards  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Boston. 

Very  few  of  the  names  of  the  persons  who  made  up  Mr.  Weston's 
company  have  been  discovered,  which,  perhaps,  is  not  much  to  be  regret- 
ted, as  the  good  and  orderly  men  who  speak  of  them  are  unanimous  that 
they  were  no  people  "  for  them,"  and  that  "  they  were  not  fit  for  an 
honest  man's  company."  Even  Mr.  Weston  himself  wrote  to  the  gen- 
tlemen of  Plymouth,  to  prevent  their  being  imposed  upon  by  his  colo- 
nists, "  many  of  whom,"  he  said,  "  were  rude  and  profane  fellows." 

At  or  about  the  same  time  came  to  Plymouth  Mr.  Thomas  Morton, 
"  of  Clifford's  Inn,  gentleman,"  as  he  styled  himself,  who,  after  he  had 
had  "ten  yeeres  knowledge  and  experiment  of  the  country,"  made  a 
book  about  it,  "setting  forth  the  originall  of  the  natives,  the  natural 
indowments  of  the  countrie,  and  what  people  are  planted  there,"  which 
he  published  in  1632.  In  this  book  he  gives  no  very  favorable  account 
of  the  Pilgrims  and  other  settlers.  Nor  is  this  at  all  to  be  wondered  at, 
for  they  had  represented  him  in  the  most  unfavorable  light  possible,  for 
several  years  before  his  book  appeared  ;  and  though  they  may  not  have 
done  him  justice  in  every  particular,  he  certainly  has  not  erred  in  over 
justice  to  them.  There  are  few  greater  curiosities,  among  earlier  or 
later  books,  than  this  by  Morton,  and  it  discovers  a  good  deal  of  talent 

*Wessaguscus  and  Wessagusquasset  are  also  healthful,  very  good  ground,  well  timbered,  and 

names  of  the  same  place.     Morton,  who  had  hath  good  stoore  of  hay-ground ;  hath  a  spa- 

the  best  means  of  knowing  what  the  name  was,  cious  harbour  for  shipping  before  the  towne  ; 

writes    it    Wessaguscus,    New    Canaan.      In  the  salt  water  being  navigable  for  boates  and 

1633,  Wood,  speaking  of  the  "  severall  planta-  pinnaces  two  leagues ;  here  is  likewise  an  ale- 

tions  in  particular,"  says,  "  Wichaguscusset  is  wife  river."  — N.  Eng.  Prospect,  31,  ed.  1635. 
but  a  small  village,  yet  it  is  very  pleasant  and 


38  HISTOEY    OF    BOSTON.  [1622. 

as  well  as  learning  ;  shrewdness  of  observation,  as  well  as  much  graphic 
description.  He  was  as  deeply  in  love  with  New  England,  as  Captain 
John  Smith.  "  The  bewty  of  the  place,"  he  says,  "  with  all  her  faire 
indowments,"  made  him  think  that  "it  would  not  be  paralel'd  in  all  the 
knowne  world." 

Morton  arrived  in  the  country  in  that  season  which,  in  New  England, 
is  the  most  delightful  part  of  the  year.  This  will  account  for  his  rap- 
tures in  describing  it.  According  to  his  own  account,  which  is  no  doubt 
correct,  "he  chaunced  to  arrive  in  New  England  in  the  moneth  of  Iune, 
Anno  Salutis  :  1622,  with  30.  servants,  and  provisions  of  all  sorts  fit  for 
a  plantation  :  and  whiles  their  howses  were  building,  he  did  endeavour 
to  take  a  survey  of  the  country:"  and  "the  more  he  looked  the  more  he 
liked  it."  That  he  did  not  change  his  mind  afterwards,  is  pretty  clear, 
from  the  title  he  gave  his  book,  the  "  New  English  Canaan." 

The  description  of  the  Indians,  as  given  by  Morton,  is  superior  to 
that  of  most  authors  before  his  time,  and  though  he  indulges  his  imagi- 
nation sometimes,  yet  this  part  of  his  work  is  of  exceeding  great  value 
to  inquirers  about  the  primitive  inhabitants  of  New  England.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  concluding  paragraph  of  his  first  book  :  —  "  The  Indians 
may  be  rather  accompted  to  live  richly,  wanting  nothing  that  is  needful ; 
and  to  be  commended  for  leading  a  contented  life  ;  the  younger  being 
ruled  by  the  elder,  and  the  elder  ruled  by  the  Powahs,  and  the  Powahs 
are  ruled  by  the  Devill,  and  then  you  may  imagine  what  good  rule  is 
like  to  be  amongst  them."  This  is  not  offered  as  a  specimen  of  his  ob- 
servations and  conclusions.  His  belief  in  the  general  government  of  the 
devil,  was  not  singular ;  his  neighbors  had  the  same  belief,  but  while 
they  reported  that  there  were  lions  in  the  country,  Morton  says  distinct- 
ly, that  "  there  are  none."* 

Though  Morton  is,  by  some,  supposed  to  have  come  over  with  Mr.  Wes- 
ton's men,  it  does  not  appear  certain  that  he  was  interested  with  him  in 
his  settlement;  nor  does  it  appear  that  he  remained  at  Wessaguscus  till 
the  colony  of  Mr.  Weston  broke  up.  The  probability  is,  he  spent  con- 
siderable time  in  viewing  the  country,  but  left  it  before  the  end  of 
the  colony.  The  larger  of  Mr.  Weston's  ships,  the  Charity,  sailed  for 
England  about  the  end  of  September,  and  Morton  may  have  returned 
in  her.f 

However  this  may  be,  there  is  something  of  truth,  as  well  as  fable,  in 
Morton's  own  account  of  the  advent  of  Mr.  Weston's  colony  at  Plym- 
outh ;  nor  is  it  at  all  difficult  for  the  attentive  reader  of  New  England 
history  to  draw  the  line  between  them  :  it  is  in  these  words  :  — 

"  Master  Thomas  Weston,  a  merchant  of  London,  that  had  been  at 
some  cost,  to  farther  the  brethren  of  new  Plimmouth,  in  their  designs 
for  these  parts,  shipped  a  company  of  servants,  fitted  with  provisions  of 

*  "  It  is  contrary  to  the  nature  of  the  beast,        f  Further  details  of  many  events,  necessarily 

to  frequent  places  accustomed  to  snow;  being  briefly  noticed  in  this  history,  will  be  fully  gone 

like  the  catt,  that  will  hazard  the  burning  of  into  in  the  History  of  New  England,  which  the 

her  tayle  rather  than  abide  from  the  fire." —  author  many  years  ago  proposed  to  himself  to 

N.  Canaan,  56.  write. 


1623.]  weston's  colony.  39 

all  sorts,  for  the  undertaking  of  a  plantation  to  be  settled  there,  with  an 
intent  to  follow  after  them  in  person.  These  servants  at  first  arrived  at 
New  Plimmouth  where  they  were  entertained  with  court  holy  bread  by 
the  brethren.  They  were  made  very  wellcome  in  shew  at  least.  There 
these  servants  goods  were  landed,  with  promises  to  be  assisted  in  the 
choice  of  a  convenient  place,  and  still  the  good  cheare  went  forward, 
and  the  strong  liquors  walked.  In  the  meane  time  the  brethren  were  in 
consultation,  what  was  best  for  their  advantage,  singing  the  songe, 
Frustra  sapit,  qui  sibi  non  sapit."  After  this  significant  quotation, 
Morton  insinuates  that  the  Pilgrims  were  afraid  that  the  new  colony 
would  get  away  their  trade  for  beaver,  and  become  greater  than  they 
were  ;  "besides  Mr.  Weston's  people  were  no  chosen  separatists,  but 
men  made  use  of  at  all  adventures,*  fit  for  the  furtherance  of  Master 
Weston's  undertakinges :  and  that  was  as  much  as  he  need  care  for. 
Now  when  the  Plimmouth  men  began  to  finde,  that  Master  Weston's 
men's  store  of  provition  grew  short  with  feasting ;  then  they  hasted 
them  to  a  place  called  Wessaguscus,  in  a  weake  case,  and  there  left 
them  fasting,  "f 

The  plantation  of  Mr.  Weston  was  under  the  care  of  the  brother- 
in-law  of  that  gentleman,  whose  name  was  Richard  Green.  He 
having  died  at  Plymouth  in  the  autumn  of  the  preceding  year,  the  col- 
ony seems  to  have  soon  after  gone  to  ruin.  Neglecting  their  business, 
the  men  came  to  want,  robbed  the  Indians,  who  would  probably  have 
exterminated  them,  but  for  the  interference  of  the  people  of  Plymouth. 
Indeed,  the  Indians  seem  to  have  laid  their  plans  to  cut  them  off,  but 
the  plot  was  revealed  and  prevented.  One  John  Sanders  succeeded 
Mr.  Green  as  overseer  of  the  colony,  which,  by  the  end  of  February, 
was  reduced  to  a  state  of  perfect  wretchedness.  One  man,  Phinehas 
Pratt,  who  lived  long  afterwards  to  tell  the  story,  fled  from  the  place, 
and  not  knowing  "a  foot  of  the  way,"  reached  Plymouth  in  safety, 
"  with  a  pack  at  his  back,"  not  knowing  till  some  time  after,  that  he 
very  narrowly  escaped  death  in  the  journey.  An  Indian  pursued  him 
for  the  purpose  of  killing  him,  but  Pratt,  from  his  ignorance  of  the 
paths,  missed  the  direct  one,  which  occasioned  his  pursuer  to  miss  him, 
as  the  Indians  confessed  afterward. J 

*  Picked  up  at  random.  feet  that  he  attempted,  unfairly,  to  obtain  a 
f  Morton's  New  Canaan,  p.  71-2,  ed.  1632.  grant  of  land,  and  that  "  he  was  choaked  at 
The  fact  that  the  author,  p.  57,  speaks  of  Mr.  Plimmouth,"  for  shooting  "  a  carelesse  fellow 
William  Wood's  New  England's  Prospect,  that  was  new  come  into  the  land;"  "but," 
shows  that  his  own  book  has  a  title-page  with  a  says  Morton,  "  I  cannot  spie  any  mention  made 
false  date  in  it,  or  that  Wood  printed  his  Pros-  of  it  in  the  woodden  prospect."  By  the  wood- 
feet  before  Morton  did  his  New  Canaan.  The  den  prospect,  Wood's  New  England's  Prospect  is 
former  appears  the  more  probable,  because  unquestionably  meant.  In  another  place  (Book 
Wood  did  not  leave  the  country  till  August  I.,  ch.  v.)  he  says  there  is  no  need  of  the  luood- 
15th,  1633,  and  it  is  improbable  that  he  had  den  prospect  to  prove  that  the  Indians  of  New 
his  book  published  before  he  returned  to  Eng-  England  have  no  religion  at  all. 
land,  and  his  first  edition  is  dated  1634.  —  Mor-  J  See  Morton's  Memorial,  ed.  Davis,  9  ;  iT«&- 
ton  is  often  so  enigmatical,  that  it  is  impossible  bard's  N.  Eng.,  ed.  Harris,  72-9;  Belknap, 
to  guess  out  his  meaning.  His  dark  insinua-  Amer.  Biog.,  ii.  333-5. 
tion  against  "  Ould  Woodman,"  is  to  the  ef- 


40 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1623. 


The  Plymouth,  people  immediately  sent  Standish  to  the  relief  of 
Sanders  and  his  men,  who  found  them  in  great  distress,  not  only  from 
fear  of  the  Indians,  but  from  famine  also.  He  therefore  assists  them  off 
for  Monhiggon  in  their  small  ship,  and  thus  the  colony  comes  to  an  end. 
At  Monhiggon  they  expected  to  meet  with  Mr.  Weston  or  some  of  his 
ships,  from  whom  they  hoped  relief. 

Standish  did  not  proceed  directly  to  Wessaguscus,  but  went  to  the 
rendezvous  of  those  Indians  who  had  insulted  and  threatened,  not  only 
Weston's  people,  but  the  people  of  Plymouth  also,  and  against  whom 
the  plot  or  conspiracy  was  charged  of  an  intention  of  murdering  all  the 
English.  These  he  found  insolent  and  abusive,  which  confirmed  his 
suspicions  against  them.  He  therefore  fell  upon  them  at  great  advan- 
tage, killed  three  chiefs  on  the  spot,  hung  another,  and,  Weston's  men 
taking  courage  thereby,  killed  two  others  at  another  place.  In  all,  seven 
were  killed.*  This  bloody  business  has  ever  since  been  referred  to,  as 
of  doubtful  justification  ;  and  even  then  it  made  the  good  Eobinson  ex- 
claim, "  0  that  you  had  christianized  some  before  you  had  killed  any !  "f 

Phinehas  Pratt  left  an  account  of  this  colony,  which  he  "  called  a 
Declaration  of  the  Affairs  of  the  English  people  that  first  inhabited  New 
England."  He  probably  had  some  interest  in  the  patent  with  Mr.  Wes- 
ton, and  did  not  leave  the  country  with  those  that  went  to  Monhiggon  ; 
for  he  says,  "  We  bought  the  south  part  of  the  Bay  [of  Massachusetts] 
of  Aberdecest,J  the  Sachem  of  the  Indians."     It  is  not  certain  how  or 


*  They  were  killed  at  three  different  places. 
The  chiefs  hy  Standish,  probably  at  or  near  Ne- 
ponset  river,  those  by  Weston's  men,  near  Wes- 
saguscus, and  another  at  a  place  called  Aga- 
wain,  perhaps  in  what  is  since  Wareham. — 
Pratt  in  Mather's  Relation,  19-20. 

f  From  Pratt's  Relation  to  Dr.  I.  Mather,  it  ap- 
pears that  when  the  Indians  had  determined  to 
make  an  attack  on  Wessaguscus,  "  they  built 
divers  of  their  wigwams  at  the  end  of  a  great 


INDIAN    WIGWAMS. 


swamp,  near  to  the  English,"  that  they  might 
effect  their  object  easily  ;  that,  at  the  same  time, 
a  squaw  informed  the  people  that  Aberkiest 
would  soon  come  and  kill  them  all,  and  also  all 
those  at  Plymouth.     He  soon  after  actually  ap- 


peared ;  but  his  object  was  to  obtain  satisfaction 
for  the  corn  the  English  had  stolen  from  them  ; 
that  he  had  a  great  many  times  demanded  jus- 
tice, but  they  had  given  him  none  whatever. 
' '  Hereupon  the  English  took  the  principal 
thief,"  bound  him  and  delivered  him  to  the  sa- 
chem, and  requested  him  to  do  with  him  as  he 
pleased,  but  he  would  not  receive  him.  "  Nay," 
says  he,  "do justice  upon  him  yourselves,  and 
let  your  neighbors  do  justice  upon  theirs."  He 
then  left  the  place  indignantly  ;  and  in  their 
alarm  the  English  took  the  thief  and  executed 
him  in  presence  of  the  Indians.  Hence,  that 
an  execution  did  take  place  among  the  English, 
as  has  been  reported  by  the  historians  (though 
generally  in  doubting  terms),  there  is  no  room 
for  a  question  ;  though  there  may  be  a  question 
as  to  whether  the  real  offender  was  executed ; 
for  there  is  no  proof  that  any  of  the  Indians 
had  the  inspection  of  the  preparations.  They 
could  only  witness  from  the  outside  of  the  pal- 
isades, that  some  one  was  hanged.  Very  little, 
probably,  would  have  been  thought  or  said  of 
this  affair,  had  not  Butler,  by  his  Hudibras, 
given  it  an  importance  that  it  could  otherwise 
never  have  acquired. 

J  This  was  very  likely  the  sachem  who  led  the 
Indians  against  Weston's  plantation,  though 
Dr.  I.  Mather  spells  the  name  of  that  chief 
Aberkiest.  Of  the  three  sachems  killed  by 
Standish,  Aberkiest  was  unquestionably  one, 
Peksuot  and  Wittuwamet  were  the  others.  — 
See  Book  of  the  Indians,  100-1. 


1622-1623.]     weston's  settlement.  —  piiineiias  pratt.  41 

with  whom  Pratt  came  to  New  England  ;  for  he  says  that  he  came 
with  ten  others,  but  at  the  same  time  (1668)  he  says,  "  he  was  the  re- 
mainder of  the  forlorn  hope  of  sixty  men,"  who  began  the  settlement 
of  Wessaguscus.  By  which  he  is  supposed  to  mean  that  all  his  associ- 
ates of  1622  were  dead  ;  that,  before  they  abandoned  their  settlement, 
"  ten  of  them  had  died  of  famine  ;"  to  which  he  adds,  "  then  said  the 
Indians  '  Let  us  kill  them  whilst  they  are  weak,  or  they  will  possess  our 
country  and  drive  us  away.'  Three  times  we  fought  with  them,  thirty 
miles  I  was  pursued  for  my  life,  in  times  of  frost  and  snow,  as  a  deer 
chased  with  wolves."* 

When  Mr.  Hubbard  wrote  that  part  of  his  history  which  records  Wes- 
ton's settlement,  he  speaks  of  Pratt  as  then  (1677)  living,  but  says 
nothing  by  which  it  may  be  inferred  that  he  derived  any  of  his  facts 
from  him.  He  was  then  eighty-seven  years  old,  and  died  three  years 
after,  at  the  age  of  ninety,  at  Charlestown,  where  his  tombstone  is  yet 
to  be  seen.     He  died  on  the  since  memorable  19th  of  April.f 

The  same  year  that  Weston's  plantation  was  begun  at  Weymouth, 
" ' '  one  Thomas  Gray  settled  at  Nantasket,  or  Nantaskith.  How  many 
followers  he  had,  how  or  where  he  came  from,  nothing  appears  to  be 
known.  He  made  a  purchase  of  that  place  of  Chikataubut,  and  there 
were  with  him  John  Gray  and  Walter  Knight.  Lyford  and  Oldham 
came  here  afterwards  by  permission  of  Thomas  Gray.  J 

Before  this  time,  even,  there  were  Englishmen  all  along  the  New  Eng- 
land coast.  One  John  Brown  lived  at  New  Harbor,  not  far  from  Pem- 
aquid,  in  1621.  He  had  a  son,  John,  living  in  Framingham,  in  1721,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five,  who,  with  his  father,  was  driven  from  their 
lands  in  the  time  of  the  Indian  wars.  John,  the  elder,  died  in  Boston, 
probably  not  long  after  Philip's  war.§ 

Mr.  Richard  Vines  came  to  New  England  in  1609,  and  again  in  1616. 
He  affirmed  that  he  was  in  the  country  several  years  before  any  other  in- 
habitant could  be  found.  He  was  a  royalist,  and  an  Episcopalian,  and 
after  residing  twenty-two  years  in  Saco,  he  removed  to  Barbadoes.|| 

A  permanent  settlement  is  this  year  begun  at  the  mouth  of  the 
'  Pascataqua  river,  and,  at  the  same  time,  another  is  established  a  lit- 

*  Original  MS.  paper.  — If  my  supposition  be  Pratt,  3d,  son  of  Aaron,  2d,  has  nine  children 

correct  with  reference  to  Pratt's  alluding  to  his  whose  ages  average  76£  years.     The  average  of 

companions  being  all  dead,  he  must  have  been  the  fathers'  ages  for  five  generations  is  nearly  83. 

the  "  Old   Planter  "  who   gave   Dr.    Increase  Ephraim  Pratt,  of  Plymouth,  died  in  1804,  se. 

Mather  the  circumstantial  account  of  the  cap-  116.     The  autograph  of  the  emigrant  ancestor 

ture  of  the  French  ship  and  murder  of  the  crew,  in  1668,  copied  from  an  original — ■ 
as  stated  in  the  present  chapter. 

f  See  Hist,  and  G.  Reg'r,  iv.  250  ;  v.  224.  fPP          P             fl)        &L 
Phinehas  Pratt  is  the  ancestor  of  many  of  the  «/.  T\.t~'H&hM-5       fj£  yaJCt  . 
Pratts  of  New  England.     He  married  at  Plym- 
outh, in   1630,  a  daughter  of  Cuthbert  Cuth-  J  Original  Deposition  of  Waller  Knight,  MS. 
bertson.     His  son,  Aaron,  died  at  Cohasset,  in  §  Report  of  Commissioners  on  Lincoln  Co. 
1735,  se.  81 ;  Aaron  Pratt,  2d,  died  in  1766,  Difficulties,  40. 

ae.  76  ;  Thomas,  son  of  Aaron  Pratt,  2d,  died  ||  Williamson's  Hist.  Maine,   i.    696.  —  See, 

in  1818,  ee.  83.     Benjamin  Pratt,  now  living  in  also,  Hazard's  Hist.  Colls.,  Hutchinson's  Col. 

Cohasset,  ee.  84,  has  living  six  brothers  and  Papers, 
sisters,  whose  ages  average  76  years.     Aaron 

6 


42  HISTORY   OP   BOSTON.  [1623. 

tie  above  on  the  same  river.     These  were  the  beginnings  of  the  since 
important  towns  of  Portsmouth  and  Dover.* 

The  previous  year,  Captain  Robert  Gorges,  son  of  Sir  Ferdinando,  ob- 
tained of  the  Plymouth  Company  a  patent  of  a  tract  of  land  about  Cape 
Ann,  and  this  year  came  over  with  a  commission,  from  the  company,  of 
Governor  of  New  England.  He  arrived  at  Plymouth  in  September, 
with  a  number  of  families  and  passengers,  intending  to  settle  them  at 
Weymouth.  This  is  said  to  be  the  first  attempt  to  establish  a  general 
government  in  the  country.  But  Captain  Francis  West  had  acted  before 
this  in  a  similar  capacity,  and  had  resigned  because  he  probably  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  to  govern  a  few  straggling  fishermen  upon  the 
water  was  something  like  an  attempt  to  govern  the  fish  in  it.  Whether 
Captain  Gorges  came  to  the  same  conclusion,  or  not,  certain  it  is  he  did 
not  exercise  his  authority  to  any  great  extent,  and  returned  to  England 
within  a  year  from  the  time  he  left  it.  It  may  be  said  of  him,  what  in 
fact  can  be  said  of  but  few  colonial  governors,  he  left  no  enemies  behind 
him. 

It  will  have  been  seen  that  Captain  Smith  was  by  appointment  the 
first  Governor  of  New  England,  and  how  by  misfortunes  he  was  pre- 
vented from  being  its  first  permanent  settler.  The  appointment  of  a  gov- 
ernor afterwards  was,  however,  from  a  different  motive  from  that  to  pay 
a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Smith.  Many  of  those  who  had  been  fishing  and 
trading  on  the  coast  from  before  Smith's  first  visit  to  it,  had  carried 
home  complaints  and  charges  against  one  another  ;  —  some  for  burning 
the  forests,  some  for  obstructing  harbors  by  discharging  "ballast  and 
stones  "  from  their  vessels,  some  for  wronging  the  Indians,  and  other 
crimes  among  the  natives  not  fitting  to  be  mentioned  ; — until,  in  1621, 
the  matter  was  brought  up  in  Parliament  by  Sir  Edwin  Sandys,  from 
whose  observations  and  explanations  it  seems  that  body  could  not  have 
been  very  well  informed  in  respect  to  the  relation  between  Old  and 
New  England.  Among  those  who  participated  with  Sir  Edwin  in  his 
remarks,  were  Sir  George  Calvert,  Sir  Dudley  Diggs,  Sir  John  Brooke 
and  Mr.  John  Guy.f  Their  remarks  were  so  desultory,  that  one  is 
almost  at  a  loss  to  understand  what  was  aimed  at  by  the  speakers,  from 
the  printed  report  of  what  has  been  termed  the  first  debate  in  Parlia- 
ment upon  American  affairs.  However,  no  bill  to  promote  or  restrain 
trade  and  fishing  on  the  coast  passed  this  Parliament,  although  it  is 
tolerably  certain  that  the  grantees  intended  and  hoped  to  establish  a 
monopoly  of  both.  Monopoly  has  always  been  the  aim  of  companies  or 
corporations.  That  great  and  important  ends  have  been  accomplished 
by  such  means,  will  not  probably  be  denied  ;  nor  will  it  be  questioned, 
perhaps,  that  corporations  belong  to  that  class  of  things  usually  denomi- 
nated necessary  evils. 

*  The  names  of  the  early  settlers  at  Pascata-       f  Proceedings  and  Debates  in  the  House  of 
qua  are  given  in  the  New  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.    Commons,  i.  318-89. 
Reg.,  vol.  ii.p.  39,  from  an  ancient  MS.  in  the 
hands  of  the  editor. 


1621.1 


EARLY  EXPLORATIONS  IN  BOSTON  BAY. 


43 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Early  Explorations  in  Boston  Bay  by  Plymouth  Men.  —  They  first  land  in  Dorchester  —  Then  at 
Charlestown.  —  Intercourse  with  Indians  about  Medford.  —  Discover  Mystic  River.  —  Return  to 
Plymouth.  —  Sir  William  Alexander.  —  His  Grant  of  Territory  in  America.  —  John  Mason.  —  His 
Grant  of  Territory  called  Mariana.  —  Laconia.  —  Weymouth  Colony.  —  Mr.  John  White.  —  Settle- 
ment at  Cape  Ann.  —  Conant,  Oldham,  Lyford.  —  Capt.  Wallaston  settles  at  Braintree.  —  He  soon 
abandons  it.  —  His  Men  continue.  —  Thomas  Morton.  —  Difiiculties  with  him.  —  He  is  captured 
and  sent  out  of  the  Country. 


1621.  The  people  settled  at  Plymouth,  having  heard  from  the 
Sept,  is.  Indians  accounts  of  a  place  called  "  Massachusets,"*  and 
though  the  natives  who  inhabited  thereabouts  had  "  often  threatened 
them,"  they  resolved  "  to  goe  amongst  them  ;  partly  to  see  the  coun- 
trey,  partly  to  make  peace  with  them,  and  partly  to  procure  their 
trucke."  Accordingly  ten  men,  including  Miles  Standish,  captain  in 
the  expedition,  and  probably  William  Bradford,  John  Howland,  Isaac 
Allerton,  Richard  Gardiner,  &c.  Squanto,  or  Tisquantum,f  was  their 
guide. J 
Sept.       Owing  to   the  tide, 

18-    they  did  not  sail  from 

Plymouth  till  "about  mid-  /  J  /  /  y/yz^^T       > f~~/7-TZrfl 

night."  They  had  not  a 
correct  idea  of  the  distance  ; 
"  and,  supposing  it  neerer 
than  it  is,  thought  to  be  there  the  next  morning  betimes :  but  it  proued 


*  A  gentleman  who  has  paid  much  attention 
to  the  language  of  the  New  England  Indians, 
renders  Massachusetts  into  English  thus  :  — 
Massa,  many;  Waschoo,  mountain;  auke, 
place;  hence,  Many-mountain-place.  Now  in 
the  Massachusett  language,  wadchuut  was  surely 
mountain.  —  See  Eliot,  Ind.  Bible,  Matt.  xvii. 
9,  Mark  iii.  13,  &c.  Hence  the  derivation 
is  very  obvious.  The  Indians  inhabiting  about 
Neponset  river,  and  so  around  the  bay  to  Mystic, 
were  very  naturally  called  the  people  at,  about, 
or  among  the  many  mountains,  by  the  Wampa- 
noags  and  Narragansets,  who  had  no  mountains 
in  their  country.  When  it  was  not  necessary 
to  qualify  the  word  mountain,  it  was  simply 
wadchuut ;  therefore  Wachusett,  the  mountain. 

f  It  is  a  conjecture  of  long  standing,  that  that 
well  known  point  in  Dorchester  received  its 
name  from  this  chief.  The  rustic  legend,  that 
it  was  so  named  because  an  Indian  squaw  threw 
herself  from  the  rocks  there,  in  "  early  times," 
is  not  deemed  worthy  consideration.  For 
the  want  of  a  better  derivation,  probably,  some 
one  converted  "  Squaw  tumble"  into  Squantum. 
If  named  for  the  Indian  before  mentioned,  the 
time  when,  and  the  circumstances  which  occa- 
sioned it,  are  alike  unknown.     It  is  very  possi- 


ble that  the  name  Squantum,  however,  had 
nothing  to  do  with  this  Indian  at  all.  In 
Mass.  Col.  Records,  7  Nov.  1632,  "  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  are  granted  to  Mr.  Roger 
Ludlow,  betwixt  Musquantum  Chapel,  and  the 
mouth  of  Naponset. ' '  —  See  Mr.  Lunt's  Cent. 
Ser.  at  Quincy,  p.  65.  Here  for  many  years 
was  celebrated  "  Pilgrim  Feast,"  to  which  peo- 
ple from  all  parts  of  the  state  resorted,  and 
spent  the  day  in  social  glee,  in  memory  of  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  their  first  landing  at 
Plymouth.  It  had  been  discontinued  "  many 
years,"  when  Mr.  Whitney  published  his 
"  History  of  Quincy,"  which  see,  pp.  29,  30. 

J  "  For  these  ends  the  Governours  chose  ten 
men,  fit  for  the  purpose,  and  sent  Tisquantum, 
and  two  other  Salvages  to  bring  vs  to  speech 
with  the  people,  and  interpret  for  vs."  —  A 
Relation  of  ovr  Voyage  to  Massachvsets,  and 
what  happened  there;  from  the  work  usually 
cited  as  Mourfs  Relation;  the  only  original 
authority  for  this  part  of  the  early  history  of 
Massachusetts. 

§  The  annexed  autograph  of  Standish  is  from 
an  original  document  in  my  possession,  dated 
1631-2. 


44  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1621. 

well  neertwentie  leagues  from  New  Plymouth."*  They  had,  however, 
a  fine  run,  for  they  arrived  before  daylight  near  the  "Massachusets." 
Early  in  the  morning  they  went  on  land.  Looking  about,  they 
came  upon  a  quantity  of  fresh  lobsters.  With  these  they  retired 
under  a  cliff,f  and  breakfasted.  Having  placed  "two  sentinels  behind 
the  cliffe  landward,  to  secure  the  shallop,"  and  taking  four  men 
besides  a  guide,  Capt.  Standish  proceeded  into  the  country  to  find 
inhabitants.  They  had  not  gone  far  when  they  met  a  woman  going  for 
the  lobsters  with  which  they  had  just  made  free  use  ;  for  which,  how- 
ever, they  generously  "  contented  her."  By  her  they  learned  where 
the  Indians  were,  and  Squanto  soon  found  them.  The  rest  of  the  com- 
pany returned  to  the  place  of  landing,  with  directions  to  bring  the 
shallop  to  them. 

They  called  the  place  where  they  now  were,  "  the  bottom  of  the 
Massachusets  Bay,"  and  it  probably  was  the  chief  settlement  of  the 
Massachusetts  Indians  ;  hereabouts,  doubtless,  were  the  "  Massachusets 
fields,"  of  those  days.J  Here  lived  their  Sachem,  called  Obbatinewat, 
who  received  and  treated  them  kindly.  He  might  well  have  had  a 
double  purpose  in  this,  for  he  lived  in  daily  fear  of  the  Indians  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  bay,  or  Tarratines ;  confessing  that  he  dared  not 
continue  long  in  any  place,  lest  they  should  surprise  him ;  also  that  the 
squaw  sachem  of  Massachusetts  was  his  enemy. 

The  English  proposed  to  Obbatinewat  to  come  under  the  government 
of  England,  to  which  he  readily  consented,  and  then  volunteered  to 
conduct  them  to  the  squaw  sachem,  that  they  might  see  what  success 
they  could  have  with  her.     To  get  to  that  part  of  the  country  where 

*  This  is  an  estimate  not  much  out  of  the  or  some  one  of  the  Blue  Hills,  was  the  site  of 

way,  as  they  must  have  made  a  far  more  indi-  Nanepashemet's   royal   residence,  &c.     Yet   I 

rect  course  than  was  usual  afterwards.     As  a  must  confess,  that,  after  a  most   patient  and 

general  thing,  distances  are  much  overrated  in  careful  examination  of  the  subject,  from  every 

the  early  accounts.     This  is  always  the  case  in  point  of  view,  I  am  unable  to  find  any  sufficient 

new  and  wild  countries.  reason   for   supposing   that   Standish   and   his 

f  After  this  part  of  toy  work  was  drawn  up,  companions  landed  on  any  part  of  Shawmut,  at 

my  friend,  W.  T.  Harris,  Esq.,  of  Cambridge,  this  time  ;  but  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 

put  into  my  hands  a  manuscript  upon  many  'the  bottom  of  the  bay,'  where  they  came  to 

passages  of  the  early  history  of  Massachusetts,  anchor,  was  Quincy  Bay,  and  the  cliff  beneath 

and  particularly  upon   this  voyage  of  the  Pil-  which  they  first  landed,  no  other  than  the  ab- 

grims.     His  conclusions  agreeing  perfectly  with  rupt  pile  of  rocks  known  by  the  name  of  '  the 

my  own,  so  far  as  I  had  gone,  and  having  been  Chapel,'  at   the  north-east   extremity  of   the 

evidently  arrived  at  with  just  discrimination,  I  peninsula  of  Squantum." 

take  great  pleasure  in  giving  my  readers  the  J  Josselyn,  in  speaking  of  "  Mount-  Wolles- 
benefit  of  them,  as  they  are  more  definite  than  ton,"  says  it  is  called  "  Massachusets-Qelds  ;" 
I  had  determined  upon,  before  reading  them,  that  here  "  Chicatabut  the  greatest  Sagamore 
Mr.  Harris  says:  —  "Dr.  Belknap  (Amer.  of  the  coun trey  lived  before  the  plague:  here 
Biog.,  ii.  224)  supposed  this  cliff  to  be  Copp's  the  town  of  Braintree  is  seated." —  Two  Voy- 
Hill,  in  the  north  _  part  of  Boston,  opposite  ages,  159-60.  "Three  miles  to  the  north  of 
Charlestown,  adopted  by  most  subsequent  writ-  Wichaguscusset  is  mount  Wolleston,  a  very 
ers,  has  been  finally  sanctioned  by  no  less  an  fertile  soyle,  and  a  place  very  convenient  for 
authority  than  the  reverend  editor  of  the  Chron-  farmers  houses,  there  being  great  store  of  plaine 
icles  of  Plymouth ;  who  also  conjectures  that  ground,  without  trees.  Neere  this  place  is 
the  party,  after  leaving  Boston,  recrossed  the  Massachusets  fields,  where  the  greatest  saga- 
harbor  (or 'Bay,'  as  it  is  called),  to  Quincy,  more  in  the  countrey  liued  before  the  plague, 
and  went  ashore  at  Squantum  on  the  21st;  and  who  caused  it  to  be  cleared  for  himselfe."  — 
that  a  hill  in  this  vicinity,  perhaps  Milton  Hill,  Wood,  New  England's  Prospect,  31,  ed.  1635. 


1621.] 


DISCOVERIES    ABOUT    BOSTON. 


NANEPASIIEMET. 


45 


she  resided,  they  had  to  cross  the  bay,*  "  which,"  they  say,  is  "very 
large,  and  hath  at  least  fifty  islands  in  it,"  but  the  Indians  did  not  pre- 
tend to  know  the  exact  number.  "  Night  it  was,"  says  the  writer  of 
the  voyage,  "  before  wee  came  to  that  side  of  the  bay  where  this  peo- 
ple were.  On  shore  the  salvages  went,  but  found  nobody."  The 
English  slept  on  board  their  shallop  that  night,  which  "  rid  at  anchor." 
Sept.  The  next  day,  all  but  two  of  the  men  "  marched  in  arms  vp  in 
21-  the  countrcy."  When  they  had  gone  three  miles,  they  came  to  a 
place  where  corn  had  just  been  gathered,  "a  house  pulled  downe,  and 
the  people  gone.  A  mile  from  hence,  Nanepashemet,f  their  king,  in 
his  lifetime  had  lived.  His  house  was  not  like  others,  but  a  scaffold 
was  largely  built,  with  pools  and  plancks,  some  six  foote  from  the 
ground,  and  the  house  vpon  that ;   being  situated  on  the  top  of  a  hill."| 

Not  far  from  this  place,  "  in  a  bottom,"  they  found  a  fort,  built  by 
the  deceased  chief,  which  they  thus  describe  : 

"  There  were  pools,  some  thirtie 
or   fortie   foote   long,  stucke   in  the     > 
ground,  as  thick  as  they  could  be  set  . 
one  by  another  ;  and  with  these  they  ^| 
inclosed   a   ring   some  forty  or  fifty     :: 
foote   ouer ;    a  trench,   breast  high,  '~^\ 
was  digged  on  each  side  ;   one  way  #J 
there  was  to  goe  into  it  with  a  bridge. 
In  the  midst  of  this  pallizado  stood 
the  frame  of  an  house,  wherein,  being 
dead,  he  lay  buryed." 

About  a  mile  from  this  palisadoed 
fortification,  they  found  another  of 
similar  structure.  This  is  the  place 
where  the  great  sachem,  Nanepashemet,  was  killed.  None  had  lived 
in  it  since  the  time  of  his  death,  which,  from  some  circumstances,  is 
supposed  to  have  been  in  1619. 

Here  the  Plymouth  men  rested  a  while,  having  sent  two  Indians  to 
see  if  they  could  find  any  inhabitants  ;  and,  if  they  could,  to  invite  them 
to  a  conference.  At  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  from  the  place  where 
the  English  were,  the  two  Indians  found  "  the  women  of  the  place  to- 
gether, with  their  corne  on  heapes,"  whither  they  had  fled,  as  was 
supposed,  from  fear  of  the  English  ;  "  and  the  more,  because  in  diuers 
places  they  had  newly  pulled  down  their  houses,  and  for  hast  in  one 


*  Here  is  certainly  evidence  enough  that  they 
were  not  at  Shawmut,  but  evidence  enough 
that  they  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  bay, 
somewhere.  Would  going  from  Copp's  Hill  to 
(Jharlestown  be  crossing  the  bay  ?  and  elicit- 
ing in  connection  observations  about  its  extent 
and  the  great  number  of  islands  in  it?  They 
might  well  say,  as  they  do,  "  againe  we  crossed 
the  Bay,"  for  they  had  already  crossed  one 
bay,  or  what  to  strangers  could  appear  no  oth- 


er than  a  bay,  from  point  Alderton  to  Squan- 
tum. 

f  In  Roger  Williams'  Key,  Nanepaushat  is 
translated  The  moon  God. 

%  Situated  in  the  vicinity  of  Mystic  Pond,  so 
called,  in  Medford.  MS.  of  Mr.  Harris,  ut 
supra.  The  reasoning  employed  by  the  author 
in  support  of  his  location  of  Nanepashemet's 
fort,  for  which  I  have  not  room,  is  quite  con- 
clusive. 


46  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1621. 

place  had  left  some  of  their  corne  couered  with  a  mat,  and  nobody 
with  it." 

These  women  discovered  much  alarm  at  first,  but  their  fears  were 
soon  overcome  by  the  kind  behavior  of  the  intruders  ;  and  they,  as  is 
the  custom  of  the  Indians,  hastened  to  treat  them  with  such  victuals  as 
their  wigwams  afforded,  consisting  of  boiled  codfish  "  and  such  other 
things."  The  apprehensions  of  the  Indian  men  were  so  great,  that 
none  would  approach  the  English  until  they  had  been  "much  sent  for," 
and  then  only  one  man  ventured  to  come,  who  "shook  and  trembled 
with  feare."  When  he  found  what  the  English  wanted,  that  they  came 
in  friendship  and  "to  truck,"  he  promised  "them  his  skins  also." 
They  endeavored  to  ascertain  by  this  Indian  where  the  squaw  sachem 
was,  but,  from  what  they  could  learn,  they  concluded  "she  was  far  from 
thence  ;   at  least  they  could  not  see  her." 

On  this  occasion  Squanto  showed  his  propensity  for  mischief.  He 
proposed  to  the  English  to  plunder  those  women  of  what  they  had,  — 
those  who  were  then  treating  them  so  kindly,  —  but  they  rejected  the 
proposal,  as  all  honorable  men  would,  and  told  Squanto,  that  though 
they  "were  never  so  bad,"  and  might  belong  to  a  bad  people,  and 
have  threatened  the  people  of  Plymouth,  as  he  said,  yet  they  would  not 
wrong  them. 

This  excursion  occupied  the  whole  day.  At  evening,  as  they  re- 
turned to  their  shallop,  accompanied  "by  almost  all  the  women,"  who, 
in  their  eagerness  to  truck  for  the  commodities  which  the  English  had, 
"  sold  their  coats  from  their  backes,  and  tyed  boughes  about  them,  but 
with  great  shamefastness,  (for  indeed  they  are  more  modest  then  some 
of  our  English  women  are)."  Parting  from  these  people,  the  voyagers 
promised  to  come  again,  and  the  Indians  to  keep  their  skins  for  them. 

They  understood  the  Indians  to  say  that  there  were  two  rivers  in  the 
bay.  One  they  saw  themselves,  but  had  not  time  to  examine  it.* 
They  decided  that  "  better  harbours  for  shipping  there  cannot  be  then 
here  are.  At  the  entrance  of  the  bay  are  many  rocks ;  and  in  all  like- 
lihood good  fishing-ground."  They  found,  as  Captain  Smith  did  seven 
years  before,  that  most  of  the  islands  had  been  inhabited,  and  that  some 
had  been  cleared  "  from  end  to  end,  but  the  people  were  all  dead  or 
removed." 

Such  were  the  explorations  "  in  and  about  the  bottom  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,"  around  where  Boston  is,  nine  years  before  the  arrival  of  the 
colony  which  settled  it.  The  country  pleased  those  so  well  who  made 
this  exploration,  that  the  report  they  carried  to  their  friends  in  Plym- 
outh caused  them  to  express  their  sorrow  "  that  they  had  not  been 
seated  there."     But  having  planted  corn  and  built  huts  at  Plymouth, 

*  This  was  unquestionably  the  Mystic  ;  in  locked  from  their  view,  and  which  was  doubtless 
full  view  as  they  landed  upon  the  peninsula  of  Charles  river.  Hence,  Charlestown  was  known 
Mishawum  (Charlestown)  ;  but  the  other  river  before  Boston,  as  well  as  settled  before  it.  Mr. 
of  which  they  heard,  the  intervening  wooded  Harris,  in  his  MS.  before  quoted,  fully  coin- 
promontories  of  Shawmut  and  Cambridge  land-  cides  in  these  views  of  the  author. 


1G21-1623.]      SIR    WILLIAM    ALEXANDER.  CAPT.    JOHN    MASON.  47 

and  being  there  secure  from  the  natives,  they  judged  the  motives  for 
continuance  to  be  stronger  than  for  removal.* 

1621.  Sir  William  Alexander,!  about  the  same  time,  through  the 
Sept.  10.  friendship  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  shares  a  portion  of  the 
Plymouth  Company's  patent.  Seeing  that  the  English  had  done  but 
little,  or  nothing,  in  fact,  directly  to  establish  settlements  in  New  Eng- 
land, he  hoped  the  Scotchmen  might  be  more  successful.  The  patent 
to  Sir  William  was  ample,  embracing  the  whole  territory  of  Acadia, 
which  was  confirmed  to  him  and  his  heirs  by  King  James,  and  erected 
into  a  Palatinate,  to  be  holden  as  a  fief  of  the  Crown  of  Scotland.  But 
the  Scotch  made  out  no  better  than  the  English  ;  one  ship  after  another 
returned  home  with  tales  of  misfortunes,  till  Sir  William,  like  Sir  Fer- 
dinando, was  forced  to  sit  down,  with  what  content  he  might,  under 
heavy  losses  and  disappointments. 

The  same  year,  Captain  John  Mason,  Governor  of  Portsmouth,  in 
Hampshire,  who,  like  Gorges,  had  been  an  officer  in  the  navy,  and  Gov- 
ernor of  Newfoundland,  and  had  by  a  vacancy  become  Secretary  to  the 
Council  of  Plymouth,  procured  a  grant  of  territory  in  New  England, 
"  of  all  the  land  from  the  river  of  Naumkeag  (Salem)  round  Cape  Anne, 
to  the  river  Merrimack,  and  up  each  of  these  rivers  to  the  farthest  head 
thereof ;  then  to  cross  over  from  the  head  of  the  one  to  the  head  of  the 
other  ;  with  all  the  islands  lying  within  three  miles  of  the  coast."  To 
this  tract  was  given  the  name  of  "  Mariana." J 

The  next  year  another  grant  was  made  to  Gorges  and  Mason 

'jointly,  of  all  the  lands  between  the  Merrimack  and  Sagadahock, 
extending  inland  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  to  the  River  of  Canada. 
This  was  called  "Laconia,"  and  thus  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, §  which  has  been  briefly  noticed  in  a  previous 
page. 

Although  the  colony  at  Wessaguscus  is  generally  supposed  to  have 

'  been  abandoned  last  year,  its  abandonment  appears  to  have  been 
temporary  ;  [|  for  this  year  it  is  stated,  on  good  authority,  that  the 

'  people  there  received  an  accession  to  their  number  by  emigrants 

*  This  was  a  momentous  question  in  its  day,  some  of  the  most  learned  barristers  of  Scotland 
and  the  decision  of  the  pious  fathers  was  no  and  England  ;  but  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  man- 
doubt  weighed  by  them,  as  one  involving  their  ner  in  which  he  presented  his  claim,  he  lost  it. 
existence.  But  when  the  grave  historian,  Dr.  The  House  of  Lords  decided  against  its  validity 
Belknap,  came  to  consider  it,  he  could  not  help  in  1762.  This,  our  Lord  Stirling  married  a 
remarking,  with  feigned  complacency,  that  daughter  of  Philip  Livingston,  and  died  at  Al- 
though the  Pilgrims  thought  it  not  worth  while  bany,  N.  Y.,  12  Jan.  1782,  without  male  issue, 
to  remove,  "  many  of  their  posterity  have  judged  The  late  Earl  of  Stirling  probably  found  about 
otherwise  !"  as  much  perplexity  in  establishing  his  title  to 

f  First  Earl  of  Stirling.  To  this  title  he  was  the  lands  of  his  ancestors  in  America,  as  his 
raised  in  1633.  He  was  born  in  1580,  died  in  kinsman  did  in  his  fruitless  and  expensive  pur- 
London,  Feb.  1640.  His  father  was  Alexan-  suit  of  the  Earldom. — See  Statement  of  the 
der  Alexander  of  Menstrie,  who  died  1594.  His  Case  of  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  8  vo.,  Lon- 
father's  name  was  Andrew  Alexander.     John   don,  1832. 

Alexander,  uncle  of  Sir  William,  was  the  an-       J  Belknap's  Hist,  of  New  Hampshire,  Far- 
cestor  of  our  Lord  Stirling,  conspicuous  in  the   mer's  edition,  p.  4. 
revolutionary  war.     He  labored  long  and  ardu-        §  Ibid. 

ously  to  substantiate  his  claim  to  the  Earldom ,        ||  It  is  very  probable  that  when  the   troubles 
to  which  he  was  entitled  in  the  judgment  of    had  assumed  a  serious  aspect,  and  actual  war 


48  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1625. 

from  Weymouth  in  Dorsetshire  ;  on  which  account  it  is  supposed  to 
have  received  the  name  of  Weymouth.  There  were  about  fifty  English 
ships  fishing  on  the  coast  of  New  England  this  year,  with  better  success 
than  ever.* 

Seeing  that  the  colony  of  Plymouth  was  likely  to  continue  and  flour- 
ish, some  of  those  in  England  who  had  anxiously  watched  its  progress, 
—  the  most  conspicuous  of  whom  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  White,  a  puri- 
tan minister  of  Dorchester,  in  Dorsetshire,  —  excited  several  gentlemen 
to  prepare  for  another  settlement  in  New  England.  Accordingly  "  sun- 
dry persons"  are  sent  over,  who  begin  a  plantation  at  Cape  Ann. 
Among  this  number  were  Mr.  John  Tilley  and  Mr.  Thomas  Gardiner ; 
the  former  was  "  overseer  of  the  planting,"  and  the  latter  was  "  over- 
seer of  the  fishing."  Meantime,  Mr.  White  having  learned  that  the  Plym- 
outh people  had  driven  Mr.  Roger  Conant,  Mr.  John  Lyford  and  Mr. 
John  Oldham  from  that  place  in  consequence  of  a  disagreement  in  their 
religious  opinions  ;  "  wherefore  that  reverend  person  (one  of  the  chief 
founders  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony)  being  grieved  in  his  spirit  that  so 
good  a  work  should  be  suffered  to  fall  to  the  ground,"  and  learning  the 
excellent  character  of  Mr.  Conant  from  Mr.  Conant's  brother  in  Eng- 
land, procured  from  the  company  of  adventurers  his  appointment  "  to 
be  Governor,  and  to  have  the  managing  and  government  of  all  their  af- 
fairs at  Cape  Anne."  Lyford  and  Oldham  went  to  Cape  Ann  also,  but 
did  not  remain  there  long.  The  former  removed  to  Virginia  and  died 
there,  and  the  latter  traded  between  New  England  and  Virginia,  and 
within  two  years  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  f 

The  next  year,  "  one  Captain  Wallaston  "  came  into  the  Massa- 

'  chusetts  Bay,  and  began  a  settlement  within  what  was  afterwards 
called  Braintree.  J  With  him  came  several  persons  of  "  some  emi- 
nence ;"  but  the  actual  number  of  his  followers  does  not  appear  to  be 
known  ;  nor  is  it  stated  from  what  place  this  colony  came,  nor  has  the 
Christian  name  of  Mr.  Wallaston  been  discovered.  Thomas  Morton, 
of  whom  notice  has  been  taken,  returned  to  New  England  with  this 
company.  But  Captain  Wallaston,  not  finding  things  to  his  liking, 
removed,  with  a  great  part  of  his  servants,  to  Virginia,  in  the  fall  of 
1626.  A  Mr.  Rasdale  was  left  in  command  of  the  place  on  Mr.  Wal- 
laston's  departure,  but  he  soon  proceeded  to  Virginia  also,  leaving  a 
Mr.  Filcher  to  manage  affairs.  But  nothing  further  is  heard  of  Filcher, 
while  Morton  made  himself  very  conspicuous,  and  soon  became  obnoxious 

had  been  begun,  the  people  all  fled  from  Wes-  of  the  better  sort  of  people."  —  Century  Ser- 

saguscus  ;  but  a  few  weeks'  time  proved  to  them  mon,  at  Braintree,  1739,  p.  18. 

that  they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  Indians  ;        f  Hubbard's  Hist,  of  New  England,  ed.  Har- 

the  suspicious  leaders  of  whom  had  all  been  ris,  106-7. 

killed  by  Standish  and   his  war-party  ;    that,        J  When  a  section  of  Braintree  was  set  off  for 

therefore,  they  soon  left  their  hiding-places  and  a  separate  township,  it  was  called  Quincy, — 

returned  to  their  settlement.  That  they  have  not  in  honor  of  the  highly  respectable  family  which 

been  particularly  noticed  by  cotemporary  writ-  resided  there,  and  of  which  a  branch  remains  to 

ers  is  not  at  all  strange,  as  they  were  few  and  this  day  ;  Mt.  Wollaston  was  included  in  this 

politically  unimportant.  section,  and  was  within   the  farm  of  ono  of 

*  Prince,  Hubbard,  Holmes.     Mr.  Hancock  the  Messrs.  Quincy. 
says  the  emigrants  who  came  in  1624,  "  were 


FIRST    GOVERNOR 


r-f  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 


^77 


■   ■■ 


1G28.]  COLONY    OF    WESSAGUSCUS.  49 

to  his  neighbors  at  Plymouth.  They  seem  to  have  recognized  him  as 
the  leader  of  the  plantation,  and  the  author  of  all  the  mischief  that  hap- 
pened to  it  after  Mr.  Wollaston  left  it.  lie  was,  judging  independently 
of  what  his  neighbors  say  of  him,  evidently  a  "merry  companion;" 
and  his  company,  consisting  of  young  men,  were  ready  to  enjoy  them- 
selves to-day,  come  what  might  to-morrow.  Great  offence  was  taken 
by  the  Pilgrims  at  their  impiety,  as  they  viewed  their  conduct  to  be 
impious,  and  Morton  and  his  friends  derided  them  for  their  overmuch 
piety  and  austere  manners.*  Mutual  dislikes  at  length  grew  to  such 
a  height,  that  nothing  short  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  settlement  of 
Mount  Wollaston  could  be  likely  to  satisfy  the  people  of  Plymouth. 
Morton  and  his  party  considered  themselves  an  independent  community, 
as  in  fact  they  were,  and  that  it  was  nobody's  business  to  call  them  to 
account  for  erecting  a  May-pole  and  dancing  about  it ;  whether  they 
said  their  prayers  as  they  had  been  taught  to  say  them,  or  whether 
they  read  them  out  of  a  book,  or  whether  they  said  or  read  prayers  at 
all.  But  their  neighbors  thought  otherwise,  and,  soon  after  the  arrival 
of  Governor  Enclicott,  their  opponents  feeling  themselves  strong  enough 
to  force  a  compliance  with  their  wishes,  a  company  was  raised  among 
the  scattered  settlements,  which  proceeded,  under  Standish,  to  Ma-re- 
Mount,  —  as  Morton  had  named  Mount  Wollaston,  —  captured  the 
unruly  party,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  a  colony  f  which  has  given  rise  to 
much  curious  inquiry,  and  a  good  deal  of  speculation ;  but  of  which, 
hitherto,  no  satisfactory  history  has  appeared.J 

The  expense  of  capturing  Morton  and  some  half  dozen  other  men 
'  was  assessed  on  a  part  of  the  scattered  inhabitants  of  New  Eng- 
land ;  but  whether  with  their  consent,  or  whether  they  actually  paid  in 
the  amounts  assessed  upon  them,  there  is  nothing  to  show  ;  yet  it  has 
been  said,  that  even  Morton's  Episcopal  friends  contributed  towards  the 

*  The  Kev.  Mr.  Hancock,  with  the  New  Eng-  he  says,  the  colonists  of  Ma-re-Mount  had  bet- 
hnd's  Memorial  open  before  him,  says,  "But  ter  success  in  trading  with  the  Indians  than 
one  Mr.  Morton,  whom  Capt.  Wollaston  left  the  people  of  Plymouth  had ;  and  because 
there  with  part  of  the  company,  fell  to  great  they  read  prayers  after  the  manner  of  the 
licentiousness  and  profaneness,  till  the  good  Episcopal  church.  The  charges  brought 
people  in  their  scattered  plantations  in  the  against  him  are  met  with  everywhere.,  and  re- 
Massachusetts  Bay  unite  with  Plymouth  gov-  quire  no  repetition  here.  They  were  brought 
eminent,  and  go  and  suppress  them,  and  dis-  with  great  gravity,  by  his  namesake,  the 
perse  the  worst  of  the  company,  leaving  the  author  of  New  England's  Memorial,  in  his 
more  modest  here,  and  sending  Morton  to  Eng-  work,  from  which  they  have  been  copied,  with 
land,  with  a  messenger  and  letters  to  inform  such  embellishments  as  suited  the  fancies  of 
against  him,  for  his  wicked  and  insufferable  their  copyists  ;  while  Morton  probably  consid- 
behavior."  —  Century  Sermon,  p.  18.  ered  the  subject,  in  the  time  of  it,  as  one  not 

f  An  end,  so  far  only,  as  appears  from  several  worthy  of  sober  consideration  ;  and  hence  we 

accounts,  as  respects  the  riotous  part  of  the  find  it,  in  his  New  Canaan,  treated  only  with 

colony.    See  Hancock's  Cent.  Sermon,  ut  supra,  ridicule.     Had  he  ever  imagined  that  it  would 

Davis  in  Morton,  and  Belknap,  Amer.  Biog-  become  matter  of  serious   history,   he  would 

raphy,  ii.  334.  doubtless   have  left   us  a  very  different   and 

J  In  my  History  of  New  England,  I  propose  more  circumstantial  account.     In  speaking  of 

to  go  at  large  into  the  affairs  of  this  colony,  the  "  tenents  "  of  the  people  of  New  England, 

It  is  indeed  a  poor  question  where  there  is  Morton  says  that  they  held  the  use  "  of  a  ring 

nothing  to  be  said,  except  on  one   side.     As  in  marriage  to  be  a  relique  of  popery  ;   a  dia- 

yet  the  subject  has  been   sketched  from  one  bolical  circle  for  the  Devell  to  daunce  in."  — 

point  of  view  only.     Morton  was  originally  New  Canaan,  118, 
tried,  condemned  and  transported,  because,  as 

7 


50 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1628. 


expense  of  the  expedition  against  him ;  which  circumstance,  if  true, 
would  go  to  prove  that  they,  at  least,  disapproved  of  his  conduct.  In 
justice  to  them,  however,  as  well  as  to  Morton,  the  case  should  be 
stated  as  it  actually  existed,  that  posterity  may  be  able  to  come  to  a  just 
judgment  between  all  parties  implicated.* 

By  the  assessment  referred  to,  some  opinion  may  be  formed  of  the 
state  of  the  settlements  ;  of  their  numbers  and  importance,  and  where 
they  were  situated.  Thus,  the  whole  amount  assessed  was  twelve  pounds 
and  seven  shillings.  Of  this  amount  Plymouth  has  set  against  it,  two 
pounds  and  ten  shillings  ;  Naumkeak  [Salem] ,  one  pound  ten  shillings  ; 
Pascataquack  [Portsmouth] ,  two  pounds  ten  shillings  ;  Mr.  Jeffrey  and 
Mr.  Burslem  [Isle  of  Shoals]  ,f  two  pounds ;  Natascot,  one  pound  ten 
shillings ;  Mrs.  Thomson  [Squantum] ,  fifteen  shillings ;  Mr.  Blackstone 
[Shawmut],  twelve  shillings  ;  and  Edward  Hilton  [Dover],  one  pound. J 


*  It  is  true  that  Governor  Bradford  (Prince, 
251)  speaks  of  a  "  meeting  of  the  chief  of 
the  straggling  plantations,"  to  take  counsel 
about  the  disorders  at  the  Mount.  Those 
plantations  he  names  as  follows  :  —  "  Pascato- 
way,  Naumkeak,  Winisimet,  Wessaguscusset. 
Natasco,  and  other  places."  At  their  meet- 
ing, they  "  agree  to  solicit  those  of  Plymouth, 
who  are  of  greater  strength  than  all,  to  join 
and  stop  this  growing  mischief,  by  suppress- 
ing Morton  and  Company." 

f  Not  much  confidence  is  felt  in  locating 
these  gentlemen  at  the  Isle  of  Shoals.  At,  or 
before  this  period,  I  believe  one  Jeffrey  had  a 
fishing  stage  there  ;  and  it  is  certain,  that,  to 
this  day,  a  noted  fishing  place  in  the  neighbor- 
hood bears  the  name  of  Jeffries.  That  the 
Shoals  were  inhabited  at  this  time  seems  prob- 
able, for  the  ship  in  which  Morton  was  sent 
away,  sailed  from  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  as  ap- 
pears from  Bradford  (Prince,  252),  who  says 
Morton  was  kept  at  Plymouth  ' '  till  a  ship 
going  from  the  Isle  of  Shoals  to  England,  he  is 
sent  in  her  to  the  New  England  Council 
[Council  of  Plymouth],  with  a  messenger  and 
letters  to  inform  against  him.  Yet  they  do 
nothing  to  him,  not  so  much  as  rebuke  him,  and 
he  returns  next  year." — There  was  a  "Mr. 
JohnBurslin,"  desiring  to  be  made  freeman  at 
Boston,  in  1630;  and  in  1631,  a  "Mr.  Jo. 
Burslyn."  See  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  ii. 
90-1.  It  is  not  presumed  that  the  memoran- 
dum of  Governor  Bradford  is  to  be  taken  as 
presenting  a  complete  catalogue  of  all  the 
places  occupied  about  the  coast  of  New  Eng- 
land. These  enumerated  might  have  been 
considered  the  only  ones  of  whom  any  assist- 
ance was  to  be  expected.  It  has  been  con- 
jectured that  several  of  the  scattered  settlers 
in  and  about  the  harbor  of  Boston  came  over 
with  Captain  Robert  Gorges.  The  conjecture  is 
a  reasonable  one.  They  were  chiefly  within 
Gorges'  patent,  which  was  "  10  miles  in 
breadth,  and  30  miles  into  the  land,  on  the 
north-east  side  of  the  bay  called  Messachu- 
set."     His  intended  colony  was  Episcopalian 


—  Blackstone,  Maverick,  Walford,  Thompson, 
and  perhaps  others,  were  of  that  faith.  See 
Mr.  Haven's  learned  and  ingenious  introduc- 
tion to  the  Records  of  the  Comp.  of  the  Mass. 
Bay,  &c,  vol.  iii.  Archa.  Americana.  It  is  to 
be  noted  that  the  location  of  Gorges'  patent 
has  been  misunderstood,  and  will  continue  to 
be,  unless  the  reader  considers  that  "  the 
north-east  side  ' '  of  the  Bay  has  reference  to 
the  land  of  Massachusetts.  The  land,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  patent,  is  "  all  that  part  of  the 
main  land  called  or  known  by  the  name  of 
Messachusiack."  Hence  Gorges,  perhaps  by 
way  of  distinction,  gives  a  little  different  name 
to  his  tract  of  country,  from  "  Messachuset," 
by  which  name  the  whole  was  known ;  and 
hence  I  conclude  that  this  patent  covered  that 
part  of  the  country  where  the  Massachusetts 
Indians  had  their  chief  residence,  and  which 
has  already  been  described.  It  was  an  impor- 
tant object  with  patentees  to  have  their  grants 
cover  Indian  settlements,  because  trade  with 
them  for,  beaver  could  be  carried  on  advanta- 
geously, and  without  infringing  on  the  rights 
of  others.  Mr.  Walford  was  located  in  a 
place  ' '  full  of  Indians  ; ' '  and  it  will  be  seen 
with  what  anxiety  the  Massachusetts  Company 
operated  to  exclude  Mr.  Oldham  and  others 
from  the  country  about  the  bottom  of  the  bay. 
Mr.  Wheelwright's  purchase  of  1629  included 
great  Indian  resorts  and  settlements.  Others 
might  be  mentioned. 

%  See  Belknap,  Amer.  Biography,  ii.  334. — 
The  assessment,  as  given  above,  Dr.  Belknap 
copied  from  the  original  Letter-Book  of  Gov- 
ernor Bradford ;  which  assessment,  though 
copied  from  that  MS.,  is  probably  a  mere 
memorandum  by  the  Governor,  as  a  sort  of  ex- 
planation to  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  England, 
containing  accusations  against  Morton.  As 
such,  it  appears  in  the  original  edition  of  vol. 
iii.  Mass.  Hist.  Colls.,  p.  63.  Why,  in  the 
reprint  of  this  work,  the  matter  under  consid- 
eration stands  with  interpolation  marks,  there 
is  nothing  to  explain.  I  have  not  seen  the 
original  MS.,  nor  have  I  inquired  whether  it 


1G25-1C26.]  SETTLEMENT   AT    CAPE   ANN.  51 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Colony  of  Cape  Ann.  —  Settlement  of  Naumheag.  — Roger  Conant.  —  Origin  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company.  —  Sir  Eerdinando  Gorges.  —  His  early  Prophecy  of  American  Independence.  —  Rev. 
John  White.  — Governor  John  Endicott.  —  Sails  for  New  England.  —  Settlement  of  Charlestown.  — 
Description  of  the  country.  — John  Oldham.  — His  Grant.  — Thwarted  by  the  Massachusetts  Com- 
pany.—  Returns  to  New  England. — Mr.  John  Wheelwright  and  others  proceed  from  Massachu- 
setts and  purchase  New  Hampshire  of  the  Indians.  —  Captain  Mason's  grant  of  the  same  territory 
from  the  Council  of  Plymouth. 

-^"TIFV1  53v^)  W\W  OTICE  nas  been  taken  in  the  last  chapter  of  a 
^"J  cF|M  settlement  at  Cape  Ann.  The  persons  engaged 
IgxQww  there  ("  their  design  not  likely  to  answer  their 
\g  expectations"),  sent  word  to  the  Adventurers 
2  in  England  —  at  whose  charge  the  settlement 
MmM;i  ;  v  had  been  begun  —  how  their  affairs  stood ; 
/  briefly,  that  they  were  not  prosperous.  A  re- 
[y  linquishment  of  the  undertaking  was  therefore 
resolved  upon  by  those  Adventurers.  "  Yet 
were  they  so  civil,"  says  the  historian  Hubbard,  "  to  those 
that  were  employed  under  them,  as  to  pay  them  all  their 
wages,  and  proffered  to  transport  them  back  whence  they 
W^  came,  if  so  they  desired."  The  same  historian  adds,  that 
"Mr.  Conant,  disliking  the  place  as  much  as  the  Adventurers 
disliked  the  business,"  had,  "  meanwhile,  made  some  inquiry  into  a 
more  commodious  place,  called  Naumkeak,  a  little  to  the  westward, 
secretly  conceiving  in  his  mind,  that  it  might  prove  a  receptacle  for 
such  as,  upon  the  account  of  religion,  would  be  willing  to  begin  a  plan- 
tation in  this  part  of  the  world  ; ' '  and  therefore  he  made  known  his  dis- 
coveries and  opinions  to  some  of  his  friends  in  England.  Accordingly, 
Mr.  White,  before  mentioned,  who  had  been  grieved  at  the  sudden 
abandonment  of  the  undertaking  by  the  Adventurers,  wrote  to  Mr. 
Conant,  and  urged  him  not  "  to  desert  the  business,"  promising  that  if 
he  would  stay  in  the  country  with  three  others,  and  occupy  Naum- 
keag,  and  give  him  notice  of  the  fact,  he  would  provide  a  patent  for 
them;  and  would  send  them  whatever  they  should  write  for;  either 
men,  provisions,  or  goods. 

Conant  determined  to  continue.  John  Woodberry,  John  Balch,  and 
Peter  Jaffrey,  who  had  been  employed  by  the  Adventurers,  agreed  to 
abide  with  him.  The  three  last,  however,  after  long  waiting  for  assist- 
ance, thinking  probably  that  supplies  might  fail  to  arrive  in  season,  and 
their  necessities  being  great ;  fearing,  too,  that  the  Indians  were  hostile 
towards  them,  came  to  the  conclusion  to  go  to  Virginia,  especially  as 
their  minister,  Mr.   Lyford,   "  upon  a  loving  invitation,   was  thither 

were  preserved  after  it  was  used  to  print  from,  any  longer  of  service,  and  that  they  remained 
I  have  understood,  incidentally,  that  many  in  the  printers'  hands,  and  went  with  their 
valuable  MSS.,  so  used,  were  not  considered   worthless  paper  rubbish .' 


52 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1625-1626. 


bound."*  They  urged  Mr.  Conant  to  go  with  them  ;  but  had  he  had 
the  heart  of  an  old  Roman  he  could  not  have  shown  superior  in  future 
ages.  "  No,"  he  said,  "  though  you  all  forsake  me,  I  will  remain." 
Seeing  his  firmness,  and  knowing,  from  experience,  the  goodness  of  his 
heart,  they  could  not  bring  their  minds  to  desert  him,  and  thus  the 
breath  of  life  was  continued  on  that  sterile  side  of  the  Bay  of  Massa- 
chusetts, f 

To  the  sterling  integrity  of  Roger  Conant,  therefore,  was  Salem 
indebted  for  its  first  English  inhabitants.  Through  the  agency  of  Mr. 
White,  great  confidence  had  been  reposed  in  him  by  the  Adventurers, 
and,  as  before  observed,  he  proved  himself  worthy  of  it.  Nor  was  he 
mistaken  in  the  promises  of  Mr.  White  on  his  part ;  who,  exerting  him- 
self among  his  friends,  soon  enlisted  Sir  Henry  Rosewell,  J  Sir  John 
Young, §  knights;   Thomas  Southcoat,||  John  Humphrey, H  John  En- 


*  In  Morton's  New  Canaan,  Book  iii.,  chap, 
viii.,  may  be  seen  that  facetious  author's  ideas 
of  the  reasons  of  "  Master  Layford's  and  John 
Oldham's"  treatment  from  the  Pilgrims. 

f  "  Meanwhile,  White  had  projected  an  asy- 
lum for  the  silenced  nonconformist  clergy,  who 
then  thought  themselves  persecuted,  because 
they  were  not  allowed  to  persecute."  —  Chal- 
mers'' Polit.  Annals,  135.  This  author  omits 
no  opportunity  to  slur  the  nonconformists  and 
Puritans.  In  speaking  of  the  settlement  of 
Plymouth,  he  says,  "The  Brownists,"  who 
"  nestled  at  Cape  Cod."  He  probably  well 
knew  that  the  followers  of  Mr.  Robinson  al- 
ways repudiated  the  name  of  Brownists,  and 
that  they  were  not  of  the  sect  of  Robert 
Brown. 

%  Chalmers,  147,  has  the  following  round- 
about note  on  Rosewell,  or,  as  he  is  often 
written,  Rowswell.  "  In  opposition  to  the 
pretensions  of  the  truly  celebrated  Sir  Samuel 
Luke,  it  has  been  zealously  contended  by  the 
partisans  of  this  knight,  so  famous  in  the  story 
of  Massachusetts,  that  Sir  Henry  was  assur- 
edly the  great  prototype  of  the  incomparable 
Sir  Hudibras.  See  the  subject  discussed  in  the 
Introduction  to  Grey's  [edition  of]  Hudibras, 
and  the  Sup.  to  Granger's  Biography."  Dr. 
Grey,  it  should  be  stated,  is  not  of  the  opinion 
that  Sir  Henry  Rosewell  is  intended  by  Hudi- 
bras ;  and  Granger  says  Sir  Samuel  Rosewell, 
which  is  no  doubt  a  mistake.  When  West- 
cote  wrote  his  Views  of  Devonshire  (about 
1620),  he  says,  p.  245,  Thorncombe  "  is  now 
the  inheritance  of  Sir  Henry  Rowswell,  late 
sheriff  of  this  county. ' '  Thorncombe  is  in  Ford 
Parish.  His  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Drake,  Esq.,  of  Ashe.  She  was  interred  in 
the  parish  church  at  Musbury,in  1643.  Soon 
after  her  death,  as  I  judge,  Sir  Henry  sold  his 
estates  and  went  to  reside  in  Somersetshire. 
See  Lysons'  Magna  Brilan.,  ccxiii.  360. 

§  Said  to  be  of  Devonshire.  There  was  a 
Sir  John  Young  (I  think  the  same),  of  Culli- 
ton,  in  that  shire,  whose  daughter  Jane  was 


the  wife  of  Sir  John  Drake,  of  Ashe.  She  died 
in  1682.  This  Sir  John  Drake  was  son  of  the 
John  Drake,  Esq.,  mentioned  in  the  last  note. 
Sir  John  Young  was  a  member  of  the  Long 
Parliament,  1640,  and  a  signer  of  the  "  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,"  in  1643  ;  a  member  of 
Cromwell's  second  Parliament,  in  1654,  from 
Honiton ;  and  of  the  third  Parliament,  1656. 
See  Mr.  Haven,  in  Archol.  Americana. 

||  Supposed  by  Farmer  to  be  the  same  person 
admitted  freeman  at  Boston,  1631 ;  but  on 
what  authority  he  comes  to  that  conclusion  he 
does  not  state  ;  if  no  other  than  that  of  his 
bearing  the  same  Christian  name,  it  is  quite 
small.  He  was,  perhaps,  of  the  Southcotes  of 
Mohuns-Otlery,  county  Devonshire.  George, 
son  and  heir  of  Thomas,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Seymour,  brother  to  the 
Duke  of  Somerset,  and  had  a  son  Thomas.  — 
See  Westcote.  This  family  was  connected 
with  the  Pophams.  There  is  a  curious  account 
of  them  in  Prince's  Worthies  of  Devonshire. 

^[  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  time  is  near  at 
hand  when  we  may  find  such  names  as  Hum- 
phrey in  Biographical  Dictionaries.  "  John 
Humphreys,  Esq.,"  was  a  man  of  great  con- 
sequence in  the  first  days  of  Massachusetts 
He  was  chosen  deputy  governor  at  the  second 
meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Company,  in 
England ;  came  to  New  England  in  1632 ; 
elected  assistant  same  year,  Avhich  office  he 
held  till  1641.  He  resided  a  while  at  Lynn, 
then  at  Salem.  Meeting  with  some  severe 
misfortunes,  he  left  the  country  in  1641. 
Although  his  name  usually  appears  in  history 
and  in  historical  documents,  as  above  written, 
his  own  autograph,  in  my  possession,  is  here 


fac-similied.  Its  date  is  1637.  — See  Fanner's 
Gen.  Register,  Art.  Humfrey.  Also,  Hazard, 
Winthrop,  Hutchinson ;  Lewis  and  Felt  may  be 
consulted  with  advantage. 


1027-1628.]  ORIGIN    OF    THE   MASSACHUSETTS    COLONY.  53 

dicott,*  and  Simon  Whctcomb,f  gentlemen,  "about  Dorchester,"  to 
make  a  purchase  of  territory  in  New  England  of  the  Council  of  Plym- 
1G27-8.  outh.  On  application,  that  corporation  conveyed  to  the  above 
Mar.  19.  named  gentlemen,  their  heirs  and  associates,  the  country  from 
three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack,  to  three  miles  south  of  the  Charles 
River,  and  to  extend  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  grant, 
of  course,  swallowed  up  several  others  previously  made.  Why  the  Coun- 
cil utterly  disregarded  them  does  not  clearly  appear,  though  it  is  con- 
jectured by  some  historians  J  that  they,  being  entirely  neglected  by  the 
grantees,  were  looked  upon  as  forfeited  or  void.  But  it  is  certain,  that 
if  the  Council,  as  a  body,  so  considered  those  grants,  individual  mem- 
bers of  it  were  of  a  different  opinion.  §  Referring  to  this  grant  or  pur- 
chase from  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  says, 
"  Some  of  the  discreeter,  sought  to  avoid  what  they  found  themselves 
subject  unto,  made  use  of  their  friends  to  procure  from  the  Council  for 
the  affairs  of  New  England  to  settle  a  colony  within  their  limits  ;  to 
which  it  pleased  the  thrice -honored  Lord  of  Warwick  to  write  to  me, 
then  at  Plymouth,  to  condescend  that  a  Patent  might  be  granted  to 
such  as  then  sued  for  it.  Whereupon  I  gave  my  approbation,  ||  so  far 
forth  as  it  might  not  be  prejudicial  to  my  son,  Robert  Gorges'  interest, 
whereof  he  had  a  patent  under  the  seal  of  the  Council.  Hereupon 
there  was  a  grant  passed  as  was  thought  reasonable  ;  but  the  same  was 
after  enlarged  by  his  majesty,  IT, and  confirmed  under  the  great  seal  of 
England,  by  the  authority  whereof  the  undertakers  proceeded  so  effect- 
ually, that  in  a  very  short  time  numbers  of  people  of  all  sorts  flocked 
thither  in  heaps,  that  at  last  it  was  specially  ordered,  by  the  king's  com- 
mand, that  none  should  be  suffered  to  go  without  license  first  had  and 
obtained,  and  they  to  take  the  oaths  of  supremacy  and  allegiance.  So 
that  what  I  long  before  prophesied,  when  I  could  hardly  get  any  for 
money  to  reside  there,  was  now  brought  to  pass  in  a  high  measure.  The 
reason  of  that  restraint  was  grounded  upon  the  several  complaints  that 
came  out  of  those  parts,  of  the  divers  sects  and  schisms  that  were 
amongst  them ;  all  contemning  the  public  government  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical state.  And  it  was  doubted  that  they  would,  in  short  time,  wholly 
shake  off  the  royal  jurisdiction  of  the  sovereign  magistrate."  ** 

*  Of  Endicott,  who  came  over  with  a  com-  Dorchester."     It  was   doubtless  true,  while 
mission  as  Governor  m  1628,  an  excellent  his-  nearly   all   of  them   resided    in   Devonshire, 
torical  memoir  has  been  printed,  prepared  by  though  within  a  few  miles  of  Dorchester. 
a  descendant,  Charles  M.  Endicott,   Esq.,  of  %  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,i.  8. 
Salem.     An  abstract  of  this  work  will  be  found  fy  See  Gorges'  Nar.,  chap,  xxvi.,  B.  I. 
in  the  first  volume  of  the  New  Eng.  Hist,  and  \\  From  this  passage,  and  what  we  elsewhere 
Gen.    Reg.     Chalmers   says,  with   accuracy,  find  concerning    Gorges'   disposition   towards 
"  He  laid  the  foundation  of  Salem  in  1628,  the  New  England,  is  it  hardly  just  in  an  American 
first  permanent  town  in  Massachusetts  ;  who,  historian  of  the  present  day  to  say  of  him  that 
in  1629,  was  confirmed  Governor  within  the  he  "  seemed  to  favor"  this  patent?  —  See  Ban- 
colony,  and  was  honored  with  new  instruc-  croft,  Hist.  U.  S.,  138,  ed.  Lond.,1843. 
tions."  —  Political  Annals,  136,  142.  ^[Many  early,  as  well  as  some  late,  writers, 

f  Simon  Whetcomb  never  came  to  this  coun-  carelessly  state  that  the  charter  which  Gorges 
try,  and  nothing  of  his  history  or  family  has  here  refers  to  was    granted   by    Parliament, 
been  found,  further  than  his  connection  with  See  Prince,  New  Eng.  Chron.,2A9. 
the  Company.     These  six  persons  are  said,  in  **  For  the  accompanying  copy  of  the  auto- 
all  the  early  accounts,  to  be  "  gentlemen  about  graph  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  I  am  indebted 


54 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1627-1628. 


In  this  short  passage,  by  one  of  the  men  who  had  sacrificed  so  much 
to  settle  New  England,  is  contained  matter  for  volumes  of  history.  In 
the  first  place,  as  regards  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  grants  of  the 
Council  of  Plymouth.  In  the  second  place,  as  to  the  persons  licensed 
to  transport  themselves  out  of  England  to  reside  here.  And,  thirdly, 
how  they  came  to  give  occasion  to  their  rulers  for  fears,  at  so  early  a 
day,  that  there  was  a  design  on  their  part  to  become  independent  of  the 
crown.  True,  there  was  nothing  more  natural,  under  a  government  like 
that  of  England,  where  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  powers  composing  it 
were  nearly  equal,  than  that  the  people  who  should  undertake  to  deny  a 
part  of  the  authority  of  that  government,  should,  of  necessity,  deny  the 
whole  ;  for  they  were  inseparable ;  and,  hence,  a  rebellion  or  revolution 
must  unavoidably  ensue.  Those  fears,  time  has  shown,  were  not  with- 
out good  foundation.*  And  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  so  far  as  anything 
as  yet  appears  to  the  contrary,  was  the  first  to  publish  to  the  world  a 
"  prophesie,"  the  fulfilment  of  which  did  not  probably  more  astonish 
those  who  opposed,  than  those  who  accomplished  it. 

As  soon  as  the  grant  was  obtained  from  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  the 
grantees  took  the  name  of  "the  Massachusetts  Company;"  which, 
though  composed  of  a  small  number  of  individuals  at  first,  soon  became 
respectable  numerically  considered.  And,  although  above  one  hundred 
individuals,  from  time  to  time,  are  known  to  have  belonged  to  it,  yet  it 
has  not  been  ascertained  how  many  did  in  reality  belong  to  it,  at  any 
particular  period.f 


to  the  eminent  collector  of  such  things,  Mr. 
Charles  H.  Morse,  of  Cambridge.     The  origi- 


nal is  attached  to  a  document  in  the  hands  of 
Mellen  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  of  Chelsea.  Al- 
though sufficient  has  been  said  to  vindicate  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges  from  any  ill  intentions  to- 
wards the  settlers  of  Massachusetts,  I  cannot 
forbear  citing  a  passage  from  the  Journal  of 
Mr.  Richard  Mather,  going  to  show,  that,  in 
1635,  Sir  Ferdinando  professed  much  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  colony.  When  Mr. 
Mather,  in  the  ship  James,  lay  in  King  Road, 
"  four  or  five  miles  below  Bristol,"  ready  to  sail 
for  New  England,  "  there  came  three  or  four 
more  boates  with  more  passengers,  and  one 
wherein  came  Sir  Ferdinando  George,  who  came 
to  see  the  ship  and  the  people.  When  hee  was 
come,  hee  enquired  whether  there  were  any 
people  there  that  went  to  Massachusetts  Bay  ; 
whereupon  Mr.  Maud  and  Mr.  Barnabas 
Fower  were  sent  for  to  come  before  him ;  who, 


being  come,  hee  asked  Mr.  Maud  of  his  coun- 
try, occupation,  or  calling  of  life,  &c,  and 
professed  his  good  will  to  the  people  there  in 
the  Bay,  and  promised  that,  if  ever  hee  came 
there  hee  would  be  a  true  friend  unto  them." — 
Printed  in  the  Colls.  Dorchester  Antiq.  and  Hist. 
Soc. ,  from  the  original  MS. 

*  And  thus  some  recent  writers  have  made 
the  discovery  that  the  American  Revolution  of 
1776  actually  commenced  with  the  emigration. 
Might  it  not,  with  at  least  equal  propriety,  be 
carried  back  to  the  germ  of  the  first  thought  of 
liberty  of  conscience  1 

f  The  following  is  a  list  of  all  such  as  ap- 
pear in  the  Company's  Records,  as  published  in 
vol.  hi.,  Part  1.,  Trans.  Amer.  Antiq.  Soc, 
amounting  to  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Some  of 
them  may  not  have  been  members  of  the  Com- 
pany, but,  as  Mr.  Haven,  the  editor,  observes, 
they  were  in  some  way  connected  with  it,  as 
servants  or  otherwise.  After  the  names  of 
these,  I  have  caused  a  u  to  be  set,  to  denote 
the  uncertainty  of  their  membership. 


Abrie, 

A.  C, 

Adams,  Thomas 
Aldersey,  Samuel 
Andrews,  Thomas, 
Archer,  John 
Arnold,  Andrew 
Backhouse, 


Ballard,  Daniel 
Barkley,  William  u 

Bateman, 

Beecher,  Thomas  (captain 

of  the  Talbot)  u 
Bellingham,  Richard 
Betfcs,  John  u 
Bilson, 


1628.] 


THE    MASSACHUSETTS    COMPANY. 


55 


1G28.  Soon  after  a  grant  was  obtained,  probably  within  a  few  days, 
March,  the  members  had  a  meeting,  at  which  they  chose  Matthew  Cra- 
dock  governor,  and  Thomas  Goff  deputy  governor.  Mr.  White  had,  in 
the  mean  time,  engaged  "  several  other  religious  persons  in  and  about 
London,"  to  be  of  the  company,  who,  from  their  desire  to  provide  an 
asylum  "  where  nonconformists  might  transport  themselves  and  enjoy 
the  liberty  of  their  own  persuasion  in  Matters  of  worship  and  church  dis- 
cipline," had,  it  appears,  entered  into  the  views  and  wishes  of  Mr. 
White.  The  Governor  and  Deputy  Governor  had  probably  joined  the 
company  about  the  time  of  its  first  meeting.  They  were  opulent  mer- 
chants of  London ;  and  their  influence  with  other  men  of  wealth  made 
their  acquisition  to  the  company  of  great  importance. 

The  sending  succor  to  Mr.  Conant  seems  not  for  a  moment  to  have 
been  lost  sight  of,  or  unnecessarily  delayed  ;  for,  within  three  months 
from  the  organization  of  the  Company,  a  ship  had  been  provided,  and 
all  things  made  necessary  for  a  voyage  "  into  those  remote  parts  of  the 
earth,"  as  New  England  was  then  accounted. 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  difficulty  at  first  about  a  proper  officer 
to  conduct  this  enterprise.  Captain  John  Endicott,  however,  a  member 
of  the  company,  required  only  to  be  asked  if  he  would  go  and  reside  in 
New  England,  and  act  as  governor  of  the  colony,  when  he  promptly 
answered  in  the  affirmative  ;  which  answer  was  in  conformity  with  his 
previous  and  after  history  :  A  man  of  decision  of  character,  ' '  whose 
deep  enthusiasm,"  says  Chalmers,  "  engaged  him  zealously  to  promote 


Borenian,  Felix  u 

Bowry,  Richard  u 

Bradshawe,  Job 

Bradshawe,  Joseph 

Bradstreet,  Simon 

Brereton,  Sir  William 

Brickhead,  Thomas  w 

Bright,  Francis 

Browne,  John 

Browne,  Samuel 

Browne,  Kellam 

Burgess,  William 

Burnell,  [Tobias  1] 

Bushord,  Richard 

Caron,  Joseph 

Casson,  Edward  (merchant 
tailoi-)  u 

Charlton,  Robert  u 

Churchill,  Joseph  u 

Clarke,  

Clay  don,  Barnaby  u 

Claydon,  Richard  (carpen- 
ter) u 

Coddington,  William 

Colburn,  William 

Cony,  Thomas  u 

Cooke,  Edward 

Coulson,  Christopher 

Cradock,  Matthew 

Crane,  Robert 

Crowther,  William 

Barbie,  William 

Barley,  Henry 

Davenport,  John 

Davis,  Richard, 

Downing,  Emanuel 


Dudley,  Thomas 

Durbridge,  Mr. u 

Eaton,  Theophilus 
Edmonds,   James    (sailor 

and  fisherman)  u 
Endicott,  John 
Fines,  Charles 
Flyer,  Francis 
Forde,  Edward 
Foxeroft,  George 
Grace,  John  (turner)  u 

Gardener,  Mr. u 

Gauden,    Henry    (master 

of  the  ship  Abigail)  u 
Gladwing,  John  u 
Glover,  John 
GolTe,  Thomas 
Graves,  Thomas  u 
Hanscombe,  Thomas  u 
Harwood,  George 
Harrett,  Robert  u 
Helme,  Gawen  w 
Hewson,  George 
Hewson,  John 
Hewson,  Thomas 
Higginson,  Francis 
Hodsen,  Daniel 
Hubbard,  William 
Humphrey,  John 
Hutchins,  Thomas 

Ironside, 

Janson,  Sir  Brian 
Johnson,  Francis  u 
Johnson,  Isaac 

Joyce,  Mr. u 

Kerke,  Jarvis  w 


Lewis,  Humphrey  m 

Ludlowe,  Roger 

Malbon,  John  (worker  in 
iron)  u 

Manstreye,  Nathaniel 

Mayo,  Mr. u 

Milburne,  Capt.  Peter 

Miller,  Sydrach  (cooper)  u 

Mitchell,  Barnard  u 

Morley,  Robert  (barber  and 
surgeon)  u 

Moulton,  Robert  (ship- 
wright) u 

Nowell,  Increase 

Nye,  Philip 

Offield,  Joseph 

Palmer,  Abraham 

Pelham, u 

Perry,  Richard 

Peters,  Hugh 

Phillips,  George 

Pocock,  John 

Pratt,  John  (surgeon)  u 

Puliston,  Thomas 

Pynchon,  William 

Re  veil,  John 

Roe,  Lawrence  u 

Rossiter,  Edward 

Roswell,  Sir  Henry 

Rovell,  William  (ship  mas- 
ter) u 

Rowe,  Owen 

Saltonstall,  Sir  Richard 

Seale,  Humphrey 

Seale,  Robert  (apprentice)u 

Sharpe,  Samuel 


Sharpe,  Thomas 
Sherman,  William  u 
Skelton,  Samuel 
Smith,  John 
Southcot,  Thomas 
Spurstow,  [William] 
Stevens,  Thomas 
Tuffneale,  Richard 
Vassall,  Samuel 
Vassall,  William 
Venn,  John 

Wade, 

Walgrave, 

Waller,  Capt.  Henry 
Ward,  Nathaniel 
Washborne,  John 
Waye,  George 
Webb,  Francis 
Webb,  Thomas 
West,  Nicholas 
Whitt,  John  u 
White,  Ralph  u 
Winthrop,  John 
Whetcomb,  Simon 
Whichcote,  Charles 
White,  Edmund 
White,  John  (minister) 
White,  John  (jurist) 
White,  Richard 
Wise,  John  (shoemaker)  u 

Woodgate, 

Wright,  Nathaniel 

Wynche, 

Young,  James 
Young,  Sir  John 
YouDg,  Richard 


56  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1628. 

the  success  of  an  enterprise  which  was  to  gratify  the  favorite  passions 
of  every  one."  But  this  historian  should  have  added,  "  when  those 
passions  have  for  their  object  purity  of  life,  and  the  universal  good  of 
his  fellow-man."  John  Endicott,  like  other  great  men  who  have  im- 
mortalized their  names,  requires  the  addition  of  no  sounding  titles  to 
ennoble  his  memory.  His  simple  name  is  a  better  indication  of  great- 
ness than  any  title  that  his  native  country's  peerage  could  confer.* 

1628.  There  was  now 
June  20.  riding  at  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  Weymouth, 

a   little   ship    called    the  = 

Abigail,  of  about  two  hun-  :—      Ji-5 

dred  tons  burden,  Henry 
Gauden,f  master.  On  the 
morning  of  one  of  the  last 
clays  of  the  month  of  June, 
1628,  Captain  Endicott,  |H 
with  his  wife,  children  4 
and  others  of  his  company,  'I 
being  on  board,  to  the: 
number  probably  of  about 
one  hundred  souls,  with 
the  last  greetings  of  many 
friends  assembled  on  the  occasion,  sails  out  of  Weymouth  bay ;  and, 
doubling  the  noted  promontory  called  Portland  Bill,  is  soon  lost  sight 
of  in  the  channel  beyond.  Whatever  were  the  incidents  of  the  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic,  there  is  nothing  from  which  to  form  an  ac«ount,J 
however  important  they  may  have  been.  But  they  arrived  at  Naum- 
keag,  their  place  of  destination,  after  a  voyage  of  two  months 

p  '  and  "  some  few  odd  days."  The  joy  with  which  they  were 
received  by  Mr.  Conant  and  his  little  company,  can  be  conceived  by 
those  only  capable  of  imagining  what  the  real  condition  of  the  country 
then  must  have  been,  —  an  immeasurable  expanse  of  lofty  forests 
shrouded  in  the  sable  gloom  of  ages  ;  separated  from  the  wide  Atlantic 
ocean  only  by  a  rugged  curtain  of  fearful  rocks  and  barren  sands.  The 
actual  number  composing  the  colony  of  which  Mr.  Endicott  found  him- 

*  The  early  historian  of  New  England,  Cap-  and  austere ,  applying  himselfe  to  either,  as  oc- 
tain  Edward  Johnson,  the  cotemporary  of  En-  casion  served."  Wond.-work.  Prov.  of  Sion's 
dicott,  calls  him  in  his  history,  "  The  much  Sav.  in  Neiv  England,  p.  19.  The  preceding 
honoured,"  —  "  a  fit  instrument  to  begin  this  copy  of  Gov.  Endicott's  autograph  is  from  a 
wildernesse-worke  ;  of  courage  bold,  undanted,    legal  paper  of  1647. 

f  Godden,  Gooden,  Goodin,  Godwin,  Good- 
win, Gooding,  &c,  all  probably  traceable  to 
the  same  original. 

J  Endicott  wrote  a  letter  to  the  governor  ot 
the  Company,  dated  one  week  after  his  arrival, 
in  which  he  probably  detailed  the  incidents  of 
the  voyage,  but  that  letter  has  not  been  pre- 
served, or,  if  preserved,  it  has  not  come  to  the 
yet  sociable,  and  of  a  chearfull  spirit,  loving   knowledge  of  historians. 


1629.] 


SETTLEMENT    OF    CTIARLESTOAVN. 


57 


self  governor,*  at  his  arrival  at  Naumkeag,  has  never  been  ascertained; 
but,  judging  from  the  data,  that  are  to  be  found,  there  could  not  have  been 
many  above  one  hundred  persons  in  and  about  that  part  of  the  country. f 
Some  time  after  the  arrival  of  Governor  Endicott,  several  gentlemen, 
under  his  direction,  crossed  the  country  to  Mishawum.  The  principal 
persons  who  went  on  this  discovery  were  three  brothers,  Ralph,  Richard 
and  William  Sprague.  The  place  they  "lighted  of"  was  "  on  the 
north  side  of  Charles  river,  full  of  Indians,  called  Aberginians.  Their 
old  Sachem  being  dead,  his  eldest  son,  by  the  English  called  John  Sag- 
amore, was  their  chief,  and  a  man  naturally  of  a  gentle  and  good  dispo- 


*  Half  a  century  ago,  or  to  be  more  exact, 
sixty-two  years  ago  (1790),  an  edition  of 
Gov.  Winthrop's  Journal  was  published  at 
Hartford,  in  the  title-page  of  which  the  editor 
or  transcriber  wrote,  after  the  name  of  the 
author,  "First  Governor  of  Massachusetts." 
This  is  an  error  which  no  one  will  seriously 
deny.  Matthew  Cradock,  as  we  have  seen, 
was  the  first  governor  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company.  The  Company  established  a  colony 
at  Naumkeag,  in  1628,  over  which  Endicott 
had  a  commission,  executed  with  all  the 
formalities  of  those  days,  constituting  him 
governor.  He  was  exercising  the  office  of 
governor  in  the  colony  at  Naumkeag  before 
Winthrop  was  even  Governor  of  the  Com- 
pany in  England.  Governors  in  those  days, 
and  even  a  hundred  years  later,  were  not, 
as  it  respects  the  office,  what  they  have 
been  since.  Roger  Conant  was  a  governor 
before  Endicott  arrived,  but  he  was  not  so  by 
the  appointment  of  the  Massachusetts  Com- 
pany, for  that  company  was  not  formed  when 
Conant  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Cape 
Ann  Colony.  Hutchinson  remarks,  with  regard 
to  Conant's  office,  that  "  the  superior  condi- 
tion of  the  persons  who  came  over  with  the 
charter,  cast  a  shade  upon  him,  and  he  lived 
in  obscurity."  It  depends  altogether  upon  the 
number  and  wealth  of  a  community,  whether 
or  not,  in  after  times,  those  who  held  offices 
in  it  are  to  be  dignified  by  the  titles  of  such 
offices  ;  and  that  it  therefore  follows,  if  of- 
fices are  of  more  importance,  because  exer- 
cised over  more  or  better  people,  the  predeces- 
sors in  the  same  offices  are  not  entitled  to  be 
known  by  such  titles  of  office  !  Such  must 
inevitably  be  the  reasoning  warranted  by  the 
only  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  passage 
of  Hutchinson.  It  is  of  no  consequence  what- 
ever whether  Conant,  Endicott,  or  Winthrop 
was  the  first  governor  of  Massachusetts,  fur- 
ther than  to  have  the  facts  stated  exactly  as  they 
existed,  and  as  the  original  records  warrant. 

f  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of 
such  as  are  known  to  have  been  in  Salem  and 
about  the  north  side  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
before  and  in  the  year  1629  ;  consequently, 
before  the  settlement  of  Boston.  They  have 
been  collected  from  Original  Papers,  the  Ans. 
of  Salem,  Lewis'  Hist,  of  Lynn,  &c, 


Allan,  William 
Balch,  John 
Beard,  Thomas 
Brackenbury,  Richard 
Brand,  Thomas 
Bright,  Francis 
Brown,  Hugh 
Brown,  John 
Brown,  Samuel 
Button,  Matthias 
Claydon,  Barnabas 
Claydon,  Richard 
Conant,  Roger 
Davenport,  Richard 
Dixy,  William 
Dodge,  William 
Dorrell,  John  (1) 
Edes,  William 
Edmonds,  James 
Endicott,  Gov.  John 
Ewstead,  Richard 
Gardner,  Thomas 
Gott,  Charles 
Graves,  Thomas 
Gray,  Thomas 
Hanscombe,  Thomas 
Haughton,  Henry 
Howard,  Richard 
Herrick,  Henry 

Hewes,  Mr.  

Higginson,  Francis 
Higginson,  John 
Hoyte,  Simon 
Ingalls,  Edmund 
Ingersoll,  Richard 
Jetfrey,  William. 
Knight,  Walter 

An  attempt  has  not  been  made  to  determine 
separately,  the  names  of  those  whom  Endicott 
found  on  his  arrival  at  Naumkeag  ;  the  names 
of  those  who  came  with  him,  or  of  those  who 
followed  him  in  1629.  From  a  passage  in 
Hubbard's  New  England,  p.  109,  it  is  pretty 
plain  that  Captain  William  Trask  was  there 
before  the  arrival  of  Endicott.  He  was  an  im- 
portant man  in  the  colony,  and  one  on  whom 
Gov.  Endicott  placed  much  reliance.  He  was 
a  captain  in  the  Pequot  war,  and  held  other 
offices  of  distinction.  He  died  in  1666.  His 
descendant,  Mr.  William  B.  Trask,  of  Dor- 
chester, has  furnished  the  fac  simile  sub- 
joined. 


Leach,  Lawrence 
Lyford,  John 
Malbon,  John 
Maverick,  Samuel 
Meech,  John 
Miller,  Sydrach 
Moulton,  Robert 
Norman,  Richard 
Norman,  Richard,  Jr. 
Pal  fray,  Peter 
Palmer,  Abra 
Palmer,  Walter 

Patch, 

Rickman,  Isaac 
Ryall,  William 
Scruggs,  Thomas 
Sharpe,  Samuel 
Sibly,  John 
Skelton,  Samuel 
Sprague,  Ralph 
Sprague,  Richard 
Sprague,  William 
Strickline,  John 
Stileman,  Elias 
Stowers,  Nicholas 
Til  lie,  Hugh 
Tillie,  John 
Traske,  William 
Walford.  Thomas 
Waterman,  Richard 
Webb,  Francis 
Wheelwright,  John 
Wilson,  Lambert 
Woodbury,  Humphrey 
Woodbury,  John 
Wood,  William 


w  <& 


■4^a 


58 


HISTORY    OP    BOSTON. 


[1629. 


sition,  by  whose  free  consent  they  settled  about  the  hill  of  the  same 
place,  by  the  said  natives  called  Mishawum,  where  they  found  but  one 
English  palisadoed  and  thatched  house,  wherein  lived  Thomas  Walford, 
a  smith,  situated  on  the  south  end  of  the  westernmost  hill  of  the  East 
Eield,  a  little  way  up  from  Charles  river  side,  and,  upon  survey,  they 
found  it  was  a  neck  of  land  generally  full  of  stately  timber,  as  was  the 
main,  and  the  land  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  called  Mystick 
river,  from  the  farm  Mr.  Craddock's  servants  had  planted,  called  Mys- 
tic, which  this  river  led  up  unto  ;  and  indeed  generally,  all  the  country 
round  about  was  an  uncouth  wilderness  full  of  timber."  * 

The  discovery  and  possession  of  Mishawum  was  undertaken  thus 
early  to  prevent  the  validity  of  the  claims  of  those  who  held  that  part 
of  the  Bay  under  the  grant  of  Captain  Robert  Gorges.  Especially 
against  the  claim  of  Mr.  John  Oldham,  who,  with  one  John  Dorrill,  held 
a  lease  or  grant  of  the  lands  between  Charles  and  Abousett  (Saugus) 
rivers,  extending  "  by  a  right  line  "  five  miles  up  Charles  and  three 
miles  up  Abousett  rivers.  This  claim  the  Company  resisted,  because, 
as  they  say,  "it  was  voyde  in  lawe."  f  At  what  time  this  grant  to 
Oldham  and  Dorrill  was  made  does  not  appear,  but  it  was  doubtless 
before  1628.  Seeing  that  Mr.  Oldham  was  firm  in  his  views,  as  it  re- 
spected his  grant,  the  Company  "  left  him  to  his  owne  way ;"  because, 
probably,  that  appeared  the  only  way.  That  he  was  a  man  of  much 
energy,  and  no  little  importance  in  the  commercial  community  of  that 


*  This  interesting  record  of  the  earliest  ac- 
count of  Charlestown,  is  not  quite  contempo- 
rary Avith  the  settlement ;  but,  as  Mr.  Prince 
tells  us,  "  was  wrote  by  Mr.  Increase  Nowell, 
afterwards  town  clerk  of  Charlestown,  and 
secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony."  But 
Mr.  Frothingham,  in  his  History  of  Charles- 
town,  says  it  was  written  by  John  Greene,  in 
the  first  book  of  the  records  of  the  town,  in 
1664.  Mr.  Nowell  having  died  in  1655,  it  is 
clear  that  Prince  fell  into  an  error  respecting 
the  authority  of  the  record  in  question ,  and  is 
by  Mr.  Frothingham  set  right  in  his  history. 
Most  New  England  historians,  following  Mr. 
Prince,  have  fallen  into  the  same  error  respect- 
ing the  date  of  the  emigration  to  Charlestown 
from  Salem.  The  facts  and  dates  are  correctly 
given  in  Chalmers'  Polit.  Annals,  142-3. 

f  Among  the  many  unexplained  matters  of 
these  times,  are  the  titles  of  certain  grants  of 
lands  in  New  England.  If  the  validity  of  Mr. 
Oldham's  title  rested  on  that  of  another  grant, 
as  I  presume  it  did,  what  invalidated  it  1  If 
his  title  was  from  Robert  Gorges,  the  title  of 
the  latter  must  have  been  defective,  and  if  de- 
fective, wherein?  Gorges  certainly  had  a 
grant  from  the  Council  of  Plymouth.  Was  it 
a  condition  of  validity  that  he  should  reside 
personally  upon  his  grant  1  No  such  condi- 
tion appears  in  it.  Was  it  that  he  should  im- 
prove it  by  actual  settlers  1  If  this  were  a 
condition,  Blackston,  Walford,  Maverick,  and 
others  could  not  have  held  under  him  ;   for  if 


they  did,  there  was  actual  possession.  In  the 
Company's  letter  to  Endicott,  dated  17th 
April,  1629  (Hazard,  i.  258-9),  great  com- 
plaint is  made  about  Oldham,  though  nothing- 
like  a  tangible  charge  of  any  sort  is  brought 
against  him.  They  say,  indeed,  in  a  kind  of 
general  way,  that  "  they  had  bin  cast  behind 
two  months  tyme  in  their  voyage,  through  the 
varyetie  of  his  vast  conceipts  ; ' '  which  ' '  vast 
conceipts"  appear  to  have  been  plans  for  real- 
izing great  profits  which  he  had  endeavored  to 
get  the  Company  to  join  in.  But  there  were 
two  insuperable  difficulties ;  first,  Oldham 
probably  demanded,  as  a  condition,  that  his 
grant  from  Gorges  should  be  recognized  ;  and, 
second,  that  he  might  trade  for  beaver  with 
the  Indians  as  he  saw  fit.  But,  says  the 
Company's  letter,  "  after  long  tyme  spent  in 
sundry  treaties,  fynding  him  a  man  alto- 
geather  vnfitt  for  vs  to  deale  with ,  wee  haue  at 
last  left  him  to  his  owne  way."  How  long 
before  the  date  of  this  letter,  he  had  been 
"  left  to  his  owne  way,"  does  not  appear,  but, 
as  will  be  seen,  he  was  in  New  England  on 
the  17th  of  May  following.  As  to  the  trade 
in  beaver,  "  that,"  they  say, "  wee  deny  to  the 
best  of  our  owne  planters."  This  sharp  eye 
to  the  trade  in  beaver  was  doubtless  commend- 
able, notwithstanding  they  say,  "  the  propa- 
gation of  the  gospele  is  the  thing  wee  doe  pro- 
fess above  all  to  bee,  or  ayme  in  settling  this 
plantacion." 


1629.]  OLDHAM   AND    THE    MASS.    COMPANY.  59 

day,  is  abundantly  shown  by  the  documents  under  consideration.  The 
Company  were  in  great  alarm  lest  he  should  "interest  others,  who," 
they  say,  "  for  ought  wee  knowe,  are  never  likely  to  bee  benefitiall  to 
the  planting  of  the  country  ;  their  owne  prticulor  prfitts  (though  to 
the  overthrewe  of  the  gen'all  plantacon),  being  their  chiefe  ayme  and 
intent."  Therefore  they  direct  Mr.  Endicott  to  "  vse  the  best  meanes 
he  can  to  settle  an  agreem'  with  the  old  Planters,  so  as  they  may  not 
harken  to  Mr.  Oldham's  dangerous  though  vaine  propositions."  They 
complain  also  that  "  he  is  a  man  so  affected  to  his  owne  opinion,  as  not 
to  bee  removed  from  it,  neither  by  reason  nor  any  perswasion  ;"  that 
therefore,  they  expect,  as  he  had  lately  gone,  or  was  going  for  New 
England  again,  he  would,  by  drawing  others  to  his  opinions,  make 
trouble  there,  it  was  their  will  that  "  when  faire  meanes  will  not  pre- 
vaile,"  such  other  means  might  be  "  vsed  to  suppresse  a  mischiefe  before 
it  take  too  great  a  head,  as  in  yor  discrecons  you  shall  thinke  fittest  for 
the  gen'all  good  and  safety  of  the  plantacon,  and  preservacon  of  or 
priviledges.  And  because  wee  would  not  omitt  to  doe  anything  wch 
might  strengthen  or  right,  we  would  have  you  (as  soone  as  these  shipps, 
or  any  of  them,  arrive  with  you,  whereby  you  may  have  men  to  do  it), 
send  forty  or  fifty  persons  to  Massachusetts  Bay,*  to  inhabit  there  ; 
which  we  pray  you  not  to  protract,  but  to  doe  it  with  all  speede  ;  and 
if  any  of  o1'  company  in  perticuler  shall  desire  to  settle  themselves  there, 
or  to  send  servants  thither,  wee  desire  all  accommodacon  and  encourag- 
m'  bee  given  them  theronto,  wherby  the  better  to  strengthen  o1'  possession 
there  against  all  or  any  that  shall  intrude  vpon  vs,  wch  wee  would  not 
haue  you  by  any  meanes  give  way  vnto."f 

From  the  tenor  of  these  instructions  to  Endicott,  it  is  manifest  that 
the  defeat  of  those  claiming  under  Gorges  the  younger  was  intended  ; 
and  these  were  "  Oldham  and  his  adherents." 

Being  defeated  in  all  his  endeavors  to  effect  an  arrangement  with  the 
Massachusetts  Patentees,  Mr.  Oldham  appears  to  have  embarked  for 
New  England  early  in  the  spring  of  this  year.  In  what  vessel  he 
sailed,  or  in  what  company  he  came,  is  not  discovered  ;  but  soon  after 
his  arrival,  he  is  found  at  a  noted  Indian  place,  —  probably  then  long 

*  It  was  a  long  time  before  places  received  Massachusetts,  of  1780) ,  Bunker  Hill,  appears ; 

their  appropriate  names ;  owing  in   a   great  but,    instead   of  being  in  Charlestown,  it  is 

measure  to  the  want  of  correct  geographical  south  of  Charles  river,  in  Brookline  !     Massa- 

knowledge.     It  could  not  be  otherwise,  under  chusetts  Bay  does  not  form  a  separate  article 

the    circumstances.      Strictly    speaking,   the  in  the  early  geographical  works,  down  to  and 

Bay  of  Massachusetts  included,  anciently,  only  including  those  of  Dr.  Morse.     All  of  those 

the  south-western  portion  of  what  is  now  Bos-  who  wrote  of  the  country  in  the  times  of  its 

ton  harbor.     It  was  so  named  from  the  prox-  settlement,    speak   of    what   is    now  Boston 

imity  of  the  tribe  of  Massachusetts  Indians,  harbor  as   Massachusetts  Bay.     The   people 

There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  par-  of   Salem   spoke   of   going  from    that    place 

ticular  name  to  that  great  body  of  water  from  to    Massachusetts    Bay.      In    the    Planter 's 

the  harbor  and  Cape  Ann  to  Cape  Cod,  until  Plea  (Force),  p.  15,  the  " Mattachusets  Bay" 

a  much  later  period  than  that  now  under  con-  is  described  as  near  Salem.     In  the  MS.  of  Mr. 

sideration.     The  precise  date  when  the  Great  Harris   (referred  to,  ante,  p.  44)   are  curious 

Bay  received  the  name  it  now  bears,  I  have  facts  relating  to  the  early  geographical  knowl- 

not  attempted  to  fix.  It  has  stood  so  inscribed  edge  of  these  parts,  which  it  is  to  be  hoped  he 

upon  some  maps  for  about  one  hundred  years,  will,  ere  long,  in  some  form,  give  to  the  public. 
On  one  now  before  me  (an  English  map  of        f  Hazard,  i.  260. 


60  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1629. 

known  io  the  early  traders  for  furs,  —  called  Swamscott,  or  Squainscot 
(since  Exeter),  in  company  with  Mr.  John  Wheelwright.  How  or  when 
this  gentleman  came,  is  likewise  unknown.  However,  for  anything 
that  is  found  to  the  contrary,  he  may  have  been  in  the  country  one,  two, 
or  more  years  ;  long  enough,  at  all  events,  to  find  out  a  good  tract  of 
country,  then  thought  not  to  be  included  in  any  patent,  exceedingly  val- 
uable for  its  timber  and  for  the  fur  trade. 

Mr.  Wheelwright,  probably  by  his  agents,  having  assembled 
ay     '  the  principal  Indian  Sagamores  at  Squamscot,  they  gave  him  a 
deed  of  a  tract  of  country  which,  for  near  fifty  years  after,  embraced 
the  whole  of  New  Hampshire.* 

Notwithstanding  Captain  John  Mason  procured  a  patent  of  the 
Council  of  Plymouth,  of  nearly  the  same  tract  which  Mr. 
Wheelwright  had  purchased  of  the  Indians,  and  which,  for  a  time,  may 
have  prevented  him  from  asserting  his  claim,  yet,  eventually,  his  pos- 
terity enjoyed  it,  or  a  portion  of  it  at  least ;  for,  when  the  colony  from 
about  Londonderry,  in  Ireland,  came  to  New  England,  in  1718,  and  had 
liberty  to  make  choice  of  a  place  for  settlement,  the  tract,  since  Lon- 
donderry, in  New  Hampshire,  was  selected  by  them.  To  obtain  a  title 
to  the  land  they  had  selected,  they  were  referred  to  Colonel  John 
Wheelwright,  of  Wells,  grandson  of  the  original  grantee,  because  "he 
had  the  best  Indian  title,  derived  from  his  ancestors."  And,  although 
there  were  one  or  two  claimants  of  the  same  territory,  —  which  was 
ten  miles  square,  —  yet  the  government  protected  the  settlers  under 
that  of  Colonel  Wheelwright.f 

*  In  the  deed  Mr.  Wheelwright  is  styled  they  at  once  proceeded  beyond  the  limits  of 

"  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  late  of  England  ;"  that   company,    and 'made    the    purchase   as 

and  Augustine   Story  [Storre],  Thomas  Wite  stated  in  the  text.     To  prevent  any  question 

[Wright],  William   Wentworth,  and  Thomas  as  to  their  purchase,  they  took  a  large  number 

Levet  [Leavitt],  are  also  named  "  of  Massa-  of  witnesses   from    the    eastern    settlements, 

chusetts  Bay."     From  which  fact  it  is  evident  namely,  "  George  Vaughan,  factor,  and  Am- 

they  had  been  residing  somewhere  about  Bos-  brose   Gibbons,  trader,  for  the  Company  of 

ton  harbor,  because  then,  as  has  been  shown,  Laconia,  Richard  Vines,  governor,  and  Richard 

the  Massachusetts  Bay  was  confined  to  this  Bonighton,  assistant,   of   the    plantation    at 

harbor;   perhaps  Mr.  Wheelwright  had  been  Saco  ;    Thomas  Wiggin,  agent,  and   Edward 

residing  with  the  hospitable  Mavericke,  Avhose  Hilton,  steward  of  the  plantation  of  Hilton's 

son  Samuel  afterwards  married  his  daughter  Point."     All  these  witnessed  the  acknowledg- 

Rebecea.      However,    Wheelwright,    Storre,  ment  of  the  deed,  and  John  Oldham,  Samuel 

Wright,  Wentworth  and  Leavitt,  all  probably  Sharp  and  two  Indians  witnessed  the  deed, 

belonged  to  the  same  company.     Oldham  may  f  His  deed  to  those  settlers  is  dated  20  Oct., 

have  been  their  agent  in  England,  upon  whose  1719,  in  which  he  says  he  conveys  "  by  virtue 

return  here,  finding  their  patent  swallowed  of  a  Deed  or  Grant  made  to  his  grandfather, 

up  (if  they  had  any  interest  in  that  of  Robert  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,"  &c. — Parker's  Hist. 

Gorges),  and  so  lost  beyond  hope  of  recovery,  Londonderry,  p.  321. 


1629.]  FIRST    LOCATIONS    OF    SETTLERS.  61 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Settlements  first  made  on  outskirts  of  a  country.  —  Particularly  so  in  New  England. — Why  (lie 
Massachusetts  Company  sought  a  Royal  Charter.  —  Flow  obtained.  —  Its  Boundaries.  —  Its  Gov- 
ernment. —  its  Conditions  and  Restrictions.  —  Examination  of  its  Conditions.  —  Privileges  assumed 
under  it  which  it  never  authorized.  —  Religious  Liberty  denied  in  it.  —  Case  of  the  Plymouth  Settlers. 
—  Origin  of  Religious  Liberty.  —  Charter  Privileges  contended  for  not  contained  in  the  Charter.  — 
The  times  favor  the  assumption. 

^m  "  HE  planters  of  new  countries  usually  locate  them- 
e^s     selves   at  first  in  such  places  as  accident  pro- 
vides,   or    some    peculiar    circumstances    make 
unavoidable  ;    hence  it  has  happened  that  the 
poorest  parts  have  been  first  improved,  and  the 
||Ni§§§^       best  localities  neglected   till   the  last.      It  was 
/  truly   so    in   the   settlement  of   Plymouth    and 

f^^H®^  Massachusetts,  as  it  was  also  in  Canada  and  Vir- 
ginia. Cape  Cod  on  the  south,  and  Cape  Ann 
on  the  north,  were  among  the  first  resting-places  of  the 
devoted  men  who  led  the  way  in  the  early  path,  to  a 
mighty  empire.  From  these  inhospitable  and  sterile  points 
a  gradual  progress  was  made  along  the  south  and  north 
shores  of  the  bay,  until  the  wanderers  met  in  its  bosom,  among  the 
undulating  eminences  of  Shawmut,  the  beautiful  groves  of  the  Mystic, 
and  the  delightful  cornfields  of  the  Massachusetts.  This  will  have  been 
seen  in  the  perusal  of  the  previous  chapters. 

Thus,  at  this  time,  Englishmen  had  located  themselves  in  all 
the  prominent  places  around  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  a  toler- 
ably accurate  knowledge  of  the  country  had  been  learned  by  several 
gentlemen  in  England  who  had  become  immediately  interested  in  its 
settlement.  It  remained  now  to  push  forward  a  further  occupation  of 
the  country  embraced  in  their  patent,  for  many  and  obvious  reasons. 
Before  entering  upon  a  detail  of  the  next  great  emigration,  however,  it 
is  deemed  necessary  to  take  notice  of  the  charter  and  its  provisions,  or 
conditions  under  which  it  was  made,  as  they  had  a  most  important 
bearing  upon  the  affairs  of  Boston,  and  consequently  upon  the  whole 
country  ;  and  hence  somewhat  of  recapitulation  may  be  necessary. 

The  Massachusetts  Company,  judging  from  the  experience  of  former 
colonial  companies,  doubted  partly  the  validity  of  the  conveyance  lately 
made  to  them  by  the  Plymouth  Company,  but  more  the  authority  given 
by  it  to  rule  the  intended  plantation.*     They  therefore  insisted,  not 

*  This  is  Chalmers'  explanation;  but  there  empowered  to  act  for  them,  dishonorably  sold 

■was  a  motive  back  of  all  this.     The  Council  territory  whenever  purchasers  offered,  regard- 

of  Plymouth  had  been  disposing  of  their  ter-  less  of  what  had  been  previously  sold ;    and 

ritory  in  a  inanner  which  can  be  accounted  for  the  most  favorable  construction  that  this  will 

in  two  ways  only ; — first,  that,  owing  to  their  admit  of  is,  that  they  had  been  deceived  by 

extreme  ignorance  of   the   geography  of  the  the  representations  of    purchasers,  who  had 

country,  they  had  conveyed  parts  of  the  same  been   in  the  country,  and  knew  the  value  of 

tracts  twice  over,  to  different  individuals  ; —  certain   localities  which   they  desired  to  pos- 

or,  secondly,  that  they,  or  those  whom  they  sess,  and  were  not  scrupulous  to  inquire  into 


62  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1629. 

only  that  a  charter  should  be  obtained  from  the  Crown  confirmatory  of 
the  grant  from  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  and  authorizing  them  to  gov- 
ern the  colonists,  but  that  their  names  should  be  inserted  in  it,  and 
their  affairs  transacted  at  London.  Under  these  considerations,  a 
patent  was  applied  for,  and,  by  the  personal  solicitation  of  Lord  Dor- 
1629.  Chester,  it  was  obtained  of  King  Charles  I.*  This  patent  re- 
Mar.  4.  cited  the  grant  to  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  of  1620,  and  the 
subsequent  sale  of  a  small  portion  of  its  territory  before  mentioned,  and 
regranted  to  Sir  Henry  Rosewell,  Sir  John  Young,  Thomas  Southcot, 
John  Humfrey,  John  Endicot,  Simon  Whetcomb,f  and  their  associates, 
namely,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Knight,  Isaac  Johnson,  Samuel  Alcler- 
sey,  John  Ven,  Matthew  Cradock,  George  Harwood,  Increase  Nowell, 
Richard  Perry,  Richard  Bellingham,  Nathaniel  Wright,  Samuel  Vassall, 
Theophilus  Eaton,  Thomas  Goff,  Thomas  Adams,  John  Brown,  Samuel 
Brown,  Thomas  Hutchins,  William  Vassall,  William  Pynchon,  and 
George  Foxcroftj  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  that  part  of  New 
England  which  lies  between  the  rivers  Merrimack  and  Charles,  being 
the  bottom  of  a  certain  bay,  there  commonly  called  Massachusetts  alias 
Mattaehusetts  alias  Massatusetts  Bay,  and  also  all  lands  lying  within 
the  space  of  three  miles  on  the  south  part  of  the  said  Charles  river,  or 
of  any  or  every  part  thereof;  and  also  of  all  lands  lying  within  the 
space  of  three  miles  to  the  northward  of  the  said  river  called  Mono- 
mack,  alias  Merrimack,  or  to  the  northward  of  every  part  thereof,  and 
through  the  main  lands  from  the  Atlantic  and  western  sea  and  ocean 
on  the  east,  to  the  South  sea  on  the  west.  To  be  holden  by  them, 
their  heirs,  and  assigns,  in  free  and  common  soccage,  as  of  the  manor 
of  East  Greenwich ;  paying,  in  lieu  of  all  services,  one  fifth  of  the  gold 
and  silver  that  should  be  found. § 

the  rights  of  others,  especially  where  they  *  I  here  follow  Chalmers  in  this  matter  of 
could  flatter  themselves  that  claims  had  been  the  charter,  who  thus  remarks  at  this  point : 
abandoned  or  neglected.  Therefore,  in  view  "  Whether  we  reflect  that  this  is  the  only 
of  these  facts,  and  to  possess  at  least  a  right  charter  which  Massachusetts  possessed  prior 
or  claim  paramount  to  all  others,  nothing  to  the  Kevolution  [of  1688],  which  contained 
short  of  a  patent  under  the  royal  seal  would  its  most  ancient  privileges ;  that  on  this  was 
enable  the  Massachusetts  Company  to  contend  most  dexterously  established  not  only  the 
successfully  against  a  swarm  of  minor  paten-  original  government  of  that  colony,  but  inde- 
tees.  Though  historians  have  not  viewed  the  pendence  itself,  a  minute  discussion  of  it 
motives  which  influenced  the  Company  in  this  must  appear  equally  necessary  and  interest- 
light,  they  are  to  me  the  most  satisfactory  of  ing." — Political  Annals,  136.  But  his  "  dis- 
all  others  together.  I  am  aware  that,  in  a  cussion  of  it  "  is  not  to  my  purpose, 
moral  point  of  view,  the  Company,  as  a  body,  f  Mr.  Hubbard  called  these  sis  persons 
are  somewhat  exposed  to  censure.  If  a  straight-  "Gentlemen  about  Dorchester;"  not  of  Dor- 
forward  detail  of  facts  lead  to  exposures,  it  is  Chester,  as  a  popular  historian  of  the  present 
no  fault  of  the  historian.  His  convictions  day  cites  him  as  saying.  See  ante. 
should  always  be  honestly  stated.  If  he  errs  J  These  names  of  the  grantees  are  taken 
in  judgment,  it  only  proves  that  he  has  mis-  from  Prince's  Annals.  The  spelling  of  some 
judged  in  the  particular  case  under  considera-  of  them  differs  from  those  in  Hutchinson's 
tion.    Whether  the  Company  possessed  all  the  Collection  of  Papers. 

moral  rights  which  they  exercised  is  the  ques-       §  Patent  in  Hutchinson's  Col.  Papers,  entire, 

tion.     Certain   it   is  they  put   no   particular  also  in  Mauduit's  Vieiv  of  the  History  of  New 

stress  on  that  kind  of  right,  while  upon  their  England,  and  Hazard.     Mauduit  says  it  had 

legal  rights  they  were  sufficiently  emphatical.  not  been  printed  in  England  before  his  time. 


1629.]  PROVISIONS    OF   THE    CHARTER    OP    MASSACHUSETTS.  63 

The  executive  power  of  the  corporation  was  invested  in  a  governor, 
deputy  governor,  and  eighteen  assistants,  whose  duty  was,  "for  the 
best  disposing  and  ordering  of  the  lands  granted,  of  the  affairs  of  the 
plantation,  of  the  government  of  the  people  there."  The  governor 
and  seven  or  more  assistants  were  authorized  to  meet  in  monthly  courts 
"for  despatching  such  business  as  concerned  the  Company  or  settle- 
ment." The  legislative  power  of  the  Corporation,  however,  was  invested 
in  "a  more  solemn  assembly."  This  body  was  to  be  composed  of  the 
governor,  deputy  governor,  the  assistants,  and  of  the  whole  freemen  of 
the  company  in  person,  and  was  directed  to  be  held  "  every  last  Wed- 
nesday in  the  four  terms,"  which  meetings  or  sessions  were  named 
"the  four  Great  and  General  Courts."  It  was  empowered  to  make 
laws  or  ordinances  for  the  government  of  the  plantation,  which  "  should 
not  be  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England."  This  "  Great  and  General 
Court"  was  authorized  to  elect  freemen,  a  governor,  deputy  governor, 
assistants  and  other  officers.  The  governor  and  company  were  enabled 
to  transport  to  New  England  "  all  such  of  the  subjects  of  King  Charles 
I.,  as  shall  be  willing  to  accompany  them,  and  such  strangers  as  will 
become  subjects  and  live  under  his  allegiance  ;"  but  with  this  proviso  : 
"that  none  of  the  said  persons  be  such  as  shall  be  especially  re- 
strained ;"  that  the  emigrants  and  their  posterity  were  declared  "to  be 
natural  born  subjects,  and  entitled  to  the  immunities  of  Englishmen 
within  every  other  dominion  of  the  Crown  as  if  born  within  the 
realm."  They  were  empowered  to  carry  thither  warlike  stores  and 
merchandises,  without  paying  any  customs  for  the  space  of  seven  years  ; 
and,  as  a  further  encouragement,  they  were  exempted  from  the  pay- 
ment of  taxes  in  New  England,  during  the  same  term  of  years,  and 
from  any  duty  on  commodities  imported  to  England  or  any  dominion  of 
the  Crown,  or  exported  from  them,  for  twenty-one  years  after  the 
expiration  of  the  former  term  of  exemption,  except  five  in  the  hundred 
of  the  value  for  custom. 

That  the  colony  which  was  to  be  planted  "  might  be  so  religiously 
and  civilly  governed,  as  the  good  life  and  orderly  conversation  of  the 
inhabitants  might  invite  the  natives  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian 
faith  ;  which,  in  the  royal  intention,  and  in  the  adventurers'  free  pro- 
fession, was  the  principal  end  of  the  plantation,"  power  was  therefore 
conferred  on  the  General  Court,  and  its  successors,  to  establish  ordi- 
nances and  instructions,  which  should  not  be  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the 
realm,  for  settling  forms  of  government  for  the  colonists  ;  for  determin- 
ing fines,  imprisonments,  or  other  legal  correction,  according  to  the 
usages  of  other  corporations  in  the  realm  of  England  ;  and  for  naming 
necessary  officers  ;  that  these  ordinances  being  published  under  the 
seal  of  the  Company,  were  to  be  duly  observed  and  executed  within  the 
plantation.  The  chief  commander  and  other  magistrates  who  should 
from  time  to  time  be  employed  by  the  governor  and  company  in  the 
government  of  the  colony,  were  invested  with  absolute  power  to  punish 


64  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1629. 

or  pardon,  to  rule  the  emigrants  or  colonists,  according  to  the  above- 
mentioned  ordinances  and  instructions.  They  were  authorized  to  defend 
themselves  against  invaders  ;  hut,  should  they  do  any  injury  to  foreign 
states,  or  to  other  subjects,  without  making  proper  reparation,  a  right 
was  given  to  the  injured  to  prosecute  them  with  every  act  of  hostility. 
Agreeably  to  the  repeated  resolutions  of  the  Commons,  there  was 
reserved  to  the  other  subjects  of  the  Crown  a  right  of  free  fishing,  with 
the  necessary  incidents  of  drying  fish  on  the  shores,  and  of  taking  tim- 
ber upon  the  coast's  of  New  England. 

In  these  days  of  large  liberties  it  is  difficult  to  discern  what  had  been 
secured  by  that  charter,  to  cause  those  who  obtained  it  to  feel  any 
special  gratitude  to  those  who  had  the  power  to  bestow  it.  But  civil 
and  religious  liberty  had  not  then  dawned  on  the  world.  It  was 
scarcely  an  object  of  speculation  in  the  abstract  theories  of  philoso- 
phers, or  dreamed  of  by  men  of  ordinary  minds.  Nevertheless,  those 
who  emigrated  to  New  England  under  that  charter  professed  to  look 
upon  it  as  something  which  God  in  his  benevolence  had  moved  the 
heart  of  their  king  to  grant,  and  they  cherished  it  as  a  sort  of  palla- 
dium of  their  liberties.  In  analyzing  it,  it  is  not  easy  to  discover  what 
great  advantages  they  had  with  it,  that  they  would  not  have  had  with- 
out it.  It  gave  them  the  privilege  of  emigrating  to  New  England. 
This  was  no  new  privilege.  It  did  not  compel  them  to  stay  here.  They 
were  as  much'the  subjects  of  the  crown  of  England  as  though  they  had 
remained  in  England.  Their  condition  in  New  England  was  the  same 
as  it  would  have  been  in  any  incorporated  borough  in  England,  —  with 
this  difference,  however :  they  could  not  be  so  easily  watched  over. 
And  in  this  existed  the  grand  secret  in  which  all  their  advantnges 
lay  hid.  They  improved  those  advantages  in  due  time,  as  light  and 
strength  from  the  nature  of  their  situation  clustered  around  them.  As 
to  any  important  liberties  secured  to  them,  it  was  merely  ideal.  They 
grew  naturally  and  spontaneously  out  of  the  nature  of  their  circum- 
stances. True  it  is,  the  officers  of  the  colony  had  the  power  of  making 
laws,  and  of  executing  them  ;  but  around  all  this  hung  the  laws  of 
England,  which  admitted  nothing  without  or  beyond  them  ;  all  laws  and 
ordinances  must  be  in  accordance  with  them.  There  was  no  opportu- 
nity for  improvement  in  their  laws,  unless  the  improvement  originated  in 
the  mother  country  ;  or  unless,  by  some  revolution  at  home,  the  course 
of  its  laws  became  deranged.     This,  indeed,  soon  happened. 

Much  was  said,,  even  by  the  emigrants  themselves,  of  their  coming 
into  this  wilderness  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  worshipping  God  accord- 
ing to  their  convictions  of  what  he  required  of  them.  In  fact,  to  wor- 
ship God  as  they  were  not  allowed  to  do  at  home  ;  in  other  words, 
contrary  to  law.  Surely  their  charter  granted  no  such  liberty,*  nor 
did  it  recognize  the  least  departure  in  religious  worship  from  that  of 
the  Church  of  England.    It  was  the  same  before,  when  the  people  came 

*  It  could  not  grant  any  such  liberty,  because  it  would  be  in  violation  of  the  common 
law.     Coke,  5  Rep. 


1629.]  ORIGIN    OF   RELIGIOUS    LIBERTY.  65 

to  Plymouth.  Their  agents  attempted  to  procure,  under  the  hand  of 
James,  a  clause  in  their  charter,  allowing  them  to  worship  God  as  they 
saw  fit  ;  but  he  would  allow  of  no  such  liberty  ;  yet,  in  a  conversational 
way,  he  gave  the  agents  to  understand,  that  they  were  too  insignificant 
to  be  looked  after,  unless  they  made  a  disturbance  by  their  fanatical 
practices.  It  was  thus  the  pious  Pilgrims  were  allowed  to  break  the 
laws,  because  they  did  it  at  a  safe  distance  from  their  fountain-head. 
And  thus  was  the  "  higher  law  "  successfully  put  in  practice  on  the 
barren  sands  of  Cape  Cod. 

The  case  was  different  on  the  other  side  of  the  bay.  There  the 
colonists  did  not  agree  upon  forms  of  worship  among  themselves,  and 
the  stronger  party  forced  the  weaker  to  return  to  England.  Those 
expelled  belonged  to  the  Episcopal  Church.*  This  expulsion,  says 
Chalmers,!  inflicted  a  wound  on  that  church  from  which  it  never  recov- 
ered. I  "  And  the  liberal-minded  exclaimed  that  the  same  conduct  has 
been  invariably  pursued  at  all  times,  and  in  every  country  ;  the  perse- 
cuted, Avhen  they  acquire  power,  will  always  persecute. "§  If  different 
sects  quarrelled  at  home,  was  it  not  to  be  expected  that  they  would 
quarrel  elsewhere  ?  Those  churchmen,  forcibly  sent  to  England,  com- 
plained to  the  Company  there,  and  demanded  redress  for  the  wrongs 
and  violence  done  them.  If  they  ever  received  reparation  of  any  kind, 
nothing  of  record  appears  to  show  the  fact ;  and  the  country  then  being 
on  the  verge  of  a  civil  war,  the  wheels  of  jurisprudence  were  clogged, 
which  may  account  for  the  silence  with  regard  to  the  matter  which 
ensues. 

There  are  reckless  people  in  all  periods  and  in  all  communities,  and, 
whether  it  be  acknowledged  or  not,  much  of  the  liberty  enjoyed  in  this 

*  In  the  Company's  records  the  following  however,  were  opened  and  read,  but  we  hear 
entry  is  found,  under  date  19  Sept. ,  1629  : —  nothing  of  any  aspersions  contained  in  them 
"  At  this  court  letters  were  read  from  Capt.  against  New  England,  as  had  been  alleged.  A 
Endicott  and  others  from  New  England  ;  and  sufficient  explanation  of  the  whole  grounds  of 
whereas  a  difference  hath  fallen  out  betwixt  difficulty,  I  apprehend,  is  found  in  the  state- 
the  Governor  there  and  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  ment  in  the  text.  In  the  "  Company's  Gen- 
Samuell  Browne,  it  was  agreed  by  the  court,  eral  Letter  of  Instructions  "  to  Gov.  Endicott, 
that  for  the  cleterminacon  of  those  differences  the  gentlemen  accused  are  spoken  of  in  the 
Mr.  John  and  Mr.  Samuell  Browne  might  highest  terms.  "  They  are  men  (says  the  let- 
choose  any  three  or  four  of  the  Company  on  ter)  wee  doe  much  respect,  being  fully  per- 
their  behalf,  to  heare  the  said  differences,  the  swaded  of  their  sincere  affeccons  to  the  good  of 
Company  choosing  as  many.  Whereupon  the  or  Plantcon.  Mr.  John  Browne  is  sworne  an 
said  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  Samuell  Browne  made  Assistant  heere,  and  by  vs  chosen  one  of  the 
choice  of  Mr.  Samuel  Vassell,  Mr.  William  Councell  there  ;  a  man  experienced  in  the  lawes 
Vassell,  Mr.  Symon  Whetcombe,  and  Mr.  of  or  Kingdome,  and  such  an  one  as  wee  are 
William  Pynchon  ;  and  for  the  Companie  there  persuaded  will  worthylie  deserve  yor  fauor  ; 
were  chosen  Mr.  John  Whyte,  Mr.  John  Da-  and  that  in  the  first  devision  of  lands,  there 
venport,  Mr.  Isack  Johnson,  and  Mr.  John  may  bee  allotted  to  eether  of  them  200  acres." 
Wynthropp  ;  who,  with  the  Governor  or  Dep-  f  Political  Annals,  145. 
uty,  are  to  determine  and  end  the  business  the  |  Churchmen  of  our  times  will  hardly  allow 
first  Tuesday  in  the  next  tcarme."  this.     If  at  any  period  a  death-blow  had  been 

The  letters  sent  by  the  Brownes  to  their  inflicted,  it  was  a  good  deal  anterior  to  this, 

friends  in  England  had  been  intercepted,  and  Chalmers  here  did  not  exercise  his  usual  acu- 

at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Company  it  was  men.     His   observations  and  deductions  are 

"  considered  whether  these  letters  should  be  generally  those   of    the   profound  jurist   and 

delivered  or  detained,  and  whether  they  should  able  expounder  of  state  affairs, 

be  opened  and  read,  or  not."     Some  of  them,  §  Political  Annals,  145. 

9 


66  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1629. 

age  is  owing  to  that  very  recklessness.  The  number  of  the  early  emi- 
grants to  New  England  who  renounced  allegiance  to  the  mother  church 
was  exceedingly  small ;  for  the  obvious  reason,  that  it  was  at  the  same 
time  a  renunciation  of  their  allegiance  to  the  crown.  The  course  of 
things  in  New  England  clearly  proves  the  truth  of  these  positions  ;  for, 
when  it  was  safe,  or  even  promised  a  faint  prospect  of  success  in  the 
attempt,  to  throw  off  their  allegiance,  it  was  done  in  earnest.  The 
reckless  followers  of  freedom  showed  themselves  everywhere  then,  and 
their  success  was  equal  to  the  prize  contended  for. 

As  though  there  were  real  grounds  for  certain  assumptions  of  the 
colonists  contained  in  the  charter,  their  agents  submitted  it  to  some  of 
the  best  politicians  and  ablest  lawyers  in  England  for  their  opinions. 
They  observed,  "  that,  it  being  originally  granted  to  a  great  company 
resident  in  England,  it  was  wholly  inapplicable  to  the  circumstances  of 
a  distant  colony,  because  it  gave  the  body  politic  no  more  jurisdiction 
than  had  every  other  corporation  within  the  kingdom  !"  Such  being 
the  opinion  of  a  Somers,  a  Holt,  a  Treby  and  a  Ward,  what  did  this 
boasted  charter  amount  to  1  It  must,  however,  be  confessed  that,  in 
the  adroit  use  made  of  it  by  the  colonists,  it  amounted  to  almost  the 
same  thing  that  they  contended  it  was  ;  for  by  a  constant  appeal  to  it, 
and  admitting  of  no  construction  of  its  provisions  which  did  not  suit 
them,  they  gained  —  what?  —  what  was  everything  to  them,  —  time 
and  strength,  with  which  to  back  up  their  claims.  Nothing  more  was 
needed,  nothing  more  was  required,  and  nothing  more  was  probably 
expected. 

Did  the  great  American  Revolution  begin  here  ?  The  English  Revo- 
lution ?  The  World's  Revolution  ?  Liberty  was  a  tender  plant  then, 
of  uncertain  age,  and  no  man  could  say,  "  I  planted  it ;"  though  many 
hands  had  now  begun  to  water  it,  yet  none  conjectured  to  what  height 
and  extent  it  would  grow  and  spread.  Although  there  was  a  period 
when  it  was  nursed  by  unskilful  hands,  and  its  growth  was  smothered 
by  its  enemies,  and  it  was  even  cut  off  to  the  ground  in  the  land  of  its 
origin,  yet  its  roots  remained,  which  soon  sent  up  their  branches  in  all 
directions.  Its  growth  was  still  slow  ;  but  in  the  years  of  Cromwell  it 
was  rapid,  —  too  rapid  to  sustain  itself  against  the  storms  which  burst 
upon  it.  Its  great  defender  was  not  yet  born,  though  his  progenitors 
were  upon  the  soil  of  England.  They  found  their  way  to  America,  but 
it  required  a  century  more  to  produce  a  Washington.  His  hand  it  was 
that  cultivated  the  plant  Liberty  with  success,  and  his  arm  it  was  that 
shielded  it  from  its  enemies,  till  its  strength  had  become  too  powerful 
to  fear  all  its  adversaries  combined. 

It  made  no  difference,  in  fact,  whether  the  corporation  remained  on 
the  island  of  Great  Britain,  or  on  any  other  island,  or  in  any  country 
belonging  to  the  Crown  of  England.  Its  final  remove,  Charter  and 
all,  whether  clandestinely  or  openly,  does  not  at  all  affect  the  main 
question  ;  while  practically,  there  was  a  great  difference.     A  company 


1629.] 


REMOVAL  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT. 


67 


consisting  of  many  restless  spirits,  had  been  got  rid  of;  and  whether 
they  conformed  to  all  the  laws  of  Church  and  State,  or  not,  they  were 
three  thousand  miles  off,  and  could  not  bo  easily  brought  to  punishment, 
even  if  they  deserved  it,  or  made  to  mend  the  laws  if  they  broke  them. 
The  time  of  the  principal  emigration  was  auspicious.  The  rise  of  the 
civil  war  in  England  gave  its  rulers  more  work  than  they  could  do  at 
home,  and  their  King's  power  soon  fell  down  to  the  pitiful  restrictions 
of  subjecting  those  of  his  subjects  who  wished  to  emigrate  to  New 
England  to  vexatious  oaths  of  "  allegiance  and  supremacy."  This 
state  of  things  did  not  last  long.  Those  who  chose  "  disorderly  to  leave 
the  kingdom,"  did  so  ;  and  thus,  what  they  gained  in  that  kind  of  lib- 
erty is  lost  by  their  descendants  who  happen  to  be  antiquaries  and 
genealogists. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Records  of  the  Massachusetts  Company.  —  Gov.  Cradock  proposes  a  removal  of  the  Government  to 
New  England.  — The  Question  is  discussed.  —  Decided  in  the  affirmative.  — Ways  and  Means  con- 
sidered to  carry  it  into  effect.  —  Trade  and  Joint  Stock  of  the  Company.  — What  of  the  Government 
to  remain  in  England,  and  what  in  New  England. — Endicott  to  be  continued  Governor. — Ship 
Eagle.  —  Arbella.  —  Agreement  for  settling  the  Joint  Stock  affair.  —  New  Governor  and  other  Offi- 
cers elected.  —  Case  of  the  Brownes.  — Winthrop  reports  on  the  Joint  Stock.  —  Proposals  for  pecu- 
niary relief.  —  Disposal  of  the  Joint  Stock.  —  Ships  ordered  for  emigration.  — Rates  of  Passage  and 
Freight  established.  —  Wisdom  displayed.  —  Common  Stock  proposal.  —  For  what  service.  —  Sir 
Wm.  Brereton.  —  The  Company  at  Southampton. 


P  to  this  time  there  appears  no  intimation  that  any 
1629.  of  the  members  of  the  Corporation  (as 
July  28.  the  Massachusetts  Company  was  usually 
called),  had  even  a  remote  idea  of  transferring 
the  Government  to  New  England.  On  this  clay, 
namely,  July  the  twenty- eighth,  1629,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Company,  Matthew  Cradock, 
Esquire,  when  the  business  of  the  meeting  of 
the  Company  on  that  day  was  presumed  to  be 
finished,  and  the  usual  routine  of  matters  was 
gone  through  with,  surprised  its  members  by  "  reading 
certaine  proposicons  conceived  by  himself,"  recommending  "to 
transfer  the  gournment  of  the  plantacon  to  those  that  shall 
inhabite  there."  Thus  taken  by  surprise,  the  members  had  secrecy 
more  than  once  enjoined  upon  them,  and  considerable  debate  ensued  ; 
and  every  one  was  "  desired  privately  and  seriously  to  consider  hereof, 
and  to  sett  downe  their  prticuler  reasons  in  wry  ting  pro  and  contra," 
and  to  produce  the  same  at  the  next  meeting,  that  "  the  Company  may 
then  prceede  to  fynall  resolucon  therein ;  and  in  the  meane  tyme  to 
carry  this  busines  secretly,  that  the  same  bee  not  devulged."  This 
meeting  was  held,  as  they  had  generally  been  of  late,  at  the  house  of 
Deputy  Governor  Gofife,  in  London. 


68 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1629. 


The  time  for  a  meeting  to  discuss  the  great  question  about  a 
'  removal  having  arrived,  "Mr.  Deputie  acquainted  this  Court, 
that  the  espetiall  cause  of  their  meeting  was  to  give  answere  to  divers 
gentlemen  intending  to  go  into  New  England,  whether  or  noe  the 
chiefe  Gou'nm*  of  the  Plantacon,  together  with  the  pattent,  should  bee 
setled  in  New  England  or  heere." 

Accordingly  it  was  ordered,  that,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day, 
"  Mr.  Wright,  Mr.  Eaton,  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Spurstowe,  and  such  others 
as  they  should  thinke  fitt  to  call  unto  them,  whether  they  were  of  the 
Company  or  not,"  to  consider  the  arguments  against  the  proposed  re- 
moval ;  and  on  the  other  side,  "  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,*  Mr.  Johnson, 

*  From  Thoresby's  History  of  Leeds,  and  an  abstract  of  the  will  of  Gilbert  Saltonstall,  I  am 
principally  able  to  present  the  following  pedigree.  It  is  enough  to  add,  concerning  this  family, 
that  they  opposed  the  persecutions  in  New  England,  in  its  early  settlement ;  denounced  with 
becoming  language  the  proceedings  against  Quakers,  and  set  a  worthy  example  in  the  witch- 
craft delusion. 


Gilbert  Saltonstall,  of  Halifax,  Co.  = 
of  York,  purchased,  besides  other  lands, 
Rooks  in  Hipperholrne. 


I 
1.  Anne,  da.of  =  Samuel  of  =  2.  Elizabeth,  =  3.  Elizabeth, 


Mr.  Jo.  Rains- 
den,ofLongley 
gr.-fa.  to  Sir 
John  Ramsden 


Rooks  and 
Huntick. 


dau.   of  Mr.         widow  of 

Thos.  Ogden Arrnine, 

of  Hull,  s.  p. 


Sir  Richard,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  =  Susan  .. 
1597,  (one  year  only),  from  whom 
those  of  London  and  Hertfordshire. 
He  was  sheriff  in  1088,  will  1000. 


1.  Grace,  da.  of  =  Sir  Richard  =  2. ,  Gilbert,  Samuel  = 

Robert   Kaye,    I  Knt.J.  Peace    d.  ofLd.  d.yng.  of  Roger- 
Esq.  1  Charles  I.     Delaware.  thorp. 

Came  to  N.     3. Martha 
E.  1630.         Wilford. 


Richard,  b.  at  Woodsome,  =  Muriel,  da. 


1610,  came  to  New  E.  1630, 
d.  atHulme,  England,  29th 
April,  1694. 


of  Brampton 

Gurden,     of 

Assington, 

Co.  Suf.  Esq. 


Henry,  H.  C. 
1642,  return'c 
to  England. 


Barbara,  Seven  Samuel      Susanna,  Ann,  mar. 
da.  Wal-  others,  {named  m.  Richard  John  llarbye 
ter  Ruds-  in  the     Sunderland,   of  London, 

ton,   of  will  of     17  Jac.  I.    skinner,  mer. 

Hayton.  his  father.)  Muscovy,  <fcc. 


Robert  Samuel  sold  land  at  Watertown, 

sells  land  in  20  :  5  :  1642. 

Watertown, 
2  Sep.  1642. 
High  Holborn, 
Lond.  1643. 


Nathaniel  ,= 
b.  ab.  1639, 

d.  1707; 
lived  at  Ha- 
verhill,Ms. 
of  which  he 

is  called 
the  father. 


Elizabeth,  Richard,  Muriel,  m. 

da.  of  Mr.  d.  un-  Sir  Edward 

John  Ward  married.  Mosely,  of 

of  Haver-  Hulme,  Lane, 

hill.  England. 


Abigail,  m.  to  Thos.  Harlcy,  Esq. 
Elizabeth,  m.  to  Heroulc3  Horsy,  Esq. 


Elizabeth, 
(only  da.  )m. 
1.  Mr.  John 
Denison,6th 
min.  of  Ips- 
wich. 2. Mr. 
Rowland  Cot- 
ton. 


Gurdon,  : 
b.  Hav- 
erhill, 27 
March, 
1666,Gov. 
Ct.  1708. 
d.  1724, 
October  1. 


-  Jerusha,         Richard,= 
da.  William       Haver- 
Whittingham        hill, 
of    Boston. 


Nathaniel, 
H.  C  1695,  tutor 
there;  d.  young. 


Richard,  b.  = 

14th    June, 

1703,d.l756, 

a  Judge. 


Roswell,  eldest  = 
son,  b.  1701,  d.  in 
New  London,  1st 
Oct.,  1758,  a.  37. 


Mary,  da.     Nathaniel,  = 

of  Elisha     merch.,  grad.  n.  C 

Cook,  2d.        1727,  d.  young. 

Physician  of  Ha\  erhill. 


Richard,  b.  5 
April,  1732, 
col.,  royalist, 
d.  in  England 
1785,  unmar. 


Nathaniel,  =  Anna,  da.     Leverctt,  a 


of  Samuel     royalist,  d. 
White,  Esq.      1782. 
of  the  Hav- 
erhill family. 


Hon.  Leverett, 

d.  8  May,  1845, 

aged  62. 


Nathaniel.      Richard 


1629.]  QUESTION    OF   REMOVAL   DISCUSSED.  69 

Capt  Venn,  and  such  others  as  they  should  call  vnto  them,"  to  prepare 

arguments  for  a  removal ;  which  arguments  were  assigned  to  be  heard 

in  a  full  Court  on  the  next  day,  at  nine   o'clock.     When   the   hour 

arrived,  there  "  were  prsent  many  of  the  Assistants  and  gen- 

&'  '  eralitie,  and  after  a  long  debate,  Mr.  Deputie  put  it  to  the 
question,  as  followeth  :  As  many  of  you  as  desire  to  haue  the  pattent 
and  the  Gournment  of  the  Plantacon  to  bee  transferred  to  New  Eng- 
land, soe  as  it  may  bee  done  legally,  hold  vp  yor  hands.  So  many  as 
will  not,  hold  vpp  yor  hands.  "Where  by  ereccon  of  hands,  it  appeared 
by  the  genrall  consent  of  the  Company,  that  the  Gou'mn'  Pattent  should 
bee  setled  in  New  England,  and  accordingly  an  order  to  bee  drawne 
vpp." 

At  the  next  sitting  of  the  Court,  the  records  are  silent  upon 

the  subject  of  removal ;  but,  at  its  session  ten  days  later,  "  that 

business  being  of  great  and  weighty  consequence,  is  thought  fitt  to  bee 

deferred  for  determinacon  vntil  Sir  E..   Saltonstall,  Mr.  Johnson  and 

other  gentlemen  bee  come  vpp  to  London,  and  may  be  here  present." 

Meantime  a  committee  was  proposed,  which  should  "  take  advice 

"of  learned  counsel,  whether  the  same  may  bee  legally  done  or 

noe  ;  by  what  way  or  meanes  the  same  may  bee  clone  to  corrispond  with, 

and  not  preiudice  the  Gou'W  here  ;  to  consider  of  the  tyme  when  it 

wilbe  fitt  to  doe  it ;  to  resolve   on  whom  to  conferr  the  Gournmt,  and 

diuers  other  circumstances  materiall  to  bee  resolued  on,  &c." 

At  the  next  session  of  the  Court  the  subject  of  a  removal  of 
the  government  to  New  England  is  but  incidentally  mentioned  ; 
the  "  espetiall  and  only  occasion  of  this  meeting  beinge  to  consider  and 
resolue  of  settling  the  trade  in  New  England  (now  vpon  transferring 
the  Gourmnt  thither),  for  the  incouragm*  as  well  of  the  Adventurers  in 
the  Joynt  Stock  heere,  as  of  those  who  already  are,  and  of  others  who 
intend  to  goe  ouer  in  prson  to  bee  planters  there." 

After  a  long  debate  upon  the  respective  claims  of  the  parties,  "  the 
Court,  in  conclusion,  fell  vpon  a  moderacon;"  that  the  Company's 
Joint  Stock  should  have  the  trade  of  beaver  and  all  other  furrs,  solely, 
for  seven  years  from  this  day,  in  consideration  of  the  charge  it  had 
undergone,  and  is  yet  annually  to  bear,  for  the  advancement  of  the 
Plantation.  That  for  fortifications,  the  Company's  Joint  Stock  to  bear 
half  the  expense,  and  the  planters  the  other  half,  and  the  charge  for 
ordnance,  munition,  &c.  That  for  the  charge  of  ministers  now  there, 
and  that  shall  hereafter  go  to  reside  there,  as  also  for  building  churches 
and  other  public  works,  one  half  to  be  borne  by  the  Joint  Stock,  and 
the  other  half  by  the  planters,  for  seven  years. 

The  business  of  this  day's  session  was  closed  by  the  appointment  of 
a  committee,*  who  were  desired  to  draw  "  fitt  and  conuenyent  clauses 
to  bee  incerted  in  articles  of  agreement,  which  may  bee  coniodious  for 

*  Which  committee  was  to  consist  of  "  prt    intend  to  goe  ouer."    Judging  by  modern  com- 
of  the  Adventurers  here,  and  prt  of  those  that    mittees,  this  was  a  very  unwieldy  one;  con- 


70 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1629. 


Oct.  16. 


either  prt,  and  to  prepare  the  same  for  a  Court  of  Assistants,  appointed 
that  afternoone  to  determine  therof."  In  the  preamble  to  this,  the 
record  reads,  "forasmuch  as  by  former  order  the  Pattent  and  Gou'nm* 
to  bee  transferred  to  New  England."  "  All  which  being  seu'all  tymes 
read,  was  by  Mr.  Gournor  put  to  the  question,  and  by  gen'll  consent,  by 
erreccon  of  hands,  was  agreed  and  concluded  on,  and  ordered  accord- 
ingly." 

In  Court  the  next  day,  the  quesiion  was  considered,  "  what 
goiV'mn'  shalbe  neic  at  London,  wherby  the  future  charge  of  the 
Ioynt  Stock  may  bee  cherished  and  preserved,  and  the  body  politique 
of  the  Company  remaine  and  increase.  "What  persons  shall  have  the 
charge  of  the  managing  of  the  Ioynt  Stock,  both  at  London  and  in  New 
England  ;  wherein  it  is  conceeved  fitt  that  Captain  Endicott  continue 
the  GoiVmn'  there,  vnless  iust  cause  to  the  contrarie"  appear.  It  was 
finally  thought  as  more  "  fitt  and  naturall  that  the  Gournmnt  of  per- 
sons bee  held  there,"  in  New  England,  and  that  of  "trade  and  mer- 
chandizes to  bee  heere"  in  London.  At  the  same  time  the  Governor 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Company  were  appointed  to  examine  the  affairs  of 
the  Ioint  Stock  company,  reputed  to  bee  much  in  debt ;  and  an  order 
was  passed  for  freighting  the  ship  Eagle,*  at  Bristol,  for  New  England. 


sisting  of  eighteen  members ;  eight  of  whom 

were  of  those  "that  intend  to  goe   ouer ;" 
namely, 

Sir  Ri.  Saltonstall  Mr.  Dudley 

Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Vassall 

Mr.  Winthrope(')  Mr.  Pinchon 

Mr.  Humfry  Mr.  Downing 

The  residents  were  : 

Mr.  Davenport  Mr.  Adams 

Mr.  Wright  Mr.  Whetcombe 

Mr.  Perry  Mr.  Young 

Capt.  Waller  Mr.  Spurstowe 

Capt.  VennW  Mr.  Revell. 

*  This  was  a  ship  of  350  tons,  which  was 
purchased  for  the  service  of  the  Company,  pur- 
suant to  a  motion  of  the  Governor,  made  at  a 
session  of  the  Court  held  28  July,  1629.  "  But 
in  regard  the  Company  are  not  now  in  cash," 
say  the  records,  several  members  agreed  to 
advance  "  cash"  sufficient,  because  they  were 
not  willing  so  good  a  ship,  and  such  favorable 

C1)  This,  I  believe,  is  the  first  time  the  name  of  Mr.  Win- 
throp  occurs  in  the  records  of  the  Company.  Five  days 
after,  he  is  elected  Governor,  as  will  be  seen.  He  thus  wrote 
his  name  in  1647  : 


'.  Pf 


n&A 


CO  Capt.  John  Venn  became  noted  in  Cromwell's  revolution 
or  rebellion,  —  as  the  great  tory,  Clarendon,  will  have  it, — 
though  he  was  now  of  London,  he  probably  originated  at 
Dorchester,  where,  in  remote  ages,  the  name  was  De  Venn  or 
De  Vann.  Geoffery  De  Venn  built  the  church  there,  and  his 
effigy  is  supposed  to  be  that  "lying  at  length"  in  one  of  the 
windows  of  the  chancel  ;  and  about  whom  this  tradition  is 
preserved : 

Geoffery  Van 

His  wife  Aon 


terms  should  be  missed  of.  Accordingly,  Gov. 
Cradock,  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Wright,  Mr.  Mil- 
burne,  and  the  Company,  each  took  one  eighth 
of  the  ship,  and  Mr.  Goffe,  Mr.  Eaton,  Mr. 
Whetcombe,  Mr.  Revell,  Mr.  Aldersey  and 
Mr.  Huson,  took  each  a  sixteenth. 

As  will  be  seen,  the  name  of  the  Eagle  was 
afterwards  changed  to  that  of  Arbella,  an 
abbreviated  way  of  writing  Arabella,  a  name 
appropriated  to  females.  Whether  this  name 
were  originally  written  with  two  a's  or  three, 
it  is  not  worth  extending  a  note  much  to  settle 
the  question,  especially  as  writers  of  the  times 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Boston  often  wrote  their 
own  names  differently.  Yet  it  may  be  well 
just  to  state  that  there  can  be  no  question  as 
to  how  the  name  ought  to  be  written,  in  view 
of  its  etymology;  ara,  altar;  bella,  beautiful, 
fair  ;  hence,  a  fair  altar.  That  even  a  scholar, 
just  out  of  his  classics,  should  confound  the 

With  his  maid  Nan 
Built  this  church. 

It  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Venn,  probably,  about 
whom  there  is  a  book  of  1658,  with  a  preface  by  Tho.  Weld. 
Like  most  books  of  that  day  and  character,  it  contains  very  few 
facts,  but  details  very  particularly  her  "  experience,"  inci- 
dentally giving  the  date  of  her  birth,  about  1627  ;  her  father, 
she  says,  commanded  a  regiment  in  1642,  at  Windsor,  of 
which  "  Master  Love  was  chaplain."  The  family  resided  in 
London  several  years,  but  in  1647  they  settled  in  Fulham, 
near  London,  on  the  Thames,  where  Capt.  Venn  died  on  the 
28th  of  June,  1650.  This  daughter  wa3  Anne.  In  her  book 
she  makes  frequent  mention  of  many  of  the  prominent  Pu- 
ritan divines  of  the  day  ;  as  Mr.  Isaac  Knight,  Mr.  Rogers, 
author  of  the  "Evidences,"  Mr.  Stevens,  Mr.  Archer,  Mr. 
Barker,  Mr.  Milborn,  Mr.  Sidrach  Simpson,  who  lectured  in 
Friday  Street,  Mr.  Smallwood,  Mr.  Marshall,  Mr.  Blake,  Mr. 
Price,  Mr.  Cradock,  Mr.  Nye,  and  many  others,  all  of  whom 
she  knew  and  heard  preach  during  "  the  eighteen  years  she 
was  sorely  tempted  of  the  Divell." 


1629.]       AGREEMENT    BETWEEN   THE    ADVENTURERS    AND    PLANTERS.  71 

Letters  which  had  been  prepared  to  be  sent  to  Governor  Endicott  were 
also  read.* 

Three   days  later  the  Company  held  another  meeting;   the 

occasion,  say  the  records,  "  being  to  resolue  of  the  alteracon  of 
goucrment,  and  therein  to  consider"  how  the  debts  of  the  Joint  Stock 
shall  be  discharged,  and  other  management  of  that  affair.  As  time 
could  not  be  spared  to  debate  the  subject  then,  it  was  proposed  that 
certain  committees  should  be  appointed  "  to  meete  and  make  prposicons 
each  to  other,  and  sett  the  same  downe  in  wryting  ;  and,  if  they  can, 
to  agree  and  conclude  of  a  fitt  end  to  bee  made  for  the  good  of  the 
plantacon  ;  and  if  any  difference  happen  wch  they  cannot  agree  on, 
that  then  the  same  be  referred  to  the  vmprage  and  cleterminacon  of 
some  of  the  preachers  to  bee  chosen  to  that  purpose  ;  who  are  desired 
to  sett  downe  in  wryting  what  they  shall  thinke  in  conscience  is  fitt  to 
bee  done.  To  this  end  Articles  betweene  the  Planters  and  Adventurers 
were  nowe  drawne  by  Mr.  Whyte,  the  councellor,  read  and  approved." 
A  Court  was  to  be  convened  on  the  next  day,  when  the  Articles  were 
to  be  presented  for  ratification  ;  and  at  the  same  Court  it  was  appointed 
that  a  Governor  and  Assistants  should  be  chosen  for  New  England. 
0  There  was  a  very  large  attendance  at  the  Court  held  on  this 

day.  The  Governor  acquainted  those  present  that  the  "  espetiall 
occasion  of  summoninge  them  was  for  the  election  of  a  new  Governor, 
Deputie,  and  Assistants  ;  the  gournment  being  to  bee  transferred  into 
New  England,  according  to  the  former  order  and  resolucon  of  the  Com- 
pany." But  before  proceeding  to  the  proposed  election,  the  Articles 
of  agreement  between  the  Adventurers  and  Planters  were  read,  "  and 
recommended  to  the  Court  for  their  approbacon  and  for  the  nominacon 

name  of  the  place  where  the  immense  armies  than  Edmund  Lodge  and  James  Granger,  —  two 
contended  under  Alexander  and  Darius,  with  of  the  most  learned  biographers  England  has 
that  of  Arabella,  is  not  a  matter  of  the  least  ever  produced,  —  1  will  own  I  have  no  better, 
surprise.  It  is  plain  enough  that  the  name  I  have  myself  an  engraved  portrait  of  the  lady, 
became  thus  corrupted.  Numerous  instances  under  which  A rbella,  &c,  are  written.  Every- 
might  be  cited  of  similar  corruptions.  Even  body  knows  that  painters  and  engravers  are 
the  learned  Sir  Walter  Ralegh  gave  way  some-  not  authority  for  the  orthography  of  names  so 
times,  it  is  said,  to  the  popular  corruption  of  found.  With  one  of  these  before  him,  Mr. 
his  own  name,  so  far  as  to  write  Ralezgh.  If  Granger  constantly  wrote  Arabella;  and  Mr. 
the  lady  Arabella  Stuart  sometimes  conformed  Lodge,  at  the  head  of  the  College  of  Arms, 
to  an  error  of  the  sort,  it  only  proves  that  she  with  old  MSS.  in  his  hands,  to  which  Arbella 
did  so  conform,  and  nothing  more.  The  old  was  signed,  constantly  wrote  Arabella.  Names 
saying,  that  "the  errors  of  the  learned  are  may,  indeed,  be  somewhat  arbitrary,  —  not  so 
learned  errors,"  is  a  parados  that  had  better  their  origin  ;  yet  it  is  of  small  importance  if  a 
be  dispensed  with.  The  name  of  the  lady  Ara-  ship  bear  a  nickname,  if  no  one  be  misled 
bella  Churchill  (sister  to  John,  Duke  of  thereby.  To  this  end  I  have  made  this  note, 
Marlborough) ,  is  everywhere  printed,  so  far  as  and  I  will  only  add  that  good  English  writers 
my  reading  has  extended,  as  it  is  here.  The  have  always  written  Arabella.  Does  any  one 
accurate  Prince  wrote  Arbella,  because  he  presume  to  write  Dolbella  1  —  another  name  for 
found  it  so  written  by  Winthrop  (who,  in  females,  —  abridged  like  the  one  in  question, 
official  papers,  wrote  his  own  name  a  letter  So  of  Isabella.  Does  anybody  write  Isbella  ? 
short) ,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  of  his  asso-  *  The  originals  of  these  letters  are  preserved 
ciates.  Hubbard  wrote  it  so  from  the  same  in  the  first  book  of  Deeds  in  the  Suffolk  Regis- 
cause.  If  any  better  authorities  were  desired  try,  Boston.  They  are  printed  in  the  Archm- 
that  the  real  name  of  the  lady,  for  whom  the  ologia  Americana,  iii.  53-4. 
ship  was  named,   should  be  written  Arabella, 


72 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1629. 


and  appointment  of  a  competent  number  of  Comittees  to  meete  and 
treat  and  resolue  of  these  businesses."  The  articles  being  approved 
of,  "  fiue  comittees  on  either  part  were  thereupon  chosen,  namely,  Sr. 
Richard  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Winthrop,*  Mr.  Dudley,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  Mr. 
Humfrey,  for  the  Planters  ;  and  for  the  Adventurers,  Mr.  Gouemor, 
Mr.  Aldersey,  Mr.  Wright,  Mr.  Hutchins,  and  Capt.  Venn."  Should 
these  not  come  to  an  agreement,  "  there  was  chosen  for  vmpires,  Mr. 
White,  the  councellor,  Mr.  Whyte,  of  Dorchester,  and  Mr.  Dauenport, 
to  whom  the  desition  and  determinacon "  were  left.  Any  members  of 
the  Company  were  allowed  to  have  access  to  the  committee,  "  to  pro- 
pound such  things  as  they  conceived  benefitiall  for  the  business,  or  to 
present  their  opinions  in  wryting,  but  not  to  debate  with  them  for  inter- 
rupting their  proceedings."      "And  now  the  court  proceeding  to  the 


*  Adam  Winthrop,  of  Groton,  Co.  of  Suffolk,  Eng.,  appears  to  be  the  first  of  the  name,  from  -whom  this  : 
distinguished  family  can  be  traced.  He  is  known  to  have  seated  himself  at  Groton  on  the  dissolution  of 
monasteries  by  Henry  VIII.,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  lawyer  of  distinction.  His  burial  is  recorded 
upon  the  parish  Register  of  Groton,  12  Nov.,  1562. 


:  Annis, 

who  m.2d,  prob- 
ably, Wm.  Mild- 
may,  1563. 


Adam,  like  his  father,  was  bred  to  the  law.     Little  =  Anne 


concerning  him  has  been  preserved.    His  burial  ap- 
pears upon  the  Register  at  Groton,  29th  March,  1623. 


Browne, 
(probably,)  20 
Feb.  1580. 


Alice  =  Thomas,  son  of  Wm.  Mild- 
may  (the  husband  of  her 
mother.) 


1.  Mary,  da.  of : 
John  Forth,  b. 
1588,  m.  12  Ap. 
1605,  buried  26 
June,  1615. 


:  John,  (gov.  Ms.)  b.  12  Jan..  1588,  =  2.  Thomasine,  da.  =3.  Margaret,  d.=  4.  Martha,    Jane,  bp.  1592,  m 


came  to  N.  E.  1630,  d.  in  Boston, 
26  March,  1649,  aged  61. 


Wm.  Clopton,  m.  6 

Dec,  1615,  d.  Dec. 

1616. 


Sir  John  Tin- 
dale,  Kt.,  29 
April,  1618,  d. 
14  June,  1647. 
(Anne,  da.  Sir 
Thos.  Egarton, 
m.  1.  Sir  AVm. 
Deane  •,  2.  Sir 
John  Tindale, 
fa.of  Margaret.) 


wid.of  Tho. 
Coytmore 
of  Charles- 
town,  1647. 


Thos.  Gosliu,1613. 

Lucy,  b.  1601,  m. 
Emanuel  Down- 
ing, 10  Ap.,  1622. 

Anna,    m.   Thos. 
Jones,  1605. 


Martha  =  John,  (gov.  Ct.)  = 
b.  12  Feb.,  1606, 
d.  Boston,  5  Ap. 
1676,  a.  70.  An 
early  member  of 
the  Royal  Soc. 
of  London. 


2.  Elizabeth.   Henry,  Forth,  Mary,  m.  A  child   Adam,  b. 

drowned,  d.  bef.  Rv.  Sam.  d.          7  April, 

Salem,    1643,  a   Dudley,  1616.       1620,  d. 

1630,  a.   wife  d.  of  Exet'r,  Boston, 

22.       1630.      N.  H.  1652. 


Anna,  d.1615. 


=  Elizabeth  Stephen,  =  Judi|h 
Glover,  bap.  1619; 
ab.  1642.  recorder 
of  Bost'n, 
M.  P  for  Scotl'd,  Coll. 
in  Cromwell's  army. 


Stephen,    John,  b. 
b.  1651.        1646. 


Margaret. 


Judith. 


Elizabeth, 

b.24  July, 

1636. 


Fitz  Jons',  (Gov.Ct.) 
b.  at  Ipswich,  14 
March,  1G39,F.R.S., 
and  d.  in  Boston,  27 
Nov.  1707. 


Wait  Still,  b.  =  Mary,  da.  of    Adam,  H.  C.  =  . 


27  Feb.  1642, 
Ch.Jus.  Sup. 
Ct.  Ms.  &c. 
d.  in  Boston, 
ab.  16S8. 


Wm.  Browne    1668,  d.  1700. 
of  Salem,  d 


14  June, 
1690. 


John,  F.R.S.  = 
b.    26    Aug. 
1681,  N.  Lon- 
don, d.  1  Aug. 
1747. 


Anna,  da. 
Gov.  Joseph 
Dudley,  b.27 
Aug.  1684. 


Anna,  m.  to  Thomas 
Lechmere,  surveyor 
of  customs,  Boston, 
bro.  of  Ld.  Lechmere. 
Shed.  22 Nov.,  1746. 


Adam,  H.  C,  1694,  =  Anne, 
d.  1743,  commander 
of    Castle   William  ; 
lived  in  Atkinson  St. 


Adam,  H.  C,  1724,   John,  H.C.  1732, LL.D. 

merch.,   lived  in    Prof.  H.  C,  F.R.S.,  d. 

Brattle  St.  3   May,  1779,  aged  65y 


r 


l.Jane,  : 
only  da. 
Francis 
Borland, 
Boston. 


:  John  Still,  b.  15  Jan.  =2 da.  Wm.  Sheriff    Basil,  d. 

1720,  d.  6  June,  1776. 


I     I 


A  da.  m.  to    Deane,  b.  = Samuel,      William. 

Gov.  Wanton,  1623,  d.  at  I  1627.       NaTj^je,. 

of  R.I.         Pul.  Pt.,    I  — — 

1704.      Deane,    Anne,        Joshua, 
Boston.     1630.  (by  4th  wife) 


r\  I  I  I  I 
John,  H.C.,  1770. 

William,  N.  Y. 

Joseph,    Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  d.  1828. 

Jane. 
Ann,  mar.  David 
Sears,  Esq.,  of  B., 
fa.  of  the  present 
Hon.DAviD  Sears. 

Mary. 


1.  Eliza    =  Francis  B. 

Marston.    oTNewYork. 

One  of  his 

wives  d.  at 

N.  London, 

1789. 


~\ 


"V 


~~\r 


\ 


■■  Phebe  Taylor.  Thomas  Lindall,  =  Elizabeth,  Benjamin,  Robert,  Elizabeth 
b.  1760,  H.C.  1780  I  da.  Sr  Jno.    N.  York,    admiral  S.,  Mid- 
It.  gov.  Ms.  1826-    Temple,  by    m.  Stuy-       Eng.  dletown, 
1832.    LL.  D.    d.  J  Elizab.  da.      vesant.       navy.  Ct. 
22  Feb.  1842,  aged     of  Gov.  Bow- 
81.                  doin,  d.1825. 


izabeth  B.  T. 

Augusta  T.  2d. 

John  T. 

Ann. 

Sarah  B. 
Thomas  L. 
Augusta  T. 

James  B.,a 
true  antiquary, 
d.  1833,  a.  38. 

Francis  William. 

Francis  Wm.  2d. 

Jane. 

George  Edwd. 

Robert  Charles,  Grenville  T. 
now  Hon.  R.  C,       d.  1852. 
Speaker  H.  Reps. 
U.S.  1847-9,  Sen- 
ator U.  S.  1850-1. 


1629.]  CASE    OF   THE   BROWNES.  73 

eleccon  of  a  new  Gouernor,  Deputie  and  Assistants  ;  and  having  re- 
ceived extraordinary  great  commendacons  of  Mr.  John  Wynthrop,  both 
for  his  integritie  and  sufficencie,  as  being  one  every  way  well  fitted  and 
accomplished  for  the  place  of  Gouernor,  did  put  in  nominacon  for  that 
place  the  said  Mr.  John  Wynthrop,*  Sr.  R.  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Is.  Johnson, 
and  Mr.  John  Hunifry  ;  and  the  said  Mr.  Wynthrop  was,  with  a  genrall 
vote  and  full  consent  of  this  Court  by  ereccon  of  hands,  chosen  to  bee 
Gouernor  for  the  ensuing  yeare,  to  begin  on  this  present  day  ;  who  was 
pleased  to  accept  thereof,  and  thervpon  tooke  the  oath  to  that  place 
apprtaining.  In  like  manner,  and  with  like  free  and  full  consent,  Mr. 
John  Humfry  was  chosen  Deputy  Gouernor." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Court  of  Assistants,  Mr.  Wynthrop  pre- 
sided as  Governor.  The  chief  business  before  them  was  to  devise 
ways  and  means  "  for  bringing  in  of  monyes,"  with  which  to  pay  mari- 
ners' wages,  freight  of  ships,  "  and  other  debts."  Mr.  Cradock  informed 
the  Court  "  what  somes  he  had  disbursed  for  accompt  of  the  Company, 
and  what  more  was  owing  for  maryner's  wages  vpon  the  shipps  Tal- 
bot, Mayflower,  and  Four  Sisters,  and  for  the  fraight  of  those  shipps, 
amounting  to  =£1200  and  upwards."  Power  to  grant  warrants  for  the 
payment  of  money  was  conferred  on  the  Governor  and  Deputy,  as  for- 
merly, and  they  thereupon  drew  one  on  treasurer  Harwood  in  favor  of 
Mr.  Cradock  for  <£800,  to  be  paid  "  soe  soone  as  mony  shall  come  to 
his  hands." 

At  the  same  court  a  complaint,  brought  by  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Browne,  was  taken  up,  and  "  some  debate  was  had"  concerning  it. 
These  gentlemen  had  been  forcibly  sent  out  of  New  England,  as  has 
already  been  mentioned,  and  had  sued  for  redress  to  the  Company. 
This  is  another  complaint.  The  authorities  in  New  England  had  sold 
or  appropriated  their  effects  there,  and  they  now  complained  that  their 
goods  had  been  undervalued,  and  that  "  divers  things  had  been  omitted 
to  bee  valued,"  and  they  desired  relief  and  justice.  The  Court  de- 
cided that  if  they  could  bring  proof  of  what  they  complained,  they 
should  have  relief ;  otherwise  the  case  to  be  suspended  for  settlement 
when  the  new  Governor  should  arrive  in  New  England,  f 

*  The  Assistants  at  the  same  time  chosen  had  never  been  attended  to  ;  and  now,  judging 
were  :  from  the  journal  entry  of  the  Company,  they 
Sir  R.  Saltonstall            Mr.  Thomas  Sharpe  had  little  to  expect.     They  were  told   that  if" 
Mr.  Is.  Johnson              Mr.  John  Revell  they  would  come  under  written  obligation  to 
Mr.  Tho   Dudley            Mr.  Matt.  Cradock  abide    the    decision    0f    the     Company,    Mr. 
Mr.  J.  Endecott               Mr.  Thomas  Goff  -rw  •   i  ,         j  iv/r      t^  j-  u  JL  i.    v 
Mr.  [Increase]  Noell      Mr.  [Saml.]Aldersey  bright  and  Mr.  Eaton  would    on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Vassall            Mr.  John  Venn  the  Company,  inform  them  what  they  thought 
Mr.  Win.  Pinchon          Mr.  Nath.  Wright  requisite     for     their    "pretended    damage." 
Mr.  Sam.  Sharpe            Mr.  Theoph.  Eaton  Whether  the  Browns  gave  up  the  matter  here, 
Mr.  Edw.  Rossiter   ~     Mr.  Tho.  Addams.  0r  whether  they  ever  received  any  remunera- 
f  At   one  of  the   last   courts   held   by  the  tion,   nothing   of   record    appears.     It   must 
Company  in  England,  10  February,  1630,  "  a  have  been  a  pretty  serious  business  for  those 
wryting  of   grevances    of  Mr.    Samuell   and  gentlemen,  in  those  times,  to  have  been  ex- 
John  Browne  was  presented,'7   asking  remu-  pelled  the  country  almost  immediately  after 
neration  for  their  damage  and  losses  in  New  reaching  it.     An  entire  suspension  of  their 
England,  by  which  it   appears  that  if  they  business,  their  outlays  for  a  plantation  resi- 
ever  had  any  claim,  as  specified,  that  claim  dence,and  two  long  voyages  across  the  Atlantic. 

10 


74  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1629. 

The  General  Court  met  on  this  day,  it  being  one  of  the  quar- 
ter days  appointed  for  holding  courts  by  the  charter.  The 
general  business  of  the  Plantation,  being  the  chief  object ;  "  but  by 
reason  of  the  small  appearance  (few  attending)  and  the  shortness  of 
tyme,  nothing  was  done  therin."  "  The  Governor,  however,  made  a 
relacon  of  the  proceedings  of  the  ioynt  comittee  concerning  the  setling 
of  the  Ioynt  Stock ;"  from  which  it  appeared  that  there  was  a  balance 
on  the  books  against  that  stock  of  upwards  of  <£3000.  Against  that 
amount  there  was  due  in  subscriptions  <£1900  ;  and  on  freight  of  ships 
about  £900  more.  After  some  propositions  about  the  management  of 
the  Joint  Stock  affairs,  the  Court  was  adjourned  to  the  thirtieth  of  the 
same  month.  "  Lastly,  vpon  the  mocon  of  Mr.  Whyte,  to  the  end  that 
this  business  might  bee  proceeded  in  with  the  first  intencon,  which  was 
chiefly  the  glory  of  God  ;  and  to  that  purpose  that  their  meetings  might 
be  sanctifyed  by  the  prayers  of  some  faithfull  ministers  resident  heere 
in  London,  whose  advice  would  bee  likewise  requisite  vpon  many  occa- 
sions, the  Court  thought  fitt  to  admit  into  the  freedome  of  this  Com- 
pany, Mr.  Jo.  Archer,  and  Phillip  Nye,*  ministers  heere  in  London, 
who,  being  heere  present,  kindly  accepted  therof ;  also  Mr.  Whyte 
did  recomend  vnto  them  Mr.  Nathaniell  Ward,  of  Standon." 

Agreeable  to  adjournment,  the  General  Court  met  at  Mr. 
Golf's.  For  the  relief  of  the  Company  from  its  present  liabili- 
ties it  was  proposed  that  the  Adventurers  should  double  their  former 
subscriptions  ;  but  this  was  not  agreed  to.  It  was  then  proposed  that 
ten  persons  should  take  the  Joint  Stock  at  its  real  value,  and  assume  its 
responsibilities,  for  which  they  were  to  have  these  privileges,  for  seven 
years,  namely,  half  the  beaver  trade,  and  all  other  furs  ;  the  sole  making 
of  salt ;  the  furnishing  of  a  magazine  at  set  rates  ;  and  the  sole  transpor- 
tation of  passengers  and  goods  at  certain  rates.  Five  of  the  ten  persons 
above-named  were  to  be  of  the  Adventurers,  the  other  five  planters.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  value  the  Stock,  who  were  requested  to 
report  on  the  next  day.  This  committee  consisted  of  Mr.  Whyte  of 
Dorchester,  Mr.  Thomas  GofF,  Mr.  Webb,  and  Mr.  Increase  Nowell. 
,  The  decision  of  the  committee  was,  that,  owing  to  the  nature 
of  the  undertaking,  there  was  a  depreciation  in  the  value  of  the 
Stock  to  the  amount  of  two  thirds  of  all  adventured  ;  "which  value,  vpon 
due  examination  and  long  debate,  was  allowed  by  all  the  court."     And 

*  There  is  a  more  full  account  of  Mr.  Nye  lives  ?     Considered  and  Affirmatively  resolved." 

in  Palmer's  Calamy  than  in  any  of  our  books,  Whether  the  Philip  Nye  of  our  text  were  the 

yet  some  who  have  used  the  larger  part  of  his  author  of  this  tract  (Avhich  is  now  before  me), 

facts,   give   others  credit  for  them.     Though  I  cannot  say.     However  this  may  be,  for  the 

Dr.  Calamy  says  he  died  in  1672,  I  had  been  sorrow  of  all  good  men,  —  antiquaries,  — Dr. 

led  to  think  he  was  alive  in  1677,  as  in  that  Calamy  informs  us  that  Mr.  Nye  "  left  behind 

year,  according  to  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  "  Mr.  him  a  character  of  a  man  of  uncommon  depth, 

P.  Ny"  published   "  A   Case   of   Great  and  who  was  seldom  or  never  outreached  ;"    and 

Present  Use.      Whether  we  may  lawfully  hear  that  "  a  compleat  history  of  the  old  Puritan 

the   now    Conforming  Ministers,  who    are    re-  Dissenters  by  him,  in  MS.,  was  burnt  at  Al- 

ordained,  and  have  renounced  the  Covenant ,  and  derman  Clarkson's,  in   the  fire  of  London;'* 

some  of  them  supposed  to  be  scandalous  in  their  1666,  of  course. 


1629.]  SHIPS    ORDERED    FOR   EMIGRATION.  75 

hereupon  the  following  ten  gentlemen  were  desired  to  take  the  Stock 
agreeably  to  the  above  proposal ;  namely,  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  the  gov- 
ernor, Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Kt.,  Isack  Johnson,  Esq.,  Mr.  Thomas 
Dudley,  Mr.  John  Revell,  Mr.  Matt.  Cradock,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Wright, 
Mr.  Thoophilns  Eaton,  Mr.  Thomas  Goff,  and  Mr.  James  Young  ;  which 
gentlemen,  upon  much  entreaty  of  the  Court,  accepted  accordingly. 
These  wore  usually  denominated  the  Undertakers. 

At  the  same  court  it  was  ordered  that  the  Undertakers  should  pro- 
vide a  sufficient  number  of  ships  of  good  force,  for  transporting  of 
passengers,  at  the  rate  of  five  pounds  each,  and  four  pounds  a  ton  for 
goods.  These  ships  were  to  be  ready  to  sail  from  London  by  the  first 
day  of  March,  1630.  That  the  ships  should  touch  at  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
and  take  in  any  passengers  which  might  desire  to  embark  there,  having 
first  registered  their  names  at  London,  "  with  forty  shillings  towards 
their  fraight,  to  one  of  the  said  Vndertakers  abyding  in  London,  in  the 
Michaelmas  tearme  before  ;  and  shall  deliuer  their  goods  on  shipp- 
board  before  the  twentieth  of  Februarie  following  ;  and  shall  giue 
security  for  the  rest  of  their  fraight  as  they  can  agree  with  the  said 
Vndertakers,  either  for  mony  to  bee  paid  here,  or  for  comoditie  to  bee 
deliured  in  the  Plantacon."  In  the  charge  for  passage,  children  at  the 
breast  were  not  to  be  reckoned  ;  those  under  four  years  of  age,  three 
were  to  be  counted  as  one  ;  under  eight,  two  for  one  ;  under  twelve, 
three  for  two.  And  that  a  ship  of  two  hundred  tons  should  be  allowed 
to  carry  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  passengers  ;  and  in  this 
proportion  ships  of  other  tonnage  were  restricted.  Freight  on  goods 
sent  "home"  to  be,  for  beaver,  three  pounds  per  ton,  and  for  other 
commodities,  forty  shillings  per  ton.  Goods  "assured"  to  pay  five 
pounds  per  hundred  pounds'  value. 

Concerning  the  "  Magazine,"  it  was  agreed  "  that  the  Vndertakers 
should  furnish  the  Plantacon  with  all  such  comodities  as  they  shall  send 
for  ;"  the  planters  to  take  and  sell  them  as  they  pleased,  allowing  the 
Undertakers  .£25  in  the  hundred,  above  all  charges  ;  the  planters  to 
have  the  liberty  to  dispose  of  their  part  of  the  beavers  as  they  chose 
to  do. 

Such  were  the  proceedings  preparatory  to  the  settlement  of  Boston  ; 
which,  considering  all  the  circumstances,  it  must  be  confessed  were 
dictated  by  sound  judgment,  wisdom,  and  that  care  for  the  ultimate 
good  of  all  concerned,  which  will  ever  command  the  gratitude  and  ad- 
miration of  an  enlightened  posterity.  And  though  there  may  be  few, 
even  in  this  day  of  light  and  knowledge,  who  care  to  look  back  to  these 
times,  that  number  must  increase,  through  future  ages,  in  proportion  to 
the  improvement  of  the  human  mind,  and  as  true  benevolence  takes 
the  place  of  a  sordid  selfishness.  These  transactions  of  an  ancestry  of 
a  posterity  spread  over  the  fairest  part  of  the  world,  lie  hid  in  no  mist 
of  uncertainty  ;  their  acts,  plain  and  simple,  written  with  their  own 
hands,  are  everywhere  to  be  read,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  be  for 
ages  to  come. 


76 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1630. 


Dec.  15. 


Some  members  of  the  Company  not  present  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  court,  now  appeared  and  complained  that  so  great  a 
reduction  had  been  made  in  the  property  of  the  Joint  Stock,  and  the 
matter  received  "a  large  discussion  ;"  but  the  present  court  would  not 
reconsider  the  matter  ;  only,  according  to  a  former  provision,  and  a 
mutual  consent,  the  consideration  of  the   case  was  committed  to  Mr. 

Davenport,*  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr.  Ar- 
cher, three  ministers  there  present. 
1630.  It   was    proposed,    at    this 

Feb.  10.  meeting  of  the  General  Court, 
to  create  a  common  stock  in  the  Com- 
pany, because  of  "  a  great  and  con- 
tinuall  charge  in  the  furtherance  of 
the  plantacon,  which  cannot  with  con- 
venyence  bee  defrayed  out  of  the 
Ioynt  Stock  of  the  Company."  This 
stock  "  should  bee  raysed  from  shuch 
as  beare  good  affeecon  to  the  planta- 
con and  the  propagacon  thereof,"  to 
be  employed  "  only  in  defrayment  of 
publique  charges  ;  as  maintenance  of 
ministers,  transportacon  of  poore  famy- 
lies,  building  of  churches  and  fortyfycacons,"  and  other  occasions  in 
the  plantation.  To  those  advancing  fifty  pounds  in  this  new  stock,  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  were  to  be  allotted,  and  so  on,  in  that  proportion. 
Of  this  new  Company  Mr.  George  Harwood  was  chosen  treasurer. 

At  the  same  court  a  motion  was  made  on  behalf  of  Sir  William 
Brereton,  who,  it  appears,  had  a  claim  to  lands  under  some  Patent, 
which  lands  were  now  covered  by  the  Patent  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company.  His  claim  is  spoken  of  in  the  records  of  the  Company,  as 
held  "  by  vertue  of  a  late  pretended  Pattent."  He  proposed  to  waive 
his  claim,  provided  "  a  proportionable  quantitie  of  land  might  be  allot- 
ted vnto  him  for  the  accommodacon  of  his  people  and  servants  now  to 
be  sent  over."  But  the  Court,  after  due  "  consideracon,"  did  not  think 
proper  to  enter  into  any  "  prticuler  capitulacon  with  him  therein,"  and 
informed  his  messengers  that  the  Company  did  not  acknowledge  that 
*  *  anything  was  due  vnto  him  as  of  right  by  vertue  of  his  said  Pat- 
tent,"  nor  would  they  "give  any  consideracon  in  case  hee"  should 
relinquish  it.  Six  hundred  acres  being  due  to  him  as  one  of  the  Ad- 
venturers, "they  are  well  content  hee  should  ioyne  with  them  in  the 
prosecucon  of  this  business,  according  to  their  Charter  ;"  and  any  ser- 
vants he  might  send  over  to  settle  in  the  Plantacon  should  receive  all 


JOHN    DAVENPORT. 


*  Of  all  the  early  emigrants  to  New  Eng-  Conqueror.     It  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to 

land.  Mr.   John  Davenport,  probably,  could  "  A  History  and  Genealogy"  of  the  family, 

trace  his  lineage  to  the  highest  antiquity, —  by  A.  Benedict  Davenport,  Esq.  (of  the  twenty- 

seventeen  generations,  his   own   included, —  fourth  generation) ,  published  in  New  York  in 

to  Orme  de  Davenport,  born  20th  William  the  1851. 


1G30.]  COMPANY   AT    SOUTHAMPTON.  77 

courteous  respect,  and  be  accommodated  with  land,  as  other  the  servants 
of  the  Company.  Captain  Waller  and  Mr.  Eaton  were  desired  "  to 
signifie  the  Companyc's  affection  and  due  respect  vnto  him ;  he  hauing 
written  to  them  about  this  business."* 

The  Assistants  held   a  court  at  Southampton,  at  which  was 

present  the  Governor,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr. 
Dudley,  Mr.  Humf'rey,  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Pynchon,  and  Mr.  Goffe.  "  It 
was  ordered  and  concluded  by  erreccon  of  hands,  that  Sir  Brian  Jan- 
son,  Kt.,  Mr.  William  Coddington  and  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreete,  gent., 
shall  be  chosen  in  the  roomes  and  places  of  Assistants  of  Mr.  Wright, 
merchant,  Mr.  Theophilus  Eaton,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Goffe,  of  London, 
merchants." 

Q„        This  was  the   last   court  held  by  the   Company  in  England, 

and  was  "  aboard  the  Arbella  ;"  at  which  Mr.  Coddington,  Mr. 
Tho.  Sharpe,  Mr.  William  Vassall,  and  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreete  ap- 
peared, instead  of  Humfrey,  Nowell,  Pynchon  and  Goffe.  Nothing 
appears  to  have  been  recorded  of  any  transactions  at  this  session,  only 
it  is  noted  that  "  Mr.  John  Humfrey  (in  regard  hee  was  to  stay  behinde 
in  England),  was  discharged  of  his  Deputyshipp,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Dudley  chosen  Deputy  in  his  place." 

*  It  is  not  unlikely  that  Sir  Wm.  Brereton  Major  General  of  Cheshire,  Staffordshire, 

intended  to  settle  in  New  England  ;  indeed,  it  and  Lankashire." 

is  highly  probable  that  such  was  the  fact ;  The  relation  of  Sir  William  Brereton  to  the 
but  his  rights,  or  what  he  considered  his  rights,  Massachusetts  Company  was  no  doubt  the 
being  disregarded,  or  not  acknowledged  by  the  same  as  Mr.  Oldham's.  There  is  in  the  Mass. 
Massachusetts  Company,  no  doubt  caused  him  Archives,  Lands,  i.,  p.  1,  a  document  explain- 
to  remain  in  England,  the  affairs  of  which  ing  the  nature  and  extent  of  his  claim.  The 
soon  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  act  a  dis-  reason  why  it  was  so  unfavorably  regarded 
tinguished  part  therein.  There  is  a  portrait  may  be  found  in  the  note,  p.  58,  ante.  See 
of  him  to  be  seen  in  the  celebrated  work  of  Hutchinson,  i.  6,  18.  Frothingham 's  Hist. 
Mr.  John  Vickers,  published  in  1647  ;  and  Charlestown,  13  and  14.  He  is  said  to  have 
who,  according  to  that  trustworthy  author,  been  one  of  the  judges  at  the  trial  of  the 
gained  seventeen  victories  over  the  armies  of  King.  It  is  true  that  he  was  appointed  to  be 
Charles  I.,  one  of  which  was  commanded  by  of  the  number  of  the  triers  of  Charles,  but 
Prince  Rupert  himself.  There  is  another  por-  his  name  does  not  appear  upon  the  warrant 
trait  of  him  in  the  curious  work  of  Josiah  for  the  execution.  My  slight  researches  in 
Bjcraft,  published  also  in  1647,  "A  Survey  regard  to  him,  furnish  nothing  beyond  the 
of  England's  Champions,''  being  "Truth's  ordinary  histories  above  referred  to,  and  others 
faithful  Recitements  ;  with  the  lively  Effigies  more  common.  The  Biographical  Dictionaries 
and  Eulogies  of  those  who  fought  against  the  consulted  do  not  even  contain  the  name  of  the 
Romish  Sicera,  or  the  Great  Scarlet  Whore,  "  Champion  "  Avho  risked  his  life  in  seventeen 
with  ivhom  the  Kings  of  the  Earth  have  commit-  battles  in  the  cause  of  human  freedom,  and  the 
ted  Fornication.'"  Under  his  portrait  in  this  rights  of  man  ! 
book  is   inscribed,  "  Sr.  William  Brereton, 


78  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630- 


CHAPTER    X. 

Sailing  of  the  Mary  &  John.  —  Her  Company.  —  Sailing  of  Winthrop's  Fleet.  —  Some  Account  of  it 
—  Capt.  Burley. — Sir  Thomas  Roe.  —  The  Governor  and  Company's  "Humble  Request."  — 
Charles  Fines.  —  The  Fleet  proceeds  on  its  Voyage.  —  Incidents  and  Accidents  attending  it.  —  Arrival 
of  the  Mary  &  John.  —  Nantasket.  —  Charlestown.  —  Settlement  of  Dorchester.  —  Tedious  Voyage 
of  Winthrop's  Company. — Sir  Robert  Mansel. — The  ships  on  the  Coast. — Arrival  at  Salem. — 
Gov.  Endicott.  —  Winthrop  explores  about  Boston.  — Thomas  Walford.  —  Arrival  of  other  ships.  — 
Deputy  Governor  Dudley.  —  His  Account  of  the  Colony  the  first  year.  —  Deaths  of  eminent  persons. 

UT  before  the  last  meeting  of  the  Government  of 

the  Massachusetts  Company  on  board  a  ship  in 

the  harbor  of  Southampton,  another  ship,  named 

the  Mary  &  John,  of  four  hundred   tons,  had 

>%,  been  receiving  passengers  and  goods,  as  she  lay 

,4_"\_i»J "%jf ':.  -  .:      m  the  port  of  Plymouth  ;  and,  being  now  ready 

^^lip^^^B^^^     ,.      ..    for  sea,  sails    out  of  Plymouth   Sound, 

3:~g|g5s^ •fepgg^Jgay-  -       Mar   20.  J  . 

^  ^Z^SSHsifls^  '   bound  for  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New 

^--r^.^^^  England.  Of  this  ship  "  one  Captain  Squeb 
was  master,"  and  among  his  passengers  were 
'•  the  reverend  Mr.  Warham  and  Mr.  Maverick,  with  many  godly  fami- 
lies and  people  under  their  care,  from  Devonshire,  Dorsetshire  and 
Somersetshire."  In  the  same  ship  were  also  Mr.  Rossiter  and  Mr. 
Ludlow,  two  assistants  of  the  Massachusetts  Company,  and  a  young 
man  in  humble  circumstances  then,  named  Roger  Clap,  but  who  be- 
came in  New  England  a  gentleman  of  high  consideration. 

"  Riding  at  Cowes,  near  the  Isle  of  Wight,"  it  being  Mon- 
day, there  were  now  the  "  Arbella,"  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
tons,  Captain  Peter  Milbourne,  master  and  part  owner,  with  twenty- 
eight  guns  and  fifty-two  seamen  ;  the  Ambrose,  Captain  John  Lowe, 
master  ;  the  Jewell,  Mr.  Nicholas  Hurlston,  master ;  the  Talbot,  Mr. 
Thomas  Beecher,  master.  The  two  last-named  ships  belonged  to  Mr. 
Cradock,  the  captains  of  which,  with  their  owner,  came  on  board  the 
Arbella,  early  in  the  morning.  The  wind  serving,  Mr.  Cradock 
advised  them  to  improve  it.  Accordingly  they  weigh  their  anchors,  and 
at  ten  o'clock  set  sail,  saluting  their  venerable  late  Governor  with  sev- 
eral pieces  of  ordnance,  as  he  took  his  leave  of  them.  Running  up 
Solant  Sea,  they  come  to  anchor  again  near  Yarmouth,  which  lies  over 
against  Lymington,  in  Hampshire. 

Meanwhile  there  were  lying  at  Hampton,  not  quite  ready  to  sail,  the 
Mayflower,  the  Whale,  the  William  &  Francis,  the  Trial,  the  Charles, 
the  Success,  and  the  Hopewell. 

In  these  eleven  ships  there  were  about  seven  hundred  souls,  besides 
the  "  people"  of  the  ships,  and  this  has  been  appropriately  styled  "the 
great  emigration."  They  were  long  in  getting  clear  of  the  English 
coast,  the  weather  being  unfavorable,  as  though  it  had  compassion  on 
the  hundreds  of  unwilling  minds,  and  kept  them  lingering  near  their 


1630.]  white's  famous  letter.  70 

beloved  friends  and  kindred  ;  as  if  sensible  it  was  the  only  and  last 
adieu  they  would  ever  pay  to  their  native  land. 
'  As  the  ships  lay  windbound  at  Yarmouth,  Captain  Burleigh,* 

of  the  Castle  there,  "  a  grave  and  comely  gentleman,  and  of 
great  age,"  paid  those  on  board  a  friendly  visit,  breakfasted  with  them, 
and  was  honored  with  a  salute,  at  his  departure,  from  four  pieces  of 
cannon.  He  had  commanded  in  the  navy  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  against 
the  Spaniards,  and  had  been  a  prisoner  three  years  in  Spain.  After 
that,  himself  and  three  of  his  sons  were  captains  in  Sir  Thomas  Roe's 
famous  voyage f  to  the  empire  of  the  Great  Mogul. 

.  While  lying  in   Yarmouth  harbor,    an  important  letter  was 

addressed  by  some  of  the  principal  emigrants  to  their  brethren 
of  the  Church  of  England  ;  a  letter  which  has  given  occasion  for  some 
reflections  upon  their  conduct,  by  those  who  desired  to  find  such  an 
occasion  ;  as  though  therein  they  professed  to  be  of  the  Church  of 
England,  while,  in  fact,  their  real  intentions  were  to  separate  from  it 
entirely.  There  is  no  ground  for  controversy,  as  to  the  meaning  of 
the  letter,  among  historians.  It  is  a  simple,  intelligent  epistle,  in  many 
works  extant,  and  every  one  can  read  it  and  form  his  own  judgment 
upon  the  points  at  issue.  There  is  a  vein  of  holy  melancholy  running 
through  it,  plainly  showing  that  they  felt  that  they  were  about  to  enter 
upon  a  new  theatre,  that  they  desired  to  be  remembered  as  members  of 
the  same  great  Christian  family,  acknowledging  those  to  whom  they 
were  writing  "  as  those  whom  God  had  placed  nearest  his  throne  of 
mercy."  "  Consider  us,"  they  say,  "  we  beseech  you,  by  the  mercies 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  your  brethren,  and  the  principals  and  body  of  our 
Company,  as  those  who  esteem  it  our  honor  to  call  the  Church  of  Eng- 

*  So  Winthrop  has  the  name,  or  rather  his  great  note  in  his  time :  a  son  of  Robert  Roe, 

transcribers;  but  it  should  probably  be  Burley.  Esq.,  of  Low  Layton,  Wanstead,  Essex.     He 

In   Higginson's  Journal  it   is  Borley.     There  died  in  November,  1644.     His  widow,  who  sur- 

was  a  family  of  this  name,  both  ancient  and  vived  him,  was  the  lady  Eleanor,  daughter  of 

respectable,  which  had  long  been  established  Sir  Thomas  Cave,  Bart.,  of  Stanford,  County  of 

in  that  island.     But  I  can  hardly  suppose  that  Northampton.     The  facetious  and  learned  Ful- 

the  aged  Capt.  Burleigh ,  whom  Winthrop  saw,  ler  dedicated  a  portion  of  his   "  Church  His- 

was  the  same  who,  eighteen  years  afterwards,  tory  "    to  her.     The  embassy  of  Sir  Thomas 

endeavored  to  raise  an  insurrection  there  in  continued  from  1614  to  1618.     From  1621  to 

favor  of  Charles  I.  when   confined   in   Caris-  1628  he  was  an  ambassador  to  the  Ottoman 

brook  Castle,  and  for  which,  by  order  of  Par-  Porte,  during  which  time  he  kept  a  journal  of 

liament,  he  was  executed.     This  Capt.  Burley  all  transactions  there.     This  laid  in  MS.  till 

had  been  thrown  out  of  office  when  the  navy  1740,  when  it  was  published  in  part,  with  a 

changed  masters,  and  his  attempt  to  rescue  beautiful    engraving   of   the    ambassador,    in 

the  king  was  the  result  of  chagrin  which  broke  folio.     He  possessed  great  learning,  and  made 

out  in  rashness.     He  may  have  been  one  of  extensive  collections  of  oriental  MSS.  during 

those  three  sons  who  had  been  captains  under  bis  residence  in  the  East,  which,  in  1628,  he 

Sir  Thomas  Roe.  —  See  Butter's  Isle  of  Wight,  presented  to  the  Bodleian  library.     To  show 

—  Clarendon's  Rebellion,  —  and  Heath's  Chron-  his  respect  for  Sir  Thomas,  Captain  Lucas  Fox, 

icle.  who  made  a  voyage  of  discovery  to  the  north, 

f  Winthrop,   in   his   Journal,  says   merely,  in  1631,  named  the  main  land  in  64°  10',  N. 

"  Roe's  voyage  ;"  and,  from  the  events  in  the  in   Hudson's   Bay  "Sir  Thomas  Roe's  Wel- 

life  of  Sir  Thomas  Roe,  I  have  no  doubt  that  come." — See    Granger's   Biographical    Hist. 

his  "  famous  voyage  to  the  dominions  of  the  Eng. —  Fuller's    Church    Hist.    Brit. — Brit. 

Great   Mogul"   is   that   to    which   Winthrop  Cyclop. — Forster's  Discov.  in  the  North,  p. 

refers.     His  name  appears  before  in  my  pages.  363,  ed.  4to.  —  Churchill's   Collection  of  Voy- 

See    ante,  p.    34.     He  was   a   gentleman   of  ages,  vol.  i.  696,  &c. 


80 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1630. 


having 


and,  from  whence  we  rise,  our  dear  mother  ;*  be  pleased  therefore, 
reverend  fathers  and  brethren,  to  help  forward  this  work  now  in 
hand." 

The  names  found  to  the  printed  letter  are  "John  Winthrope,  Charles 
Fines,']'  George  Phillipps,  Richard  Saltonstall,  Isaac  Johnson,  Thomas 
Dudley,  William  Coddington,  &c.  &c."J 

About  six  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  the  wind 
pn  '  "  hauled  to  the  northward  and  eastward,"  the  ships  began  to  get 
under  way,  spreading  their  sails  for  the  broad  Atlantic  Ocean.  "With 
the  Admiral  ship  ahead,  they  passed  Hurst  castle,  and  running  over 
Cowel  and  Totland  bays,  before  ten  the  same  morning  they  had  cleared 
the  "  Needles;"  but  the  wind  shortening,  they  had  to  come  to  anchor 
in  the  English  Channel.  However,  before  ten  at  night,  the  wind,  which 
had  been  light  and  variable,  settled  in  to  the  north,  so  they  weighed 
again  and  stood  on  through  the  night,  and  by  daylight  next  morning 
they  were  abreast  Portland.  It  was  found  that  the  rest  of 
the  ships  could  not  hold  way  with  the  Admiral,  which  caused 
her  to  lie  to  for  them  to  come  up.  Meantime,  to  lessen  her  speed,  she 
clewed  up  her  mainsail,  and  then  they  all  "went  on  with  a  merry 
gale."     Early  in  the  morning  of  the  same  clay,  a  man  from  the  mast- 


April  9. 


*  Was  this  separating  from  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  light  some  have  considered  it  ? 
Certainly  not.  A  later  date  must  be  assigned 
to  the  real  separation  which  gradually  and 
actually  did  take  dace. 


SAILING   FROM   THE   ISLE    OF   WIGHT. 

j"  That  tins  gentleman  belonged  to  a  branch 
of  the  ancient  Norman  family  of  the  name  of 
De  Fynes,  De  Finnes,  &c.,  whose  ancestors, 
from  the  time  of  the  Conquest  to  the  reign  of 
John,  were  hereditary  constables  of  Dover 
Castle,  there  may  be  no  doubt ;  but  that  he 
was  a  brother  of  a  cotemporary  Sir  William 
"  Fiennes,"  I  find  no  proof  whatever.  The 
family  of  Finnes,  besides  its  own  titles  to  no- 
bility, became  connected  with  that  of  Dudley, 
Lord  North ;  Lord  Dacre ;  Earl  Bourchier, 
Lord  Berners  ;  &c.  It  is  presumed  that  though 
Charles  Fines  signed  the  famous  "Humble 
Bequest,"  he  may  not  have  come  to  New  Eng- 
land.  There  are,  in  the  history  of  nearly  every 


family,  facts  of  great  interest ;  we  meet  with 
one  in  this  of  Finnes,  for  digressing  to  notice 
which,  the  author  will  probably  be  pardoned. 
Sir  James  Fienes  perished  in  "  Jack  Cade's 
rebellion."  William  Crowmer,  son  of  Sir 
William  Crowmer,  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
married  the  only  daughter  of  Sir  James  Fisnes 
(Viscount  Say  and  Sele).  The  rebels  beheadod 
both  Sir  James  and  his  son-in-law;  "whose 
heads,  pitched  upon  high  poles,  were  carried 
through  the  streets  of  London,  Avhose  bearers 
caused  their  trunkless  faces  (in  spite  and 
mockery)  to  kiss  one  the  other  at  every  street 
corner,  as  they  marched  along  in  this  their 
damnable  triumph  and  hellish  ovations ;  which 
horrid  act  was  committed  the  3d  of  July, 
1450." —  Weeuers  Fun.  Monuments.  Henry 
Fiennes,  the  grandson  of  this  first  Lord  Say 
and  Sele,  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Bich- 
ard  Harcourt,  of  Stanton-Harcourt,  Knt. 
Bichard  Fiennes,  the  nephew  of  Lord  Say  and 
Sele,  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Thomas,  Lord  Dacre.  — Guillim^  Banner  Dis- 
played, 437. 

J  The  original  edition  of  the  famous  letter 
was  printed  at  London  soon  after  the  sailing 
of  "  the  fleet,"  in  a  small  4to,  of  12  pages. 
Those  who  had  not  seen  the  original  edition, 
but  had  sighed  to  do  so,  believing  that  the  two 
"  &c.s  "  at  the  end,  in  our  old  transcripts  of 
it,  would  reveal  other  names,  sighed  in  vain. 
They  are  &c.s  and  nothing  else,  in  the  editio 
princcps.  It  is  entitled  "  The  Humble  Bequest 
of  his  Majesties  loyall  Subjects,"  &c.  It 
might  well  have  been  entitled  their  "  Fare- 
well Address,"  as  its  tone  throughout  is  truly 
the  language  of  men  bidding  a  final  farewell 
to  the  world. 


1630.]  INCIDENTS    OF   THE    VOYAGE.  81 

head  descried  eight  sail  of  ships  astern.  This  discovery  threw  all  on 
board  into  consternation,  believing  the  strangers  to  be  enemies  ;  for 
they  had  been  told  at  Yarmouth  that  ten  sail  of  Dunkirkcrs  were  ly- 
ing in  wait  for  their  sailing,  and  Captain  Lowe,  of  the  Ambrose,  said 
he  saw  suspicious-looking  vessels  lying  at  Dunnose  the  evening  before.* 
However,  orders  were  given  to  clear  the  ships  for  action,  and,  though 
they  were  "  four  to  eight,"  they  determined  to  fight.  "  The  ordnance 
were  loaded,  powder-chests  and  fireworks  were  made  ready,  the  land- 
men were  quartered  among  the  seamen,  and  every  man  written  down 
for  his  quarter."  "And,  for  an  experiment,  Captain  Milborne  shot  a 
ball  of  wild-fire,  fastened  to  an  arrow,  out  of  a  cross-bow,  which  burnt 
in  the  water  for  a  good  time.  The  Lady  Arbella  and  the  other  women 
and  children  were  removed  into  the  lower  deck,  that  they  might  be  out 
of  danger."  Prayer  was  then  had  on  deck,  after  which  "  it  was  much 
to  see  how  cheerful  and  comfortable  all  the  company  appeared  ;  not  a 
woman  or  child  that  showed  fear,  though  all  did  apprehend  the  danger  to 
have  been  very  great."  The  supposed  enemy,  having  more  wind  than 
the  pursued,  "  came  up  apace."  It  was  near  one  o'clock,  however, 
before  they  had  approached  within  a  league,  when  Captain  Mil- 
bourne,  "  because  he  would  show  he  was  not  afraid  of  them,  and  that 
he  might  see  the  issue  before  night  should  overtake  them,  tacked  about 
and  stood  to  meet  them  ;  and  when  they  came  near  they  perceived  them 
to  be"  some  of  their  own  countrymen  and  friends. 

Though  this  great  peril  proved  to  be  imaginary,  its  relation  serves  to 
set  in  a  strong  light  the  immense  hazards  to  which  those  were  exposed, 
as  they  were  upon  their  embarcation  for  a  naked  wilderness.  It  would 
have  been  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of  the  events  of  that  clay, 
had  their  worst  fears  been  realized.  These  poor  Pilgrims  might  have 
overcome  their  adversaries  after  a  bloody  battle  ;  but  their  voyage 
would  have  been  ruined  ;  or  they  might,  like  Captain  Smith,  but  few 
years  before,  have  been  captured,  carried  into  an  enemy's  port,  plun- 
dered and  cast  into  prison,  and  thus  their  intended  settlement  brought 
to  an  end. 

Being  thus  happily  delivered  from  their  fears,  the  colonists 
proceeded  on  their  voyage,  having  the  wind  at  east-by-north, 
a  "handsome  gale  with  fair  weather."  By  seven  of  the  clock  in  the 
morning,  they  were  "over  against  Plymouth,"  and  about  noon,  the 
Lizard,  that  noted  promontory  of  Cornwall,  was  in  view.  About  eight 
the  next  morning,  they  passed  the  Isles  of  Scilly,  which  lie  about  nine 
leagues  to  the  westward  of  the  Land's  End,  it  blowing  "  a  very  stiff 
gale  "  from  the  north-by-west,  and,  having  laid  their  course  west-south- 
west, they  stood  off  into  the  main  ocean,  and  were  soon  out  sight  of 
land. 

*  There  may  be  no  error  as  to  Dunnose ;  treme  east  end  of  the  Isle  of  Wight ;  while 

but  how  Captain  Lowe  could  have  seen  ships  the  Needles  through  which  our  fleet  had  sailed 

at  that  place,  is  quite  surprising,  because  the  are  at  the  extreme  west  end,  certainly  above 

only  Dunnose  that  I  can  find  is  near  the  ex-  twenty  miles  from  Dunnose. 


82  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 

All  thoughts  were  now  turned  on  their  present  condition,  whither 
they  were  going,  the  strange  things  they  were  to  meet  with  in  the  New 
World,  and  what  they  would  do  when  they  should  arrive  there  ;  with 
occasional  misgivings  of  many,  as  to  the  propriety  of  the  hazardous 
step  they  had  taken  ;  the  probable  long  time  that  must  pass  before  they 
could  so  much  as  hear  from  dear  fathers,  mothers,  brothers,  and  sisters. 
From  these  reflections,  though  often  awakened  by  the  sudden  plunging, 
heaving,  and  rolling  of  the  ship,  the  roaring  of  the  winds,  and  break- 
ing of  the  billows  around  them,  it  was  only  to  return  to  them  again 
with  a  willing  sadness,  as  their  little  bark  righted  and  seemed  to  leap 
with  more  steadiness  from  sea  to  sea. 

The  voyage  thus  proceeded  without  anything  uncommon  or  extraor- 
dinary, and  soon  became  monotonous,  till  even  an  accident  might  have 
been  welcome,  if  of  sufficient  importance  to  break  in  upon  the  irksome 
hours.  Very  few  of  these  happened,  or,  if  they  happened,  they  were 
not  recorded.  There  are,  indeed,  notes  of  "  two  men  falling  at  odds, 
and  fighting,  contrary  to  orders,"  and  how  they  were  punished  withal ; 
and  how  one,  "for  using  contemptuous  speeches"  before  the  high 
officers  and  gentlemen,  "  was  laid  in  bolts  till  he  submitted  himself,  and 
promised  open  confession  ;"  though  whether  he  did  anything  more  than 
promise,  is  not  recorded.* 

Notwithstanding  such  events,  —  the  "  seamen  sometimes  playing  wags 
with  children,"  a  great  storm  which  split  some  of  their  sails  to  pieces, 
and  the  separation  of  the  ships,  —  "  the  wind  put  them  on  to  the  west 
amain,"  where,  in  their  approach  to  the  summit  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
it  may  be  well  to  leave  them,  for  the  present,  to  take  a  view  of  the 
Company  which  sailed  before  them. 

M       0        The  ship  Mary  and  John,  as  has  been  before  recorded,  sailed 

from  Plymouth  for  New  England,  on  the  twentieth  of  March. 

She  seems  to  have  had  a  very  prosperous  voyage,  passing  "  through  the 

deeps  comfortably."     The  "  captain  of  that  great  ship  of  four  hundred 

tons  "  was  named Squeb,  who  arrived  at  Nantasket  on  the 

thirtieth  of  the  following  May,  and  "  here  he  turned  his  passen- 
gers and  their  goods  ashore  the  next  day,  leaving  them  to  shift  for 
themselves  in  a  forlorn  place  in  this  wilderness." f     But  there  were 

*  "  A  servant  of  one  of  our  company  had  taken  with  allowance,  for  reasons  already- 
bargained  with  a  child  to  sell  him  a  box,  worth  stated.  [See  ante,  p.  22.]  At  the  time  of 
3d.,  for  three  biscuits  a  day,  all  the  voyage,  their  arrival,  I  have  no  doubt  the  Captain  sup- 
and  had  received  about  forty,  and  had  sold  posed  himself  at  the  entrance  of  Charles 
them  and  many  more  to  some  other  servants.  River,  and  that  by  bringing  them  there  he 
We  caused  his  hands  to  be  tied  up  to  a  bar,  had  performed  his  voyage.  It  appears  that  he 
and  hanged  a  basket  of  stones  about  his  neck,  was  urged  to  carry  them  up  further  into  the 
and  so  he  stood  two  hours." — Winthrop,  river,  and  that  he  declined  to  do  so,  and  a  dif- 
Journal,  i.  18.  This  extract  is  made  as  a  ficulty  arose  thereupon,  which  was  not  settled 
specimen  of  punishments  practised  in  those  till  the  17th  of  June,  after  the  arrival  of 
days.  Winthrop,  who,  in  his  Journal,  says,  "  as  he 

f  Captain   Roger  Clap  wrote    this,  many  and  others  of  his   Company  were  returning 

years  after  these  events,  but  he  recorded  what  from  Mr.   Maverick's   [on   Noddle's  Island], 

he  knew  and  what  he  saw,  for  he  was  one  of  they  came  by  [way]  of  Nataskott,  and  sent 

the  efficient  men  of  the  Company.     But  his  for  Captain  Squib  ashore,  and  ended  a  differ- 

censures  of  Captain  Squeb's  conduct  are  to  be  ence  between  him  and  the  passengers."     Am- 


[1630. 


DORCHESTER   PEOPLE   ARRIVE. 


83 


"  some  old  planters  "  there  and  in  the  neighborhood,  who,  kindly  assist- 
ing them  with  a  boat,  they  loaded  it  with  goods,  and  some  able  men, 
well  armed,  went  in  her  to  Charlestown,  where  they  found  some  wig- 
wams and  one  house.*  They  did  not  make  much  stay  here,  but 
proceeded  up  Charles  River  until  it  grew  narrow  and  shallow,  and  there 
they  landed  their  goods  with  much  labor  and  toil,  the  bank  being  steep, 
and  they  not  above  ten  in  number. 

At  the  approach  of  night,  they  were  informed  that  there  were 
not  far  off,  three  hundred  Indians,  which  caused  the  English  to 
apprehend  trouble  ;  but  an  old  planter,  who  had  kindly  accompanied 
them,  went  out  and  met  the  Indians,  and,  being  acquainted  with  their 
language,  made  them  understand  that  the  English  did  not  wish  them  to 
come  to  them  in  the  night,  and  they  readily  consented  to  keep  away. 
Sentinels  were  set  for  the  night,  of  which  Roger  Clap  was  one,  and 
here  Englishmen  slept  for  the  first  time  on  the  banks  of  Charles  River. 
Of  this  little  company  was  Mr.  Richard  Southcot,  "  a  brave  Low  Coun- 
try soldier,"  who  did  not  continue  long  in  the  country,  but  in  about  a 
year  returned  to  England. f 
The  next 

June  1. 

morning    a  ^ 

few  of  the  Indians 
came  and  looked 
at  the  strangers 
"at  a  distance 
off,"  but  after  a 
while  they  came 
and  held  out  a 
great  bass  towards 
them.  One  of  the 
English  took  a  bis- 
cuit, and  approach- 
ing the  Indians, 
offered  it  for  the 
bass,  which  they 
accepted.  With  this  a  friendly  intercourse  commenced,  and  the  Com- 
pany got  a  supply  of  bass  at  the  same  easy  rate  for  some  time  after. 

The  place  where  the  landing  was  effected,  and  where  the  interview 
with  the  Indians  took  place,  is  believed  to  be  at  or  very  near  the  point, 


icably,  we  may  suppose ;  because,  when  the 
Governor  and  his  company  left  him,  the  Cap- 
tain gave  them  a  salute  of  five  guns.  This 
seems  hardly  to  countenance  what  Trumbull, 
in  his  Connecticut,  i.  23,  says,  namely,  that 
the  said  Captain  ' '  was  afterwards  obliged  to 
pay  damages  for  his  conduct ;"  but  Trumbull 
may  have  had  good  authority  for  his  state- 
ment. The  impossibility  of  a  ship  of  400 
tons,  deeply  laden,  going  up  Charles  Eiver, 
must  have  been  well  known  to  Captain  Clap 
when  he  wrote  his  Memoirs. 


*  That  of  Mr.  Walford,  before  mentioned, 
no  doubt,  "  situate  on  the  south  end  of  the 
westernmost  hill  of  the  East  Field,  a  little  way 
up  from  Charles  River  side. ' '  —  Charlestown 
Records.     See  Frothingham,  14. 

"  And  in  the  house  there  was  a  man,  which 
had  a  boiled  bass,  but  no  bread  that  we  see  ; 
but  we  did  eat  of  his  bass,  and  then  went  up 
Charles  River,"  &c.  —  Clap's  Mems. 

f  He  had  liberty  from  the  Court,  in  July, 
1631,  "  to  go  for  England,  promising  to  return 
with  all  convenient  sj>eed." —  Prince,  358. 


84  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 

in  what  was  soon  after  Watertown,  on  which  the  United  States  Arsenal 
now  stands.  Here,  while  some  were  preparing  shelters  for  their  goods, 
others  proceeded  to  select  the  most  suitable  place  for  their  future  abode. 
It  was  soon  discovered  that  a  noted  Indian  resort,  called  Matapan, 
offered  good  grazing  for  their  cattle,  and  other  advantages  for  settle- 
ment, which  they  considered  superior  to  those  where  they  now  were, 
and  they  accordingly  removed  to  Matapan,  since  called  Dorchester 
Neck,  and  afterwards  South  Boston.  The  name  Dorchester  was  given 
to  their  residence,  in  memory  of  the  "famous  town"  of  the  same 
name  in  Dorsetshire,  whence  many  of  the  first  settlers  came.*  They 
gave  the  same  name  to  the  place  where  they  first  encamped  upon 
Charles  Eiver,  and  a  place  thereabouts  is  known  as  "  Dorchester 
Fields"  to  this  day.f 

Meanwhile,  the  "  Arbella"  and  her  two  consorts  —  the  Ambrose  and 
the  Jewel  —  are  ploughing  the  wide  Atlantic  Ocean,  sometimes  in 
company,  and  sometimes  apart ;  separated  by  the  violence  of  storms, 
the  darkness  of  high  northern  nights,  and  the  dense  fogs  swept  by  the 
broom  of  heaven  from  innumerable  fields  of  ice  over  the  polar  seas. 
For  several  days  together  they  could  make  no  headway  within  many 
points  of  their  true  course;  and  sometimes  they  could  only  "  lie  at 
hull,"  with  just  sail  enough  to  steady  the  ships,  and  keep  them  from 
foundering  in  the  "  trough  of  the  seas." 

After  having  been  above  three  weeks  at  sea,  they  found 
themselves  but  about  one  third  of  their  voyage  onward,  and,  by 
contrary  winds  and  currents,  were  driven  to  the  forty-sixth  degree  of 
northern  latitude  ;  but,  notwithstanding  cold,  stormy  weather  continued, 
and  often  accompanied  by  sleet  and  snow,  the  three  ships  were  all  in 
company  on  the  sixth  of  May ;  and,  on  the  previous  night,  it  having 
come  fair,  and  the  wind  "large,"  they  were  able  to  lay  their  course 
west  by  south,  "  with  a  merry  gale  in  all  their  sails;"  so  that  they 
soon  ran  down  to  the  parallel  of  forty-four  degrees  north  ;  but,  so  unfa- 
vorable was  the  weather  for  many  days  following,  that  they  changed 
their  latitude  scarcely  half  a  degree,  though  their  course  was  nearly 
south. 

At  length,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  June  the  sixth, 
and  in  forty- three  degrees  and  a  quarter  north,  soundings  were 
had,  "  and,  the  mist  then  breaking  up,"  land  was  descried  on  the  star- 
board bow,  about  five  or  six  leagues  off,  which  was  supposed  to  be  Cape 
Sable.     The  wind  soon  after  hauled  south-easterly,  and  the  ships  bore 

*  I  have  given,  in  the  N.  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Watertown],  "  several  years  ago,  with  Maj. 

Regr.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  389,  &c,  a  somewhat  ex-  Winship,  a  respectable  inhabitant  then  living 

tended  account  of  the  early  beginnings  of  "  Old  near  by  it,  he  pointed  to  a  pasture,  and  told 

Dorchester,"  the  origin  of  its  name,  its  early  me  it  was  called  "Dorchester  Fields.'"  —  See 

inhabitants,  &c,  to  which  the  reader  is  re-  American  Annals,  i.  203.  —  Both  the  excellent 

ferred.     I  would  also  refer  to  Blake's  Annals  annalist  aud  his  informant  sleep  with  those 

of  Dorchester,  and  the  Hist,  of  Dorchester  now  of  whom  they  spoke  and  wrote.     Dr.  Holmes 

in  course  of  publication,  by  Mr.  David  Clapp.  died  at  Cambridge,  4  June,  1837  ;  Mr.  Winship 

f  "  In  walking  over  the  grounds    at    the  a  few  years  later. 
place    of   landing,"    says    Dr.    Holmes    [in 


1630.]  VOYAGE    OF    WINTIIROP.  85 

away  west  by  north,  intending  to  make  the  well-known  point  in 
une  '  York  called  Agamenticus.  The  next  day,  being  becalmed,  they 
had  .splendid  fishing,  on  thirty  fathom  ground,  "taking,  in  less  than 
two  hours,  sixty-seven  codfish,  most  of  them  very  great,  some  a  yard 
and  a  half  long,  and  a  yard  in  compass."  This  supply  was  very  sea- 
sonable, their  salt-fish  being  spent,  and  their  other  provisions  were  run- 
ning short. 

Thus,  with  the  usual  attendants  on  the  coast  of  New  England,  — 
head  winds,  storms  and  calms,  —  the  ships  were  one  day  able  to  keep 
near  their  course,  and  the  next  only  to  lie  off  and  on,  without  making 
any  headway  at  all.     Stretching  cautiously  towards  the  coast,  on 
the  eighth  of  June  they  saw  Mount  Desert,  then  generally  called 
Mount  Mansel,  after  Sir  Robert  Mansel;*  and  they  were  able  to  run 
all  the  next  day  with  the  welcome  coast  in  sight  of  the  sea- worn  passen- 
gers.f     On  the  tenth  they  made  other  land,  which  appeared  to 
them  at  a  great  distance  off.      This  was,  not  unlikely,  the  since 
well-known  White  Hills.     Boone  Island,  the  Isles  of  Shoals  (where  a 
ship  was  riding  at  anchor),  and  the  Three  Turks'  Heads,  were  all  recog- 
nized before  the  close  of  this  day.     All  the  next  day  they  were 
obliged  to  beat  against  a  head  wind,  in  sight  of  Cape  Ann  and 
the  Isles  of  Shoals,  and  "  five  or  six  shallops  under  sail,  up  and  down." 
About  four  in  the  morning,  it  being  Saturday,  being  near 
their  port,  they  shot  off  two  pieces  of  ordnance,  and,  soon  after, 
sent  a  boat  on  board  a  ship  J  which  lay  at  anchor  in  the  harbor,  which 
they  knew  belonged  to  Captain  William  Peirce. §    That  ship  had  arrived 
some  time  before.     "About  an  hour  after,"    says  Winthrcp,  "Mr. 

*A  distinguished  gentleman,   one   of  the  French  of  it,  and  its  name  was  changed  to 

patentees  of  1620,  whose  name  will  be  found  Mount  Mansell.     This  proceeding   of  Argall 

in  a  previous  page   (34)  of  this  work.     The  was  an  outrage  upon  the  French,  for  which  no 

name  is  often  written  Maunsell,  and  is  traced  attempt  at  justification  will  avail  anything  in 

to  remote  ages  in  England.     John  Maunsell  unprejudiced  minds. 

was  named  one  of  the  chaplains  in  the  will  of  f  "  We  had  now  fair  sunshine  weather,  and 
Henry  III.,  1253  ;  but  to  whose  dishonor  noth-  so  pleasant  a  sweet  air  as  did  much  refresh 
ing  need  be  said  beyond  the  fact  of  his  being  us,  and  there  came  a  smell  off  the  shore,  like 
in  the  interest  of  that  rapacious  monarch,  the  smell  of  a  garden."  —  Winthrop,  Jour.,  i. 
The  worthy  Knight,  the  subject  of  this  note,  I  23.  — The  same  day,  June  8th,  "  there  came  a 
take  to  be  a  younger  son  of  Sir  Edward  Man-  wild  pigeon  into  our  ship,  and  another  small 
sel,  knighted  in  1572,  Chamberlain  of  Chester,  bird."  —  Ibid.  —  "  Noah  could  hardly  have 
"  and  a  man  of  great  honor,  integrity  and  been  more  gratified  to  behold  his  dove,  with 
courage."  He  was  knighted  by  the  Earl  of  the  olive-leaf  in  its  mouth."  —  Snow. 
Essex,  for  his  valor  in  the  taking  of  Cales,  J  The  Lyon.  She  belonged  to  Bristol.  — 
1596  ;  and,  having  signalized  himself  in  sev-  Dudley  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln. — She  sailed 
eral  other  encounters,  was  made  Vice-Admiral  from  that  port  in  February,  and  arrived  at 
of  the  fleet  by  James  I.,  in  which  station  he  Salem  in  May ;  but  the  day  of  the  month  has 
was  continued  by  Charles  I.,  and  lived  to  a  not  been  ascertained.  Mr.  Hubbard  says  she 
very  old  age,  much  esteemed  for  his  "great  "was  some  days  arrived  there  before"  Win- 
integrity,  personal  courage,  and  experience  in  throp.  —  Hist.  N.  England,  130. 
maritime  affairs."  —  Kimber  &  Johnson's  Bar-  §  Captain  Peirce  had  been  often  on  this 
onetage,  i.  236. — The  island  was  named  coast,  and  had  many  times  crossed  the  Atlan- 
Mount  Desert  by  Champlain  in  1608.  It  is  tic.  He  belonged  to  London,  and  Captain 
about  twelve  miles  broad,  and  fifteen  in  length,  Michael  Peirce,  of  Scituate,  was  his  brother. 
and  is  about  three  hundred  and  thirty-five  I  shall  have  occasion  to  say  more  of  him.  —  See 
miles  from  Boston.  In  1613,  Sir  Samuel  Ar-  News  from  N.  England,  a  rare  tract  of  1676, 
gall  went  from  Virginia,  and  dispossessed  the  re-published  by  me.  4to,  1850. 


86  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1630. 

Allerton  came  aboard  us  in  a  shallop,  as  he  was  sailing  to  Pemaquid. 
As  we  stood  towards  the  harbor,  we  saw  another  shallop  coming  to  us  ; 
so  we  stood  in  to  meet  her,  and  passed  through  the  narrow  strait 
between  Baker's  Isle  and  Little  Isle,  and  came  to  an  anchor  a  little 
within  the  islands.  After,  Mr.  Peirce  came  aboard  us,  and  returned  to 
fetch  Mr.  Endecott,*  who  came  to  us  about  two  of  the  clock,  and  with 
him  Mr.  Skelton  and  Captain  Levett.  We  that  were  of  the  Assistants, 
and  some  other  gentlemen,  and  some  of  the  women,  and  our  captain, 
returned  with  them  to  Nahumkeak,  where  we  supped  with  a  good  veni- 
son pasty  and  good  beer,  and  at  night  we  returned  to  our  ship,  but 
some  of  the  women  stayed  behind,  f  In  the  mean  time,  most  of  our 
people  went  on  shore  upon  the  land  of  Cape  Ann,  which  lay  very  near 
us,  and  gathered  store  of  fine  strawberries  ;"J  "with  which,  in  those 
times,  the  woods  were  everywhere  well  furnished,  and  it  is  like,  as 
merry  as  the  gentlefolks  at  their  venison  pasty  and  strong  beer."  § 

The  "  Arbella"  was  immediately  visited  by  Indians.     Mas- 

conomo,  "the  sagamore  of  that  side  of  the  country  towards 
Cape  Anne,"  with  one  of  his  men,  came  on  board  in  the  morning,  and 
bid  the  English  welcome,  and  stayed  all  day,  and  another  Indian  had 
slept  on  board  the  previous  night.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day, 
the  Jewel,  Captain  Low,  came  in  sight,  and  was  soon  after  moored  in 
the  harbor.  The  Ambrose,  Captain  Hurlstone,  arrived  five  days  later, 
and  the  Talbot,  Captain  Beecher,  did  not  get  in  until  the  second  of 
July. 

Two  ships  only  had  arrived  at  Salem,  but  on  this  day  the 

passengers  made  a  kind  of  formal  landing,  upon  which  occasion 
a  salute  of  five  pieces  was  given. 
T  The  Governor  and  others  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Company 

set  out,  on  the  since  memorable  seventeenth  of  June,  to  explore 

*  I   take   pleasure   in   transferring   to  this  descendant ;  and  one  pear-tree  planted  by  the 

page  Mr.  Savage's  note  upon  Endicott,  as  it  is  governour  on  it  is  said  still  to  repay  his  care." 

one  of  the  best  written  notes  in  his  edition  of  This  was  in  1824.     In  1848  I  received  a  num- 

Governor  Winthrop's  Journal.     The  italicized  ber  of  fine  pears  from  the  same  tree.  —  See  N. 

words  have  been  so  italicized  in  this  use  of  E.  H.  Gen.  Regr.,  ii.  402.     Since  1757,  the 

the  note,  for  reasons  which  will  be  apparent  pear-tree  has  been  included  in  Danvers.  —  See 

to  the  reader  of  my  previous  pages.    The  Edi-  Eelt's  Annals  of  Salem,  i.  180  ;  Hanson's  Hist. 

tor  of  Winthrop  says:    "This  distinguished  Danvers,  26. 

father  of  Massachusetts  had,  two  years  before,  f  "Who,  like  Noah's  dove,  finding  sure 
been  sent  to  found  the  plantation,  which  was  footing  on  the  firm  land,  returned  no  more  to 
effected  by  the  settlement  of  Salem,  the  oldest  their  ark,  floating  on  the  unstable  waves."  — 
town  in  the  colony.  He  had  a  commission  from  Hubbard,  Hist.  New  England,  130. 
the  company  to  act  as  governour,  which  was,  of  \\  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  give  these 
course,  superseded  by  the  arrival  of  Winthrop  extracts  from  Winthrop's  Journal  as  Winthrop 
with  the  charter.  With  the  history  of  his  wrote  them ;  having  only  a  modernized  copy 
adopted  country  that  of  Eudecott  is  inter-  of  them  must  be  my  excuse.  The  quaint  old 
woven  till  the  time  of  his  death,  15  March,  orthography  of  that  day,  so  refreshing  to  the 
1665.  He  served  four  years  as  deputy  gov-  genuine  antiquary,  would  have  rendered  that 
ernour,  and  sixteen  as  governour  ;  being  at  the  work  incalculably  more  valuable  ;  but,  as  most 
head  of  administration  a  longer  time  than  any  of  Winthrop's  original  work  has  been  destroyed 
other  under  the  old  patent;  exceeded  under  by  fire,  any  hopes  of  a  restoration  are  beyond 
the  new  charter  by  Shirley  alone,  and  that  the  effects  of  lamentations,  even  with  the  proa- 
only  by  one  year.  The  farm  which  he  culti-  pect  of  a  new  edition  in  view, 
vated  remains  in  possession  of  an  honorable         §  Hubbard,  Hist.  New  Eng.,  130. 


1630.]  OTHER   SHIPS   ARRIVE.  87 

the  bottom  of  the  bay,  which  might  very  properly  then  have  been 
denominated  the  Disputed  Territory.  They  were  in  pursuit  of  a  suita- 
ble place  for  settlement ;  and,  before  returning,  they  went  several 
miles  up  Mistick  River,  stayed  one  night  at  the  hospitable  dwelling  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  probably  paid  a  visit  to  Mr.  Walford,*  and  per- 
haps to  Mr.  Blackstone,  on  Shawmut,  and  returned  to  Salem  by  way 
-  of  Nantasket,  after  an  absence  of  about  three  days.    A  difficulty 

had  arisen  between  Captain  Squeb  and  the  passengers  who  came 
over  with  him,  as  has  before  been  noticed.  Squeb  was  still  at  Nantas- 
ket ;  and  Mr.  Winthrop's  business  there  at  this  time  was  no  doubt 
owing  to  that  unpleasant  affair.  He  sent  for  the  Captain  to  come  to 
him  on  shore,  which  request  being  at  once  complied  with,  the  difficulty 
seems  to  have  been  adjusted  without  delay.  Captain  Squeb  had  been 
charged  with  not  performing  his  voyage  ;  and  some  called  him  "a  mer- 
ciless man,"  for  "turning  his  passengers  on  shore  at  Nantasket,  in  a 
forlorn  place,"  when  he  was  to  land  them  in  Charles  River.  Mr.  Win- 
throp  and  his  council,  having  made  themselves  personally  acquainted 
with  the  bay,  and  seeing  the  difficulty  of  getting  into  Charles  River 
with  a  ship  of  four  hundred  tons,  very  probably  saw  no  cause  to  censure 
Captain  Squeb,  and  thus  the  difficulty  was  amicably  ended ;  and  when 
they  left  him,  he  saluted  them  with  five  guns. 
T  T   -,         "  The  Mayflower  and  Whale   arrived  safe  in  the  harbor  of 

Charlestown ;  the  passengers  being  all  in  health,  but  most  of 
their  cattle  dead.  If  Jacob  himself  had  been  there,  he  could  not  have, 
with  all  his  skill  and  care,  prevented  the  over- driving  of  cattle,  shut  up 
in  the  narrow  room  of  those  wooden  walls,  where  the  fierceness  of  the 
wind  and  waves  would  often  fling  or  throw  them  on  heaps,  to  the  mis- 
chiefing  and  destroying  one  another."! 
j  i   o        In  the  Talbot,  which  arrived  this  day,  there  had  been  great 

distress,  owing  to  the  passengers  having  been  "  sore  visited  with 
the  small  pox  in  her  passage,  whereof  fourteen  died  in  the  way."     In 

*  The  reader  will  have  met  with  this  name  sev-  regretted  the  severity  exercised  towards  him, 

eral  times  before  in  this  history.    Thomas  Wal-  while  for  others,  very  similarly  dealt  with, 

ford  was  the  first  known  English  inhabitant  of  they   withhold    their    sympathy    altogether  ; 

Charlestown,  then  called  by  its  Indian  name,  thus  showing  that  historians  have  their  favor- 

Mishawum  ;  concerning  whom,  in  the  Charles-  ites  among  the  dead  as  well  as  among  the  liv- 

town  records,  it  is  said  that  those  who  settled  ing. 

in  the  same  place  in  1629  "  found  him  living  Mr.  Walford  removed  to  New  Hampshire, 
in  an  English  house,  palisadoed  and  thatched,  and  became  an  inhabitant  of  Portsmouth, 
situate  on  the  south  end  of  the  westernmost  From  certain  court  papers  at  Exeter,  it  is 
hill  of  the  East  Field,  a  little  way  up  from  ascertained  that  he  had  the  following  children  : 
Charles  River  side."  Mr.  Frothingham  says  Mary,  wife  of  William  Brookin,  and  that  she 
he  has  not  been  able  to  locate  the  residence  of  was  born  1635  ;  Martha,  wife  of West- 
Mr.  Walford  beyond  a  doubt,  but  that  it  was    brook  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of Savage  ;  Jer- 

probably   on   Breed's   Hill,  a  short   distance  emiah,  wife  Mary,  perhaps  daughter  of  Alex- 

from  the  water.  —  Hist.  Charlestown,  14,  23,  ander   and    Ann   Bachelder,   of  Portsmouth; 

24.  —  Two  years  after,  he  was  driven  away  by  Hannah  (probably  the  oldest) ,  as  she  married 

the  authorities  of  Massachusetts,  probably  for    Pease,  before  1648.     Will  proved  25 

his  heretical  opinions,  or,  perhaps,  more  prop-  June,  1667  ;   wife  Jane,  who  survived  him, 

eVly  to  speak,  for  his  minority  opinions.     The  and  was  get.  69  in  1667.  — MS.  of  Mr.  A.  W. 

act  by  which  he  was  banished  will  be  noticed  Brown. 

in  its  chronological  order.     Some  writers  have  f  Hubbard,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  131. 


88 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1630. 


one  of  the  late  ships  "  came  Mr.  Henry  Winthrop,  the  Governor's 
second  son,  accidentally  left  behind  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  or  Hampton, 
whither  he  went  to  provide  further  supply  of  provisions  for  the  gentle- 
men in  the  Admiral.  A  sprightly  and  hopeful  young  gentleman  he 
was,  who,  though  he  escaped  the  danger  of  the  main  sea,  yet  was 
unhappily  drowned  in  a  small  creek,  not  long  after  he  came  ashore,  even 
the  very  next  day,  July  second,  after  his  landing,  to  the  no  small  grief 
of  his  friends  and  the  rest  of  the  company."* 

By  the  sixth  of  July  there  had  arrived  eleven  ships  of  those 

u  y  *  employed  to  bring  over  the  colonists  to  Massachusetts  Bay,  ex- 
clusive of  the  Mary  and  John,  which  brought  the  Dorchester  people, 
already  mentioned.     "So  as  now,"  says  Mr.  Hubbard,  "  all  the 

u  y  '  whole  fleet  being  safely  come  to  their  port,  they  kept  a  public 
day  of  thanksgiving,  through  all  the  plantations,!  to  give  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  for  all  his  goodness  and  wonderful  works,  which  they 
had  seen  in  their  voyage." 

Thomas  Dudley,  now  deputy  governor,  afterwards  governor,  came 
over  with  Winthrop,  and  like  him  wrote  an  account  of  their  settling  in 
the  country.  His  account  is  of  great  interest ;  but  as  he  did  not  write 
at  the  precise  time  in  which  events  occurred,  he  has  committed  several 
mistakes;  yet  these  are  not  of  much  account.  He  says  "  seuenteen 
shipps  arriued  J  all  safe  in  New  England,  for  the  increase  of  the  plan- 


*  Hubbard,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  131. 

f  Here  is  evidence  of  many  settlements  exist- 
ing in  the  country  when  Winthrop  arrived. 
This  is  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  who 
wrote  fifty  years  after  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton. If  other  evidence  be  necessary,  that  of 
Governor  Dudley  will  not  be  questioned  by 
anybody,  for  he  recorded  the  same  year  (1630) 
the  events  which  I  am  now  detailing.  Dud- 
ley, speaking  of  the  settlements  on  the  south 


side  of  the  bay,  as  Plymouth,  Weymouth, 
and  Mount  Wallaston,  says,  "  Also  diverse 
merchants  of  Bristow,  and  some  other  places, 
have  yearly,  for  this  eight  years  or  there- 
abouts, sent  shipps  hether  at  the  fishing  times, 
to  trade  for  beaver,  where  their  factors  dis- 
honestly for  their  gaines,  have  furnished  the 
Indians  with  guns,  swords,  powder  and  shott." 
—  Letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln,  in  Force's 
Tracts,  ii. 


%  Chiefly  from  Mr.  Prince  I  give  the  following  list  of  the  seventeen  ships ;  whence  they 
sailed,  time  of  sailing,  masters'  names,  where  and  when  they  arrived. 


Ships' 

1  Lyon  Bristol 

2  Mary  and  John         Plymouth 

3  Arbella  Isle  of  Wight 

4  Jewell  Isle  of  Wight 

5  Ambrose  Isle  of  Wight 

6  Talbot  Isle  of  Wight 

7  Mayflower  Southampton 

8  Whale  Southampton 

9  Hopewell  Southampton 

10  Wm.  and  Francis  Southampton 

11  Tryal  Southampton 

12  Charles  Southampton 

13  Success  Southampton 

14  Gift  A  French  ship 

15  Not  named  Not  known 

16  HandmaM  London 

17  Not  named  Sent  out  by  a  private  merchant. 
The  only  authority  for  several  of  the  above 

facts  is  contained  in  Dudley's  Letter  to  the 
Countess  of  Lincoln.  —  See  Prince's  N.  Eng. 
Chron.,  329. 

Among  the  ships  which  sailed  the  preceding 
year  for  New  England  were  the  George  Bona- 


1630. 

Masters. 

1630. 

Arrived  at 

February 

Wm.  Pierce 

May 

Salem 

20  March 

Squeb 

30  May 

Nantasket 

8  April 

Peter  Milborne 

12  June 

Salem 

8  April 

John  Lowe 

13  June 

Salem 

8  April 

Nicholas  Hurlstone 

18  June 

Salem 

8  April 

Thomas  Beecher 

2  July 

Salem 

May 

Not  known 

1  July 

Charlestown 

May 

" 

1  July 

Charlestown 

May 

« 

3  July 

Salem 

May 

« 

3  July 

Salem 

May 

cc 

5  July 

Charlestown 

May 

cc 

5  July 

Salem 

May 

cc 

6  July 

Salem 

End  of  May 

Brook 

2  August 

Charlestown 

June 

Not  known 

Unknown 

Unknown 

6  August 

John  Grant 

29  October 

Plymouth 

venture,  Thomas  Cox,  master ;  the  Talbot, 
Thomas  Beecher,  master  ;  the  Lyon's  Whelp, 
John  Gibbs,  master. — See  Company's  Second 
Lett,  of  Instructs,  to  Endicott.  —  Archmol. 
Aimer.,  96. 


1630.]  HARDSHIPS    OF    THE    SETTLERS.  89 

tacon  here  theis  yeare,  1630,  but  made  a  long,  a  troublesome,  and 
costly  voy'ge,  being  all  wind-bound  long  in  England,  and  hindred  with 
contrary  winds  after  they  set  sailc,  and  so  scattered  with  mists  and  tem- 
pests, that  few  of  them  arriued  togeather.  Our  four  shipps  which  sett 
out  in  Aprill  arriued  here  in  June  and  July,  where  wee  found  the  colony 
in  a  sadd  and  unexpected  condition,  aboue  eighty  of  them  being  dead 
the  winter  before,  and  many  of  those  aliue  weake  and  sicke  ;  all  the 
corne  and  bread  amongst  them  all  hardly  sufficient  to  feed  them  a  fort- 
night ;  insoemuoh  that  the  remainder  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  servants 
wee  had  the  two  years  before  sent  ouer,  comeing  to  vs  for  victualls  to 
sustaine  them,  wee  found  ourselves  wholly  unable  to  feed  them  by  reason 
that  the  p'visions  shipped  for  them  were  taken  out  of  the  shipp  they 
were  put  in,  and  they  who  were  trusted  to  shipp  them  in  another  failed 
us,  and  left  them  behind  ;  whereupon  necessity  enforced  us,  to  our 
extreme  loss,  to  give  them  all  libertie,  who  had  cost  about  sixteen  or 
twentie  pounds  a  person,  furnishing  and  sending  ouer. 

"  But  bearing  theis  things  as  wee  might,  wee  beganne  to  consult  of 
the  place  of  our  sitting  downe  ;  ffor  Salem,  where  wee  landed,  pleased 
vs  not.  And  to  that  purpose  some  were  sent  to  the  Bay,  to  search  vpp 
the  rivers  for  a  convenient  place,  who,  vppon  their  returne,  reported  to 
haue  found  a  good  place  vppon  Mistick.  But  some  other  of  us  second- 
ing theis  to  approoue  or  dislike  of  their  judgement,  wee  found  a  place 
liked  [of]  vs  better,  three  leagues  vp  Charles  River.  And  therevppon 
vnshipped  our  goods  into  other  vessels,  and,  with  much  cost  and  labour, 
brought  them  in  July  to  Charles  Towne.  But  there  receiving  advertise- 
ments by  some  of  the  late  arriued  shipps  from  London  and  Amsterdam 
of  some  French  preparations  against  us  (many  of  our  people  brought 
with  vs  beeing  sick  of  ffeavers  and  the  scurvy,  and  wee  thereby  vnable 
to  carry  vp  our  ordinance  and  baggage  soe  farr),  wee  were  forced  to 
change  counsaile  and  for  our  present  shelter  to  plant  dispersedly  ;  some 
at  Charles  Towne,  which  standeth  on  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of 
Charles  Eiuer ,  some  on  the  south  side  thereof,  which  place  we  named 
Boston  (as  wee  intended  to  haue  done  the  place  wee  first  resolued  on) ; 
some  of  vs  vppon  Mistick,  which  we  named  Meadforcl  ;  some  of  vs 
westward  on  Charles  River,  four  miles  from  Charles  Towne,  which  place 
wee  named  Watertoune  ;  others  of  vs  two  miles  from  Boston,  in  a  place 
wee  named  Rocksbury  ;  others  vppon  the  riuer  of  Sawgus,  betweene 
Salem  and  Charles  Towne  ;  and  the  western  men  four  miles  south  from 
Boston,  at  a  place  wee  named  Dorchester. 

"  This  dispersion  troubled  some  of  vs,  but  help  it  wee  could  not, 
wanting  ability  to  remoue  to  any  place  fit  to  build  a  Toune  vppon,  and 
the  time  too  short  to  deliberate  any  longer  least  the  winter  should  sur- 
prise vs  before  wee  had  builded  our  houses.  The  best  counsel  wee  could 
find  out  was  to  build  a  fort  to  retire  to,  in  some  conuenient  place,  if  any 
enemy  pressed  therevnto,  after  wee  should  haue  fortifyed  ourselues 
against  the  iniuries  of  wett  and  cold.  So,  ceasing  to  consult  further 
for  that  time,  they  who  had  health  to  labour  fell  to  building,  wherein 
12 


90 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1630. 


many  were  interrupted  with  sicknes,  and  many  dyed  weekley,  yea, 
almost  dayley.  Amongst  whom  were  Mrs.  Pinchon,  [lady  of  the  Hon- 
orable William  Pinchon],*  Mrs.  Coddington  [lady  of  the  Honorable 
William  Coddington],  Mrs.  Phillips  [wife  of  Mr.  George  Phillips,  first 
minister  of  Watertown],  Mrs.  Alcock,  sister  of  Mr.  Hookers  [wife  of 
Deacon  John  Alcock].  Insomuch  that  the  shippes  beeing  now  vppon 
their  returne,  some  for  England,  some  for  Ireland,  there'  was,  I  take  it, 
not  much  less  than  an  hundred  (some  think  many  more),  partly  out  of 
dislike  of  our  government,  which  restrained  and  punished  their  excesses, 
and  partly  through  feare  of  famine,  (not  seeing  other  means  than  by 
their  labour  to  feed  themselves),  which  returned  back  [to  England] 
again.  And  glad  were  wee  so  to  bee  ridd  of  them.  Others,  also, 
afterwards  hearing  of  men  of  their  owne  disposition,  which  were  planted 
at  Piscataway,  went  from  vs  to  them,  whereby,  though  our  numbers 
were  lessened,  yet  wee  accounted  ourselues  nothing  weakened  by  their 
remouall. 

"  Before  the  departure  of  the  shipps,  we  contracted  with  Mr.  Peirce, 
master  of  the  Lyon,  of  Bristow,  to  returne  to  vs  with  all  speed,  with 
fresh  supplies  of  victualls,  and  gaue  him  directions  accordingly.  With 
this  shipp  returned  Mr.  Revil,  one  of  the  fiue  vndertakers  here  for  the 
joint  stock  of  the  Company  ;  and  Mr.  Yassall,  one  of  the  Assistants, 
and  his  family  ;  and  also  Mr.  Bright,  a  minister  sent  hether  the  yeare 
before.f 


*  Though  the  name  of  this  important  and 
worthy  gentleman  is  very  often  found  written 
Pinchon,  his  own  signature  in  my  possession 
is  Pynchon,  as  the  fac-simile  here  inserted 
shows. 

This  is  copied  from  an  original  paper  of  the 
date  1650.  Farmer  has  given  a  pedigree  of  his 
family  in  his  N.  E.  Genealog.  Reg.  He 
was  one  of  the  fathers  of  Roxbury,  and  after- 
wards of  SpringSeld.  —  See  Ellis'  Hist.  Rox- 
bury, and  Bliss'  Hist.  Disc,  at  Springfield. 
He  was  very  highly  respected  in  the  colony, 
and  is  uniformly  mentioned  in  the  Springfield 
records,  as  the  "  Worshipful  Mr.  William 
Pynchon,"  &c.  In  these  pages  his  name  often 
occurs,  and  always  in  honorable  connection. 
His  family  was  one  of  distinction  in  England. 
The  father  of  Henry  Chichele,  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Pynchon,  Gent.  The  father,  Thomas 
Chichele,  of  Higham  Ferrers,  in  Northampton- 
shire, died  25  February,  1400.  —  See  Wood's 
Hist,  and  Antiquities  of  the  Colleges,  &c,  of 
Oxford,  i.  259.  Ed.  Gutch,  1786.  I  know 
not,  however,  that  this  William  Pynchon  was 
even  remotely  connected  with  our  William 
Pynchon.  The  original  deed  of  Springfield 
from  the  Indians  to  Mr.  Pynchon  is  preserved 
in   the   Court   House   in  that   town.     It  was 


dated  15  July,  1636.  His  son,  the  Hon.  John 
Pynchon,  became  an  eminent  man  in  New 
England.  In  1675  he  owned  the  ship  John's 
Adventure,  which  sailed  out  of  Boston,  and  of 
which  Captain  John  Walley  was  master. — See 
Old  Indian  Chronicle,  34. 

f  Hubbard,  in  his  characteristic  manner, 
thus  remarks  upon  the  return  of  Mr.  Bright, 
whom  he  denominates  a  ' '  godly  minister  "  :  — 
"He  began  to  hew  stones  in  the  mountains 
wherewith  to  build  ;  but  when  he  saw  all  sorts 
of  stones  would  not  suit  in  the  building,  as  he 
supposed,  he,  not  unlike  Jonah,  fled  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  and  went  down  to  Tar- 
shish." — Hist.  New  England,  113.  This, 
however,  is  only  an  improvement  upon  a  pas- 
sage of  Johnson.  —  See  Wonder-working  Prov., 
p.  20.  Edward  Johnson  may  be  regarded  as 
a  contemporary  historian,  being  one  of  those 
who  came  over  in  1630,  and  was  at  Charles- 
town  with  Winthrop  the  same  year,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Woburn,  which 
town  he  represented  in  the  General  Court 
about  twenty-eight  years,  from  1643.  He  used 
to  be  called  one  of  the  "  men  of  Kent,"  and 
a  "Kentish  Captain;"  having  come  from  a 
place  called  Herne-Hill  in  that  county.  His 
History  of  New  England,  usually  cited  as  the 
Wonder-working  Providence,  was  printed  in 
London  in  1655.  Captain  Johnson  died  23 
April,  1672,  aged  72,  as  by  MS.  deposition  in 
my  possession. 


1630. 


ALARMING    MORTALITY. 


91 


"  The  shipps  beeinge  gone,  victualls  wastinge,  and  mortallity  in- 
creasinge,  wee  held  diaerse  fasts  in  our  severall  congregations,  but  the 
Lord  would  not  yet  be  depricated  ;  for,  about  the  beginning  of  Septem- 
ber, dyed  Mr.  Gager,  a  right  godly  man,  a  skillfull  chirurgeon,  and  one 
of  the  deacons  of  our  congregation  ;  and  Mr.  Higginson,  one  of  the 
ministers  of  Salem,  a  zealous  and  profitable  preacher,  this  of  a  con- 
sumption, that  of  a  feaver.  And  on  the  thirtieth  of  September  dyed 
Mr.  Johnson,  another  of  the  fiue  Vndertakers  (the  Lady  Arbella,  his 
wife,  being  dead  a  month  before).*'  This  gentleman  was  a  prime  man 
amongst  vs,  haueing  the  best  estate  of  any  ;  zealous  for  religion,  and  the 
greatest  furtherer  of  this  plantation.  He  made  a  most  godly  end,  dy- 
ing willingly,  professing  his  life  better  spent  in  promoting  this  planta- 
con,  than  it  would  have  beene  in  any  other  way.  Within  a  month  after, 
dyed  Mr.  Rositer,  another  of  our  Assistants,  a  godly  man,  and  of  a  good 
estate,  which  still  weakened  vs  more,  so  that  there  now  were  left  of  the 
fiue  Vndertakers,  but  the  Gouernour,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  and  my- 
self, and  seuen  other  of  the  Assistants.  And  of  the  people  who  came 
ouer  with  vs,  from  the  time  of  their  setting  saile  from  England,  in 
April,  1630,  vntill  December  followinge,  there  dyed  by  estimacori, 
about  two  hundred,  at  the  least.     So  lowe  hath  the  Lord  brought  vs."f 


*  She  died  about  the  thirtieth  of  August, 
according  to  Winthrop,  who  agrees  with  Dud- 
ley that  she  died  "  about  a  month  "  before  her 
husband.  Mr.  Hubbard  notices  the  sad  event 
in  his  usual  happy  manner.  "  Amongst 
others,"  he  says,  "  that  were  at  that  time 
visited  with  mortal  sickness,  the  Lady  Arbella, 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson,  was  one,  who, 
possibly,  had  not  taken  the  counsel  of  our 
Saviour,  to  sit  down  and  consider  what  the 
cost  would  be  before  she  began  to  build  ;  for, 
coming  from  a  paradise  of  plenty  and  pleasure, 
which  she  enjoyed  in  the  family  of  a  noble 
Earldom,  into  a  wilderness  of  wants,  it  proved 
too  strong  a  temptation  for  her  ;  so  as  the  vir- 
tues of  her  mind  were  not  able  to  stem  the 
tide  of  those  many  adversities  of  her  outward 
condition,  which  she,  soon  after  her  arrival, 
saw  herself  surrounded  withal  ;  for,  within  a 
short  time  after,  she  ended  her  days  at  Salem, 
where  she  first  landed,  and  was  soon  after 
solemnly  interred,  as  the  condition  of  those 
times  would  bear."  —  Hist.  N.  England,  132- 
3.  Why  has  there  not  been  a  monument  to 
designate  the  place  where  she  lies  1  The  spot 
is,  or  was  recently,  well  known.  The  late  Dr. 
Holyoke,  of  Salem,  when  he  was  ninety-nine 
years  of  age,  namely,  in  1828,  the  year  before 
he  died,  told  Dr.  Abiel  Holmes  that  she  was 
buried  about  half  a  mile  from  "  the  body  of  the 
town,"  near  Bridge  street,  which  leads  to 
Beverley,  about  ten  feet  from  the  street.  —  See 
Amer.  Annals,  i.  206. 

f  Though  in  this  long  extract  many  facts  are 
brought  in  a  little  out  of  place,  yet  I  should 
not  be  pardoned  by  any  intelligent  reader,  I 


think,  were  I  not  to  allow  a  man  of  Governor 
Dudley's  importance  to  tell  things  as  he  saw 
and  knew  them  ;  being  one  of  those  who  wrote 
"  with  his  hands  to  the  plow,"  and  tells  us 
things  nowhere  else  to  be  found.  He  wrote 
within  the  year  of  settlement,  and  his  letter, 
which  accompanied  his  Narrative,  is  dated 
"Boston  in  New  England,  March  12th,  1630," 
which  was  1631,  N.  S.  It  was  directed  "  To 
the  righte  honourable,  my  very  good  Lady,  the 
Lady  Bry get,  Countesse  of  Lincoln."  It  was 
sent  over  to  her  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Wilson, 
pastor  of  the  First  Church,  who  sailed  from 
Salem,  April  1st,  1631.  That  all  which  can 
be  known  of  its  origin  may  be  before  the 
reader,  said  letter  follows  entire  : 

"  Madam,  —  Your  l'res  (which  are  not  common  or 
cheape),  following  mee  nether  into  New  England,  and 
bringeing  with  them  renewed  testimonies  of  the  ac- 
customed favours  you  honoured  mee  with  in  the  Old, 
haue  drawne  from  mee  this  Narrative  retribucon, 
(which  in  respect  of  your  proper  interest  in  some 
persons  of  great  note  amongst  vs),  was  the  thankful- 
lest  present  I  had  to  send  ouer  the  seas.  Therefore  I 
humblie  intreat  your  Honour,  this  bee  accepted  as 
payment  from  him,  who  neither  hath  nor  is  any  more 
than  your  honour's  old  thankful  servant, 

Thomas  Dudley." 

What  I  have  above  denominated  as  a  Nar- 
rative, is  always  cited  as  "  Dudley's  Letter  to 
the  Countess,"  &c.  The  short  epistle  here 
extracted  may  be  considered  a  Dedication  to 
the  Narrative  or  Letter,  the  best  edition  of 
which  is  that  printed  by  Mr.  Force,  of  Wash- 
ington, from  a  MS.  The  commencement  of  the 
Narrative,  or  the  first  paragraph  of  it,  sets 
forth,  in  a  most  striking  manner,  the  wants  of 


92  IIISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Removal  of  Winthrop  and  his  Company  to  Charlestown.  —  Sickness  and  Distress  of  the  People.  — 
Fast  in  Consequence.  —  First  Church  formed. — Rev.  John  Wilson.  —  First  Election.  —  Winthrop 
chosen  Governor. — First  Court  of  Assistants.  —  William  Blackstone. — Account  of  him.  —  His 
Point,  House  and  Spring.  — He  removes  to  Rehoboth.  — Blackstone  River  named  for  him.  — Shaw- 
mut  settled,  and  named  Boston.  —  First  Ordination.  —  Trimountain,  why  so  named.  —  Death  of 
Isaac  Johnson.  —  Account  of  him. 

Having  determined  on  a  removal  from  Salem,  and  having  fixed  upon 
the  point  of  land  since  called  Charlestown*  (in  honor  of  Charles  I.),  for 
a  town,  Governor  Winthrop,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Isaac 
u  J  Johnson,  Mr.  Thomas  Dudley,  Mr.  Roger  Ludlow,  Mr.  Increase 
Nowell,  Mr.  William  Pynchon,  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet,  Mr.  John  Wil- 
son, Mr.  George  Phillips,  with  their  followers,  took  up  their  present 
abode  there  accordingly  ;J  not  all  at  the  same  time,  but  as  fast  as 
accommodations  for  them  could  be  made  ;  which  removal  very  probably 
occupied  a  considerable  part  of  the  present  month,  and  a  large  part  of 
the  following  August. 

The  governor  and  several  of  the  patentees  dwelt  in  the  "  Great 
House,"  which  was  built  the  year  before  by  Mr.  Thomas  Graves,  while 
the  multitude  set  up  cottages,  booths  and  tents,  about  the  Town  Hill. 
From  the  length  of  their  passage  over  the  Atlantic,  many  arrived  sick 
of  the  scurvy,  which  much  increased  after  their  arrival,  for  want  of 
houses,  and  by  reason  of  wet  lodgings  ;  other  distempers  also  prevailed. 
And,  although  the  people  were  generally  very  loving  and  pitiful  to  one 
another,  yet  the  sickness  did  so  prevail,  that  the  well  were  not  able  to 

a  new  country,  and  his  own  ability  to  encoun-  frontice  piece  thereof,  is  like  the  head,  neck 

ter  its  privations.     It  here  ensues  :  and  shoulders  of  a  man,  onely  the  pleasant 

«For  the  satisfacon  of   your  honour  and   some  and  navigable  riyer  of  Mistick  runs   through 

freinds,  and  for  vse  of  such  as  shall  hereafter  intend  the   nght   shoulder  thereof.     It  hath  a  large 

to  increase  our  plantacon  in  New  England,  I  have  in  Market  Place  near  the  water  side,  built  round 

the  throng  of  domestic,  and  not  altogether  free  from  with  houses,  comely  and  faire,  forth  of  which 

publique  businesse,  thought  fitt  to  comit  to  memory  there   issues   two    streetes   orderly  built  with 

our   present   condition,   and  what  hath   befallen  us  some  ver    faire  houses,  beautified  with  pleas- 

since  our  amvall  here  ;   which  I  will  doe  shortly,  .   -^l,,,  anfi   nrol,ard««       Thp  wholp  tnwnp 

after  my  usual  manner,  and  must  doe  rudely,  haveing  ant  Saraens  ana  oicnaras.      ±ne  whole  towne 

yet  no  table,  nor  other  room  to  write  in  than  by  the  consists   m  its    extent   of  about  150   dwelling 

fireside,   upon   my  knee,  in   this   sharp   winter;    to  houses." — Wonder-working  Prov.,  40,  41. 

which  my  family  must  have  leave  to  resorte,  though  f  "  But  to  goe  on  with  the  story,  the  12  of 

they  break  good  manners,  and  make  mee  many  times  July  or  thereabout,  1630,  these  souldiers  of 

forget  what  I  would  say,  and  say  what  I  would  not."  Christ  first  set  foote  one  this  western  end  of 

There  was   published,  in   1848,  a  volume  the  world;   where   arriveing  in  safety,  both 

containing  a  Genealogy  of  the  Dudley  Family,  men,  women  and  children.     On  the  north  side 

by  Mr.  Dean  Dudley.  of  Charles  River  they  landed,"  &c.  —  Johnson, 

*  "This  towne  of  Charles,"  says  Johnson,  Wond.-work.  Prov.,  37.     Prince,  Chronology, 

about  1650,  "is  situated  one  the  north  side  240,  old  edition,  seems  a  little  in  doubt  whether 

of  Charles  River,  from  whence  it  tooke  its  Johnson  meant  this  date  for  the  time  of  the 

name  ;  the  river  being  about  five  or  six  fathom  removal  to   Charlestown,   or    the   arrival   at 

deepe.     Over  against  the  town,  many  small  Salem  just  a  month  before.     I  am  clearly  of 

islands  lieing  to  the  seaward  of  it,  and  hills  the  opinion  that  he  means  just  what  he  says, 

one  either  side.     By  which  meanes  it  proves  and  for  several  reasons,  not  necessary  to  be 

a  very   good  harbor  for  ships,   which  hath  stated. 

caused  many  seamen  and   merchants   to  sit  %  Frothingham,  from  Charlestown  Town  Reo 

down  there.     The  forme  of  this  towne  in  the  ords. 


1630.]  GREAT   DISTRESS FIRST    CHURCH    FORMED.  93 

take  care  of  the  sick  as  their  cases  required  ;   and  thus  many  "  perished 
and  died,"  and  were  buried  about  the  Town  Hill.  * 

Fewer  dismal  and  darker  days  did  the  first  settlers  of  Boston  witness 
than  those  which  they  passed  at  Charlestown,  and  which  soon  deter- 
mined them  to  remove  to  this  since  famous  peninsula.  "In  almost 
every  family,  lamentation,  mourning  and  woe  were  heard,  and  no  fresh 
food  to  be  had,  to  cherish  them.  It  would  assuredly  have  moved  the 
most  lockt  up  affections  to  tears,  had  they  past  from  one  hut  to  another, 
and  beheld  the  piteous  case  these  people  were  in  ;  and  that  which  added 
to  their  present  distresse  was  the  want  of  fresh  water.  For,  although 
the  place  did  afford  plenty,  yet  for  present  they  could  finde  but  one 
spring,  and  that  not  to  be  come  at,  but  when  the  tide  was  down."  f 
This  want  of  water,  as  will  presently  be  seen,  was  a  principal  cause  of 
a  removal  to  Shawmut. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  sickness  and  mortality  at  their 
new  place  of  abode,  a  fast  had  been  recommended  by  Mr.  Win- 
throp  to  be  kept  there  on  the  thirtieth  of  July  ;  and  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson 
came  up  from  Salem  to  join  in  the  solemnity.  The  same  day  a  church 
was  formed,  a  covenant}:  entered  into  ;  and  this  was  the  foundation  of 
the  First  Church  of  Boston.  The  first  members  were,  Mr.  Winthrop, 
Mr.  Dudley,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  afterwards  their  minister.  § 
Two  days  after,  five  others  joined  the  same  church,  namely : 

gus  '  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Thomas  Sharp,  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Mr.  William 
Gager,  and  Mr.  William  Colborn,  "  who,  with  others,  quickly  added, 
chose  Mr.  Wilson  for  their  pastor."  The  settlement  of  Charlestown  was 
now  progressing,  and  Mr.  Winthrop  was  diligently  preparing  timber  for 
a  house  for  himself  and  family. 

Au  ust  23        Meanwhile,  it  was  resolved  to  have  an  election  of  officers  at 
the  new  settlement  of  Charlestown,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Win- 

*  Frothingham,  from  Charlestown  Town  Rec-        §  The  biographical  dictionaries  of  Eliot  and 

ords.  Allen  are  sufficiently  full  on  this  eminent  man, 

f  Johnson,  Wonder-working  Providence,  38,  and  Farmer  has  some  account  of  his  pedigree. 

39.  His  father,  William  Wilson,  D.  D.,  was  pre- 

J  The  first  Church  Covenant  of  Charlestown  bend  of  Rochester,  and  his  mother  was  niece 

and  Boston  may  very  properly  be  looked  for  in  to  Edmund  Grindal,  the  famous   Archbishop 

this  history.     It  therefore  follows.      I   have  of  Canterbury.      He  was   born  at  Windsor, 

taken  it  as  it  stands  in  Mr.  Foxcroft's  Century  County  of  Berks,  in  the  year  of  the  Spanish  Ar- 

Sermon,  preached  to  the  First  Church  "  Aug.  mada,  1588.     He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 

23, 1730.     Being  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  first  of  Sir  John  Mansfield.     John  Mansfield,  who 

Century  since  its  settlement."  settled  in  Charlestown,  was  her  brother,  and 

"  We  whose  names  are  here  under  written,  Ann,  wife  of  Capt.  Robert  Keayne,  of  Boston, 

being  by  his  most  wise  and  good  Providence  was  her  sister.     Mr.  Wilson  died  in  Boston, 

brought  together  into  this  part  of  America,  in  7  August,  1667.     The  Rev.  John  Wilson,  of 

the  Bay  of  Massachusetts,   and   desirous   to  Medfield,  was  his  son;    he  died  23  August, 

unite  ourselves  into  one  Congregation  or  Church  1691,  set.   70.  —  See   N.    E.    Hist,  and  Gen. 

under  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  our  Head,  in  such  Reg.,  vi.  156. 

sort  as  becometh  all  those  Avhom  he  hath  re-        The   following  fac-simile  of  the  autograph 

deemed  and  sanctified  to  himself,  DO  hereby  of  Mr.  Wilson  is  from  that  published  by  Mr. 

solemnly  and  religiously  (as  in  his  most  holy  Frothingham. 
Presence)  promise  and  bind  ourselves  to  walk 
in  all  our  ways  according  to  the  Rule  of  the 
Gospel,  and  in  all  sincere  Conformity  to  his 

holy  Ordinances,  and  in  mutual  Love  and  Re-  ^»    cJ^ 

epect,  eaoh  to  other,  so  near  as  God  shall  give 
us  grace.'' 


94 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 


[1630. 


throp  and  his  associates  had  before  been  elected  to  office  by  the  Com- 
pany in  England.  *  But  now  everything  wore  a  new  aspect ;  many  of 
the  people  here,  as  well  as  the  immediate  emigrants,  probably,  desired 
the  formality  of  an  election,  as  a  matter  which  they  could  much  readier 
realize  than  they  could  the  action  of  a  Corporation  in  England,  about 
which  they  may  not  have  had  any  very  satisfactory  urderstanding,  or 
whose  authority  they  may  have  thought  would  be  questionably  exercised 
in  this  distant  land.  However  this  may  be,  an  election  was  held 
"aboard  the  Arrabella,  the  twenty- third  of  August,  when  the  much 
honoured  John  Winthrope,  Esq.,  was  chosen  G-overnour  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  year,  1630  ;  also  the  worthy  Thomas  Duclly,  Esq.,  was 
chosen  Deputy  Grovernour,  and  Mr.  Simon  Brodestreet,  Secretary."! 

This  being  over,  a  court  was  organized,  which  proceeded  to  consider 
how  the  ministers  were  to  be  maintained  ;  when  it  was  ordered  that 
houses  should  be  built  for  them  at  the  public  charge.  Mr.  Wilson  and 
Mr.  Phillips  only  were  provided  for  at  this  time.  The  former  was  to 
have  twenty  pounds  a  year  until  his  wife  should  come  over,  and  the  lat- 
ter to  receive  thirty  pounds  a  year.  It  was  further  ordered  by  the  same 
court  that  Thomas  Morton,  of  Mount  Wollaston,  be  sent  for  presently ; 
and  that  carpenters,  joiners,  bricklayers,  sawyers  and  thatchers,  take  no 


*  I  can  see  no  possible  grounds  for  explain- 
ing away  this  election,  so  circumstantially 
recorded  by  Johnson,  in  his  Wonder-working 
Providence.  Mr.  Winthrop  undoubtedly  con- 
sidered it  of  no  legal  importance,  and  hence 
only  wrote  in  his  journal,  "Monday  we  kept 
a  court. ' '  He  may  have  been  somewhat  dis- 
pleased on  finding  it  necessary  to  submit  to 
such  an  election.  This  may  account  for  his 
neglect  to  make  entries  in  his  journal;  for 
neglect  it  he  did,  an  entire  week,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  single  entry  above  extracted. 
It  is  not  altogether  improbable,  perhaps,  that 
a  removal  to  Boston  may  have  had  some  spe- 
cial influence  in  bringing  about  the  election. 
In  a  letter  which  Winthrop  wrote  at  Charles- 
town,  and  which  Mr.  Johnson  received  at 
Salem  on  July  25th,  he  speaks  of  the  people 
being  in  "three  distinct  bodies,"  (by  which 
Prince  thinks  he  means  Charlestown,  Dorches- 
ter and  Salem,)  "  not  then  intending  rashly  to 
proceed  to  the  choice  of  officers,"  &c.  I  appre- 
hend that  this  refers  to  the  election  stated  by 
Johnson ;  but  it  is  not  very  clear  what  is 
meant,  nor  is  the  letter  in  other  respects  at  all 
intelligible  ;  —  very  different  from  Winthrop's 
writings  generally.  There  is  another  consid- 
eration :  before  this  election,  very  little  busi- 
ness appears  to  have  been  ordered  or  executed 
under  the  special  direction  of  Winthrop.  We 
hear  of  no  reading  of  commissions,  assuming 
the  government,  &c.  The  real  state  of  the 
case  doubtless  is,  that  Winthrop  modestly 
declined  all  interference  with  the  affairs  under 
Endicott ;  there  being  no  cause  of  dissatisfac- 
tion with  him  among  those  under  his  govern- 
ment.    This  was  the  plain  course  of  a  mag- 


nanimous mind,  and  well  accords  with  the 
unassuming  character  of  Winthrop.  But,  on 
removing  to  Charlestown,  it  became  necessary 
that  the  people  should  know  who  were  their 
leaders,  and  Avhom  they  were  to  obey.  Hence 
the  necessity  of  an  election.  Had  Mr.  Win- 
throp assumed  the  government  on  his  arrival 
at  Salem,  he  would,  in  all  probability,  have 
recorded  so  important  an  event  in  his  journal ; 
nor  would  his  induction  into  office  have  been 
overlooked,  in  days  when  formalities  were  con- 
sidered of  great  importance.  Besides,  even 
the  charter  may  have  been  referred  to,  as 
authority  for  this  election  of  officers.  See 
ante,  p.  63.  And  then  it  must  be  considered 
that,  only  the  preceding  April  [1629],  the 
Company  thus  instructed  Mr.  Endicott :  — 
"  Wee  haue,  in  prosecution  of  that  good  opin- 
ion wee  haue  alway  had  of  you,  confirmed  you 
Gouernour  of  our  plantacon  ;"  and  on  the  28  th 
of  the  next  May,  writing  him  again,  this  lan- 
guage is  held:  —  "Wee  haue  sithence  our 
last,  and  according  as  wee  then  advised,  at  a 
full  and  ample  Court  assembled,  ellected  and 
established  you,  Captaine  John  Endicott,  to 
the  place  of  present  Gouernour  in  our  Planta- 
con there."  And,  after  the  election  of  Mr. 
Winthrop  as  governor  of  the  Company,  and  a 
removal  of  the  government  had  been  settled, 
it  does  not  appear,  from  the  Company's  rec- 
ords, that  Mr.  Endicott's  government  was  to 
be  interfered  with.  See  ante,  p.  70.  The  rec- 
ords expressly  say,  "  It  is  conceeved  fitt  that 
Captain  Endicott  continue  the  Gouernment 
there  [in  N.  England]  vnless  iust  cause  to  the 
contrarie  "  appear. 

f  Johnson,  Won.-work.  Prov.,  38-9. 


1630.]  WILLIAM   BLACKSTONE.  95 

more  than  two  shillings  a  day,  wages.    By  non-observance  of  this  order, 
the  parties  each  subjected  themselves  to  a  fine  of  ten  shillings. 

Notwithstanding  the  resolution  of  the  principal  men  to  build  their 
chief  town  at  Charlestown,  the  discouragements  attendant  on  sickness 
and  death  caused  many  to  be  restless,  and  to  think  of  other  localities.* 
And,  in  the  mean  time,  Mr.  William  Blackstone,  who  lived  on  Shaw- 
mut,  became  acquainted  with  their  distresses,  and,  going  over  to  their 
relief,  advised  them  to  remove  to  his  peninsula.  His  advice  was  kindly 
received,  and  began  to  be  followed  soon  after  ;  so  that,  before  the  end 
of  August,  many  of  those  at  Charlestown  had  passed  over  to  Shawmut, 
and  began  to  make  improvements  and  preparations  for  the  rest  to  fol- 
low, f 

This  Mr.  Blackstone,  of  whom  mention  has  before  several  times  been 
made,  appears  to  have  lived  here  alone,  having  come  over,  probably, 
with  Captain  Robert  Gorges,  or  about  1623,  and  may  have  possessed 
Shawmut  by  lease  or  purchase  from  Gorges. J  It  is  not,  however,  very 
important  when  he  came,  or  how  he  came  to  be  possessed  of  lands  here, 
so  long  as  it  is  certain  that  he  had  a  good  title  to  what  he  had,  which 
was  acknowledged  by  the  settlers  under  Winthrop,  who,  in  due  time, 
bought  his  lands  of  him,  and  he  removed  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Mas 
sachusetts. 

Blackstone  had  a  house  or  cottage,  in  which  he  lived  ;  and  the  nature 
of  his  improvements  was  such  as  to  authorize  a  belief  that  he  had 
resided  here  seven  or  eight  years.  He  was  one  of  those  people  who 
preferred  solitude  to  society,  and  his  theological  notions  corresponded 
with  those  habits  of  life.  When  he  invited  Winthrop  to  come  over  to 
his  side  of  the  river,  he  probably  had  no  thought  of  a  removal  himself ; 
for  he  did  not  remove  until  about  four  years  later.  His  selling  out  and 
leaving  Boston  were  no  doubt  occasioned  by  his  desire  to  live  more 
retired,  as  well  as  to  a  dislike  of  his  Puritan  neighbors, §  whom,  it  is 

*  "  This  caused  several  to  go  abroad  upon  And,  as  will  be  shown  by  the  records  here- 
discovery ;  some  went  without  the  Neck  of  after,  he  had  lands  set  off  to  him,  which 
this  town,  who  travelled  up  into  the  main  till  would  not  have  been  the  case  had  his  owner- 
they  came  to  a  place  well  watered,  whither  ship  of  the  peninsula'been  fully  acknowledged. 
Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Knt.,  and  Mr.  Phil-  His  case  was  precisely  that  of  Oldham,  Sir 
lips,  minister,  went  with  several  others,  and  William  Brereton,  and  others,  with  this  differ- 
settled  a  plantation,  and  called  it  Watter-  ence  :  Blackstone  was  on  his  ground  in  per- 
towne.  Others  went  on  the  other  side  of  son.  He  doubtless  made  the  best  terms  he 
Charles  River,  and  there  travelled  up  into  the  could  with  a  power  he  could  not  resist  success- 
country,  and  likewise  finding  good  waters,  fully.  His  grant  of  territory  here  was  supe- 
settled  there  with  Mr.  Ludlow,  and  called  the  rior  to  others,  or  to  the  most  of  those  who 
plantation  Dorchester." — Charlestown  Records,  came  with  Winthrop.      It  consisted  of  fifty 

f  "The  Peninsula,"  says  Shaw,  "was,  in  acres,  which  was  about  one  fifteenth  of  the 
all  respects,  the  most  eligible  site  for  a  forti-  whole  of  Shawmut.  It  will  be  remembered 
fied  town  in  the  country;  and  it  is  strange  that  Sir  William  Brereton  was  offered  a  "  share 
that  Dudley,  who  was  a  soldier  by  profession,  with  the  rest,"  if  he  came  over  ;  but  as  to  any 
and  had  served  as  a  Captain  at  the  siege  of  right,  derived  from  others,  of  territory  in  Mas- 
Amiens,  under  Henry  IV.,  did  not  prefer  it"  sachusetts,  none  was  acknowledged, 
at  first.  —  Descript.  of  Boston,  40.  §  Lechford,  in  his  Plain  Dealing,  says  that 

X  This  is  extremely  probable  ;  and  why  he  Blackstone  removed  from  Boston  "  because  he 

was  not  driven  off,  as  Walford  afterwards  was,  "would  not  join  with  the  Church.     He  lives 

was  doubtless  owing  to  the  kind  offices  which  near  Mr.  Williams,  but  is  far  from  his  opin- 

he  extended  to  those  in  authority,   and  not  ion."     Lechford  was  a  churchman, 
making  himself  in  any  way  obnoxious  to  them. 


96  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 

said,  he  told  that  "  he  left  England  because  of  his  dislike  of  the  Lord- 
Bishops,  but  now  he  did  not  like  the  Lord-Brethren."*  He  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a  graduate  of  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge,  A.  B. 
1617,  A.  M.  lG21,f  and  some  have  denominated  him  a  clergyman  of 
the  Church  of  England.  J  In  1634  he  removed  to  Rehoboth,  where  he 
lived  till  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  1675,  the  date  of  his  death  ;  and  he 
was  also  the  first  settler  within  the  original  limits  of  Rehoboth,  since 
Attleborough  Gore,  on  the  banks  of  Blackstone  River,  so  named  for  him. 
A  hill  to  which  he  used  to  resort,  at  certain  seasons,  for  study  and  con- 
templation, still  bears  the  name  of  Study  Hill ;  a  few  rods  from  the 
base  of  which  were  lately  to  be  seen  the  remains  of  his  well,  its  stoning 
nearly  entire  ;  and,  a  few  rods  from  the  well,  the  grave  of  this  singular 
man. 

The  place  of  Blackstone 's  retreat,  on  the  banks  of  the  noble  river 
which  bears  his  name,  was  as  secluded  as  at  Shawmut,  before  the 
arrival  of  Winthrop.  And  here,  as  at  Shawmut,  he  had  fine  gardens, 
orchards  and  meadows ;  and  here,  as  at  that  place,  his  were  the  first 
apples  ever  produced  in  these  respective  places.  In  1765,  several  of 
his  apple-trees  remained,  and  bore  fruit ;  and,  in  1836,  three  trees 
were  standing,  in  appearance  very  old,  and  "probably  grew  from  the 
sprouts  of  those  planted  by  Blackstone."  § 

William  Blackstone  was  not  only  the  first  known  white  settler  of 
Boston,  but  to  him  is  due  the  credit  of  the  settlement  under  Winthrop. 
This  was  acknowledged  in  the  lifetime  of  the  former,  as  shown  in  the 
records  of  Charlestown,  in  these  words  :  ||  "Mr.  Blackstone,  dwelling 
on  the  other  side  of  Charles  River,  alone,  to  a  place  by  the  Indeans 
called  Shawmutt,  where  he  only  had  a  cottage  at,  or  not  far  off  the 
place  called  Blackstone's  Point,f  he  came  and  acquainted  the  Governor 

*  Mather,  Magnolia,  B.  iii.,  p.  7,  who  thus  concluding  that  nothing  satisfactory  could  be 

introduces  Blackstone  :  —  "  There  were   also  found. 

some  godly  Episcopalians ;  among  whom  has  J  This  would  rather  appear  from  Edward 

been  reckoned  Mr.  Blackstone ;  who,  by  hap-  Johnson's  notice  of  him,  who,  speaking  of 

pening  to  sleep  first  in  an  old  hovel  upon  a  Mr.  Bright  and  Blackstone  in  connection,  says, 

point  of  land  there,  laid  claim  to  all  the  ground  derisively,  "  The  one  betooke  him  to  the  seas 

whereupon  there  now  stands   the  Metropolis  again,  and  the  other,  Mr.  Blaxton,  to  till  the 

of  the  whole  English  America,  until  the  inhab-  land,  retaining  no  simbole  of  his  former  pro- 

itants  gave  him  satisfaction."  fession,  but  a  canonical  cote."  —  Wonder-work. 

f  He  married  Mary  Stevenson,  4  July,  1659.  Prov.,  20.  —  With  this  before  him,  Mr.  Hub- 
She  was  the  widow  of  John  Stevenson,  of  Bos-  bard  makes  considerable  improvement.  He 
ton,  and  they  were  married  by  Gov.  Endicott.  calls  him  a  clergyman,  and  says  "  he  betook 
Mrs.  Blackstone  died  two  years  before  her  hus-  himself  to  till  the  ground,  wherein  probably 
band,  namely,  June,  1673.  Mr.  Blackstone  he  was  more  skilled,  or  at  least  had  a  better 
left  one  son,  whose  posterity,  I  am  informed  faculty,  than  in  the  things  pertaining  to  the 
by  gentlemen  of  credibility  in  Rhode  Island,  house  of  God,"  &c. — Hist.  N.  Eng.,  113. 
are  somewhat  numerous  in  that  state  at  the  §  For  many  of  the  above  facts  I  am  indebted 
present  day.  It  is  said  that  the  late  Presi-  to  Mr.  Bliss'  excellent  History  of  Rehoboth, 
dent  Kirkland  was  in  some  way  related  to  the  and  to  Mr.  Daggett's  valuable  History  of  Altle- 
family  of  Blackstone,  and  that,  a  few  years  borough. 

before  his  death,  he  made  a  journey  to  Cum-  ||  I  use   Mr.   Frothingham's   transcript   of 

berland,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  his  grave,  those  invaluable  records,  in  all  cases,  with  the 

and   placing  upon   it  a  suitable   monument ;  most  perfect  confidence. 

but  that  the  residents  of  whom  he  sought  in--  *ft  As  to  the  precise  locality  of  Blackstone's 

formation  being  entirely  ignorant  of  any  such  house,  and  his  spring,  not  far  from  it,  opin- 

person,  or  his  grave,  he  gave  up  his  search,  ions  of  people  differ.     But  I  am?  pretty  well 


■    .,     1 


IDTOJin  M ®&&SVWjm<S>W  SQJMKIEK  WflOJL  iVJ  DriUr, 


1630.] 


WILLIAM    BLACKSTONE. 


97 


of  an   excellent  spring   there,  withal   inviting  him  and  soliciting  him 
thither.      Whereupon,   after  the   death  of  Mr.   Johnson,    and   divers 

others,  the  Governor,  with  Mr.  Wilson 
and  the  greatest  part  of  the  church,  re- 
moved thither.  Whither  also,  the  frame 
of  the  Governor's  house  was  carried, 
when  people  began  to  build  their  houses 
against  winter,  and  this  place  was  called 
Boston."* 

To  this  "memorable  man,"  as  to  others 
before  his  time  as  well  as  since,  justice 
will  eventually  be  done.  And  though 
the  noble  City,  whose  foundation  he  laid, 
be  the  last  to  honor  his  name,  it  will  one 
day,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  pay  the 
debt  which  it  owes  his  memory  with  in- 
terest.    Should  not  the  principal  street  in  the  City  bear  his  name  ? 

Mr.  Blackstone  having  died  a  month  before  the  breaking  out  of 
Philip's  War,  he  was  spared  the  witnessing  of  the  horrors  of  that  dis- 
tressing period ;  but  the  Indians  ravaged  his  plantation,  burnt  up  his 
buildings,  and,  what  will  ever  be  deeply  deplored,  his  library,  also. 
This  was  large  and  valuable  for  those  days,  and  its  loss  to  the  history 
of  Boston  and  to  New  England  can  never  be  known,  f 

Four  days  after  the  first  court  was  held  at  Charlestown, 
the  first  ordination  took  place.  J  Mr.  Wilson  was  ordained 
Pastor,  or  teaching  Elder,  over  the  church  there,  and  also  over  that 
part  of  the  the  same  church  which  had  removed  to  Mr.  Blackstone 's 
side  of  the  river. 


MR.  BLACKSTONE  S   RESIDENCE. 


August  27- 


convinced  that  Blackstone's  Point  was  that 
afterwards  called  Barton's  Point,  now  near 
the  northern  termination  of  Leveret  Street, 
and  the  Depot  of  the  Lowell  Rail  Road.  His 
point  is  easier  located  than  his  house  or  his 
spring.  That  there  were  many  springs  on  this 
part  of  Shawmut,  has  always  been  demonstra- 
ble. House  No.  19,  Poplar  Street,  covers  a 
large  spring,  which,  in  1838,  afforded  abun- 
dance of  water  a  considerable  part  of  the 
year.  This  writer  then  occupied  that  house  ; 
and  this  spring,  it  is  not  unlikely,  was  the 
identical  spring  near  which  Blackstone  lived. 
What  Shaw  says  in  his  Description  of  Boston, 
103,  agrees  very  well  with  this.  "  Black- 
stone's  Spring,"  he  observes,  "is  yet  to  be 
seen  [about  1800]  on  the  westerly  part  of  the 
town,  near  the  bay  which  divides  Boston  from 
Cambridge." 

*  These  records  also  say,  that  Mr.  Win- 
throp's  removal  to  Shawmut  was  "  to  the  dis- 
content of  some  ;"  of  those  probably  who  had 
begun  to  build,  and  to  whom  a  removal  would 
have  been  a  serious  loss.  A  further  proof  that 
this  place  was  not  thought  of  for  a  town  until 

13 


Blackstone  urged  it,  appears  in  the  fact,  that 
Winthrop  had  engaged  to  settle  at  Newtown, 
and  had  a  house  in  process  of  building  there 
at  this  time,  which  he  also  removed  to  Boston 
afterwards. 

f  From  the  inventory  of  his  effects,  taken 
immediately  after  his  decease,  28  May,  1675, 
a  copy  of  which  may  be  seen  in  Mr.  Bliss' 
History  of  Rehoboth,  p.  8,  the  inference  in  the 
text  is  drawn.  The  "  ten  paper  books"  enu- 
merated in  the  schedule,  are  conjectured  to 
have  been  MSS.  of  great  value,  and  that  they 
might  "have  thrown  light  on  his  whole  history, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  country  for  the  fifty 
years  in  which  he  resided  in  it.  —  See  Dr. 
Usher  Parsons,  in  Holmes'  Annals,  i.  377. 

J  "  We  of  the  congregation  kept  a  fast,  and 
chose  Mr.  Wilson  our  teacher,  and  Mr.  Nowell 
an  elder,  and  Mr.  Gager  and  Mr.  Aspinwall 
deacons.  We  used  imposition  of  hands,  but 
with  this  protestation  by  all,  that  it  was  only 
as  a  sign  of  election  and  confirmation  ;  not  of 
any  intent  that  Mr.  Wilson  should  renounce 
his  ministry  he  received  in  England. ' '  —  Win- 
throp's  Journal,  i.  31 — 3. 


98 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1630. 


g  _  Many  people  having,  by  the  seventh  of  September,  taken  up 
their  residence  on  Shawmut,*  a  court  was  held  on  that  day, 
which  is  called  the  Court  of  Assistants ; 
and  this  was  the  second  court  held  at  the 
new  settlement  of  Charlestown.  There 
were  present  the  principal  men  from  Sa- 
lem, Dorchester,  and  Watertown,  though 
at  the  opening  of  this  court  the  two  last 
mentioned  places  were  not  so  named. 
Among  the  orders  passed,  were  the  fol- 
lowing :  —  "  Thomas  Morton,  of  Mount 
Wollaston,  shall  presently  be  set  in  the 
bilbo ws,  and  after  sent  prisoner  to  Eng- 
land, by  the  ship  called  the  Gift,  now  re- 
turning thither  ;  f  that  all  his  goods  shall 
be  seized  to  defray  the  charge  of  his 
transportation,  payment  of  his  debts,  and 
to  give  satisfaction  to  the  Indians  for  a 
canoe  he  took  unjustly  from  them  ;  and  that  his  house  be  burnt  down  to 
the  ground  in  sight  of  the  Indians,  for  their  satisfaction  for  many  wrongs 
he  has  done  them.  Ordered,  that  no  person  shall  plant  in  any  place 
within  the  limits  of  this  Patent,  without  leave  from  the  Governor  and 
Assistants,  or  major  part  of  them  ;  J  that  a  warrant  shall  presently  be 
sent  to  Agawam  to  command  those  who  are  planted  there,  forthwith  to 
come  away  ;    And,  that  Trimountain  §  be  called  Boston  ;  ||  Mattapan, 


JOHN    WILSON. 


*  The  circumstance  of  the  first  party  who 
landed  in  Boston  from  Charlestown,  in  1630,  is 
thus  related  by  Mr.  Loring  in  his  Hundred 
Boston  Orators,  p.  365  :  "  The  ancestor  of  the 
Pollard  family,  of"  Boston,  was  William  Pol- 
lard, whose  wife,  Anne,  died  6th  Dec,  1725, 
aged  one  hundred  and  five  years,  leaving  of  her 
ofl'spring  one  hundred  and  thirty.  She  used 
to  relate,  that  she  went  over  in  the  first  boat 
that  crossed  Charles  river,  to  what  has  since 
been  called  Boston,  and  that  she  was  the  first 
that  jumped  ashore.  She  described  the  place 
as  being  at  that  time  very  uneven,  abounding 
in  small  hollows  and  swamps,  covered  with 
blueberry  and  other  bushes."  Mrs.  Pollard's 
portrait,  taken  in  1723,  when  she  was  one 
hundred  and  three  years  old,  has  for  some 
years  past  hung  in  a  room  over  the  Savings 
Bank  in  Tremont-street,  in  the  occupation  of 
the  Mass.  Hist.  Society,  and  was  there  depos- 
ited by  Isaac  Winslow,  Esq.  —  Ibid. 

f  But  he  did  not  go  in  the  Gift.  The  cap- 
tain of  that  ship,  says  Hubbard,  not  being 
"gifted  that  way,  nor  his  ship  neither."  — 
Hist.  N.  England,  137. 

J  This  order  was  especially  to  prevent  peo- 
ple from  settling  in  so  scattered  a  manner  as 
to  render  themselves  weak  and  unserviceable 
as  a  whole,  in  the  event  of  invasion. 


§  "  So  called,  I  suppose,"  says  Prince,  "on 
the  account  of  the  three  contiguous  hills  ap- 
pearing in  a  range  to  those  at  Charlestown." 
—  Another  author,  Shaw,  says,  "These  were 
not,  however,  Beacon,  Copp's  and  Fort  Hills, 
as  generally  supposed,  but  three  little  rising 
hills  on  the  top  of  a  high  mountain,  at  the 
north-west  side  of  the  town."  —  Description  of 
Boston,  50.  "  The  high  mountain,"  he  ob- 
serves, "  as  Wood  calls  it,  is  the  high  ground 
extending  from  the  head  of  Hanover-street, 
south-westerly  to  the  water,  beyond  the  new 
State  House,  the  summit  of  which  was  since 
called  Beacon  Hill,  now  [1800]  almost  levelled 
to  its  base." 

||  "  Being  now  become  a  distinct  town  of 
themselves,  and  retaining  Mr.  Wilson  for  their 
minister,  afterwards  called  their  plantation 
Boston,  with  respect  to  Mr.  Cotton,  who  came 
from  a  town  in  Lincolnshire  so  called,  when 
he  came  into  New  England."  Dudley,  as  has 
been  seen,  assigns  the  same  reason  for  naming 
Shawmut  Boston.  "  And  from  the  late  Judge 
Sewall,  in  comparison  with  the  Charlestown 
records,  I  learn  that  this  town  was  settled 
under  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Johnson. ' '  —  Prince, 
316. 


1630.] 


DEATH    OF    MR.    ISAAC    JOHNSON. 


99 


Sept.  28. 


TRIMOUNTAIN. 


Dorchester  ;  and  the  town  upon  Charles  river,  Watertown."  *    This  last 
was  called  Pigsgusset,  by  the  Indians. f 

Although  the  seventh  of  September, 
Old  Style,  is  justly  regarded  as  the  date 
of  the  first  settlement  of  Boston,  J  yet  it 
was  not  till  a  month  or  more  that  the  gov- 
ernment was  removed  from  Charlestown, 
where,  on  the  twenty- eighth  of 
September,  the  third  Court  of 
Assistants  was  held.  In  the  mean  time, 
among  other  things,  probably  fortifica- 
tions had  been  considered  necessary  to  be 
at  once  erected;  for  at  this  court  an 
order  passed  for  raising  fifty  pounds  for 
the  use  of  Mr.  Patrick  and  Mr.  Underhill, 
who  were  military  men.§  The  Indians  may  have  shown  signs  of  dis- 
satisfaction. In  fact,  if  they  did  not  manifest  any  jealousy  at  seeing 
their  country  overrun  by  such  a  singular  race  of  people  as  the  emigrants 
must  have  appeared  to  them  to  be,  they  must  have  been  void  of  such 
feelings  as  were  exhibited  five-and-twenty  years  later  by  their  neigh- 
bors bordering  on  the  south  of  them.  But  merely  common  prudence 
may  have  caused  the  same  court  to  order,  that  if  any  person  permit  an 
Indian  to  use  a  gun,  on  any  occasion,  he  should  pay  a  fine  of  ten 
pounds ;  and  that  no  person  be  allowed  to  give  or  sell  any  corn  to  an 
Indian,  without  license  from  the  court. 

Amidst  the  numerous  trials  which  now  beset  this  devoted 
people,  no  single  blow  had  ever  been  witnessed  which  had  cast 
such  a  gloom  over  them,  as  did  the  death  of  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson.  He 
died  at  Boston,  about  two  of  the  clock  on  the  morning  of  this  day.  He 
was  able  to  attend  the  court  on  the  seventh  of  the  month,  but  that  was 
his  last  earthly  court.  It  was  Mr.  Johnson  who  first  favored  Black- 
stone's  proposal  for  a  removal  to  this  side  of  the  river ;  and  his  improve- 
ments in  the  settlement,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  were  doubtless  supe- 
rior to  any  other's  on  the  place.  His  lot  had  been  selected,  and  was 
that  comprehended  by  School,  Washington,  Court  and  Tremont  streets, 
at  this  time ;  of  course  comprehending  the  Chapel  burying-place.  In 
the  upper  end  of  this  lot,  when  on  his  death-bed,  he  desired  to  be 
buried ;  and  he  was  accordingly  buried  there.  This  was  the  first  place 
of  interment  of  the  English  at  Boston,  and  it  continues  to  be  used  as  a 


Sept.  30. 


*  Prince's  Chronology,  315. 

f  Wood's  New  England's  Prospect,  88. 

j  Hence  the  second  centennial  anniversary 
of  the  settlement  of  Boston  was  celebrated  on 
Friday,  the  17th  of  September,  1830. 

§  The  fifty  pounds  were  thus  apportioned  to 
be  raised  in  the  settlements  : 


1.  Charlestown,  £7 

2.  Boston,  11 


3.  Dorchester,    £7 

4.  Roxbury,  5 


5.  Watertown,      11 

6.  Medford,  3 

7.  Salem,  3 


8.  Wessagascus,    2 

9.  Nantasket,        1 


From  which  the  relative  importance  of  these 
places  may  be  seen.  But  it  can  hardly  be 
supposed  that  the  above  rate  was  based  on  the 
property  of  the  respective  places  ;  for,  assum- 
ing that  to  have  been  the  basis,  Salem  could 
scarcely  have  stood  so  low,  or  Boston  so  high. 


100  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1630. 

place  of  sepulture  to  this  day.*  "He  may  be  said  to  have  been  the 
idol  of  the  people,  for  they  ordered  their  bodies,  as  they  died,  to  be 
buried  round  him ;  and  this  was  the  reason  of  appropriating  for  a  place 
of  burial,  what  is  now  [1760]  the  Old  Burying-place,  adjoining  to 
King's  Chapel. "t 

By  Mr.  Johnson's  will,  a  copy  of  which  was  fi  on  the  Massachusetts 
files"  when  Hutchinson  wrote  his  history,  executed  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  April,  in  the  fifth  of  Charles  I.  [1629]  it  is  shown  that  he  was 
of  Clipsham,  in  the  county  of  Rutland,  son  of  Abraham  Johnson,  Esq., 
and  grandson  of  Robert  Johnson.  Dr.  Chaderton  was  his  mother's 
father.  His  estate  was  much  the  largest  of  any  of  the  undertakers.  It 
lay  in  the  counties  of  Rutland,  Northampton  and  Lincoln.  His  New 
England  adventure  he  valued  at  six  hundred  pounds.  Having  no  chil- 
dren, he  gave  legacies  to  a  great  number  of  his  friends,  and  to  pious 
and  charitable  uses.  His  lands  he  gave  to  his  father  and  brothers.  To 
Mr.  Cotton  he  gave  thirty  pounds  and  a  gown-cloth.  The  advowson 
and  right  of  patronage  of  the  parish  church  of  Clipsham,  he  gave  to  Mr. 
Dudley  and  Mr.  Cotton.  His  funeral  charges  he  limited  at  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds ;  but  a  small  part  of  which,  however,  was  re- 
quired. His  heart  was  set  on  the  New  England  settlement,  and  he 
ordered  his  executors  to  carry  on  his  share  in  it.  In  another  will,  made 
before  his  death,  he  appointed  John  Hampden,  Esq.,  with  Winthrop 
and  Dudley,  executors.J 

In  the  midst  of  the  removal  from  Charlestown  to  Boston, 
death  continued  his  work.  Mr.  William  Gager  died  on  the 
twentieth  of  September.  He  was  the  chief  physician  of  the  infant  set- 
tlement, and  consequently  a  great  loss  to  it.  He  was  also  a  high  officer 
in  the  church  at  its  first  organization  in  Charlestown,  being  its  deacon. 
A  house  was  ordered  to  be  built  for  him  at  the  public  charge,  and  he 
was  to  be  paid  twenty  pounds  for  the  first  year,  and  be  furnished  with 
a  cow ;  and  after  that  he  was  to  receive  thirty  pounds  per  annum.  He 
left  a  family.  John  Gager,  his  son  probably,  resided  in  Boston  until 
1645,  about  which  time  he  settled  in  New  London,  and  finally  in  Nor- 
wich, where  he  died  in  1703.  § 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Gager,  Mr.  William  Colburn  was  chosen 
deacon  of  the  same  church.  He  was  "  invested  by  imposition  of  hands 
of  the  minister  and  elder." 

One  who  lived  amidst  these  scenes  writes,  as  he  had  just  cause  to 
do:  "The  first  beginning  of  this  worke  seemed  very  dolorous;  first, 
for  the  death  of  that  worthy  personage,  Izaac  Johnson,  Esq.,  whom  the 
Lord  had  indued  with  many  pretious  gifts,  insomuch  that  he  was  held 
in  high  esteeme  among  all  the  people  of  God,  and  as  a  chiefe  pillar  to 

*  This  is  the  substance  of  what  Chief- Justice  f  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.  i.,  16. 

Samuel  Sewall  told  the  Rev.  Thomas  Prince.  %lbid. 

So  that  few  things  in  our  history  can  be  better  §  See  Hinman's  Genealogy  of  the  Puritans, 

substantiated  than  the  circumstances  of  the  p.  134,  and  Caulklin's  Hist,  of  New  London, 

death  and  the  place  of  burial  of  Mr.  Isaac  159. — William   Gager  grad.  at  Yale   1721, 

Johnson-.  and  Charles  A.  1835. 


1630.]  ORIGIN    OF  THE   NAME   BOSTON.  101 

support  this  new  erected  building.  He  very  much  rejoiced,  at  his  death, 
that  the  Lord  had  been  pleased  to  kcepc  his  eyes  open  so  long,  as  to  see 
one  Church  of  Christ  gathered  before  his  death  ;  at  whose  departure 
there  was  not  onely  many  weeping  eyes,  but  some  fainting  hearts,  fear- 
ing the  fall  of  the  present  worke."* 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Origin  of  the  name  Boston. — Traditions  and  Superstitions  of  St.  Botolph.  —  Boston  in  England. — 
St.  Botolph's  Church. — Mr.  John  Cotton. — Splendor  and  Magnificence  of  St.  Botolph's.  —The 
First  Church  in  Boston.  —  Extravagance  in  Buildings  and  Dress  discountenanced.  —  Profligacy  of 
the  English  Clergy.  —  Legislation  upon  Fashions.  —  Drinking  of  Healths  discontinued. 

HE  original  name  of  Boston  is  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  an  old  British  saint,  of  the  name 
of  Botolph,  who  lived  along  the  middle  of  the 
seventh  century  of  the  Christian  era.f  As  of 
other  saints  of  early  times,  there  is  doubtless 
much  of  fiction  hanging  about  St.  Botolph's  his- 
tory. It  was  a  common  thing  to  ascribe  the 
performance  of  miracles  to  saints  while  living, 
IT55  and,  when  dead,  even  their  bones  were  believed 

jj|f  to  be  not  entirely  divested  of  that  power,  although  they  had 
been  of  flesh.  The  termination  of  this  saint's  name  seems  to 
g^f  indicate  a  German  origin ;  but  that  is  a  matter  too  remote  to 
^  ?  merit  attention  here.  However,  it  is  said  that  the  remains  of  the 
"holy  man"  were  entombed  in  St.  Edmund's  Monastery,  at  Bury, 
concerning  whom  it  was  superstitiously  told  that  the  monks  of  that 
place,  when  they  wanted  rain,  carried  about  a  coffin  in  procession,  con- 
taining the  bones  of  St.  Botolph.  How  soon  this  practice  fell  into  dis- 
use is  not  mentioned  ;  but  it  'probably  did  after  a  few  failures  of  certain 
well-known  signs  of  rain,  in  the  observance  of  which  the  first  movers 
were,  or  might  have  been,  better  skilled  than  their  immediate  suc- 
cessors. 

From  the  earliest  accounts  that  can  be  found  of  the  English  Boston, 
it  is  supposed  to  have  been  founded  by  St.  Botolph,  whom  Bede,  who 
was  nearly  cotemporary  with  him,  denominates  a  pious  Saxon,  about 
A.  D.  650.  |     For  a  long  series  of  ages  little  is  known  about  it.     For 

*  Johnson,  Wonder-working  Providence,  38.  Lambarde,  who  wrote  about  or  before  1577, 

f  The  name  of  Botolph,  with  variation  of  a  little  earlier  than  Camden,  says  it  was  then 

spellings,  is  met  with  in  many  old  writers,  called   Bostonstow,   though   "commonly   and 

and,  according  to  Camden,  it  is  derived  from  corruptly  called  Boston.'''' — Alphabetical  De- 

the  Saxon  noun  boat,  and  ulph,  help,  because  script.,  &c,  p.  38,  4to,  1730. 

Botolph  was  the  tutelar  saint  of  mariners.  %  He  also  founded  a  priory  at  Colchester,  in 

—  See  Thompson's  Collections,  p.  223.     Rish-  Essex,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still  [1810]  to 

anger,  who  wrote  about  1312,  speaks,  in  his  be   seen,  though  its  "principal   demolition" 

Chronicle,  of  "  Thomas  filius  Jordani  de  Bo-  occurred  in  1648,  during  the  siege  of  Colches- 

tolestone."  —  See  Pub.  Camd.  Soc.  xv.,  p.  72.  ter  by  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax.  — Brayley  and  Brit- 


102 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1630. 


near  a  thousand  years  succeeding  its  foundation,  few  of  the  vicissitudes 
attending  it  through  that  dark  period  have  been  recorded.  Indeed,  its 
history  had  hardly  been  attempted  until  its  daughter  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic  had,  in  most  respects,  far  outgrown  her  mother  city.* 

One  hundred  years  before  the  period  now  referred  to,  namely,  in 
1719,  a  writer  said  it  was,  and  long  had  been,  a  famous  and  flourishing 
town,  built  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Withain,  which  is  here  enclosed 
on  both  sides  with  artificial  banks,  over  which  was  a  high  wooden 
bridge. f  At  a  far  more  remote  period  it  had  become  a  great  mart  for 
wool,  "  which  very  much  enriched  and  invited  thither  the  merchants  of 
the  Hanse  towns,  who  fixed  their  Guild  there."  The  inhabitants  in 
1719  were  chiefly  "merchants  and  graziers."  J  At  the  same  date  it 
had  a  commodious  and  well-frequented  haven,  admitting  ships  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  up  to  the  town,  while,  only  thirty  years  later, 
even  a  small  sloop  of  but  forty  or  fifty  tons,  drawing  but  six  feet  of 
water,  could  get  up  only  at  spring  tides.  §  This  was  caused  by  the 
river  being  choked  up  with  silt.  Not  long  after,  however,  its  usual 
navigation  was  restored  by  cutting  a  new  channel  from  the  town  to 
Dogdike,  an  extent  of  twelve  miles. || 

To  an  inhabitant  of  Boston  in  New  England  it  may  appear  scarcely 
credible  for  places  elsewhere  to  remain  nearly  the  same  for  a  hundred 
years  together ;   yet  such  was  the  case  with  the  mother  of  Boston, IF 


tori's  Essex,  315.  St.  Botolph's  church,  in 
Aldersgate,  London,  was  dedicated  to  this 
saint ;  but  how  early  founded  does  not  appear. 
Its  first  benefactor,  recorded  by  Maitland,  bears 
the  name  of  John  Thornton,  and  date,  1393. 
Judging  from  the  prevalence  of  the  name  of 
Botolph,  the  saint  who  bore  it  must  have  had 
in  his  day,  and  even  long  after,  an  extraordi- 
nary reputation.  In  those  days,  as  now,  a 
name  of  renown  was  tacked  upon  everything 
that  would  bear  it.  But  it  has,  in  some  in- 
stances, been  so  varied  or  corrupted  as  not  to 
be  recognized ;  thus,  Bottle  Bridge,  in  Hunt- 
ingdonshire, was  once  Botolph-bridge,  or  so 
says  Camden.  But  whether  our  Buttolphs  are 
descendants  of  the  same  family  as  the  Saint 
we  are  ignorant,  while  it  is  very  probable  that 
the  ancestors  of  persons  bearing  the  name  of 
Boston  took  that  name  from  their  having  re- 
sided in  ancient  Boston. 

*  Boston  is  34  miles  S.  E.  of  Lincoln,  117 
N.  from  London,  and  about  five  miles  from  the 
sea.  In  1820  there  was  published  in  London, 
rather  a  handsome  large  octavo,  of  between 
four  and  five  hundred  pages,  entitled  "Collec- 
tions for  a  Topographical  and  Historical  Account 
of  Boston,  and  the  Hundred  of  Skirbeck,  in  the 
County  of  Lincoln.  With  Engravings.  By 
Pishet  Thompson."  This  work  has  for  some 
time  been  scarce,  even  in  its  place  of  publica- 
tion ;  and,  as  I  am  informed  by  my  friend, 
Col.  T.  B.  Lawrence,  he  found  it  difficult  to 
procure  a  copy  in  Old  Boston  itself.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  inquiries  for  the  work  by  our 


Boston  people  have  had  some  influence  on  Mr. 
Thompson,  as  he  is  now  engaged  on  a  new  edi- 
tion of  his  work.  In  a  Lincolnshire  newspa- 
per, called  the  "Boston,  Stamford  and  Lincoln- 
shire Herald,"  of  16  Nov.,  1852,  containing 
the  proceedings  of  the  government  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Boston  on  the  9th  of  the  same  month, 
Mr.  Noble,  one  of  the  aldermen,  after  giving 
notice  of  Mr.  Thompson's  design,  requested 
that  that  gentleman  might  have  liberty  to 
inspect  the  deeds  and  other  documents  in  their 
keeping  for  that  object,  which  was  granted. 
For  the  use  of  a  copy  of  Mr.  Thompson's  book 
I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Charles  Deane,  whose 
excellent  library  is  no  unintelligible  monu- 
ment of  a  taste  and  judgment  worthy  the  imi- 
tation of  all  young  men. 

f  One  of  iron  has  since  been  substituted, 
constructed  upon  a  single  arch,  86  feet  in 
span,  39  feet  wide,  at  an  expense  of  about 
£22,000. 

%  Magna  Britannia,  Antiqua  et  Nova,  ii. 
1407-8. 

§  Thompson's  Collections,  122. 

||  Dugdale,  iii.  602. 

■[f  In  1698,  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  writing  of 
Boston,  very  aptly  observed:  —  "The  Town 
hath  indeed  three  elder  Sisters  in  this  Colony, 
but  it  hath  wonderfully  outgrown  them  all ; 
and  her  mother,  Old  Boston,  in  England,  also." 
By  the  "three  elder  Sisters"  he  probably 
meant  Salem,  Charlestown  and  Dorchester ; 
or,  possibly,  Charlestown,  Dorchester  and 
Roxbury.  —  See  Magnolia,  B.  i.  31. 


1G30.1 


ST.    BOTOLPH  S    CIIUUCII. 


103 


judging  from  the  following  facts  :  The  parish  register  of  Old  Boston 
shows  that  in  1C14  there  were  thirty  marriages,  eighty-four  baptisms, 
and  eighty-three  burials  ;  while  in  1714,  just  one  hundred  years  later, 
there  were  thirty-one  marriages,  ninety-nine  baptisms,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty-one  deaths.  * 

One  of  the  most  famous  and  interest- 
ing objects  of  ancient  Boston  is  St.  Bo- 
tolph's church,  rendered  doubly  famous 
to  the  people  here  for  its  having  been 
the  church  of  which  Mr.  John  Cotton 
was  vicar  twenty-one  years  ;f  and  from 
which  he  was  obliged  to  fly  to  New 
England.  This  church  was  described 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  years  ago  J 
as  "beautiful  and  large,  the  tower  of 
which  is  so  very  high  as  to  be  the  won- 
der of  travellers,  and  the  guide  for  mar- 
iners at  a  great  distance.  It  is  looked 
upon  as  the  finest  in  England,  and  is 
280  foot  high,  or  better,  and  was  begun 
to  be  built  at  midsummer,  1309,  dame 
Margaret  Tilney  laying  the  first  stone. 
The  length  of  the  church  is  equal  to  the 
height  of  the  steeple,  ninety-four  yards. 
There  are  365  steps,  fifty-two  windows, 
and  twelve  pillars,  which  are  designed  to  parallel  the  days,  weeks  and 
months,  of  the  year."  Its  handsome  tower  was  built  after  the  model 
of  that  of  the  great  church  at  Antwerp.  At  the  summit  of  this  tower 
is  a  beautiful  lantern,  for  a  guide  to  seamen,  which  can  be  seen  forty 
miles.  It  was  a  figurative  saying  of  some  of  the  pilgrims  who  settled 
this  Boston,  that  the  lamp  in  the  lantern  of  St.  Botolph's  ceased  to  burn 
when  Cotton  left  that  church,  to  become  a  shining  light  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  New  England.  || 

St.  Botolph's  has  no  galleries,  and  yet  it  will  contain  five  thousand 
persons,  as  estimated  at  the  obsequies  of  the  late  Princess  Charlotte. 
The  nave  is  lofty  and  grand  ;  the  ceiling,  representing  a  stone  vault- 
ing, is  said  to  be  of  Irish  oak.  It  consists  of  fourteen  groined  arches, 
with  light  spandrils,  which,  by  their  elegant  curves,  intersections  and 
embowments,  produce  a  beautiful  effect.  The  upper  part  of  the  nave 
is  lighted  by  twenty-eight  clerstory  windows,  between  the  springs  of 


ST.  BOTOLPn'S  CHURCH,  BOSTON,  ENGLAND.^ 


*  There  was  a  return  of  the  population  in 
1768,  3470;  in  1801,  5926;  in  1811,  8113; 
in  1831, 11,240  ;  in  1841, 34,680.  —  Dugdale, 
ut  supra,  City  Boc.  No.  63.  Note  by  Hon.  J.  P. 
Bigelow,  and  Gorton's  Topog.  Bid. 

f  From  1612  to  1633.— Thompson's  Collec- 
tions, p.  86. 

J  In  the  Magna  Britannia,  Antiqua  et  Nova, 
ut  supra. 


§  From  a  splendidly  engraved  view  in 
Thompson's  work. 

||  "  Both  Bostons  have  reason  to  honor  his 
memory ;  and  New  England-Boston  most  of 
all,  which  oweth  its  name  and  being  to  him, 
more  than  to  any  one  person  in  the  world."  — 
Dr.  Increase  Mather. 


104 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1630. 


the  arches.  The  chancel,  which  is  spacious  and  lofty,  has  on  each  side 
ranges  of  stalls,  the  seats  of  which  are  ornamented  with  grotesque  carv- 
ings ;  over  these  formerly  were  canopies,  highly  embellished  with  foli- 
age and  fret-work.     The  altar  is  of  oak,  in  the  Corinthian  order. 

Such  was  the  splendid  and  magnificent  church  of  St.  Botolph's,  in 
which  many  of  the  fathers  of  "  New  England-Boston"  had  been  wont 
to  worship,  and  which  they  had  looked  upon  with  pious  reverence,  and 
which  they  justly  remembered  as  one  of  the  chief  glories  of  their  native 

land.  But  at  the 
period  of  their 
emigration  a  great 
change  had  com- 
menced ;  they  be- 
gan to  consider 
extravagance  in 
architecture  and 
dress  as  very  wick- 
ed, and  disap- 
proved of  by  the 
God  they  intended 
to  honor  by  such 
extravagance.  In 
order  to  appreci- 
ate, in  some  de- 
gree, the  change  spoken  of,  people  of  these  times  can  contrast  St.  Bo- 
tolph's, not  with  the  rude  church  prepared  for  Mr.  Wilson,  but  with 
most  New  England  churches  before  the  American  Revolution.     The 

Friends  of  modern  times  are  not  more 
opposed  to  show  and  ostentation  than 
were  the  early  Pilgrims  of  New  Eng- 
land. These,  indeed,  very  nearly  ap- 
proached the  Quakers  in  all  matters  of 
dress,  buildings,  furniture  and  equip- 
ages. Soon  after  the  Puritans  became 
detached  from  the  established  church, 
their  dress  designated  them  ;  as  much 
so  as  did  the  dress  of  the  Friends  dis- 
tinguish them  afterwards  from  the  Puri- 
tans. 
Many  regard  some  of  the  fashions  in  dress  of  this  century  as  highly 
ridiculous  and   absurd ;    but  extremes  in  these  matters  are   nothing 


A    CATHOLIC   GENTLEMAN.* 


A  PROTESTANT   GENTLEMAN. 


Wilson's  church.| 


*  This  and  the  opposite  engraving  are  accu- 
rate copies  from  prints  in  the  exceedingly  rare 
work  of  Bishop  Carleton,  "  A  Thankfull  Re- 
membrance of  God's  Mercies,"  4to,  London, 
1626. 

f  This  view  of  the  first  church  erected  in 
Boston  is,  of  course,  from  such  descriptions 


and  intimations  as  can  be  gathered  from  the 
early  writers.  It  is  said  to  have  had  mud 
walls  and  a  thatched  roof,  which  is  about  the 
extent  of  all  that  has  been  said  about  it.  As 
to  its  length,  breadth  and  height,  there  is  not 
a  syllable  which  I  remember  to  have  seen. 
Its  location  will  be  described  hereafter. 


// 


FIFTH     GOVE'KNOK.  01'   U  . 


i  I-   Beheade 


1631).]  THE   ENGLISH    CLERGY.  105 

now  compared  with  what  they  were  in  those  days,  when  shoes  were 
twice  the  length  of  the  foot,  or  so  long  as  to  prevent  "  kneeling  at 
devotions  in  God's  house,"  as  one  of  those  times  is  reported  to  have 
said. 

Fashions  in  all  times  probably  began  among  the  rich,  and  with  those 
in  high  official  stations.  The  practice  was,  of  course,  imitated  by  the 
common  people ;  and,  though  very  natural,  it  was,  on  the  whole,  a  very 
detrimental  imitation.  Even  the  clergy  rendered  themselves  obnoxious 
by  their  foppery  in  dress,  which  was  one  object  of  complaint  among  the 
Puritans  ;  and  many  of  their  other  practices  were  in  keeping  with 
minds   influenced  by  such  frivolity.     To  notice  but  a  single  instance, 

—  the  investigations  at  Belvoir  Castle,  by  a  committee  of  Parliament, 
in  1650-1; — that  committee  reported  upon  the  incumbents  of  the 
church  to  this  effect :  "Weak  and  negligent;"  —  "no  preacher;"  — 
"  negligent  and  scandalous  ;"  —  "  negligent,  and  suspected  of  popery  ;" 

—  "corrupt  in  doctrine;"  —  "a  bare  reader,  and  no  minister;"  — 
"weak  pluralitan,  non-resident,  altogether  negligent  and  scandalous." 
This  is  probably  a  specimen  of  the  reports  for  the  whole  commonwealth 
of  England.  But  Episcopalians,  even  of  this  age,  pronounce  the  judg- 
ment of  the  parliamentary  committee  more  unjust  than  the  practices 
they  condemned.  But  it  must  not  be  denied  that  there  was  much  to 
be  complained  of,  and  which  even  the  profligacy  of  Charles  the  Second 
could  not  overlook.* 

All  experience  has  shown  that  to  legislate  upon  apparel  is  idle  and 
futile  ;  yet  there  may  be  other  matters  quite  as  futile  which  now 
occupy  the  time  of  legislators,  and  which  will,  in  a  few  years,  be 
viewed  as  wild  and  extravagant  as  it  was  for  the  early  legislators  of 
Boston  to  prescribe,  by  solemn  enactments,  the  length  which  ladies 
might  wear  their  hair,  and  how  much  of  their  necks  and  arms  should 
be  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  other  sex.  Good  example,  emanating 
from  the  good  and  great,  will  always  exert  a  wider  and  a  better  influ- 
ence, in  matters  of  customs  and  habits,  than  all  the  compulsory  laws 
that  can  be  made.  Thus  Governor  Winthrop  says  that,  upon  consider- 
ation of  the  inconveniences  which  had  grown  in  England  by  drinking 
one  to  another,  he  restrained  it  at  his  own  table,  and  wished  others  to 
do  the  like,  so  as  it  grew  into  disuse  by  little  and  little,  f  Winthrop 
had  judgment,  mildness  and  penetration  ;  and  it  is  hardly  to  be  doubted 
that  his  own  opinion  disapproved  of  many  acts  which  his  station  com- 
pelled him  to  sanction  at  a  later  period. 

*  "  When  he  was  at  Newmarket,  Nathaniel  University,  to  cause  the   statutes   concerning 

Vincent,  D.   D.,   Fellow  of  Clare  Hall,  and  decency  of  apparel  among  the  Clergy  to  be  put 

chaplain  to  his  Majesty,  preached  before  him  in  execution,  which  was  accordingly  done."- 

in  a  long  periwig,  and  Holland  sleeves.      This  — Strutt's  Dresses  and  Habits,  in  The  Book  of 

foppery  displeased  the  king,  who  commanded  Costume,  &c,  p.  126. 

the  Duke  of  Monmouth,  then  Chancellor  of  the  f  Journal,  i.  37. 

14 


106 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1630. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


First  General  Court  at  Boston.  —  How  constituted.  —  Privileges  of  Freemen.  —  Simon  Bradstreet.  — 
Reasons  for  Stringency  in  respect  to  Freemen.  —  Small  Affairs  comparatively  Great.  —  Accidents 
from  Fires,  Wolves,  &c.  —  A  Murder  and  Execution  at  Plymouth.  —  Corn  obtained  of  the  Indians 
at  Narraganset.  —  The  People  in  Danger  of  Famine.  —  Their  Wants  and  Privations.  —  Capt.  Roger 
Clap.  —  Arrival  of  a  Ship  with  Provisions.  —  Arrival  of  the  Handmaid.  —  Her  severe  Passage.  — 
Reward  for  killing  Wolves.  —  Ferry  to  Charlestown.  —  Order  to  support  Ministers.  —  Fines  and 
Penalties.  —  Measures  for  a  fortified  Town.  —  Determine  upon  Newton.  —  Extreme  Weather.  — 
Disastrous  Voyage  of  Richard  Garret.  —  Kindness  of  Indians.  — Thomas  Morton's  Return  to  New 
England.  —  A  Prisoner  at  Boston.  —  Again  sent  to  England. 

ITHERTO,  the  Courts  had  been  held  at  Charles- 
town,  probably  in  the  "  Great  House  " 
before  mentioned  ;  but  now  "  the  first 
General  Court  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony"  is 
held  at  Boston.  In  what  kind  of  a  building  no 
mention  is  made  ;  it  must  have  been  in  some 
very  rude  structure,  as  sufficient  time  had  not 
elapsed  to  allow  of  the  preparation  of  any  shel- 
ter very  commodious  or  complete.  The  per- 
sons composing  this  court  were,  Mr.  Winthrop, 
Mr.  Dudley,  Sir  R.  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Endicott,  Mr.  Nowell, 
Mr.  Pynchon  and  Mr.  Bradstreet.*  The  denomination  or  title  of  the 
Court  was,  "The  Governor,  Deputy  Governor,  and  Assistants."!  It 
was  now  proposed  that  the  Freemen  should  have  the  power  of  choosing 
Assistants,  and  the  Assistants,  from  among  themselves,  to  choose  the 
Governor  and  Deputy  Governor,  who,  together  with  the  Assistants, 
were  to  have  the  power  of  making  laws,  and  of  choosing  officers  to  exe- 
cute them.     To  all  of  which  the  people  agreed.  | 

At  this  court  about  one  hundred  and  eight  persons  applied  to  be 
admitted  as  Freemen  ;§  and  the  greater  part  of  them  probably  were 
admitted  to  that  station  among  their  fellows  in  the  Colony,  which  allowed 


*  Bradstreet  lived  to  be  "the  Nestor  of 
Now  England  ;"  dying  at  Salem  in  1698,  aged 
95.  There  is  an  excellent  biography  of  him 
in  Dr.  Eliot's  New  Eng.  Biographical  Diction- 
ary. Joshua  Scottow  dedicated  his  "  Narra- 
tive of  the  Planting  of « the  Massachusetts- 
Colony,"  &c,  to  him,  in  1694.  In  this  dedi- 
cation he  says  :  "  The  long  experience  of  your 
being  the  only  surviving  antiquary  of  us  Nov 
Angles,  the  prime  Secretary  and  Register  of 
our  civil  and  sacred  records,  and  the  bifronted 
Janus  who  saw  the  closure  of  the  Old,  and  the 
overture  of  this  New  Albion  world."  He  calls 
him  one  of  the  "  nursing  fathers  of  this  out- 
cast Sion,  whose  name  is  embalmed  to  eter- 
nity ;  that  he  had,  through  nine  hard  appren- 
ticeships of  above  60  years'  durance,  in  the 
service  of  his  generation,  and  faithful  dis- 
charge of  that  trust  for  so  long  a  season,  as 
hath  rendered  him  a  MOOT-MAN,  to  be  dig- 
nified with  the  highest  honor  this  people  were 


capable  to  confer."  Bradstreet  was  then  91 
years  of  age,  when  Scottow  dedicated  his  book 
to  him  ;  and  well  he  might,  as  he  did,  style 
him  '•'■Our  New  England  Nestor."  Scottow 
spells  the  name  Broadstreet ,  which  was  agree- 
able to  the  pronunciation  of  it. 

f  See  ante,  p.  63  :  also  Prince,  320. 

j  Speaking  of  the  acts  of  the  first  court,  in 
which  an  attempt  was  made  to  regulate  the 
rate  of  wages,  &c,  Mr.  Hubbard  observes, 
"  It  being  commonly  found,  that  men  gotten 
from  under  the  reins  of  government,  are  but 
like  cattle  without  a  fence,  which  are  thereby 
apt  to  run  wild  and  grow  unruly,  without  good 
laws." — Hist.  New  Eng.,  146-7. 

§  The  most  full  and  complete  list  of  Free- 
men anywhere  to  be  found  is  contained  in  the 
N.  Eng.  H.  and  Gen.  Regr.,  vol.  iii.  In  the 
same  volume  will  also  be  found  the  oath  pre- 
scribed for  those  admitted,  &c. 


1630.]  MURDER   AND    EXECUTION    AT   PLYMOUTH.  107 

them  a  voice  in  the  concerns  of  government.  No  special  qualifications 
for  the  rank  of  Freeman  had  yet  been  adopted,  or,  at  least,  none  are 
recorded  ;  but  before  the  May  election  of  1G31,  a  regulation  was  estab- 
lished which  required  that,  to  be  eligible  for  the  rank  of  Freeman,  all 
candidates  must  be  joined  in  fellowship  with  one  of  the  churches.  This 
condition  respecting  Freemen  was  perhaps  occasioned  by  an  early  appre- 
hension that  too  many  might  be  admitted  to  elective  privileges  who  were 
opposed  to  Puritan  principles.  This  appears  probable,  because,  in  the 
first  list  of  proposed  Freemen,  the  names  of  many  of  the  "first  plant- 
ers"* appear. 

.  In  this  early  beginning  of  Boston,  things  and  events  were  taken 
notice  of,  and  considered-  of  much  moment,  which,  had  they  happened 
a  few  years  later,  no  one  would  have  thought  worthy  to  be  recorded 
for  future  attention.  It  is  necessarily  so  in  the  beginning  of  all  new 
settlements.  Thus  it  is  noted  by  Governor  Winthrop,  in  his  Jour- 
nal, kept  upon  the  spot,  that  "the  wolves  killed  six  calves  at 
Salem,"  and  the  best  retaliation  the  people  could  make  was  to  kill  one 
wolf.  A  man  at  "  Water  town  had  his  wigwam  burnt,  and  all  his  goods." 
It  is  uncertain  whether  the  sufferer  were  an  emigrant  or  a  native.  At 
the  same  time,  Mr.  Phillips,  the  minister  of  Watertown,  and  others,  had 
their  hay  burnt ;  the  wolves  attacked  and  killed  some  hogs  at  Saugus, 
a  cow  died  at  Plymouth,  and  a  goat  at  Boston,  with  eating  Indian  corn. 
These  are  indeed  trifling  occurrences,  when  compared  with  events  of 
1853  ;  but  were  they  not  as  much  to  the  people  then  as  a  railroad  acci- 
dent now,  or  the  launching  of  a  ship  of  two  thousand  tons  ? 
0    ,  At  this  time  a  circumstance  happened  which  shocked  the  little 

communities  of  Boston  and  its  neighboring  settlements  to  a 
degree  probably  beyond  any  other  which  had  befallen  them.  It  was  a 
premeditated  murder ;  and  although  it  was  committed  at  Plymouth, 
and  the  account  of  it  would  not  legitimately  come  within  these  pages, 
but  that  the  execution  of  the  criminal  was  the  result  of  the  "  advice  of 
Mr.  Winthrop,  and  others,  the  ablest  gentlemen  in  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  who  all  concurred  with  us  that  he  ought  to  die,  and  the  land  be 
purged  from  blood."  f     The  authorities  of  Plymouth  did  not  apply  to 

*  This  is  according  to  Johnson,  Wonder-iv.  tices  against  the  country,  made  an  order  of 

Prov.  39.     By  "first  planters"  he  doubtless  Court  to  take  trial  of  the  fidelity  of  the  people, 

had  reference  to  those  persons  who  were  found  not  by  imposing  upon  them,  but  by  offering  to 

settled   about    Boston    Bay   when  Winthrop  them  an  Oath  of  Fidelity,  that  in  case  any 

came.     By  this  it  seems  that  their  number  should  refuse  to  take  it,  they  might  not  be- 

was  more  considerable  than  it  would  other-  trust  them  with  Place  of  publick  charge  and 

wise  appear.     There  were  on  the  first  list  of  command." 

proposed  Freemen,  Blackstone,  Maverick,  Jef-        f  Bradford,  in  Prince,  319-20.     "  The  first 

fries,  Gibbons,  and  several  others,  known  to  execution  in   Plymouth   Colony,  which   is   a 

be  Episcopalians.  matter  of  great  sadness  to  us,  is  of  one  John 

After  the  text  and  this  note,  so  far,  were  Billington,  for  waylaying   and  shooting  John 

written,  I  met  with  the  following  confirmation  Newcomen,  a   young   man,  in  the  shoulder, 

of  my  convictions  relative  to  the  qualifications  whereof  he  died.     This  said  Billington  was 

of  Freemen,  in  Cotton's  Bloudy  Tenent  washed,  one  of  the  profanest  among  us.    He  came  from 

&c,  p.  28-9.     "The  Magistrates  and  other  London,  and  I  know  not  by  what  friends  shuf- 

members  of  the  General  Court,  upon  intelli-  fled    into    our   company."  —  Prince,   ib.      If 

genee  of  some  Episcopal  and  malignant  prac-  there  were  any  palliating  circumstances  attend- 


108  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 

those  of  Massachusetts  because  they  had  any  doubt  of  the  guilt  of  the 
culprit,  but  because  they  had  some  fears  as  to  jurisdiction. 

About  the  end  of  this  month  an  expedition  was  undertaken  of  much 
importance.  It  was  no  less  than  a  voyage  by  sea  to  the  country  of  the 
Narraganset  Indians,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a  supply  of  corn ; 
for,  among  all  the  privations  and  sorrows  by  the  scythe  of  death  yet 
encountered,  the  settlers  of  Boston  began  to  be  admonished  that  others 
might  be  near  at  hand ;  even  the  monster  Famine  was  to  be  guarded 
against. 

It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  the  colonists  arrived  too  late  to  prepare 
ground  for  planting  this  year  ;  that  they  found  those  already  at  Salem, 
where  they  hoped  to  find  relief  if  they  required  it,  almost  destitute  of 
food  themselves  ;  and  Captain  Peirce  had  not  yet  arrived  with  the  sup- 
plies he  was  upon  a  voyage  to  England  to  procure.* 

Thus  situated,  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Dudley,  and  the  benevolent  Mav- 
erick, fitted  out  a  pinnace  to  obtain  corn,  if  they  could,  of  the  Indians.f 
The  attempt  succeeded.  The  little  vessel  returned,  in  due  time, 
freighted  with  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn.  It  stood  them  in  about  four 
shillings  the  bushel. J 

Johnson  draws  a  picture  of  the  situation  and  condition  of  Boston  pre- 
vious to  and  pending  this  voyage  to  Narraganset,  without  which  an 
adequate  idea  cannot  well  be  formed  of  the  straits  to  which  the  inhabit- 
ants were  reduced.  At  this  early  day  the  general  good  was  much 
obstructed  "  by  certain  persons  in  their  greedy  desire  for  land ;"  and 
"let  such  take  notice,"  he  says,  "how  these  were  cured  of  this  dis- 
temper ;  some  were  taken  away  by  death ;  and  then,  to  be  sure,  they 
had  land  enough  ;  others,  fearing  poverty  and  famishment,  supposing 
the  present  scarcity  would  never  be  turned  into  plenty,  removed  them- 
selves away,  and  so  never  beheld  the  great  good  the  Lord  hath  done 
for  his  people  ;  but  the  valiant  of  the  Lord  waiteth  with  patience."  § 

ing  this  murder,  they  are  not  stated  ;   on  the  from  sharp  frosts  ;  having  only  one  entrance 

other  hand,  much  appears  to  prove  that  the  into  it  by  a  navigable  river ;  inhabited  by  a 

perpetrator  was  a  "  hardened  sinner."     Gov-  few  Indians,  who,  for  a  trifle,  would  leave  the 

ernor  Bradford  said  "  he  was  a  knave,  and  so  island,  if  the  English  would  set  them   upon 

would  live  and  die."     This  he  said  in  1625.  the    main. — Dudley's    Letter.       Mr.    Prince 

A  pond  about  three  miles  from  Plymouth,  dis-  takes  it  for  granted  that  this  "  first  harbor" 

covered  by  John  Billington's  son,  Francis,  in  was  really  in  the  Narraganset  country,  and 

January,  1621,  is  known  to  this  day  as  Bil-  that  the  island  four  leagues  to  the  eastward 

lington's  Sea.     There  was  another  son,  named  was  "  Aquetneck."     Now  I  have  no  such  an 

John  ;  and  there  are  respectable  families  at  idea ;  and  have  very  little  doubt  that  some 

this  day  of  the  name  of  Billington  in  New  Eng-  point  not  beyond  the  west  side  of  Buzzard's 

land,  descended  from  the  unfortunate  passen-  Bay  was  the  extent  of  the  outward  voyage, 

ger  of  the  Mayflower  of  1620.  —  See  Davis'  f  Dudley's  Letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln, 

Morton,  Colls.  Ms.  H.  S.,  and  Hubbard's  Hist.  11-12.     Winthrop  omits  to  mention  this  im- 

New  Eng.,  for  other  particulars.  portant  event  in  his  Journal.     His  entries  all 

*  See  ante,  p.  89-90.  along,  from  his  arrival  to  this  time,  are  very 

j-  After  doubling  Cape  Cod,  the  pinnace  put  brief,  and  often  inaccurate  as  to  date,  occa- 

into  the  first   harbor   she   found,    and   there  sioned,  no  doubt,  from  his  continual  cares  and 

meeting  with  Indians,  traded  with  them  for  avocations,  which  did  not  allow  of  his  putting 

corn.     From  the  coast  where  they  traded  they  down  events  as  they  occurred, 

saw  a  very  large  island  four  leagues  to  the  §  Wonder-ivorking  Providence,  48-9.     It  is 

east  of  them,  which  the  Indians  commended  not  strange  that  many  were  discouraged;  for 

as  a  fruitful  place,  full  of  good  vines,  and  free  not  only  were   provisions  scarce  here,  but  it 


1630.]  WANTS   AND    PRIVATIONS.  109 

When  such  liquors  as  they  had  brought  with  them  failed,  and  the 
rich  as  well  as  the  poor  had  nothing  but  water  to  drink,  they  thanked 
the  Lord  that  they  were  not  only  allowed  this,  but  that  they  could  drink 
as  much  of  it  as  they  desired.  When  their  bread  was  exhausted,  they 
feasted  themselves  with  fish.  The  women  would,  "  once  a  day,  as  the 
tide  gave  way,"  gather  muscles  and  clams  on  the  shore,  "  which  are  a 
fish  as  big  as  horse-mussells."  This  they  cheerfully  did,  day  after 
day.  One  woman  said  her  husband  walked  to  Plymouth,  about  forty 
miles,  "  and  had  with  great  toil  brought  a  little  corn  home  with  him. 
Another  would  say  her  last  meale  was  in  the  oven  ;  while  many  said 
they  had  nothing  left.  One  said  her  husband  had  been  far  among  the 
Indians  for  corn,  but  he  could  get  none.  In  his  charity  and  kindness, 
the  G-overnor  had  so  far  parted  with  his  own  store  to  the  people,  that  a 
day  or  two  more  would  consume  all  he  bad."* 

Captain  Roger  Clap,  who  arrived  a  little  before  Winthrop,  speaks 
also  of  the  want  of  provisions  he  and  others  experienced.  Planting- 
time  being  past  when  he  arrived,  "  provision  was  not  to  be  had  for 
money."  And,  though  he  wrote  to  his  father  in  England  to  send  him 
provisions,  "  before  this  supply  came,  and  after,  too,  many  a  time,"  he 
suffered  from  hunger,  and  longed  for  such  crusts  of  bread  as  he  used 
to  see  upon  his  father's  table  ;  and  he  thought,  when  he  occasionally 
could  get  "meal  and  salt  and  water  boiled  together,"  it  was  a  luxury 
indeed,  f 

During  these  hardships,  the  worthy  ministers  encouraged  their  fol- 
lowers, who,  with  Christian  confidence,  encouraged  one  another  ;  and, 
as  they  stood  steadfastly  in  the  belief  that  relief  would  come,  "they 
lifted  up  their  eyes  and  saw  two  ships  coming  in,  and  presently  the 
newes  came  to  their  eares,"  says  one  among  them,  "  that  they  were 
come  from  Ireland  full  of  victualls."  J 

0  t  09  The  ship  Handmaid  arrived  at  Plymouth  almost  a  complete 
wreck.  She  lost  all  her  masts,  and  had  a  passage  of  near  three 
months.  In  this  ship  came  about  sixty  passengers,  who  all  arrived  in 
good  health.  On  board  were  also  twenty-eight  young  cows  when  she 
sailed,  but,  in  the  terrible  tempests  which  beset  them  on  the  way,  ten 

was  also  a  time  of  great  scarcity  in  Europe ;  f  Capt.  Koger  Clap's  Memoirs,  20. 

at  Boston  "every  bushel  of  wheat  meal  stand-  j  Wonder-working  Providence,  49.      I  sup- 

ing  them  in  14s.  sterling,  and  every  bushel  of  pose  the  "  two  ships"  here  mentioned  to  have 

peas  10s.,  and  not  easy  to  be  procured  nei-  been  the  Lyon,  Capt.  Pierce,  who,  it  will  be 

ther."  —  Hubbard,  Hist.  N.  Eng.  remembered,  was  despatched   to  Ireland  for 

*  When  Boston  had  been  settled  sixty-eight  provisions.     See  ante,  p.  90,  and  Prince,  p. 

years,  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,   in   reviewing  its  313.     The  Lyon  did  not  sail,  probably,  till 

progress,  observed  that  "  within  a  few  years  towards  the  end  of  July,  and  her  return  could 

alter  the  first  settlement,  it  grew  to  be  The  not  reasonably  be  looked  for  until  about  this 

Metropolis   of  the  whole  English  Empire."  time,  which  is  a  little  anticipated  by  Johnson  ; 

And,  he  says,  "little  was  this  expected  by  for,  according  to  Winthrop,  i.  41,  she  did  not 

them  that  first  settled  the  Town,  when  for  a  arrive  until  5  Feb.,   163L     The   other  ship" 

while  Boston   was   proverbially   called   Lost-  may  have  been  the  Handmaid  ;  but  she  arrived 

town,  for  the  mean  and  sad  circumstances  of  the  beginning  of  November.     Or  the  ship  No. 

it."  —  Magnalia,   B.   i.   31.     It  contained  in  17,  in  the  table  at  p.  88,  ante,  without  a  name, 

1698,   "  seven  thousand  Souls  of  us  at  this  may  have  been  the  other. 
hour  living  on  the  spot."  —  lb. 


110  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1630. 

of  them  were  washed  overboard,  or  otherwise  lost.     Soon  after,  Captain 
„  Grant,  master  of  the  Handmaid,  Captain  Standish,  and  two  gen- 

tlemen who  came  passengers  in  the  Handmaid,  arrived  at  Bos- 
ton. The  two  gentlemen  intended  to  settle  here  ;  but,  says  Winthrop, 
"  having  no  testimonials,  we  would  not  receive  them."* 

At  a  Court  of  Assistants,  at  which  were  Winthrop,  Dudley, 
Ludlow,  Endicott,  Coddington,  Pynchon  and  Bradstreet,  it  was 
ordered  that  every  Englishman  who  should  kill  a  wolf  within  this 
Patent  "shall  have  one  penny  for  every  beast  and  horse,  and  one  far- 
thing for  every  weaned  swine  and  goat,  in  every  plantation,  to  be  levied 
by  the  constables  of  said  plantations."  At  the  same  Court  it  was  pro- 
posed that  whoever  would  first  give  in  his  name  to  the  Governor  "  that 
he  will  undertake  to  set  up  a  ferry  between  Boston  and  Charlestown, 
and  begin  the  same  at  such  time  as  the  Governor  shall  appoint,  shall 
have  one  penny  for  every  person,  and  one  penny  for  every  hundred 
pound  weight  of  goods  he  shall  so  transport."! 

Again,  at  the  next  Court  of  Assistants,  present  only  the  Gov- 
ernor, Deputy,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Ludlow,  No  well, 
Pynchon,  Coddington  and  Bradstreet.  The  first  business  transacted 
was  to  fine  one  of  the  Assistants  five  pounds,  for  whipping  two  persons 
without  another  of  the  Assistants  being  present,  contrary  to  an  act  of 
Court  formerly  made  ;  in  the  next  place  a  man  was  ordered  to  be 
whipped  for  snooting  at  a  fowl  on  the  Sabbath  day  ;  and,  thirdly,  that 
sixty  pounds  be  collected  for  the  maintenance  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  'Mr. 
Phillips.  | 

The   Governor  and  most  of  the  Assistants  held  a  meeting  at 

Roxbury,  "  and  there  agreed  to  build  a  town  fortified  upon  the 

Neck,  between  that  and  Boston."     A  Committee  was  appointed  "  to 

consider  all  things  requisite."     Eight  days  after,  they  met  again  at  the 

same  place,  when  the  Committee  reported  that  Roxbury  was 

not  suitable  for  a  fortified  town.     "First,  because  men  would 

be   forced   to   keep    two   families.       Second,    there    was   no    running 

water  ;   and  if  there  were  any  springs  they  would  not  suffice  the  town. 

Third,  the  most  part  of  the  people  had  built  already,  and  would  not  be 

able  to  build  again." 

The  attention  of  the  authorities  was  next  turned  to  Water- 
town,  and  they  met  there  according  to  an  appointment  at  their 
last  meeting  ;   and,  as  first  at  Roxbury,  so  now  here,  "  all  agreed  it  a 
fit  place  for  a  fortified  town,"  but  did  not  take  any  measures  to  begin 

*  It  would  be  interesting  could  we  know  J  In  this  amount  Boston  was  assessed  £20, 

who  the  "  two  gentlemen"  were  that,  at  this  Watertown,  £20,  Charlestown,  £10,  Roxbury, 

time,  were  refused  a  residence  in  Boston.    All  £6,   Medford,  £3,   and   Winnesemet,  £1.  — 

I  am  able  to  do  is  to  imitate   the  silence  of  Prince,  ib.     I  have  seen  it  somewhere  stated 

Winthrop  'a  annotator.  that,  at  the  time   of  the  removal  to  Boston 

f  Prince,   323-4,  from   Mass.    Col.   Res.  —  from   Charlestown,   there  were  but  seventeen 

This,  though  the  fourth  meeting,  or  "Court  inhabitants  left  at  the  latter  place.    The  above 

of  Assistants,"  was  the  first  of  these  Courts  assessment  would  hardly  warrant  such  conclu- 

held  in  Boston  —  Ibid.    The  next  was  held  on  sion. 
the  last  day  of  November. 


1630.]  FORTIFIED    TOWN.  —  DISASTROUS  VOYAGE.  Ill 

D  28  it.  Finally,  after  many  consultations  at  Boston,  Watcrtown 
and  Roxbury,  it  was  decided  to  fortify  a  place  on  the  north- 
west side  of  Charles  river,  about  three  miles  west  of  Charlcstown  ;  and 
all  except  Mr.  Endicot  and  Mr.  Thomas  Sharp*  engaged  to  build 
houses  there  in  the  spring  of  1631,  and  to  remove  their  ordnance  and 
munition  thither.     This  place  they  called  Newton,  f 

It  Avas  a  time  of  despondency  with  many,  but  they  were  reminded 
of  the  constancy  and  firmness  of  their  neighbors  of  Plymouth.  Their 
troubles  about  a  fortified  town  had  put  them  back  in  their  building, 
and  other  necessary  labors,  nearly  six  months.  The  leaders  of  the  peo- 
ple were  of  the  opinion  that,  by  erecting  fortifications,  and  removing 
into  them  all  the  warlike  stores,  and  binding  all  the  Assistants  to 
remove  to  the  fortified  place,  those  w7ho  had  settled  about  in  different 
places  would  be  obliged  to  concentrate  themselves  there  also,  for  their 
own  personal  safety. 

In  the  course  of  the  third  wTeek  in  December,  Captain  Walter  Neale 
and  some  other  gentlemen  came  to  Boston  from  Pascataqua.  Their 
object  was  probably  only  a  friendly  visit.  Mr.  Neale  arrived  at  Pascat- 
aqua last  summer,  in  the  bark  Warwick  ;  having  been  sent  over  by  Sir 
Ferclinando  Gorges,  as  Governor  of  his  Patent. 

.  Up  to  this  time  the  season  had  been,  as  it  usually  is  at  this 
day,  mild  and  open,  with  no  heavy  frosts  ;  but  now  it  comes  on 
intensely  cold,  which  was  heightened  by  a  previous  fall  of  snow.  The 
wind  blowing  at  the  same  time  powerfully  from  the  north-west  endan- 
gered those  who  ventured  abroad.  During  this  extreme  weather,  a 
shallop,  in  which  were  three  of  Governor  Winthrop's  servants,  coming 
down  from  Mistick  for  Boston,  was  driven  upon  Noddle's  Island,  and  the 
men  were  forced  to  remain  there  all  night,  without  fire  or  the  means  of 
making  any.  The  next  day,  however,  they  succeeded  in  reaching 
Boston  ;   but  two  of  them  were  badly  frost-bitten. 

The  following  Sunday  the  rivers  were  frozen  up,  and  the  peo- 
ple of  Charlestown  were  prevented  from  coming  to  the  sermon 
in  Boston  as  usual,  till  high  water  in  the  afternoon. 

Two  days  before  the  cold  weather  came  on,  Mr.  Richard  Gar- 
ret,  of  Boston,  sailed  for  Plymouth  in  a  sort  of  shallop  or  open 
boat.  Though  it  is  said  he  undertook  the  voyage  against  the  advice  of 
his  friends,  no  reason  for  such  advice  is  assigned.  With  Mr.  Garret 
went  his  daughter,  a  young  girl,  and  a  Mr.  Harwood,!  and  three  oth- 
ers^    When  they  arrived  at  or  near  the  Garnet's  Nose,  the  north-west 

*  Mr.    Endicott   lived    at   Salem,   and   Mr.  Garret  and  Henry  Harwood  are  names  in  the 

Sharpe  was  to  sail  for  England  in  the  next  first  list  of  freemen  of  the  colony.  —  The  title 

ship.  —  Dudley's  Letter.  of  Mr.  (Master)  at  this  time  in  New  England 

f  It  took  the  name  of  Cambridge  in  1638.  was  far  more  honorable  than  that  of  Esquire 

J  Though  Winthrop,  my  authority,  does  not  two  hundred  years  later.     People  in  ordinary 

Mr.    these  two  men,  I  have  assumed  the  re-  circumstances     were    called     Good-man    and 

sponsibility  to   do  so.      Garret  was  a  shoe-  Good-wife. 

maker,  and  Harwood  "  was  a  godly  man  of  §  Gov.  Dudley  says  there  were  "  6  men  and 

the  congregation  of  Boston."     Both  Richard  agirle." 


112  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1630. 

wind  drove  them  from  their  course,  in  spite  of  all  they  could  do.*  They 
expected  to  be  driven  out  to  sea ;  and  their  vessel  began  to  fill  with 
water ;  they  at  length  became  exhausted  in  their  endeavors  to  free 
it.  Believing  themselves  lost,  some  of  the  company  disposed  them- 
selves to  die  ;  one  of  them,  however,  with  more  courage  than  the  rest, 
espied  land  at  a  distance,  to  which  it  seems  the  wind  was  driving  them. 
This  animated  those  who  had  not  lost  the  power  of  motion  by  the  be- 
numbing cold  and  frost,  partially  to  spread  a  sail,  and  they  were  driven 
through  dangerous  rocks  and  shoals  on  to  Cape  Cod.  Thus  some 
got  to  land,  but  others  had  their  legs  so  frozen  into  the  ice  which 
made  in  the  boat,  that  they  were  forced  to  be  cut  out.  Having  at 
last  all  got  on  shore,  they  were  not  without  the  means  of  kindling  a  fire, 
but  it  was  in  a  place  where  scarcely  wood  enough  could  be  procured  to 
make  it  of  much  service  to  them,  and  they  were  without  even  a  hatchet 
with  which  to  help  themselves.  In  this  extremity  these  poor  people 
passed  a  most  wretched  and  dismal  night.f  In  the  morning,  two  of 
them  started  for  Plymouth,  supposing  it  to  be  within  seven  or  eight 
miles,  whereas  it  proved  to  be  near  fifty;  and  but  for  the  kindness  of 
the  Indians,  every  one  must  have  perished.  Those  who  started  for 
Plymouth  were  discovered  in  their  wanderings  by  two  squaws,  who 
immediately  reported  their  discovery  to  their  husbands.  The  Indian 
men  pursued  and  soon  overtook  them,  conducted  them  to  their  wig- 
wam, refreshed  and  entertained  them.J  The  next  day,  one  of  the 
Indians  set  out  to  guide  the  two  men  to  Plymouth,  and  the  other 
sought  out  the  rest  of  the  distressed  company,  which  were  seven  miles 
off.  Garret  died  the  same  day,  and  the  others  could  scarcely  be  kept 
alive.  After  doing  what  he  could  for  them,  the  Indian  returned  to  his 
wigwam  and  got  a  hatchet,  with  which  he  hewed  a  hole  in  the  frozen 
earth,  and  buried  Garret  as  well  as  he  could,  piling  wood  upon  his 
grave  to  protect  his  body  from  the  wolves.  He  then  built  them  a  wig- 
wam, and  made  them  as  comfortable  as  it  was  possible  for  him  to  do  in 
such  a  desolate  place  and  with  the  means  he  had.  Governor  Bradford, 
of  Plymouth,  learning  by  the  faithful  Indian  before  mentioned  that  oth- 
ers were  yet  left  suffering  on  the  coast,  immediately  sent  three  men 
to  them,  who  brought  them  to  Plymouth. §  Though  they  came  comfort- 
ably, and  with  a  fair  wind,  another  of  them  died  there  soon  after.  One 
of  the  two  men  who  went  for  Plymouth  with  the  Indian,  died  in  the 

*  "  But  the  wind  then  coming  strongly  from  J  These  Indians  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Nau- 

the  shore,  kept  them  from  entring  and  drove  set.     It  will  be  semembered  that  it  was  this 

them  to  seawards,  and  they  having  no  better  tribe   which   was   so   outraged   by  one  Capt. 

meanes  to  help  themselves,  let  down  their  kil-  Hunt,  in  1614. — See  ante,  p.  20. 

lick,  that  soe  they  might  drive  the  more  slowly,  §  "  The  governour  and  counsell  of  Plymouth 

and  bee  nearer  land  when  the   storm   should  liberally  rewardinge  the  Indian,  and  took  care 

cese.     But  the  stone  slipping  out  of  the  kil-  for  the  safety  of  our  people,  who  brought  them 

lick,  and  thereby  they  driveing  faster  than  they  all  alive  in  their  boate  thither,  save  one  man, 

thought  all  the  night,  found  theznselves  out  of  who,  with  a  guide  chose  rather  to  goe  over 

sight  of  land  in  the  morninge."  —  Dudley.  land,  but  quickly  fell  lame  by  the  way,  and 

t ' '  The  stronger  helped  the  weaker  out  of  the  getting  harbor  at  a  trucking  house  the  Plym- 

boate,  and  takeing  their  p«\ile  on  shore,  made  otheans    had   in   those   parts,   there   hee   yet 

a  shelter  thereof."  —  Dudley,  ibid.  abides."  —  Dudley,  ibid. 


1630.] 


THOMAS  MORTON  TRANSPORTED. 


113 


way,  and  the  other  died  afterwards  from  the  effects  of  the  frost.  The 
girl  suffered  the  least  of  all ;  *  and  though  Mr.  Ilarwood  recovered,  he 
laid  a  long  time  under  the  surgeon's  hands.f 

This  was  a  serious  calamity  to  Boston  in  its  early  days.  The  loss  of 
five  or  six  active  and  useful  citizens  must  then  have  been  very  heavily 
felt.  To  realize  the  magnitude  of  such  a  loss  at  that  time,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  consider  what  one  of  a  similar  magnitude  would  have  been  at 
any  given  time  since.  Thus,  when  the  population  of  Boston  was  sixty 
thousand,  a  loss  of  fifteen  hundred  men  from  their  midst  would  have 
been  nearly  in  the  proportion  to  its  population  as  the  loss  of  five  in 
1630  was  to  the  inhabitants  then. 

Notice  of  Thomas  Morton's  apprehension  in  1628  has  been  before 
taken,  |  and  of  his  being  sent  out  of  the  country,  and  of  his  return  again 


*  "  Hannah  Garret,  a  fatherless  child,  dyed 
(12.)  1G32."—  Boston  Records.  Whether 
this  was  the  sufferer  named  in  the  text  is  not 
known.  James  Garret  and  wife  Deborah 
had  children  born  in  Boston,  Mary,  4 :  3  : 
1G38  ;  Priscilla,  28  :  4  :  1640  ;  James,  6:6: 
1643.  — See  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  iv.  184. 

Gov.  Dudley  is  very  particular  respecting 
this  disastrous  voyage  of  early  Boston  men, 
"  because,"  he  says,  "  the  first  man  that  dyed 
was  a  godly  man  of  our  congregacon,  one  Rich- 
ard Garrad  a  shoemaker,  who,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  more  feared  hee  should  dishonor 
God  than  cared  for  his  own  life." 

f  Winthrop,  i.  39-40,  who  is  also  very  mi- 
nute and  circumstantial  about  this  melancholy 
affair. 

J  See  ante,  pages  49,  50,  and  94.  Follow- 
ing Morton  the  Memorialist,  I  there  stated  the 
capture  of  Morton  the  Disturber  as  ' '  after  the 
arrival  of  Gov.  Endicott."  But,  from  certain 
fragments  of  Gov.  Bradford's  Letter-book  (re- 
ferred to  in  note  %,  p.  50,  ante),  I  am  aware 
that  a  conclusion  must  be  drawn  that  prepara- 
tions were  made  to  send  Morton  out  of"  New 
England  in  June,  1628  ;  consequently,  before 
the  arrival  of  Gov.  Endicott  at  Naumkeag. 
If  arrangements  for  sending  the  Disturber 
away  were  made  before  he  was  caught,  then  it 
may  be  that  the  statement  of  the  Memorialist 
is  true.  But  the  accounts  of  the  capture  of 
Morton  are  destitute  of  dates,  and  Prince  was 
no  better  off  in  his  time  in  this  respect,  ac- 
knowledging (Chron.  244)  that  he  was  obliged 
to  place  it  "by  guess."  Capt.  Oldham  was 
certainly  in  England  early  in  the  spring  of 
1629,  and  with  him  Morton  was  sent  to  Eng- 
land (Colls.  Ms.  His.  Soc.  iii.  62-3);  but 
what  time  he  sailed,  or  when  he  arrived  there, 
nothing  yet  appears  to  show. — See  Bradford 
in  Prince,  252.  Judge  Davis  supposed  (in 
Morton,  Mem.  141)  that  the  Disturber  was 
sent  away  in  a  ship  called  the  Whale.  This 
may  have  been  the  name  of  Capt.  Oldham's 
ship,  but  we  know  that  when  Morton  speaks 
about  being  "  in  the  Whale's  belly,"  he  refers 
to  his  confinement  in  the  Handmaid.  He  makes 

15 


his  case  a  parallel  one  to  that  of  Jonah  ;  and, 
therefore,  in  running  out  his  parallel,  he  must 
necessarily  run  into  a  whale's  belly.  He  does 
not  mention  the  name  of  any  ship,  but  the 
captain  of  the  Handmaid  he  calls  Mr.  Wether- 
cock.  His  real  name  was  Grant,  as  stated  in 
page  88,  ante.  Morton  says  this  captain  sailed 
without  having  "  vittells  but  for  a  moneth,  be- 
sides the  vessell  was  a  very  slugg,  and  so  un- 
serviceable ;  so  that  in  fine  the  Master  and 
men  were  all  at  their  wits  end  about  it." 
That  "  nine  moneths  they  made  a  shife  to  use 
her,  and  shifted  for  supply  of  vittells  at  all 
the  islands  they  touched  at."  Finally,  "  with 
all  those  helpes,"  he  says,  "  and  short  allow- 
ance of  a  bisket  a  day,  and  a  few  lymons  taken 
in  the  Canaries,"  they  came  in  view  of  the 
Land's  End.  Further,  he  says  it  was  through 
the  great  mercy  of  God  they  had  not  all  per- 
ished, "  for  when  they  let  drop  an  anchor 
neere  the  Island  of  St.  Michael's,  they  had 
not  one  bit  of  foode  left."  This  eventful  voy- 
age he  records  in  the  last  chapter  of  his 
"  New  Canaan,"  styling  himself  "  Mine  Host 
of  Ma-re-Mount,"  who,  he  says,  "after  hee 
had  bin  in  the  whales  belly,  was  set  ashore  to 
see  if  hee  would  now  play  Ionas,  so  metamor- 
phosed with  a  longe  voyage,  that  he  looked 
like  Lazarus  in  the  painted  cloth  ;  but  Mine 
Host  thought  it  fitter  for  him  to  play  Ionas  in 
this  kinde  [making  a  book]  than  for  the  Sepe- 
ratists  to  play  Ionas  in  that  kinde  as  they  doe. 
Hee  therefore  bid  Wethercock  tell  the  Seperat- 
ists  that  they  would  be  made  in  due  time  to 
repent  those  malitious  practices,  and  so  would 
hee  too  ;  for  he  was  a  Seperatist  amongst  the 
Seperatists  as  farre  as  his  wit  would  give  him 
leave."  This  Morton  published  in  1632.  Two 
years  later,  when  Charles  I.  was  carrying 
on  his  high-handed  measures  about  "  ship- 
money,"  &c,  and  Bishop  Laud  was  prosecut- 
ing his  Conformity  designs,  Morton  wrote  to 
Mr.  William  Jeffery  (perhaps  the  same  men- 
tioned ante,  p.  50)  that  "  the  Massachusetts 
Patent,  by  order  of  the  Council,  was  declared, 
for  manifest  abuses,  to  be  void  ;  that  the  king 
had  reiissumed  the  whole  business  into  his 


114 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1630. 


in  1629.*  He  had  an  interest  at  Mount  Wollaston,  and  there  again  he 
took  up  his  residence,  and  there  he  was  when  Boston  was  settled. 
Hence  his  Patent,  if  he  had  one,  was  covered  by  the  Charter  brought 
over  by  the  Massachusetts  people. f  It  was  therefore  the  duty  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  as  he  conceived,  to  put  an  end  to  a  colony  within  the 
bounds  of  his  government,  particularly  as  that  colony  did  not  acknowl- 
edge his  authority  ;  and  hence  the  order  of  Court  for  Morton's  punish- 
ment and  transportation,  as  stated  in  a  previous  chapter.  J 

The  order  of  Court  that  "  Thomas  Morton,  of  Mount  Wollaston,  shall 
presently  be  set  in  the  bilbowes,"§  was  dated  on  the  seventh  of  Sep- 
tember of  this  year  (1630).  He  had  already  been  taken  into  custody, || 
and  was  held  a  prisoner  in  Boston,  until  an  opportunity  should  offer  to 
send  him  again  to  England.  There  seems  to  have  been  some  difficulty 
in  finding  any  vessel  the  captain  of  which  would  receive  him. IF  At 
length,  "  in  the  end  of  December,"  writes  Deputy-Governor  Dudley, 


own  hands,  and  given  order  for  a  general  Gov- 
ernor to  be  sent  over."  And,  in  his  exulta- 
tion he  vaunted  that  "  he  should  soon  see  his 
desire  upon  his  enemies;"  and  as  to  John 
Grant  (Wethercoek),  "had  he  not  betaken 
him  to  flight,  he  would  have  been  taught  to 
sing  clamavi  in  the  Fleet  before  that  time." 
—  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  191.  This  letter 
was  dated  on  the  first  of  May  (1634),  the  very 
day  on  which  the  "Commission  passed  the 
privy  seal."  [I  suppose  the  quo  warranto  of 
which  Holmes  speaks  {Annals,  i.  227)  under 
1635,  and  the  "  great  ship  which  fell  asunder 
in  launching"  should  be  under  1634.  The 
story  about  the  new  ship  "  which  in  the  very 
launching  fell  all  in  pieces,  no  man  knew 
how,"  is  given  with  superstitious  satisfaction 
by  Sir  Simon  D'Ewes,  in  his  Autobiography, 
ii.  118,  among  the  events  of  1634.  The  quo 
warranto  may  be  seen  in  Hutchinson's  Col. 
Papers,  101,  but  not  in  its  chronological 
order.]  The  turn  of  times  in  England,  and 
not  the  accidental  falling  over  of  a  ship  in 
launching,  saved  New  England  at  this  time 
from  the  serious  calamity  with  which  Morton 
and  his  associates  had  so  effectually  prepared 
to  visit  it. 

*  Mr.  Isaac  Allerton  was  sent  over  to  Lon- 
don in  1628,  probably  in  the  fall  (Prince, 
Chron.,  252),  as  agent  for  Plymouth  about  the 
Kennebec  Patent.  He  returned  the  next  year 
(1629),  perhaps  towards  August  (see  Prince, 
ib.,  265),  and,  to  the  surprise  of  everybody, 
Morton  came  with  him,  being  employed  as  his 
scribe.  To  quiet  the  people,  Mr.  Allerton 
was  obliged  to  discharge  Morton,  who  repaired 
at  once  to  his  old  quarters  at  Ma-re-Mount. 
Here  he  remained  till  August,  the  next  year, 
as  stated  in  the  text. 

|  See  Bradford,  in  Colls.  Ms.  Hist.  Soc,  iii. 
61,  who  says  when  his  government  was 
applied  to  by  the  other  Plantations,  "they 
were  told  that  we  had  no  authority  to  do  any- 
thing" against  Morton's  colony  ;  "  but  seeing 


it  tended  to  the  utter  ruin  of  all  the  whole 
country,  we  would  join  with  them  against  so 
public  a  mischief."  Eut,  on  the  arrival  of 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  want  of  jurisdic- 
tion was  out  of  the  question  ;  and,  when  Mor- 
ton urged  it,  the  charter  was  referred  to  with 
an  air  of  confidence  that  admitted  of  no  appeal : 
at  which  his  resentment  was  unbounded,  and 
he  labored  for  its  abrogation  after  he  arrived 
in  England,  and  not  without  success.  At  this 
time  he  exultingly  wrote,  "  Repent  you  cruell 
Seperatists  repent,  there  is  yet  but  40  dayes 
if  love  vouchsafe  to  thunder,  Charter  and  the 
kingdome  of  the  Seperatists  will  fall  asunder. 
Repent  you  cruel  Schismaticks  repent,"  &c. — 
New  Canaan,  B.  iii.  chap.  31.  Fortunately 
for  New  England,  the  government  in  Old  Eng- 
land "  falling  asunder,"  Morton's  projects  fell 
to  the  ground,  as  already  mentioned. 

%  See  ante,  pages  95  and  98. 

§  "  Bilboes,  a 
sort  of  punish- 
ment at  sea, 
when  an  offend- 
er is  laid  in  irons, 
or  set  in  a  kind 
of  stocks."  — 
Phillips  and  Ker- 
sey. It  is  quite 
probable  that  a 
ship's  stocks  was 
made  use  of  on 
this  occasion ,  be- 
cause time  and  bilboes. 
hands  could  not 
be  well  spared  to  build  wooden  stocks. 

||  See  ante,  page  94. 

"|[  In  his  New  Canaan,  Morton  entitles  the 
29th  chapter  of  his  third  book  "  How  mine 
Host  was  put  into  a  whale's  belly,"  and  then 
proceeds:  "The  Seperatists  (after  they  had 
burned  Ma-re-Mount,  they  could  not  get  any 
shipp  to  undertake  the  carriage  of  mine  Host 
from  thence  either  by  faire  meanes  or  fowle) , 


1031.] 


ENEMIES    IN    ENGLAND. 


115 


who  was  one  of  those  prominent  in  office  at  the  time,  "  departed  from 
ys  the  shipp  llandmaide  of  London,  by  which  wee  sent  away  one  Thomas 
Morton,  a  proud  insolent  man,  who  had  lived  here  divers  yeares,  and 
had  beene  an  Attorney  in  the  West  Conntryes,  while  he  lived  in  Eng- 
land. Multitude  of  coinplaintes  wee  received  against  him  for  iniuries 
doone  by  him  both  to  the  English  and  Indians  ;  and  amongst  others, 
for  shootinge  hail  shott  at  a  troope  of  Indians  for  not  bringing  a  can- 
no  we  vnto  him  to  cross  a  river  withall ;  whereby  hee  hort  one,  and 
shott  through  the  garments  of  another.  For  the  sattisfaeon  of  the  Indi- 
ans wherein,  and  that  it  might  appear  to  them  and  to  the  English  that 
wee  meant  to  doe  iustice  impartially,  wee  caused  his  hands  to  bee  bound 
behind  him,  and  sett  his  feete  in  the  bill-bowes,  and  burned  his  howse 
to  the  ground,  all  in  the  sight  of  the  Indians,  and  soe  kept  him  prisoner 
till  wee  sent  him  for  England  ;*  whether  wee  sent  him,  for  that  my 
Lord  Cheife  Justice  there  soe  required  that  hee  might  punish  him  cap- 
pitally  for  fowler  misdemeaners  there  perpetrated,  as  wee  were  in- 
formed." f 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


Deaths.  —  A  Fast  turned  into  a  Thanksgiving.  —  Incidents  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Lyon.  —  Arrival  of 
Mr.  Roger  Williams  and  others. — Melancholy  Fate  of  young  Way.  — Arrival  of  distinguished  Men. 
—  Disasters  to  returning  Ships.  —  Feeling  in  England  against  New  England. — Banishments. — 
Indians  complain  of  Wrongs.  —  Flight  of  Birds  ominous.  —  Fire.  — Artificers'  Wages  regulated.  — 
Visits  of  Indians.  —  Return  of  Gentlemen  to  England.  —  Other  Indians  visit  Boston.  —  Roger  Wil- 
liams. —  Precautions  against  the  Mohawks.  —  Walford  banished.  —  Chikataubut.  —  A  General 
Court  established.  —  Ferry  to  Charlestown.  —  Philip  Ratcliff. 

N  the  third  of  January  there  died  at  Boston  a  young 
lady,  who,  by  her  amiable  conduct,  had  so  endeared 
herself  to  all  that  it  was  declared  that  Boston  "  had  not 
received  the  like  loss  of  any  woman"  since  it  began  to 
be  settled.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Sharp,  one  of  the  Assistants  ;  but  her  Christian  name 
and  her  age  are  not  mentioned,  or  the  disease  of  which 
she   died;   only  that  she  had  had  "  a  long  sickness." 


they  were  inforced  (contrary  to  their  expecta- 
tion) to  be  troubled  with  his  company;  and 
by  that  ineanes  had  time  to  consider  more  of 
the  man,  than  they  had  done  of  the  matter." 

*  It  is  not  unlikely  that  Morton  may  have 
had  difficulties  with  some  of  the  neighboring 
Indians,  but  many  circumstances  show  that  he 
was  rather  a  favorite  with  them  in  general. 
In  his  own  account  it  appears  that  when  the 
"  devellish  sentance  against  him  was  passed 
at  Boston,  the  harmeles  salvages  (his  neigh- 
boures)  came  the  while,  grieved  poore  silly 
lambes,  to  see  what  they  went  about  [when 
the  Authoreties  put  him  in  the  bilboes] ;  and 
did  reproove  these  eliphants  of  witt  for  their 
inhumane  deede  ;  the  Lord  above  did  open  their 


mouthes  like  Balam's  Asse,  and  made  them 
speake  in  hisbehalfe,  sentences  of  unexpected 
divinity,  besides  morrallity ;  and  tould  them 
that  God  would  not  love  them,  that  burned 
this  good  man's  howse ;  and  plainely  sayd, 
that  they  who  were  new  come  would  find  the 
want  of  such  a  howses  in  the  winter."  —  New 
Canaan,  B.  iii.,  chap.  23. 

f  That  Morton  was  greatly  misrepresented, 
there  is  not  much  room  to  doubt,  while  there 
may  be  no  doubt  that  he  was  a  reckless  and 
misguided  man.  The  "  fowler  misdemeaners" 
darkly  hinted  at  by  Dudley,  are  openly  said  to 
be  "  murther  besides  other  miscarriages,"  by 
Morton's  namesake,  the  Memorialist.  —  See 
Memorial,  (1st  ed.)  p.  72,  or  Ed.  Davis,  140. 


116  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 

One  other  death  is  recorded  this  month,  which  was  that  of  a  girl,  a 
daughter  of  John  Ruggels,  only  eleven  years  old.*  Her  demise  was 
specially  noticed  on  account  of  her  having  given  such  extraordinary 
evidences  "  concerning  the  things  of  another  world." 

The  situation  of  the  settlers  of  Boston  was  becoming  every  day 
more  trying  ;  as  the  winter  advanced,  provisions  grew  scarcer ; 
muscles,  groundnuts  and  acorns,  the  chief  dependence  now  of  many, 
the  snow  and  frozen  state  of  the  earth  rendered  hard  to  be  procured ; 
and  Captain  Peirce  was  looked  for  in  agonizing  despair,  especially  as 
the  perils  of  the  ocean,  danger  from  pirates,  and  the  hostility  of  known 
belligerent  powers,  were  taken  into  view.  Under  these  distressing  cir- 
cumstances, a  Fast  is  ordered  to  be  kept ;  when,  to  the  great  surprise 
and  greater  joy  of  the  people,  the  very  day  before  the  Fast  was  to  take 
place,  Captain  Peirce,  in  the  Lyon,  is  announced  as  arrived  at  Nantas- 
ket,  laden  with  provisions.  Whereupon,  to  express  their  joy  and  grat- 
itude, the  Fast  is  ordered  to  be  changed  to  a  Thanksgiving,  and  to  be 
celebrated  on  the  twenty-second  of  the  same  month,  "  in  all  the  planta- 
tions." 

Not  having  heard  anything  from  the  Lyon,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  the  people  would  be  wrought  up  to  a  mental  excitement  not  easily 
conceived  of  by  observers  at  this  distance  of  time,  but  easily  arrived  at 
by  those  whom  starvation  had  been  approaching  with  slow  but  certain 
strides,  and  was  now  not  only  in  the  very  presence  of  many,  but  actu- 
ally staring  them  in  the  face.  Nor  was  this  state  of  things  confined  to 
the  poor  people  of  Boston,  but  even  the  Governor  himself  had  seen  his 
last  grain  of  meal  go  to  the  oven. 

New  life  was  put  into  every  one  by  this  acquisition  of  provisions ; 
even  the  sick,  which  were  many  at  this  time,  began  to  improve  in 
health  ;  especially  those  suffering  from  the  scurvy,  who  received  great 
benefit  from  the  juice  of  lemons,  of  which  Captain  Peirce  had  taken 
care  to  bring  a  quantity. 

The  Lyon  sailed  from  Bristol  on  the  first  of  December,  and,  as  usual 
in  a  western  voyage  over  the  Atlantic  in  the  midst  of  winter,  she  had  a 
tempestuous  passage  of  sixty-four  days.  About  two  hundred  tons  of 
goods,  chiefly  provisions,  were  received  by  her,  and  an  accession  of 
great  importance  besides,  consisting  of  "  about  twenty  passengers,"  f 
who  all,  save  one,  came  safe.  This  one,  a  young  man,  son  of  Mr. 
Henry  Way,  of  Dorchester,  "  fell  from  the  spritsail  yard  in  a  tempest, 
and  could  not  be  recovered,  though  he  kept  in  sight  near  a  quarter  of 
an  hour."  J  Thus  the  fond  hopes  of  one  family  were  turned  into  deep 
affliction  on  the  arrival  of  the  long-looked-for  ship. 

And,  after  all,  he  does  not  seem  to  have  been  f  According  to  Gov.  Dudley,   there   were 

in  general  discredit  in  England  ;   so  that  it  about  twenty-six  which  came  at  this  time, 

may  pretty  safely  be  concluded  that,  as  bad  J  "Who,  in  a  tempest,  haueing  helped  to 

as  the  "  Merry-Mount  rioter"  was,  he  was  not  take  in  the  spritt  saile,  lost  his  hold  as  hee 

so  bad  as  his  enemies  would  have  us  believe,  was  comeinge  downe,  and  fell  into  the   sea, 

*  "  Of  whose  family  and  kindred  dyed  so  where  after  long  swiming  hee  was  drowned,  to 

many,  that  for  some  reason,  it  was  matter  of  the  great  dolour  of  those  in  the  shipp,  who  be- 

observacon  amongst  vs."  —  Dudley.  held  soe  lamentable  a  spectacle,  without  bee- 


1631.]  ROGER    WILLIAMS.  117 

Among  the  passengers  who  came  to  Boston  now  in  the  Lyon  were 
Mr.  Roger  Williams,*  with  his  wife,  Mr.  John  Throgmorton,  [Mr. 
John  ?]  Perkins,  and  [Mr.  Francis  ?]  Onge,  with  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren.! 

Many  letters  were  received  from  friends  by  this  arrival;  and  though 
the  news  contained  in  them  must  have  been  a  great  relief  to  the  people 
here,  it  caused  a  sorrowful  mixture  of  pleasure  and  pain  to  haunt  their 
minds,  until  other  arrivals  with  later  accounts,  in  a  measure,  took  their 
place.  Three  of  the  ships  which  returned  for  England  in  the  end  of 
the  last  summer  were  attacked  by  several  men-of-war  from  Dunkirk, 
on  the  English  coast,  and  though  they  were  not  taken,  they  suffered 
extremely  in  a  very  severe  contest,  losing  some  thirteen  or  fourteen 
men.  The  Charles —  "  a  stout  ship  of  three  hundred  tons  "  —  one  of 
the  three  ships,  "  being  soe  torne  that  shee  had  not  much  of  her  left 
whole  aboue  water."  The  Success  and  Whale  were  the  other  two 
ships.  They  "  allso  vnderstood  the  death  of  many  of  those  who  went 
for  Old  England  the  last  year,  as  likewise  of  the  mortality  there, 
whereby  graves  are  seen  in  other  places  as  well  as  here."  J 

"To  increase  the  heape  of  our  sorrows,"  continues  Dudley,  "wee 
received  advertisement  from  our  friends  in  England,  and  by  the  reports 
of  those  who  came  hither  in  this  shipp  to  abide  with  vs,  that  those  who 
went  discontentedly  from  us  the  last  year,  out  of  their  evill  affections 
towards  us,  have  raised  many  false  and  scandalous  reports  against  vs, 

ing  able  to  minester  help  to  him.     The  sea  18  years  of  age  ;  hence  he  was  born  1606,  and 

was  soe  high  and  the  ship  droue  so  fast  before  was  indeed  "  a  young  minister"  on  his  arrival 

the  wind,  though  her  sailes  were  taken  doun."  at  Boston,   as  Winthrop   observes.     On  his 
—  Dudley.  ^^ 

*  Mary  was  the  name  of  his  wife,  but  of  \/j  *        . 
what  family  she  came  has  as  yet  eluded  the       (/T     0  (7-  g^j-         yL/  '  ff>  „ 
vigilance  of  genealogists  ;  nor  have  they  sue-       <dZ^^y                         *J    -J  ^'Ty^i 
ceeded  much  better  in  ascertaining  her  hus- 
band's ancestry.     Professor  Romeo  Elton  has,  banishment  from  Massachusetts,  in  1635,  he 
at  length,  after  along  and  praiseworthy  search,  went  to  a  place  which  he  named  Providence, 
discovered,  and  this  year  (1853)  published  his  and  there  became  the  founder  of  Rhode  Island, 
discoveries  respecting  the  parentage  of  Roger  in  1636.    His  children  were,  Mary  ;  Freeborn  ; 
Williams.     He  was  the  son  of  William  Wil-  Providence,  b.  1638  (the  first  white  children 
liams,  of  Oonwyl  Cayo,  in  South  Wales,  and  born  in  that  state) ;  Mercy;  Daniel  and  Jo- 
was  born  on  an   estate  which  had  been  the  seph.  This  last-named  child  lived  in  Cranston, 
seat  of  his  ancestors  for  many  generations,  R.  I.,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  81,  as  ap- 
called  Maestroiddyn  fawr,  in  the  hamlet  of  pears  by  the  inscription  on  his  gravestone,  as 
Maestroiddyn.     He  entered  the  university  of  follows  : 
Oxford  30  April,  1624,  at  which  time  he  was 

"  Here   lies   the   Body  of  In  King  Philip's  war  courageously  went  through, 

Joseph  Williams,  Esq.,  And  the  native  Indians  he  bravely  did  subdue  ; 

who  was  the  first  white  And  now  he  's  gone  down  to  the  Grave,  and  he  will  be  no  more, 

man  that  came  to  Provi-  Until  it  please  Almighty  God  his  body  to  restore, 

dence.*    He   was   Born  Into  some  proper  shape  as  he  thinks  fit  to  be, 

1644,   he   died   au.    17,  Perhaps  like  a  Grain  of  Wheat,  as  Paul  sets  forth  you  see. 

1724,  in  the  81st  year  of  Corinthians,  1st  Book,  15  Chapter,  37  v." 
his  age. 

The  above  autograph  of  the  founder  of  Rhode       J  Dudley.  —  ''Of  those  which  went  back  in 

Island  is  from  a  fragment  without  date.  the  ships  this  summer  [1630],  for  fear  of  death 

f  Winthrop's  Jour,  and  his  editor's  notes  ;  or  famine,  many  died  by  the  way  and  after 

Harris'    Memorials    of   Dorchester;    Francis'  they  were  landed,  and  others  fell  very  sick  and 

Hist,  of  Watertown.  low."  —  Winthrop,  i.  46. 

*  A  slight  error,  occasioned  by  confounding  him  with  his  father. 


118  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 

affirming  vs  to  be  Brownists  in  religion,  and  ill  affected  to  our  state  at 
home ;  and  that  their  vile  reports  have  wonne  creditt  with  some  who 
formerly  wished  vs  well."* 

Against  such  imputations  Dudley  protests  in  clear  and  strong  terms, 
saying  he  hoped  their  friends  who  had  known  them  would  give  no 
credit  to  any  such  reports  ;  as  that  they  had  turned  from  the  professions 
they  had  so  long  made  in  their  native  country  ;  that  he  knew  not  even 
one  person  that  came  over  the  last  year  who  was  altered  in  his  judg- 
ment and  affection,  "  eyther  in  ecclesiasticall  or  civill  respects  since 
their  comeing  hither."  "  Let  our  friens  therefore,"  he  writes,  "give 
noe  creditt  to  such  malicious  aspersions,  but  bee  more  ready  to  answer 
for  us,  then  we  heare  they  have  beene.  Lett,  therefore,  this  be  suf- 
ficient for  vs  to  say,  and  others  to  heare  in  this  matter." 
„ ,   ,„        Until  this  time,  the  frost  had  enchained  the  rivers  and  harbor, 

Feb  10  .  •  . 

but  now  there  was  a  relaxation,  and  the  ice  broke,  up,  and  did 
not  make  again  as  before.  And  it  was  remarked  that  "  ever  since  this 
Bay  was  planted  by  Englishmen,  namely,  seven  years,  that  at  this  day 
the  frost  hath  broken  up  every  year."f  It  would  be  curious  to  institute 
an  inquiry  extending  from  1630  to  this  or  any  late  period,  relative  to 
the  breaking  up  of  the  harbor. 

Mr.  Robert  Welden  died  at  Charlestown,  "a  hopeful  young 
gentleman,  and  an  experienced  soldier."     He  died  of  consump- 
tion.    "  In  the  time  of  his  sickness  he  was  chosen  to  be  captain  of  one 
hundred  foote,  but  before  he  tooke  possession  of  his  place  hee  dyed." 
His  affectionate  companions  gave  him  a  soldier's  funeral,  bury- 
ing him  under  arms  at  Boston,  "  with  three  vollies  of  shott."J 
A  Court  of  Assistants  is  held  at  Boston,  which  is  the  first  this 

Mar  4. 

year.  There  were  present,  Winthrop,  Dudley,  Saltonstall,  Lud- 
low, Endicott,  Pynchon,  Nowell,  Sharp,  Coddington,§  and  Bradstreet. 

*"  Capt.  Levet,  about  this  time  returning  lished  in  1628,  and  recently  reprinted  by  the 

for  England,  died  at  sea;  by  which  occasion,  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  and  also  by  the  Maine  Hist. 

some  letters,  sent  from  indiscreet  persons,  fell  Society.     There  does  not  appear  to  be  anything 

into  the  hands  of  them  that  had  no  good  will  added  to  these  editions  throwing  any  light  on 

for  the  Plantation  ;  and  by  that  means  clam-  the  path  of  the  author  of  the  voyage, 

ors  were  raised  against  them,  which  furnished  f  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  43. 

their  enemies  with  matters  of  complaint  against  j  Dudley  and  Winthrop ;  the  annotator  on  the 

them,  which  their  petitions  were  stuffed  with-  latter  finds  Elizabeth  Welden,  church  member, 

al."  —Hubbard,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  146.  No. 91,  "  gone  to  Watertown."    He  thinks  she 

At  a  Court  on  the  6th  of  September  of  this  may  have  been  the  widow  of  this  Capt.  Wel- 

year,   "one   Henry  Linne    [of   Boston]    was  den.   His  conjectures  in  this  line  average  better 

whipped  and  banished  for  writing  letters  into  than  most  men's. 
England  full  of  slander  against  our  government 

and  orders  of  our  churches." — Winthrop,  i.  f*t — fO£\  ' 

61.      Mr.  Savage,  from  the  Colony  Records,  i.  C LiT*^ '•  \^(J^ A*HJ?-/-q-?i 

59,  says  "  Linn"  was  not  banished;  that  be-  '-^                         ^7y 

fore,  in  1630,   he  had  been  sentenced  to  be 

whipped,  which  probably  occasioned  this  sec-  §  The  above  fac-simile  of  Mr.  Coddington's 

ond  offence.  autograph  is  copied  from  an  original  letter  of 

The  Capt.  Levet  here  mentioned  was,  it  is  his,  dated  1646,  at  which  time  he  was  resident 

not    improbable,    Capt.    Christopher    Levett,  at  Newport,  and  Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  as 

"His  Majesty's  Woodward  of  Somersetshire,  it  seems  by  this  letter.  —  See  N.  Eng.  H.  and 

and  one  of  the  Council  of  New  England."     He  Gen.   Regr.,  vol.   iv.      Mr.  Coddington  built 

made  a  voyage  to  the  northern  parts  of  New  the  first  brick  house  in  Boston.  —  Callender's 

England  in  1623  and  1624,  which  was  pub-  Hist.  Discourse. 


1631.]  COMPLAINTS    OF    INDIANS.  119 

The  first  order  of  this  Court  was,  "  that  six  persons  be  sent  to  England 
in  the  ship  Lyon  now  returning  thither,  as  unmeet  to  inhabit  here  ;  also 
that  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner*  and  another  be  sent  as  prisoners  in  her; 
second,  a  manf  is  fined  five  pounds  for  taking  upon  him  to  cure  the 
scurvy,  by  a  water  of  no  value,  which  he  sold  at  a  very  dear  rate ;  to 
be  imprisoned  till  he  pay  his  fine,  or  give  security  for  it,  or  else  be 
whipped;  and  shall  be  liable  to  any  man's  action  of  whom  he  has 
received  money  for  the  said  water." 

There  was  a  Court  at  Watertown:  Winthrop,  Dudley,  Salton- 
stall,  Ludlow,  Nowcll,  Pynchon,  Coddington,  and  Bradstreet, 
were  present.  The  first  matter  to  be  disposed  of  was  a  complaint  made 
by  the  Indians,  that  two  of  their  wigwams  had  been  burnt  by  some  of 
the  English.  On  investigation  it  was  found  that  a  servant  of  Sir  Rich- 
ard Saltonstall,  and  others,  had  on  some  occasion  made  use  of  the  wig- 
wams (the  Indians  not  living  in  them  at  the  time),  and  leaving  a  fire 
unquenched  when  they  left  them,  the  complained-of  conflagration  was 
the  supposed  consequence.  As  to  one  of  the  wigwams,  there  was  no 
direct  proof  how  it  was  fired ;  but  the  Court  was  more  anxious  to  satisfy 
the  Indians  than  to  entertain  legal  objections,  and  therefore  ordered  that 
Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  should  satisfy  them,  which  he  did,  with  seven 
yards  of  cloth,  for  which  his  servant  should  pay  him  "  at  the  end  of  his 
time,  fifty  shillings."! 

The  place  of  the  burnt  wigwams  is  not  mentioned  ;  but  the  Indian 
who  made  the  complaint  lived  at  Mistick,  §  and  was  known  among  the 
English  as  Sagamore  John,  but  his  Indian  name  was  Wonohaquaham. 
One  of  his  men,  called  Peter  in  the  records,  shared  in  the  damages, 
for  one  of  the  wigwams  belonged  to  him.|| 

This  peninsula  on  which  Boston  is  built  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
claimed  by  any  Indians,  until  a  long  time  after  it  was  possessed  by  the 
English ;  nor  do  any  indications  of  a  prior  settlement  by  the  former 
come  under  the  notice  of  those  who  early  describe  the  place. H     It  may 

*From  Court  records,  as  well  as  from  the  fyThen  comprehending  a  tract  of  country- 
Chroniclers  of  that  time,  it  seems  that  knaves  since  included  in  Charlestown  and  Medford.  6 
and  harlots  were  as  common  as  they  have  been  Sept.  of  this  year  Gov.  Winthrop  had  granted 
since,  according  to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  to  him  by  the  Court  of  Assistants,  six  hundred 
There  is  in  Dudley's  famous  Letter  to  the  acres  of  land  "near  his  house  at  Mistick." 
Countess,  to  which  I  have  been  so  much  in-  This  was  Winthrop's  farm,  and  to  which  he 
debted,  a  curious  account  of  this  Sir  Christo-  gave  the  name  of  "Ten  Hills,"  by  which  the 
pher  Gardiner;  from  which,  together  with  place  is  known  at  this  day.  It  lies  nenrly 
Morton's  Memorial,  and  Prince,  a  pretty  full  ac-  opposite  the  entrance  of  Maiden  river  into  the 
count  of  him,  and  his  three  or  four  wives,  may  Mistick.  At  this  confluence  something  of  a 
be  obtained.  It  may  be,  however,  that  some  bay  is  formed.  Over  against  Ten  Hills,  on  the 
allowance  is  required  to  be  made  in  favor  of  opposite  side  of  the  bay,  Gov.  Cradock  had  a 
the  knight,  in  making  use  of  the  two  former  plantation. 

of  the   three  authors.     According   to  Scotto,  ||  See  The  Book  of  the  Indians,  B.  ii.  104 — 

Gardiner  came  over  in   the   fleet  with  Win-  110. 

throp  ;  his  words  are,  however,  that  "  he  came  %  We  indeed  meet  with  this  statement  in 

over  in  the  first  fleet."  —  Narrative,  17,  18.  Mr.  Shaw's  work  :  "  As  a  proof  of  its  having 

f  Prince  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  pre-  been  an  ancient  populous  Indian  settlement, 

serve  the  name  of  this  "  man,"  but  the  records  tradition  says,  there  was  discovered  a  kind  of 

contain  it,  and  Snow,  40,  has  extracted  it.     It  Golgotha  on  the  spot  where  Gardner  Green's 

was  Nicholas  Knopp.  house  stands  [now  Pemberton  Square],  on  the 

J  Prince,  from  the  Colony  Records.  side  of  the  hill.    Dr.  Mather  related  that  three 


120  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1631. 

have  been  with  the  tribes  north  and  south  of  it  truly  "  Disputed  Terri- 
tory," as  it  lay  on  the  boundary  of  both.  It  will  be  seen,  in  the  prog- 
ress of  this  history,  that  when  a  claim  was  made  for  Boston  by  a  rem- 
nant of  Indians  on  the  south  of  it,  there  were  none  left  on  the  north  to 
contravene  an  opposing  claim. 

The  second  subject  for  consideration  in  this  Court  was,  "  in  regard 
that  the  number  of  Assistants  is  but  few,  and  some  of  them  are  going 
for  England,  ordered,  that  when  the  number  of  Assistants  resident  within 
this  jurisdiction  shall  be  fewer  than  nine,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  major 
part  of  them  to  keep  a  Court;  and  whatever  orders  or  acts  they  make 
shall  be  as  legal  and  authentical,  as  if  there  were  the  full  number  of 
seven  or  more."  * 

To  people  who  never  before  visited  new  countries,  many  things 
would  appear  strange  and  marvellous ;  it  was  so  at  this  time  with  the 
people  of  Boston.  Governor  Dudley  saw  "  soe  many  flocks  of  doues  " 
on  the  eighth  of  March,  that,  in  his  astonishment,  he  said,  "  what  it 
pordended  hee  knew  not."  From  "  faire  daylight "  on  that  day,  "  until 
about  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoone,  there  flew  over  all  the  tounes 
in  the  plantacons  so  many  that  they  obscured  the  light,  and  passeth 
credit,  if  the  truth  should  be  written." 

"  About  noon,^the  chimney  of  Mr.  Thomas  Sharp's  house  in 
Boston  took  fire,  the  splinters  being  not  clayed  at  the  top,  and, 
taking  the  thatch,  burnt  it  down.  The  wind  being  north-west,  drove 
the  fire  to  Mr.  Coulburn's  house,  being  a  [few]  rods  off,  and  burnt  that 
down  also,f  which  were  as  good,  and  as  well  furnished,  as  the  most  in 
the  plantacon."  With  their  houses  were  consumed  "much  of  their 
household  stuff,  apparell,  and  other  thinges,  as  allsoe  some  goods  of 
others  who  soiourned  with  them  in  their  houses  ;  God  so  pleaseing  to 
exercise  vs  with  corrections  of  this  kind,  as  he  hath  done  with  others ; 
for  the  prevention  whereof  in  our  new  toune  intended  this  somer  to  bee 
builded,  we  haue  ordered  that  noe  man  there  shall  build  his  chimney 
with  wood,  nor  cover  his  house  with  thatch,  which  was  readily  assented 
vnto  ;  for  that  diuers  other  howses  haue  beene  burned  since  our  arrivall 
(the  fire  alwaies  beginninge  in  the  wooden  chimneyes),  and  some  Eng- 
lish |  wigwams,  which  haue  taken  fire  in  the  roofes  covered  with  thatch 
or  boughs."  § 

Mar  T>  ^  ^ne  nex^  mee^mg  °f  ^he  Court  of  Assistants,  at  Boston, 
there  were  present  the  same  gentlemen  as  at  the  last  meeting. 
The  order  regulating  artificers'  wages,  which  had  been  made  in  August 
preceding,  was  rescinded ;  and  they  were  "to  be  left  at  liberty  to  agree 
for  wages."     In  the  absence  of  any  reasons  for  thus  rescinding  the  for- 

hundred  skull-bones  had  been  dug  up  there,  not  appear  that  the  designation  wigivam  is  but 

when  he  was  a  youth."  —  Descript.  of  Boston,  rarely  applied  to  dwellings  of  the  English. 

78.  §  By  this  excellent  description  of  Dudley  a 

*  Prince,  from  the  Colony  Records.  good  notion  is  obtained  of  the  style  of  building 

f  Winthrop,  i.  48.  employed  by  the  first  inhabitants  of  Boston, 

%  I  apprehend  that  the  true  reading  of  Dud-  which  will  answer  equally  well  for  all  New 

ley  would  give  "  Indian  wigwams,"  for  it  does  England. 


1G31.] 


INDIANS    IN    BOSTON. 


121 


Mar.  23. 


mer  order,  it  may  be  conjectured  that  the  principal  inhabitants  had  now 
got  their  dwellings  finished,  and  therefore  they  did  not  feel  so  partic- 
ular about  its  continuance  as  they  had  done. 

By  a  second  order  of  the  same  Court,  nil  persons  were  required  to 
provide  themselves  with  arms;  those  not  able  to  procure  them,  to  be 
provided  by  the  towns  in  which  they  lived  ;  magistrates  and  ministers 
were  excepted  in  the  order.  By  a  third  order,  "all  persons  having 
cards,  dice,  or  tables  in  their  houses,  to  make  away  with  them  before 
the  next  Court."* 

Nothing  is  heard  of  any  intercourse  with  the  Indians  living 
to  the  southward  of  Boston,  by  Boston  people,  up  to  this  time, 
while  daily  correspondence  seems  to  have  been  held  with  those  living 
on  the  northern  side.  This  latter  intercourse  may  have  revived  an  old 
jealousy  between  them  and  the  Massachusetts,  whose  principal  residence 
was  now  about  Neponset  river.  At  the  head  of  these  was  a  Chief  named 
Chikataubut,  who  must  have  been  considerably  advanced  in  years, 
for  he  was  a  sachem  when  the  English  came  to  Plymouth,  and  had 
much  to  do  with  all  the  settlements  between  that  place  and  Boston. 
He  had  learned,  probably,  that  Indians  who  visited  the  new  people  at 
Shawmut  fared  well,  and  he  resolved  to  venture  among  them  to  see 
what  benefit  they  might  be  to  him.  Accordingly  he  mustered  up  a  con- 
siderable number  of  his  men,  who,  with  their  wives,  made  their  appear- 
ance at  the  dwelling  of  the  Governor  ;  and,  to  satisfy  him  that  they  had 
not  come  out  of  idle  curiosity,  he  presented  him  with  a  hogshead  of 
Indian  corn.  The  Governor  could  not  allow  himself  to  be  outdone  in 
generosity  in  so  important  a  state  affair,  and  therefore  provided  a  dinner 

for  the  whole  com- 
pany. "  After 
they  had  all  dined, 
and  had  each  a 
small  cup  of  sack 
and  beer,  and  the 
men  tobacco," 
Chikataubut "  sent 
away  all  his  men 
and  women,  tho' 
the  governor  would 
have  stayed  them," 
because  it  was  in 
the  time  of  a  thun- 
der-shower. Chi- 
kataubut and  one 


INTERVIEW    BETWEEN    THE   INDIANS    AND    GOVERNOR   WINTHROP. 


squaw  and  her  sannap  (which  is  their  name  for  husband),  stayed  all 
night.  At  this  interview  the  chief  had  on  English  clothes,  and  the 
Governor  allowed  him  to  dine  with  him  at  his  own  table,  "  where  he 
behaved  himself  as  soberly  as  an  Englishman."     The  next  clay,  after 


16 


*  Prince,  from  Ms.  Col.  Hers. 


122  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1631. 

dinner,  he  returned  home,  "  the  Governor  giving  him  cheese,  and  peas, 
and  a  mug,  and  some  other  small  things."  * 

From  this  time  the  visits  of  Indians  from  all  quarters  became  frequent 
at  Boston ;  some  for  trade,  some  out  of  curiosity,  some  to  make  com- 
plaints of  wrongs,  fancied  and  real,  from  their  neighbors,  both  English- 
men and  Indians  ;  in  short,  they  came  at  all  times  and  upon  all  occa- 
sions, until  interrupted  by  rumors  of  wars  and  other  troubles,  as  will  be 
marked  in  the  progress  of  events. 

Wonohaquaham  and  Montowampate  f  came  to  Boston,  and 

complained  to  the  English  Governor  that  a  white  man,  named 
Watts,  had  defrauded  them  of  twenty  beaver-skins,  and  requested  his 
assistance  for  the  recovery  of  their  value.  Watts  having  gone  for,  or 
being  in  England,  Mr.  Winthrop  could  do  nothing  further  for  them  than 
to  give  them  a  letter  to  Emanuel  Downing,  Esquire,  his  brother-in-law,  J 
in  London,  which  he  did.§ 

Important  events  crowded  fast  upon  one  another  in  the  little 

colony  of  Boston ;  and  one  is  now  close  at  hand  which  caused 
many  an  anxious  heart  and  weeping  eye.  It  was  to  part  with  some  of 
the  most  beloved  and  respected  of  the  small  number  which  composed  it. 
The  Lyon  was  riding  at  Salem,  bound  for  England,  where  she  had  been 
some  time  waiting  for  a  wind  to  take  her  to  sea.  In  her  the  beloved 
Wilson  had  taken  passage  ;  and  thus  the  people  of  Boston  were  as 
sheep  who  had  lost  their  shepherd.  They  were  to  lose,  also,  Sir  Rich- 
ard Saltonstall,  Mr.  Sharp,  ||  and  Mr.  Coddington. 

Mr.  Dudley,  the  Deputy-Governor,  had,  for  several  months,  been 
setting  down  such  facts,  and  noting  such  events  in  the  colony,  as  he 
thought  would  be  of  interest  to  his  immediate  friends  in  England  ;  and 
now,  having  put  them  into  the  form  of  a  letter,  he  this  day  seals  it 
up,  and,  directing  it  "To  the  righte-honourable,  my  very  good  Lady, 
the  Lady  Brydget,  Countesse  of  Lincoln,"  entrusts  it  to  the  care  of  Mr. 
Wilson,  for  delivery,  f 

*  Winthrop,  Journal,  48,  49.  learne."  —  Letter,  p.  6.     It  is  not  improbable 

f  Ibid.,  49.     Winthrop  mentions  the  English   that  Wonohaquaham  went  to  England  in  the 

names  only  of  these  Indians,  namely,  "  John   Lyon,  which  sailed  from  Salem  on  the  1st  of 

Sagamore  and  James  his  brother."  April.     If  so,  he  went  in  company  with  Mr. 

%  See  Winthrop  Pedigree,  ante,  p.  72.  Wilson,  Sir  R.  Saltonstall,  and  others,  who 

§Mr.  Lewis,  in  his  delightful  History  of    sailed  at  that  time.     If  he  were  not  going  to 

Lynn,  has,  with  great  research,   given,  from   England  then,  why  should  Winthrop  give  him 

deeds,  depositions  and  other  court  papers,  all   a  letter  to  a  person  in  London,  by  which  he 

or  nearly  all  that  can  be  desired  with  respect  to   might  get  redress  1 

the  Indians  in  and  about  ancient  Lynn.  He  says  ||  These  two  returned  no  more  to  New  Eng- 
a  tradition  exists  that  Montowampate  did  go  to   land. 

England.  This  last  named  chief  was  the  "  Sag-  K  "  I  thought  to  have  ended  before,"  he  says, 
amore  of  Lynn,"  and  his  brother  was  "  Saga-  "  but  the  stay  of  the  shipp,  and  my  desire  to 
more  on  Mistic  river,  including  Winnisimet."  informe  your  honour  of  all  I  canne,  hath  caused 
- — Hist.  Lynn,  47,  48,  74.  See  also  Dudley's  this  addition  ;  and  everyone  hauinge  warninge 
Letter  to  the  Countess.  I  do  not  know  why  the  to  prepare  for  the  shipp's  departure  to-mor- 
editor  of  Winthrop  thought  himself  obliged,  row,  I  am  now  this  28  of  March,  1631,  seal- 
with  Dudley's  letter  before  him,  to  profess  inge  my  letters."  With  this  paragraph  ends 
ignorance  of  the  locality  of  these  Sagamores,  the  invaluable  Letter  of  Dudley.  No  docu- 
—  Dudley  says,  "  both  theis  brothers  command  ment  in  the  annals  of  Boston,  will  compare  in 
not  above  thirty  or  forty  men,  for  aught  I  can   importance  with  it,  and  no  one  can  success- 


1631.]  INDIANS. ROGER   WILLIAMS.  123 

Those  who  were  going  for  England  from  Boston  and  its 
vicinity,  had  collected  in  the  town,  and  were  waiting  the 
orders  of  Captain  Peircc,  who  was  here  to  accompany  them  to  Salem. 
So,  at  seven  o'clock  this  morning,  a  part  of  the  company,  with  the 
Captain,  set  off  in  two  shallops.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Sharp  sails  in  another 
shallop.  At  ten  o'clock,  Mr.  Coddington,  Mr.  Wilson,  and  many  others, 
met  at  the  Governor's,  and  there  Mr.  Wilson  took  leave  of  his  flock, 
which  he  committed  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Dudley,  and 
Mr.  Nowell,  the  Elder;  "who  were  men  of  eminent  piety  and  learn- 
ing," and  most  fit  to  exercise  the  office  of  prophesying*  during  his 
absence.  "Which  done,  they  accompanied  him  to  the  boat,  and  so 
they  went  over  to  Charlestown,  to  go  by  land  to  the  ship." 

A  deputation  of  Indians  came  to  Boston  from  the  Connecticut 
river.  From  what  tribe  or  nation  they  came,  does  not  appear  ; 
but  they  had  been  threatened  by,  or  feared,  the  Pequots,  which  induced 
them  to  endeavor  to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  English,  and  to  induce 
some  of  them  to  settle  in  their w  country.  At  the  head  of  this  deputa- 
tion, was  a  Chief,  named  Wahginnacut,  as  Winthrop  understood  it,  and 
they  were  accompanied  by  an  Indian  named  Jack  Straw,  who  had  lived 
in  England,  and  had  been  in  the  service  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  They 
appear  to  have  been  at  Salem,  where  they  were  joined  by  Wonoha- 
quaham,  who,  also,  accompanied  them  to  Boston.  Wahginnacut  had 
probably  solicited  aid  of  Mr.  Endicott,  who,  not  being  Governor  at  this 
time,  gave  him  a  letter  to  Mr.  Winthrop.  The  Chief  gave  a  glowing 
account  of  his  country,  and  said,  if  some  of  the  English  would  go  and 
live  there,  he  would  supply  them  with  corn,  and  give  them  yearly  eighty 
skins  of  beaver.  Seeing  the  Governor  did  not  incline  to  the  proposal, 
he  requested  that  two  Englishmen  might  be  permitted  to  return  with 
him  to  his  country,  to  view  it,  and  ascertain  whether  what  he  said  was 
true  or  otherwise.  But  this  did  not  suit  the  convenience  of  the  Gov- 
ernor neither,  and,  after  entertaining  them  to  a  dinner,  he  dismissed 
them.  The  Governor  gave  as  a  reason  for  not  complying  with  the  re- 
quest of  the  Indian  Chief,  that  he  had  "afterwards"  learned  that  he 
was  "  a  very  treacherous  man,  and  at  war  with  the  Pequots." f 

The  arrival  of  Roger  Williams,  on  the  fifth  of  February  last, 
■pn    "'  has  been  before  taken  notice  of;  and  though  then  but  twenty- 

fully  study  this  period  of  its  history  without  expected  the  Lyon  would  sail  the  next  day, 
it.  Winthrop's  Journal,  of  the  same  period,  but  it  will  be  seen  that  she  did  not  sail  until 
cannot  be  over-estimated,  as  to  its  value,  but  four  days  after.  She  arrived  at  London  on 
it  is  an  imperfect  diary,  and  was  not  probably     the  29th  of  April,  "  all  safe.7' 

*  Understood   then  as  we   now  understand 
preaching. 

f  There  is  nothing  to  show  from  what  point 
on  the  Connecticut  river  this  Indian  deputa- 
tion came.  If  they  came  from  Suckiag  (since 
Hartford) ,  it  is  probable  that  the  Pequots  had 
intended  for  any  use  but  for  that  of  its  author,  not  extended  their  conquest  to  that  point  in 
who  may  have  had  the  intention  of  compiling  1631 ;  but  by  or  before  1633,  they  had  con- 
a  history  from  it  in  connection  with  other  doc-  quered  the  tribe  at  that  place.  —  See  New  Eng. 
uments.     When  Dudley  sealed  his  Letter,  he    Hist.  Gen>  Reg.  vi.,  368-9. 


124  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 

five  years  of  age,  he  was  called  a  "  godly  minister."  And  this  was  the 
man  to  whom  the  world  owes  so  large  a  debt  for  laying  the  foundation 
of  religious  liberty  ;  for  convincing  mankind  that  "  a  most  flourishing 
civil  state  may  stand,  and  be  best  maintained,  with  a  full  liberty  in 
religious  concernments  ;"  that  "  the  people  were  the  origin  of  all  free 
power  in  government."  These  were  among  his  fundamental  principles, 
which,  though  not  so  well  defined  in  his  day  as  they  were  afterwards, 
yet,  these  were  the  principles,  for  the  maintenance  of  which,  he  was 
banished  from  Massachusetts  !  * 

The  civil  government,  as  the  laws  stood,  was  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
the  Church.  Nobody  was  eligible  to  office  except  he  were  a  church- 
member.  This  state  of  things  caused  Mr.  Williams  thus  to  express 
himself  in  his  "  Bloody  Tenent :"  "  Not  only  was  the  door  of  calling 
to  magistracy  shut  against  natural  and  unregenerate  men, — though  ex- 
cellently fitted  for  civil  offices,  —  but  also  against  the  best  and  ablest 
servants  of  God,  except  they  be  entered  into  the  church  estate."  This 
course  of  legislation,  the  people  began,  ere  long,  to  see,  tended  to  cor- 
ruption ;  that  Freemen's  oaths  were  no  bar  to  hypocrisy.  It  did  not  at 
first  occur  to  the  framers  of  the  laws,  perhaps,  that  a  man  might  refuse 
to  take  the  oath  from  a  pure  conscientiousness  ;  because  he  would  not 
do  wrong  ;  and  that  a  designing  hypocrite  would  take  any  oath  at  any 
time  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  to  do  wrong ;  for,  as  soon  as 
he  had  sworn  falsely  he  was  eligible  to  office,  and  there  were  no  means 
within  the  reach  of  man  to  detect  his  perjury. 

.  There  was  a  Court  now  sitting  at  Boston  ;  present,  the  Gov- 

ernor, Deputy-Governor,  Ludlow,  Nowell,  Pynchon,  and  Brad- 
street.  Mr.  Williams  was  called  to  the  office  of  teacher  at  Salem,  and 
had  accepted  it.  This  Court  took  up  the  matter,  and  wrote  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Endicott,  in  which  they  protested  against  his  being  entertained 
there,  "marvelling  they  would  choose  him  without  advising  with  the 
Council ;  and  withal  desiring  him  that  they  would  forbear  to  proceed  ;" 
for  Mr.  Williams,  it  was  charged,  "had  refused  to  join  with  the 
congregation  at  Boston ;  because  they  (the  Church  of  Boston)  would 
not  make  a  public  declaration  of  their  repentance  for  having  commu- 
nion with  the  churches  of  England  while  they  lived  there." 

The  same  day  on  which  these  proceedings  took  place  at  Boston,  Mr. 
Williams  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Salem.  But  the  civil  power 
soon  overawed  the  Church  in  which  he  was  settled,  and  before  the  end 
of  the  following  summer,  he  was  obliged  to  leave.  From  Salem  he 
went  to  Plymouth.  His  history  is  too  well  known  to  be  pursued  here  ; 
it  belongs  to  the  general  history  of  the  United  States,  but  more  espec- 
ially to  the  history  of  religious  liberty  of  the  world. 

At  this  Court,  watchers  were  ordered  to  be  set  at  sunset,  at  Dorches- 

*  A  view  of  these  times  and  circumstances  free  church,  and  transmitted  to  us,  "what  we 

does  not  hardly  seem  to  warrant  the  follow-  call  a  free   church."  —  Mr.  Everett's  Second 

ing  :  —  "  Our  fathers  came  to  establish  a  free  Centennial  Address  on  the  Arrival  of  Winlhrop; 

church.     They  established  what  they  called  a  delivered  28  June,  1830. 


1631.]  CHIKATAUBUT   AND    WINTIIROP.  125 

ter  and  Watertown  ;  and  that  if  any  person  shoots  off  a  piece  after  the 
watch  is  set,  he  shall  forfeit  forty  shillings  ;  if  not  able  to  pay  the 
forfeit,  "then  to  be  whipt;"  that  every  Captain  shall  train  his  com- 
pany every  Saturday ;  and  that  persons  shall  not  travel  singly  between 
their  plantations  and  Plymouth,  nor  without  arms,  though  two  or  three 
together.  These  orders  were  probably  occasioned  by  some  indications 
of  uneasiness  or  dissatisfaction  among  the  neighboring  Indians,  who, 
about  this  time,  entertained  fears  that  the  Mohawks  were  about  to 
attack  them,  and  the  English  also.* 

Another  act  of  this  Court  was,  that  of  banishment  against  Mr.  Thomas 
Waford,  of  Charlestown.  He  was  fined  ten  pounds,  and  was  ordered  to 
depart  with  his  wife  out  of  this  patent  before  the  twentieth  of  October 
next,  upon  pain  of  confiscation  of  his  goods.  His  offence  is  not  very 
clearly  ascertained,  though  in  the  records  he  is  charged  with  "  contempt 
of  authority,  confronting  of  officers,"  &c. 

Chikataubut  makes  another  visit  to  the  Governor,  and  desires 
to  traae  with  him  for  clothes  for  himself.  The  Governor  de- 
sired to  be  excused  from  entering  into  traffic  ;  saying  it  was  not  the 
custom  for  English  Sagamores  to  truck  ;  but  he  ordered  his  tailor  to 
take  his  measure  for  a  suit  of  clothes.  This  was  what  the  Chief  desired  ; 
and  in  return  he  gives  the  Governor  two  large  skins  of  coat  beaver. 
Which  had  the  best  bargain,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  at  this  remote 
day,  as  it  depends  altogether  on  the  quality  of  the  cloth  used  in  making 
the  garments  for  the  Indian.  It  may  be  the  Governor  was  similarly 
situated  with  the  great  Virginia  Chief,  Powhatan,  who,  when  Captain 
John  Smith  went  to  him  to  trade,  told  the  captain  it  was  below  the  dig- 
nity of  men  in  their  standing  to  descend  to  such  vulgar  business  as  trade 
was,  but,  that  they  should  show  their  magnanimity  by  allowing  each 
other"  to  take  freely  whatever  they  pleased.  Smith  thought  that  by 
such  an  arrangement,  the  magnanimity  would  be  all  on  his  side,  as  his 
commodities  were  of  much  value,  and  those  of  Powhatan  next  to  no 
value  at  all.  He  therefore  was  obliged  to  decline  proceeding  on  those 
terms,  whereupon  he  incurred  the  resentment  of  the  haughty  Chief. 
This  is  not  introduced  as  a  parallel,  but  as  a  possibly  parallel,  case. 

Two  days  after,  Chikataubut  returned  for  his  clothes,  and  they  were 
all  ready  for  him,  "a  good  new  suit  from  head  to  foot."  On  such 
occasions,  he  did  not  fail  to  honor  the  Governor  with  his  company  at 
dinner.  To-day  he  declined  eating,  however,  until  the  Governor  had 
"given  thanks;"  and  when  he  had  eaten  his  dinner,  he  desired  a 
repetition  of  the  same  ceremony,  f 

*  On  the  14th  of  April,  Winthrop  says,  thought  much  more  of  because  the  Indians 
"We  began  a  Court  of  Guard  upon  the  had  "  sent  word  the  day  before,  that  the  Mo- 
Neck,  between  Boston  and  Roxbury,  where-  hawks  were  coming  down  against  them  and 
upon  should  always  be  resident  an  officer  and  us."  —  Journal,  55. 

six  men." Journal,  i.  54.     On  the  16th,  he  f  At  a  Court  on  the  18th  of  May  following, 

notes  that  "  there  was  an  alarm  given  to  all  Chikataubut  and  Sagamore  John  agreed  to 
our  towns  in  the  night,"  occasioned  by  the  make  satisfaction,  if  any  of  their  men  corn- 
discharge  of  a  gun,  but  none  knew  the  place  mitted  any  offence  against  the  English.  About 
where  the  discharge  was   made.     This   was  a  month  after,  viz.,  June  14th,  "  One  of  their 


126  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1631. 

At  the  general  election  now  held,  Mr.  Winthrop  was  reelected 
ay  '  Governor,  and  Mr.  Dudley  Deputy- Governor.  In  explanation 
of  an  order  of  Court  of  the  nineteenth  of  October  of  last  year,  it  was 
ordered,  "  with  full  consent  of  all  the  company  present,  that,  once  every 
year  at  least,  a  General  Court  be  holden,  at  which  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
the  Commons  to  propound  any  person  or  persons  whom  they  shall  desire 
to  be  chosen  Assistants;"  the  Commons  also  to  have  the  power  of 
removal  of  Assistants  for  misbehavior  ;  that  "  the  Commons  may  be  pre- 
served of  good  and  honest  men,"  ordered,  "  that  for  the  time  to  come, 
no  man  shall  be  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  this  body  politic,  but  such 
as  are  members  of  some  of  the  churches  within  the  limits  of  the  same." 

Thomas  Williams  having  "set  up"  a  ferry  between  Winnesemet* 
and  Charlestown,  the  Court  allows  him  to  take  three  pence  a  person  for 
his  service,  and  four  pence  from  those  ferried  between  Boston  and  Win- 
nesemet. 

The  same  day,  at  noon,  the  house  of  Mr.  William  Chesebrough  f  was 
burnt  down,  "  all  the  people  being  present." 

An  order  of  Court  was  made  that  none  should  travel  out  of 
this  Patent,  by  sea  or  land,  without  leave  from  the  Governor, 
Deputy- Governor,  or  some  Assistant ;  another,  that  no  person  should 
buy  corn,  or  other  provisions,  or  any  merchantable  commodity,  of  any 
vessel  which  might  put  in  to  Boston,  without  leave  of  the  Governor  or 
some  Assistant ;  J  and  that  Edward  Converse,  who  had  undertaken  to 

men  was  complained  of  for  shooting  a  pig,  y"  prudential  affairs  thereof  be  managed  by 

&c,  for  which  Chikataubut  was  ordered  to  Oapt.   George  Dcnison,  Mr.  Parks,  William 

pay   a   skin   of  beaver,   which   he   presently  Chesebroke,  Thomas  Stanton,  Walter  Palmer, 

did."  —  Winthrop.  and  John  Minot,  Senr.   28  :  5  :  1658."     From 

*  Few  Indian  names  are  spelled  with  more  another  original  paper  the  following  interest- 
variations  than  this.  I  have  usually  taken  it  ing  items  are  derived,  relative  to  the  residences 
as  I  find  it  in  the  authority  consulted  at  the  of  some  of  the  chief  men  of  Southertowne  :  — 
time.  Winnisimet  appears  to  be  the  spelling  "  From  Wekapauge  to  Mr.  Stanton's  is  3 
in  general  use.     It  is  now  Chelsea.  miles,  300  rods  ;  from  Mr.  Stanton's  to  Good- 

f  Although  a  man  of  wealth  and  considera-  man   Chesebrough's,   is   2   miles,    123   rods  ; 

tion  in  Boston,  William  Chesebrough  is  not  from    Goodman    Chesebrough's    to    Misticke 

dignified  by  the  writers  of  that  period  with  the  river,  by  Capt.  Denison's  house,  is  4  miles." 

title  of  Mr.       He  probably  was  too  liberal  for  Chesebrough  had  sons  Samuel  and  Nathaniel, 

the  time  and  place,  and  soon  removed  to  Mount  There  had  graduated  at  Yale  one  Chesebor- 

Wollaston ;  thence  to  Rehoboth  ;  thence  into  ough  and  three  Chesebroughs,  before    1836. 

the  Narraganset  country.     He  was  a  resident  The  subjoined  autograph  is  a  fac-simile  of  one 

of  Braintree  in  1640  ;  from  which  town  ~ 

he  was  a  representative  to  the  Gen-  / )  /)                    , 

eral  Court.     In  1644  he  was  an   in-      _     /}     (ft -hCH?  tf~7     ^  (rTj — tH^-  <7^7 

habitant  of  Seaconk,  where  he  set  up  (£±lt--UWv — -      f->^>>/  ^  J  C 

his   business,   which   was   that   of  a  * 

smith.  He  probably  accompanied  John  Win-  to  an  original  paper  of  1660.  Besides  these 
throp,  Jr.,  to  Pequot  (N.  London)  in  1645  ;  but  facts,  many  others  may  be  gathered  from  Mr. 
what  time  he  settled  at  Pawcatucke  does  not  Bliss'  Hist.  Rehoboth,  Miss  Caulkin's  Hist.  N. 
clearly  appear.  The  following  copy  of  an  London,  Trumbull's  Records  of  Connecticut, 
original  paper  not  only  throws  light  on  the  and  Suffolk  Deeds,  i.  26,  38. 
history  of  an  early  resident  of  Boston,  but  it  J  Morton*  the  Disturber,  in  one  of  his  letters 
shows  that  Boston  (that  is,  Massachusetts)  written  in  England  to  a  friend  in  New  England, 
exercised  jurisdiction  over  what  is  now  Ston-  calls  the  Governor  King  Winthrop.  Taking 
ington,  in  Connecticut:  —  "Agreeable  to  a  these  orders  of  court  into  account,  the  libel 
Petition,  dated  22  Oct.,  1658,  the  Magistrates  was  certainly  not  very  severe  ;  and,  as  we  pro- 
grant  y*  ye  English  Plantation  between  Mis-  ceed,  the  libel  will  appear  even  less  severe, 
ticke  and  Pawcatucke  be  named  Southertowne,  possibly, 
belonging  to  y6  County  of  Suffolk ;  and  y'  all 


1631.] 


PHILIP    RATCLIFF. 


127 


set  up  a  ferry  between  Boston  and  Charlestown,  be  allowed  two  pence 
for  a  single  person,  and  one  penny  if  there  were  two  or  more  persons. 

At  this  Court,  an  agent  of  Governor  Cradock  was  very  severely  sen- 
tenced. His  name  was  Philip  Ratcliff.  He  came  here  to  manage  cer- 
tain affairs  for  Mr.  Cradock,*  and,  not  fully  realizing  his  liability  to 
render  himself  obnoxious  by  intemperate  speeches,  he  incurred  the  dis- 
pleasure of  the  Authorities  so  seriously  that  they  would  not  be  satisfied 
without  some  of  his  blood,  which  they  ordered  to  be  taken  by  cutting 
off  his  ears.  Nor  was  this  all ;  he  was  whipped,  and  then  banished  the 
colony. f  His  offence,  as  it  stands  charged,J  was  for  uttering  "most 
foul,  scandalous  invectives  against  the  Churches  and  Government." 
Maiming  was  then  a  custom  in  the  mother  country  for  various  offences, 
and  there  is  nothing  singular  that  it  should  be  practised  here,  as  it  was 
for  a  long  period  after  it  commenced  with  Philip  Ratcliff. 


*  It  is  not  unlikely  that  his  residence  may 
have  been  at  Medford  ;  for  there,  by  his  agents, 
Mr.  Cradock  had  planned  for  a  large  establish- 
ment. Mr.  "Wood  speaks  of  it  in  1633  as 
follows: — "It  is  seated  by  the  water  side 
very  pleasantly  ;  there  be  not  many  houses  as 
yet  [it  was  then  called  Mistick].  On  the  west 
side  of  Mistick  river  the  Governor  [Winthrop] 
hath  a  farme,  where  he  keeps  most  of  his  cat- 
tle. On  the  east  side  is  Master  Craddocke's 
Plantation,  where  he  hath  impaled  a  Parke, 
where  he  keepes  cattle  till  hee  can  store  it  with 
deere.  Here,  likewise,  he  is  at  charges  of 
building  ships.  The  last  yeare  one  was  upon 
the  stockes  of  a  hundred  tunne  ;  that  being 
finished,  they  are  to  build  one  twice  her  bur- 
den."—  N.  Eng.  Prospect,  34.  June  5th, 
1635,  Ralph  Mason  of  Boston,  for  £17,  mort- 
gages his  "  new  dwelling-house  "  to  Mr.  Crad- 
ock. May  29th,  1639,  Thomas  Mayhew  of 
Watertown,  mortgages  to  Mr.  Cradock  "  half 
of  the  mill,  and  six  shares  of  the  weare  at 
W.  for  £240.  On  2  :  5  :  1639,  M.  buys  of  C. 
(Davison,  agt.),  the  moiety  of  the  water- 
mill,  and  the  6  shares  in  the  weare.  June 
29th,  1640,  Thomas  Dexter  of  Lynn,  mortgaged 
his  farm  to  Mr.  C.  for  £150.  April  26th, 
1641,  Josiah  Dawstin  '  of  Mistick  als.  Mead- 
ford,'  has  secured  to  him  by  Mr.  C,  Dix's 
house,  60  acres  of  planting,  and  7  of  meadow, 
called  Rock-meadow." —  Suffolk  Deeds. 

f  Nor  was  this  all,  neither,  if  any  credit  be 
due  to  the  author  of  New  Canaan.  Not  feel- 
ing very  confident  of  the  correctness  of  his 
statements,  and  yet  feeling  bound  to  let  him 
be  heard,  I  give  the  following  extract  from  his 
work  :  — Master  Ratcliff,  according  to  this 
author,  stirred  up  vengeance  against  himself, 
by  calling  Mr  Cradock's  servants  to  an  ac- 
count;  these  servants,  being  church  members, 
were  of  course  in  the  favor  of  the  ruling  powers. 
They  therefore  delayed  payment  under  such 
excuses  as  caused  Mr.  Ratcliff  to  think  himself, 
as  well  as  his  master,  grossly  outraged,  and 
this  occasioned  his  intemperate  speeches,  which 
Morton  fully  acknowledges,  and  a  specimen  of 
which  he  gives  to  this  effect :  "  That  if  the 


church  members  here  were  all  like  the  men 
with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  he  believed  the 
Devil  was  the  author  of  their  Church. "  Morton 
acknowledges  further,  that  Ratcliff  "  disdained 
the  tenents  of  the  Seperatists,  and  they"  find- 
ing he  was  not  one  of  themselves,  "  disdained 
to  be  employed  by  a  carnall  man."  Therefore 
they  would  not  acknowledge  his  authority, 
meantime  sending  word  to  Mr.  Cradock,  "  that 
his  man  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  therefore  an  enemy  to  the  Churches 
here."  Part  of  his  crime  was  "  for  blasphemy 
against  the  Church  of  Salem,  the  mother 
Church  of  all  this  Holy  Land."  And  now, 
continues  Morton,  "  hee  convented  was  before 
their  Synagoge,  where  no  defence  would  serve 
his  turne,  yet  was  there  none  to  be  seene  to 
accuse  him,  saue  the  Court  alone  ;  the  time  of 
his  sickness,  nor  the  urgent  cause  were  allowed 
to  be  urged  for  him,  but  whatsoever  could  be 
thought  upon  against  him  was  urged,  seeing  hee 
was  a  carnall  man,  of  them  that  are  without. 
So  the  matter  was  adjudged  before  he  came. 
He  only  brought  to  hear  his  sentence  ;  which 
was,  to  haue  his  tongue  bored  through  ;  his 
nose  slit ;  his  face  branded  ;  his  ears  cut ;  his 
body  to  be  whipped  in  every  severall  plantation 
of  their  iurisdiction  ;  and  a  fine  of  40  pounds 
imposed,  with  perpetuall  banishment."  The 
barbarous  whipping,  he  says,  was  performed 
by  "  the  Deacon  of  Charles  Towne,"  in  which 
employment  Shackles  (which  is  the  name  he 
gives  the  Deacon)  "  takes  a  greate  felicity,  and 
glories  in  the  practice  of  it."  But  Morton 
relieves  his  reader  in  some  measure  by  adding, 
"  This  cruell  sentence  was  stopped,  in  part,  by 
Sir  Christopher  Gardener,  then  present  at  the 
execution,  by  expostulating  with  Mr.  Temper- 
well  [Winthrop],  who  was  content  with  the 
whipping  and  the  cutting  off  parte  of  his  ears," 
the  fine,  sequestration  of  all  his,  goods,  and 
banishment.  The  above  is  the  substance  of 
Chap,  xxv.,  b.  iii. ,  entitled,  "  Of  the  manner 
how  the  Seperatists  doe  -pay  their  debts  to  them 
that  are  without. " 

%  In  Winthrop's  Journal,  i.  56. ;  who  says 
Ratcliff  was  "  convict,  ore  tenus." 


128  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Proceedings  relative  to  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner.  —  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges'  Claim.  —  Ship-building. 

Arrival  of  the  ship  Plough.  — Indians  visit  Boston.  — Arrival  of  the  Friendship,  —  the  White 

Angel.  ■ —  Contest  about  an  "  Opinion."  — Massacre  of  the  Agawams  by  the  Tarratines.  — Liberal- 
ity towards  the  Indians.  —  Colonists  punished  for  wronging  them.  —  Controversy  with  Plymouth 
about  runaway  Servants.  —  Winthrop  refuses  to  settle  at  Newton.  —  Dudley  censures  him  for  it.  — 
Statement  of  the  Grounds  of  Complaint.  —  Dudley's  Magnanimity.  —  Arrival  of  the  Lyon  with  Mrs. 
Winthrop,  Mr.  John  Eliot,  &c.  —  Persons  leave  the  Colony. 

ETTERS  are  received  at  Boston,  which  came  by  way 
of  Pascataqua,  from  England.  They  were,  or 
some  of  them  were,  directed  to  Sir  Christo- 
pher Gardiner.  As  Sir  Christopher  had  been  made  a 
prisoner  by  the  Authorities  of  Boston,  these  Authorities 
took  the  liberty  to  break  open  his  letters.  They  were 
doubtless  somewhat  surprised  when  they  came  to  peruse 
them,  learning  thereby  that  Gardiner  was  not  without 
friends  in  England,  and  that  some  of  those  friends,  at 
least,  had  full  confidence  in  him  as  a  man  of  integrity.  A  letter  from  no 
less  a  personage  than  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  to  him  confirmed  this  fact, 
and  the  Boston  Magistrates  were  probably  under  some  fears  that  they  had 
overstepped  the  bounds  of  discretion  in  having  thus  violated  the  sacred 
rights  of  correspondence.  But  the  peculiar  embarrassments  of  the 
Government  in  England,  and  the  great  distance  of  New  England  from 
that  country,  probably  prevented  any  difficulty  or  trouble  to  the  Author- 
ities here,  which  might,  under  other  circumstances,  have  followed. 
Besides  finding  that  Sir  Christopher  was  not  so  contemptible  as  he  had 
been  supposed  to  be,  Governor  Winthrop  found  that  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges  placed  reliance  on  him,  to  see  what  could  be  done,  whereby  he 
might  recover  his  territories  in  New  England,  of  which  he  had  been 
deprived  by  the  very  charter  which  he  had  been  active  in  procuring  for 
the  Massachusetts  Company.  Here,  however,  the  matter  seems  to 
have  rested ;  and  Sir  Ferdinando  is  branded  as  an  enemy  to  New  Eng- 
land, because  he  endeavored  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  things  in  this 
country  affecting  his  rights  as  an  original  patentee. 
.    .  Ship-building  had  already  been  begun,  before  Boston  was 

one  year  old.  Governor  Winthrop  caused  to  be  built  at  Mis- 
tick  a  "bark"  of  thirty  tons,  which  he  named  the  "Blessing  of  the 
Bay  ;"  and  on  this  fourth  day  of  July  it  was  launched.  By  the  end  of 
August  it  was  ready  for  service,  and  sailed  upon  a  trading  voyage  to 
Long  Island  and  New  York.* 

jig.       A  small  ship  of  sixty  tons  came  into  Boston  harbor,  with  ten 
passengers.     They  came  from  London,  and  had  a  patent  of 

*  Among  the  curious  things  noticed  by  the  f  Some  idea  of  the  relative  importance  of 

sailors  on  their  voyage,  were  Indian  canoes  at  Boston,  at  this  stage  of  its  history,  is  to  be 

Long  Island,  capable  of  carrying  eighty  men.  had  from  an  assessment  of  £30,  ordered  to  be 

—  Winthrop,  i.  112.  laid  by  the  Court  of  Assistants,  held  on  the 


1031.]  CONTEST    ABOUT    "AN    OPINION."  129 

lands  at  Sagadehock  ;  but,  on  visiting  that  region,  they  were  dissatis- 
fied with  it,  and  concluded  to  settle  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston. 
This  small  company  consisted  of  husbandmen,  and  they  gave  themselves 
the  name  of  the  Company  of  Husbandmen.  Their  ship  was  named  the 
Plough,  and  hence  the  origin  of  the  "Plough  Patent."  The  master's 
name  was  Graves.*  They  intended  to  go  up  to  Watertown  ;  but  the 
ship,  drawing  ten  feet  of  water,  ran  aground  in  the  attempt ;  and,  as 
Mr.  Hubbard  says,  "laid  her  bones  there."  f  Most  of  this  company 
"proved  Famalists,  and  vanished  away. "J 

The  following  week,  the  greatest  Indian  Chief  in  the  country 
made  his  appearance  at  Boston.  This  was  Miantunnomoh,  son 
of  Canonicus,  Sachem  of  Narraganset.  Wonohaqueham  came  along 
with  him,  to  introduce  him  to  the  Governor.  Being  invited  to  dine, 
after  dinner  he  presented  the  Governor  with  "a  skin,"  and  "  the  Gov- 
ernor requited  him  with  a  fair  pewter  pot."  Whether  he  stayed  all 
night  at  the  Governor's  request  or  not,  is  not  mentioned  ;  but  that  he  did 
stay  all  night  is  stated. 

A  ship  of  Barnstable,  which  had  been  at  sea  eleven  weeks, 
u  J  "  now  makes  her  appearance  in  the  harbor.  This  was  the  Friend- 
ship. An  account  of  her  sailing  had  been  received,  but  she  was  forced 
to  put  back  again  by  adverse  winds,  and  fears  began  to  be  entertained 
for  her  safety.  She  brought  eight  heifers,  one  calf,  and  five  sheep.  A 
few  days  after,  another  ship,  the  White  Angel,  brought  in  and  landed 
twrenty-one  heifers.  § 

There  are  to  be  found  very  few  things  upon  record  which 
probably  set  the  Fathers  of  Boston  in  a  more  ludicrous  light 
than  the  following.  The  Pastor,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  the  Elder,  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Brown,  of  the  Church  at  Watertown,  had  expressed  "  an  opinion  " 
which  the  Church  of  Boston  thought  required  looking  into.  Accord- 
ingly, Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Dudley,  and  Mr.  No  well,  the  Elder,  repaired 
to  Watertown,  and  there  "  debated  the  matter  before  many  of  both  con- 
gregations." It  appeared  that  the  Watertown  Pastor  and  Elder  had 
said  "that  the  Churches  of  Rome  were  true  Churches,"  and  this  was 
the  "opinion"  which  was  to  be  disposed  of,  according  as  it  might 
be  heretical  or  otherwise.  After  it  was  sufficiently  debated,  it  was 
determined,  by  vote,  probably,  that  that  "opinion"  was  "  an  error." 
The  vote  was  not  unanimous,  however,  for  there  were  three  that  dis- 
sented. 

By  an  order  of  Court  "  a  watch  of  six  and  an  officer"  is  to 
be  kept  every  night  at  Boston ;  that  every  first  Thursday  in 

day  preyious,  namely,  July  5.     The   amount  *  Prince,  357,  has  "  (T.)  Graves:"  it -was 

ordered  to  be  raised  was  to  discharge  a  contract  probably  Thomas  Graves, 

made  by  the  Colony  "  for  making  the  Creek  f  She  may  have  "  laid  her  bones  there,"  but 

from  Charles  river  to  Newton."  Winthrop   says   she   sailed   for  the  island  of 

,    „.                r^,r             „   „.  .              „,„  Christopher's,  and  returned  in  about  three  weeks 

I  We~us,£2°  ^          ?".  Duster,  £J  i!"'  *>  Charlestown,  «  so  broke  she  could  not  return 

3.  Saugus,           1    0              8.  Roxbury,        3    0  home.'  —  Journal,  l.  58,  60.                %  Ibid. 

4.  Nantasket,      0  10              9.  Salem,            3     0  §  A  milch  cow  at  this  time  was  valued   at 

5.  Watertown,     5    0            10.  Charlestown,  4  10  from  £25  to  £30,  sterling.  —  Hutchinson. 

IT 


130  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1631. 

each  month  a  general  training  of  Captain  Underbill's  company  is  to 
be  held  here  and  at  Roxbury.  At  the  same  Court,  Captain  Southcot 
has  liberty  granted  him  to  go  for  England,  under  a  promise  "  to  return 
with  all  convenient  speed."  He  did  not,  however,  return  any  more  to 
New  England  ;  but  why  he  did  not  is  not  known.  Perhaps,  like  many 
other  adventurous  men  of  that  day,  he  took  part  in  the  civil  war  that 
ensued. 

A  good  deal  of  apprehension  and  alarm  was  occasioned  in 
ug'  Boston,  about  this  period,  by  an  inroad  of  the  Tarratines  among 
the  Indians  on  this  side  of  Merrimack  river,  in  which  they  perpetrated 
a  bloody  massacre  upon  the  Agawams,  a  small  tribe  in  friendship  with 
the  English.*  Seven  of  these  were  killed,  several  wounded,  and  others 
carried  into  captivity.  Among  the  wounded  were  Wonohaqueham  and 
Montowampate,  who  belonged  in  .the  vicinity  of  Boston,  but  who  were 
upon  a  visit  to  Masconomo,  the  Sachem  of  the  Agawams,  at  that  time.f 
They  also  rifled  a  camp  or  wigwam  at  which  some  of  Mr.  Cradock's 
men  were  stationed,  employed  in  catching  sturgeon.  With  those  car- 
ried away  prisoners  was  the  wife  of  Montowampate,  from  whom  they 
heard  about  a  month  afterwards.  The  war-party  of  Tarratines  carried 
her  to  Pemaquid,  and.  Mr.  Abraham  Shurte,  J  who  lived  there,  learning 
the  circumstances,  ransomed  her  and  sent  her  home.  § 

In  all  or  nearly  all  of  the  Government's  transactions  with  the 

Indians,  not  only  justice  appears  to  have  been  done  them,  but 

a  commendable  liberality  is  also  observable  towards  them.      At  a  Court 

*  Some  who  had  read  Winthrop's  Journal  of  those  Tarratines' families,  and  therefore  was 
before  the  late  Editor,  namely,  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  less  pitied  of  the  English."  —  Hubbard, 
Mr.  Prince  and  Mr.  Noah  Webster,*  all  agree  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  145.  He  had  been,  by  order 
that  the  reading.  "  The  Tarratines  came  in  of  Court,  5  July  previous,  forbid  "  coming 
30  canoes"  upon  this  expedition,  is  the  true  into  any  Englishman's  house." 
reading ;  but  the  late  Editor,  though  he  is  not  J  Often  written  Shurd,  while  his  own  signa- 
sure  his  predecessors  read  wrong,  substitutes  ture  was  Shurte.  He  was  living  in  the  end  of 
3  for  30,  because  he  found  that  the  Indians  of  the  year  1662,  aged  "  fourscore  years,  or  there- 
New  York  had  great  canoes,  capable  of  carry-  abouts."  He  was  the  Roger  Conant  of  those 
ing  80  persons.  This  may  have  been  a  conclus-  parts  ;  and  I  will  take  the  liberty  to  advise  the 
ive  argument  with  him,  while  it  is  extremely  gentlemen  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society,  that 
doubtful  whether  it  will  be  so  with  his  succes-  every  day  they  neglect  his  history,  the  greater 
sors.  We  hear  of  no  such  great  canoes  among  will  be  the  charge  against  them,  and  the  more 
the  Tarratines,  while  the  number  of  them  that  difficult  it  will  be  for  them  to  meet  it.  The 
fell  upon  the  Agawams  must  have  been  large.  Shurte  family  probably  came  from  Bideford, 
Quartermaster  John  Perkins,  living  at  Aga-  Co.  of  Devon. —  See  Watkins'  History  of  Bide- 
wam  (Ipswich),  at  that  time,  told  Mr.  Cobbet,  ford.  See,  also,  Commissioners''  Report,  <5rc.  of 
a  few  years  after  the  affair  happened,  that  he  the  Difficulties  in  Lincoln  County,  Me.  He 
himself  saw  40  birch  canoes  full  of  Indians  in  came  to  N.  England  in  1626.  — See  his  deposi- 
one  fleet,  which  came  on  an  apparently  hostile  tion,  Ibid.,  p.  40. 

design,  but  being  discovered,  made  off  without  §  "About  this  time  the  Indians  that  were 

effecting  their  object. — See  Book  of  the  In-  most   conversant   among   them    [the  English] 

dians,  B.  ii.,  110.  came  quaking  and  complaining  of  a  barbarous 

f  "  This    Sagamore     of   Agawam  (as   was  and  cruell  people  called  the  Tarratines,  who, 

usually  said),  had  treacherously  killed  some  they  said,   would   eat    such   people   as   they 

caught,  alive  ;  tying  them  to  a  tree,  and  gnaw- 

.'Sf  ed"i0"  ?f  Winthrop's  Journal  published  in  Hartford,  ing  their  flesh  by  peece-meales  off  their  bones  ; 

in  1790,  noticed  in  a  previous  page  (57),  was  published  under  °  ,  ,  J  "  ,  i 

the  supervision  of  Mr.  Webster.     Of  this  I  am  assured,  on  as  alsO  that  they  were  a   strong  and  numerous 

the  authority  of  Dr.  Belknap,  whose  own  copy  of  that  edition  people,  and   now    Coming,   which    made    them 

I  possess,  with  notes  and  corrections  in  his  own  hand,  "  here  fl„„    +_    j.l„    ™      r  l  h  t„i „„„      ixt„„J„~  ... 

and  there  inserted."    No  name  of  Editor  or  Transcriber  was  ^ee    to   the  English."  — Johnson,    Wonder-W. 

printed  in  that  impression.  Prov.,  p.  50. 


1631.]  CONTROVERSY    WITH   PLYMOUTH.  131 

of  Assistants  now  convened  at  Boston,  on  complaint  of  Chikataubut  and 
his  men,  that  Mr.  Josias  Plaistowc  had  stolen  four  baskets  of  corn  from 
them,  he  was  ordered  to  return  them  eight  baskets,  pay  a  fine  of  five 
pounds,  and  hereafter  to  be  called  Josias,  and  not  Mr.  Josias,  as  for- 
merly, and  thus  "be  degraded  from  the  title  of  a  gentleman."  Two 
of  his  servants,  being  accessary,  were  ordered  to  be  whipped.  Their 
names  were  William  Buckland  and  Thomas  Andrew. 

But  a  short  time  previous,  the  Court  entertained  a  complaint  made 
by  an  Indian  and  his  squaw,  that  a  young  white  man  had  attempted  to 
disturb  their  family  relation  by  some  overtures  to  the  latter  of  an  unjus- 
tifiable character.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  whipped,  and  was  whipped 
accordingly,  in  the  presence  of  the  injured  party,  who  "  were  very  well 
satisfied." 

Governor  Dudley  writes*  that,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  colonists 
which  came  over  in  1630,  with  Winthrop,  himself,  and  other  chief 
men  of  that  company,  for  want  of  provisions  to  support  their  servants, 
many  of  them  were  allowed  to  go  free,  and  maintain  themselves  as  well 
as  they  could.  Now,  the  want  of  those  servants  had  become  of  serious 
inconvenience  to  those  who  had  advanced  some  twenty  pounds  apiece 
to  enable  them  to  come  to  New  England,  and  their  masters  were  becom- 
ing every  day  better  able  to  employ  and  support  them.  The  Govern- 
ment at  Boston  had,  or  thought  they  had,  reason  to  believe  that  many 
of  those  servants  had  gone  to  Plymouth,  and  were  harbored  by  the  peo- 
ple there  ;  therefore  Mr.  Winthrop,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  wrote  to  Mr. 
Bradford,  the  Governor  of  Plymouth,  complaining  that  the  people  of 
Plymouth  had  entertained  and  were  harboring  the  servants  which  be- 
longed to  the  people  of  Boston,  f 

Out  of  this  letter  of  Winthrop  and  his  Council  may  have  originated  the 
ill-feeling  and  jealousy  which  existed  at  this  period  at  Plymouth,  and 
caused  its  Governor  to  deny  the  people  of  Massachusetts  the  privilege 
of  trading  for  corn  with  the  Indians  at  Cape  Cod,  J  as  they  had  done  the 
previous  year.  However  this  may  be,  Governor  Bradford  wrote  in 
answer  to  that  letter  of  Winthrop,  after  considerable  delay,  §  for  which 
he  apologizes,  and  says  that  they  of  Plymouth  are  willing  to  correspond 
with  the  authorities  of  Boston  upon  "  this  or  any  other  naborly  course, 
so  farr  as  may  no  way  be  prejudiciall  to  any,  or  swarue  from  ye  rules  of 
equitie."  The  Boston  gentlemen  intimated  in  the  letter  of  complaint 
that  an  agreement  or  understanding  had  been  made  with  Mr.  Winslow  ; 
but  Mr.  Winslow  had  gone  far  England,  ||  and  could  not  then  be  consulted ; 
therefore  Bradford  says  they  of  Plymouth  know  nothing  about  any 
agreement  with  Mr.  Winslow  ;  that  their  meaning  and  former  practice 

*  See  ante,  p.  89.  §  Date  of  Bradford's  letter  is   "  Feb.   6, 

f  See  Winthrop's  Journal,  i.  60.  1631."  [1632,  N.  S.] 

j  Inferences   drawn  from   Gov.    Bradford's        ||  He  sailed  about  the  middle  of  July,  1631. 
reply  to  Winthrop.     The  letter  of  the  latter   — See  Prince,  357- 
which  occasioned  the  reply  I  know  not  to  be 
in  existence.      Winthrop's  letter  was  dated 
July  26th,  1630. 


132  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 

"  was  and  hath  been,  only  such  as  come  to  dwell  and  inhabit,  whether 
as  sernants  or  free  men,  and  not  of  sojournours,  which  come  but  for  a 
seasone,  with  a  purpose  to  returne."  Yet,  he  says,  "  if  any  abuse 
should  grow  hereby,  we  shall  agree  to  any  good  order  for  the  preuent- 
ing  or  redressing  of  the  same  ;  prouicled  the  way  be  left  open  for  pore 
men  to  releue  their  wants,  and  for  mutuall  help  to  both  plantations. 
We  have  therefore  giuen  warning  in  open  courte  to  all  our  people,  not 
to  receiue  any  as  seruants  or  dwellers  with  them,  but  to  acqvainte  vs 
first  therewith,  that  we  may  inquire  of  their  certificates  or  dismisseons  ; 
but  we  haue  sett  no  penealtie  vpon  it  as  yett,  because  we  hope  ther 
shall  be  noe  need,  if  ther  be,  we  haue  libertie  to  punish  such  things  at 
our  discretions.  If  that  will  not  serue,  when  we  vnderstand  what  pen- 
ealtie you  appointe  in  the  case,  we  shall  doe  ye  like,  or  y*  which  shall 
be  equivelente  vnto  it.  As  for  the  instances  you  giue,  we  find  that 
John  Philips,  when  he  came,  was  sicke,  and  if  he  had  not  been  by  some 
received  to  house,  he  had  been  in  danger  to  haue  perished.  He  aledged 
he  was  sent  by  his  maister  to  seeke  a  seruise  ;  yet  as  a  seruente  he  was 
not  entertained  by  any,  till  his  maister  came  and  sould  his  time  ;  not  to 
him  y*  gave  him  house  roame,  but  to  him  that  would  giue  most.  So  he 
had  no  cause  to  complaine.  [As]  for  John  Pickworth,  he  came  but  as 
a  sojournour,  to  worke  for  a  few  weeks,  in  which  time  he  goate  a  wife  ; 
and  so  is  longe  since  returned  duble,  and  hath  no  cause  to  complaine, 
except  he  hath  goot  a  bad  wife.  Richard  Church*  came  likewise,  ass 
a  sojournour,  to  worke  for  ye  present ;  though  he  is  still  hear  residente, 
longer  then  he  purpossed ;  and  what  he  will  doe,  neither  we,  nor,  I 
think  him  selfe,  knowes ;  but  if  he  resolue  here  to  setle,  we  shall  require 
of  him  to  procure  a  dismission ;  but  he  did  affirme  to  vs  at  ye  first,  that 
he  was  one  of  Mr.  Webb'sf  men,  and  freed  to  goe  for  England,  or  whither 
he  would  ;J  ye  which  we  ye  rather  beleued,  because  he  came  to  vs  frome 
Wessagusscusett  upon  ye  faling  out  with  his  parttner.  §  [As]  for  others 
intimated,  we  know  none,  though  we  haue  inquired,  but  they  had  a 
dismission,  either  to  come  hither,  or  goe  for  England.  Now  ther  are 
diuerce  goone  from  hence,  to  dwell  and  inhabite  with  you ;  as  Clement 
Brigges,  John  Hill,  John  Eedy,  Daniel  Ray,  &c.  ;  the  which,  if  either 
you,  or  they  desire  thir  dismission,  we  shall  be  redy  to  giue  them,  hope- 
ing  you  will  doe  the  like,  in  the  like  cases,  though  we  haue  heard 
something  otherwise."  ||  /tit 

This  letter  was   signed   by        pfefoft ±r^^foue^ 

*  This  was  the   father   of  Col.   Benjamin  Dudley  speaks,  as  set  at  liberty  because  their 

Church,  one  of  the  most  noted  captains  in  the  masters   could  not   provide   for   them. — See 

Indian  wars.      For  a  very  satisfactory  note  ante,  p.  89. 

upon  the  father,  see  the  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  §  Thomas  Morton  1     Church  probably  went 

Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  243.  to  Plymouth  while  Morton  was  in  power  at 

-j-  Mr.  Francis  Webb  1  As  is  observed  in  the  Mount  Wollas ton.  Winthrop  wrote  in  July 
Gen.  Regr.,  ut  supra,  this  name  in  the  origi-  about  the  runaway  servants,  and  in  August 
nal  stands  "  Welbs,"  but  I  think  it  was  in-  (1630)  Morton  was  carried  a  prisoner  to  Bos- 
tended  for  "  Webb's ;"  and  who  but  Francis?  ton. 

%  That  is,  he  came  over  at  the  charge   of  ||  Taken   from   the    original    letter,    all   in 

Mr.  Webb,  and  was  one  of  those  of  whom  Bradford's  own  hand. 


1631.]  A    FEUD    IN    THE    GOVERNMENT.  133 

Mylcs  Standish,  Thomas  Prcncc,  Samuel  Fuller,  and  John  Alden.  The 
lour  last  were  Assistants,  and  answered  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  later  times.  Mr.  Winslow  was  another  of  the  Assistants,  whose  name 
would  no  doubt  have  followed  that  of  the  Governor,  had  he  been  at 
home. 

As  no  more  is  heard  about  harboring  runaway  servants,  the  matter 
probably  ended  with  Mr.  Bradford's  letter. 

It  had  been  agreed,  in  December  last,  after  a  good  deal  of  anxious 
deliberation  among  the  officers  of  the  government,  to  build  a  fortified 
town  at  Newton,  as  in  its  proper  place  has  been  mentioned.  Accord- 
ingly, several  of  the  gentlemen  built  houses  there  this  spring.*  Mr. 
Winthrop  probably  saw  that  a  fortified  town  in  that  place  would  be  no 
advantage  to  the  Colony  whatever,  and  that  Boston  was  daily  increasing 
in  importance.  Therefore,  about  the  beginning  of  November,  the  Gov- 
ernor caused  his  house  at  Newton  to  be  taken  down,  conveyed  to  Bos- 
ton, and  set  up  there.  It  appears  not  to  have  been  finished,  which  is 
evidence  that  he  did  not  intend  to  live  in  it  at  the  former  place,  while 
Dudley  had  his  finished,  and  his  family  actually  in  it.  This  proceeding 
of  Mr.  Winthrop  caused  Mr.  Dudley  to  censure  him  for  a  want  of  good 
faith,  and  the  other  gentlemen  were  likewise  dissatisfied  with  the  rea- 
sons which  Mr.  Winthrop  gave  for  not  taking  up  his  residence  at  New- 
ton ;  and  it  must  be  confessed,  that  those  reasons  do,  even  now,  look  a 
little  obnoxious  to  the  charge  of  insincerity.  He  said  he  had  performed 
his  promise,  inasmuch  as  he  had  a  house  up,  and  servants  occupying  it 
by  the  time  appointed  ;  and  hence,  if  he  did  remove  it  elsewhere,  imme- 
diately, it  did  not  affect  his  agreement ;  and,  besides,  he  had  been 
reminded  by  the  people  of  Boston,  that  he  had  promised  them,  when 
they  settled  with  him  here,  that  he  should  not  leave  them,  and  even 
Mr.  Dudley  himself  had  discouraged  the  people  of  Boston  from  settling 
at  Newton,  j 

Thus  matters  stood  for  a  time  ;  the  Governor  and  Deputy  having 
suspended  friendly  intercourse.  J     At  length,  their  mutual  friends  got 

*  "  On  this  spot  a  town  was  laid  out  in  them  are  very  rich,  and  well  stored  with  cat- 
squares,  the  streets  intersecting  each  other  at  tell  of  all  sorts  ;  having  many  hundred  acres 
right  angles.  All  the  streets  were  named,  and  of  ground  paled  in  with  one  generall  fence, 
a  square  reserved  for  a  Market  Place,  though  which  is  about  a  mile  and  a  halfe  long."  — 
not  used  for  that  purpose,  remains  open  to  this  New  England's  Prospect,  33-4. 
day."  — Rev.  Dr.  Holmes,  Annals,  i.  210.  f  See  Hubbard,  Gen.  Hist,  of  New  England, 

Mr.  William  Wood,  who  came  to  New  Eng-  136. 

land  probably  in  1629,  and  left  it  in  1633,  thus  J  The  curious  reader  may  desire  to  find,  in 

speaks  of  "  New-Towne,  which  is  three  miles  this  history,  an  account  of  some  of  the  steps 

by  land  from  Charles-Towne,  and  a  league  and  taken  in  this  singular  case,  by  which  he  may 

a  halfe  by  water.  This  place  was  first  intended  discern  more  clearly  the  real  actions  of  the 

for  a  City,  but  upon  more  serious  considera-  actors  in  it.     I  therefore  extract  as   follows 

tions  it  was  not  thought  so  fit,  being  too  farre  from  Winthrop,  giving  him   thereby  the  ad- 

from  the  Sea,  being  the  greatest  inconvenience  vantage  of  ex  -parte  testimony.    He  says,   "  At 

it  hath.     This  is  one  of  the  neatest  and  best  a   Court    at   Boston,   3  April,    1632   [held,  I 

compacted   Towns   in   New   England,   having  believe,   in   the  Governor's   own   house],   the 

many  faire  structures,  with   many  handsome  Deputy,  Mr.  Dudley,  went  away  before   the 

contrived  streets.     The  inhabitants  most  of  Court  was  ended,  and  then  the  Secretary  deliv- 


134  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1631. 

them  to  submit  the  matter  to  Arbiters  ;*  these — though  they  determined 
that  the  Governor's  conduct  was,  in  some  measure  excusable,  especially 
as  he  was  ready  to  acknowledge  his  error  —  the  Arbiters,  therefore,  de- 
cided that  Mr.  Winthrop  should  pay  Mr.  Dudley  twenty  pounds  towards 
his  expenses  in  building,  or  provide  a  minister  for  Newton,  and  con- 
tribute towards  his  maintenance.  The  Governor  chose  the  former,  and 
soon  after  forwarded  the  twenty  pounds  to  Mr.  Dudley. 

The  Deputy-Governor,  although  proverbial  for  driving  good  bargains, 
in  this  affair  gave  a  proof  of  his  magnanimity,  which  will  worthily  ac- 
company his  name  through  the  wilderness  of  ages.  He  refused  to  take 
Mr.  Winthrop's  money ;  saying  that  he  was  satisfied  that  the  Gov- 
ernor's intentions  were  good,  and  that  if  the  award  had  been  five  times 
as  much,  he  would  have  returned  it  in  the  same  manner.  Whereupon 
a  sort  of  business-understanding  was  restored. 

Before  dismissing  this  case,  it  may  be  well  to  notice  an  occurrence  or 
two  in  the  progress  of  it.  Mr.  Dudley  looked  upon  the  conduct  of  the 
Governor  in  so  unfavorable  a  light,  that  he  determined  not  to  serve  any 
longer  in  the  government  with  him,  and  much  of  crimination  ensued 
between  them.  Dudley  labors  under  a  disadvantage  in  the  recital, 
because  he  can  be  heard  only  through  his  adversary.  Winthrop  accused 
him  of  extortion  and  usury,  because  "  he  had  sold  seven  bushels  and  an 
half  of  corn,  to  receive  ten  for  it  after  harvest."  In  answer,  Dudley 
pointed  to  a  law  made  by  themselves  against  usury,  to  which  was  this 
proviso  added :  "  That  nothing  in  that  law  was  to  prohibit  the  letting 
of  cattle,  or  other  usages  of  a  like  nature,  in  practice  amongst  farm- 
ers." But  this  vindication  did  not  satisfy  the  Governor,  or  he  pre- 
tended that  the  clause  in  favor  of  farmers'  affairs  did  not  extend  to  this 
case.  Dudley  seems  now  to  have  lost  his  temper  in  some  degree,  and 
with  warmth  affirmed  that  he  had  done  nothing  illegal ;  and  that  he 
never  knew  any  man  of  understanding  of  other  opinion  ;  and  that  if 
the  Governor  thought  otherwise,  it  was  his  weakness  ;  and,  among 
other  "  hot  words  about  it,"  he  said  to  the  Governor,  "  that  if  he  had 
thought  he  had  sent  for  him  to  his  house  to  give  him  such  usage,  he 
would  not  have  come  there."  Winthrop,  no  doubt,  feeling  that  his 
own  was  the  hard  side  of  the  case,  says,  "  He  took  no  notice  of  these 
speeches,  and  bore  them  with  more  patience  than  he  had  done  upon  a 
like  occasion  at  another  time."  But  he  did  not  let  the  Deputy-Gov- 
ernor go  at  this  stage  of  the  controversy,  though  he  did  not  succeed  any 
better,  if  so  well,  in  his  next  accusation  against  him.  Mr.  Winthrop 
complained  that  Mr.  Dudley  was  extravagant  in  building  his  house  at 
Newton ;   that  he  had  set  a  bad  example  for  people  to  follow,  who 

ered  the  Governor  a  letter  from  him,  directed  ham,  who  met  at  Charlestown  on  the  3  August, 

to  the  Governor  and  Assistants,  wherein  he  1632.      By  continuing  the  narrative  of   this 

declared  a  resignation  of  his  Deputyship  and  affair   under   this   year    (1631),    the    time   in 

place  of  Assistant ;  but  it  was  not  allowed."  which  much  of  it  took  place,  is,  of  course, 

—  Jour.,  i.  72.  anticipated,  and  some  events  which  transpired 

*  The  gentlemen  were  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Wil-  during  its  progress,  fall  in  after  it. 
son,  Mr.  Weld,  Mr.  Maverick,  and  Mr.  War- 


1631.]  A   FEUD   IN    THE   GOVERNMENT.  135 

could  not  afford  to  do  so  ;  particularizing  "  wainscoting  and  adorning 
his  house."  This  charge,  without  Mr.  Dudley's  reply,  would  indeed 
seem  of  sonic  validity.  But  when  he  says  that  the  extravagance  com- 
plained of,  was  only  "  for  the  warmth  of  his  house,  and  the  cost  small ; 
and  that  the  wainscoting  consisted  only  of  clapboards  nailed  to  the  wall 
in  the  form  of  wainscoting,"  this  charge  has  a  little  the  appearance  of 
being  made  for  the  want  of  a  better  one  ;  and  whether  it  were  prompted 
by  jealousy,  because  the  Deputy-Governor  was  better  able  to  build  a 
handsomer  house  than  the  Governor  could  afford  to,  it  is  not  undertaken 
to  decide. 

It  was  objected  by  Mr.  Dudley,  that  the  Governor  had  exercised  too 
much  authority,  and  demanded  of  him  how  he  had  derived  such  an 
assumption  of  power,  —  whether  from  the  Patent  or  otherwise  ?  The 
Governor  smartly  replied,  that  he  had  not  transcended  his  authority  ; 
"and  speaking  somewhat  apprehensively,"  as  he  himself  says,  "the 
Deputy  began  to  be  in  a  passion,  and  told  the  Governor,  that  if  he  were 
so  round,  he  would  be  round  too."  What  this  being  "  round"  meant, 
is  easier  to  be  understood,  perhaps,  than  "speaking  somewhat  appre- 
hensively." Notwithstanding  the  Governor's  usual  mildness,  he  did,  by 
his  own  candid  confession,  suffer  himself  to  get  a  little  "round"  on 
this  occasion  ;  and  in  that  spirit  he  told  Mr.  Dudley  he  might  get 
round  too,  for  aught  he  cared.  "  So  the  Deputy  rose  up  in  great  fury 
and  passion,  and  the  Governor  grew  very  hot  also,  so  as  they  both  fell 
into  bitterness." 

All  this  appears  to  have  taken  place  in  the  presence  of  the  reverend 
arbitrators,  who,  interfering,  stayed  the  further  progress  of  the  wordy 
warfare  ;  and  both,  when  they  had  time  to  reflect,  were  no  doubt  satis- 
fied that,  by  the  storm  they  had  raised,  the  "  ship  of  state,"  though  not 
in  any  great  danger,  had  not  advanced  any  during  the  continuance  of 
the  tempest. 

Proceeding  with  his  allegations,  Mr.  Dudley  inquired  by  what  right 
Mr.  Winthrop  had  removed  certain  cannon,  which  were  public  property ; 
and  by  what  authority  he  had  caused  a  fort  to  be  erected  in  Boston  ? 
The  Governor  replied,  that  the  cannon  laid  rusting  on  the  beach ;  that 
he  had  often  called  the  attention  of  the  Court  to. their  spoiling  con- 
dition, and  nothing  had  been  done  ;  that  now  they  were  mounted,  and 
placed  where  they  might  be  of  service,  and  all  without  any  charge  to 
the  public.  The  Deputy  next  desired  to  know  on  what  authority  he  had 
licensed  Captain  Edward  Johnson  "  to  sit  down  at  Merrimack"  1  The 
Governor  said  he  had  only  licensed  him  to  trade  with  the  Indians,  "  as 
he  had  done  divers  others,"  which  was  within  his  authority.  It  was 
then  demanded  why  he  had  given  the  people  of  Watertown  leave  to 
erect  a  wear  in  Charles  river  ;  and  why  he  had  "  disposed  of  lands  to 
divers"  1  Why  he  had  allowed  Ratcliff  and  Gray,  who  had  been  ban- 
ished, to  remain  within  the  jurisdiction  ? 

It  is  pretty  clear,  judging  from  the  Governor's  answers  to  the  latter 
inquiries,  that  if  he  had  slightly  overstepped  the  bounds  of  his  author- 


136  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1631. 

ity,  he  gave  very  plausible  reasons  for  doing  so.  The  key  to  much  of 
the  difficulty  unquestionably  was  a  jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  Deputy- 
Governor.  If  he  refused,  or  was  otherwise  prevented  cooperating  with 
Winthrop,  the  latter  was,  as  a  matter  of  course,  obliged  to  assume 
responsibilities.  Being  a  more  popular  man  than  Mr.  Dudley,  the  peo- 
ple clustered  around  him,  and  were  at  all  times  ready  to  sustain  him  ; 
and  thus  similar  cases  will  always  have  a  similar  issue.  They  are  easily 
discerned  through  all  periods  of  history. 

There  had  been  several  orders  of  Court  passed  of  an  extremely  arbi- 
trary character,*  to  which  Mr.  Dudley,  as  one  of  the  Court,  made  no 
objection  at  the  time,  and  perhaps  would  not  have  objected  to  them,  or 
the  exercise  of  them,  had  he  been  consulted  afterwards  ;  but  the  cause, 
whatever  it  was,  that  interrupted  his  intercourse  with  Winthrop,  left  the 
latter  in  a  sort  of  dilemma.  He  must  either  carry  out  those  orders  on 
his  own  responsibility,  as  Governor,  or  let  them  remain  a  dead  letter. 
He  very  properly  might  have  thought  it  was  not  his  duty  to  go  out  of 
Boston  to  consult  the  Deputy- Governor,  when  cases  came  up  requiring 
immediate  action. 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  between  the  two  highest  officers  of 
the  government,  neither  of  them  appears  to  have  suffered  much  in  his 
popularity.  Of  the  two,  Winthrop  was,  no  doubt,  the  more  liberal ; 
and,  if  he  did  deviate  a  little  sometimes,  the  people  took  little  or  no 
notice  of  it ;  while  Dudley,  precise  and  exact,  doing  always  as  he 
agreed  to  do,  demanded  the  same  of  others.  Sometimes,  perhaps,  he 
may  have  been  a  little  too  rigid  in  his  exactions,  allowing  not  hardly 
enough  for  human  frailties  and  uncontrollable  circumstances  ;  hence  he 
was  not  likely  to  be  quite  so  popular  as  one  of  a  somewhat  differently 
constituted  mind. 

„     „  Governor  Winthrop's  popularity  was  strikingly  manifest  dur- 

ing the  progress  of  the  difficulty  with  Mr.  Dudley,  though  the 
extraordinary  demonstrations  about  to  be  detailed  must  not  be  entirely 
claimed  for  the  former.  Captain  William  Peirce,  their  former  deliverer 
from  famine,  now  sailed  into  Boston  harbor.  His  arrival  at  any  time 
was  a  sufficient  cause  for  feasts  and  rejoicings  ;  but  he  brought  with 
him  at  this  time  about  sixty  passengers,  whom  he  landed  safe,  after  a 
voyage  of  two  months  and  a  half.  Among  these  passengers  came  Mrs. 
Winthrop,  the  Governor's  lady,  his  oldest  son,  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  and 
his  wife,  and  others  of  his  children  ;  and  Mr.  John  Eliot,  afterwards  so 
famous  for  his  labors  to  christianize  the  Indians.  Two  children  had 
died  during  the  voyage,  one  of  which  was  the  Governor's  daughter,  aged 
about  one  year  and  a  half. 

N  The   state  of  the  weather  was  such  that  the  Lyon  could  not 

get  up  to  the  town  for  two  days  ;   then,  coming  to  anchor  before 

Boston,  the   passengers  went  on  shore.     Captain  Peirce  accompanied 

the  Governor  and  his  lady  in  his  own  boat,  at  whose  departure  the  ship 

*  See  under  14  June,  1631,  ante. 


1632.]  EXPLORATIONS    OF    ADJACENT   COUNTRY.  137 

gave  them  seven  guns,  and  the  captains  at  the  head  of  their  train-bands 
on  shore  stood  ready  to  escort  them  from  the  boat  to  the  dwellings  pro- 
vided for  them.  "  Divers  vollies  and  three  drakes"  saluted  them  on 
their  landing,  "  and  divers  of  the  Assistants,  and  most  of  the  people  of 
the  near  plantations  came  to  welcome  them,"  who  brought  and  sent,  for 
many  days,  all  sorts  of  provisions,  as  "fat  hogs,  kids,  venison,  poultry, 
geese,  partridges,  &c.  ;  so  as  the  like  joy  and  manifestation  of  love  had 
never  been  seen  in  New  England  ;  and  it  was  a  great  marvel  that  so 
many  people,  and  such  store  of  provisions  could  be  gathered  together 
at  so  few  hours'  warning."* 

This  rejoicing  and  festivity  was  followed  in  a  few  days  by  a 

Thanksgiving. 

Governor  Bradford,  of  Plymouth,  came  on  a  visit  to  Boston, 

and,  what  is  rather  remarkable,  he  lodged  at  night  on  board  the 
Lyon,  with  Captain  Peirce.  It  may  be  that  accommodations  were  bet- 
ter there  than  in  the  town,  owing  to  the  arrival  of  so  many  emigrants 
of  late. 

Mr.  Eliot,  immediately  after  his  arrival,  began  to  preach  in  Mr.  Wil- 
son's place,  who  was  yet  absent.  He  left  his  wife  in  England,  at  his 
first  coming  over,  as  did  also  many  others. 

Captain  Peirce  did  not  make  a  very  long  stay  at  this  time, 

and  sailed  for  England  by  way  of  Virginia,  and  many  went 
home  with  him ;  among  others,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall's  eldest  son. 
They  were  six  weeks  in  reaching  Virginia. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Explorations  of  the  adjacent  Country.  —  Spot  Pond.  —  Indian  Alarms.  —  Great  Arrival  of  Corn.  — 
Organization  of  the  General  Court.  —  House  of  Representatives.  —  Fort  built.  —  Return  of  Mr. 
Wilson.  —  Importation  of  Cows.  —  Arrival  of  Ministers.  —  Troublesome  Questions.  —  Visit  of  Nar- 
raganset  Indians.  —  Some  punished.  —  Windmill  set  up.  —  The  first  Meeting-house.  —  Fears  from 
the  Indians.  —  Complaints  and  Grievances. — Punishment  for  Profaneness.  —  Mr.  Stephen  Bache- 
lor. —  A  House  of  Correction  ordered.  —  Distinguished  Strangers.  —  The  Governor  entertains  them. 
—  Accompanies  them  to  Plymouth.  —  Account  of  their  Journey.  —  Trouble  about  Mr.  Eliot.  —  He 
leaves  Boston. 

OME  of  the  gentlemen  of  Boston  improved  a  portion 
of  their  time  during  the  second  winter  of  their 
settlement  in  making  excursions  into  the  sur- 
rounding wilderness.     The  Governor,  Mr.  John  Mas- 
ters, Mr.  Robert  Feake,  and  Adam  Winthrop,  a  son  of 
the  Governor,  were  among  a  party  who  went  up  Charles 
river,  "about  eight  miles  above  Watertown,"  as  they 
judged.     On  coming  to  "  a  fair  brook  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  they  named  it  Beaver  brook,  because  the 
beavers  had  shorn  down  divers  great  trees  there,  and  made  divers  dams 

*  Winthrop,  Prince. 

18 


138  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1632. 

across  the  brook.  This  brook  came  from  a  pond  a  mile  from  the  river." 
A  little  further  onward  they  came  "  to  a  great  rock,  upon  which  stood 
a  high  stone,  cleft  in  sunder,  that  four  men  might"  pass  through  the 
fissure  ;  this  they  called  Adam's  chair,  in  compliment  to  the  youngest 
person  in  the  company.  Further  up  the  river,  they  came  to  another 
brook,  larger  than  the  former,  which  they  named  Masters'  brook,  be- 
cause Mr.  Masters  was  the  oldest  in  the  company.  A  high,  pointed 
rock,  not  far  off,  they  named  Mount  Feake,  Mr.  Feake  having  married 
the  daughter-in-law  of  the  Governor.  On  the  west  of  Mount  Feake, 
from  a  very  high  rock,  they  could  "  see  all  over  Neipnett  ;"*  and  also 
Wachuset  mountain,  which  they  supposed  to  be  about  forty  miles  dis- 
tant, and  other  mountains  about  sixty  miles  off,  in  the  north-west. 

In  another  excursion,  in  which  there  went  with  the  Governor 
Mr.  Nowell  and  Mr.  Eliot,  they  discovered  the  since  interesting 
body  of  water  called  Spot  Pond.  It  "  having  in  the  midst  an  island  of 
about  one  acre,  and  very  thick  with  trees  of  pine  and  beech  ;  and  hav- 
ing divers  small  rocks  standing  up  here  and  there  in  it,  they  therefore 
called  it  Spot  Pond;"  and,  says  Winthrop,  "  they  went  all  about  it 
upon  the  ice."  Not  far  off  they  named  a  certain  rock  Cheese  rock, 
because  "  when  they  went  to  eat  somewhat,"  they  found  they  had  noth- 
ing but  cheese  to  eat ;  "  the  Governor's  man,  for  haste,  forgot"  to  put 
in  the  bread. 

Seven  days  after,  the  Governor  and  some  others  explored  the 

country  as  far  as  Neponset  river  ;    but  no  mention  is  made   of 

anything  remarkable  having  been  discovered.     At  a  Court  of 

Assistants  it  was  ordered  that  Courts,  which  had  been  held  every 

three  weeks,  should,  in  future,  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  every 

month.     During  the  winter  no  mention  is  made  of  any  trouble  from  the 

Indians  ;  but  early  in  April  startling  intelligence  is  brought  to 

Boston  of  a  war  between  the  Narragansets  and  Pokanokets,  and 

that  the  Narragansets  had  sent  for  the  Indians  about  Boston  to  go  and 

fight  for  them,  and  that  Sagamore  John  had  gone  with  thirty  men,  and 

Chikataubut  with  many  of  his.     The  messenger  who  brought  this  news 

came  from  Plymouth  with   letters   detailing  the    circumstances,   and 

requesting  a  quantity  of  ammunition.   The  Governor  put  him  up  twenty- 

*  As  to  what  was  formerly  meant  by  the  coast.  The  name  Netop  signified  friend  among 
Nipmuck  or  " Neipnett"  country  there  is  much  these  tribes,  and  hence  the  origin  of  the  name 
of  uncertainty.  This  is  not  at  all  strange,  in-  of  those  inland  Indians  ;  the  different  tribes 
asmuch  as  there  never  was  a  time,  probably,  slightly  differing  in  their  pronunciation  of  it. 
when  anybody,  Indian  or  Englishman,  could  Not  taking  these  facts  into  account,  writers, 
truly  define  its  boundaries. — See  Book  of  the  both  early  and  late,  have  puzzled  themselves 
Indians,  Book  ii.,  p.  82  (eleventh  edition),  and  perplexed  their  readers  in  attempts  to 
The  Nipmuck  or  Nipnet  Indians  consisted  of  locate  the  "Nipmuck  Country."  When  the 
such  as  preferred  living  in  the  interior  to  liv-  king's  commissioners,  in  1.741,  settled  the 
ing  on  the  sea-coast,  and  such  as  withdrew  boundary  between  Plymouth  and  Rhode  Island, 
from  the  tribes  about  the  coast  from  some  dis-  they  satisfied  themselves  that  "  this  Nipmug 
affection  on  their  part  or  that  of  the  tribes  to  territory  could  not  be  ascertained." — See 
which  they  belonged.  The  Nipnets  were,  Douglass,  i.  398.  The  commissioners  were 
therefore,  the  friends  and  relatives  of  the  led  to  investigate  the  matter  because,  by  the 
Wampanoags,  Narragansets,  and  other  tribes  Grant  to  Plymouth  Colony  in  1629,  the  Nip- 
about  the  arms  and  inlets  of  this  part  of  the  muck  country  was  a  boundary. 


1632.]  HOUSE   OF    REPRESENTATIVES PORT.  139 

seven  pounds  of  powder;   that  being  "as  much  as  he  could  carry." 

However,  a  few  days  after,  intelligence  came,  that  the  Narra- 

pn      '  gansets,  who  were  reported  to  have  attacked  the  Pokanokets, 

at  So  warns,  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  Pequots,  and  thus  the  excitement 

was  allayed. 

At  this  time,  a  Dutch  ship  arrived  from  Virginia,  with  two  thousand 
bushels  of  corn,  which  brought  four  shillings  and  sixpence  the  bushel. 
Thus  it  is  seen  that  provisions  of  this  sort  were  now  at  a  fair  price. 
M  q  At  a  General  Court,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Governor,  Deputy- 
Governor,  and  Assistants,  should  be  chosen  by  the  whole  Court ; 
that  the  Governor  shall  always  be  chosen  out  of  the  Assistants  chosen 
for  the  year  ensuing.  At  this  Court  Winthrop  and  Dudley  were  re- 
chosen.  Ludlow,  Nowell,  Pynchon,  Bradstreet,  Endicott,  Ilumfrey, 
Coddington,  and  John  Winthrop,  junior,  were  chosen  Assistants.  Mr. 
Ilumfrey  and  Mr.  Coddington  were  chosen,  though  out  of  the  country, 
being  daily  expected.  The  Court  passed  an  order  that  there  should  be 
two  persons  elected  in  every  plantation,  to  confer  with  the  Court  about 
raising  a  public  stock. 

Thus,  in  matters  of  revenue  at  least,  it  was  found  necessary  that  the 
people  should  have  a  voice,  and  hence  this  provision  for  a  sort  of  House 
of  Representatives.*  Hitherto  some  of  the  measures  of  the  govern- 
ment had  been  complained  of  as  arbitrary  and  oppressive,  which  may 
have  been  the  occasion  of  this  new  branch  in  the  government. 

The  idea  of  fortifying  Newtown  having  been  laid  aside,  it  was  thought 

that  fortifications  should  not  be  dispensed  with  altogether,  and,  according 

to  some  previous  arrangements,  it  was  agreed  to  build  a  fort  in 

that  part  of  Boston  called  Corn  Hill.    Boston  people  commenced 

it  on  this  day.     Charlestown  men  came  and  worked  on  it  the  following 

day,  Roxbury  men  the  next  day,  and  Dorchester  next.     The 

name  of  the  hill  on  which  it  was  built  was  changed  to  Fort  Hill, 

which  it  still  retains,  f 

All  was  now  bustle  and  stir  in  Boston,  and  many  a  heart 
leaped  for  joy.  The  ship  Whale,  Captain  Graves,  being  an- 
nounced as  in  the  harbor,  and  on  board  of  her  was  the  beloved  Wilson, 
who  went  for  England  the  last  year  for  his  wife  ;  also  Mr.  Richard 
Dummer,  and  about  thirty  passengers,  all  in  health.  Of  seventy  cows 
sent  in  the  same  ship,  two  only  were  lost  on  the  passage. 

For  these  blessings,  and  especially  for  the  signal  victories 
gained  by  Gustavus  Adolphus,  in  Germany,  by-  which  he  rescued 

*  The  towns  accordingly  chose  the  following        Again  we  meet  with  several  names  before 
gentlemen  pursuant  to  the  order  :  duly  honored  in  the   preceding  pages.     But, 

1.  Mr.  Oldham  and  Mr.  Masters,  for  Watertown.  not  to   wait    for 

2.  Robert  Coles  and  John  Johnson,  for  Roxbury.  ^                                                  ,  another  opportu- 

3.  Mr.  William  Colborn  and  William  Cesbrough,  for  J?^^^^/-"    £0- C)~>vct/i^jL  nity»  we  here  in- 
Boston.  7                                          sert  a  fac-simile 

4.  Richard  Wright  and I  — — -,  for  Saugus.  S                                               of  the  autograph 

5.  Mr.  Lockwood  and  Mr.  spencer,  for  Newton.  „  „            ~                ,,      c  ,,           c  Q  i_     °     x 

6.  Mr.  Gibbons  and  Mr.  Palmer,  for  Charlestown.  of  RoGER  Conant,  the  father  of  balem. 

7.  Mr.  Conant  and  Peter  Palfrey,  for  Salem.  f  There  can  be  no  mistake  in  locating  this 

8.  William  Felps  and  John  Gallard,  for  Dorchester,  first  fort  in  Boston.     Mr.  Wood  says,  "This 


140  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1632. 

that  country  from  the  Popish  yoke,  a  thanksgiving  was  ordered  to  he 
celebrated  throughout  all  the  Plantations. 

Some  inconvenience  had  begun  to  be  experienced  by  the  colonists 
from  an  over-familiarity  of  the  natives,  who,  under  pretence  of  trade, 
would  intrude  at  all  times  and  seasons  into  private  houses.  Therefore, 
at  this  Court,  it  was  agreed  that  every  plantation  should  set  up  a  truck- 
ing house.     This,  it  was  thought,  would  abate  the  difficulty. 

On  the  same  clay  this  Court  was  held,  there  arrived  the  ship  William 
and  Francis,  Captain  Thomas,  with  about  sixty  passengers  ;  among 
whom  came  Mr.  Thomas  Weld,  and  "  old  Mr.  Stephen  Bachelor,  being 
aged  seventy-one,  with  their  families,  and  many  other  honest  men." 

The  same  day,  also  came  in  the  Charles  of  Barnstaple,  and  in  her 
was  Mr.  Timothy  Hatherly,  who  afterwards  laid  the  foundation  of 
Scituate.  There  were  about  twenty  passengers.  She  also  brought  an 
important  accession  of  "near  eighty  cows,  and  six  mares,  all  safe  and 
in  health."  The  former  ship  sailed  from  London  on  the  ninth  of  March, 
and  the  Charles,  from  Barnstaple,  on  the  tenth  of  April,  and  they  met 
near  Cape  Ann.  Mr.  Edward  Winslow,  of  Plymouth,  was  a  passenger 
in  the  William  and  Francis. 

Few  thanksgivings  have  happened  in  Boston,  probably,  more 
heartily  celebrated  than  that  appointed  to  take  place  on  the 
morrow.  To  make  it  still  more  joyous,  however,  another  ship  is  added 
to  the  large  number  of  late  arrivals,  —  the  James,  near  eight  weeks 
from  London,  Captain  Grant,  with  twelve  passengers.  She  sailed  with 
sixty-one  heifers,  but  by  what  fatality  she  lost  forty  of  them  on  the 
voyage,  is  not  mentioned. 

The  "  Congregation  at  Boston"  were  in  considerable  trouble,  about 
this  time,  respecting  the  following  matters,  namely :  whether  one  per- 
son might  be  a  civil  magistrate  and  a  ruling  elder  at  the  same  time  ?  If 
not,  then  which  should  he  lay  down  1  Whether  there  might  be  divers 
pastors  in  the  same  Church  ?  These  questions  weighed  so  heavily  on 
the  Church  of  Boston,  that  the  members  wrote  to  the  neighboring 
Churches  for  advice  in  what  appeared  to  be  an  alarming  difficulty.  The 
Churches  addressed  returned  an  unanimous  answer  to  the  first  question, 
in  the  negative  ;  but  on  the  second  and  third,  they  did  not  presume  to 
adventure  an  opinion  ;  and  how  the  Boston  Church  finally  extricated 
itself,  does  not  appear. 

Less  is  heard  of  annoyance  from  the  many  Indians  which  must 
have  visited  Boston,  probably  every  day,  than  could  reasonably 
be  expected,  when  it  is  considered  that  they  could  not  have  had  any 
adequate  idea  of  the  white  people's  laws,  and  their  rules  of  propriety 
in  intercourse.  At  this  time,  Mecumeh,  afterwards  known  as  Mian- 
tunnomoh,  or  Miantonomo,*  with  his  wife  and  twelve  attendants,  or 

Necke  of  land,"  on  which  Boston  is  situated,  is  planted  a  Fort,  which  can  command  any 

"  is  not  above  foure   miles   in   compasse,  in  ship  as  she  sayles  into  any  Harbour  within 

forme  almost  square,  having  on   the   South-  the  hill  Bay."  —  New  England's  Prospect,  52. 

side  at  one  corner,  a  great  broad  hill,  whereon  *  This   orthography  of   the  great  Chief's 


1632.]  FIRST   PLACE    OF    WORSHIP.  141 

sannaps,  as  these  were  called  by  Chiefs,  visited  Boston.  Two  days 
after,  it  being  Sunday,  Miantononio,  being  at  meeting  with  the  Eng- 
lish, three  of  his  sannaps  went  in  the  mean  time,  and  broke  into  a 
house.  After  the  meeting,  complaint  being  made  to  the  Governor,  he 
complains  to  the  Chief.  It  was  required  by  the  Governor  that  the 
offenders  should  be  punished,  and  that  the  Chief  should  make  one  of 
the  sannaps  beat  the  others.  Indians  do  not  believe  in  corporeal  pun- 
ishment, and  hence  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that  the  beating  operation 
was  brought  about.  However,  it  was  at  length  performed  ;  after  which 
the  offenders  were  sent  out  of  town  ;  but  the  Governor  took  Miantonomo 
and  the  rest  of  his  company  to  his  house,  "and  made  much  of  them." 
They,  however,  left  for  home  the  same  evening.  It  might  have  been 
difficult  for  the  Chief  to  understand  which  of  the  two  was  the  greater 
offence,  prying  into  an  empty  house,  or  whipping  Indians  on  a  Sunday. 
At  a  Court  not  long  before,  some  of  Chikataubut's  men  had  been  "  con- 
vented  and  convicted"  for  assaulting  some  English  at  Dorchester.  They 
were  set  in  the  bilboes,  and  Chikataubut  made  to  beat  them  himself. 

Some  time  in  the  month  of  August,  a  windmill,  which  had  been 
erected  near  Newton,  was  taken  down  and  brought  to  Boston.  It  was 
set  up  on  the  hill  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  *  which  hill  afterwards 
received  the  name  of  Copp's  Hill,  from  an  inhabitant  named  William 
Copp.  The  windmill  was  removed  from  the  country,  "because  it 
would  not  grind  but  with  a  westerly  wind." 

Although  there  had  been  regular  meetings  on  Sundays,  in 
Boston,  for  about  two  years,  no  Meeting-house  f  had  been  built. 
Private  houses  had  been  the  places  for  public  worship  as  soon  as  they 
were  built,  and  before  they  were  provided,  the  branches  of  the  neigh- 
boring trees  had  been  the  only  shelter  for  minister  as  well  as  people.  J 
But  Mr.  Wilson  had  now  returned ;  the  place  was  becoming  prosperous, 
and  funds  had  been  raised  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds,  which  were  to  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  a  Meeting-house, 
and  a  house  for  the  minister. 

The  sort  of  building  first  erected  for  divine  service  in  Boston,  has 
been  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter,  §  and  such  representation  there 
given    as  the   known   facts    about   it   seemed  to   justify.      This  first 

name  gives   pretty  truly   its    pronunciation,  the  Sea-coast."  —  Wood,  New  England's  Pros- 

probably.     In  Danforth's  Almanack,  for  1649,  pect,  33. 

there  is  this  distich  or  epigram  :  —  f  Many   of   the   Puritan   fathers   carefully 

,...,.-„            .,„,.,  avoided  the  term  Church,  when  speaking  of 

STCr(m       .^     ^  their  Place  <>f  worship.     The   Catholics   had 

If  it  may  be,  by  Miantonomo."  „,         f            ,,        „      ?                 ,     ,     ,,       . 

See  Book  of  the  Indians,  v.  697.  Churches  ;     the    Protestants     had    Meeting- 
houses.    Quakers   have  no  Churches  to   this 

*  "  Equall    in    bignesse,"    to    Fort    Hill,  day,  though  they  have  Meeting-houses. 

"  whereon  stands  a  Winde-mill.  To  the  North  J  "  Before  they  could  build  at  Boston,  they 

west  [of  Fort  Hill]  is  an  high  Mountain,  with  lived  many  of  them  in  tents  and  wigwams  at 

three  little  rising  hills  on  the  top  of  it,  where-  Charlestown  ;  their  Meeting-Place  being  abroad 

fore  it  is  called  the  Tra-mount.    From  the  top  under  a  tree  ;  where  I  have  heard  Mr.  Wilson 

of  this  Mountain  [since  Beacon  Hill]  a  man  and  Mr.  Phillips   preach   many  a  good  Ser- 

may  overlooke  all  the  Islands  which  lie  before  mon."  —  Clap,  Memoirs,  42. 

the  Bay,  and  discry  such  ships  as  are  upon  §  See  page  104,  ante. 


142  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1632. 

rude  structure,  according  to  the  best  information  Mr.   Wadsworth* 

could  collect,  stood  "  about  nine  or  ten 
years."  In  1640,  it  was  replaced  by  a  su- 
perior edifice,  in  which  the  first  sermon  was 
preached  on  the  twenty-third  of  August, 
of  that  year.  The  "  Old  Meeting-house  " 
stood,  according  to  Mr.  Wadsworth,  "near 
where  the  Town  House  now  [1713]  is,  at 
a  small  distance  from  the  south-east  cor- 
ner of  it.  This  indicates  the  precise  spot 
to  be  that  on  which  now,  1853,  Brazer's 
Block  stands,  on  the  south  side  of  State  Street. 

The  house  erected  in  1640,  was  of  wood,  and  stood  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Joy's  Building,  in  Washington  Street,  a  little  to  the  south 
of,  and  opposite  to  the  head  of  State  Street.  When  it  had  stood  sev- 
enty-one years,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  last  sermon  preached  in 
it  before  it  was  burned,  was  preached  by  Mr.  Wadsworth,  on  the 
thirtieth  of  September,  1711,  and  two  days  after,  namely,  October  the 
second,  it  was  consumed.  Mr.  Wadsworth  says,  "  Considering  the 
place  where  it  was,  and  how  many  wooden  buildings  were  near  it, 
'twas  a  wonder  of  Providence  it  stood  so  long.  'Twas  by  many  tho't 
not  convenient  to  build  another  Meeting-House  with  wood,  in  that 
place,  where  other  buildings  would  probably  be  near  and  thick  about  it, 
for  fear  of  fire  ;  and  the  winter  [of  1711 — 12]  coming  on,  brick-work 
could  not  be  engag'd  in  till  the  following  spring  ;  and  when  the  season 
did  allow,  the  work  was  diligently  set  about.  The  stone  foundation 
was  begun  April  the  fourteenth,  1712.  They  begun  their  brick-work, 
May  twenty-ninth,  and  finished  it  fit  for  the  roof,  September  the  eigh- 
teenth, the  same  year.  So  that  the  brick-work  was  begun  and  finished 
in  less  than  four  months.  They  began  to  raise  the  roof,  October  second, 
1712,  just  that  day  twelve  month  after  the  former  house  was  burnt. 
'T  was  about  a  year  and  seven  months  from  the  burning  of  the  former, 
to  our  meeting  in  the  present  Meeting-House." 

Mr.  Wadsworth  supposed  the  cost  of  the  house  would  be  "not  far 
short  of  four  thousand  pounds;"  and  "that  there  had  been  no  essay 
to  raise  one  penny"  towards  the  cost  of  it  "  by  rate  or  tax.  All  that 
had  been  done  was  done  voluntarily  and  without  restraint.  Of  all  that 
were  chosen  of  any  committees,"  he  continues,  "  referring  to  this  whole 
affair,  I  don't  remember  that  any  to  this  day  [November,  1713]  has 
been  removed  by  death,  except  one  worthy  gentleman,  Mr.  Thomas 
Brattle f  (who  had  a  principal  hand  in  modelling  this  house),  yet  he 

*  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Wadsworth.  He  was  College,  in  1725,  and  died  in  1737,  aged  67. 
son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Wadsworth,  of  Milton,  He  was  the  author  of  many  sermons, 
who,  with  his  company,  was  cut  off  by  the  f  He  died  18  May,  1713.  He  was  the  prin- 
Indians,  at  Sudbury,  21st  April,  1676.  Mr.  cipal  founder  of  Brattle-street  Church.  From 
Wadsworth  begun  to  preach  in  the  "  First  his  family  the  Church  and  Street  take  their 
Church"  in  1696  —  fifteen  years  before  it  was  name.  The  Rev.  William  Brattle,  of  Cam- 
burned.     He  was  chosen  President  of  Harvard  bridge,  was  his  brother.    He  wrote  an  account 


1632.]  FEARS   FROM   INDIANS.  ,  143 

lived  till  we  met  here  for  public  worship  ;    and  once,  if  not  oftener,  he 
was  here  for  that  purpose." 

Speaking  of  the  progress  of  the  building,  Mr.  Wadsworth  says,  — 
"  There  has  been  much  hard  work,  heavy  work,  and  some  work  high 
and  lofty ;  and  so  the  more  dangerous,  yet  in  the  whole  managing  this 
work  hitherto  not  one  person  has  by  any  hurtful  accident  lost  his  life  ; 
not  one  has  lost  any  one  limb,  nor  has  one  bone  been  broken." 
Au°-  7  Among  other  acts  of  a  Court  at  Boston,  Mr.  William  Pyn- 
chon  was  chosen  Treasurer  for  the  year  ensuing,  or  till  another 
shall  be  chosen. 

.  This  summer  had  been  wet  and  cold,  and  crops  were  very 

poor,  which  was  discouraging  to  many.  Corn,  on  which  they 
depended  much,  having  no  other  grain,  came  in  so  light,  that  "great 
want  threatened  them."  Besides,  there  were  fires,  and  alarms  by  the 
Indians.  Mr.  John  Oldham  had  a  small  house  burnt  down  at  Water- 
town,   "  made  all  of  clapboards." 

.  An  express  came  to  Governor  Winthrop,  that  "  ten  Saga- 

mores and  many  Indians  were  assembled  at  Muddy  River," 
but  what  design  they  had,  nobody  knew.  The  Governor  thought  it  best 
to  ascertain  whether  their  assembling  at  that  point  portended  evil,  and 
therefore  ordered  Captain  Underhill  to  proceed  to  that  neighborhood, 
with  twenty  musketeers,  to  reconnoitre.  When  the  Captain  arrived  at 
Roxbury,  he  learned  that  the  Indians  had  dispersed,  and  this  was  the 
only  news  that  could  be  obtained  about  them. 

s  .  There  had  been  complaints  from  Indians  of  injuries  to  their 
crops  from  the  domestic  animals  belonging  to  the  English.  This 
could  not  be  avoided,  because  the  Indians  were  the  very  last  people  in 
the  world  that  would  think  of  making  fences  ;  besides,  it  was  very  diffi- 
cult for  them  to  see  why  such  labor  should  be  required  of  them,  because 
the  animals  which  intruded  upon  them  belonged,  not  to  them,  but  to  the 
English.  However,  the  Court  made  Sagamore  John  (Wonohaquahain) 
promise  that,  "the  next  year,  and  forever  after,  he  would  fence  his 
corn  against  all  kinds  of  cattle."  At  the  same  Court,  a  man  was  or- 
dered "to  be  severely  whipped,  for  cursing,  swearing,  then  justifying 
the  same,  and  glorying  in  it."  Another  man,  who  had  sold  a  gun, 
pistol,  and  powder  and  shot,  to  Sagamore  James,  (Montowampate)  was 
sentenced  to  be  whipped,  and  branded  in  the  face  with  a  hot  iron. 

The  late  strange  assembling  of  Indians  at  Muddy-river,  and  several 
other  circumstances,  caused  the  people  to  apprehend  that  the  natives 
were  plotting  to  cut  them  off.  They  were  led  to  this  apprehension, 
because,  by  some  of  them,  "  divers  insolent  speeches  were  used,  and 
they  did  not  frequent  the  houses  of  the  English  as  they  were  wont ;  and 
one  of  their  Powaws  told  them  that  there  was  a  conspiracy  among  the 

of  the  Witchcraft  in  the   County  of  Essex,  We  might  reasonably  expect  to  see  a  minute 

which  is  printed  in  the  5th  volume   of  the  account  of  this  gentleman  and  his  family,  in  a 

Mass.  Hist.  Colls.     Several  of  his  communi-  history   of  the  Church   of  which   he   was   a 

cations  were   inserted  in  the  Transactions  of  principal  founder. 
the  Royal  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 


144  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1632 

Indians."  Upon  receipt  of  this  intelligence,  "a  camp  was  pitched  at 
Boston,  in  the  night,  to  exercise  the  soldiers,  apprehending  need  might 
be."  To  try  the  valor  of  his  soldiers,  Captain  Underhill  caused  an 
alarm  to  be  given  upon  their  quarters.  The  result  was  anything  but 
creditable  to  their  courage.  Most  of  them  were  paralyzed  with  fear, 
and  their  conduct  was  disgraceful  to  soldiers.  Hence  the  people  thought, 
if  such  men  must  be  depended  upon  to  defend  their  wives  and  children, 
their  chance  of  safety  was  poor  indeed. 

Fears  from  the  Indians  still  increased  ;  and  the  Governor 

ep  '     '  sent  for  "the  three  next  Sagamores"  to  come  immediately  to 
Boston  ;  but  whether  they  obeyed  the   summons  or  not,  is  not  men- 
tioned.    Meantime  the  arrival  of  the  favorite  old  ship,  the  Lyon,  Cap- 
tain Peirce,  had  a  tendency  to  divert  the  public  mind  from 

ep  '     '  fancied  rumors  of  hostile  Indians  ;   especially  as  he  brought 

one  hundred  and  twenty-three  passengers  with  him,  most  of  whom 

were,  doubtless,  near  friends  or  relatives  to  many  in  Boston,  and  its 

immediate  vicinity.     The  Lyon  was  eight  weeks  from  the  Land's  End. 

The  alarms  from  the  Indians  could  not  have  sunk  very  deep 

ep  "  "  '  into  the  minds  of  the  Authorities,  at  least,  for  they  had  ordered 
a  Thanksgiving  for  the  safe  arrival  of  the  Lyon,  which  is  now  kept. 
In  the  same  proclamation,  however,  "the  prosperous  success  of  the 
King  of  Sweden"  was  comprehended. 

9  Among  several  stringent  orders  of  a  Court  now  held,  were 
the  following:  —  "Mr.  Bachelor,  of  Lynn,  was  required  to  for- 
bear exercising  his  gifts  until  some  sandals  be  removed."  A  man  is 
sentenced  "for  theft  on  the  Indians,  at  Damaril's  Cove,  for  drunken- 
ness and  fornication,"  to  pay  a  fine  of  five  pounds  to  the  Court,  ten 
pounds  to  Henry  Way  and  John  Holman,  to  be  "  severely  whipt, 
branded  on  the  hand  with  a  hot  iron,  and  banished  ;  with  penalty  to 
be  put  to  death  if  he  ever  return."  That  no  persons  should  take  any 
tobacco  publicly ;  if  they  did,  for  every  time  they  took  it,  they  should 
be  fined  one  penny. 

At  this  Court,  it  was  by  general  consent  determined,  that  Boston  was 
the  fittest  place  for  public  meetings  of  any  in  the  Bay  ;  and  it  was 
therefore  ordered,  that  a  House  of  Correction,  and  a  House  for  the 
Beadle,  should  be  built  here  "  with  speed." 

0  lg  It  is  worthy  of  note,  that,  notwithstanding  settlements  had 
been  forming  upon  the  Pascataqua,  about  ten  years,  yet  they 
brought  their  corn  to  be  ground  at  Boston,  this  year.  Captain  Thomas 
Camock  and  Mr.  Edward  Godfrey,  a  merchant,  afterwards  Governor  of 
Maine,  brought  up  in  Mr.  Neal's  pinnace  at  one  time,  sixteen  hogsheads 
of  corn,  which  was  ground  at  the  windmill.  Whether  it  took  from 
this  time  "  to  November"  to  grind  that  quantity  of  corn,  is  not  known, 
though  it  is  recorded  that  Captain  Camock  and  Mr.  Godfrey  did  not 
return  till  November.  This,  however,  is  not  a  very  important  question 
to  be  settled,  especially  as  the  two  gentlemen,  doubtless,  enjoyed  the 
fine  autumnal  weather  as  guests  of  the  Governor,  Captain  Peirce,  of 


1632.]  EXPEDITION    TO    PLYMOUTH.  145 

-  the  Lyon,  Mr.  Wilson,  and  others.  Having  been  waited  upon 
by  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Wilson,  on  board  the  Lyon,  the  Cap- 
tain of  her  took  them  all  into  his  shallop,  and  proceeded  to  Wessagus- 
cus.  Thence  Captain  Peirce  returned  to  his  ship,  being  about  to  sail  for 
Virginia,  while  the  rest  of  the  company  "  proceed  on  foot  to  Ply- 
mouth," to  pay  Governor  Bradford  a  visit.  They  did  not  arrive  there 
till  "  within  the  evening."  By  some  means,  not  mentioned,  their 
approach  to  Plymouth  was  known  to  the  authorities  there,  "and  the 
Governor,  Mr.  Bradford,  a  very  discreet  and  grave  man,  with  Mr. 
Brewster,  and  some  others,  went  forth  and  met  them  without  the 
town,"  conducted  them  to  the  Governor's  house,  where  they  were 
"together  entertained."  They  were -likewise  "feasted  every  day  at 
several  houses."  On  Sunday  they  partook  of  the  sacrament  with  the 
church,  "  and  in  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Roger  Williams,  according  to  their 
custom,  proposed  a  question,  to  which  the  pastor,  Mr.  Smith,  spoke 
briefly.  Then  Mr.  Williams  prophesied.  After  that,  the  Governor  of 
Plymouth,  who  had  studied  the  Hebrew  language,  and  antiquities, 
spoke  to  the  question.  After  him,  the  elder  [Mr.  Brewster],  a  man  of 
learning  ;  then  two  or  three  more  of  the  congregation  ;  then  the  elder, 
agreeable  to  Acts  xiii.  14,  15,  desired  Governor  Winthrop  and  Mr. 
Wilson  to  speak  to  it,  which  they  did.  When  this  was  ended,  the 
deacon,  Mr.  Fuller,*  put  the  congregation  in  mind  of  their  duty  of  con- 
tribution ;  whereupon,  the  Governor  and  all  the  rest  went  down  f  to 
the  deacon's  seat,  and  put  it  in  the  bag,  and  then  returned."  J 

About  five  of  the  clock,  on  Wednesday  morning,  Governor 
'  Winthrop  and  his  company  left  Plymouth  ;  Mr.  Bradford,  Mr. 
Smith  and  others  accompanying  them  "  near  half  a  mile  out  of  town 
in  the  dark.  Lieutenant  Holmes  §  and  others  went  with  them  to  the 
Great  Swamp,  about  ten  miles  ;  when  they  came  to  the  Great  river, || 
they  were  carried  over  by  one  Ludham,1[  as  they  had  been  when  they 
went ;   so  they  came   that  evening  to  Wessaguscus,  where  they  were 

*  Dr.   Samuel   Fuller,   who   came   in    the  interior  of  old  school-houses,  no  explanation  is 

Mayflower.     He  died  the  next  year.     His  au-  necessary. 

tograph  is   so   rare,  that  I  was  assured  not  I  There  is  nothing  to  be   found,  certainly 

long  since  it  was  not   known  at  Plymouth,  nothing  is  known  to  the  author,  which  gives 

The  subjoined  fac-simile  of  it  is  copied  from  so  true,  simple,  and  beautiful  a  picture  of 

if*  the  manner  in  which  the  Pilgrims  performed 

/                      {nf*  their  devotions,  as  this.     If  a  little  foreign  to 

•V  -.                 Wy  the  History  of  Boston,  no  one,  I  think,  will 

*— ■%  ^l/y^tijtjj'  wish  it  had  been  omitted. 

^S  ff       jSi^  §  John  Holmes  was  taxed  in  Plymouth,  in 

~JT'*A*4hLY^  1633  and  1634.     The  name  has  always  been 

*""V  common  in  Duxbury.    Lieut.  William  Holmes 

the  letter  extracted  ante,  p.  132.     For  an  ac-  was  admitted  a  resident  of  Plymouth,  1634. 

count  of  this  early  physician,  see  N.  Eng.  He  was   an   officer  in   the  Pequot  war. — See 

Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.  ii.  240.     His  will  is  con-  Mr.  Winsor's  Hist.  Duxbury,  267-8  ;   N.  E. 

tainedinthe  same  work,  vol.iv.  33. — See,  also,  H.  and  Gen.  Reg.  iv.  253-4. 

Morton's  Memorial,  Eliot,  Allen,  Thacher  (Med.  ||  Mr.   Prince,     Chronology,   407,    supposes 

Biog.),  and  Russell's  Guide  to  Plymouth.  this  was  what  was  afterwards  called  North 

f  By  this  phraseology,  the  manner  in  which  river,  between  Pembroke  and  Hanover, 

the  floor  of  the  house  was  constructed  is  easily  %  The  name  of  Ludden  occurs  on  the  Wey- 

conjectured.     To  those  acquainted  with   the  mouth  records,  1680. 

19 


146 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1632. 


WINTHROP   CROSSING   THE   RIVER. 


comfortably  entertained,  as  before,  with  store  of  turkies,  geese,  ducks, 
&c.,  and  next  day  came  safe  to  Boston." 

To  go  from  Boston  to  Plymouth  in  the 
middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  is  too 
small  a  matter  to  be  mentioned,  though  if 
one  were  obliged  to  wTalk  over  the  ground, 
even  now,  on  a  good  road,  it  would  be  talked 
about  some,  probably ;  especially  if  per- 
formed by  a  citizen  of  the  Metropolis  ;  and 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  circum- 
stance would  be  "  talked  about  "  in  the 
newspapers.  But  to  go  through  forty  miles 
of  wilderness  in  1632,  be  obliged  to  tarry 
over  night  on  the  way,  and  be  carried  over 
a  river  on  a  man's  back,*  is  a  different 
affair  altogether.  A  voyage  to  Iceland  or 
Cape  Horn  would  not  excite  half  the  curi- 
osity to  the  people  of  Boston  now,  as  the 
journey  to  Plymouth  did  then  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  that  day. 
In  this  "progress"  of  the  great  Boston  chief,  he  observes,  in  the 
excellent  account  of  it  which  he  has  left  for  posterity,  that,  after  he 
and  his  company  had  passed  the  Great  river,  and  he  had  named  the 
passage  "  Luddam's  Ford,"  thence,  he  says,  "  they  came  to  a  place 
called  Hue's  Cross."  That  the  Governor,  "being  displeased  at  the 
name,"  changed  it  to  "  Hue's  Folly  ;"  because,  he  said,  if  it  were  suf- 
fered to  go  by  that  name,  it  might  give  the  Papists  grounds  to  claim 
for  their  religion  that  it  had  been  planted  in  these  parts  before  that  of 
the  Protestants.  Readers  hereafter  may  smile  at  this,  but  they  should 
remember  that  the  fathers  of  New  England  were  far  from  smiling  at 
anything  that  reminded  them  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  They  had  lived 
too  near  the  times  of  the  fires  of  Smithfield  to  think  lightly  of  anything 
that  brought  that  dreadful  period  of  their  country's  history  to  their 
minds. 

N  2  Many  of  the  good  people  of  Boston  were  disturbed,  about  this 
J'  period,  because  the  reverend  Mr.  John  Eliot  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  leave  them  and  settle  at  Roxbury.  They  had  intended  to 
"  call  "  him  to  be  their  teacher,  but  Roxbury  had  also  called  him; 
N  _  "  and  though  Boston  labored  all  they  could  "  to  prevent  it,  "  yet 
'  he  could  not  be  diverted,  so  they  of  Boston  dismissed  him." 


*  Those  who  have  heard  of  the  anecdote, 
how  some  young  men  from  the  City,  a  few 
years  since,  meeting  with  the  late  Mr.  Web- 
ster about  his  grounds  in  Marshfield,  and  not 
knowing  him  (being  dressed  in  his  country 
garb,  with  high  fishing-boots  on),  were,  at 
their  urgent  request,  ferried  over  a  creek  on 
the  great  statesman's  back,  —  those,  of  course, 


who  have  heard  that  anecdote,  can  fancy  how 
the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  looked  on  the 
neck  of  John  Ludham,  fording  the  Great  river, 
"the  water  being  up  to  the  crotch."  Win- 
throp's  annotator  gives  the  name  of  the  ferry- 
man, Luddam,  but  I  follow  Prince,  who  fol- 
lowed or  used  Winthrop  in  the  original.  For 
the  poetical  part  of  the  name  I  am  responsible. 


1632.]  FIRST    PIRATES.  147 

By  an  order  of   court,  it    was    declared  "  that  the  captains 

'  shall  train  their  companies  but  once  a  month  ;   that  Sir  Richard 

Saltonstall  shall  give  Sagamore  John  a  hogshead  of  corn,  for  the  hurt 

his  cattle  did  his  corn ;   that  the  neck  of  land  between  Powder  Hill  and 

Pullen  Point*  shall  belong  to  Boston  forever." 

Among  the  afflictions  of  the  people  of  Boston,  that  of 
'  piracy  now  finds  a  place.  Governor  Winthrop  received  a 
letter  from  Captain  Walter  Neal  of  Pascataqua,  informing  him  that 
Dixy  Bull  (who,  it  seems,  was  a  man  of  note  upon  the  coast)  had  turned 
pirate,  and  had  induced  fifteen  others  to  join  him,  and  with  them  he 
had  rifled  Pemaquid,  and  taken  several  boats  in  that  region.  On 
receipt  of  this  intelligence,  the  Governor  and  Council  decided  to  send 
an  armed  vessel  with  twenty  men,  who  were  to  join  others  at  Pascata- 
qua, and  then  to  proceed  in  quest  of  the  piratical  crew.  "  But  snow, 
frost,  and  contrary  winds"  prevented  the  sailing  of  the  vessel.  The 
following  May,  however,  a  "pinnace"  was  despatched  to  the  eastern 
coast,  which  returned  after  a  cruise  of  several  weeks,  or  two  months, 
whose  commander,  Lieut.  Mason,f  reported  that  the  pirates  were  not  to 
be  found,  though  it  was  conjectured  they  had  "gone  to  the  French." 
This  is  the  first  account  of  pirates  on  the  coast  of  New  England,  and  the 
mischief  done  by  them  does  not  appear  to  have  been  of  much  amount, 
or  not  so  much  as  was  at  first  apprehended. J  The  check  they  met  with 
about  the  time,  or  soon  after  they  commenced  their  career,  at  Pema- 
quid,  no  doubt  had  the  effect  to  dishearten  them,  and  put  a  stop  to 
their  ravages ;  for  as  they  were  about  to  depart  from  the  last-named 
place,  Mr.  Abraham  Shurt's  men  attacked  them,  killing  one  of  the 
ringleaders  on  the  spot.  They  took  one  Anthony  Dix  or  Dicks,  master 
of  a  vessel,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  pilot  them  to  Virginia, 
which  he  refused  to  do,  and  they  fled  to  the  eastward.  These  facts 
Mr.  Dix  told  to  Captain  Roger  Clap  ;  and  the  latter  adds,  "  Bull  got 
into  England,  but  God  destroyed  this  wretched  man."  By  this  it  may 
be  inferred  that  he  was  executed  there  for  piracy. § 

*  "  The  chiefe   Hands  which  keepe  out  the  were  now  in  New  England.     Is  it  at  all  likely 

winde  and  the  sea  from  disturbing  the  har-  that  this  "  brave  soldier  who  had  served  in  the 

bours,  are,  first,  Deare  Hand,  which  lies  with-  Low  Country  wars  under  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax," 

in  a  flight  shot  of  Pullin-point.     This  Hand  is  so  as  specially  to  attract  the  attention  of  that 

so  called  because  of  the   deare  which   often  general,  should  not  be  honored  with  a  commis- 

swimme  thither  from  the  Maine,  when  they  sion  above  that  of  a  lieutenant  in  New  Eng- 

are  chased  by  the  woolves  :     Some  have  killed  land?     Is  it  not  more  than  probable,  that  so 

sixteene  deare  in  a  day  upon  this  iland.     The  prominent  a  character  as  Capt.  John  Mason 

opposite  shore  is  called  Pullin-point,  because  would   have  been  found  among  the  freemen 

that  is  the  usuall  channell  boats  vse  to  passe  before  1635  1     In  that  year  his  name  is  found 

thorow  into  the  bay  ;  and  the  tyde  being  very  entered  "  Captain  John  Mason." 

strong,  they  are  constrained  to   goe   a-shore  J  See  Prince,  409,  431.  — ■  Winthrop,  i.  96, 

and   hale    their    boates    by   the    seasing,    or  104. 

roades ;    whereupon,    it    was    called    Pullin-  §  In   the   Treasurer's   accounts    there    are 

point." —  Wood,  N.  Eng.  Prospect,  34-5.  these  items  which  relate  to  the  expedition  for 

f  I  am  not  in  possession  of  sufficient  evi-  the  suppression  of  piracy.    "  Paid  Mr.  Alcock 

dence  to   admit  of  my  unqualifiedly  stating  for  a  fat  hog  to  victual  the  pinnace  for  the 

that  this  Lieut.   Mason   was   the   same   who  taking  [attempt  to  take]  Dixie  Bull,  £3  10s. 

afterwards  went  to  Connecticut,  and  led  its  Paid   Goodman  Lyman  for  a  fat  hog  for  the 

forces  in  the  destruction  of  the  Pequots.     It  same  use,  £3  10s.     Paid  Mr.  Shurd,  of  Pem~ 

may  be  doubted  whether  Capt.  John  Mason  aquid,  for  provisions  for  the  pinnace,  26|  lb. 


148  HISTORY    OP    BOSTON.  [1632. 

A  fast  is  kept  at  Boston,  but  the  particular  occasion  of  its 
'  appointment  is  not  mentioned,  though  it  was  probably  held  on 
account  of  choosing  a  pastor  and  ruling  elder  in  the  church ;  as  Mr.  Wil- 
son, formerly  their  teacher,  was  chosen  pastor,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Oliver 
ruling  elder.  They  were  both  ordained  "by  imposition  of  hands  ;  first 
by  the  teacher  and  the  two  deacons,  in  the  name  of  the  congregation, 
upon  the  elder,  and  then,  by  the  elder  and  the  deacons,  upon  the 
pastor."  * 

Johnson  calls  this  year  "  a  yeare  of  sad  distresses,"  which,  he  says, 
"  was  ended  with  a  terrible  cold  winter,  with  weekly  snowes,  and  fierce 
frosts  betweene  while,  congealing  Charles  river,  as  well  from  the  town 
to  seaward  as  above,  insomuch  that  men  might  frequently  passe  from 
one  island  to  another  upon  the  ice."  f 

Of  the  three  ministers  that  arrived  this  year,  mention  has  been  made 
of  one  of  them,  Mr.  Stephen  Bachelor,  who  was  the  first.  The  second 
was  Mr.  Thomas  Welde,  and  the  third,  Mr.  Thomas  James.  Mr.  Welde 
settled  in  Roxbury ;  the  "diligent  people  thereof  early  preventing 
their  brethren  of  other  churches  by  calling  him  to  be  their  pastor." 
The  same  writer  says  he  was  "  valiant  in  faith,  both  in  the  pulpit  and 
by  his  pen  ;  and  wading  through  the  cares  and  toils  of  this  wilderness 
for  seven  years,  returns  to  his  native  country."  He  came  from  Terling 
Place  J  in  Essex,  England,  and  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  fifth  of  June, 
and  about  a  month  after  was  settled  over  the  first  church  in  Roxbury. 
Mr.  John  Eliot  was  afterwards  his  colleague.  "In  1639,  he  assisted 
Mr.  Mather  and  Mr.  Eliot  in  making  the  tuneful  New  England  version 
of  the  Psalms.  In  1641  he  was  sent  with  Mr.  Hugh  Peters  to  Eng- 
land as  an  agent  for  the  province,  and  never  returned.  He  was  settled 
at  Gateshead,  but  was  ejected  in  1660,  and  died  the  same  year."  § 

Mr.  Welde  was  interested  in  the  Antinomian  controversy  which  agi- 
tated not  only  Boston,  but  the  whole  country,  and  no  doubt  was  as  far 
from  sympathizing  with  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  her  friends  in  that  unhappy 
affair,  as  were  Mr.  Wilson  and  Mr.  Winthrop  ;  while  at  the  same  time 
much  injustice  has  been  done  him  by  attributing  to  him  the  authorship 
of  that  book  of  "malignity,"  entitled  "A  Short  Story  of  the  Rise, 
Reign,  and  Ruin  of  the  Antinomians,  Familists,  and  Libertines,  that 
infected  the  Churches  of  New  England,"  &c. ;  it  now  fully  appearing, 
from  its  own  internal  evidence,  that  Winthrop  had  a  principal  hand  in 
it. ||     That  Mr.  Welde  introduced  it  with  a  preface,  is  true,  and  it  is 

beaver,   £13   2s.   6d.     Lieut.  Mason  for  his  be     substituted,   which    1    have    accordingly 

service  in  the  pinnace,  £10.     Paid  by  a  bill  done. 

from   Mr.  Samuel   Maverick,  being   husband  §  Allen,  Amer.  Biog.  Diet.,  763. 
and  merchant  of  the  pinnace,  for  a  month's  ||  Since  the  text  above  was  written,  a  gen- 
wages,  to  Elias  Maverick,  £2.     Paid  for  vie-  tleman  has  put  into  my  hands  a  portion  of  an 
tuals   upon    his    account,    £2   5s. — Pinchon  unpublished  work,  from  which  the  following 
Papers,  3  Cols.  Ms.  H.  S.  viii.  232-3.  extract  is  taken  :  —  "  The  Rev.  Thomas  Welde, 
*  Prince,  Chron.,  409.  who  reluctantly  wrote  the  preface   to   'Rise, 
f  Wond.  Work.  Prov.  55.  Reign  and  Ruine,'  says,  in  apology,  '  I  should 
j  Dr.  Eliot  says  he  came  from  "  Tirling  in  have  been  loath  to  have   revived    them    [the 
the  Co.  of  Essex;  "  but  as  there  is  no  such  troubles]  on  earth  ;  but  considering  that  their 
place  as  Tirling,  I   conclude  Terling  should  names  are  already  in  print,  without  any  act  of 


1632.]  THOMAS  JAMES.  149 

equally  true  that  the  spirit  of  the  preface  accords  very  well  with  that 
exhibited  in  the  body  of  the  work  ;  excepting  that  it  falls  somewhat 
short  of  it  in  malignity  of  expression. 

Mr.  Thomas  James,  who  came  to  Boston  at  the  same  time  with  Mr. 
Welde,  continued,  here  till  November,  when,  with  a  part  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  of  Boston,  namely,  eighteen  men  and  fifteen  women, 
he  was  dismissed  to  form  a  church  in  Oharlestown.  Mr.  James  con- 
tinued there  till  1636  ;  by  which  time,  according  to  Gov.  Winthrop, 
"  Satan  had  stirred  up  such  a  spirit  of  discord  between  the  minister  and 
people,"  that  the  former  asked  and  received  a  dismission.  He  finally 
returned  to  England,  and  died  at  Needham,  in  Suffolk,  about  1687,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six.*  At  the  time  of  this  separation  from  the  Boston 
church,  there  remained  here  belonging  to  it  but  about  seventy  or 
eighty  male  members.  These  probably  constituted  the  body  of  the 
inhabitants.! 

mine,  and  that  the  necessity  of  the  times  calls  liar  notions  regarding  the  agency  of  the  Devil, 

for    it,'  'and   being   earnestly   pressed,'    'I,  — Mr.  Prince  says,  "  When  1  lived  at  Combs 

therefore,  in  a  strait  of  time,  not  having  had  in  Suffolk,  from  1711  to  1716,  Mr.  Thomas 

many  hours,   have   drawn   up   the   following  Denny  [See  N.  Eng.  H.   G.  Reg.  v.  382],  a 

preface.'" — To  charge  this  book  upon   Mr.  pious  and  ancient  gentlemen  there,  informed 

Welde,  against  his  solemn  testimony  to  the  me,  that  he  knew  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  James, 

contrary,  is  as  absurd  as  it  is  unjust.     It  is,  minister  of  Needham,  about  four  miles  off, 

indeed,  criminal  so  to  do,  unless,  first  of  all,  who  came  from  New  England  ;  that  though  he 

Mr.  Welde's  character  be   impeached,  which,  was  much  beloved  and  esteemed,  yet  when  he 

to  the  writer's  knowledge,  has  not  been  even  died,   the  clergyman  who  came  in  his  place 

attempted.  would  not  allow  him  to  be  buried  in  any  other 

*  A  good  and  somewhat  extended  account  part  of  the  church-yard  but  the  unconsecrated 

of  Mr.  James  is  given  by  Dr.  Allen,  who  might  corner,  left  for  rogues  and   excommunicates, 

very  happily  have  added  much  value   to  his  though  the   clergyman   owed  his  benefice  to 

article  from  Prince,  413-14,  without  occupying  the  noble  uprightness  of  Mr.  James'  heart." 

any  space  beyond  that  which  he  has  employed  —  N.  Eng.  Chron. 

in  combatting  the  learned  Dr.  Savage's  pecu-  f  Foxcroft's  Century  Sermon,  p.  12. 


150 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1633. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Few  Inhabitants  arrive  in  1631. — French  come  to  Maine. — Distressing  Rumors. — Fort  ordered  at 
Nantasket.  —  Its  Erection  abandoned. — Mr.  Bachelor  freed  from  a  former  Order  of  Court. — 
Scarcity  of  Provisions.  —  Corn  from  Virginia.  —  Shipwreck  of  Captain  Peirce.  —  Ship  arrives  with 

,  Passengers.  —  General  Election.  —  Appearance  of  Locust.  —  Captain  Stone.  —  His  Difficulty  at 
Connecticut.  —  His  Trouble  at  Boston.  —  Banished.  —  Murdered  by  the  Indians.  —  Arrival  of  the 
Elizabeth  Bonadventure.  —  A  Thanksgiving.  —  Orders  of  Court.  —  Proceedings  relative  to  trading 
at  Connecticut.  —  Censured  by  Plymouth.  —  Remarkable  Providences.  —  Failure  of  Crops.  —  Ship 
built  at  Medford.  —  Her  Voyages. 


HE  accession  of  inhabitants  the  year  following 
the  settlement  of  Boston  was  very  small,  owing 
mainly  to  the  bad  reports  carried  to  England  by 
many  that  returned  in  the  fall  of  1630,  and  in 
the  ensuing  spring.     The  country  was  not  alto- 
gether  untruly  represented   by   those   who    de- 
scribed it  as  "a  hideous  wilderness,  possessed 
with  barbarous  Indians  ;  very  cold,  sickly,  rocky, 
*  barren,  unfit  for  culture,  and  like  to  keep  the 
people  miserable."     So  that,  in  1631,  but  about  ninety 
r     are  said  to  have  come  over,  and  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  in  1632. 

The  French,  in  pursuance  of  the  treaty  of  St.  Ger- 
main, now  took  possession  of  Acadia  ;  in  doing  which, 
they  seized  some  of  the  effects  of  the  Plymouth  people  at  Penob- 
scot. The  news  of  these  transactions  coming  to  Boston,  much 
alarm  was  felt,  and  serious  troubles  anticipated.  The  fears  of  the 
people  here  were  not  a  little  heightened  by  the  additional  news,  that 
the  Cardinal  of  France  had  sent  over  several  Priests  and  Jesuits  ; 
characters  more  dreaded  by  the  Fathers  of  Boston,  probably,  than  any 
others,  unless  he,  whom  they  considered  the  father  of  them,  might  be 
an  exception.*  Governor  Winthrop,  therefore,  "  called  the 
Assistants  to  Boston,  and  the  Ministers  and  Captains,  and  some 
other  chief  men,  to  advise  what  was  fit  to  be  done."  It  was  agreed 
that  a  fort  should  be  forthwith  constructed  at  'Nantasket,  and  that 
begun  in  Boston  should  immediately  be  finished  ;  that  a  plantation 
should  be  commenced  at  Agawam,  it  being  considered  "  the  best  place 
in  the  land  for  tillage  and  cattle,  least  an  enemy,  finding  it  void, 
should  take  it."  John  Winthrop,  the  younger,  son  of  the  Governor, 
was  appointed  to  conduct  the  occupation  of  Agawam  ;  but  he  could 


Jan.  17. 


*  This  terror,  or  hatred,  or  both,  of  every- 
thing relating  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  is  prom- 
inent throughout  the  entire  history  of  the 
Fathers  of  New  England  ;  nor  is  this  at  all  to 
be  wondered  at,  when  we  reflect  upon  their 
and  their  fathers'  sufferings,  as  remarked  in  a 
previous  page  (146)  ;  and  it  may  here  be 
further  added,  that  the  spiritual  leaders  of 
the  Puritans,  men  to  whom  all  looked  up  for 


counsel  and  direction,  inculcated,  with  their 
great  abilities  and  the  whole  weight  of  their 
character,  the  most  illiberal  as  well  as  con- 
temptuous feelings  for  all  adherents  to  that 
Church.  To  instance  a  single  example  from 
one  of  them,  see  John  Rogers'  Tabernacle  for 
the  Sun,  or  Church  Discipline,  p.  61.  4to. 
London,  1653. 


1633.] 


FEARS   FROM   THE   FRENCH. 


151 


be  allowed  only  "  twelve  men  out 
of  the  Bay."  Others  were  to  be 
supplied  "  at  the  coming  of  the 
next  ships."  * 

Feb  21  Meanwhile  preparations 
had  been  made  to  fortify 
Nantasket,  agreeably  to  the  de- 
cision of  the  authorities  above  men- 
tioned ;  and,  judging  from  the  com- 
pany which  now  set  out  to  make 
preliminary  arrangements,  it  was  a 
matter  of  great  moment  with  the 
people  of  Boston.  The  Governor, 
four  Assistants,  three  Ministers,  and 
eighteen  others,  set  off  in  three 
boats  for  the  point  to  be  fortified. 
They  returned  the  third  day 
after,  and  reported  that  they 
had  abandoned  the  design,  because  of  the  "  too  great  charge,"  and 
the  "  little  use  it  would  be."  The  hard  fare  of  the  company  during 
the  three  days  probably  had  some  influence  upon  the  decision  they 
came  to  ;  for  doubtless  every  man  of  them  knew  the  situation  of 
Nantasket  as  well  before  they  went  as  after.  When  they  set  out  from 
Boston  the  wind  was  from  the  west,  and  the  weather  fine,  but  there 
soon  came  on  one  of  those  sudden  changes  so  common  here.  The  wind 
hauled  into  the  north-west,  and  blew  a  heavy  gale,  and  the  cold 
became  extreme.  The  party  were  not  prepared  for  this,  but  they  were 
compelled  to  continue  there  two  nights,  "  forced  to  lodge  upon  the 
ground  in  an  open  cottage  [hovel],  upon  a  little  old  straw  which  they 
pulled  from  the  thatch."  Besides,  their  provisions  failed  them,  and 
they  were  obliged  to  eat  a  poor  sort  of  muscle,  which  was  the  best  the 
place  afforded  at  that  time. 

French  soldiers  and  priests  were  indeed  to  be  dreaded,  but  this  com- 


J}ir€n-  l^W^S^L 


*  The  names  of  ten  only  are  found  recorded. 
These  were  probably  all  that  could  then  be 
found  ready  to  go,  or  that  could  be  spared. 
Their  names  were 


John  Winthrop,  Jr., 
Mr.  [William]  Clerke, 
Robert  Coles, 
Thomas  Howlet, 
John  Biggs, 


John  Gage, 
Thomas  Hardy, 
William  Perkins, 
Mr.  [John]  Thorndike, 
William  Sargeant. 

At  a  Court  held  April  1st,  these  are  entered 
as  "  already  gone  "  to  plant  at  Agawam  ;  and 
it  was  ordered  that  none  else  should  go  with- 
out leave  of  the  Court.  —  Prince.  Clerke  and 
Coles  were  among  the  first  freemen,  19  Oct., 
1630.  Howlet,  Biggs  and  Gage,  were  later  ; 
and  the  others  do  not  appear  to  have  taken 
the  oath,  at  least  early.  Thorndike  returned 
to  England  in  1668,  and  died  there  about  1670, 
and  was  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey.     He 


was  of  the  family  of  Thorndike  of  Great  Carl- 
ton, in  Lincolnshire,  and  was  son  of  Herbert 
Thorndike  ;  and  Herbert,  who  had  a  prebend 
in  Westminster,  and  of  whom  remain  ample 
materials  for  a  biography,  was  his  brother, 
which  may  account  for  John's  being  buried  in 
that  Abbey.  This  Herbert,  in  his  will,  proved 
15  July,  1672,  directed  his  body  to  be  buried 
near  his  brother  John's,  whose  children  he 
mentioned,  and  wished  to  divert  from  the 
thoughts  of  returning  to  New  England.  From 
Paul,  son  of  John  Thorndike,  by  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Patch,  are  descended  those  bear- 
ing the  name  in  New  England,  so  far  as  known. 
Paul,  son  of  Paul,  was  the  father  of  Andrew, 
who  was  the  father  of  Israel,  the  well-known 
merchant  of  our  age.  —  From  a  MS.  pedigree 
in  the  hands  of  J.  W.  Thornton,  Esq. 


152  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1633. 

pany  no  doubt  concluded  that  they  could  meet  them  better  at  Boston 
than  they  could  at  Nantasket,  under  such  forlorn  circumstances  as  they 
had  witnessed.  They,  however,  soon  learned  that  the  French  were 
upon  no  hostile  design  ;  they  came  to  trade  and  fish  upon  their  newly- 
acquired  territory. 

At  the  Court  now  held  at  Boston,  the  order  prohibiting  Mr. 

Bachelor  from  "exercising  his  gifts"  was  reversed,  and  he 
was  left  free  to  gather  a  church.  It  may,  therefore,  be  very  safety 
concluded,  that  the  "scandals"  causing  the  former  order  were  truly 
scandals*  and  that  actually  there  was  no  cause  of  complaint  against 
this  ancestor  of  one  of  the  most  numerous  posterities  in  the  United 
States.  The  members  of  this  Court  were  the  Governor,  Deputy, 
Ludlow,  Endicot,  Pynchon,  Nowell,  Winthrop,  Jr.,  and  Bradstreet. 

Owing  partly  to  the  previous  cold  and  wet  summer,  and  partly  to 
the  long  and  severe  winter  just  passed,  provisions  were  again  scarce  in 
Boston,  and  the  usual  supply  had  not  been  received  from  England. 
But,  unexpectedly,  there  arrived  from  Virginia,  in  the  beginning  of 
March,  a  Mr.  Stretton,  with  a  vessel  loaded  with  corn  ;  for  which  he 
found  a  ready  market  at  ten  shillings  sterling  the  bushel. 

This  was  an   age   of  disasters  ;    but  when  they  had  their 

beginning  it  would  be  as  difficult  to  determine  as  it  would  be 
to  say  when  they  will  end.  But  this  tenth  of  April  was  a  day  of  great 
sadness  and  sorrow  to  many,  if  not  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  Boston.  It 
will  be  remembered,  that  after  Captain  Peirce  had  entertained  the 
Governor  and  several  others  on  board  his  ship  in  October  last,  he  sailed 
for  England  by  way  of  Virginia.  He  had  a  fair  run  along  the  coast ; 
but,  on  the  second  of  November,  about  five  in  the  morning,  in  or  near 
latitude  371°,  owing  to  the  negligence  of  one  of  his  mates,  whose  watch 
it  was,  his  ship  struck  on  a  shoal,  and  was  cast  away  near  Feak's 
Island, f  about  ten  leagues  from  the  Capes  of  Virginia.  There  were  on 
board  thirty-eight  seamen  and  passengers,  of  whom  seven  of  the  former 
and  five  of  the  latter  were  lost.  The  ship  went  to  pieces  the  next  day, 
and  nothing  could  be  saved  except  a  hogshead  of  beaver,  and  a  few 
articles  which  drifted  ashore,  of  trifling  value. 

The  intelligence  of  this  shipwreck  was  brought  to  Boston  by  Mr. 
Hodges,  a  mate  of  Captain  Peirce,  and  a  letter  was  received  from  the 
Captain  himself  at  Plymouth,  where  a  considerable  part  of  his  cargo 
was  owned,  giving  an  account  of  his  misfortune  ;  more  in  the  style  of 
an  "  improvement "  to  an  ancient  sermon,  however,  than  like  the  plain 
epistle  of  a  hardy  mariner.     By  this  letter  his  friends  learned  that  he 

*  Though  the^MS.  was  perfectly  plain,  the  modern  maps,  and  Mount  Feake  is  known  only 

printer  made  this  word  read  sandals  on  page  to  the  reader  of  Governor  Winthrop's  Journal. 

144,  ante.  How  and  when  an  island  on  the  coast  of  Vir- 

f  Some  of  our  ancestors  seem  to  have  had  a  ginia  received  the  name,  I  have  not  thought 

disposition  to  perpetuate  their  names,  or  others  worth  the  pains  of  inquiry.     In  Cromwell's 

had  for  them,  by  conferring  them  upon  hills,  time,  there  was  a  "  Mr.  Feaks  "  who  had  the 

islands,  &c.     With   regard   to  the   name  of  honor  to  preach  before  the  Lord  Mayor  of 

Feake,  there  has  been  rather  a  failure  ;   for  London  on  some  occasions. 
Feake's  island  has  disappeared,  at  least  from 


1G33.]  LOCUSTS.  —  CAPTAIN   STONE.  153 

had  lost  "his  whole  estate  for  the  most  part,"  and  that  they  had  lost 
what  they  had  ventured,  even  their  books  of  accounts  ;  but  nothing  is 
said  about  the  people  and  passengers  that  were  drowned,  about  which 
all  contemporary  accounts  are  also  entirely  silent,  further  than  these 
pages  witness.*  It  was  nine  days  after  the  ship  was  cast  away  before 
the  survivors  could  find  any  English  on  the  coast,  during  which  time 
their  sufferings  were  exceedingly  great. 

In  the  course  of  the  month  of  May,  two  ships  arrived  with  important 
freights  at  Boston,  the  William  and  Jane,f  Captain  Burdock.  He  had 
thirty  passengers,  "  and  ten  cows  or  more."  His  voyage  was  accom- 
plished from  London  hence  in  six  weeks.  The  name  of  the  other  ship 
was  the  Mary  and  Jane,  Captain  Rose  ;  she  was  one  week  longer  than 
the  other  on  her  passage.  In  her  came  one  hundred  and  ninety-six 
passengers.  Two  children  had  died  by  the  way.  In  this  ship  came 
Mr.  William  Coddington  and  his  lady,  whom  he  had  lately  married. 

The  time  for  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court  having  arrived, 
there  were  present  the  Governor,  Deputy,  Treasurer  (Pynchon), 
Nowell,  Coddington,  Winthrop,  Jr.,  Bradstreet.  The  Court  proceeded, 
by  erection  of  hands,  to  a  choice  of  officers,  and  Mr.  Winthrop  was 
elected  Governor,  Mr.  Dudley  Deputy  Governor,  Mr.  Roger  Ludlow, 
Mr.  Endicott,  Mr.  Pynchon,  Mr.  Coddington,  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Win- 
throp, Jr.,  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  and  Mr.  Humfrey, 
Assistants,  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Notice  is  taken  by  the  early  writers  of  the  appearance  this  spring, 
"especially  all  the  month  of  May,"  of  innumerable  "great  sort  of 
flies,  like  for  bigness  to  wasps  or  humble-bees,  which  come  out  of  holes 
in  the  ground,  eat  the  green  things,  and  make  such  a  constant  yelling 
noise  as  all  the  woods  ring  of  them,  and  deafens  the  hearers."  These 
"  flies  "  were  a  species  of  locust,  and  this  was  their  first  appearance  to 
the  English  settlers,  concerning  which  they  were  ready  to  adopt  the 
superstitious  belief  of  the  Indians,  "  that  their  appearance  portended 
a  great  time  of  sickness  ;"  not  thinking  that  any  other  occurrence 
might  as  well  bear  the  same  interpretation,  and  that  what  always  had 
happened  through  all  time  reached  by  history,  would,  in  all  likelihood, 
occur  again. 

Considerable  disturbance  was  occasioned  upon  the  arrival  of 
Captain  John  Stone  from  Connecticut  river.  He  had  put  in 
there  on  his  way  to  Boston  from  Virginia.  While  he  lay  there,  at  the 
Dutch  plantation,  a  pinnace  came  in  from  Plymouth.  It  is  well  known 
to  the  readers  of  New  England  history,  that  about  this  time  a  difficulty 
existed  between  the  Dutch  of  New  Netherlands  and  Plymouth  Colony, 
about  the  right  to  territory  on  that  river,  though  a  more  trifling  affair 
appears  to  have  occasioned  the  present  difficulty.  Stone  and  the 
Dutch  governor  had  been  free  with  liquor,  and  in  that  state  the  former 

*  Captain  Peirce's  letter  maybe  seen  entire        f  So  Winthrop,  i.  102;  but  Prince,  out  of 
in  Prince,  428,  new  edition,  or  vol.  ii.  87,  88,    Bradford,  read  "  William  and  John." 
old  edition.     It  was  dated  25  Dec.,  1632,  and 
was  received  at  Plymouth  7  April,  following. 

20 


154  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1633. 

complained  of  an  insult  from  the  Plymouth  people  against  his  country- 
men of  Virginia  ;  whereupon,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Dutch 
Governor  of  the  place,  Stone  seized  the  Plymouth  vessel,  but  did  not 
keep  it  long.  The  next  day,  having  become  sober,  Stone  and  the 
Governor,  upon  reflection,  concluding  they  had  committed  an  act  which 
might  cause  them  trouble,  made  up  the  matter  with  the  Plymouth 
captain ;  and  here  the  affair  they  expected  would  end.  But  Stone  had 
not  been  at  Boston  long,  before  Captain  Standish  appeared  in  town, 
and  proceeded  to  prosecute  him  for  piracy.  He  was  bound  over  to 
appear  in  the  Court  of  Admiralty  in  England.  The  Governor  and 
Council  at  Boston,  understanding  the  extent  of  Stone's  offence,  wisely 
persuaded  the  complainants,  that  as  no  piracy  could  be  made  out  of 
the  case,  and  that  to  carry  it  to  England  "  would  turn  to  their  reproach," 
to  take  no  further  steps  in  the  matter ;  which,  with  some  reluctance, 
they  consented  to  do. 

Captain  Stone  was  a  useful  man  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  but 
withal  of  rather  a  reckless  temperament.  But,  so  far  as  his  character 
can  be  decided  upon  at  this  day,  his  improprieties  were  principally 
occasioned  by  intemperate  habits.  He  was  an  early  trader  along  the 
coast,  and  at  this  time  brought  "  cows  and  some  salt  in  his  small  ship  " 
to  Boston.  He  met  a  melancholy  fate  the  following  year,  as  will  be 
seen  in  its  order  of  time.* 

The  ship  Elizabeth  Bonadventure,  from  Yarmouth,  Captain 

Graves,  arrives  with  ninety-five  passengers,  after  a  passage  of 
six  weeks.  She  brought,  also,  thirty-four  "  Dutch  sheep  and  two 
mares."  Of  the  sheep  "  above  forty"  were  lost  on  the  voyage  ;  but 
j      1     every  passenger  came  safe.     A  thanksgiving  was  appointed  by 

the  Authorities  on  the  eleventh  of  the  month,  which  is  observed 
"  in  all  the  congregations,"  for  their  delivery  from  their  enemies,  and 
for  the  safe  arrival  of  their  friends. 

Jul  2  Among  other  orders  of  a  Court  now  in  session,  one  was, 
"  that  the  ground  lying  betwixt  the  North  river,  on  the  north 
side  of  Mr.  Maverick's,  and  so  vp  into  the  country,  shall  belong  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Charlestowne."  Another  was,  that  Governor  Winthrop 
"  should  have,  towards  his  charges  this  year,  one  hundred  and  fifty 

*  Under  date  of  12  Sept.,  1633,  Winthrop  of  was  committed  when  "  he  was  in  drink," 

records  that  Stone  "  carried  himself  very  dis-  rendered  a  verdict  "  ignoramus ;  "  a  very  right- 

solutely  in  drawing  company  to  drink,  &c.  ;"  eous  judgment,  no  one  can  deny,  namely,  that 

and  that  for  certain  alleged  conduct  "with  a  drunken  man  is  a  fool.     However,  "  for  his 

the  wife  of  one  Barcroft  "  [since  Bancroft],  he  other  misdemeanors  he  was  fined  £100  ;"  but, 

was    proceeded    against,    and   "  his    pinnace  instead  of  exacting  the  fine,  the  Court  ordered 

stayed,  Avhich  was  ready  to   sail;"   where-  him  to  leave  the  jurisdiction,  and,  "  upon  pain 

upon  he  went  to  Mr.  Ludlow,  who  had  issued  of  death,  to  come  no  more  here,"  &c.     If  the 

the  warrant,  and  gave  him  abusive  language,  curious  reader  desires  to  know  other   parti- 

At  this  Ludlow  "  raised  some  company,"  took  culars  of  Stone's  offence,  he  may  consult  Hub- 

him  into  custody,  and  carried  him  before  the  bard's  Hist,  of  New  Eng.  156.     According  to 

Governor,  who  ordered  him  to  be  put  in  irons,  Morton,    175,    "  Capt.  Stone  had   sometimes 

and  to  await  the  decision  of  the  Court.     His  lived  at  [St.]  Christopher's,  in  the  West  In- 

lrons,  however,  were  taken  off  the  same  day.  dies ;"  of  whom,  he  says,  "  I  have  nothing  to 

At  the  Court,  the  "  great  jury,"  being  doubt-  speak  in  the  way  of  commendation,  but  rather 

less  satisfied  that  the  impropriety  complained  the  contrary." 


1633.]  TRADING   AT   THE    CONNECTICUT.  155 

pounds."  A  man,  for  being  drunk  "on  the  Sabbath  day"  at  Marble- 
head,*  is  fined  thirty  shillings.  No  person  to  be  allowed  to  sell  strong 
water  to  an  Indian,  without  leave  of  the  Governor.  "  Any  man 
allowed  to  kill  any  swine  that  comes  into  his  corn,  but  the  owner  may 
have  the  swine,  if  he  pay  the  damage." 

The  Authorities  of  Plymouth  having  fixed  upon  making  a  trading  es- 
tablishment on  Connecticut  river,  the  people  of  Boston  proposed  to  them 
to  take  a  part  in  it.     They  entertained  the  proposition  favorably,  and  a 
.  meeting  of  those  interested  was  held  here  to  organize  a  com- 

pany to  carry  out  the  measure.  Governor  Winslow  and  Mr. 
Bradford  attended  on  the  part  of  Plymouth  ;  but,  after  six  days'  stay  at 
Boston,  they  returned  without  effecting  the  object.  The  Boston 
gentlemen  had  somehow  or  other  previously  ascertained  that  the  object 
was  in  no  wise  a  practicable  one,  as  there  were,  they  argued,  three  or 
four  thousand  hostile  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  and  insuperable  obstacles 
in  the  river  itself,  as  shoals,  bars,  and  ice.  At  first  view  these  objec- 
tions seem  plausible  enough,  taking  the  want  of  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  country  into  account,  under  which  they  may  reasonably  be  sup- 
posed to  have  labored.  But  when  it  is  known  that,  not  long  after, 
they  took  possession  of  the  same  territory  themselves,  there  may  be  a 
suspicion,  very  honestly  entertained,  that  the  decision  against  uniting 
with  Plymouth  was  dictated  by  a  disposition  to  overreach  their  neigh- 
bors ;  or,  as  would  be  said  in  modern  times,  their  decision  was  "  based 
upon  political  considerations."  f 

04  A  ship  came  in  from  Weymouth.  She  had  about  eighty 
passengers  on  board.  Having  sprung  a  leak,  she  was  forced  to 
put  into  the  Western  Islands,  where  she  lay  three  weeks.  Owing  to 
the  "  continual  rain  and  extremity  of  the  heat,"  sickness  broke  out 
among  the  passengers,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  several.  Who 
they  were,  or  what  their  condition,  no  record  remains  ;  thus  it  is  in 
almost  all  such  cases  recorded  in  the  early  annals.  Had  there  been 
any  "  of  rank  "  among  them,  their  names  would  doubtless  have  found  a 
place  in  history ;  but  they  were  probably  the  poor  and  destitute  of  the 
company,  —  the  "forlorn  hope"  of  a  great  empire,  —  whose  names, 
like  their  bodies,  lie  hid  beneath  the  waves  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean ! 

"  Remarkable  Providences"  are  everywhere  to  be  met  with  in  the 
age  of  the  infancy  of  Boston  ;  accidents  and  events,  whether  calami- 
tous or  fortunate,  were  regarded  as  special  manifestations  of  the  Deity 

*  Hitherto  called  Marbleharbor  in  the  rec-  went  up  the  said  river  and  reared  their  said 

ords.  —  Prince.  house,   and    fenced   about   with   a   palisado, 

■j-  We  may  suppose  that  Mr.  Morton  speaks  which  was  done  with  great  difficulty,  not  only 

the  sentiment  of  the  Plymouth  people  with  of  the  Dutch  but  also  of  the  Indians  ;   not- 

regard   to  this  transaction  in  what   follows,  withstanding,  the  place  they  possessed  them- 

from  his  Memorial,  p.  172,  ed.  Davis.     After  selves  of  was  such  as  the  Dutch  had  nothing 

stating  that  the  Massachusetts  men  "  cast  in  to  do  with,  and  likewise  was  bought  of  the 

the  way  many  fears  of  danger  and  loss,  and  Indians  which  they  carried  with  them.     And 

did  not  proceed  therein,"  concludes  :  "Where-  this  was  Plymouth's  entrance  there,  who  de- 

upon  those  of  Plymouth  went  alone,  and  pre-  served  to  have  held  it,   and   not  by  friends 

pared  a  frame  of  an  house,  and  stowed  it  into  [Massachusetts]  have  been  thrust  out,  as  in  a 

a  bark,  ready  to  rear  at  their  landing,  and  sort  they  afterwards  were." 


156  HISTORY   OP   BOSTON.  [1633. 

to  those  whom  such  providence  immediately  affected.  At  this  period 
two  men  were  drowned  in  the  harbor,  under  circumstances 
usu'  '  which  caused  particular  notice  to  be  taken  of  it  by  Governor 
Winthrop  in  his  Journal.*  Their  names  are  not  mentioned,  but  they 
were  the  "  servants,"  or  men  in  the  employ,  of  John  Moody  of  Rox- 
bury.  They  went  "in  a  boat  to  the  Oyster  bank"  on  the  previous 
evening ;  but  this  "  morning  early,  when  the  tide  was  out,  leaving  their 
boat  unfastened  on  the  verge  of  the  channel,  the  tide  quickly  carried  it 
beyond  their  reach,  and  they  are  both  drowned,  although  they  might 
have  waded  out  on  either  side  ;  but  it  was  an  evident  judgement  of 
God  upon  them."  f  This  was  unquestionably  the  sincere  belief  of 
Winthrop,  because  one  of  the  men,  he  says,  "  a  little  before,  being 
reproved  for  his  "  conduct,  and  reminded  that  he  was  in  danger  of  hell- 
fire,  answered,  "  that  if  Hell  were  ten  times  hotter,  he  had  rather  be 
there  "  than  in  his  present  service.  For  this  foolish  expression,  and 
perhaps  a  reckless  disrespect  for  himself,  it  was  honestly  believed  by 
his  religious  and  virtuous  cotemporaries,  that  he  had  been  thus  cut  off 
and  sent  to  everlasting  misery. 

A  "  great  scarcity  of  corn"  is  noticed  this  autumn,  "  by  reason," 
says  Winthrop,  "  of  the  spoil  our  hogs  had  made  at  harvest ;  there 
being  no  acorns  ;  yet  people  lived  well  with  fish  and  the  fruit  of  their 
gardens."  This  scarcity  caused  the  Court  to  order  that  "  no 
man  should  give  his  hogs  any  corn,  but  such  as,  being  viewed 
by  two  or  three  neighbors,  shall  be  judged  unfit  for  man's  meat  ;  that 
every  plantation  shall  agree  how  many  swine  every  person  may  keep, 
winter  and  summer."  These  orders  were  to  take  effect  ten  days  after 
they  were  made.  Such  minute  and  fatherly  legislation  can  scarcely  be 
conceived  of  in  this  age,  and,  were  it  not  well  attested  by  the  legis- 
lators themselves,  it  might  be  viewed  as  a  fiction. 

A  small  ship,  of  about  sixty  tons,  was  built  this  year  at  Medford, 
and  named  the  Rebecca.  She  is  often  mentioned  in  the  business  of  the 
Bay  for  several  succeeding  years,  and  was  probably  principally  owned  in 
Boston.  Her  first  voyage  mentioned  is  to  Narraganset  Bay,  to  receive 
a  thousand  bushels  of  corn  of  the  Indians,  which  they  had  promised  to 

*  By  what  rule  or  ordeal  the  Annotator  of  an  account  of  both  has  recently  been  published 

Winthrop  charges  a  particular  belief  of  our  in  the  New  Eng.  Historical  and  Gen.  Register. 

fathers  as  a  vice,  it  might  be  difficult  for  him  — See  vol.  v.  p.  375,  &c.     This  note  is  made 

to  explain.     Some,  we  apprehend,  will  more  simply  to  bear  testimony  to  the  merits  of  a 

justly  charge,  that  he  has  fallen  into  precisely  most   ingenious   author,   and   to   apprize    the 

the  same  vice  when  he  asserts  that   certain  reader   that   this   Sun   of   history   no   longer 

"judgments  "  favored  one  party  or  sect  more  shines  upon  us.     He  will  be  further  noticed 

than  another.  when  we  come  down  to  the  period  in  which 

f  Thus  far  in  this  history  I  have  had  the  he  lived.     The  following  facsimile  is  copied 

aid  and  light  of  the  Sun  of  New  England  his-  from  an  autograph  letter,  and  was  his  usual 

tory  ;  nor  will  the  attentive  reader  need  be  closing  salutation, 
told  that  I  refer  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Prince, 

who  truly  is,  to  all  that  went  before  him,  as  w^,-   -wuy-tf  vc  U<-&t.  t/bll 

the  sun  to  the  stars.     His  New  England  Chro- 
nology, in   the  Form  of  Annals,  is  a  model  fifasm  CU    CtwiwT 
work,  which  nothing  ever  can  supply  the  place  " 
of.     It  is  unnecessary  here  to  say  anything                                                /r-   C) 
further  relative  to  the  author  or  his  work,  as  (    *  v  ^ c  v 


1G33.]  ARRIVAL   OF   MR.    JOHN    COTTON.  157 

give  Mr.  John  Oldham  ;  but  she  returned  with  five  hundred  bushels 
only,  that  being  all  the  Indians  could  spare,  as  "  their  store  was  less 
than  they  expected."  The  same  year  she  was  sent  on  a  voyage  to 
England.  The  next  year,  1035,  she  was  employed  coastwise  ;  and,  in 
1636,  she  brought  "  30,000  weight  of  potatoes  from  Bermuda,"  besides 
"  store  of  oranges  and  limes." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Arrival  of  Mr.  John  Cotton.  —  Mr.  Hooker.  —  Mr.  Stone.  —  Mr.  Peirce.  —  Mr.  Haynes.  —  Family  of 
Cotton.  —  Neglect  of  Family  Pedigrees. —  Cotton's  Career.  —  His  Cotemporaries  in  England. — 

—  Dr.  Sibbs.  —  Dr.  Preston.  —  Mr.  Perkins.  —  Cotton's  Marriage.  —  A  Second  Marriage.  — 
Mr.  Thomas  Leverett.  —  Cotton  is  informed  against,  and  flies  from  Boston  to  London  in  disguise. 

—  Here  converts  Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Nye,  Mr.  Davenport. — Determines  to  come  to  New  England. 

—  His  Voyage.  —  Son  Sea-born.  —  Invitations  to  Settle.  —  His  Ordination. — Mr.  Hooker  and 
Mr.  Stone.  —  Ordained  at  Newtown. — The  Ship  Bird  arrives. — Oldham's  Journey  to  Connecti- 
cut. —  Workmen's  Wages  regulated.  —  Association  of  Ministers.  —  Trouble  about  the  Fort  in 
Boston.  —  Small-pox  mortal  among  the  Indians. 

a  THE  arrival  of  Mr.  John  Cotton  at  Boston  marks  an 
important  era  in  its  history.  But  it  was  not  his 
arrival  alone  ;  there  came  with  him,  at  the  same  time, 
some  of  the  best  and  ablest  men  that  had  hitherto  set 
feet  on  these  shores.  Their  arrival  is  thus  recorded 
by  Governor  Winthrop,  the  man  who  was  then  on  the 
spot  to  receive  and  welcome  them. 
"  The  Griffin,  a  ship  of  three  hundred  tons,  arrived, 
having  been  eight  weeks  from  the  Downs.  This  ship  was 
brought  [piloted]  in  by  John  Gallop,  a  new  way,  by  Lovell's 
Island,  at  low  water,  now  called  Griffin's  Gap.  She  brought  about  two 
hundred  passengers,  having  lost  some  four  ;  whereof  one  was  drowned 
two  days  before,  as  he  was  casting  forth  a  line  to  take  mackerel.  In 
this  ship  came  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker,  and  Mr.  Stone,  ministers,  and 
Mr.  Peirce,  Mr.  Haynes  (a  gentleman  of  great  estate),  Mr.  Hoffe,  and 
many  other  men  of  good  estates.  They  got  out  of  England  with  much 
difficulty,  all  places  being  belaid  to  have  taken  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr. 
Hooker,  who  had  been  long  sought  for  to  have  been  brought  into  the 
high  commission  ;  but  the  Master  being  bound  to  touch  at  the  [Isle  of] 
Wight,  the  Pursuivants  attended  there,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  the  said 
ministers  were  taken  in  at  the  Downs.  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone 
went  presently  to  Newtown,  where  they  were  to  be  entertained,  and 
Mr.  Cotton  stayed  at  Boston." 

The  family  to  which  Mr.  Cotton  belonged  may  be  easily  traced  to  a 
high  antiquity,*  and  it  was  long  ago  widely  spread  over  England.     He 

*"  About  the  latter  end  of  Edward  III."  ter  and  heir  of  Walter  deRidware  of  Hampstall- 
(1371),  says  Guillim,  in  his  Banner  Displayed,  Ridware  in  the  County  of  Stafford,  had  a  son 
William  Cotton,  having  married  Agnes,  daugh-    John,  who  laid  off  the  ancient  arms  of  Cotton 


158 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1633. 


was  born  in  the  town  of  Derby,  and  in  the  county  of  the  same  name. 
His  father's  name  was  Rowland  Cotton,*  a  lawyer  of  some  note,f  and 
the  Christian  name,  Rowland,  was  long,  if  not  to  the  present  time, 
perpetuated  both  in  Old  and  New  England.  It  is  often  difficult  to 
trace  the  ancestry  of  even  very  distinguished  men,  because,  being 
younger  sons  of  younger  sons,  their  hope  of  ever  becoming  heirs  to  a 
remote  progenitor  is  not  strong  enough  to  cause  them  to  preserve  their 
pedigree  ;  while  their  older  relatives  neglect  the  younger  branches  of 
the  family  tree  from  another  and  more  apparent  motive. 

Mr.  John  Cotton  was  born  in  1585,  entered  Trinity  College,  Cam- 
bridge, 1598,  being  then  but  twelve  years  of  age.  He  soon  became 
noted  for  his  acquirements,  and  was  admitted  to  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  in  1606.  Soon  after,  he  received  the  appointment  of  head 
lecturer,  dean,  and  catechist,  of  Emmanuel  College.  Such  was  the 
brilliancy  with  which  he  discharged  his  duties,  and  such  were  the 
mildness  and  gentleness  of  his  temper,  that  he  was  greatly  beloved  by 
the  students.  In  1608  he  gained  great  applause  by  a  sermon  which  he 
delivered  in  the  Church  of  the  University,  and,  among  others,  attracted 
the  attention  of  Dr.  Richard  Sibbs  and  Dr.  John  Preston,  men  whose 
works  soon  after  moved  the  whole  age  of  the  Puritans.  J 


and  adopted  that  of  Ridware.  That  of  Cotton 
was,  Argent,  a  bend  sable  between  three  pel- 
lets ;  while  that  adopted  was  Azure,  an  eagle 
displayed  argent.  When  Weever  wrote  his 
Antient  Funeral  Monuments  (in  1631),  he  saw 
a  pedigree  of  the  Cottons  in  possession  of  Ed- 
mund Cotton,  Esq.,  of  Necton  Hall  in  Bramble 
Barton,  alias  Barton  magna  juxta  Bury  St. 
Edmunds,  about  which  he  says,  "  The  antient 
seat  of  the  Cottons  in  Cambridgeshire  is  Lan- 
wade-hall ;  many  descents  were  higher,  and 
before  the  father  to  the  elder  Sir  John  Cotton, 
Knt.,  who  died  near  the  beginning  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.  This  Sir  John  being  the  elder,  had 
three  brothers,  whereof  Edmund  was  the  third 
from  Sir  John  aforesaid,  and  sisters  they  had, 
&c.  This  elder  Sir  John  had  one  son  called 
by  his  father's  name,  Sir  John  Cotton,  Knt., 
who,  dying  in  the  time  of  King  James,  left  to 
inherit  his  estate,  the  only  son,"  by  Anne, 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Hoghton  of  Hoghton 
tower  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  living  in 
1631,  also  named  John.  Edmund  Cotton,  the 
third  brother  above  mentioned,  married  Ela, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Coniers,  the 
only  son  of  Robert  Coniers,  Knt.,  nearly  allied 
to  Lord  Coniers  of  Hornby  Castle,  County  of 
Richmond.  This  Edmund  Cotton  "  had  divers 
children  "  by  his  wife,  Ela.  George  was  his 
eldest  son,  "  who  had  issue  many  children," 
of  whom  Edmund  was  the  eldest,  who,  "  in 
like  manner,  had  issue,  divers  sons  and  daugh- 
ters," whose  oldest  son  and  heir  was  Edmund 
of  Necton  Hall,  above  mentioned,  who  fur- 
nished Weever  with  the  family  pedigree.  It  is 
to  a  brancH  of  this  family  of  Cotton,  that  John 
Cotton  of  Boston  is  believed  to  belong.     But 


the  means  of  showing  to  which  branch  is  not 
known  to  be  in  this  country. 

*  There  was  a  Sir  Rowland  Cotton,  Sheriff 
of  Shropshire,  1616.  Admiral  Rowland  Cot- 
ton died  at  Plymouth,  Eng.,  1794. 

f  "  Our  John  Cotton,"  says  his  grandson, 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  "  besides  the  advantage 
of  his  Christian  profession,  had  a  descent  from 
honorable  progenitors,  to  render  him  doubly 
honorable.  His  immediate  progenitors  being 
by  some  injustice  deprived  of  great  revenues, 
his  father,  Mr.  Rowland  Cotton,  had  the  edu- 
cation of  a  lawyer,  bestowed  by  his  friends 
upon  him,  in  hopes  of  his  being  the  better 
capacitated  thereby  to  recover  the  estate  where- 
of his  family  had  been  wronged."  —  Magnolia, 
B.  iii.  14. 

%  Dr.  Sibbs  was  a  friend  of,  and  intimate 
with,  many  of  the  fathers  of  New  England. 
His  name  with  that  of  our  John  Davenport  is 
signed  to  several  prefaces  of  the  old  Puritan 
quartos.  They  accompanied  some  of  Dr.  Pres- 
ton's works:  "The  Saints  Daily  Exercise," 
now  before  me,  is  one.  I  have  also  before  me, 
"Two  Sermons"  of  his,  in  a  4to  tract, 
"  Preached  to  the  honourable  Society  of  Grayes 
Inne,  Iune  the  21  and  28,  1635.  Who  the 
next  Lord's  day  following,  died,  and  rested 
from  all  his  labours."  A  knowledge  of  these 
sermons  would  have  been  important  to  Mr. 
Neal,  who  places  his  birth  in  1579,  at  Sud- 
bury in  Suffolk.  Mr.  Neal,  and  those  who  have 
followed  him  in  their  accounts  of  Dr.  Sibbs, 
write  his  name  Sibbes;  but  in  the  titles  of  all 
his  books  which  I  have  seen  (and  they  are 
many)  his  name  is  printed  Sibbs. 


1633.]  cotton's  marriage.  159 

It  was  under  the  preaching  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  William  Perkins,* 
a  strict  follower  of  Calvin,  that  he  became  convinced  of  the  errors  of 
the  Established  Church  ;  "  but  he  for  a  time  resisted  and  smothered 
those  convictions,  through  a  vain  persuasion  that  if  he  became  a  godly 
man  it  would  spoil  him  for  being  a  learned  one  ;"  and  while  he  could 
not  forego  his  attendance  on  such  preaching,  from  his  great  natural 
love  of  truth,  yet,  "  when  he  heard  the  bell  toll  for  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Perkins,  his  mind  secretly  rejoiced  in  his  deliverance.  But  Dr. 
Sibbs  completed  the  work  which  Mr.  Perkins  had  begun  upon  the 
youthful  mind  of  Cotton.  For  a  remembrance  of  which,  and  his  thank- 
fulness to  Dr.  Sibbs,  he  procured  his  portrait,  which  "  he  placed  in 
that  part  of  his  house  where  he  might  oftenest  look  upon  it." 

Mr.  Cotton  had  become  somewhat  obnoxious  to  many  on  account  of 
the  change  in  his  principles  before  leaving  the  University  ;  and  he  was 
elected  to  settle  at  Boston  only  by  a  mistake  of  the  Mayor,  who  voted 
for,  while  he  intended  to  have  voted  against,  him.  Probably  few,  if 
any  others,  could  have  been  found,  who,  under  such  circumstances, 
would  have  held  a  place  so  long  as  Mr.  Cotton  did  his  at  Old  Boston  ; 
but  he  had  a  most  happy  way  of  dealing  with  his  opposers,  whom  he 
would  often  silence  without  offending.  Thus  he  was  continued  in  his 
office  for  what,  in  these  days,  would  be  considered  a  very  long  term  of 
years. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Cotton  was  settled  at  Boston,  "  his  dear  friend,  holy 
Mr.  Bayns,"  recommended  a  lady  to  him,  whom  subsequently  he  mar- 
ried ;  "  one  Mrs.f  Elizabeth  Horrocks,  the  sister  of  Mr.  James  Hor- 
rocks,  a  famous  minister  in  Lancashire."  On  the  day  of  his  marriage 
he  said,  and  no  doubt  truly,  that  "  he  first  received  the  assurance  "  of 
*his  spiritual  redemption  ;  and  hence  it  was  a  day  of  double  marriage  to 
him.  With  his  first  wife  he  lived  eighteen  years.  She  was  then  taken 
off  by  a  sickness  which  likewise  severely  afflicted  her  husband,  and 
incapacitated  him  from  performing  his  ministerial  duties  a  year  or 
more  ;  and  within  the  compass  of  about  a  year  he  married  a  second 
wife,  "  one  Mrs.  Sarah  Story,  a  vertuous  widow,  very  dear  to  his 
former  wife."     He  had  all  his  children  by  this  lady. 

The  storm  which  eventually  burst  upon  the  head  of  Mr.  Cotton  had 
been  some  time  in  gathering  ;  and  though  delayed  by  "  the  discretion 
and  vigilance  of  Mr.  Thomas  Leverett  J  (afterwards  a  doubly-honored 
elder  of  the  Church  in  another  land),  yet,  when  the  sins  of  the  place 
had  ripened  it,"  he  saw  no  other  safety  but  such  as  flight  might 
afford.  Complaint  being  entered  at  the  High  Commissioned  Court  that 
"  the  Magistrates  did  not  kneel  at  the   Sacrament,"  and  that  some 


*  Though  Mr.  Perkins  died  at  the  early  age  J  Mr.  Leverett   was   an  Alderman   of  Old 

of  forty-six  (in  the  year  1602),  yet  he  found  time  Boston,  and  came  to  New  England  with  Mr. 

to  compose  works,  which  it  takes  three  pon-  Cotton.     He  was  the  father  of  Governor  John 

derous  folios  to  contain.  Leverett,  who  came  with  his  father  to  Boston, 

f  Writers  in  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  time  had  at  the  age  of  about  17.     The  Christian  name 

not   generally   adopted   the   distinction   since  of  his  wife  only   is   known.  —  See  N.  Eng. 

made  between  Mrs.  and  Miss.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.  iv.  121,  &c. 


160  HISTORY   OP   BOSTON.  [1633. 

other  ceremonies  were  unobserved  also,  "  letters  missive  were  de- 
spatched incontinently  to  convent  Mr.  Cotton  "  before  that  "  infamous  " 
Court.  When  Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Dedharn  heard  that  Mr.  Cotton  had 
been  thus  brought  into  trouble,  "  he  spoke  of  it  in  his  sermon  with  just 
lamentation,"  and  predicted  that  the  informer  would  "  die  under  an 
hedge,  or  something  else,  more  than  the  ordinary  death  of  men,  should 
befal  him  ;"  and  this  fate,  it  is  related,  actually  happened  to  the 
"  debauched"  informer.* 

Therefore,  to  escape  "  a  perpetual  imprisonment,  as  had  already 
murdered  such  men  as  Bates  and  Udal,  he  concealed  himself  as  well  as 
he  could  from  the  raging  Pursevants."  Meantime  application  was 
made  to  the  Earl  of  Dorset,  to  fulfil  some  engagement  of  protection 
which  he  had  formerly  made  for  Mr.  Cotton ;  but,  from  some  inter- 
ference from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Earl  returned  answer, 
"  that  if  Mr.  Cotton  had  been  guilty  of  drunkenness  or  uncleanness,  or 
any  such  lesser  fault,  he  could  have  obtained  his  pardon  ;  but,  inasmuch 
as  he  had  been  guilty  of  Nonconformity  and  Puritanism,  the  crime  was 
unpardonable,  and  therefore  he  must  fly  for  his  safety." 

Accordingly  Mr.  Cotton  travelled  in  disguise  to  London,  and  there 
concealed  himself.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  not  fixed  upon  New 
England  as  a  place  of  exile.  In  London  he  had  intercourse  with 
several  "  conforming"  ministers,  whose  conformity  was,  as  they  viewed 
it,  a  necessary  deception,  and  they  endeavored  to  induce  Mr.  Cotton 
to  conform  in  the  same  manner.  They  therefore  held  a  friendly  con- 
ference with  him  upon  the  subject,  in  which  the  matter  was  freely 
debated.  The  arguments  of  Mr.  Byfield,  Mr.  Whately,  and  Mr.  Sprint 
were  brought  forward  by  Mr.  Cotton's  friends  as  unanswerable  ;  but, 
when  he  replied  to  them,  "  the  issue  whereof  was,  that  instead  of* 
bringing  Mr.  Cotton  back  to  what  he  had  now  forsaken,  he  brought 
them  off  altogether  from  what  they  had  hitherto  practised  ;  every  one 
of  those  eminent  persons,  Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr.  Davenport, 
now  became  all  he  was,  and  at  last  left  the  kingdom  for  their  being 
so."f 

*  This  was  noted  at  or  near  the  time  of  its  Rogers  of  Dedham,  mentioned  in  the  text,  and 

occurrence  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Rogers  ;  which  settled  in  Ipswich,  N.  Eng.,  1636. 

in  the  original  MS.  record  is  still  preserved,  f  There    is   yet   a   conjecture    among  some 

in  a  branch  of  the  Rogers  family  in  New  Eng-  antiquaries,  that  Mr.  Goodwin  may  have  come 

land.     It   is   contained,  with   a   great   many  to  New  England ;   as,  by  the  above  passage 

other    reminiscences,   in    a   very   small   MS.  from  the  Magnolia,  it  is  certain  he  left  Eng- 

volume,  procured  for  me  by  my  friend  J.  H.  land ;  but  Mr.  Neal,  in  his  Hist,  of  the  Puri- 

Fogg,    M.  D.,  of  South   Boston,  about   three  tans,  ii.  716  (ed.  4°.  1754),  clearly  shows  that 

years  since.     The  record  is  as  follows  : —  "he  went  into  Holland,  and   became  pastor 

"  A  Joyner  y  was  ye  principall  Persecuf*  of  of  an  independent  congregation  at  Arnheim. 

Mr.  Cotton  and  his  people  of  Boston,  wrby  yl  He  went  in  1639,  and  returned  about  the  be- 

Congreg  :   was  so  broken  and  changed,   dyed  ginning  of  the  Long  Parliament."     He  was  in 

(1637)  under  an  hedge  of  ye  plague  ;  it  strik-  great  favor  with  the  Protector,  whom  he  at- 

ing  first  into  his  house,  of  all  ye  town,  and  at  tended  on  his  death-bed.    He  died  in  1679-80, 

length  vpd  himself,  who  in  a  rage  went  out  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age.    There  was  an 

and  sate  him  [down]  and  dyed."   The  account  edition  of  his  works  in  5  vols,  folio,  the  third 

in  the  Magnolia  does  not  materially  differ  from  of  which,  now  by  me,  is  dated  1683.     I  sup- 

this  ;   the  author  may  have  had  his  account  pose  it  is  to  this  Dr.  Thomas  Goodwin  that 

from  Mr.  Rogers,  who  was  a  son  of  Mr.  John  "Mr.  Iohn  Lawrence"  refers  in  his  preface 


1633.] 


MR.    JOHN    COTTON. 


161 


After  determining  in  his  own  mind  between  Holland,  Barbadocs,  and 
New  England,  he  set  sail  for  the  latter  place.  In  this  decision  he  was 
doubtless  influenced  very  much  by  the  pressing  invitations  of  friends 
here,  and  "  letters  procured  from  the  Church  of  Boston,  by  Mr.  Win- 
throp,  the  Governor  of  the  Colony." 

It  has  been  very  happily  observed,  "  that  the  God  that  had  carried 
him  through  the  fire  of  persecution  was  now  graciously  with  him  in  his 
passage  through  the  water  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  he  enjoyed  a 
comfortable  voyage  over  the  great  and  wide  sea."  His  arrival  was 
hailed  with  exceeding  joy  by  the  "  poor  people  in  this  wilderness  ;" 
who  used  to  say  of  him,  and  the  other  two  who  came  with  him,  that 
now  their  great  necessities  were  supplied,  "  for  they  had  cotton  for 
their  clothing,  hooker  for  their  fishing,  and  stone  for  their  building."  * 

During  the  voyage  of  the  Griffin,  Mrs.  Cotton  was  delivered  of  a  son, 
to  whom  was  given  the  name  of  Seaborn,  and  this  was  his  first  child. 
Arrived  now  in  "  New  Boston,"  the  history  of  the  city  becomes  iden- 
tified with  that  of  Cotton,f  and  they  must  of  necessity  be  continued 
together.  "  The  new  place  of  his  adoption,  especially  upon  the  holy 
wisdom,  conduct,  and  credit  of  our  Mr.  Cotton,  upon  some  accounts  of 
growth,  came  to  exceed  Old  Boston  in  everything  that  renders  a  town 


to  his  "  Golden  Trvmpet  sounded  at  Pauls 
Cross,"  1624,  when  he  says,  "  I  wish  to  live 
to  requite  some  part  of  your  courtesies,"  &c. 
There  was  a  Mr.  John  Goodwin,  a  contempo- 
rary of  Dr.  Thomas.  He  had  a  large  family, 
some  of  whom  may  have  come  to  this  country. 
Like  Dr.  Thomas,  he  was  a  learned  Divine, 
and  was  the  author  of  several  works  ;  one,  now 
before  me,  entitled  "  The  Divine  Authority  of 
the  Scriptures  Asserted,"  4°.  London,  1648, 
is  accompanied  by  his  "  Efigie,"  from  which 
his  age  is  learned,  namely,  47  in  1641.  He 
wrote  a  book  in  defence  of  the  execution  of  the 
king,  which,  after  the  Restoration,  experienced 
the  honor  of  being  burnt  with  that  of  Milton's 
upon  the  same  subject.  Cotton's  "  Keys  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,"  London,  1644,  was 
' '  published  by  Thomas  Goodwin  and  Philip 
Nye."  That  famous  work  by  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Burroughs,  "  Gospel  Reconciliation;  or, 
Christ's  Trvmpet  of  Peace  to  the  'World,"  was 
"Published  (with  a  Testimony)  by  Thomas 
Goodwin,  William  Bridge,  William  Greenhil, 
Sydrach  Sympson,  Philip  Nye,  John  Yates, 
and  William  Adderley."  Peter  Cole  was  the 
"  Printer  and  Bookseller,"  who  advertised,  in 
1657,  "Eleven  new  books  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Hooker,  made  in  New  England,  attested  in  an 
epistle  by  Mr.  Thomas  Goodwin,  and  Mr. 
Philip  Nye,"  and  many  other  works  by  N. 
Eng.  men,  as  Ward,  Eliot,  Mayhew,  Stone, 
&c. 

*  Joshua  Scottow  was  the  first  I  have  met 
with  who  published  this  play  upon  these 
names  ;  but  Mather,  from  whom  the  text  is 

21 


taken,  leaves  out  his  grandfather  Mather's 
name.  "  A  quaternion,"  says  Scottow,  "  viz., 
Mr.  Cotton,  eminent  for  spiritual  clothing, 
and  Mather  for  celestial  dying,  Hooker  for 
soul  fishing,  and  Stone  for  building  up  in  the 
holy  faith."  —  Narrative,  &c,  23. 

f  There  have  been  many  lives  of  Mr.  Cotton 
printed,  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  which  are  based 
upon  that  excellent  piece  of  biography  of  him 
in  the  Magnolia ;  of  which  it  may  not  be  too 
much  to  say,  perhaps,  that  it  is  the  best  in 
that  curious  work.  Norton's  life  of  him  is  of 
no  value  in  point  of  fact,  or  very  little  indeed. 
It  is,  probably,  all  its  author  intended  it  to 
be,  a  work  to  perpetuate  the  Christian  prin- 
ciples of  this  eminent  father.  A  very  excel- 
lent pedigree  of  the  Cotton  family  may  be 
seen  in  the  first  volume  of  the  New  Eng.  Hist, 
and  Gen.  Register,  prepared  by  Mr.  J.  Win- 
gate  Thornton.  In  another  work,  not  yet 
published,  the  same  gentleman  notes  the  fol- 
lowing families  descended  from  Cotton  :  — 
"  Byles,  Brooks,  Bradbury,  Bourne,  Cush- 
ing,  Everett,  Frothingham,  Grant,  Gookin, 
Hale,  Jackson,  Lee,  Mather,  Swett,  Storer, 
Thayer,  Thornton,  Tufts,  Tracy,  Upham, 
Walter,  Williams,  Whiting,  and  many 
others." 


(J  dj   tt#on 


162  HISTORY    OP    BOSTON.  [1633. 

considerable."     This,  though  in  a  strain  of  highly- wrought  eulogy,  is 
adopted  by  the  sober  judgment  of  other  and  later  writers.* 

After  about  a  month  Mr.  Cotton  was  ordained  teacher  of  the 

First  Church ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  Mr.  Thomas  Leverett 
was  chosen  a  Ruling  Elder,  and  Mr.  Giles  Firmin  f  was  chosen  Deacon. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Cotton,  besides  the  "  impo- 
sition of  hands,"  the  people  were  notified  that  they  might  sanction  by 
their  election  the  choice  of  the  Teacher  ;  or,  in  the  words  of  one  of  the 
chief  of  the  performers  |  at  the  ordination,  "  he  was  chosen  by  all  the 
Congregation  testifying  their  consent  by  erection  of  hands."  The 
same  informer  proceeds  to  describe  the  ceremonies  at  this  early  ordina- 
tion, in  these  words  :  —  "  Then  Mr.  Wilson,  the  Pastor,  demanded  of 
him,  if  he  did  accept  of  that  call  ?  He  paused,  and  then  spake  to  this 
effect ;  that,  howsoever  he  knew  himself  unworth  and  unsufficient  for 
that  place,  yet,  having  observed  all  the  passages  of  God's  providence 
(which  he  reckoned  up  in  particular)  in  calling  him  to  it,  he  could  not 
but  accept  it.  Then  the  Pastor  and  the  two  Elders  laid  their  hands 
upon  his  head,  and  the  Pastor  prayed ;  and  then,  taking  off  their 
hands,  laid  them  on  again ;  and,  speaking  to  him  by  his  name,  they 
did  thenceforth  design  him  to  the  said  office,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  did  give  him  the  charge  of  the  Congregation,  and  did 
thereby  (as  a  sign  from  God)  endue  him  with  the  gifts  fit  for  his  office, 
and,  lastly,  did  bless  him.  Then  the  neighboring  ministers  which 
were  present  did  (at  the  Pastor's  motion)  give  him  the  right  hands  of 
fellowship,  and  the  Pastor  made  a  stipulation  between  him  and  the 
Congregation."  §  Thus  it  was  that  Mr.  Cotton  came  into  his  minis- 
terial office  in  Boston,  and  thus  are  the  peculiar  exercises  circum- 
stantially detailed,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  gratifying  to  all  those  of 
succeeding  generations  who  would  know  their  obligations  to  the  early 
fathers. 
0  The  next  day,  after  the  imposing  ceremonies  by  which  Mr. 

Cotton  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Church  of  Boston,  there 
was  a  great  assemblage  at  Newtown,  from  all  the  settlements  adjacent, 
for  the  purpose  of  ordaining  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  at  that  place, 
which  was  done  "  in  such  a  manner  as  before  at  Boston  ;  "  the  former 

*  Hubbard  calls  him  "that  miracle  of  several  valuable  facts  of  a  genealogical  char- 
learning  and  meekness."  —  Hist.  N.  Eng.  158.  acter.  This  son  (of  the  same  Christian  name), 
Hutchinson  says,  Cotton  is  supposed  to  have  who  came  over  with  his  father,  after  about 
been  more  instrumental  in  the  settlement  of  seven  years  returned  to  England,  and  died  in 
their  civil  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  polity,  than  1697,  at  Ridgwell,  in  Essex,  aged  80  years.  — 
any  other  person."  Some  have  gone  much  Calamy,  i.  517,  &c,  where  there  is  a  partic- 
further  than  this  ;  that  "  his  suggestions  and  ular  account  of  him.  Deacon  Giles  Firmin 
recommendations  in  the  pulpit  were  observed  died  before  6  Oct.,  1634. 
and  adopted  by  the  Church,  while  the  magis-  J  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  114. 
trates  were  ready  to  adopt  his  private  political  \  Winthrop,  i.  6.  Hutchinson  says,  "  The 
counsels  as  the  law  of  the  land." — See  Eliot,  circumstances  and  order  of  proceeding  in  Mr. 
Hist.  First  Church,  21.  Cotton's  ordination  were  intended  as  a  pre- 

|  Father  of  the  author  of  that  well-known  cedent,  and  the   congregational   churches   in 

work    (to   the   last  generation),   "The   Real  New  England  have  generally  conformed  thereto 

Christian;"  in  the  preface  to  which  there  are  ever  since." — Hist.  Mass.  i.  34. 


1633.]  WAGES. MERCHANDISE.  163 

as  Pastor,  and  the  latter  as  Teacher.     At  this  ordination  the  gentlemen 
of  Boston  performed  a  conspicuous  part. 

The  same  day  that  the  Griffin  arrived,  arrived  also  the  ship 
Bird,  Captain  Yates.  She  brought  passengers,  but  how  many 
is  not  known ;  she  likewise  brought  some  cows  and  four  mares.  She 
had  a  boisterous  voyage,  was  driven  far  to  the  north,  and  was  nearly 
three  times  as  long  at  sea  as  the  Grrilfiri.  Whence  she  sailed  is  not 
mentioned. 

Meantime  the  adventurous  John  Oldham,  with  only  three  attendants, 
travelled  by  land  from  Boston  to  Connecticut.  He  followed  the  paths 
of  the  Indians  all  the  way,  and  lodged  with  them  in  their  huts  by 
night ;  all  of  them  treating  him  with  kindness,  and  the  Sachems 
making  presents  of  beaver,  in  exchange  probably  for  trifles.  At  his 
return  he  brought  some  hemp,  "  much  better  than  the  English,  which 
grew  there  in  great  abundance  ;"  also  "  some  black  lead,  whereof  the 
Indians  told  him  there  was  a  whole  rock." 

By  the  arrival  of  the  ship  James  at  Salem,  Master  Graves,  a 
considerable  accession  was  made  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston. 
The  same  ship,  with  the  same  commander,  had  been  here  before  ;  and 
then,  as  now,  the  time  occupied  in  the  voyage  was  eight  weeks.  He 
sailed  from  Gravesend,  and,  of  his  eighty  passengers,  twenty  were  for 
Boston,  "  and  some  sixty  cattle." 

The  wages  of  workmen  is  this  year  again  made  an  object  of  legis- 
lation, as  also  was  merchandise.  Three  shillings  a  day  for  a  carpenter, 
and  two  shillings  and  sixpence  for  a  laborer,  were  thought  to  be 
"  excessive  rates,"  and  the  trader  who  charged  for  his  goods  double 
their  cost  in  England  was  considered  exorbitant ;  therefore  the  Court 
ordered  that  "  carpenters,  masons,  &c,"  should  take  but  two  shillings 
a  day,  and  laborers  but  eighteen  pence,  and  that  no  commodity  should 
be  sold  at  above  four  pence  in  the  shilling  more  than  it  cost  for  ready 
money  in  England."  One  of  the  reasons  urged  for  this  order  may 
excite  a  smile  at  this  day,  and  amazement  a  hundred  years  hence.  It 
was  said  that  by  such  high  wages  many  could  earn  enough  in  four  days 
to  keep  them  a  week,  consequently  they  had  two  days  to  spend  in 
idleness !  That  this  promoted  indulgence  in  the  use  of  tobacco  and 
liquor,  "  which  was  a  great  waste  to  the  Commonwealth."  That,  as 
the  course  of  things  had  been,  corn  was  now  at  six  shillings  the  bushel, 
a  cow  at  twenty  pounds,  some  twenty-four,  and  some  even  twenty-six 
pounds ;  a  mare  thirty-five  pounds,  an  ewe-goat  from  three  to  four 
pounds,  &c. 

There  was  a  custom  adopted  this  year,  among  the  ministers,  of 
meeting  at  each  other's  houses  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  questions 
of  moment.  These  meetings  have  been  considered  by  some  *  as  the 
origin  of  the  "  Boston  Association  of  Congregational  Ministers." 

*  See  Emerson's  Hist.  First  Church,  20,  21.    for  prayer,  theological  discussion,  and  social 
This    Association   "continues,   every  second    intercourse." — Hist.  Mass.  i.  34. 
Monday,  in  the  afternoon,  to  hold  a  meeting 


164  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1633. 

Some  part  of  the  work  appointed  to  be  done  on  the  fort  in  Boston 
yet  remained  undone,*  owing,  it  appears,  to  the  neglect  of  the  people 
of  Salem,  Newtown,  and  Saugus,  to  do  the  parts  allotted  to  them. 
The  Newtown  people  had  been  "  warned,"  but  Mr.  Dudley  "  would 
not  suffer  them  to  come,  neither  did  he  acquaint  the  Governor  with  the 
cause."  But  the  "cause"  was,  "that  Salem  and  Saugus  had  not 
brought  in  money  for  their  parts."  When  this  was  understood  by  the 
Governor,  he  wrote  the  Deputy  a  letter,  stating  the  intent  of  the  Court 
to  be,  that  the  work  should  be  done  by  those  in  the  Bay,  and  that  the 
money  assessed  on  the  Salem  and  Saugus  men  was  for  another  purpose. 
On  receipt  of  this  explanatory  letter,  Mr.  Dudley  wrote  an  answer,  and 
despatched  Mr.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Hooker  with  it  to  the  Governor,  who 
were  authorized  to  treat  upon  the  matter.  On  opening  the  Deputy's 
letter,  the  Governor  found  it  "full  of  bitterness  and  resolution  not  to 
send  till  Salem  had  done  its  part."  Mr.  Winthrop  returned  the  letter 
to  Mr.  Hooker,  saying,  "  he  would  not  keep  such  an  occasion  of  pro- 
vocation by  him."  A  little  time  before  this,  Dudley  had  proposed  to 
buy  "a  fat  hog  or  two  of  Winthrop,  being  somewhat  short  of  pro- 
visions." In  this  case,  certainly,  the  Governor  exercised  the  virtue  of 
overcoming  evil  with  good.  He  sat  down  and  wrote  to  Dudley, 
offering  him  a  hog  as  a  present,  and  saying  he  would  have  sent  it 
before  if  he  had  known  when  it  would  have  been  acceptable  to  him. 
However  hoggish  Dudley  may  have  felt  before  the  receipt  of  this  letter, 
there  was  not  much  of  that  feeling  left  when  he  had  read  it ;  for  he 
immediately  returned  answer  to  Winthrop,  "  that  [Winthrop  had],  in 
overcoming  himself,  overcome  him  ;"  and  though  he  declined  receiving 
the  hog  as  a  present,  he  would  gladly  purchase  it,  "  and  so  very  loving 
concluded."  And  thus  the  affair  seems,  for  the  present,  at  least,  to 
have  ended. 

D  The  cold  seems  to  have  been  severe  very  early  this  fall.     The 

snow  was  "  knee-deep  "  on  the  fourth  of  December,  and  vessels 

were  frozen  up  in  the  harbors. f     At  the  same  time,  the  small  pox  was 

making  dreadful  ravages  among  the  natives.     Sagamore  John, 

a  great  friend  of  the  whites,  often  mentioned  before,  died  on  the 

fifth   of  December,    and   his   people    died   so   fast,   that   Mr.  Samuel 

Maverick  of  Winisemet  buried  above  thirty  in  one   day  ;  for  whose 

labors  to  alleviate  their  sufferings,  his  name  "  is  worthy  of  a  perpetual 

remembrance.     Himself,  his  wife,  and  servants,  went  daily  to  them, 

ministered  to  their  necessities,  and  took  home  many  of  their  children." 

The  people  of  the  neighboring  towns  also  took  many  of  their  children 

away,  but  most  of  them  died  soon  after.     Of  all  those  who  assisted  the 

*  In  September   previous    the  Authorities  of  that  plantation,  because  they  had  yet  no 

made  a  requisition  that  "  every  hand,  except  minister.     Whilst  he  was  there,  December  4, 

Magistrates   and   Ministers,  should  assist  in  there  fell  such  a  snow  (knee  deep)  as  he  could 

finishing  the  fort  in  Boston."  —  Snow,  63.  not  come  back  for  several  days,  and  a  boat 

f  "Mr.  Wilson,  by  leave   of  the    Congre-  which  went  thither  was  frozen  up  in  the  river." 

gation   of   Boston,   whereof  he   was   Pastor,  — Winthrop,  Jour.,  i.  118.     Such  weather  is 

went  to  Agawam  [Ipswich]  to  teach  the  people  uncommon  at  this  day,  so  early  in  December. 


1633.]  SMALL   POX   AMONG   THE    INDIANS.  165 

Indians  in  their  sickness,  but  two  white  families  were  infected  by  it. 
At  or  about  the  same  time,  Sagamore  James  died,  and  most  of  his  peo- 
ple also,  of  the  same  disease.  It  extended  to  the  Pascataqua  eastward, 
sweeping  almost  every  native  in  the  way. 

At  what  place  the  small  pox  broke  out  first,  the  writers  of  the  time 
do  not  state,  but  it  was  probably  at  some  point  to  the  westward  of 
Boston,  for  it  is  certain  that  Chikataubat  died  of  this  disease  about  a 
month  before  Sagamore  John.  He  had  long  been  acquainted  with  the 
English  ;  in  1621  he  went  to  Plymouth,  and  signed  a  treaty  with  the 
Pilgrims.  The  territory  over  which  he  was  Sachem  is  not  distinctly 
bounded  ;  it  extended,  probably,  from  Wessaguscus  to  Neponset.  A 
son  of  his,  named  Wampatuck,  gave  a  deed  of  Braintree  to  the  English 
in  1665,  and  a  grandson  deeded  Boston  in  1695  ;   but  of  this  hereafter. 

How  far  from  the  sea-board  the  pestilence  spread,  no  certain  informa- 
tion appears ;  nor  is  there  much  certainty  how  long  it  continued.  It 
probably  raged  as  long  as  there  were  new  subjects  for  attack.  Late  in 
January,  one  John  Seales  returned  to  Boston  from  "  a  place  twelve 
miles  off,"  where  he  had  been  living  with  a  small  company  of  seven 
Indians.  He  reported,  that,  up  to  the  time  of  his  leaving,  four  of  the 
seven  had  died  of  the  disease.  This  man  had  run  away  from  his  master, 
with  whom  he  had  become  dissatisfied,  and  he  was  now  glad  to  run 
away  from  the  Indians.  He  continued  with  them,  probably,  as  long  as 
they  could  be  of  service  to  him,  but  when  his  services  were  required 
for  their  benefit,  the  case  was  altered.  Such  examples  have  not  been 
lost  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

Some  Pequots,  who  visited  Boston  several  months  later,  reported  that 
many  of  that  nation  had  died  of  the  small  pox,  and  about  the  same 
time  it  was  reported,  that,  of  the  great  nation  of  the  Narragansets, 
seven  hundred  had  died.  Also  one  Hall  and  two  others,  who  went  to 
Connecticut  in  the  beginning  of  November,  returned  to  Boston  on  the 
twentieth  of  January  following,  and  reported  that  the  small  pox  ' '  was 
gone  as  far  as  any  Indian  plantation  was  known  to  the  West,  and  much 
people  dead  of  it."  These  men  had  been  on  a  trading  expedition,  but 
the  sickness  ruined  their  enterprise.  Of  the  Indian  children  attempted 
to  be  rescued  from  the  malady  by  the  people  in  and  about  Boston,  all 
were  dead  but  three  before  spring.  One  of  the  three  had  the  singular 
name  of  Know  God;  which  Winthrop  says  was  given  him  because  the 
Indians  made  such  constant  use  of  this  phrase  when  accosted,  "  Me 
know  God."  This  was  a  kind  of  countersign,  which  doubtless  grew 
out  of  the  constant  importunity  of  their  white  brethren,  inquiring  "if 
they  knew  God  ?  " 


166 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1634. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Murder  of  Capt.  Stone  and  others.  —  Market  Day  appointed.  —  First  Tavern,  and  Store.  —  Thursday 
Lecture  begun. — Lecture  against  Veils.  —  Cross  cut  out  of  the  Colors.  —  Survey  of  the  Town 
ordered.  —  Representatives  first  Chosen.  —  Great  increase  of  Inhabitants.  —  First  Election  Sermon. 

—  John  Humfrey.  —  Mr.  Andrew's  Gift. — Enemies  to  the  Colony  in  England. — The  Patent  de- 
manded.—  Emigrant  Ships  stopped  at  London. — Earl  of  Warwick.  —  Preparations  for  a  Fort  on 
Castle  Island.  —  Some  propose  to  remove  to  Connecticut.  —  First  Entries  on  the  Records  of  Boston. 

—  Description  of  the  first  Book.  —  Origin  of  Select  Men.  —  Various  early  Regulations.  —  The  Tri- 
angular Warehouse.  —  Arrival  of  Eminent  Men.  —  Opposition  to  the  Removal  to  Connecticut. 

THE  year  now  commenced  is  one  of  thrilling  interest 
in  the  history  of  New  England,  and  to  the  people  of 
Boston  especially  ;  as  the  centre  of  all  undertakings, 
the  fountain  head  of  counsel  and  direction  in  the 
affairs  of  the  country.  This  year  was  committed,  or 
the  knowledge  of  certain  murders  first  reached  Bos- 
ton, which  finally  brought  on  the  war  with  the 
Pequots,  and  which  eventuated  in  their  destruction, 
as  a  nation,  or  tribe  of  importance. 

Captain  John  Stone,  who  had  created  some  dis- 
turbance in  Boston,  the  particulars  of  which  have 
been  detailed,  sailed  soon  after  to  the  eastward.  At  Agamentieus  he 
was  joined  by  Captain  Walter  Norton;*  thence,  in  the  autumn  of  1633, 
he  proceeded  southward  on  his  way  to  Virginia,  and  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  heard  from  until  the  following  winter.  Then  news  was 
brought  to  Plymouth,  that  he  had  been  murdered  by  the  Pequots, 
as  he  was  in  a  course  of  trade  with  them  in  the  mouth  of  the 
Connecticut  River.  No  steps,  however,  appear  to  have  been  immedi- 
ately taken  to  investigate  the  affair,  nor  does  it  appear  that  any  of  the 
murdered  men  belonged  to  Boston,  or  any  part  of  the  Bay,  as  the 
settlements  around  the  inner  harbor  were  then  termed. 

Meanwhile  the  business  of  Boston  progressed,  and  a  regular 
market  was  judged  to  be  necessary.  Accordingly  the  Court 
passed  an  order  for  the  erection  of  a  Market,f  and  for  its  being  kept  on 
Thursdays,  on  which  days  the  public  Lecture  was  held.  At  the  same 
time  a  tavern  was  opened  by  Samuel  Cole,  and  John  Coggan  opened  a 
shop  of  merchandise.  This  was  the  first  tavern  and  first  shop  opened 
in  Boston.  Hitherto  every  house  was  a  house  of  entertainment,  as  well 
as  a  shop  or  store  for  the  sale  of  merchandise.  It  was  a  long  time, 
however,  before  stores  became  generally  separated  from  houses  of  resi- 
dence. 


Jan.  21. 


Mar.  4. 


*  Of  the  Christian  name  of  Capt.  Norton, 
there  may  be  a  question ;  but  from  some  cir- 
cumstances I  am  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  as 
I  have  given  it  in  the  text  —  Walter.  As  will 
be  seen  in  our  list  of  Freemen,  Gen.  Reg.,  vol. 
iii.,  p.  90,  Capt.  Walter  Norton  is  among  those 
recorded  19  Oct.,  1630.  He  probably  went 
with  others,  not  long  after,  to  Pascataqua. 


f  "  Erection  of  a  mercate  "  is  the  language 
of  Winthrop  as  rendered  by  his  Editor.  The 
true  meaning  I  have  no  doubt  is  the  "  estab- 
lishment" of  a  Market;  for  it  is  not  very 
probable  that  a  building  for  a  market  was  con- 
templated at  this  early  day.  As  will  be  seen 
from  the  records  hereafter,  reference  is  made 
to  the  "  Market  Place." 


1G34.]  THURSDAY    LECTURE.  167 

The  Thursday  Lecture,*  which  had  its  beginning  in  Boston,  soon  after 
the  arrival  of  Mr.  Cotton, f  has,  with  some  intermissions,  been  kept  up 
until  the  present  generation.  J  It  was  an  excellent  institution,  and  early- 
exercised  a  good  influence.  Many  of  the  discourses  at  this  lecture  were 
printed  during  the  last  century,  and  constitute  a  valuable  portion  of  its 
literary  history. §  At  these  lectures  subjects  were  sometimes  discussed 
which  were  of  too  secular  a  nature,  as  was  then  thought,  for  the  pulpit 
on  Sundays.  Thus,  Mr.  Cotton  took  occasion  at  one  of  these  early  lec- 
tures to  discuss  the  propriety  of  women's  wearing  veils.  Mr. 
Endicott  being  present,  he  spoke  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Cotton's 
views;  and,  "  after  some  debate,  the  Governor,  perceiving  it  to  grow  to 
some  earnestness,  interposed,  and  so  it  break  off."  What  effect,  if  any, 
the  lecture  had  to  bring  the  veil  into  disuse  here  at  that  time,  no  men- 
tion is  made.  But  about  this  time,  whether  before  or  after,  is  not  quite 
certain,  but  probably  before,  Mr.  Cotton  lectured  at  Salem  on  the  same 
grave  question,  with  great  effect.  His  arguments  against  veils  were  so 
conclusive  to  the  females  of  the  congregation,  that,  though  they  all  wore 
them  in  the  forenoon,  in  the  afternoon  they  all  came  without  them. 
This  may  have  taken  Governor  Endicott  by  surprise,  and  he  may  have 
come  up  to  Boston  to  counteract  this  wholesale,  and,  as  he  believed, 
unscriptural  denunciation  of  a  necessary  appendage  to  the  attire  of  all 
modest  women,  especially,  as  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Skelton  had  proved 
conclusively  from  Scripture,  that  it  ought  to  be  worn  in  public  assemblies.  || 
For  females  to  wear  veils,  they  maintained,  was  no  badge  of  superstition, 
while  the  Cross  in  the  King's  colors  was  evidently  of  that  character  ; 
or  so  Mr.  Endicott  considered  it,  ami  he  forthwith  proceeded  to  cut  it 
out.  Roger  Williams  is  accused  of  agitating  this  matter,  and  there- 
fore accountable  for  the  trouble  that  it  occasioned  ;  and  as  it  wras  done 
in  accordance  with  his  views,  it  was  of  course  condemned  by  all  those 
who  had  denounced  him  as  promulgating  heretical  doctrines.il     Upon 

*  Under  date  11  Dec. ,  1633,  Winthrop  writes,  the  Church  on  that  day  are  almost  bare,  and  con- 

"  The  lectures  at  Boston  and  Newtown  returned  sequently,  in  winter,  extremely  cold.     Some  de- 

again    to   their    former   course,    because    the  sire  its  discontinuance ;   but,  while  others  are 

weather  was  many  times  so  tedious  as  people  attached  to  it  by  old  associations,  and  the  com- 

could  not  travel,  &c."  forts  and  facilities  of  brotherly  and  ministerial 

f  It  may  be  said  rather,  that  his  lectures  intercourse  which  it  affords,  it  is  not  likely  that 

were  renewed  on  his  arrival  here,  for  he  had  it  will  soon  be  given  up."     Vol.  xvi.  129. 

held  such  lectures  before  he  left  England.     See  '    §  I  have  never  heard  of  a  complete  collection 

Magnalia,  iii.  18.  —  At  the  end  of  two  centu-  of  these,  and  very  much  doubt  whether  one 

ries,  the  Rev.  Mr.  N.  L.  Frothingham  preached  could  be  easily  made.     Some  thirty,  only,  ex- 

a  sermon  which  he  entitled,  "  The  Shade  of  the  tending  over  just  one  hundred  years,  1714  to 

Past. — For  the  Celebration  of  the  Close  of  the  1814,  are  in  my  own  collection. 

Second  Century  since  the  Establishment  of  the  ||  Dr.  Bentley  asserts  that  Mr.  Endicott  had 

Thursday  Lecture ,-"    and  the  Rev.  Mr.  R.  0.  introduced  the  practice  before  the  arrival  of 

"Waterston,  on  the  14  Dec,  1843,  preached  "  A  Mr.  Williams,  and  that  the  latter  supported  it 

Discourse  in  the  First  Church  on  the  Occasion  more  to  gratify  Mr.  Endicott  and  Mr.  Skelton, 

of  Resuming  the  Thursday  Lecture.''''     See  Chr.  than  that  he  felt  any  interest  in  it  himself. 

Examiner,  March,  1834,  and  Jan.  1844.  But  this  does  not  agree  exactly  with  the  well- 

%  "  Of  late  years,"  says  the  Christian  Ex-  known  character  of  Roger  Williams,  as  we  un- 

aminer,  "attendance  on  the  Thursday  Lecture  derstand  it.     See  Knowles'  Life  Williams,  61. 

has  dwindled  down  almost,  as  it  were,  to  non-  ^f  His    cotemporary,   Capt.    Scottow,   says, 

attendance,  except  on  the  part  of  the  liberal  "  This  Child  of  Light  walked  in  darkness  about 

clergy  of  Boston  and  its  vicinity.     The  walls  of  forty  years,  yet  the  root  of  the  matter  abode 


168 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1634. 


ENDICOTT    CUTTING   OUT   THE   CROSS. 


this  Mr.  Hubbard  sarcastically  adds,  "  What  that  good  man  would  have 
done  with  the  Cross  upon  his  coin,  if  he  had  any  left,  that  bore  that  sign 
of  superstition,  is  uncertain."     Mr.  Endicott  cut  out  the  red  Cross  from. 

an  entire  conscientious  conviction,  that  it 
was  idolatrous  to  let  it  remain  ;  arguing, 
and  truly,  that  it  had  been  given  to  the 
King  of  England  by  the  Pope  ;  and  that 
it  was  a  relic  ,of  Antichrist.  Mr.  Richard 
Browne,  Ruling  Elder  of  the  church  of 
Watertown,  complained  of  the  act  to  the 
Court  of  Assistants,  as  a  high-handed  pro- 
ceeding, which  might  be  construed,  in 
England,  into  one  of  rebellion.  To  con- 
clude the  account  of  this  matter  by  antici- 
pating the  order  of  events,  it  may  be  briefly 
stated,  that  the  Court  issued  an  attachment 
against  Ensign  Richard  Davenport,  then  the 
ensign-bearer  of  Salem,  wrhose  Colors  had 
been  mutilated,  to  appear  at  the  next  Court. 
When  that  Court  came  together,  which  was  a  year  after  the  Cross  was 
cut  out,  "  Endicott  was  judged  to  be  guilty  of  a  great  offence  ;"  inas- 
much as  he  had,  "  with  rash  indiscretion,  and  by  his  sole  authority," 
committed  an  act,  "  thereby  giving  occasion  to  the  Court  of  England  to 
think  ill  of  them  ;"  that,  therefore,  "  he  was  worthy  of  admonition,  and 
should  be  disabled  from  bearing  any  public  office  for  one  year." 

This  affair  of  the  Cross  would  hardly  have  been  noticed,  probably,  but 
for  the  opportunity  it  afforded  the  people  of  Boston  to  punish  those  of 
Salem  for  their  adherence  to  Roger  Williams.  And  thus  early  is  seen 
that  spirit  of  dictation,  which  has  ever  since  been  conspicuous  in  this 
metropolis  ;  and  though  it  has,  in  a  measure,  made  it  what  it  is,  it  also 
shows,  that,  what  Boston  undertakes,  Boston  will  do. 

Meanwhile  it  probably  occurred  to  the  Authorities  that  they  might 
delay  further  proceeding  safely  for  the  present ;  inasmuch  as  the  same 
Authorities  "  being  doubtful  of  the  lawful  use  of  the  Cross  in  an  Ensign." 
However,  when  it  was  thought  the  time  had  arrived  in  which  some 
excuse  should  be  sent  over,  and  money  had  been  raised  to  build  a  fort, 
to  be  employed  in  case  excuses  failed,  the  Governor  and  Assistants  met 
N  and  agreed  to  write  to  Mr.  Downing,  their  friend  in  England, 

"  of  the  truth  of  the  matter,  under  all  their  hands,  that,  if  occa- 
sion were,  he  might  show  it  in  their  excuse  ;  for  therein  they  expressed 
their  dislike  of  the  thing,  and  their  purpose  to  punish  the  offenders, 
because  the  fact,  as  concerning  the  manner,  was  very  unlawful."  That 
Winthrop,  and  perhaps  Cotton,  wTere  willing  to  connive  at  the  depreda- 
tion on  St.  George's  Cross,  is  very  manifest  from  several  circumstances  ; 
only  one,  however,  will  be  mentioned.     Winthrop,  about  the  same  time, 

in  him  :  —  Thus  the  Lord  disposed  of  Satan's  A  Narrative  of  the  Planting  of  the  Mas.  Col., 
malice,  so  he  was  out-shot  in  his  own  bow." —    dfc,  p,  21. 


1634.]  FIRST    REPRESENTATIVES.  169 

offered  as  great  an  insult  to  the  King's  Calendar,  as  Endicott  had  to  his 
Colors;  by  utterly  rejecting  its  "heathenish  Roman  nomenclature;" 
without  even  an  apology  for  his  conduct.* 

Had  there  been  no  fear  of  a  Royal  Governor,  little  would  probably 
have  been  heard  about  a  mutilation  of  the  Colors.  For  not  above  two 
months  after  this,  "  all  the  Ministers  except  Mr.  Ward,  of  Ipswich,  met 
at  Boston,  being  requested  by  the  Governor  and  Assistants,"  to  consider 
what  they  should  do,  if  a  General  Governor  should  be  sent  over  ?  Also 
whether  it  was  lawful  to  carry  the  Cross  in  their  Banners  ?  It  was  de- 
cided that  they  ought  not  to  accept  a  General  Governor ;  and,  as  to 
wearing  Crosses  in  their  Banners,  they  were  divided,  and  were  obliged 
to  defer  the  matter  to  another  meeting.  At  that  meeting,  which  was  in 
the  following  March,  "  Mr.  Endicott  being  called  to  answer,"  the  Court 
agreed  no  better  than  before  ;  only  it  was  agreed  that  for  the  present 
no  Colors  at  all  should  be  used. 

Why  the  following  order  was  made  does  not  fully  appear ;  it 
was,  that  an  oath  should  be  administered  "  to  all  house-keepers 
and  sojourners,  being  twenty  years  of  age  and  not  freemen,  and  for 
making  a  survey  of  the  houses  and  lands  of  all  freemen." 

Up  to  this  time  all  the  Freemen  in  the  Province  had  been,  or  had  the 
privilege  of  being,  present  at  the  General  Courts,  and  of  participating 
in  making  the  laws  by  which  they  were  to  be  governed.  They  had  now 
become  so  numerous,  that  the  attendance  of  all  was  quite  impracticable. 
This  state  of  things,  however,  was  not  contemplated  in  their  Charter, 
but  the  propriety  of  having  a  less  numerous  body  to  transact  the  general 
business  of  the  Commonwealth  could  not  reasonably  be  questioned  ; 
though,  according  to  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  measure  occasioned  considerable 
disturbance,  which,  by  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  "  some  private 
gentlemen,  the  trouble  was  prevented."  Perhaps  Mr.  Winthrop's 
agency  to  bring  about  the  proposed  change  may  have  been  a  reason  that 
he  was  left  out  of  the  government,  as  he  was.  It  was,  however,  agreed 
by  concert  beforehand,  that  two  deputies  from  each  town  should  "meet 
and  consider  of  such  matters  as  they  were  to  take  order  in  at  the"  next 
General  Court. 

Mr.  Hubbard's  plausible  pretext  for  Mr.  Winthrop's  being 
ay  '  dropped,  is  thus  expressed  : — "  The  Freemen,  that  they  might 
not  always  burthen  one  person  with  the  yoke  of  the  government,  nor 
suffer  their  love  to  overflow  in  one  family,  turned  their  respects  into 
another  channel ;"  and  so  elected  Mr.  Dudley  Governor,  and  Mr.  Roger 
Ludlow  Deputy  Governor.  Mr.  Haynes  was  chosen  one  of  the  Assist- 
ants, and  Mr.  Coddington  Treasurer.  At  this  Court  it  was  determined 
that  there  should  be  four  General  Courts  yearly,  and  that  it  should  be 

*  Winthrop's  Editor  takes  rather  a  strange  time,  of  the  absurdity  of  following  "  Romish 

view  of  this  act.     He  says  it  "  arose  from  a  Superstitions,"  is   a  very  natural  conclusion, 

weak  scruple,"  &c.     He  might  as  well  have  That  their  opinions  gained  strength  in  a  free 

argued    that    the   Reformation   was    founded  wilderness,  faster  than  they  would  have  done 

upon  "a  weak   scruple."     That  -the   convic-  under  the  restraints  of  arbitrary  and  sanguin- 

tions   of   our   fathers   were    strengthened   by  ary  laws,  is  quite  natural  also. 

22 


170  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1634. 

lawful  for  the  Freemen  of  each  Plantation  to  choose  two  or  three  before 
every  General  Court  to  confer  of,  and  to  prepare,  such  business  for,  the 
next  Court  as  they  judged  necessary  to  be  acted  upon ;  and  that 
persons  so  selected  by  the  Freemen  should  be  fully  empowered  to  act 
in  the  General  Court  for  all  the  Freemen  of  the  Commonwealth,  in 
making  laws,  granting  lands,  in  short,  everything,  excepting  the  elec- 
tion of  Magistrates  and  other  officers.  Other  reasons  were  given  why 
the  people  should  legislate  by  their  representatives,  instead  of  a  general 
attendance  of  the  whole.  By  such  general  attendance  they  were  sub- 
jected to  a  great  loss  of  time  ;  *  and,  all  the  men  being  drawn  from  the 
border  settlements,  would  leave  them  exposed  to  attack  by  the  Indians. 

The  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  its  vicinity  had  unprecedentedly  in- 
creased since  the  emigration  of  1630  ;  "  near  twenty  considerable  ships 
every  year,  since  the  second,"  had  arrived,  "  with  such  a  number  of 
passengers,  that  the  inhabitants  were  forced  to  look  out  for  new  places 
of  settlement,  so  that,  in  these  four  years,  "  every  desirable  place  fit 
for  plantation  on  the  sea-coast  was  taken  up."  The  places  so  occupied 
and  named  are  recorded  in  this  order  by  the  early  historian,  Mr.  Hub- 
bard :  —  Salem,  Charlestown,  Boston,  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  Water- 
town,  Newtown,  Lynn,  Ipswich,  Newbury,  Hingham,  Weymouth, 
"  and,  last  of  all,  Concord,  about  twelve  miles  westward  from  Water- 
town,  right  up  into  the  woods."  f 

At  the  late  Election  Mr.  Cotton  preached  a  sermon,  J  and  the  practice 
was  continued  in  succeeding  years.  They  soon  became  as  necessary  a 
part  of  Election  Day  as  any  other  of  its  ceremonies  ;  and  this  was  the 
first  of  the  series  of  Election  Sermons  which,  with  few  exceptions,  has 
been  kept  up  to  this  day.  Whether  there  would  have  been  a  sermon 
by  Mr.  Cotton  at  this  time,  but  for  his  wish  to  make  known  to  the 
Freemen  his  disapprobation  for  their  turning  out  the  old  officers,  is  not 
certain  ;  but  certain  it  is,  he  protested  in  strong  terms  "  that  a  Magis- 
trate ought  not  to  be  turned  into  the  condition  of  a  private  man  with- 
out just  cause  ;"  forgetting,  in  his  warmth,  that  the  Freemen  were  the 

*  The  election  this  year  occupied  three  days.     Mr.  [William]  GoodwinO    Mr.  [John]  Talcott") 
—  Winthrop,i.  132.    The  principal  officers  of  the     Mr.  [William]  SpencerO     Mr.  [Robert]  FeakesW 

Government  residing  at  Newtown,  that  town  ^r-  FF^^I™^  ¥/'  [GeorS^  A1«ock^ 

u       ™    j.u  i     ffi  I       t>   4.  xu-  Mr.  [John]  Oldham  ('■O  Mr.  Israel  Stough ton  (6> 

now  became  the  seat  of  Government      But  this  Mr-  [ThomJas]  Beecher<3>  William  Felpes^> 

Election   was    held   in  Mr.   Cotton  s  meeting-  Mr.  [Abraham]  Palmer £>  George  HulKs> 

house  in  Boston.  —  Snow.  Robert  Moulton<3>  Capt.  [Nath'l.]  Turner'7) 

f  Hist.  ofNewEng.,  158.    Two  of  the  towns  Mr.  [John]  CoxealK*)  Mr.  [Thomas]  Willis'7) 

here    named    were    not    settled,    however,    till  Edmund  QuinseyC)  Mr.  [Edward]  Tomlins'7) 

about  a  year  later,  yet  there  would  be  enough  Capt.  John  UnderhillW  Mr.  [John]  Holgrave® 

without  them  to  substantiate  the  test  of  Win-  ™}°  Joh£swj'l          *Jn  £Roge.r]  °onf nt!8! 
,,         ,     r            i  ■    -ino              i      il   xi.       t-w  William  Heath'3)           Mr.  Francis  Weston'8' 
throp  s  Journal,  1.  12o,  namely,  that  two  Depu- 
ties from  each  town  attended  the  General  Court  Tnus  Agawam,  Hingham,  Weymouth,  Med- 
of  14  May,  of  this  year  (1634),  though  his  ford,  Marblehead,   &c,  do  not  appear  to   be 
Commentator  thinks   that  his  Author  should  represented.     But   the  Record  does  not  state 
have  written  three,  and   not  two,  from  each  what  towns  were  represented, 
town ;  because  he  is  of  opinion  that  but  eight  X  I  have  been  led  to  suppose  that  this  ser- 
towns  sent  Deputies ;  the  names  of  whom  he  mon  was  preached  after  the  Election,  and  not 
has  given  as  follows  from  the  Colony  Records,  before  it,  as  some  have  unhesitatingly  stated, 
and  I  have  added  the  parts  in  brackets.     A  (l)  Cambridge.                       (5)  Roxbury. 
membership  in  the  General  Court  did  not  then  @  Watertown.                       (6)  Dorchester. 

„,.„f„     xu     f-xi        mi  (3)  Charlestown.  (7)  Lynn  (Saugus.) 

Confer  the  title  of  Mr.  (4)  Boston.  (8)  Salem. 


1634.]  JOHN    IIUMFREY.  171 

judges  of  what  might  constitute  "  a  just  cause,"  and  that  rulers  might 
be  changed  for  very  good  reasons,  without  any  imputation  upon  their 
integrity  or  ability  to  perform  their  office.* 

During  the  month  of  June  this  year  there  arrived  at  Boston  "  four- 
teen great  ships,  and  one  at  Salem."  Among  the  gentlemen  of  special 
j  note  who  now  arrived  was  John  Humfrey,  Esquire,  of  whom 
mention  has  before  been  made.f  He  was  the  first  Deputy- 
Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Company,  and  was  hindered  from 
coming  over  in  1630  by  the  situation  of  his  private  affairs.  This 
hindrance  proved  a  fortunate  thing  for  Boston  ;  for,  being  a  gentleman 
of  high  standing  at  home,  he  had  great  weight  in  counteracting  the 
evil  designs  of  the  enemies  of  the  Colony.  His  wife  came  with  him  ; 
another  proof  of  woman's  fortitude  and  voluntary  sufferings  in  a 
"  forlorn  wilderness,"  to  encourage  and  uphold  the  pioneers  of  a  vast 
undertaking  for  the  good  of  posterity.  Her  sacrifices  must  have  been 
greater  than  most  others.  She  came  out  of  the  protection  of  an  Earl- 
dom to  accompany  her  husband  here,  with  the  full  knowledge  that  the 
same  undertaking  had  cost  the  life  of  the  Lady  Arabella  Johnson,  her 
sister,  |  whom  she  did  not  expect  to  be  a  partaker  of  her  privations,  or 
a  companion  in  her  solitude.  Mr.  Humfrey  had  a  large  grant  of  land 
at  Lynn,  and  there  he  settled  soon  after  his  arrival.  At  the  end  of 
about  seven  years'  residence  in  the  country,  he  returned  with  his  wife 
to  England. 

Through  Mr.  Humfrey's  influence,  Boston  received  essential  aid  by 
contributions  in  money  and  other  substantial  gifts.  One  gentleman, 
Mr.  Richard  Andrews, §  of  London,  gave  sixteen  heifers,  one  of  which  he 
directed  to  be  given  to  each  of  the  ministers,  and  the  rest  to  the  poor. 
He  afterwards  made  other  donations.  Mr.  Humfrey  brought  ordnance, 
muskets,  and  powder,  for  the  Colony,  "  bought  for  the  public  by 
moneys  given  to  that  end."  Mr.  Humfrey  brought,  also,  propositions 
from  many  of  the  Nobility  to  become  settlers  in  New  England.  These 
"propositions"  amounted  to  questions  of  inquiry  touching  religious 
privileges. 

Some  of  the  ships  lost  many  cattle  ;  but  of  two  that  came  from 
Ipswich,  with  above  one  hundred  and  twenty  head,  seven  only  were 
lost.  At  the  same  time,  one  ship  only  lost  passengers.  This  was  the 
Elizabeth  Dorcas ;  which  being  "  very  ill  victualled,  and  being  hurt 
upon  a  rock  at  Scilly,"  which  was  the  occasion  of  a  long  passage  to 

*  Curious  and  interesting  statistics  about  melancholy   picture  of  the   situation  of  the 

election  sermons  may  be  found  appended  to  Lady  Susan   at   Lynn,  in  his  history  of  that 

that  of  1849,  by  Dr.  John  Pierce  of  Brookline,  ancient  town.     See  p.  115-16,  where  will  be 

which  he  preached  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age,  found  some  account  of  the  family, 

and  which  was  among  the  last  of  the  services  §  There  was  a  Thomas  Andrews,  an  Alder- 

of  a  long  life.     He  died  the  same  year.  man  of  London,  who,  in  1648,  was  appointed 

f  See  ante,  p.  52.     In  some  early  copies  of  one  of  the  Judges   at   the   trial  of  Charles, 

that  part  of  this  work,  1632  was  printed  as  Richard   Andrews   may   also   have    been    an 

the  date  of  Mr.  Humfrey's  arrival,  which  is  alderman.     Thomas  was  Lord  Mayor  in  1651, 

an  error.  not  1551,  as  printed  in  Mr.  Young's  collection 

%  Mr.  Lewis  has  drawn  a  beautiful  though  of  early  matters  about  Massachusetts. 


172  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1634. 

her,  and  one  of  extreme  sufferings  to  the  passengers,  "  whereof  sixty- 
perished  at  sea !  " 

The  people  of  Boston  were  a  good  deal  alarmed,  about  this  time,  from 
certain  information,  which  they  received  from  England,  of  movements 
prejudicial  to  their  liberties.  It  appeared  that  a  growing  jealousy  of 
the  importance  of  the  settlements  had  influenced  "  the  Archbishops  and 
others  of  the  Council"  to  attempt  to  put  a  stop  to  emigration,  and 
actually  sent  out  warrants  to  stay  the  ships  then  ready  to  sail.  They 
also  commanded  Mr.  Cradock  *  to  surrender  the  Patent,  he  being,  or 
having  been,  the  only  legal  Governor  of  the  Massachusetts'  Company. 
Mr.  Cradock  accordingly  wrote  to  the  Government  here  to  send  home 
the  Charter.  Meantime,  the  masters  of  the  embargoed  ships  in  the 
Thames,  by  good  and  prudent  management,  succeeded  in  being  allowed 
to  proceed  on  their  voyage,  for  that  time.  And  thus  came  Mr.  Cradock's 
order  for  the  return  of  the  Charter,  which  was  accompanied  by  a  copy 
of  the  Council's  Order  f  to  him.  This  was  a  matter  for  serious  con- 
sideration, and  much  of  anxiety  must  have  shown  itself  in  the  counte- 
nances of  the  Fathers  of  Boston.  But  as  in  other  cases,  so  in  this,  they 
displayed  the  most  consummate  wisdom.  It  was  in  their  power  to  pro- 
crastinate ;  they  exercised  that  power,  and  thus  is  opened  a  portion  of 
the  sequel  to  what  has  already  been  premised.^  Governor  Dudley  and 
his  Council,  "  upon  long  consultation,"  first,  whether  they  should 
return  any  answer  to  Mr.  Cradock  at  all,  and,  secondly,  if  any,  what  it 
should  be,  finally  agreed  to  write  him,  stating  that  they  could  not  act 
in  the  matter  without  the  authority  of  the  General  Court,  and  that 
there  would  be  no  General  Court  till  next  September.  Thus,  how 
much  is  due  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Authorities,  and  how  much  to  the 
safety  which  three  thousand  miles  of  ocean  afforded,  may  pretty  satis- 
factorily be  settled  in  the  minds  of  all  such  as  give  the  subject  their 
attention. 

About  the  same  time,  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  a  great  friend  of  New 
England,  wrote  an  encouraging  letter  to  Mr.  Winthrop,  in  which  he 
congratulated  him  on  the  prosperity  of  the  settlement,  and  offered  his 
services  for  its  advancement.  § 

Jul  29  What  the  preliminary  steps  had  been  for  erecting  a  fort  on 
Castle  Island  does  not  appear ;  but  now  Governor  Dudley  and 
his  Council  repair  to  that  island,  with  "  divers  Ministers  and  others," 
and  there  agreed  upon  erecting  two  platforms  and  one  small  forti- 
fication, and  the  Deputy-Governor,  Mr.  Ludlow,  was  appointed  to 
oversee  the  work. 

*  He  was  member  of  Parliament  for  London,  J  See  ante,  p.  64. 

1640,  and  died  the  same  year.  —  See  Parlia-  §  Several  of  the  Puritan  fathers' books,  ded- 

mentary  His.  of  Eng.,  ix.  *32.     There  was  a  icated  to  this  Earl,  are  in  possession  of  the 

Matthew  Cradock,  member  of  Parliament  from  writer.  He  died  19  April,  1658,  ae.  71,  and  was 

Stafford,  in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary,  and  buried  in  Folstead  church,  Essex.     "  He  was 

was  one  of  the  members  who  "  left  it  in  dis-  not  content  with  hearing  the  long  sermons  of 

gust."     There  served  in  the  same  Parliament  the  Puritan  divines,  but   he  would  have  them 

of  1640,  with  our  Matthew  Cradock,  "  Samuel  repeated  at  his  own  house."  —  Calamy,  Fun. 

vassell."  Ser.    in    Granger.     His   residence   is   said   to 

f  To  be  seen  in  Hubbard's  Hist,   of  New  have  been  the  finest  in  England. 
England,  153. 


1G34.]  FIRST   BOOK    OF    RECORDS.  173 

The  time  having  arrived  for  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court, 
it  accordingly  assembled  at  Newtown.  It  held  a  long  and 
excited  session  ;  many  subjects  came  up  of  great  moment,  among 
which  a  removal  to  Connecticut  of  an  important  part  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Bay  was  one.  This  and  other  questions  occupied  the  Court  for 
a  week,  and  then  an  adjournment  for  fourteen  days  was  moved  and 
carried.  How  much  of  the  time  of  the  Court  was  taken  up  in  dis- 
cussing the  evils  arising  from  the  use  of  tobacco,  "  costly  apparel,  and 
immodest  fashions,"  does  not  appear  ;  but  "  pains  and  penalties  "  were 
prescribed  for  the  special  benefit  of  all  such  as  presumed  to  indulge  in 
them  beyond  specific  bounds. 

g  ,  The  first  book  of  the  Records  of  Boston  begins  here  ;  that  is 
to  say,  what  there  is  left  of  it,  for  the  number  of  leaves  torn  off 
and  lost  is  not  known,  nor  when  they  .were  torn  off  and  lost.  The  first 
entries  now  in  being  are  in  the  autograph  of  Governor  Winthrop.* 
It  is  probable  that  the  first  portion  of  the  Records  was  occupied  chiefly 
in  the  distribution  and  allotments  of  the  lands  of  the  peninsula,']'  and  it 
may  be  that  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  residents  was  contained  in  the 
opening  pages  ;  but  speculations  of  this  nature  are  of  small  account. 
It  is  sufficient  to  state,  that  what  now  remains  appears  to  be  an  entire 
book,  |  the  first  entry  beginning  at  the  top  of  the  page,  and  is  in  these 
words  :  — 

"  Whereas  it  hath  been  founde  that  muche  damage  hath  allreadye 
happnd  by  laynge  of  stones  and  loges  neere  the  bridge  and  landinge 
place,  whereby  diverst  boats  have  been  much  brusd  ;  for  prvention  of 
such  harmes  for  tyme  to  come,  it  is  ordered  that  whosoever  shall  vnlade 
any  stones,  lumber,  or  logges,  where  the  same  may  not  be  plainely 
seene  at  highe  water,  shall  sett  vp  a  pole  or  beacon  to  give  notice 
thereof,  upon  paine  that  whosoever  shall  faile  so  to  doe  shall  make  full 
recompence  for  all  such  damage  as  shall  happen :  being  only  declarative 
of  ye  com.  lawe  herein."  § 

Against  the  above  first  paragraph  in  the  Records  are  set  in  the 
margin  the  names  of  those  persons  who  had  the  direction  of  the  affairs 
of  the  town  for  the  year,  but  how  they  were  appointed  does  not  appear. 
It  will  be  seen  in  process  of  time,  however,  that  similar  officers  received 
the  name  of  Select  Men.  The  following  names,  occupying  the  left- 
hand  margin  of  the  original  Record,  are  presumed  to  have  been  present 

*  The  first  two  paragraphs  are  written  with  ularly  through   the  book    (from  1  to  161)  it 

blue  ink,  which  is  yet  bright.  appears  to  be  complete.     The  accompanying 

f  It  is  Mr.  Quincy's  opinion,  that  "  the  as-  fac  simile  has  been  prepared  at  great  cost,  and 

signment  of  house-lots  within  the  peninsula,  is  a  faithful  representation  of  half  of  the  first 

and  the  allotting   farms   to  succeeding   emi-  page  of  the  first  volume. 

grants,  formed  the  chief  business  of  the  town  §  Upon  this  last  sentence  Mr.  Quincy  re- 
authorities  for  nearly  half  a  century."  —  Mu-  marks,  "  The  persons  passing  this  order,  how- 
nicipal  Hist,  of  Boston,  p.  2.  That  was,  very  ever,  seem  to  have  been  under  some  appre- 
probably,  one  of  their  chief  concerns  ;  but  hension  lest  their  authority  might  be  ques- 
they  had  several  others  which  they  thought  of  tioned."  —  Municipal  History ,  p.  3.  And  well 
equal,  if  not  of  greater,  moment.  they  might,  for  it  will  be  remembered  that, 

J.  It  contains  161  pages,  on  foolscap  paper,  not  many  days  before,  their  Charter  had  been 

The  paging  and  indexing  was  a  comparatively  demanded.     That  the  future  looked  very  crit- 

modern  labor,  and  from  the  pages  running  reg-  ica|  to  them  is  pretty  certain. 


174 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1634. 


when  it  was  made ;  namely,  John  Winthrop,  William  Coddington, 
Capt.  John  Underhill,  Thomas  Oliver,  Thomas  Leverett,  Giles 
Firmin,  John  Coggeshall,  William  Peirce,  Robert  Hardinge,  and 
William  Brenton.*     The  Record  proceeds  :  — 

"It  is  also  ordered,  that  no  person  shall  leave  any  fish  or  garbage 
neare  the  said  bridge  or  common  landing-place,  between  the  creeks, 
whereby  any  annoyance  may  come  to  the  people  that  passe  that  way, 
vpon  payne  to  forfeit  for  every  such  offence  five  shillings,  the  same  to 
be  levied  by  distress  of  the  goodes  of  the  offender.  And  for  the  better 
execution  of  these  orders,  the  aforesaid  Giles  Firmin  is  appointed  over- 
seer of  said  landing-place,  to  give  notice  to  suche  strangers  and  others 
as  come  hither  with  boats,  and  to  take  knowledge  of  all  offences  com- 
mitted, and  to  levye  the  penalties  which  shall  be  forfeited.  And  if, 
after  notice  shall  be  given  by  the  said  overseer  to  any  person  that  shall 
have  any  timber,  logges,  or  stones,  being  without  such  pole  or  beacon, 
the  said  offender  shall  (after  making  recompence  to  the  person  damni- 
fied, if  any  damage  happen)  forfeit  to  the  towne,  for  every  daye  the 
same  offence  shall  continue,  five  shillings,  to  be  levied  by  distresse."  f 
These  extracts  are  supposed  J  to  establish  the  fact,  that  a  narrow 
point  or  tongue  of  land  projected  into  the  harbor  between  Mill  Creek 
and  the  Town  Dock,  and  that  upon  and  around  this  the  principal 
business  of  Boston  was  at  first  done.     The  Triangular  Warehouse,  till 

1824  an  object  of  antiquarian 
curiosity,  was  built  upon  this 
point,  though  not  until  about  sixty 
years  after  the  period  now  treated 
of.  It  being  thus  introduced,  it 
may  not  be  improper  in  this  con- 
nection to  give  an  account  of  it. 
For  many  years  before  the  Tri- 
%  angular  Warehouse  was  demol- 
ished it  was  an  object  of  much  in- 
terest, as  a  relic  of  ancient  times, 
and  as  representing  the  style  of 


THE   TRIANGULAR   WAREHOUSE. 


*  There  is  one  name  in  the  MS.  not  entirely 
written  out.  This  was  crossed  out  apparently 
at  the  time  it  was  written.  I  presume  it  was 
intended  for  Edmund  Quincy.  This  person, 
whoever  he  was,  may  have  been  appointed 
one  of  the  Town  Officers,  but  not  accepting 
the  office,  or  otherwise  prevented  from  being 
present.  "  Edmond  Quinsey "  was,  at  this 
time,  an  inhabitant  of  Boston,  had  been  ad- 
mitted a  freeman  4  March,  1634. 

f  Nothing  of  a  municipal  character  would 
be  more  natural,  in  a  community  associated 
for  mutual  benefit,  than  the  choice  or  appoint- 
ment of  a  few  of  their  number  to  manage  the 
general  concerns  of  the  whole.  The  missing 
portion  of  our  Records  would  probably  show 
this  to  have  been  among  the  first  proceedings 


of  the  town.  The  name  select  men,  which 
they  eventually  received,  was  easily,  naturally, 
and  almost  necessarily,  acquired ;  for  men 
selected  for  any  specific  object  were  select  men. 
The  number  of  these  select  men  may  have  varied 
from  time  to  time  before  the  time  reached  by 
the  Records.  There  was  a  Town  Meeting  on 
the  8th  of  the  6th  month,  at  which  were 
chosen  Richard  Bellingham,  Esq.,  J.  Cogan, 
merchant,  in  place  of  Giles  Firmin,  deceased, 
and  Robert  Harding,  now  in  Virginia,  to  make 
up  the  ten  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  town." 
Such  officers  first  received  the  name  Select 
Men  in  the  Records  in  1642. 

X  See  Shaw's  Topog.  and  Hist.  Descript.of 
Boston,  73.  Mr.  Shaw  is  pretty  good  author- 
ity for  facts  of  this  nature,  generally. 


1G34.]  WILLIAM   HUTCHINSON.  175 

architecture  in  an  early  period  of  the  history  of  Boston.  The  researches 
which  have  been  made  into  its  antiquities  have  not  furnished  data  to 
establish  the  exact  time  of  its  foundation,  but  Mr.  Shaw  says  it  was 
"about  the  year  1700."  In  a  "ledger-book"  of  the  owners,  that 
writer  found  some  items  *  relative  to  the  subject,  but  nothing  concerning 
its  time  of  building  ;  though  he  says  it  was  built  by  London  merchants 
for  a  warehouse,  and  was  subsequently  improved  for  different  purposes, 
both  public  and  private.  It  stood  opposite  the  Swing  Bridge,  so  well 
known  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  at  the  head  of  the  Town  Dock,  and 
measured  forty-eight  feet  upon  it ;  on  Roebuck  passage  it  measured 
forty-one  feet,  and  on  the  back  side  fifty-five  feet.  Its  foundation  was 
of  stone,  and  its  walls  of  brick.  These  were  of  a  larger  size  than  the 
bricks  of  the  country  in  later  times.  Its  roof  was  slated.  "  There 
were  two  principal  stories,  with  a  good  cellar  underneath.  The  lower 
story  appeared  to  have  been  arched,  with  very  many  doors  and  windows. 
On  each  corner  and  in  the  centre  of  the  roof  there  was  a  tower,  topped 
with  a  ball.  The  centre  ball  was  of  wood,  the  others  of  stone  ;  all 
fixed  on  iron  spires,  set  in  lead."  f  There  was  a  period  in  its  history 
when  it  was  the  central  point  of  the  heaviest  business  done  in  the 
town,  and  here,  for  a  long  time,  the  public  scales  were  kept.  But, 
like  every  other  structure  of  human  art,  it  was  doomed  to  sink  into 
insignificance,  as  Time's  heavy  hand  continued  its  pressure  upon  it  ; 
until  its  great  agent,  Improvement,  came  to  its  relief,  and  saved  it 
from  the  mortification  of  crumbling  to  dust  with  the  weight  of  years. 
g  8  In  the  midst  of  the  stirring  affairs  which  occupied  the  General 
Court  now  in  session,  there  came  in  the  ship  Griffin,  with 
about  two  hundred  passengers,  and  one  hundred  cattle.  Among  the 
passengers  were  Mr.  John  Lathrop,  Mr.  Zachariah  Synmes,  and  Mr. 
William  Hutchinson.  Of  the  trials  and  misfortunes  of  the  latter  gentle- 
man notice  will  be  taken  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence.  His  wife 
and  several  children  came  with  him.  He  resided  in  Boston  until  the 
Antinomian  controversy  compelled  him  to  remove  to  Rhode  Island, 
over  which  colony  he  was  the  first  Governor.  Alford,  in  Lincolnshire, 
about  twenty  miles  from  Boston,  was  the  place  whence  this  family 
emigrated.  Ann  Hutchinson,  who  gave  rise  to  the  "  Antinomians  and 
Famalists  "  in  New  England,  was  the  wife  of  this  William  Hutchinson. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Marbury,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Edward  Marbury,J 
"  a  godly  minister  of  Lincolnshire,"  and  also  of  London.  These  were 
the  ancestors  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  Governors  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Governor  Thomas  Hutchinson.  Mary,  the  sister  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hutchinson,  married  Mr.  John  Wheelwright,  also  involved  in  the 
Antinomian  troubles.     Susannah,  the  mother  of  Mr.  William  Hutchin- 

*  "1714.   To  Cash   for  ground  rent  two        f  "  It  was  constructed  with  great  strength, 

years,  £2  4s.  — To  Benjamin  Hallowell,  lis.  and  the  foundation  stood  upon  a  sandy  marsh, 

%d.  —  To  Cash  for  a  ladder,  17s.  —  Paid  Mr.  beneath  which  there  is  found  a  solid  blue  clay, 

Manly  for  repairing  the  tiles  and  slates.  —  at  about  thirteen  feet  below  the  level  of  Ann 

Cash  for  extraordinary  charges  when  the  cellar  Street."  —  Snow.  {  See  Rise,  Reign  and 

was  overflowed,  15s." — Descript.  of  Boston,1Z.  Ruin  of  the  Antinomians,  &c,  p.  33. 


176  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1634. 

son,  probably  came  with  him  to  Boston.  The  fame  of  Cotton,  no 
doubt,  had  induced  them  to  follow  his  fortunes  into  "  these  goings 
down  of  the  sun." 

Among  the  acts  of  the  General  Court,  six  hundred  pounds  was 
ordered  to  be  raised  "  towards  fortifications  and  other  charges  ;  which 
were  the  more  hastened,"  says  Winthrop,  because,  by  one  of  the  ships 
just  arrived,  there  came  over  a  copy  of  the  commission  for  taking  away 
their  Patent.*  Thus  this  act  can  only  be  construed  as  intended  to 
resist  the  power  of  England.     To  return  to  the  Records  of  the  Town  : 

"  At  a  generall  meeting  vpon  publick  notice.  Imp8.  It  was 
ordered  that  Mr.  Willson,  the  Pastor  (in  lieu  of  his  land  granted 
him  at  the  North  river,  by  Mestick,  wch  he  should  passe  ouer  to  the 
towne  of  Boston),  should  have  so  much  land  at  Mount  Wooleston  at  his 
election.  And  after  so  much  as  shall  be  his  portion  of  other  lands 
belonging  to  the  towne,  to  be  laid  him  out  so  neere  his  other  lands  at 
Mount  Wooleston  as  may  be  for  his  most  conveniency."  f 

At  a  meeting  eight  days  after,  |  "  vpon  publique  "  notice,  it 
was  agreed  that  "  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Coddington,  Mr.  Belling- 
ham,  §  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Ollyver,  Mr.  Colborne,  and  William  Balstone, 
shall  have  power  to  divide  and  dispose  of  all  such  lands  belonging  to  ye 
towne  (as  are  not  yet  in  ye  lawfull  possession  of  any  pticular  prsons)  to 
the  inhabitants  of  ye  towne,  according  to  ye  orders  of  Court ;  leaving 
such  portions  in  comon  for  ye  vse  of  newe  comers,  and  ye  further 
benefitt  of  ye  towne,  as  in  theire  best  discretions  they  shall  thinke  fitt ; 
the  Hands  hyred  by  ye  towne  to  be  also  included  in  this  order." 

The  project  of  a  removal  to  Connecticut  of  many  distinguished 
settlers  in  and  about  Boston,  caused  great  agitation  in  the  town  and 

*  See  ante,  p.  172.  doings  of  which  comprise  the  next  entry  on 

f  It  was  judged  proper  to  introduce  a  few  the  records,  namely,  Dec.  18th.     The  choice 

of  the  early  entries  from  the  Records,  exactly  made  the  previous  lecture  day  is  not  recorded, 

as   they  are   recorded,   that   the   reader  may  except  by  Winthrop  in  his  Journal, 

have  a  just  understanding  of  the  manner  in  §  Some  very  interesting  original  letters,  by 

which  the  early  public  business  of  Boston  was  a  relative  in  England,  are  published  in  the 

transacted.  New  England  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.  for  April, 

J  Winthrop,  in  his  Journal,  i.  151,  speaks  1853.     His  name  is  prominent  in  our  history 

of  a  Town  Meeting  on  the  11  Dec,  "  to  choose  for  a  long  period,  and  though  the   Quakers 

seven  men  who  should  divide  the  town  lands  handle  his  name  without  ceremony,  if  not  with- 

among   them."     From    the   same   source   we  out  mercy,  and  while  it   must  be  confessed 

learn   that   the    seven   men   were   chosen   by  they  had   reason  to  do  so,  yet  he  was   not 

written  ballots;  or,  to   use   his  words,   "by  without    eminent   virtues.      A   town    in   the 

papers."     At  this  meeting  they  left  out  Win-  State  perpetuates  his  name.     A  Henry  Belyng- 

throp,  Coddington,  "and  other  of  the  chief  ham   was   Proctor   of  New  College,   Oxford, 

men  ;  only  they  chose  one  of  the  Elders  and  a  1598.  —  Gulch's  Apx.  to  Wood.     A  Sir  Henry 

Deacon,  and   the  rest  of  the  inferior  sort."  Bellingham   was   High   Sheriff  of  Yorkshire, 

(But  the  names  of  the  "  inferior  sort  "  are  not  1596.     He    married   a    daughter   of   Francis 

given.)     This  they  did,  "  as  fearing  that  the  Boynton  (a  family  traceable  to  Bartholomew 

richer   men  would   give    the   poorer   sort   no  de  Bovington,  living  at  the  beginning  of  the 

great   proportions  of  land,  but  would  rather  12th  century).     Our  Richard  was,  no  doubt, 

leave  a  great  part  at  liberty  for  new  comers  of  the  Yorkshire  Bellinghams.     Much  of  in- 

and  for  common,  which  Mr.  Winthrop  had  oft  terest  may  be  found  concerning  branches  of 

persuaded  them  unto,  as  best  for  the  town."  the  Bellinghams  in  Fuller's  Worthies  and  Nich- 

— Ibid.,  151-2.      However,  Mr.  Cotton   inter-  ols'  Progresses.     Gov.  Bellingham  died  7  Dec, 

fered,  and  influenced  the  people  to  reconsider  1672,  in  his  81st  year.    He  was  the  last  of  the 

their  election  of  the  11th,  and  to  hold  another  Patentees.  —  Int.-leaved  AVck  of  Judge  Sewall, 

on  the  next  lecture  day,  which  they  did,  the  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Frederic  Kidder. 


1G34.]  REMOVAL   TO    CONNECTICUT.  177 

vicinity.  It  was  a  subject  of  legislation,  and  was  debated  with  much 
earnestness  in  the  session  of  September,  and  also  at  the  adjourned 
meeting,  fourteen  days  later.  The  chief  argument  against  a  removal 
was,  of  course,  made  by  those  in  authority  residing  in  Boston  and  its 
immediate  neighborhood.  They  very  reasonably  argued  that,  without 
a  division,  they  were  weak,  and  exposed  to  invasion  ;  from  the  French 
by  sea,  and  the  Indians  by  land.  But  Mr.  Hooker,  as  head  of  the 
Church  at  Newtown,  urged  their  straitened  circumstances  for  want  of 
land.  They  had  had  from  Captain  Oldham  and  others  glowing  accounts 
of  beautiful  meadows  along  the  Connecticut,  and  this  was  an  important 
consideration,  as  they  had  many  cattle  to  be  provided  for  in  an  ap- 
proaching winter  ;  and  while  nothing  is  said  about  the  meadows  here- 
about having  been  taken  up  and  appropriated  before  their  arrival ;  that 
Boston  had  already  or  might  soon  exercise  an  undue  influence  over  the 
adjacent  towns  ;  that  the  offices  had  begun  to  be  pretty  sharply  con- 
tested ;  that  so  many  men  of  acknowledged  ability  and  capacity,  in  one 
small  community,  afforded  but  a  distant  prospect  of  a  just  appreciation 
of  them  all,  and  hence  the  prospect  of  their  being  called  into  exercise 
being  small  and  remote  ;  —  that  all  these  considerations  were  taken 
into  account  may  be  more  than  probable.*  However,  those  who  ad- 
vocated a  removal  were  bound  to  abide  the  decision  of  the  General 
Court.  They  did  abide  it ;  and  when  the  day  came  to  take  the 
question,  they  got  a  majority  of  votes  for  removal.f  From  the  time 
of  this  decision  until  October  of  the  next  year,  preparations  went 
steadily  on  for  a  removal ;  and,  though  no  doubt  some  went  in  the 
mean  time,  it  was  not  till  the  twentieth  of  October,  1635,  that  the 
main  body  of  the  settlers,  consisting  of  "  about  sixty  men,  J  women, 
and  children,  with  their  horses,  cattle,  and  swine,"  set  off,  like  the 
ancient  Israelites,  for  their  Land  of  Promise,  upon  a  journey  through  a 
dense  wilderness,  which  occupied  them  fourteen  days  in  its  accom- 
plishment. §     Though  the  loss  of  so  many  worthy  inhabitants  from  this 

*  Hubbard  says,  "  two  such  eminent  stars,  the  owners  of  lots  were  entered  in  a  book.  — 

such   as   were   Mr.  Cotton    and   Mr.  Hooker,  See  Dr.  Joel  Hawes'   Centennial  Discourse  at 

both  of  the  first  magnitude,  though  of  differing  Hartford,  9  Nov.,  1834,  to  which  is  appended 

influence,  could  not  well  continue  in  one  and  a  list  of  the  names  here  referred  to.     See  also 

the  same  orb." — Hist.  New  Eng.,  173.    "Mr.  elaborate  Historical  Notes  on  Connecticut,  by 

Cotton  had  such  an  insinuating  and  melting  Mr.  W.  S.  Porter,  12mo,  1842. 
way  in  his  preaching,  that  he  would  usually        §  "  Hearing  of  a  very  fertill  place,"  says 

carry  his  very  adversary  captive  after  the  tri-  Johnson,  "  upon   the   river  of  Canectico  low 

umphant  chariot  of  his  rhetoric."  —  Ibid. ,175.  land,   and  well   stored  with   meddow, — this 

f  While  the  matter  was  thus  in  debate  in  people,  seeing  that  tillage  went  but  little  on, 

the  General  Court,  some  of  Watertown  took  resolved    to  remove   and   breed   up   store  of 

the  opportunity  of  seizing  a  brave  piece  of  cattell,  which  were  then  at  eight  and  twenty 

meadow  aimed  at  by  those  of  Newtown,  which,  pound  a  cow,  or  neare  upon.     But  these  men, 

as  was  reported,  proved  a  bone  of  contention  having  their  hearts  gone  from  the  Lord,  soone 

between  them,  &c.  — Hubbard,  N.  Eng.,  177.  tooke  dislike  at  every  little  matter  ;  the  plow- 

J  Some  idea  of  the  individuals  composing  able  plaines  were  too  dry  and  sandy  for  them, 

this  company  may  be  had  (that  is,  the  names  and  the  rocky  places,  although  more  fruitfull, 

of  the  men)  from  a  list  of  those  who  owned  yet  to  eat  their  bread  with  toile  of  hand,  and 

land  in  Hartford  in  1639,  four  years  after  the  how  they  deemed  it  insupportable.     And  they 

great  emigration.     Until  this  year  (1639)  no  only  waited  now  for  a  people  of  stronger  faith 

catalogue  of  the  inhabitants  appears;   then  than  themselves  were,  to  purchase  their  houses 

the  Town  Records  of  Hartford  begin,  or  then  and  land  ;  accordingly  they  met  with  Chap- 

23 


178 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 


[1634. 


then  weak  and  feeble  community  was  heavily  felt  at  the  time,  it  was 
more  than  made  up,  in  numbers  at  least,  by  immediate  arrivals  from 
England,  as  will  be  marked  in  the  sequel.  Meantime  there  was  little 
satisfaction  in  the  consideration,  that  those  friends  who  had  thus  buried 
themselves  in  the  wilderness  had  lost  much  in  security,  whatever  they 
might  gain  in  lands  and  liberty. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Pequot  Messengers  visit  Boston.  —  Fail  in  their  Object.  —  Others  arrive,  —  and  are  successful.  — 
Their  Detail  of  Stone's  Death.  —  Some  Narragansets  appear  in  the  Neighborhood.  —  Pequots  fear 
being  intercepted  by  them. — They  conclude  a  Treaty. — Their  Diplomatic  Skill. — Not  so 
Treacherous  as  represented.  —  Incident  in  the  Life  of  John  Eliot.  —  Ship  Regard  arrives.  —  John 
Mansfield.  —  Casualty.  —  Town  Meeting  Proceedings.  —  Orders  about  allotting  out  the  Land.  — 
About  Fences  and  Gates.  —  School  Master.  —  Regulation  about  Litigations.  —  Apprehensions  from 
the  French.  —  La  Tour's  Gasconade.  —  Severity  of  the  Winter.  —  Israel  Stoughton.  —  Bullets  pass 
for  Money.  —  Roger  Williams.  —  Election.  —  Governor  Haynes.  —  Manner  of  Election.  —  Captain 

Hurlstone.  —  Captain   Graves.  —  Many   Ships   arrive.  —  Terrible   Storm.  —  Richard   Mather 

Ship  Angel  Gabriel  lost.  —  Another,  with  many  Lives.  —  Arrival  of  distinguished  Men.  —  Vane, 
Peters,  Shepard.  — Further  Trouble  about  Roger  Williams.  — His  Banishment.  — Arrival  of  Capt 
Lyon  Gardiner. 

THE  affair  of  the  murder  of  Captains  Stone,  Norton, 
and  others,  by  the  Pequot*  Indians,  seems  not  to 
have  occupied  much  of  the  attention  of  the  Authorities 
in  Boston  since  their  occurrence  until  the  present 
time,  and  would  not  probably  now,  had  not 
the  Pequots  themselves  moved  in  it.  This 
they  hardly  would  have  done  had  they  been  innocent. 
But  being  desirous  to  be  thought  so  by  the  people 
here,  Sassacus,  their  chief  Sachem,  sent  a  messenger 
to  conciliate  them.  He  brought  two  bundles  of  sticks 
to  designate  how  many  beaver  and  other  skins,  and 
how  much  wampum,  he  would  pay  to  have  the  matter  passed  over 
without  further  notice.  After  exchanging  a  few  presents  with  Mr. 
Ludlow,  he  was  dismissed  with  this  message  to  his  Chief,   "  that  he 


men,  a  people  new  come,  who  having  bought 
their  possessions,  they  highed  them  away  to 
their  new  plantation."  —  Wonder-working 
Providence,  75-6. 

*  The  following  are  a  few  of  the  variations 
of  the  spelling  of  this  name  :  — 

Pequots.  —  GooMn,  Mason,  I.  Mather,  Williams, 
Winthrop,  Johnson,  C.  Mather. 

Pequods. — Hubbard,  Gookin,  Winthrop,  Hutchinson, 
Douglass. 

Pequants. — Wood,  Vincent. 

Pequets. — Vincent,  Pynchon,  Underhill. 

Pequins.  — Winthrop,  Recs.  U.  Cols. 

Pequeats.  —  Underhill. 

Pequits. —  Gardener,  MS.  Letters,  Short  Story. 

Pekods.  —  Winthrop. 

Pequids.  —  Stoughton  in  Winthrop,  MS.  Letter. 


Pecoats. —  Winslow. 
Pecoits.  —  Doc.  in  Hazard. 
Pecoates.  —  Gov.  Dudley. 
Pequts.  —  Roger  Williams. 
Paquoats. —  Treaty  o/1638. 
Pecquots.  —  MS.  of  E.  Rawson. 
Peqtjitt. — Gookin,  Denison. 
Pecotts.  —  Recs.  U.  Cols. 
Peacotts. — Recs.  IT.  Cols. 
Peaqtjods.  —  Johnson. 

Other  variations  might  be  found,  but  these 
will  suffice  to  show  even  the  curious,  probably, 
that  the  early  writers  considered  the  orthog- 
raphy of  Indian  names  as  a  matter  of  no  con- 
sequence. Pequot  signifies  grey  fox,  hence  the 
Grey  Fox  Indians. 


1634.]  PEQUOT   NEGOTIATIONS.  179 

must  send  persons  of  greater  quality,"  and  then  the  Governor  would 
treat  with  them. 

Two  other  messengers  soon  appeared.  They  brought  a  present 
of  wampum,  and,  it  being  lecture  day  at  Boston,  the  Assistants 
and  Ministers  held  a  sort  of  Council  with  the  Indians.  They  were  told 
that  the  English  were  willing  to  be  friends  with  them,  but  that  they 
must  first  give  up  those  Indians  who  had  murdered  their  countrymen. 
The  Pequots  seem  to  have  been  well  prepared  to  defend  their  cause, 
and  to  justify  what  had  been  done  by  their  people.  They  said  that  their 
Sachem,  who  was  alive  when  the  Englishmen  were  killed,  was  dead ; 
that  he  had  been  killed  by  the  Dutch  ;  and  as  to  the  men  engaged  in 
the  murder,  they  had  all  died  of  the  small  pox  but  two.  These  two,  if 
worthy  of  death,  they  said  they  would  move  their  Sachem  to  have  them 
delivered  up  ;  but  "  they  had  no  authority  to  do  it."  Respecting  the 
killing  of  the  Englishmen,  it  was  done  in  self-defence  ;  or  this  was 
the  sum  of  the  argument  of  the  Pequot  messengers.  They  said  that 
Captain  Stone  and  his  men  took  two  Indians,  and,  binding  them  hand 
and  foot,  made  them  show  him  up  the  river  ;  that  they  were  watched  by 
nine  Indians,  and  when  they  came  on  shore,  and  were  asleep,  they  killed 
them ;  that  then  going  towards  the  pinnace,  it  suddenly  blew  up. 
"This,"  says  Winthrop,  "was  related  with  such  confidence  and  grav- 
ity, as,  having  no  means  to  contradict  it,  we  inclined  to  believe  it." 
However,  Governor  Dudley  not  being  present,  nothing  was  decided. 

Within  a  day  or  two,  it  appears  that  the  Indians  had  an  inter- 
view with  Governor  Dudley  and  his  Council,  and  a  treaty  was 
concluded.*  In  the  mean  time,  news  reached  Boston  that  two  or  three 
hundred  Indians  of  the  Narraganset  tribe  were  lying  about  Neponset, 
and  were  waiting  to  intercept  the  Pequot  ambassadors.  This  created  a 
great  sensation.  The  soldiers  seized  their  arms  and  rendezvoused  at 
Roxbury  without  loss  of  time.  There  also  assembled  the  officers  of 
Government,  who  at  once  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  Narragansets, 
with  a  request  that  they  would  meet  them  at  their  camp  without  delay. 
The  Indians  attended  the  summons  immediately.  The  English  were 
somewhat  surprised  when  they  found  that  instead  of  three  hundred,  no 
more  than  two  Chiefs  and  about  twenty  others  were  all  that  were  in  the 
company ;  and,  that,  instead  of  a  hostile  expedition,  they  were  upon  a 
hunting  excursion  only.  The  English,  not  fully  understanding  their 
design,  probably,  began  to  treat  for  the  privilege  of  a  safe  return  of  the 
Pequots.  They  were  told  that  these  Indians  had  promised  them  a 
large  amount  of  wampum,  in  a  treaty  just  concluded,  and  that,  if  they 
would  not  molest  the  Pequots,  they  should  have  a  part  of  it,  —  when 
they  got  it.  The  Narragansets  were  a  magnanimous  people,  and  they 
very  readily  agreed  to  the  proposal,  "  and  in  all  things  showed  them- 
selves very  ready  to  gratify  the  English,  and  departed  well  satisfied," 
and  the  Pequots  returned  in  safety.  Thus  affairs  with  the  Indians 
remained  for  the  present. 

*  Particulars  in  The  Book  of  the  Indians,  Book  ii.  166-7. 


180  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1634. 

But  it  afterwards  appeared  that  the  Pequots1  had  got  both  the  Dutch- 
men and  Narragansets  against  them,  and  they  had  concluded  to  make 
some  sacrifices  to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  English.  This  was  the 
key  to  their  solicitude  to  adjust  the  affair  of  Captain  Stone's  death. 
Whoever  in  after  times  shall  have  the  curiosity  to  investigate  the  politi- 
cal history  of  the  Pequots,  cannot  fail  to  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  if 
they  had  learned  diplomacy  in  the  schools  of  Europe,  they  could  not 
have  managed  this  matter  with  better  success,  thus  far. 

The  Pequots  were  accused  of  treachery  in  their  proceedings  ;  but  it 
would  not  be  difficult  to  soften  this  charge  into  one  merely  of  retalia-, 
tion.  Circumstances  have  a  thousand  times  occurred,  in  which  indi- 
viduals as  well  as  nations  have  mistook  the  one  for  the  other.  The 
Pequots  had  "  treacherously "  killed  some  Indians  who  came  to  the 
Dutch  settlement  on  the  Connecticut  to  trade.  Is  there  any  proof  that 
this  was  not  an  act  of  retaliation  ?  The  Dutchmen  had  killed  Toto- 
bam,*  the  Pequot  Chief.  Is  there  satisfactory  proof  that  this  was  not 
an  act  of  treachery  on  the  part  of  the  former  1  Mere  assertion  on  the 
part  of  a  historian  will  not  settle  cases  like  these. 

A  circumstance,  amusing  if  not  instructive  to  the  present  generation, 
grew  out  of  the  treaty  with  the  Pequots.  Mr.  Eliot,  of  Roxbury,  took 
occasion  in  a  sermon  to  censure  the  Ministers,  who  had  participated  in 
making  the  treaty,  for  doing  so  without  the  advice  of  the  people.  Per- 
haps Mr.  Eliot  had  not  been  consulted  ;  however,  the  people  began  to 
reiterate  Mr.  Eliot's  sentiments,  which,  coming  to  the  ears  of  the 
Authorities,  order  was  taken  that  "  he  should  be  dealt  with."  Accord- 
ingly Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Weld  were  appointed  "  to  deal 
with  him,"  which  they  proceeded  to  do  ;  the  result  was,  he  was 
brought  to  see  his  error,  and  did  "  acknowledge,  that  for  a  peace  only, 
the  Magistrates  might  conclude  plebe  inconsuUo,\  and  so  promised  to 
express  himself  in  public  next  Lord's  day." 

N      jo       A  sftip  named  the  Regard,  of  about  two  hundred  tons,  arrived 
'  at  Boston.     She  came  from  Barnstaple,  and  had  on  board  twenty 
passengers,  and  about  fifty  cattle.     One  passenger  is  mentioned  by 
name,  John  Mansfield,   "a  poor  godly  man  of  Exeter,"  who  "being 
very  desirous  to  come  to  New  England,  and  not  able  to  transport  his 
family,  a  Mr.  Marshall  of  that  city  being  troubled  in  his  dreams  about 
the  said  poor  man,  could  not  be  quiet  till  he  had  given  him  fifty  pounds 
to  enable  him  to  go,  and  lent  him  one  hundred  pounds  more."    This  man 
was  the  son  of  a  knight,  Sir  John  Mansfield,  "  Master  of  the  Minories" 
and  who  had  been  one  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  Surveyors.    His  sister  Eliza- 
beth was  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  Wilson,  the  first  Minister  of  Boston,  and 
Anne,  another  sister,  was  the  wife  of  Captain  Robert  Keane,  of  Boston. | 
In  one  of  those  severe  north-east  storms,  so  common  on  all  the 
coast  of  New  England,  a  boat  was  lost  in  the  harbor,  and  John 

*  Broadhead,  Hist.  Stale  of  N.  York,  234,       %  Notes   to   Capt.  Keane's  Will,    by    Mr. 
has  his  name  Tatoepan.  John  Dean,  in  N.  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  vi. 

|  That  is,  without  taking  advice  of  the  rabble.    156. 


1634.]  TOWN   MEETING    PROCEEDINGS.  181 

Willys,*  "  a  godly  man,  one  Dorcty,  an  honest  man,  and  two  boys  " 
were  drowned.  Three  days  after,  their  boat  was  found  at  Muddy  River, 
overturned."  They  had  been  to  Noddle's  Island  for  wood,  with  which 
probably  they  had  overloaded  their  boat,  and  attempting  to  return  in 
the  night,  "and  none  of  them  having  any  skill  or  experience,"  were 
thus  unhappily  lost. 

It  was  ordered,  in  Town  Meeting,  that  "all  the  inhabitants 
J'  shall  plant,  eyther  vpon  such  ground  as  is  alreadie  broken  vp  or 
inclosed  in  ye  Neck,f  or  else  vpon  ground  at  Noddles  Island,  from  Mr. 
Maverakes  graunt;"  able  men  to  have  two  acres  each,  and  "able 
youth  one  each,  to  be  allotted  out  by  Mr.  Hutchinson,J  Mr.  Cogan,§ 
Mr.  Sampford,||  William  Cheesbrough  1T  and  Mr.  Brenton,(*)  or  any 
three  of  them."  Every  man  to  make  his  fences  sufficient  for  all  his 
planting  ground  on  the  Neck,  "  vpon  paine,  yl  if  any  losse  doe  come  for 
defect  therein,"  the  owner  of  such  fence  to  make  it  good,  "vnlesse  it 
doe  come  by  vnruly  cattell."  "All  ye  fences  bee  made  sufficient  before 
ye  seventh  day  of  ye  second  month,  and  they  to  bee  looked  vnto  by  our 
brother  Grubb,(f)  and  brother  Hudson, (J)  for  ye  New  Field  ;  or  brother 
Pennyman,(§)  and  brother  Colborne,(||)  for  ye  field  by  him  ;  our  brother 
Penn,(H)  and  brother  Belcher, [*]  for  ye  Fort  Field." 
-j.  9_  "Att"  another  "  genrall"  meeting,  it  was  agreed  that  over- 
seers of  fences  should  see  that  "  such  Styles  and  Gates  as  may 
bee  needfull,"  should  be  put  up:  "  brother  Wilebore,[f]  to  see  to  ye 
Gate  and  Style  next  vnto  Roxburie."  And  "  whereas  ye  wood  vpon  ye 
Neck  of  land  towards  Roxburie,  [J]  hath  this  last  winter  beene  disorderly 

*  Mr.  Jo.  Willust,  freeman,  6  Nov.,  1632.  (1")  James  Pen,  freeman,  19  Oct.,  1630. 

f  By  the  Neck,  as  used  here,  the  whole  of  the  [*]  Mr.  Edward  Belchar,  freeman,  18  May, 

Peninsula  was  meant.     More   recently,   that  1631. 

part  only  which  connects  Boston  with  Roxbury  [f]   Samuel  Wilboare,  freeman,  4   March, 

was  so  denominated.     Wood,  in  his  N.  Eng.  1634. — This    name    has    undergone    various 

Prospect,  p.  32,  says,  "This  Necke  of  land  is  changes     of     orthography  ;      some     families 

not  above  foure  miles  in  compasse,"  &c. —  See  adopting  one  spelling,  and  some  another.     It 

ante,  p.  139-41.  is  sometimes  written  Wildbore,  Wilbur,  Wil- 

J  William  Hutchinson,  freeman,  4  March,  bore,  &c. 

1635.  —  See  ante,  pp.  175-6.  [J]    Thus  the  question,  whether  wood   for- 

§  John  Coggin,  freeman,  5  Nov.,  1633.  —  merly  grew  here  is  clearly  set  at  rest  by  this 

See  ante.  record.     It  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  pas- 

||  John   Sanford?  — John   Sampeford,   free-  sage  in  the  New  Eng.  Prospect,  by  that  accu- 

man,  3  April,  1632.  rate  observer,  its  Author,  which  is   in  these 

^[  William  Cheesebrough,  freeman,  18  May,  words:  —  "Boston    is   two   miles   north-east 

1631.  — See  ante,  p.  126.  from  Roxberry  ;  this  situation  is  very  pleasant, 
(*)  William  Brenton,  freeman,  14  May,  1634.  being  a  peninsula,  hem'd  in  on  the  south  side 

He    afterwards    settled    in    the   Narraganset  with  the  Bay  of  Roxberry,  on  the  north  side 

country,  R.  I.,  and  was  ancestor  of  the  late  with  Charles  River,  the  Marshes  on  the  backe- 

English  admirals  of  the  name.  — See   Bren-  side,  being  not  halfe  a  quarter  of  a  mile  over; 

ton's  Naval  Hist,  and  0 'Byrne's  Naval  Biog.  so  that  a  little  fencing  will  secure  their  cattle 

(f )  Thomas  Grubb,  freeman,  4  March,  1633.  from  the  woolves.     Their   greatest   wants   be 

(j)  William  Hudson,  freeman,  18  May,  1631.  wood,  and  medow  ground,  which  never  were 

Francis,  son  of  William  Hudson  of  Chatham,  in  that  place ;  being  constrained  to  fetch  their 

Co.  of  Kent,  Eng.,  was  one  of  the  first  who  set  building  timber,  and  fire-wood  from  the  Hands 

foot  on  the  peninsula  of  Boston.     He  died  3  in  boates,  and  their  hay  in  loyters  :     It  being 

Nov.,  1700,  aged  82.  —  Farmer  out  of  Sewall.  a  Necke,  and  bare  of  wood  :  they  are  not  trou- 

(§)  James   Pennyman,  freeman,    6   March,  bled  with  three  great  annoyances  ;  of  woolves, 

1632.  rattle-snakes,  and  musketoes.    These  that  live 
(||)  Mr.  William  Colbron,  freeman,  19  Oct.,  here  upon  their  cattle,  must  be  constrained  to 

1630.  take  farmes  in  the  countrey,  or  else  they  can- 


182  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1634. 

cutt  vp  and  wasted,  whereby  many  of  ye  poore  inhabitants  are  disap- 
pointed of  releife,"  therefore  it  is  agreed  "  ye  Mr.  Treasurer  Bellingham 
and  Mr.  William  Hutchinson,  wth  the  three  deacon's  shall  consider  whoe 
have  beene  faultie  herein,  and  sett  downe  what  restitution  of  wood  vnto 
the  poore  such  shall  make." 

The  business  of  the  meeting  being  retarded  probably,  by  persons 
attending  to  and  discussing  their  private  affairs,  caused  the  following 
order  to  be  passed,  namely,  "  yk  whosoeur  at  any  publique  meeting  shall 
fall  into  pryvate  conference  to  ye  hindrance  of  ye  publique  businesses, 
shall  forfeit  for  euery  such  offence  twelue  pence,  to  bee  paid  into  ye 
Cunstable's  hand  for  publique  vse."  At  the  same  meeting,  the  Kecord 
reads,  "It  is  genrally  agreed  y1  noe  wood  shalbe  felled  at  any  of  the 
islands  nor  elsewhere,  vntill  they  bee  lotted  out,  but  att  Muddy  Byver, 
Dorchester  Necke  or  Noddles  Island  ;  y*  all  ye  wood  as  yet  left  vpon  ye 
Necke  of  land  towards  Roxburie,  shall  bee  gathered  vp  and  layd  or 
heaped  in  pyles  "  before  the  seventh  of  April  next. 

The  Town  ordered  that  all  the  "  drye  cattle  put  vnto  our 

pn  '  brother  Cheesbrough  for  keeping  att  Pullin  Point  Necke  vntill 
the  first  of  ye  ninth  month,  shalbe  at  the  rate  of  five  shillings  a  head 
vnto  him.  Likewise  it  was  then  genrally  agreed  vpon,  yl  or  brother 
Philemon  Pormont*  shalbe  intreated  to  become  schoolmaster  for  the 
teaching  and  nourtering  of  children  wth  vs."  At  the  same  time  Richard 
Fairbankef  was  ordered  to  be  "  intreated  to  take  the  cowes  to  keeping 
of,  vpon  ye  Neck,"  but  if  he  declined,  another  brother,  "  Thomas 

us'   '  Wardall  J  to  be  intreated  therevnto;"  and  "  Nicholas  Willys  was 
chosen  Cunstable." 

It  was  ordered  that  "  new-comers  "  could  not  have  allotments 
'  of  land  unless  they  were  "likely  to  be  received  members  of  the 
congregation  ;"  that  none  should  be  allowed  to  sell  their  houses  or  lots 
to  "new-comers,"  without  the  consent  of  those  appointed  allotters ; 
that  those  who  have  lands  allotted  "  should  build  thereon  before  the 
first  of  the  first  month,  called  March,"  or  the  "  Allotters  to  dispose  of 
yra"  to  others.  That  "Mr.  William  Hutchinson,  Mr.  William  Colborne 
and  Mr.  William  Brenton  shall  sett  pryces  vpon  all  cattell,  comodities, 
victualls,  and  laboorer's  and  workmen's  wages,  and  yl  noe  other  prises 
or  rates  shalbe  given  or  taken." 

To  prevent  hasty  litigation  this  order  was  thus  early  made  :  "  Noe 
inhabitants  among  vs  shall  sue  one  another  at  ye  lawe  before  y'  Mr. 
Henry  Wane  §  [Vane],  and  ye  twoe  elders,  Mr.  Thomas  Ollyver  and 
Thomas  Leverett  have  had  ye  hearing  and  desyding  of  ye  cause,  if  they 

not  subsist;  the  place  being  too  small  to  con-  seen  in  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  400.  —  See 

taine  many,  and  fittest  for  such  as  can  trade  also  Farmer's  Register. 

into  England,  for  such   commodities  as   the  f  Richard  Fairebamks,  freeman,  14  May, 

countrey  wants,   being   the   chiefe   place   for  1634. 

shipping  and  merchandise."     These  observa-  J  Thomas  Wardall,  freeman,  4  March,  1635. 

tions  were  made  in  1634.  — See  Wood,  p.  32-3.  §  Presumed  to  be  no  other  than  Henry  Vane, 

*  Philemon   Portmorte,   freeman,    6    May,  Esq.,  though  he  had  landed    in   Boston  only 

1635. — Some  account  of  his  family  may  be  the  October  before. 


1634-5.]  APPREHENSIONS  FROM  THE  FRENCH.  183 

cann."  Mr.  William  Colborno,  Mr.  William  Aspinwall,*  Mr.  John 
Sampford,  William  Balstonc,f  and  Richard  Wright,!  were 
directed  to  bound  out  lands  at  Mount  Wollaston  for  Mr.  William 
Coddington  and  Edmund  Quinsey  ;  also  a  farm  "  sufficient  for  Mr.  Cot- 
ton, at  Muddy  River  ;  Mr.  Colburn  one  at  the  same  place  "  neare  vnto 
and  about  his  house  wh  he  hath  there  built;"  the  two  elders,  "Mr. 
Thomas  Ollyver  and  Thomas  Leveritt,"  also  to  have  their  farms  laid  out 
at  the  same  place. 

Notwithstanding  the  anticipated  troubles  recently  from  the  French 
had  pretty  nearly  subsided,  such  was  the  state  of  feeling  between  Eng- 
land and  France,  that  no  permanent  hopes  could  be  entertained  any- 
where, that  new  troubles  might  not,  at  any  moment,  arise.  Of  this  the 
-  people  of  Boston  had  a  new  proof  early  this  year ;  a  slight 
collision  having  occurred  at  the  eastward  between  the  French 
and  some  of  the  Plymouth  men,  in  which  two  of  the  latter  had  been 
captured,  with  their  effects.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Allerton  went  to  demand 
their  liberation  ;  but  the  French  officer  in  command,  Monsieur  La  Tour, 
refused  to  deliver  the  men  or  goods,  and,  in  a  sort  of  gasconade,  bid 
Allerton  tell  the  English  on  the  coast,  that  all  the  country  from  Cape 
Sable  to  Cape  Cod  belonged  to  the  King  of  France,  and  that  if  they 
persisted  to  trade  east  of  Pemaquid,  he  would  make  prize  of  them ;  and 
when  Mr.  Allerton  desired  to  see  his  Commission  for  all  that,  he  replied, 
"  That  his  sword  was  Commission  sufficient ;"  when  that  failed,  he  said, 
it  was  time  enough  to  produce  his  Commission.  This  being  now  re- 
ported at  Boston,  which,  added  to  their  fears  for  the  loss  of  their  Charter, 
gave,  for  a  time,  a  chill  to  the  prospects  of  the  community.  The  Plym- 
outh people,  not  long  after,  attempted  to  enlist  the  Authorities  in  the 
Bay  to  join  them,  and  to  send  a  force  sufficient  to  dispossess  the  French ; 
but  the  Bay  people  declined. 

The  winter,  which  had  now  fully  set  in,  was  exceedingly 
'  severe  ;  "  three  men  had  their  boat  frozen  up  at  Bird  Island, § 
as  they  were  coming  from  Deer  Island,  so  as  they  were  compelled  to 
lodge  there  all  night ;  and  the  next  morning  they  came  over  the  ice  to 
Noddle's  Island,  and  thence  to  Molten's  Point, ||  in  Charlestown,  and 
thence  over  the  ice  by  Mr.  Hoffe's  to  Boston."  At  the  same  time  six 
persons  were  kept  a  week  on  Governor's  Island,  at  the  end  of  which 
they  got  to  Mattapan  Point  with  their  boat.  For  nearly  the  same 
space  of  time  the  ice  was  not  broken  between  Governor's  Island  and 
Boston,  neither  could  boats  pass  to  Charlestown  for  two  or  three  days 
together. 

*  Mr.  William  Aspinwall,  freeman,  3  April,  below  high-water  mark  in  1775,  and  how  long 

1632.  before  that,  is  not  certain. 

f    William    Balstone,    freeman,    18    May,       ||  So  named  from  Robert  Moulton,  probably, 

163 1.  an  early  settler  of  Charlestown  ;  freeman,  18 

J  Richard  Wright,  freeman,  14  May,  1632.  May,  1631.     He  was  a  shipwright.     Among 

§  A  lodging  on  Bird  Island,  even  a  hundred  those  who  petitioned  in  favor  of  Mrs.  Hutch- 
years  ago,  would  not  have  been  a  very  com-  inson  and  Mr.  Wheelwright,  was  Robert  Moul- 
fortable  one    probably.     Its  head  had  sunk  ton.    He  was  then  (1636)  of  Salem. 


184  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1634-5. 

Nearly  a  month  later  ice  continued  in  the  harbor,  in  passing 
'  upon  which,  from  Boston  to  Winnesemet,  a  young  man,  servant 
to  Mr.  Richard  Bellingham,  fell  through  and  was  drowned. 

At  a  General  Court  at  Newtown,*  Captain  Israel  Stoughton 
was  censured  for  promulgating  certain  opinions  against  the 
authority  of  magistrates.  An  order  was  passed  that  brass  farthings 
should  no  longer  be  received  as  farthings,  and  that,  instead  thereof, 
musket  bullets  should  be  used.  At  this  Court  Mr.  Hooker  preached  a 
discourse. 

Just  before  Governor  Dudley's  term  of  service  expired,  he 
pri '  '  and  his  Assistants  summoned  Roger  Williams  before  them  to 
answer  to  the  charge  concerning  oaths.  He  had  maintained  that  to 
administer  an  oath  to  a  wicked  person,  or  "an  unregenerate  man,"  was 
in  itself  a  wicked  act,  inasmuch  as  it  caused  such  person  "  to  take  the 
name  of  God  in  vain.  After  being  heard  before  all  the  Ministers,  he 
was  very  clearly  confuted.  Mr.  Endicott  was  at  first  of  the  same 
opinion,  but  he  gave  place  to  the  truth." 

At  the  General  Court  of  election  now  convened  at  Newtown, 
'  John  Haynes,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Governor,  Richard  Belling- 
ham, Esquire,  Deputy  Governor,  and  Mr.  Hough  and  Mr.  Dummer, 
Assistants.  Mr.  Endicott  was  left  out  of  office,  on  account,  apparently, 
of  the  affair  of  the  colors ;  but  the  expediency  of  his  holding  office  pend- 
ing the  uncertainty  attending  the  demand  of  the  Charter,  may  have  had 
a  place  with  the  reasons  unassigned  for  his  retirement.  Mr.  Ludlow 
had  given  some  offence,  by  electioneering  too  strenuously,  and  being  a 
little  too  dictatorial  in.  arrangement  for  the  election.  Some  thought  he 
was  somewhat  impatient  to  be  Governor. 

The  manner  of  proceeding  to  choose  the  officers  at  this  Election  is 
thus  clearly  described  by  the  Ex- Governor  : — "The  Governor  and 
Deputy  were  elected  by  papers,  wherein  their  names  were  written  ; 
but  their  Assistants  were  chosen  by  papers  without  names,  namely,  the 
Governor  propounded  one  to  the  people  ;  then  they  all  went  out,  and 
came  in  at  one  door,  and  every  man  delivered  a  paper  into  a  hat. 
Such  as  gave  their  vote  for  the  party  named,  gave  in  a  paper  with 
some  figures  or  scroll  in  it  ;   others  gave  in  a  blank." 

After  the  election,  Mr.  Haynes  made  an  address  to  the  people,  in 
which  he  stated  that  he  knew  the  burthen  upon  them  by  way  of  taxes 
had  been  very  great,  especially  upon  the  poorer  sort ;  that,  therefore, 
to  do  all  he  could  to  lighten  those  burthens,  he  should  administer  the 
government  free  of  any  charge. f 

About  this  time  Mr.  Winthrop  received  a  visit  from  his  old  friend, 
Captain  Nicholas  Hurlstone.     He  had  been  living  in  St.  Christophers 

*  The  members  from  Boston  at  this  Court  were  each  assessed  £80  ;  this  year  these  towns 

were   Mr.  Richard  Bellingham,  Mr.  Edward  were  assessed  only  £27  6s.  8d.  each,  the  whole 

Gibbons,  Mr.  John  Coggeshall,  and  Mr.  Wil-  amount  to  be  raised  being  £200.     Thus,  up 

liam  Colbura.  to  this  time,  Dorchester  and  Newtown  were 

f  Out  of  a  rate  of  £600,  ordered  to  be  raised  considered  equal,  in  wealth  at  least,  to  Bos- 
last  year,  Boston,  Dorchester,  and  Newtown,  ton. 


1635.]  DISASTROUS    STORM.  185 

about  five  years,  to  which  place  he  probably  went  immediately  after  he 
>r     K,    landed  the  colonists  here  from  the  Ambrose  in  1G30.     Now  he 

A  In  y  Ul 

came  as  a  merchant,  in  a  Dutch  ship  which  arrived  at  Marble- 
head.  He  gave  his  host  an  account  of  that  island,  which  he  recorded 
in  his  journal.*  The  people  there,  he  said,  were  very  wicked,  though 
they  had  three  English  churches  in  the  place. 

A  few  days  later  came  another  of  the  old  captains,  Captain 

Graves,  in  the  James,  who  had  come  every  year  for  the  last 
seven  years ;  and  the  same  day  arrived  two  Dutch  ships.  They 
brought  twenty-seven  Flanders  mares,  three  horses,  sixty-three  heifers, 
and  eighty-eight  sheep. f  They  were  five  and  a  half  weeks  from  the 
Texel,J  "  and  lost  not  one  beast  or  sheep."  And,  only  three  days 
after,  "  there  came  in  seven  other  ships,  and  one  to  Salem,  and 
four  more  to  the  mouth  of  the  Bay,  with  store  of  passengers  and 
cattle." 

Great  inconvenience  had  been  experienced,  on  arrivals  of  vessels, 
"  by  people's  running  to  the  ships,  and  the  excessive  prices  of  com- 
modities;" to  prevent  which  it  was  ordered  that  one  in  each  town 
should  buy  for  the  whole  ;  but  this,  says,  Winthrop,  took  no  good 
effect. 

The  enterprise  which  brought  people  to  Boston  carried  them 

away  from  it  in  every  direction,  thus  early,  and  on  every  kind 
of  business ;  some  far  into  the  wilderness  to  trade  with  the  Indians, 
some  to  Cape  Cod  to  catch  whales  for  their  oil,  and  now  a  company 
goes  with  Captain  Hodges,  in  the  Rebecca,  and  Captain  Graves,  in  the 
James,  to  the  Isle  Sable,  to  catch  "  sea-horses."     But  from  this  last 

expedition   they  returned  with   only  partial   success.     While 

they  were  at  that  island  a  most  terrible  storm  visited  the  coast 
of  New  England,  doing  immense  damage,  in  which  many  lives  were 
*  „  18    l°st ;   but  it  did  not  extend  so  far  east  as  Cape  Sable,  though  it 

was  felt  "  a  great  way  south."  The  ship  James,  of  Bristol, 
Captain  Taylor,  had  a  most  narrow  escape  at  the  Isle  of  Shoals.  After 
losing  three  anchors,  she  was  saved  by  a  momentary  veering  of  the 
wind.  She  had  on  board  "  one  hundred  passengers,  honest  people  of 
Yorkshire,"  among  whom  was  Mr.  Richard  Mather,  §  the  ancestor  of 
the  noted  divines  of  that  name,  with  his  family,  long  famous  in  Boston; 
also  Mr.  Matthew  Mitchell,  Mr.  Daniel  Maud,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Bar- 
nabas Fower,  Thomas  Armitage,  and  George  Kenrick.  At  the  same 
time  sailed  from  Bristol  the  Angel  Gabriel,  which,  in  the  same  storm, 
was  driven  from  her  anchors  at  Pemaquid  and  lost.  She  was  a  strong 
ship  and  well  furnished,  with  some  fifteen  pieces  of  ordnance.     In  the 

*  That  the  Captain  Hurlston  here  mentioned        §  A  journal  kept  by  Mr.  Mather  of  this  voy- 

is  the  same  who,  in  1630,  commanded   the  age  has  been  neatly  and  in  a  convenient  form 

Ambrose  is  to  me  very  probable.     Hence  the  published  by  Mr.  David  Clapp,  Boston,  12mo, 

paragraph  in  the  text.  1850.     The  original   is  in  possession  of  the 

f  The  mares  were  priced,  each,  £34  ;  heifers,  Dorchester  Antiquarian  Society.     Of  the  de- 

£12 ;  sheep,  50s.  scendants  of  Richard   Mather,  a  pretty  full 

J  Winthrop  has  it  Tcssell.     I  have  substi-  account  will  be  found  in  the  New  Eng.  Hist. 

tuted  a  place  better  known,  at  least.  and  Gen.  Reg.,  vol.  vi.  p.  20-2. 

24 


186  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1635. 

same  tempest  a  bark  of  Mr.  Allerton's  was  cast  away  upon  Cape  Ann, 
by  which  disaster  twenty-one  persons  perished,  seven  of  whom  were 
the  family  of  Mr.  John  Avery,  including  himself.  Mr.  Anthony  Thacher 
and  his  wife  were  the  only  persons  saved  out  of  all  that  were  on  board, 
and  their  preservation  was,  at  the  time,  viewed  as  a  Remarkable 
Providence  ;  they  having  been  cast  ashore  in  a  surprising  manner,  and 
kept  from  starving  by  some  necessaries  as  surprisingly  cast  on  shore 
also. 

A  nephew  of  Anthony  Thacher,  then  a  young  man,  left  the  vessel 
at  Ipswich,  influenced,  it  is  said,  by  some  melancholy  forebodings  in 
his  mind  respecting  the  voyage  by  water,  and  so  escaped  the  disaster 
which  fell  so  heavily  upon  almost  all  the  rest.  And  thus  was  another 
progenitor  *  of  a  numerous  and  distinguished  family  remarkably  pre- 
served. 

At  the  Quarterly  General  Court  f  appeared  the  first  Grand 
Jury  of  the  country,  "  who  presented  above  one  hundred  offences ; 
and,  among  others,  some  of  the  magistrates.'"  At  the  same  Court, 
Captain  Trask,  one  of  its  members,  was  directed  to  apprehend  ."  divers 
lewd  servants,"  who  had  stolen  and  run  away  with  a  boat  and  other 
things.  He  pursued  them  to  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  and  thence  to  Pascat- 
aqua,  where,  in  the  night,  he  took  them  by  surprise  ;  and,  bringing 
them  to  Boston,  they  were,  at  the  next  Court,  "  severely  whipped,  and 
ordered  to  pay  all  charges." 

There  was  now  a  large  addition  made  to  the  distinguished 
individuals  lately  arrived.  In  "  two  great  ships,  the  Defence 
and  the  Abigail,"  came  to  Boston  Mr.  Wilson,  the  Pastor,  Mr.  Thomas 
Shepard,  Mr.  John  Jones,  Mr.  Hugh  Peters,  John  Winthrop,  junior, 
Henry  Vane,  Esquire,  J  besides  others  who  equally  deserve  particular 
mention. 

The  Church  of  Boston  had  all  along  been  in  trouble  about  the 
"  heresy"  of  Roger  Williams,  and  now,  at  the  General  Court, 
"he  was  again  convented,"  at  which  "all  the  ministers  in  the  Bay 
were  desired  to  be  present."  He  was  accused  of  writing  letters  "  full 
of  an tichristian  pollution."  He  now  not  only  justified  the  letters,  but 
all  the  opinions  advanced  in  them  also.  To  induce  him  to  retract,  it 
was  proposed  to  postpone  proceedings  for  a  month,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  to  have  further  "  conference  or  a  disputation ;"  but  he  asked 
for  no  delay,  and  desired  to  dispute  then.  "  So  Mr.  Hooker  was  ap- 
pointed to  dispute  with  him,  but  could  not  reduce  him  from  any  of  his 

*  The  preservation  of  John  Howland,  of  the  William   Hutchinson,  William  Colburn,  and 

Mayflower,  is  of  deep  interest.     See  the  N.  E.  William  Brenton.   From  Dorchester,  Nathaniel 

Hist,  and  G.  Reg.,  vol.  ii.  186-8.     There  is,  Duncan,  Capt.  John  Mason,  William  Gallard. 

in  Mr.  Buckingham's  N.  Eng.  Mag.  for  July,  Four  from  Salem  ;  Capt.  Traske,  John  Wood- 

1834,  an  interesting  pedigree  of  the  Thacher  bury,  Jacob  Barney,  and  John  Spencer, 
family,   by   a   distinguished   descendant    and        J  See  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  121, 

friend    of  the    writer,    the    late    Dr.  James  &c.,  in  which  I  have  attempted  to  do  sonie- 

Thacher,  of  Plymouth.     There  is  also  extant,  thing  like  justice  to  the  memory  of  this  dis- 

and  which  the  writer  has  seen,  an  extensive  tinguished  man.     Winthrop  mentions  his  ar- 

MS.  memoir  of  the  family,  recently  in  posses-  rival,  and,  in  a  sepaj^,te  paragraph,  speaks  of 

sion  of  a  gentleman  of  Saco,  Me.  him  with  the  greatest  respect. — Journal,  i. 

f  The  Boston  members  of  this  Court  were  170. 


1635.]  BANISHMENT    OF    ROGER   WILLIAMS.  187 

errors.  So,  the  next  morning,  the  Court  sentenced  him  to  depart  out 
of  its  jurisdiction  within  six  weeks ;  all  the  ministers,  save  one,  approving 
the  sentence."  * 

It  was  specially  enjoined  upon  Mr.  Williams  "  not  to  exercise  his 
gifts"  meanwhile  ;  and  that,  if  he  obeyed  the  injunction,  he  might  be 
allowed  to  continue  till  spring.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  he 
made  any  promises  of  obedience  ;  and,  within  a  few  weeks,  the  news 
was  current  at  Boston  that  he  was  entertaining  company  at  his  house, 
and  did  preach  to  them,  and  thereby  did  "  go  about  to  draw  others  to 
his  opinions."  Therefore  the  Authorities  ordered  him  to  be  taken  into 
custody,  and  that,  by  a  ship  then  lying  at  Nantasket  ready  for  sea,  he 
should  be  sent  into  England.  A  warrant  was  sent  to  him  at  Salem,  by 
virtue  of  which  he  was  to  he  brought  to  Boston,  and  there  put  on  board 
the  ship.  But  the  officer  charged  with  that  duty  found  Mr.  Williams 
sick,  and  unable  to  leave  his  house  without  evident  hazard  of  his  life. 
This  was  his  excuse  for  not  obeying  the  mandate  ;  which  excuse  was 
brought  to  Boston  by  "  divers  of  Salem."  Whereupon  Captain  Under- 
bill was  despatched  in  a  pinnace  to  apprehend  and  convey  him  on 
board  the  ship.  But,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Captain  at  his  house,  he 
found  that  Mr.  Williams  had  been  gone  three  days,  and  whither  no  one 
could  (or  would)  tell.  And  thus  escaped  the  founder  of  Rhode  Island 
from  the  hands  raised  against  him,  under  a  mistaken  sense  of  duty,  and 
wTas  wending  his  way  through  an  almost  trackless  wilderness,  amidst 
the  snows  and  frosts  of  midwinter,  or  encountering  the  more  perilous 
journey  in  an  open  boat,  following  the  indentations  of  the  icy  and 
savage  coast,  southward,  for  that  safety  of  person  and  freedom  of  con- 
science which  he  knew  God  had  vouchsafed  to  all  men. 

John  Winthrop,  junior,  who  had  recently  returned  from  Eng- 
land, sent  out  a  bark  of  thirty  tons  and  about  twenty  men,  to 
take  possession  of  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  river  ;   for  which  object  he 
had  made  preparations  in  England,  and  had  procured  a  Patent  of  terri- 
tory thereabouts,  and  a  commission  to  be  its  Governor ;   and,  by  the 
end  of  the  month,  Captain  Lyon  Gardiner  arrived  at  Boston  in 
'a  small  vessel,  in  which  were  twelve  men  and  two  women. 
Their  destination  was  also  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut.     Gardiner 
was  an  expert  engineer,  and  had  served  in  that  capacity  in  the  Low 
Countries.     He  had  been  engaged  to  go  there  and  construct  a  forti- 
fication, and   "  to  command  it,"  by  the  Lords  Say  and  Brook,   Sir 
Arthur  Heslerigge,f  Sir  Matthew  Boynton,  J  and  others,  under  the  im- 

*  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  170-1.     His  Editor,  opposers  of  that   ill-advised   and  headstrong 

though  usually  free  with  his  conjectures,  does  Monarch,  and  was  the  member  who  preferred 

not  adventure  one  as  to  who  it  was  that  would  the  bill  of  attainder  against  Wentworth,  Earl 

not  endorse  the  sentence  of  banishment  against  of  Strafibrd.    In  the  Civil  War  which  followed, 

Mr.  Williams.     Was  it  Cotton?  he  was   the  first  "to  draw  the  sword,  and 

f  He  was  eldest  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Hesle-  throw  the  sheath  away."     At  the  Restoration 

rigge,  of  Noseley,   in   Leicestershire  ;   being  he  was  thrown  into  the  Tower,  where  he  died 

so  disgusted  with  the  arbitrary  government  of  of  a  fever,  8  Jan.,  1661.  —  See  Grainger,  and 

Charles  I. ,   that  he   determined   to   quit   his  Grey's  Notes  to  Hudibras. 

country  and  come  to  New  England.     In  Par-  J  In  Gardiner's  own  account  of  his  coming 

liament  he  was  among  the  most  prominent  over,   and  of  his  employers,   he  wrote  this 


188 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1635. 


mediate  direction  of  Governor  John  Winthrop,  junior.*  The  Authorities 
of  Boston  improved  the  opportunity  of  his  being  here,  to  engage  him  to 
undertake  the  completion  of  the  fortification  on  Fort  Hill. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


Town's  Proceedings.  —  Lands  laid  out  to  the  Inhabitants  at  Mount  Wollaston  at  Muddy  River. — 
Ferry  to  Charlestown  and  Winesimet. — Lieut.  Gardiner  employed  on  the  Fort.  —  Grand  Jurors. 
—  Watch  ordered.  —  Overseers  of  Town  Concerns  chosen.  —  Orders  concerning  Fences,  Hogs, 
entertaining  of  Strangers.  —  Members  to  the  General  Court.  *^-  Magistrates  for  Life.  —  Fire.  —  Ship 
Charity  arrives.  —  Benevolent  Act  of  Hugh  Peters.  —  Ship  St.  Patrick.  —  Difficulty  with  the  Officer 
of  the  Castle.  —  Other  Troubles  about  the  Fort.  —  Colors  restored. — Vane  elected  Governor. — 
Internal  Town  Regulations.  —  Lands  allotted  to  Owen  Rowe  at  Mount  Wollaston.  —  Water  Bailiffs 
appointed.  —  Constable.  —  Houses  not  allowed  to  be  built  near  Streets.  —  Hogreeves. 

AT  a  Town  Meeting,  six  hundred  acres  of 

land  were  ordered  to  be  laid  out  for  "  Mr. 

Atherton  Haulgh,"  f  beyond  "  Mount  Woollystone, 

betweene  Monottycott  ry  ver  "  and  Weymouth  bounds ; 

and  if  it  did  not  contain  a  "  meete  "  proportion  of 

meadow,  he  was  to  have  "  it  in  ye  little  meaddow  at 

ye  vpper  end  of  ye  fresh  brooke,  called  ye  Stand." 

It  was,  at  the  same  time,  ordered  "  yl  hereafter  none 

shall  fell  any  wood  or  timber  at  Muddy  Ryver.or 

any  other  place  but  vpon  their  own  allottments." 

Thomas  Marshall  "  was  chosen  by  generall  consent 

for  ye  keeping  of  a  Ferry  from  ye  Mylne  Point  J  vnto  Charles- 

towne,  and  to  Wynnyseemitt,  and  to  take  for  his  ferrying  vnto 

Charlestowne,  as  ye  ferryman  there  hath,  and  vnto  Wynnyseemitt,  for 

a  single  pson  sixpence,  and  for  two  sixpence  ;  and  for  every  one  above 

ye  number  of  two,  two  pence  a  piece." 


name  Bonnington,  but  I  have  no  doubt  the 
true  name  was  as  I  have  given  it,  and  that  he 
was  of  the  famous  Yorkshire  family  of  that 
name.  He  was  son  of  Francis,  grandson  of 
Thomas  Boynton,  and  was  born  about  1591 ; 
married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Lord  Fairfax  ; 
knighted  1618  ;  high  sheriffof  Yorkshire,  1628, 
1643  ;  Governor  of  Scarboro'  Castle;  died  1646. 
—  See  Poulson's  Hist.  Holderness,  and  Nichol's 
Progresses  of  James  I.,  where  he  is  called 
"  one  of  those  the  Rebels  chiefely  trusted  in 
Yorkshire."  Gardiner's  work,  here  referred 
to,  is  printed,  but  not  edited,  in  Colls.  Mass. 
Hist.  Soc.  There  is  a  sort  of  introduction  to 
it.  His  name  is  spelled  Gardener.  There  is 
a  pedigree  of  his  descendants  extant. 

*  Winthrop  says,  i.  173,  that  Gardiner 
came  in  a  "  Norsey  "  bark.  This  word  "  Nor- 
sey "  sadly  puzzled  his  editor,  he  "  never 
having  seen  it   before."     He  therefore  con- 


cludes that  the  bark  came  down  from  among 
the  Norwegians  !  Now,  though  she  may  not 
have  come  from  Noseley,  where  one  of  her 
owners  lived,  it  would  be  quite  as  easy  to 
derive  the  name  given  by  Winthrop  from 
Noseley,  in  the  county  of  Leicester,  as  it 
would  be  to  derive  it  from  the  Black  Sea, 
though  its  name  were  expressed  in  French. 

f  The  same  persons  designated  before  under 
the  names  Hough,  Hqffe,  Haugh,  &c.  There 
may  be  male  descendants  of  Atherton  Hough 
under  different  names  at  this  day.  The  name 
does  not  appear  in  the  first  Boston  Directory. 

|  Windmill  Point.  In  the  early  records  of 
other  towns  milne  is  often  written  for  mill, 
but  I  do  not  find  it  so  spelled  in  any  of  the 
old  dictionaries  to  which  I  have  recurred. 
The  location  of  the  "Milne  Point"  is  suffi- 
ciently indicated  by  the  extract  from  the  Rec- 
ords. 


1636.]  OVERSEERS    OP   TOWN    CONCERNS    CHOSEN.  189 

To  improve  the  important  services  of  Captain  Gardiner,  before  his 
departure  for  Connecticut,  the  town  "  agreed  y1,  for  yc  raysing  of  a 
new  worke  of  fortification  vpon  ye  ffort  hill,  about  yl  whch  is  there 
alreaddy  bcgune,  the  whole  towne  would  bestowe  fourtcene  dayes' 
worke  "  a  man.  For  this  end  Mr.  Deputie,  Mr.  Henry  Vane,  Mr. 
John  Winthrop,  scnr.,  Mr.  William  Coddington,  Mr.  John  Winthrop, 
iur.,  Captain  John  Vnderhill,  and  Mr.  William  Brenton,"  were  chosen 
Commissioners.  They  were  directed  to  "  sett  downe  how  many  dayes 
worke  would  be  equall  for  each  man  to  doe,  and  what  money  *  such 
should  contribute,  beside  their  worke,  as  were  of  greater  abilities  and 
had  fewer  servants,  that  therewith  provisions  of  tooles  and  other  neces- 
saryes  might  bee  made,  and  some  recompence  given  to  such  of  ye 
poorer  sort  as  should  be  found  to  bee  overburdened  with  their  fourteene 
dayes'  worke  ;  and  Mr.  John  Cogan  is  chosen  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Dyer,  clarke,  for  ye  furtherance  of  this  worke  ;"  which  "  worke  is 
to  be  gone  in  hand  with  soe  soone  as  ye  weather  will  pmitt,  in  regard 
y'  ye  ingineere,  Mr.  Lyon  Garner,  who  doth  soe  freely  offer  his  help 
there vnto,  hath  but  a  short  time  of  stay." 

The  town  chose  Mr.  John  Cogan  and  William  "  Aspinnell  " 

as  Grand  Jurors,  and  Richard  Fairbanks,  William  Hudson  and 

James  Pennyman  to  serve  as  "  pettie  "  Jury.    A  week  later  there  was  a 

Town  Meeting  "  vpon  pryvate  warning,"  at  which  it  was  agreed 

"  yl  there  shalbe  a  Watch  taken  vp  and  gone  around  with  from 

the  first  of  the  second  month  next,  for  ye  summertime  from  sunne  sett, 

an  houre  after  ye  beating  of  ye  drumbe,  vpon  penaltie,  for  every  one 

wanting  therein,  twelve  pence  for  every  night." 

There  was  another  "  genrall  meeting  vpon  priuate  warning," 
'  in  which  Thomas  Oliver,  Thomas  Leveritt,  William  Hutchinson, 
William  Colborne,  John  Coggeshall,  John  Sampford,  Richard  Tuttell, 
William  Aspenall,  William  Brenton,  William  Balston,  Jacob  Ellyot  and 
James  Penne,  were  authorized  to  be  overseers  "from  this  day  to 
oversee  and  looke  vnto  and  sett  order  for  all  the  allottments  within  vs, 
and  for  all  comers  in  vnto  vs,  as  also  for  all  other  ye  occasions  and  busi- 
nesses "  of  the  Town,  excepting  matters  of  Election  and  the  General 
Court. 

As  several  persons  who  had  had  lands  lotted  out  to  them  had 
'  not  improved  them  according  to  the  prescribed  conditions,  it 
was  now  ordered  in  Town  Meeting,  that  the  lots  laid  out  to  them  were 
free  to  be  otherwise  disposed  of.  Their  names  were  "Mr.  Atherton 
Haulghe,  Zachie  Bosworth,  Richard  Truestayles,  Richard  Oakes,  Na- 
thaniell  Woodwarde,  Thomas  Meakins  ye,  elder,  Thomas  Meakins  ye 
younger,  Mr.  Greene,  Mr.  Mullyns,  Richard  Walker,  John  Palmer, 
James  Johnson,    Richard   Brackett,   Thomas   Blott,   Richard  Tuttell, 

*  In  the  margin  of  the  Town  Records  are  Vane,  Winthrop,  sen.,  Coddington,  Win- 
arranged  in  a  column  the  following  names,  throp,  jun.,  Kayne,  Hutchinson,  Cogan,  Lev- 
and  against  each  is  set  £5  ;  viz.,  Bellingham,    erett,  and  Harding. 


190  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1636. 

Barnabie  Darryfall,  Thomas  Savage,  [John]  Bushnall,*  Mr.  Wood- 
warde,  Mr.  Stanley,  Robert  Houlton,  Anthony  Harker,  [George] 
Grigges  ye  carpenter,  and  Richard  Wrighte."  Some  of  these  persons 
had,  perhaps,  gone  to  Connecticut,  some  to  other  places,  and  some  had 
failed  to  build  on  their  lots  from  other  circumstances. 

At  this  meeting  provision  was  made  to  have  "sufficient  fences  to  ye 
Cornefielde,  before  ye  fourteenth  of  ye  next  second  month  ;"  that,  for 
every  defective  rod  then  found,  five  shillings  penalty:  "The  feild  to- 
wards Rocksberry  to  be  looked  out  by  Jacob  Ellyott  and  Jonathan 
Negoose  ;  the  Fort  Feild,  by  James  Penn  and  Richard  Gridley ;  the 
Mylne  Feild,  by  John  Button  and  Edward  Bendall ;  and  the  New  Feild, 
by  John  Audley  and  Thomas  Faire weather." 

If  hogs  were  found  running  at  large  after  a  certain  day,  John  Samp- 
son and  William  Balstone  were  ordered  to  seize  them,  and  they  were 
declared  forfeited  by  their  owners.  If  any  inhabitants  entertained 
M  strangers  over  fourteen  days,  without  leave  "from  those  yfc  are 
appointed  to  order  the  Towne's  businesses,"  they  were  liable  to 
be  "  dealt  with  "  by  those  "  Overseers,"  as  they  thought  advisable. 
-  Twelve  days  before  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court,  there 

was  a  Town  Meeting,  at  which  Mr.  William  Hutchinson,  Mr. 
John  Coggeshall,  and  Mr.  William  Brenton  were  chosen  "  for  Deputyes 
or   Comittees  for  the  service  "  of  that  Court.f     A  few  weeks  before, 

..  "  at  a  General  Court,  it  was  ordered,  that  a  certain  number  of 
Magistrates  should  be  chosen  for  life ;"  and  at  the  General  Elec- 
tion, three  persons  were  actually  chosen  to  be  Magistrates  during  their 
lives.  These  were  Winthrop,  Dudley  and  Vane.  It  does  not  appear 
that  the  people  approved  of  such  a  disposal  or  assumption  of  offices,  and 
they  were  soon  abandoned  ;  for  they  very  justly  reasoned,  that  by  such 
a  course  of  proceeding,  all  offices  might  be  disposed  of,  and  nothing 
left  for  their  choice. 

The  Town  had  been  free  from  accidental  fires  for  some  time  past,  but 
about  this  time  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Benjamin  was  burnt  down,  sub- 
jecting him  to  a  loss  of  one  hundred  pounds  in  goods. | 
.  ..  ,2  The  ship  Charity,  of  Dartmouth,  came  near  being  cast  away 
as  she  sailed  into  the  harbor  with  a  heavy  north-west  wind. 
She  was  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  burthen,  and  brought  a  timely 
supply  of  provisions,  which  were  at  this  time  much  needed.  To  pre- 
vent speculators  oppressing  the  poor,  by  buying  up  the  provisions,  and 
holding  them  at  extravagant  prices,  Mr.  Peters  §  bought  up  the  whole 

*  A  John  Bushnell  appears  afterwards  at  J  This  fire  is  recorded  by  Winthrop,  Jour- 
Saybrook,  Ct.  He  is  probably  the  same  per-  nal,  i.  185,  but  he  does  not  state  where  Benja- 
son  in  Boston  in  1636.  —  See  N.  E.  H.  Gen.  min  lived.  He  was  admitted  freeman,  6  Nov., 
Reg.,  iv.  19.  1632,  and  is  said  to  have  lived  at  Watertown. 

f  This  is  the  first  mention  in  the  Town  He  may  have  gone  there  after  this,  though  I 
Records  of  the  choice  of  Representatives,  or  do  not  find  his  name  in  the  list  of  the  early 
"  Deputyes,"  as  they  are  called,  for  the  Gen-  settlers  of  that  town,  as  published  by  Rev.  Dr. 
eral  Court.  It  is  not  unworthy  of  note,  that  Francis.  Mr.  Hamblen  finds  Joseph  Benjamin 
at  this  time  London  sent  but  four  members  to  among  the  inhabitants  of  Barnstable,  1662-6. 
Parliament;  only  one  more  than  Boston  sent  — See  N.  E.  H.  Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  64-5. 
to  the  General  Court.  §  This  distinguished  man,  I  presume,  wrote 


1036.]  TROUBLES   ABOUT   THE   FORT.  191 

cargo;  by  which  operation,  "ho  saved  the  Country  two  hundred 
pounds."*  It  was  then  distributed  "to  all  the  towns,  as  each  town 
needed."  He  had  been  laboring  for  some  time  to  induce  the  people  to 
establish  a  sort  of  magazine,  by  buying  up  necessary  articles  when  they 
were  cheap,  which  should  be  well  husbanded  and  dealt  out  when  they 
were  scarce,  at  reasonable  rates  ;  but  it  docs  not  appear  to  have  been 
brought  about,  notwithstanding  he  had  set  this  distinguished  example. 
Ma  15  Considerable  uneasiness  was  felt  in  the  town,  about  a  month 
later,  which  happened  on  the  arrival  of  the  Ship  St.  Patrick, 
Captain  Palmer.  All  ships  were  to  observe  certain  regulations  on 
passing  the  fort  at  Castle  Island,  but  since  the  trouble  about  the  Colors, 
or  rather  the  Red  Cross  in  it,  the  Fort  presented  the  awkward  appear- 
ance of  a  captured  garrison  ;  no  Flag  to  signify  its  real  character. 
Under  these  circumstances,  however,  the  St.  Patrick  was  brought  too, 
and,  by  Lieutenant  Morris,  the  officer  of  the  Fort,  made  to  strike  her 
Colors.  Captain  Palmer  complained  to  the  Authorities  ;  alleging  the 
conduct  of  the  commander  of  the  Fort  to  be  a  flagrant  insult  both  to 
his  Flag  and  Country.  Now  the  St.  Patrick  belonged  to  Sir  Thomas 
Went  worth,  who,  up  to  this  time,  was  claimed  as  a  friend  to  New  Eng- 
land ;f  and,  therefore,  it  was  neither  wise  nor  just  to  give,  unneces- 
sarily, any  offence  on  such  occasions.  They,  therefore,  ordered  the 
officer  of  the  Fort  before  them,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Master  of  the 
ship  proclaimed  that  their  officer  had  no  authority  to  do  as  he  had 
done  ;  and  he  was  ordered  to  make  such  atonement  for  his  conduct  as 
Captain  Palmer  should  demand.  The  Captain  was  very  lenient,  requir- 
ing only  an  acknowledgment  of  his  error,  on  board  his  ship,  "  that  so 
all  the  ship's  company  might  receive  satisfaction  ;"  this  was  submitted 
to,  and  thus  all  parties  became  quieted.  But  within  a  few  days  an- 
other circumstance  occurred  respecting  the  Fort,  with  a  somewhat 
different  result.  One  Thomas  Millerd  or  Miller,  mate  of  the  ship  Hec- 
tor, then  lying  in  the  harbor,  being  probably  emboldened  by  the  pro- 
ceedings against  the  officer  of  the  Fort,  or  from  some  other  cause  not 
reported,  pronounced  all  the  people  here  traitors  and  rebels,  because 
they  had  discarded  the  King's  Colors.  On  complaint  being  made  to 
Captain  Feme,  the  Master  of  the  Hector,  Millerd  was  brought  before 
the  Court,  and  there  made  to  acknowledge  his  offence,  and  to  sign  a 
paper  to  that  effect.     He  was  then  discharged. 

These  occurrences  gave  the  Authorities  considerable   concern,  lest 
reports  should  be  carried  to  England  that  they  had  rebelled  here,  in 

his  name  Peter,  but  usage  has  added  an  s  to  it.  Southwark,  "the  King's  brewer,  and  divers 

His  brother  Thomas,  who  was  also  for  a  time  others,"  £500.     Mr.  Houghton  and  Mr.  Wil- 

in  New  England,  wrote  his  name  Peters.  —  See  liam  Hiccock  had  before,  with  some  others,  at 

N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  58 — 64.  the  "  motion  of  Capt.  Underhill,"  given  ten 

*  Mr.  Peters  had  in  several  ways  shown  his  barrels  of  powder, 

benevolence  to  the  country.     By  his  influence  f  Wentworth  (afterwards  Earl  of  Strafford) 

with  a  gentleman  of  Saugus,  he  gave  £300  to  was  at  this  time  "  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland,"  in 

the  colony.     With  Mr.  Weld,  he  procured,  at  which  country  he  boasted  he  had  made  his  Mas- 

another  time,  £500  in  London;  and  in  1641,  ter  "as  absolute  as  any  Prince  in  the  world." 

they  procured  of  Mr.  'Robert  Houghton,  of  The  St.  Patrick  was,  perhaps,  an  Irish  ship. 


192  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1636. 

fact,  and  were  playing  false,  and  that  their  contempt  of  the  English 
Flag  was  evidence  of  the  allegation.  Therefore,  to  counteract  such 
representations,  Mr.  Vane,  now  *  Governor,  called  the  Captains  of  the 
ships  f  together,  and  desired  to  know  how  they  felt  towards  the  Govern- 
ment and  people  here,  and  if  they  were  offended  at  what  had  happened, 
and  if  so,  what  they  required  in  satisfaction.  They  frankly  told  the 
Governor,  that  if  they  should  be  questioned,  on  their  return  to  England, 
in  regard  to  "  what  Colors  they  saw  here,"  a  statement  of  the  bare  facts 
in  relation  to  it  might  result  to  their  disadvantage.  Therefore,  they 
would  recommend  that  the  King's  Colors  might  be  set  up  on  the  Fort. 
The  Governor  and  his  Advisers  seem  to  have  come  pretty  well  over  to 
the  same  conclusion,  but  there  was  a  difficulty  in  the  way,  —  "  they  had 
no  King's  Colors;"  by  which  confession  of  theirs  it  is  pretty  clear  that 
others,  besides  Mr.  Endicott,  had  been  making  war  on  St.  George's 
Crosses.  To  remedy  this  difficulty,  two  of  the  ship-masters  offered  to 
present  them  with  Colors.  But  so  fearful  were  these  conscientious 
people  lest  they  should  tolerate  a  symbol  of  idolatry,  that  they  declined 
receiving  the  Colors  thus  offered,  until  they  had  first  taken  the  advice 
of  Mr.  Cotton  in  regard  to  it.  It  was  finally  concluded,  that  although 
they  were  of  the  decided  opinion  that  the  Cross  in  the  Ensign  was 
idolatrous,  and,  therefore,  ought  not  to  be  in  it  ;  nevertheless,  as  the 
Fort  was  the  King's,  and  maintained  in  his  name,  his  Colors  might  be 
used  there.  So  the  Governor  accepted  the  Colors  of  Captain  Palmer, 
and  promised  they  should  be  set  up  on  the  Fort  at  Castle  Island.  Ac- 
cordingly the  Governor,  with  the  consent  of  Mr.  Dudley,  directed 
Lieutenant  Morris, J  by  warrant,  to  "  spread"  the  King's  Colors  there, 
which  was  accordingly  done. 

While  these  events  were  passing  in  Boston,  the  General  Elec- 
y  '  tion  of  officers  for  the  present  year  took  place,  which  resulted  in 
the  choice  of  Henry  Vane,  Esquire,  for  Governor,  and  John  Winthrop, 
Esquire,  Deputy  Governor.  To  show  their  respect  for  the  new  Gov- 
ernor, all  the  Masters  of  ships  in  the  harbor  (and  "there  were  fifteen 
great  ships  "),  gave  him  a  salute  with  their  ordnance. §  The  next  week 
he  invited  all  the  Captains  on  shore,  and  gave  them  a  dinner.  After 
dinner,  he  proposed  the  following  regulations  to  be  observed  by  ships 
on  their  arrival  at  Boston  :  —  First,  that  all  ships  should  come  to  an 

*  By  carrying  on  the  narrative  of  the  trans-  that  he  might  be  discharged  of  it,  and  so  was, 
actions  which  grew  out  of  the  indignity  offered  whereby  he  gave  offence  to  the  Congregation 
to  the  St.  Patrick,  the  order  of  time  is,  of  of  Boston;  so  as,  being  questioned,  and  con- 
course, necessarily  anticipated.  As  will  be  vinced  of  sin  in  forsaking  his  calling,  he  did 
seen  presently,  the  event  here  detailed  took  acknowledge  his  fault ;  and,  at  the  request  of 
place  after  Mr.  Vane  was  elected  Governor.  the   people,   was  by  the   magistrates   chosen 

f  There  were  ten  in  the  harbor  at  this  time.  Lieutenant   to    the   same    Company  ;    for   he 

There  were  fifteen  but  a  few  days  before,  as  was   a  very  stout   man,  and  an  experienced 

will  be  seen.  soldier." 

J  This  person    appears   to   have   been   the        §  The  language  of  Winthrop  is,  in  noticing 

commander  of  the  fort,  and  the  same  who  was  this   election,    "  The  ships   congratulated  his 

Ensign  to  Captain  Underhill,  and  who,  accord-  election  with  a  volley  of  great  shot,  because 

ing  to  Winthrop,  i.  127,  "  taking  some   dis-  he  was  son  and  heir  to   a  Privy  Counsellor 

taste  to  his  office,  requested  the  Magistrates,  in  England."  —  Journal,  i.  187. 


Engraved  lyO.I 


SjECOJVZj  GOYEMNOH    Of  MASSACJBrUSJPTTS. 


1636.]  OWEN   HOWE.  193 

anchor  before  reaching  the  fort,  or  to  send  their  boats  with  an  officer 
who  should  satisfy  the  commander  of  it  that  they  were  friends  ;  second, 
that  before  any  goods  were  offered  for  sale,  an  invoice  should  be  deliv- 
ered to  the  Governor,  who  should  have  the  privilege  of  purchasing  ; 
third,  sailors  not  to  be  allowed  to  remain  on  shore  after  sunset,  "except 
upon  necessary  business."  To  all  which,  the  Captains  of  the  fifteen  ships 
"  willingly  condescended  unto." 

Ships  this  season  had  made  quick  passages  across  the  ocean ;  "divers, 
both  out  of  the  Downs  and  from  Holland,  came  in  five  weeks  ;"  and  Mr. 
Ball's  ship,  which  sailed  hence  on  the  sixteenth  of  January  last,  made 
the  English  coast  in  eighteen  days. 

j  Meanwhile,  the  internal  concerns  of  the  town  are  not  neglected. 

In  a  regular  meeting  of  those  with  whom  all  matters,  except 
elections,  had  been  entrusted,*  it  was  agreed  that  there  should  be  "a 
sufficient  foot-way  made  from  William  Colborne's  field  end,  unto  Sam- 
uell  Wylebore's  field  end,  next  Roxbury,  by  the  surveyors  of  high-ways, 
before  the  end  of  the  next  month."  At  this  meeting  it  appeared  that 
Richard  Fairbanks  had  sold  two  houses,  "in  Sudbury  End,"  that  were 
"William  Balstone's,  to  two  strangers,  contrary  to  a  former  order,  and, 
therefore,  the  sale  wTas  declared  void  ;  and  for  which  he  was  fined  ten 
pounds.  Also  that  "  Isaacke  Cullymore,  carpenter,"  had  sold  his  house 
to  a  stranger,  and  he  was  fined  ten  pounds. 

At  a  meeting  "it  was  agreed  that,  Mr.  Owyn  Roe,  of  Lon- 
don, having  a  house  and  townes  lott  amongst  vs,  and  certaine 
cattell,  shall  have  layd  out  for  him  two  hundred  acres  att  Mount  Wool- 
lystons,  for  the  present  releife  of  his  cattell,  and  for  him  to  inioy  when 
as  he  shalbecome  an  inhabitant  amongst  vs,  and  not  otherwise."  But 
Mr.  Rowe  never  came  to  New  England ;  though,  as  late  as  the  eigh- 
teenth of  February  of  this  year,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Winthrop,  he  said 
his  heart  was  with  the  people  here  ;  that  he  had  given  up  his  business, 
and  as  soon  as  he  could  get  in  his  debts  and  settle  his  affairs,  he  in- 
tended to  come  ;  for  he  desired  to  see  the  glory  of  the  place,  "  and  to 
behould  the  bewttye  of  Grod  in  these  gowenings  [gowings-in]  of  his  in 
his  tempel."  This  he  wrote  in  answer  to  one  from  Mr.  Winthrop,  dated 
on  the  tenth  of  the  preceding  December.  In  the  same  letter,  Mr.  Rowe 
requested  that  "Mr.  Ransford  "  might  be  accommodated  with  a  farm, 
on  which  the  stock  of  cattle  he  had  sent  over  might  be  preserved  ;  for 
he  had  lost  near  five  hundred  pounds,  "  as  Mr.  Wilson  could  certifye."  f 
He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Massachusetts  Company,  and 
had  also  been  an  early  benefactor  to  the  colony,  as  Winthrop  shows. 
The  troubles  which  led  to  the  "  Civil  War,"  diverted  him  from  becom- 
ing a  resident  of  Boston,  in  all  probability,  for  he  was  employed  in  the 
military  service  in  that  contest ;   and  when  the  King  was  brought  to 

*  Namely,  "Thomas  Oliver,  Thomas  Lev-   Richard  Tuttell,  John  Sampford,  and  James 
eritt,    William    Hutchinson,   Willyam   Coul-    Penne." 
borne,  John    Coggeshall,    William  Aspenall,      f  See  Hutchinson's  Coll.  of  Orig.  Papers,  59. 

25 


194  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1636. 

trial,  he  was  one  of  the  Judges  in  that  "  High  Court  of  Justice,"  and 
among  those  who  signed  the  warrant  for  his  execution.* 

Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  who  had  been  in  Virginia  about  a  year, 
ug"  '  returned  to  Boston  with  two  vessels.  He  brought  with  him 
some  fourteen  heifers,  and  about  eighty  goats  ;  of  the  latter,  he  lost 
twenty  on  his  voyage.  He  gave  an  account  of  great  sufferings  in  that 
colony ;  that  above  eighteen  hundred  people  had  died  there  within  the 
year,  and  chiefly  of  famine  ;  and  that  corn  was  at  twenty  shillings  the 
bushel. 

The  regulators  of  the  town's  affairs  appointed  John  Sampford 
ug'     '  and  William  Hudson,    "  Waterbalies,  to  see  yl  noe  annoying 
things,  eyther  by  fish,  wood  or  stone,  be  left  about  ye  sea  shore,"  con- 
trary to  an  order  made  the  first  of  September,  1634.     And  on  the 

twenty-second  of  the  same  month,  at  a  General  Town  Meeting, 
ug'  "  '  Mr.  William  Hutchinson,  Mr.  John  Coggeshall,  and  Mr.  William 
Brenton,  were  chosen  for  "  Deputyes  or  Comittyes  for  the  service  of 
this  next  General  Court."  And  "  att  this  assembly,  Mr.  John  New- 
gate is  chosen  for  one  of  ye  Constables  within  this  towne,  for  one  whole 
year." 

At  the  general  meeting  of  the  town  now  held,  ten  men  were 

selected  for  the  "same  businesses  and  occasions,"  and  Avith 
the  same  powers  as  their  predecessors  had  for  the  management  of  the 
town's  affairs. f     They  were  chosen  for  six  "months  only.     At  a  meeting 

ten  days  later,  ' '  it  was  founde  yl  William  Hudson  hath  sould  an 

housplott  and  garden  vnto  one  William  Mawer,  a  strainger, 
wthout"  consent,  and  was  fined  twenty  shillings.  Also,  "William 
Aspenall  hath  sold  a  housplott  and  a  garden  vnto  one  Mr.  Tinge, "J 
and  is  fined  five  pounds.  "  Mr.  Samuel  Cole  "  was  charged  with  sell- 
ing a  lot  to  one  Mr.  Greenfield,  and  is  let  off  with  a  small  fine. 

It  was  ordered  in  town  meeting  that  "  no  house  at  all "  should 
be  built  near  to  any  of  the  streets  or  lanes,  unless  by  consent  and 
advice  "  of  ye  Overseers  of  ye  Townes  occasions."  This  regulation  was 
declared  to  be  to  prevent  disorderly  building,  "to  ye  inconvenience  of 
streetes  and  laynes."  For  non-observance  of  which  a  fine  not  exceeding 
ten  shillings  was  to  be  imposed.     At  the  next  meeting,  it  was  ordered 

*  The  fac  simile  of  his  autograph,  here  pre-  f  As  some  new  names  appear,  they  are  all 
sented,  is  copied  from  a  beautiful  engraving  given:  —  "Thomas  Olyver,  Thomas  Leveritt, 
of  the  "  Death  Warrant,"  accompanied  by  the  William  Hutchinson,  Robert  Keayne,  John 
names  of  those  Judges  who  signed  it.  Copies  Newgate,  William  Coulborne,  John  Cogges- 
of  this  curious  instrument  are  common,  but  hall,  John  Sampford,  William  Brenton,  and 
generally  of  wretched  execution.  I  am  in-  William  Balstone  ;"  all  mistered  in  the  records, 
debted  to  Mr.  John  Dean  for  the  liberty  to  except  Thomas  Leveritt,  which  omission  was 
make  a  tracing  for  the  subject  of  this  note,    of  course  accidental. 

from  the  copy  which  he  possesses.  %  His  Christian  name  was  probably  William. 

He  had  a  brother  Edward  here  in  1638,  who 
came  over  in  the  same  ship  with  Mr.  John 
Josselyn.  These  names  will  be  often  met 
with  in  the  progress  of  the  History.  William 
and  Edward  Tynge  were  brothers.  The  former 
V ^  died  18  Jan.,  1653. 


mww 


1G36-]  ORIGINAL    STREETS.  195 

that  all  the  timber  in  the  market  place,  not  taken  away  before 

the  first  of  next  month,  should  be  forfeited.     William  Brenton 

and  John   Sampford  were   appointed  to  look  to  the  matter ;   which,  if 

they  neglected  to  do,  the  Town  would  not  neglect  to  look  to  them  for  a 

fine  of  ten  shillings,  as  the  record  says. 

It  was  further  ordered,  at  this  meeting,  that  "John  Gallop  shall 
remove  his  payles  at  his  yarde  ende  within  fourteen  dayes,  and  to 
rainge  them  even  with  the  corner  of  his  house,  for  ye  preserving  of  ye 
way  vpon  ye  sea  bancke  ;  that  William*  Wilkes,  Isaac  Cullymore, 
Henry  Lynne,  and  Mr.  Greensmyth,f  shall  raynge  theire  payle  vpon 
each  of  their  grounds,  streight  from  ye  corner  of  William  Wilkes  his 
house,  or  from  ye  vpper  poast  of  his  garding  gap,  and  to  preserve  a  path- 
way of  a  rod  breadth  betweene  payle  and  payle,  betweene  this  and  ye 
first  of  next  second  moneth  ;  and  soe  to  goe  all  along  vnto  John  Pem- 
berton's  house  in  ye  same  range."  Also  there  shall  be  a  street  between 
Henry  Lynn  and  Mr.  Samuel  Coles'  ground,  to  run  up  from  the  water 
side  to  the  next  great  cross  street,  one  and  a  half  rods  wide.  Also 
another  lane  to  go  up  from  the  water  by  John  Gallop's,  to  the  same 
cross  way,  a  pole  in  breadth.  Also  another  "layne  to  be  left  to  goe 
from  ye  water  side  vp  ye  balke,  or  neare  y*  goes  vp  from  ye  end  of  John 
My  lams  house  next  William  Aspenalls  ground,  to  goe  along  to  ye  mylne 
cove,  a  rod  and  a  half  broade."  Also,  "  y*  the  streete  way  from  ye  gates 
next  James  Everills  towards  ye  mylne,  is  to  runne  streight  along  in  an 
even  lyne  to  John  Pemberton's  house,  and  to  raynge  betweene  Thomas 
Marshalls  house  and  Sergyant  Savages  house,  and  to  be  within  ye  streete 
between  payle  and  payle  on  eyther  syde,  two  pole  "  in  breadth.  Also 
a  lane  to  run  from  cove  to  cove,  between  Thomas  Paynter  and  Thomas 
Marshall,  one  and  a  half  poles  wide. 

An  order  was  passed,  that  for  every  rod  of  planting  ground  not 

fenced  by  the  first  of  the  next  April,  ten  shillings  a  rod  should 

be  paid,  or  the  ground  forfeited.     And   several  persons  paid  fines  J 

"  vpon  their  houses,  selling  contrary  to  a  former  order."     Also 

Richard  Fairbanks  was  chosen  "  Hog  Reeve. "|| 

Robert  Harding  was  ordered  to  remove  a  "  little  house  in  his 

yard,  and  take  it  away  from  thence,  before  the  first  of  next 

May."     It  was  also  ordered,  that  those  inhabitants  who  were  in  want 

of  wood,  might  get  it  at  "  Deare  Island  ;"  that  if  they  left  any  felled 

which  they  did  not  take  away,  others  were  at  liberty  to  take  it. 

The  town  chose  John  Coggeshall,  William  Coulborne  and  Wil- 
liam Brenton,  to  serve  as  Deputies  in  the  General  Court.    Eight 
persons  §  were  also  chosen  "  to  consider  of  Mount  Woolistone  businesse, 

*  Usually  written  in  the  records  Willm.  Aspenall  xxv.%  and  Samuel  Cole  xx.B ;  all  paid 
f  At  the  General  Court,  3d  August,  1637,  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Robert  Keayne. 
' '  one  Greensmith  ' '  was  imprisoned  for  say-  ||  About  three  years  later  he  was  appointed 
ing,  "that  all  the  Elders,  except  two,  did  a  sort  of  Post  Master,  as  will  be  seen.  He  was 
preach  a  covenant  of  work."  The  two  minis-  made  a  freeman  14  May,  1634. 
ters  were  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wheelwright.  §  Vane,  Winthrop,  Oliver,  Keayne,  New- 
He  was  fined  £40.  gate,  Coulborne,  Coggeshall  and  Brenton,  were 
J  They  were,  William  Hudson  v.",  William  those  made  choice  of. 


196  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON.  [1636. 

and  for  ye  ripening  thereof ;  how  there  may  bee  a  Towne  and  Church 
there  wth  ye  consent  of  this  Towne 's  inhabitants."    At  the  next  meeting 
it  was  agreed  that  Edward  Belchar,  William  Talmage,  Thomas 
Snowe,  William  Deninge  and  John  Arratt  [?],  servants  of  Wil- 
liam Brenton,  should  have  their  "  great  allotments  "  at  Muddy  River  ; 
"and  also  our  brother  Robert  Hull  and  Thomas  Wheeler."*     At  the 
next  meeting  leave  was  granted  Thomas  Mount  f  to  fence  in  a 
piece  of  marsh  before  his  house,  "for  the  making  of  brick,  at 
the  pleasure  of  ye  overseers  of  ye  Towne." 

Before  the  close  of  this  year,  there  arrived  a  ship  at  Barnstaple  with 
eighty  heifers,  and  one  from  Bristol  with  passengers  ;  but  much  of  her 
freight  and  most  of  her  passengers  were  sent  out  by  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges,  for  his  Plantation  at  Agamentacus.J  And  by  the  17th  of 
November,  two  other  ships  arrived  from  London,  "  full  of  pas- 
sengers, men,  women  and  children."  One  of  them  had  been 
out  twenty-six  weeks,  and  was  reduced  to  great  extremity.  The  pas- 
sengers, though  in  a  state  of  starvation,  "yet  came  all  safe  on  shore, 
and  most  of  them  sound,  and  well  liking."  Among  those  who  now 
arrived  at  Boston,  were  Mr.  Nathaniel  Rogers,  afterwards  of  Ipswich, 
and  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge,  afterwards  minister  of  Duxbury. 

There  was  another  windmill  erected  this  year  at  Boston,  and  one 
at  Charlestown ;  a  water-mill  at  Salem,  one  at  Ipswich,  and  one  at 
Newbury. 

Cattle,  notwithstanding  they  had  been  constantly  brought  in,  were  at 
a  high  price.  A  good  cow  was  worth  about  thirty  pounds  ;  a  pair  of 
bulls  or  oxen,  forty  pounds ;  corn,  five  shillings  a  bushel ;  boards, 
about  ten  shillings  the  hundred  feet ;  carpenters,  three  shillings  a 
day.  || 

*  Perhaps  the  same  who,  in  1675,  fell  des-  of  the  ship.    This  is  often  the  case  in  Gov. 

perately   wounded   at   Wickabaug    Pond,    in  Winthrop's  Journal ;  an  omission  seriously  felt 

Philip's  war.     He  survived,  but  Capt.  Edward  at  this  day. 

Hutchinson  died  of  wounds  received  at  the        |[  The  facts  in  this  paragraph  I  take  from 

same  time.  Mr.  Webster's  edition  of  Winthrop,s  Journal; 

fThe  name  is  written  in  the  margin  of  the  some  of  them  not  being  intelligible  in  Mr. 

Record,  Munt.  Savage's  edition. 

J  No  names  of  passengers  are  given,  or  name 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Pequot  Indians.  — Their  Jealousy  of  the  English.  —  Its  Origin. — They  kill  Mr.  Oldham. — Discov- 
ery by  Capt.  Gallop.  —  His  Desperate  Fight  near  Block  Island.  — Returns  to  Boston  with  a  Cap- 
tive.—  Roger  Williams.  —  Miantonimo. —  Lieut.  Gardiner.  —  Gov.  Vane  sends  Commissioners  to 
the  Narragansets. — Forces  sent  to  Block  Island.  —  They  ravage  the  Country.  —  Sail  to  the  Pe- 
quot Country.  —  Effect  little.  —  Result  unfavorable.  —  Complained  of  by  Plymouth  and  Connecti- 
cut. —  The  English  in  much  jeopardy.  —  Deputation  of  Narr;iganset  Indians  visit  Boston. —  League 
between  them  and  the  Pequots  prevented.  —  Roger  Williams.  —  Pequots  commit  more  Murders.  — 
Bloody  Eight  at  Saybrook.  —  Narragansets  make  War  on  the  Pequots.  —  They  bring  Trophies  to 
Boston.  —  Company  under  Underbill  sent  to  Saybrook.  —  Pequots  attack  Wethersfield.  —  War 
declared  against  them. — March  of  Capt.  Mason.  —  Blindness  of  the  Pequots. — Mohegans  and 
Narragansets  march  with  the  English.  —  The  principal  Pequot  Port  stormed  and  taken.  —  The 
Army  returns  to  Saybrook. 

ALTHOUGH  there  had  been  some  serious  pas- 
sages between  the  Pequot  Indians  and  the  Eng- 
lish hitherto,  they  did  not  so  materially  affect 
the  people  of  Boston,  as  to  cause  any  very  deep 
animosity  to  remain  in  their  minds.  The  Pequots 
had  committed  murders,  but  the  sufferers  did  not 
belong  to  Boston,  nor  to  Massachusetts  ;  nor  was 
it  certain  that  those  who  were  murdered  had  not 
brought  down  vengeance  upon  their  own  heads, 
by  their  imprudence.  Since  the  outrages  here 
alluded  to,  the  English  had  increased  in  numbers, 
and  a  few  had  gone  and  occupied  lands  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
of  those  Indians.  Suspicions  and  jealousies  are  always  the  offspring  of 
ignorance.  The  natives  could  not  comprehend  much  of  the  system 
which  governed  the  conduct  of  their  new  neighbors,  and  hence  a  jeal- 
ousy of  what  they  could  not  understand  was  the  natural  result ;  they 
saw  there  was  a  great  difference  between  their  own  and  their  neighbors' 
condition,  which  they  were  ready  at  once  to  attribute  to  their  superior 
endowments.  This  naturally  excited  envy,  and  this  a  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians  to  triumph  over  them. 

The  Pequots  were  similarly  situated  with  respect  to  their  neighbors 
on  the  west, — the  Dutch, — with  whom  no  good  understanding  had 
prevailed  for  some  time.  However,  it  is  not  at  all  probable  that  they 
contemplated  a  general  war  with  the  white  people  at  any  time.  They 
thought  they  had  pacified  them  about  the  murder  of  Captain  Stone  and 
his  company ;  and  they  may  have  thought  that  if  a  few  others  hap- 
pened they  could  as  easily  be  passed  over.  They  had  no  idea,  prob- 
ably, that  by  killing  a  man  belonging  to  Boston,  any  more  trouble 
would  arise  than  though  he  belonged  to  any  other  place  ;  but  here  their 
reasoning,  if  they  reasoned  at  all,  failed  them  ;  for  Captain  Stone 
belonged  to  Virginia,  and  that  country  was  too  far  off  to  redress  the 
injury  or  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  it. 

This  was  the  actual  state  of  things  when  news  came  to  Boston 
that  one  of  its  active  business  community  had  been  murdered  by 


198  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1636. 

the  Indians  of  Block  Island.  This  was  Captain  John  Oldham,  who  had 
occupied  a  conspicuous  place  during  the  whole  period  of  the  existence 
of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  although  he  did  not  reside  per- 
manently on  the  peninsula  of  Shawmut,  yet  his  principal  business  was 
here. 

It  proved  that  Captain  Oldham  was  killed  by  some  Narraganset 
Indians  who  happened  to  be  at  Block  Island  at  the  time  of  his  visit. 
The  discovery  of  the  murder  and  its  perpetrators  was  acci- 
11  y  dental,  and  happened  in  this  way.  Captain  John  Gallop,  an 
intrepid  mariner  of  Boston,  being  upon  a  trading  expedition,  put  into 
Block  Island  to  traffic  with  the  natives.  He  had  with  him  his  son 
John,*  another  son  not  mentioned  by  name,  and  a  servant,  who  is 
described  as  a  "strong,  stout  fellow."  As  they  approached  the 
island,  they  discovered  a  vessel  making  off  from  the  shore,  under  sus- 
picious circumstances  ;  for  those  on  board  of  it  managed  the  sails  in  an 
awkward  manner.  Immediately  after,  they  saw  that  it  was  full  of 
Indians.j  Though  his  men  numbered  but  four,  including  himself,  J 
Captain  Gallop  determined  to  capture  the  piratical  vessel,  as  he  now 
conceived  her  to  be  such.  He  therefore  fired  upon  her  as  soon  as  he 
was  near  enough,  and  then  stood  off  to  ascertain  what  effect  his  fire 
had  upon  the  pirates  ;  for,  owing  to  their  numbers,  he  was  afraid  to 
board  them  at  once,  as  "  they  stood  ready  armed,  with  guns,  pikes  and 
swords."  To  attempt  their  capture  under  these  circumstances  was 
certainly  desperate ;  but  Gallop  had  the  advantage  of  being  able 
to  manoeuvre  his  vessel,  while  his  enemies  were  such  sorry  sailors  that 

*  He  was  killed  at  the  great  swamp-fight,  blood  !  '     And  then,  taking  his  dagger  to  the 

in  Narraganset,   19  Dec,  1675,  being    then  scuttle-hole,  in  which  the  Indians  were  quog-» 

captain  of  one  of  the  Connecticut  companies,  ged,   as  thick  as  they  could  stand,  head  by 

He  had  a  grant  of  land  on  Mistick  river  in  head,  he  jobbed  his  dagger  very  often  with  all 

1653,  "  in  consideration  and  with  respect  unto  his  strength  upon   them.      Upon   which  one 

the  services  his  father  hath  done  for  the  coun-  Indian  first  got  out  and  begged  quarter  for  hia 

try."  He  married  Mrs.  Margaret  Lake,  and  left  life,  and  he  would  tell  how  many  were  in  the 

posterity. — See   Miss    Caulkin's    Hist.    New  hold,  and  who  they  were,  and  what  they  had 

London,  98,  291-2.  done  ;  they  granted   him  that  quarter,"  &c, 

t  Fourteen  in  all,  says  Winthrop,  i.,  189.  as  in  the  text.      "Presently   after,   another 

j  Winthrop  says,  "  one  man  more  and  two  very  proper  fellow  got  out,  and  got  to  them, 

little  boys."     The  "  little  boys  "  were  doubt-  and  desired  like  quarter  for  his  life  ;  but  they 

less  the  sons  of  the  Captain.     How  old  they  considering  if  they  spared  and  bound  him  also 

were  at  this  time  does  not  appear  ;  but  John,  in  their  hold,  they  might  in  the  night  unbind 

jun.,hada  daughter  married  in  1672.     Rev.  each  other  and  do  them  mischief,  being  but 

Mr.  Cobbet,  in  his  Narrative,  says  he  had  his  four   persons,   and  much   tired ;    whereupon, 

account  from  him.  —  See  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  without   further  debate,  they  chopped  off'  his 

Gen.  Reg.,  vii.,  211-12.     From  the  part  they  head,  and  heaved  his  carkas  overboard  ;  upon 

acted  in  this  tragedy  they  could  not  have  been  which  the  other  Indian  confessed  to  them,  that 

very  young.     Mr.  Cobbet  relates,    that   Gal-  he  was  their  Sachem  whom  they  had  killed  ; 

lop,  on  finding  the   seine  in  the  enemy's  ves-  and  that  it  was  he  who  had  stirred  up  the 

sel,  was  about  to  "  take  it  with  him  to  catch  Block  Islanders  to  take  that  English  vessel 

basse  withal,  and  then  perceived  a  dead  body  and   cram   the   men   in   it.     Now   the   wind 

under  it  with  the  head  cut  off;"   that  when  waxing  higher  and  contrary,  they  could  not 

he  entered  the  vessel,  "  he  bid   his  two  sons  tow  the  other  vessel  any  further,  cut  the  rope 

follow  him,  and  stand  by  him  with  their  guns  and  let  her  drive,  and  hastened  to  Saybrook 

ready  charged,  which  they  did  ;  and  he,  taking  fort  with   their   captive   Indian;   whereupon 

the  bloody  head  and  washing  it,  knew  it  to  that  just   war  was   commenced   against    the 

be  Mr.  Oldham's,  and  said, '  Ah  !  brother  Old-  bloody  Pequots  and  their  associates." 
ham,  is  it  thee  ?     I  am  resolved  to  avenge  thy 


1C3G.]  ORIGIN    OF    PEQUOT   WAR. CAPTAIN    GALLOP.  199 

they  appear  to  have  had  little  or  no  control  over  their  craft.  Gallop, 
therefore,  having  drawn  off  to  a  fair  distance,  made  all  sail,  with  the 
prowr  of  his  vessel  aimed  directly  against  the  quarter  of  the  enemy. 
There  being  a  good  breeze,  he  struck  her  with  such  force  that  she  was 
almost  overset  by  the  collision  ;  and  this  so  frightened  the  Indians,  that 
six  of  them  jumped  into  the  sea  and  were  drowned  ;  yet  the  English 
captain  did  not  dare  to  board  her,  but  stood  off  again  to  prepare  for 
another  broadside  of  the  same  kind.  His  success  increased.  The  next 
time  he  drove  the  fluke  of  his  anchor  through  the  bows  of  the  pirate, 
and  remained  fast  to  her.  In  the  mean  time  he  raked  her  fore-and-aft 
with  his  small  shot,  till  every  Indian  had  hid  himself  below.  The  Eng- 
lish might  now  have  boarded  her,  but  the  Captain  concluded  to  continue 
his  successful  broadsides,  as  his  anchor  had  broken  its  hold,  and  his 
bark  was  drifting  from  his  antagonist.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  saw  him 
hauling  off,  four  or  five  more  of  them  leaped  overboard  and  were 
drowned.  Seeing  this,  Gallop  came  alongside  and  boarded  them.  The 
Indians,  by  this  time,  if  not  before,  being  satisfied  that  all  was  lost,  one 
came  out  of  the  hold  and  surrendered  ;  and  being  bound,  was  put  into 
the  hold.  Then  another  came  up,  and  he  was  bound  likewise  ;  but  not 
daring  to  put  him  into  the  hold  with  the  other,  fearing  one  might 
unloose  the  other,  they  threw  him  bound  into  the  sea.  There  were  still 
two  left  in  the  hold,  and  these  defended  themselves  so  bravely  with 
swords,  that  Gallop  resolved  to  secure  them  there,  and  to  sail  away 
with  his  prize.  He  therefore  made  her  fast  to  his  own  vessel  and  pro- 
ceeded on  with  her  in  tow  ;  but  in  the  night  the  wind  came  on  to  blow, 
and  he  was  forced  to  cut  her  adrift,  and  thus  he  lost  her.  He  soon 
after  arrived  at  Saybrook  with  the  Indian  captive,  and  in  due  time 
returned  with  him  to  Boston. 

When  Captain  Gallop  got  possession  of  the  enemy's  vessel,  he  found 
the  body  of  Captain  Oldham  under  an  old  seine,  yet  warm  ;  and  though 
the  head  was  dissevered  and  disfigured,  he  knew  him  well,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  Ah,  brother  Oldham  !  is  it  thee  ?  I  am  resolved  to  avenge 
thy  death !  "  Thus  being  sure  that  he  had  engaged  the  murderers  of 
his  friend,  his  naturally  strong  arm  was  doubly  nerved  by  the  justice 
of  his  cause. 

There  were  with  Mr.  Oldham  two  boys  and  two  Narraganset 
u  y  '  Indians,  and  there  was  a  suspicion  that  the  latter  were  acces- 
sory to  Captain  Oldham's  death.  However  this  may  be,  neither  of  the 
four  in  company  with  him  were  killed.  Mr.  Roger  Williams,  recently 
driven  from  Salem  to  escape  persecution,  being  situated  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Narragansets,  learned  at  once  all  the  particulars  relative  to  Mr. 
Oldham's  death,  and  communicated  it  by  letter  to  Governor  Vane,  at 
Boston.  He  also  sent  for  and  obtained  the  two  boys  that  were  with 
Captain  Oldham  when  he  was  killed,  and  they  were,  soon  after,  by 
Miantonimo  sent  to  Boston.  The  messengers  who  brought  Mr.  Wil- 
liams' letter  to  the  Governor,  were  the  same  who  were  with  Mr.  Oldham 
when  he  was  killed  ;  and  whether  they  were  implicated  in  that  murder 


200  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1636. 

or  not,  they  did  not  very  satisfactorily  acquit  themselves  "before  the 
Governor  and  Council  at  Boston ;  and  had  they  not  been  charged  with 
messages  from  Canonicus,  they  would  no  doubt  have  been  dealt  with  as 
enemies.  The  Indian  captured  by  Captain  Gallop,  had,  on  his  exam- 
ination, accused  these  Indians  as  having  been  concerned  in  Captain 
Oldham's  death,  and  this  was  the  grounds  of  suspicion  against  them. 

Some  of  the  people  began  to  be  clamorous  because  the  Government  had 
not  moved  at  once  to  revenge  the  death  of  Mr.  Oldham  ;  meanwhile,  the 
great  Narraganset  Sachems,  Canonicus  and  Miantonimo,  were  exerting 
themselves  to  find  out  the  murderers,  and  the  latter  had  actually  gone 
against  Block  Island  with  two  hundred  men,  in  less  than  one  week 
after  the  murder  was  committed.  Among  those  disposed  to  complain 
against  the  Government  for  delaying  to  do  "justice  "  upon  the  Indians, 
was  Lieutenant  Gardiner,  of  the  fort  at  Saybrook.  He  tauntingly  said, 
that  not  only  himself,  but  "  many  more  with  him  wondered  that  the 
Bay  did  not  better  revenge  the  murdering  of  Mr.  Oldham,  an  honest 
man  of  their  own,  seeing  they  were  at  such  cost  for  a  Virginian." 

Notwithstanding,  Governor  Vane  acted  with  prudence  ;  he  used  all 
means  at  his  command  to  learn  the  actual  state  of  the  case.  On  the 
eighth  of  August  he  sent  a  deputation  into  the  Narraganset  coun- 
try to  hold  a  personal  conference  with  Canonicus,*  who,  it  was 
well  known,  was  a  just  man,  and  a  friend  to  the  English.  The  embassy 
consisted  of  Lieutenant  Edward  Gibbons  f  of  Boston,  and  Mr.  John 
Higginson  of  Salem. J  Kutshamokin,  a  chief  of  the  Massachusetts  In- 
dians, accompanied  them  as  interpreter.  From  this  negotiation  they 
returned  on  the  thirteenth   of  the  same  month,  having  been 

°'  "  very  well  accepted,  and  good  success  in  their  business.  They 
observed  in  the  Sachem  much  state,  great  command  over  his  men,  and 
much  wisdom  in  his  answers  and  the  carriage  of  the  "whole  treaty  ; 
clearing  himself  and  his  neighbors  of  the  murder,  and  offering  assistance 
for  revenge  of  it,  yet  upon  very  safe  and  wary  conditions." 

It  was  pretty  soon  settled,  by  advice  of  the  Magistrates  and  Minis- 

*  A  man,  says  Johnson,  "  then  well  stricken  dating  with  the  people  of  Salern,  a  "  saving 
in  years,"  had  therefore  "  caused  his  nephew,  work"  was  commenced  upon  him,  and  he 
Miantinomo,  to  take  the  government  upon  "  afterwards  was  the  chieftane  and  flower  of 
him,  who  was  a  very  sterne  man,  and  of  very  New  England's  militia,  and  an  eminent  in- 
great  stature ;  of  a  cruel  nature,  causing  all  strument  both  in  church  and  commonwealth  ; 
his  nobility,  and  such  as  were  his  attendance,  he  being  the  younger  brother  of  the  house  of 
to  tremble  at  his  speech.  The  people  under  an  honorable  extract."  —  His  Narrative,  p.  10. 
his  government  were  very  numerous,  besides  Captain  Johnson  says,  (in  1644),  "  He  is  a 
the  Niantick  Indians,  whose  Prince  was  of  man  of  a  resolute  spirit,  bold  as  a  lion,  a 
neare  alliance  unto  him.  They  were  able  to  Major-General,  very  forward  to  promote  all 
set  forth,  as  was  then  supposed,  30,000  [3000]  military  matters  ;  his  forts  all  well  contrived, 
fighting  men." — Won.  Work.  Pro  v.,  Book  ii.,  and  batteries  strong  and  in  good  repair,  his 
chap.  6.  artillery  well  mounted  and  cleanly  kept."  — 

f  Mr.  Gibbons  was  in  New  England  when  Won.  Work.  Prov.,  191. 

Governor  Endicott  arrived,  and  rendered  much  J  In  Johnson's  W.  W.  Providence,  Book  ii., 

service  in  organizing  his  Government  at  Salem,  chap.  6,  will  be  found  a  most  excellent  de- 

What  time  he  came  over  does  not  appear,  but  scription  of  the  proceedings  at  the  council  with 

he  was  at  Mount  Wollaston  for  a  time,  and  the  Indians  in    their  country.      No  one  can 

probably  came  over  with   the  founder  of  that  read  it  without  believing  Johnson  was  himself 

colony.     Joshua  Scottow  says,  that,  on  asso-  on  the  spot. 


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163G.]  PEQUOTS. BLOCK    ISLAND    EXPEDITION.  201 

tcrs,  that  the  Block  Island  Indians  should  be  chastised,  and  that  an 
expedition  for  the  purpose  should  forthwith  be  dispatched  to  that 
Island.  Such  was  the  state  of  the  public  mind,  that  men  enough  volun- 
teered for  the  service  as  soon  as  they  were  wanted.  It  was  decided 
that  the  expedition  should  consist  of  ninety  men  ;  that  the  former  Gov- 
ernor, John  Endicott,  Esq.,  should  have  the  chief  command,  as  Gen- 
eral ;  that  the  whole  should  be  divided  into  four  companies,  under  the 
immediate  charge  of  Capt.  John  Underbill,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Turner, 
Ens.  William  Jennison,*  and  Ens.  Richard  Davenport,  of  Salem. 

General  Endicott's  instructions  were  to  put  to  death  the  men  of  Block 
Island,  but  to  spare  the  women  and  children  and  bring  them  away,  f 
This  was  to  revenge  the  death  of  Captain  Oldham.  When  this  part  of 
their  commission  should  be  executed,  they  were  to  proceed  against  the 
Pequots  on  the  Main,  and  to  demand  of  them  the  murderers  of  Captain 
Stone  and  others,  a  thousand  fathom  of  wampum  for  damages,  and  some 
of  their  children  as  hostages.  If  they  refused  to  comply,  force  was  to 
be  employed  against  them. 

Thus  appointed,  the  expedition  sailed  from  Boston,  and  on 
the  last  of  August  arrived  at  Block  Island.  Owing  to  the  surf, 
a  landing  was  effected  with  difficulty.  About  sixty  Indians  rushed  to 
the  shore  to  encounter  them;  all  "  able,  fighting  men,  as  straight  as 
arrows."  They  began  the  attack  with  fury,  says  Captain  Underhill, 
"  as  though  they  had  meant  to  have  made  an  end  of  us  all  in  a  moment. 
They  shot  one  young  man  in  the  neck,  through  a  collar,  for  stiffness 
as  if  it  had  been  an  oaken  board,  and  entered  his  flesh  a  good 
depth. J  Myself  received  an  arrow  through  my  coat-sleeve,  a  second 
against  my  helmet  on  the  forehead  ;  so  as  if  God  in  his  providence  had 
not  moved  the  heart  of  my  wife  to  persuade  me  to  carry  it  along  with 
me  (which  I  was  unwilling  to  do),  I  had  been  slain." 

Having  effected  a  landing,  the  Indians  at  once  dispersed  and  hid 

*  Winthrop,  whom  I  follow  here,  does  not  f  These  were  indeed  sanguinary  orders,  but 
give  Jennison  s  Christian  name.  He  was  they  were  in  strict  accordance  with  the  usages 
among  the  first  freemen  of  the  colony,  and  was  of  those  times.  It  strikes  the  writer  that  it 
entitled  to  the  distinction  of  Mr.  He  settled  would  be  extremely  unjust  to  charge  Governor 
in  Watertown,  and  held  important  offices  Vane  with  originating  them,  as  is  not  very 
there.  In  1633  he  went  to  Bermuda,  where  faintly  hinted  in  a  note  to  their  record  in 
he  had  formerly  resided.  He  went  in  a  vessel  Winthrop 's  Journal.  If  by  such  insinuation 
named  the  Thunder,  as  pilot.  She  had  been  others  were  supposed  to  be  held  less  blame- 
sent  there  to  procure  provisions ;  but  not  less,  the  satisfaction  gained  can  be  but  mo- 
being  able  to  obtain  any,  "  for  the  weavils  had  mentary.  The  reader  having  conned  the  note 
taken  the  corn  before  they  came  there,"  they  referred  to  on  page  192,  let  him  read  in  con- 
proceeded  to  Virginia.  At  that  colony  they  nection  Winthrop 's  text,  six  pages  forward, 
obtained  corn  and  goats,  and  returned  to  Bos-  page  199. 

ton  June  1st,  1634.    Mr.  Jennison  related  that  J  In  October  of  this  year  the  General  Court 

there  had  been  a   great  change  in  Bermuda  granted  George  Munnings  £5,  for  the  loss  of 

since  he  lived  there;   "divers  lewd  persons  an  eye,  "  in  the  voyage  to  Block  Island."  — 

being  become  good  Christians."     That  there  Savage's  Note  in   Winthrop,  i.,  195.     Among 

were  three  ministers,  ''who  had  lately,  by  those  made  freemen,  4  March,  1635,  is  George 

fasting  and  prayer,  dispossessed  one  possessed  Munnings.      He  died  at   Boston,  24  August, 

with   a  devil."     Upon  this   "  miracle  "  Mr.  1658.     He  had  a  son  George.     Perhaps  with 

Savage   has  an   amusing  note.  —  Journal,   i.  some  the  name  may  have  slid  into  Manning. 
134. 

26 


202  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1636. 

themselves  as  well  as  they  could.*  In  the  course  of  two  clays,  how- 
ever, they  found  and  killed  "  some  fourteen,"  destroyed  large  fields  of 
corn,  burnt  up  all  the  wigwams  they  could  find,  and  then  reembarked, 
to  see  what  could  be  effected  among  the  Pequots.  The  expedition 
touched  at  Saybrook.  Captain  Gardiner  was  displeased  at  an  attempt 
upon  those  Indians.  He  believed  the  Narragansets  only  were  to  be 
chastised,  and  he  said  to  General  Endicott,  "you  come  hither  to  raise 
these  wasps  about  my  ears,  and  then  you  will  take  wing  and  flee  away." 
The  Authorities  both  of  Connecticut  f  and  Plymouth  J  thought  the  expe- 
dition an  unadvised  one  also.§ 

g  From  Saybrook  Endicott  proceeded  to  Pequot  river,  now  called 

the  Thames.  He  landed  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  had  several 
parleys  with  small  parties  of  the  Indians,  but  could  get  no  satisfaction 
whatever.  He  therefore  destroyed  everything  he  could  find  of  a 
destructible  character,  and  succeeded  in  killing  two  Indians.  ||  Two 
days  were  employed  in  this  work,  and  he  then  embarked  for  Boston, 

where  the  "  fleet"  arrived  on  the  fourteenth  of  September,  not 

having  lost  a  man,  and  but  two  wounded. 
The  expedition  had  on  the  whole  a  bad  effect.  The  ability  of  the 
Indians  to  make  atonement  for  offences  was  not  then  well  understood 
by  the  English.  It  is  evident,  from  the  light  since  thrown  upon  the 
condition  of  the  Indians  of  that  day,  that  they  could  not  comprehend  the 
justice  of  the  English  in  demanding  satisfaction  for  wrongs  committed 
by  straggling  Indians,  even  though  they  were  of  the  same  tribe  with  those 
of  whom  the  demand  was  made.  Hence  for  the  aggrieved  to  retaliate 
was  only  to  put  themselves  in  the  same  barbarous  circumstances  with 
the  murderers.  It  is  not  at  all  likely  that  the  principal  part  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Block  Island  had  anything  to  do  with  the  murder  of  Captain 
Oldham ;  and  yet  it  was  out  of  their  power,  if  they  would,  to  deliver 
up  those  who  were  actually  concerned  in  it.  Nor  is  it  probable  that 
there  was  any  contrived  plan  beforehand  to  murder  him,  and  hence  but 

*  Block  Island  was  then  described  as  being  went  not  to  make  war,  but  to  do  justice  ;  and 

ten  miles  long,  four  broad,  full  of  small  hills,  having  killed  thirteen  of  them  for  four  or  five 

and  all  overgrown  with  brushwood  of  oak  ;  no  of  ours,  which  they  had  murdered,  &c,  we  were 

good   timber.     There  were   two   plantations,  not  much  behind  them." 

three   miles  apart,  and   about  60  wigwams  ;  §   Capt.  Johnson   calls    it    a    "  bootelesse 

some  very  large  and  fair  ;  and  above  200  acres  voyage,"  which  he  says,  "  encouraged  the  In- 

of  corn  ;    some  gathered  in  heaps  and  some  dians  very  much ,  and  made  them  boast   that 

standing.       The  Indians  called  it  Manisses,  they  had  deluded  the  English,  "  and  withall, 

which  may  admit  of  the  interpretation  of  the  they  blasphemed  the  Lord,  saying    '  English- 

"  Island  of  the  Little  God."     It  was  after-  man's  God  all  one  flye,  and  Englishman  all 

wards  owned  by  Boston  men.  one  squawe.'  " — Wond.  Work.  Prov.,  iii. 

f  See  Trumbull,  Hist.  Connecticut,  i.  77.  ||  "  They  obtained  some  little  speech  with 

j  Mr.  Winslow  wrote  to  Deputy  Gov.  Win-  a  great  number  of  them  at  a  distance,  but  after 

throp  to  that  effect,  as  appears  from  the  Jour-  they   understood   what   was    propounded    to 

naloi  the  latter,  p.  199,  in  which  he  justifies  them,  first  cunningly  getting   behind  a  hill, 

the   action,  and   says  "he  took  it  ill "  that  they  presently  ran  away  into  the  woods  and 

Gov.  Winslow  should  accuse  "  us  that  we  had  swamps,  where  there  was  no  pursuing  them  : 

occasioned  a  war  by  provoking  the  Pequots  ;"  however,  one  discharging  a  gun  among  them, 

and  he  answered  him  that,   "  as  much   had  as  they  were   taking   their   flight,  stayed  the 

been  done   in  the  expedition  as  could  be  ex-  course  of  one,  which  was  all  that  could  be 

pected,  considering  they  fled  and  could  not  be  done  against  them  for  that  time."  —  Hubbard, 

followed  by  the  men   in   armor.     That   they  Ind.  Wars,  120. 


1G36.]  PEQUOT   WAR. MIANTONIMO    AT    BOSTON.  203 

few  could  be  accessory  to  it.  There  may  have  been  a  quarrel,  or,  more 
probably,  a  few  wicked  roving  Indians,  meeting  with  him  accidentally, 
thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to  possess  themselves  of  his  goods  and 
money  ;   for  he  had  a  considerable  amount  of  the  latter  with  him. 

The  Connecticut  and  Plymouth  people  were  right  in  their  conjecture 
about  the  mischief  that  might  be  expected  to  ensue  from  so  indecisive 
a  blow  as  that  aimed  at  the  Pequots  was.  For  the  expedition  had 
scarce  left  their  shores  before  they  besieged  the  fort  at  Saybrook  in 
considerable  numbers,  and  cut  off  many  that  ventured  abroad.  Among 
these  was  a  Mr.  Samuel  Butterfield,*  "a  godly  young  man,"  f  whom 
they  took  prisoner  and  roasted  alive. 

Complaints  were  soon  as  loud  against  the  war  as  they  had  been  for 
it,  and  great  fears  began  to  be  entertained  that  the  Pequots  would  over- 
come the  Narragansets  by  negotiation,  and  cause  them  to  unite  against 
the  Settlers.  No  times  could  be  more  critical  for  the  English  than  those 
which  were  now  veiled  in  the  future.  Boston,  although  at  considerable 
distance  from  both  the  Narragansets  and  Pequots,  trembled  for  its  own 
safety.  Connecticut  had  just  began  to  be  settled  ;  scarcely  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Englishmen  could  be  found  in  it.  Roger  Williams,  with  about 
half  a  dozen  men,  had  just  made  a  beginning  at  Providence.  Hence 
there  was  no  barrier  between  the  hostile  Indians  and  Boston.  Mr. 
Williams  was  fully  aware  of  the  actual  state  of  things.  He  saw  that 
if  these  two  powerful  nations  of  Indians  were  united,  the  English  must, 
in  all  probability,  be  swept  from  the  country ;  and  though  he  did  not, 
perhaps,  fear  for  his  own  personal  safety,  for  wherever  he  went  he  was 
greatly  beloved  by  the  Indians,  yet  he  labored  night  and  day  for  the 
good  of  the  whole.  His  value  to  the  community  from  which  he  had 
been  forced  to  fly,  soon  became  very  apparent.  He  kept  the  people  of 
Boston  constantly  advised  of  the  plans  of  the  Indians. 
„  Governor  Vane  having  meanwhile  invited  Miantonimo  to  visit 

Boston,  he  came  here  soon  after.      There  came  with  him  another 
Sachem,  two  sons  of  Canonicus,  and  about  twenty  men.     The  Governor 

*  I  learn  his  Christian  name  from  Niles'  In-  tion  Butterfield  by  name,  but  says  the  man  tak- 
dian  and  French  Wars,  in  which  is  given  a  very  en  was  a  brother  of  "  Mr.  Mitchell,  the  minis- 
different  account  of  the  affair  in  which  he  was  ter  of  Cambridge."  By  which,  it  must  be 
killed,  from  our  other  authors.  How  that  understood,  "minister  of  Cambridge  "  when 
author  got  his  information  does  not  appear.  Gardiner  wrote  (1658).  "  Old  Mr.  Michell" 
This  work  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Niles  lay  in  manu-  here  mentioned,  was  Mr.  Matthew  Mitchell, 
script  from  1762,  the  time  of  the  author's  who  came  over  with  Mr.  Richard  Mather  in 
death,  till  1834  ;  about  this  latter  year,  I  1635,  as  recorded  ante,  p.  185.  Mather, 
called  the  attention  of  the  Publishing  Commit-  Magnolia,  B.  iv.,  167,  has,  by  one  of  his  vain 
tee  of  the  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  in  whose  keeping  it  pedantic  flourishes,  misled  others  besides 
was,  to  some  circumstances  connected  with  it,  Parmer,  in  regard  to  the  Christian  name  of 
and  they  began  to  print  it  in  a  volume  of  their  the  father  of  Jonathan  Mitchell,  of  Cam- 
Colls.  Why  it  was  cut  off  in  the  middle  of  a  bridge.  Butterfield  had  probably  married  a 
sentence,  perhaps  they  could  have  explained,  sister  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  which  explains  what 
Certain  it  is  they  promised  to  print  the  rest  of  Gardiner  says,  and  likewise  what  Mather 
it.  That  promise  has  not  been  performed,  says.  "  Old  Mr.  Michell,"  the  father-in-law 
though  almost  twenty  years  have  expired  since  of  Butterfield,  was  with  him  when  he  fell  into 
it  was  made,  and  some  of  those  who  made  it  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  but  he  himself  es- 
are  yet  living.  caped.     Three  were   killed  on  the  spot,  one 

f  Winthrop,  i.  118.  —  He  was  son-in-law  of  had  five  arrows  shot  into  him,  and  yet  recov- 

"  Old  Mr.  Michell."    Gardiner  does  not  men-  ered. 


204  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1636. 

being  notified  by  Kutshamokin  of  their  coming,  the  day  before  they 
arrived,  sent  twenty  musketeers  to  Roxbury,  who  escorted  them  into 
town  about  twelve  o'clock.  Preparations  had  been  made  to  enter  into 
a  treaty,  and  the  most  of  the  Magistrates  and  Ministers  were  assembled 
to  give  counsel  and  advice  in  the  proceedings.  It  being  dinner  time, 
the  Sachems  and  their  Council  dined  by  themselves  in  the  same  room 
with  the  Governor,  but  the  Chief's  attendants  were  dined  at  the  inn  of 
Mr.  Cole.*  After  dinner  Miantonimo  was  requested  to  propound  terms 
on  which  he  would  enter  into  a  treaty,  which  he  did,  and  then  they 
adjourned  till  the  next  day.  Accordingly  they  went  in  the 
morning,  and  a  treaty  was  drawn  up,  and  signed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  Indians.  The  English  confessed  that  they  did  not 
think  the  Indians  quite  understood  it,  though  Kutshamokin  interpreted 
it  to  them  as  well  as  he  could  ;  therefore  they  agreed  to  send  a  copy 
of  it  to  Mr.  Williams,  with  a  request  that  he  would  explain  it  to  them.f 
This  being  finished,  Miantonimo  was  escorted  out  of  town  after  dinner, 
and  dismissed  with  a  volley  of  shot. 

Treaties  thus  made  could  at  best  afford  but  faint  hopes  of  security 
under  their  provisions,  whatever  they  might  be.  And  in  the  present 
state  of  existing  relations,  distrust  continued,  and  reasonable  fears  were 
entertained  that  possibly  the  Pequots  might  succeed  in  winning  over  the 
Narragansets  to  their  interest ;  and  it  will  ever  remain  a  question 
whether  they  would  not  have  succeeded,  had  it  not  been  for  the  inter- 
position of  Roger  Williams.  He  received  pressing  letters  from  the 
Governor  and  others  of  Boston,  urging  him  to  prevent  a  peace,  if  pos- 
sible, between  the  Narragansets  and  Pequots.  Thus  importuned  he 
renewed  his  exertions,  though  at  the  utmost  peril  of  his  life.  "  The 
Lord  helped  me,"  he  says,  "  immediately  to  put  my  life  into  my  hand,  and 
scarce  acquainting  my  wife,  to  ship  myself,  all  alone,  in  a  poor  canoe,  and 
to  cut  through  a  stormy  wind  with  great  seas,  every  minute  in  hazard  of 
life,  to  the  Sachem's  house.  Three  days  and  three  nights  my  business 
forced  me  to  lodge  and  mix  with  the  bloody  Pequot  ambassadors,  whose 
hands  and  arms,  me  thought,  wreaked  with  the  blood  of  my  country- 
men, and  from  whom  I  could  not  but  nightly  look  for  their  bloody 
knives  at  my  own  throat  also  ;  when  God  wonderfully  preserved  me, 
and  helped  me  to  break  in  pieces  the  Pequot's  negotiations  and  de- 
signs." 

From  this  time  until  the  Pequots  were  subdued,  there  was  not  even  a 
wavering  among  the  Narragansets,  and  they  served  the  English  faithfully 
throughout  the  war  ;  notwithstanding  the  Pequots  used  the  most  powerful 
of  human  arguments  to  bring  them  to  see  what  they  conceived  to  be 
their  vital  interests  ;  namely,  their  own  preservation.!     And  so  confi- 

*  See  ante,  p.  166.  ished  towards  the  Pequots,  and  Mr.  Hubbard, 

f  The  Treaty  may  be  seen  in   Winthrop's  as  usual,  improves  upon  Johnson's  ideas,  in 

Journal,  i.  199.  the  following  passages  :  "  Machiavel  himself," 

%  Captain  Johnson  was  not  probably  aware  he  says,  "  if  he  had  sat  in  council  with  them, 

of  the  labors  of  Mr.  Williams  in  preventing  the  could  not  have  insinuated  stronger  reasons  to 

league,  and  attributes  the  ruling  motive  of  the  have  persuaded  them  to  a  peace." — Narrative, 

Narragansets  to  an  ancient  hatred  they  cher-  121,  ed.  4to,  London,  1677. 


1C36.]  l'EQUOT    WAR. NEW    MURDERS.  205 

dent  were  the  Pequots  that  they  should  enlist  the  Narragansets  against 

the  Settlers,   that  they  continued   their  depredations,   wherever  they 

or     found  an  opportunity.    About  the  time  Miantonimo  was  making 

a  treaty  at  Boston,  they  took  and  murdered  Mr.  John  Tilly* 
in  a  manner  too  revolting  to  be  related. f  Tilly  went  from  Boston, 
or  some  place  about  the  "Bay,"  in  a  small  bark  for  the  Trading 
House  at  Suckiag  (Hartford),  and  as  he  was  coming  down  the  river,  he 
carelessly  went  on  shore,  and  thus  fell  into  the  cruel  hands  of  the  Pe- 
quots.  When  he  arrived  at  Saybrook  on  his  way  out,  Captain  Gardiner 
cautioned  him  aganst  the  danger  to  which  he  would  be  exposed  in  his 
passages  ;  but  "  Mr.  Tille"  took  it  ill  of  him,  because  the  Captain  would 
exercise  some  authority  over  all  such  as  went  up  the  river.  But  Tilly 
being  "  a  stout  man,"  had  great  confidence  in  himself,  and  that  confi- 
dence cost  him  his  life,  and  the  country  the  services  of  a  brave  and 
active  man.     He  was  killed  on  a  point  of  land  within  view  of  the  fort, 

which   Gardiner  named  Tilly's  Folly.     Notwithstanding  great 

watchfulness  was  observed  at  Saybrook  all  winter,  yet  there 
happened  a  desperate  and  bloody  fight  but  a  short  distance  from  it. 
Captain  Gardiner  with  ten  men  was  ambushed  while  performing  some 
necessary  labor,  and  escaped  only  by  cutting  their  way  through  a  great 
body  of  Indians  with  their  swords ;  several  were  killed  and  others  badly 
wounded,  among  whom  was  Captain  Gardiner  himself. J 

About  the  same  time  Governor  Yane  wrote  to  Gardiner,  requesting 
his  opinion  as  to  the  best  means  of  quelling  the  Pequots.  With  his 
answer  Gardiner  sent  a  man's  rib-bone  half  shot  through  with  an  arrow. 
The  Pequots  thought  they  had  killed  Gardiner  in  the  late  fight,  and  a 
swarm  of  near  three  hundred  of  them  immediately  after  beleaguered 
the  fort ;  but  on  finding  out  their  mistake  they  fell  back  to  their  old 
modes  of  operation.  Pretty  soon,  however,  the  Narragansets  began 
the  war  upon  them,  as  they  had  agreed  to  do,  and  they  drew  off  alto- 
gether  from  Saybrook   to    oppose   them.       Having  had  some 

success  against  the  Pequots,  Miantonimo  sent  twenty-six  of  his 
men  to  Boston  with  a  present  of  twenty-six  fathoms  of  wampum,  and  a 

*  The  residence  of  Tilly  is  not  pointed  out.  do  execution  with  their  arrows.     He  says  he 

There  was  a  John  Tilly  early  at  Dorchester.  "  found  one  of  the  dead  men  with  an  arrow 

There  were  Hugh  and  John  "  Tille"  about  the  shot  entirely  through  him,  except  half  a  rib  on 

north  side  of  the  Bay,  some  time  before  Boston  the  opposite  side  of  his  body,  from  that  in 

was  settled.  —  See  ante,  p.  57.     Whether  that  which  the  arrow  entered.     This  he  preserved, 

John  Tille  were  the  same  with  him  killed  by  and  also  the  rib,  intending  to  send  it  to  Boston, 

the  Pequots,  is  not  quite  certain.     There  were  to  let  the  Authorities  know  there,  that  Indian 

Edward  and   John  Tilly  of  the  Mayflower ;  arrows  were  not  to  be  spoken  so  lightly  of  as 

they  were  both  dead  before  the  end  of  March,  some  had  done."     Dr.  I.  Mather  says,  there 

1620-1,  but  they  both  had  families  ;  and  there  were  about  70  Indians  who  fought  Gardiner, 

were  Tillies  in  several  places  in  the  Colony  of  and  that  they  killed  four  of  his  men  ;  that  a 

Plymouth  about  the  time  of  the  Pequot  war.  fifth  was  sorely  wounded,  but  recovered,  and 

-j-  Some  further  particulars  may  be  read  in  lived  to  cut  off  the  head  of  the  very  Indian 

the  Book,  of  the  Indians,  169, 11th  edition.  —  who  wounded  him,  the  next  year.  —  Relation, 

See   also    Winthrop,  i.  200  ;     Gardiner,   (in  45.     About   300   Pequots   came   a   few  days 

Mass.  H.  0.,  vol.  23,  p.  147)  ;    Underhill  (in  after  and  challenged  the  English  to  come  out 

idem,  26,  p.  15.)  and  fight,  mocking  them  by  imitating  the  cries 

J  It  seems,  from  Gardiner's  own  account  of  of  those  they  had  tortured;  but  a  discharge 

the  affair,  that  some  of  the  Boston  people  had  of  grape-shot  caused  them  to  make  a  sudden 

spoken  lightly  of  the  ability  of  the  Indians  to  adjournment.  —  Ibid.  46. 


206  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1637. 

Pequot's  band  to  show  that  he  had  kept  his  word  by  fighting  the  ene- 
mies of  the  English.  In  return  presents  were  made  to  four  of  the 
chief  of  the  deputation,  which  consisted  of  a  coat  for  each,  worth  fourteen 
shillings  apiece. 

Owing  partly  to  the  complaints  from  Connecticut,  the  Author- 

pn  '  ities  at  Boston  concluded  to  send  twenty  men  to  Saybrook. 
They  were  now  dispatched  for  that  place,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Underhill,  but  at  the  charge  of  Connecticut. 

Governor  Haynes  had,  on  the  third  of  April,  left  Boston  for 

pn  *  Connecticut,  his  future  residence.  On  his  arrival  at  Saybrook 
he  wrote  back*  "  that  the  Pekods  had  been  up  the  river  at  Wethers- 
field,  and  had  killed  six  men,  being  at  their  work,  and  twenty  cows  and 
a  mare,  and  had  killed  three  women,  and  carried  away  two  maids. "f 
The  "maids"  were  not  long  after  liberated  through  the  exertions  of 
the  Dutch  ;  the  Governor  of  whom,  Wouter  Von  Twitter,  Esq.,  at  New 
Amsterdam,  ordered  his  men  to  rescue  them  at  all  hazards,  even  to  the 
breaking  of  the  Peace  with  the  Indians.  A  Dutch  sloop  was  sent  into 
the  mouth  of  the  Thames  for  the  purpose,  but  the  Pequots  would  hear 
to  no  terms  of  ransom,  and  stratagem  alone  succeeded.  Several  Pequots, 
having  been  seduced  on  board  the  vessel,  were  seized  and  held  till  the 
captive  girls  were  produced. 

The  feeble  settlements  on  the  Connecticut  held  a  General  Court 
at  Hartford,  and  resolved  "on  an  offensive  warr  against  the  Pe- 
quoitt."  Ninety  men  were  immediately  assembled  and  put  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  John  Mason.  This  was  almost  the  entire  strength 
of  the  Colony  ;  but  they  had  secured  the  interest  of  the  Mohegans,  who 
to  the  number  of  about  eighty  warriors  marched  with  them  against  their 
own  countrymen. 

A  glance  now  at  the  state  of  the  country  shows  that  the  Pequots  had 
rushed  headlong  to  the  very  brink  of  destruction.  They  had  done  all 
they  could  to  irritate  their  adversary,  and  had  effected  nothing  by  way 
of  alliance  with  other  tribes.  They  now  stood  single-handed  against 
four  nations,  as  it  were,  two  of  their  own  countrymen,  and  two  of  the 
English. 

Ma  In  less  than  ten  days,  Mason  had  collected  his  forces  together, 

and  in  three  frail  barks  fell  down  the  river  to  Saybrook ;   and 

here,  with  Captains  Gardiner  and  Underhill,  future  proceedings  were 

*  To  whom  the  letter  was  directed,   Win-  revenge  it,  he  secretly  drew  in  the  Pequots, 

throp,  my  authority,   does  not   say.     During  who  came  up  the  river,  and  killed  six  men," 

the  administration  of  Gov.  Vane,   Winthrop  &c. —  Lothrop's  Cent.  Ser.  at   W.  Springfield, 

often  speaks  of  the  Government  as   "we;"  1796,  p.  23-4.       Winthrop,  i.  260.     See  also 

and  now,   "we  received   a   letter."     It   was  Mr.  Goodwin's  Geneal.  of  the  Foote  Fam.  Int. 

probably  directed  to  Mr.  Vane.  p.  xxi-ii.,  in  which  are  found  the  names  of  two 

f  "Sequin,  a  head  man  of  the  Eiver  In-  of  the  men  that  were  killed,  namely,  Abraham 

dians,  gave  lands  on  the  river  to  the  English,  and  John  Finch,  but  the  names  of  the  others 

that  he  might  sit  down  by  them  and  be  pro-  do  not  appear  ;  one  of  the  girls  taken  was  a 

tected.      But  when  he  came  to  Wethersfield  daughter  of  William   Swaine.  —  Other   facts 

[then  called  Watertown]  and  set  up  his  wig-  of  great  interest  may  be  seen  in  Gardiner's, 

warn,  the  people  drove  him  away  by  force.  Underbill's,   Vincent's,   Hubbard's    and  Ma- 

ResentiDg  the  wrong,  but  wanting  strength  to  ther's  histories. 


1637.]  PEQUOT    WAR. MASON    SAILS.  207 

arranged.  The  few  sick  and  feeble  men  were  sent  home,  and  their 
places  supplied  from  .the  men  at  the  fort,  and  to  Mason's  "Army" 
Underhill  and  his  twenty  men  were  added. 

2]         The  Pequots  had  watched   narrowly  all  the  movements  thus 

far,  and  well  knew  themselves  were  the  object  of  them  ;  but  this 
morning,  May  the  twenty- first,  when  they  saw  the  transports  sail  out  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  they  supposed  that  they  were  upon  some 
other  design.  They  watched  them  closely,  however,  by  runners  from 
hill  to  hill  and  from  point  to  point  on  the  coast,  until  they  saw  the 
vessels  sail  by  the  mouth  of  their  river,  since  called  the  Thames.  They 
then  confidently  believed  that  they  had  nothing  further  to  fear  from 
them  ;  for  they  most  naturally  concluded,  that,  if  they  were  to  be 
attacked,  the  march  would  be  by  land  directly  across  the  country  from 
Saybrook  ;  and  this,  indeed,  was  the  very  order  of  the  Council  of  War 
at  Hartford.  But,  as  in  the  sequel  will  be  seen,  this  breach  of  orders, 
if  it  did  not  prove  the  salvation  of  the  "Army,"  proved  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Pequots. 

Thus  completely  deluded,  the  short-sighted  Pequots  set  up  joyous 
shouts,  as  though  they  had  gained  a  victory ;  and  they  sent  runners 
about  the  country  to  call  their  people  together,  that  they  might  have  a 
season  of  rejoicing. 

Meanwhile,  Mason  proceeded  on  his  voyage  for  Narraganset 

Bay,  which  he  was  two  days  in  performing.  Owing  to  a  strong 
north-west  wind,  he  could  not  land  his  men  till  the  evening  of  the 
twenty-third  of  May.  He  then  proceeded  directly  to  the  residence  of 
Miantonimo,  who  received  him  respectfully,  and  showed  a  willingness 
to  assist  him  ;  but  he  expressed  astonishment  that  the  English  should 
presume  to  go  against  Sassacus  with  such  a  small  number  of  men. 

Proceeding  on  their  march,  the  English  were  joined  by  about 

four  hundred  Narragansets,  and,  after  a  fatiguing  travel  of  about 
twenty  miles,  reached  the  fort  of  the  Nianticks,  on  the  borders  of  the 

territories  of  the  Pequots.  Twelve  miles  further  brought  them 
y  to  a  fording  place  in  Paucatuck  river,  and  at  night  they  en- 
camped in  hearing  of  the  nearest  Pequot  fort.  This  was  the  fort  at 
Mistick.  Here  a  great  number  was  assembled,  and  this  was  the  very 
night  they  had  set  to  celebrate  their  deliverance  from  invasion.  Ac- 
cordingly, until  near  midnight,  they  were  distinctly  heard,  giving  unre- 
strained utterance  to  their  joy,  in  boisterous  festivity.  Having  wearied 
themselves,  and  in  the  fatal  confidence  that  no  enemy  was  near,  they 
all  fell  into  a  sound  sleep  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night ;  and  thus  were 
found  an  easy  prey  by  their  more  wily  adversary. 

By  the  light  of  a  splendid  moon,  the  little  Army  was  formed 
ay  '  for  the  march  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  Indians 
had  ceased  their  shouts  of  joy,  and  were,  many  of  them,  in  their  last 
sleep,  as  it  proved.  Moving  on,  the  Indian  guides  soon  brought  the 
English  by  intricate  paths  to  the  foot  of  the  "  great  hill "  on  which  the 
fort  was.     Here,  halting  his  men,  Captain  Mason  inquired  of  Uncas, 


208 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1637. 


the  leader  of  the  Mohegans,  where  the  Indians,  his  allies,  were,  for 
they  were  not  to  be  seen  ;  and  was  told  they  were  fallen  in  the  rear, 
and  were  "  exceedingly  afraid."  The  English  were  prepared  for  this, 
although  during  the  march  the  Indians  had  boasted  of  the  great  things 
they  would  do  to  the  enemy,  and  how  many  they  would  kill ;  and  at 
the  same  time  "  sneered  at  the  Englishman's  courage,  and  said  he  durst 
not  look  a  Pequot  in  the  face."  Yet  now  nearly  half  of  the  Narragan- 
sets  had  deserted  and  run  away.  The  most  of  the  rest  would  have 
followed,  Mason  says,  had  he  not  promised  them  that  they  need  not 
come  within  shot  of  the  fort,  and  that  they  might  surround  it  at  a 
distance,  to  seize  fugitives. 

The  fort  to  be  attacked  had  two  entrances,  at  opposite  points,  and 
covered  a  space  of  twenty  acres,  which  space  was  so  thick  set  with 
wigwams,  "that  the  English  wanted  foot  room  to  grapple  with  their 
adversaries  ;"  and  the  entrances  were  blocked  up  with  boughs  or  bushes. 
Mason,  having  divided  his  force,  led  up  the  first  division  in  person,  the 
other  was  led  by  Captain  Underhill.  One  marched  against  the  western 
entrance,  the  other  against  the  eastern.  At  a  few  rods'  distance,  a  dog 
barked,  and  an  Indian,  who  happened  to  be  outside  of  the  fort,  discov- 
ered the  English  when  they  were  about  to  discharge  their  guns  upon  it. 
He  had  only  time  to  cry,  Englishmen  !  Englishmen  !  and  that  in  his 
own  tongue, —  Owanux  !  Owanux  !  when  the  work  of  death  begun. 
"Every  man,"  says  Underhill,  "being  bereaved  of  pity,  fell  upon 
the  work  without  compassion,  considering  the  blood  they  had  shed  of 
our  native  countrymen  —  having  slain,  first  and  last,  about  thirty 
persons." 

In  attempting 
to  force  an  en- 
trance, "  one  Mas- 
ter Hedge  was 
shot  through  both 
arms,  and  more 
wounded.  Cap- 
tain Mason  and 
myself,"  says  Un- 
derhill, "  entering 
into  the  wigwams, 
he  was  shot,  and 
received  many  ar- 
rows against  his 
head-piece.  My- 
self received  a  shot 
in  the  hip,  through  a  sufficient  buff  coat,  which,  if  I  had  not  been 
supplied  with,  the  arrow  would  have  pierced  through  me.  Another  I 
received  between  neck  and  shoulders."  The  odds  was  too  great.  The 
English  seeing  they  would  be  beat  out  of  the  fort,  Mason  with  his 


STORMING    OF    THE   PEQUoT   FORT. 


1G37.]  PEQUOT   WAR.  209 

own  hands  set  fire  to  the  wigwams,*  which  in  a  moment  enveloped  the 
whole  in  flames. f  This  decided  the  day.  The  English  with  their 
Indian  friends  surrounded  the  burning  fort,  and  shot  down  those  that 
attempted  to  escape. J 

Thus,  in  "about  one  hour's  space,"  was  the  power  of  the  Pequots 
almost  annihilated.  Between  six  hundred  and  seven  hundred  perished 
by  the  sword  or  the  flames  ;  seven  only  escaping,  and  seven  were 
taken  prisoners.  But  two  of  the  assailants  were  killed  ;  one  of  Mason's 
company,  and  one  of  Underbill's,  and  twenty  wounded. 

The  vessels  which  had  brought  the  troops  to  Narraganset,  were 
ordered  to  proceed  to  Pequot  to  receive  them  again  when  they  had 
finished  the  work  for  which  they  came.  They  arrived  within  a  few 
hours  of  the  time,  and  thus  Captain  Underhill  and  the  Narragansets 
returned  in  them  to  Saybrook,  and  Captain  Mason  and  his  men  pro- 
ceeded to  the  same  place  by  land,  destroying  whatever  they  met  with 
belonging  to  the  Pequots  in  their  march. 

As  the  English  were  upon  their  march,  after  they  had  destroyed  the 
fort  at  Mistick,  a  great  body  of  Pequots  from  another  fort  pursued 
them  ;  frantic  with  rage  for  the  loss  of  so  many  friends,  they  rushed 
upon  them  repeatedly,  with  the  utmost  fury ;  but  the  troops,  facing 
about,  fired  their  muskets  in  their  faces,  by  which  movements  they 
were  as  often  put  to  flight.  In  this  retreat  of  a  few  miles,  one  hundred 
more  of  the  Pequots  were  supposed  to  have  been  killed. 

On  Captain  Mason's  return  to  Hartford  there  was  a  day  of  rejoicing, 
and  he  was  hailed  as  a  great  conqueror. 

*  "  So  entring  one  of  their  •wigwams,"  says  Arthur  Smith,  was  so  wounded  he  could  not 
Mason,  "  I  took  a  fire-brand,  and  suddenly  move  out  of  the  place,  but  who  was  happily 
kindled  a  fire  in  the  mats,"  &c.  —  Mason  in  rescued  from  the  flames  by  Lieut.  Thomas 
Hubbard,  125. —  "At  which  time,  an  Indian  Bull." — Mather's  Relation,  32. 
drawing  an  arrow,  had  killed  him,  but  one  {  Winthrop  records  the  Fight  under  25  May, 
Davis,  his  Sergeant,  cut  the  bow-string  with  and  adds,  "Presently  came  news  [to  Boston] 
his  courtlace." — Hubbard,  125-6.  from  Narraganset,  that  all  the  English,  and 

f  Their  wigwams  were  substantial,  and  cov-  200  of  the  Indians  [friends]  were  cut  off  in 
ered  with  mats  of  grass,  which  being  very  dry,  their  retreat ;"  and  that  three  days  later  "  this 
and  the  fire  being  set  on  the  "  windward  side,  was  confirmed  by  a  Post  from  Plimouth,  with 
did  swiftly  overrun  the  whole  fort,"  out  of  such  probable  circumstances,  as  it  was  gener- 
which  the  English  then  retreated,  "  only  one,    ally  believed."  —  Journal,  i.  225. 

27 


210  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1637 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Pequot  War  continued.  —  Negotiations  with  Plymouth.  —  Letter  of  Edward  Winslow  upon  the  Sub- 
ject. —  Winslow  comes  to  Boston.  —  States  the  Reasons  why  Plymouth  should  not  engage  in  the 
War.  —  Election.  —  Great  Excitement.  —  Seat  of  Government  removed  from  Boston  to  Newtown.  — 
Preparations  for  the  War.  —  March  of  Capt.  Patrick.  —  Other  Forces  raised.  —  Thanksgiving.  — 
March  of  Capt.  Stoughton.  —  Letter  of  John  Humfrey.  —  Stoughton  arrives  at  Pequot.  —  Pursues 
the  Indians.  —  His  Dispatches.  —  Surprises  a  large  Number.  —  Puts  many  of  them  to  Death.  — 
Some  protected  by  the  Man  ticks,  whose  Chief  is  cited  to  Boston. — Appears  and  gives  Satisfac- 
tion. —  Death  of  Pequot  Chiefs,  Sassacus,  Mononotto.  —  Swamp  Fight.  —  Many  Prisoners  taken.  — 
Stoughton  proceeds  to  Block  Island.  —  Close  of  the  War. 

A  ril  1  ABOUT  the  first  of  April,  Mr.  Winthrop 
wrote  to  the  Governor  of  Plymouth  for  ad- 
vice respecting  proceedings  against  the  Pequots,  and 
probably  hinting  something  about  the  propriety  of 
that  Colony's  taking  a  part  in  the  war,  by  furnishing 
men  or  means,  or  both.  This  letter  was  answered  on 
the  seventeenth  following,  by  Mr.  Winslow,  by 
pn  '  direction  of  the  Governor.  In  this  he  says, 
"  Concerning  your  present  busnies,  we  conceive  it 
will  be  simply  necessary  for  you  to  proceed  in  the 
war  begun  with  the  Pequots,  otherwise,  the  natives  we  feare  will  grow 
into  a  stronger  confederacy,  to  the  further  prejudice  of  the  whole  Eng- 
lish. We  are  very  glad  to  heare  that  the  Munheges  are  fallen  from  the 
Pequots,  and  brought  to  a  professed  war  with  them,  knowing  their  in- 
veterate hatred  ;  and,  desire  it  may  be  nourished  by  all  good  meanes." 
—  "But  there  is  one  thing  of  ill  consequence,  which  we  heare  from 
Connecticut,  viz.,  that  there  are  some  English  there  that  furnish  the 
enemy  by  way  of  trade,  having  made  a  league  with  them.  If  you 
inquire  of  Mr.  Jesop*  who  came  in  the  barke  with  Mr.  Harding,  you 
may  receive  particular  information  thereabout.  That  this  will  be  ill 
taken  I  doubt  not,  yet  durst  doe  no  other  than  inform  you.  Yet,  let 
me  commend  one  thing  to  your  consideracon ;  how  dangerous  a  thing  it 
may  prove,  if  the  Dutch,  who  seek  it,  and  they,  should  close  by  reason 
of  the  Pequots'  necessity.  I  speak  not  this  as  desiring  the  benefit  of 
their  trade,  for  we  are  weary  of  the  worke,  as  we  are  dealt  withall."f 

*  John  Jessop,  of  Connecticut,  had  an  inter-    was  a  John  Jessop,  Deputy  to  the  General 
est  in  the  affairs  of  Captain  Oldham.      There    Court  of  Ct.,  1664,  at  which  time  he  repre- 
sented Westchester.  See 
O  Public  Recs.  of  Ct.,  12, 

rt/fnA*,  425-6,      and     Bolton's 

mbJJlfV.  HisL      Westchester,     i. 

259-61. 


"™S '  f  Autograph  letter  of 

,  u  fr(o-  /  £\'~7  .  Edward  Winslow,  never 

'  mihlinhoH     in    nnasAaairm 


published,  in  possession 


^t^ty  ft  ULzr  *  '  sSftftfc 


1637.]  PEQUOT   WAR.  —  ELECTION.  211 

Other  communications  followed.  Plymouth  had  been  urged  to  send 
some  of  her  Government  officers  to  Boston  to  negotiate  upon  the  subject 
of  the  war.  Mr.  Winslow  excused  the  Government,  in  the  letter  from 
which  the  above  extract  is  made,  for  not  having  complied  with  the 
request,  instead  of  writing  ;  and  observed,  that  if,  after  the  election  in 
the  Bay,  Mr.  Winthrop  had  any  desire  to  speak  with  him,  he  would  find 
him  at  Goodman  Stow's  in  Roxbury  ;  but  no  particular  time  for  seeing 
him  is  mentioned. 

It  is  evident  that  the  Government  of  Plymouth  had  a  disinclination  to 
have  anything  to  do  in  the  war  ;  but  Mr.  Winslow  was  finally  deputed  to 
meet  the  Authorities  at  Boston,  and  to  discuss  the  matter.  At 
this  interview  Mr.  Winslow  said  the  Pequot  war  was  none  of 
their  quarrel ;  and,  in  the  next  place,  Boston  had  refused  to  lend  its  aid 
to  Plymouth  when  they  had  been  solicited  to  do  so  on  a  like  occasion. 
Other  objections  were  stated,  all  of  which  were  answered,  but  no  con- 
clusion is  stated.* 
„     ,         The  time  for  an  annual  election  having  arrived,  it  was  held  at 

Aluv  IT  . 

'  Newtown.  Great  excitement  prevailed.  There  was  a  large  party, 
which  may  be  denominated  the  liberal  party,  at  the  head  of  which  were 
Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Vane.  At  the  head  of  the  other  were  Mr.  Wilson 
and  Mr.  Winthrop.  These  were  very  nearly  equal,  and  this  occasioned 
the  anxiety,  and  "there  was  danger,"  says  Winthrop,  "of  a  tumult 
that  day  ;  for  those  of  that  side  [the  liberal  party]  that  grew  into  fierce 
speeches,  and  some  laid  hands  on  others."  Winthrop  and  his  party, 
however,  prevailed,  being  himself  elected  Governor,  Mr.  Dudley  Deputy 
Governor,  Mr.  Endicott  a  standing  Counsellor,  and  Mr.  Israel  Stough- 
ton  and  Mr.  Richard  Saltonstall  Assistants.  Mr.  Shepard  preached  the 
Election  Sermon. 

It  had  been  a  custom  of  some  two  years'  standing,  established  by  the 
General  Court,  that  at  the  Court  of  Election  the  Governor  should  be 
attended  by  six  men,  selected  by  himself,  whose  duty  it  was  to  carry 
halberds  and  swords  on  that  day,  as  a  sort  of  body-guard  to  the  Gover- 
nor and  the  other  members  of  the  Court.  These  six  men  were  denom- 
inated the  Serjeants,  and  they  attended  on  Mr.  Vane  to  the  place  of 

*  It  appears,  however,  by  a  letter  (a)  from  the  patched  away,  news  was  brought  that  the 
Court  of  Plymouth,  that  that  Colony  finally  enemy  was  wholly  routed  ;  so  as  their  journey 
agreed  to  furnish  forty  men,  &c.  But  it  was  was  stopped,  and  their  good  will  accepted  for 
the  5th  of  June  before  they  made  that  "  solemn  the  deed,  as  if  they  really  had  been  there  to 
act  of  court,"  and  gave  notice  that  they  had  have  borne  their  part  in  the  service  ;  their  non- 
done  so  ;  and  then  they  were  not  wanted.  Mr.  appearance  in  time  and  place  being  not  to  be 
Hubbard  must  have  been  ignorant  of  what  had  imputed  to  any  backwardness  in  their  minds." 
hitherto  passed  between  Boston  and  Plymouth  This,  from  anything  to  be  gathered  from  the 
in  respect  to  this  war,  or  he  would  hardly  same  author  to  the  contrary,  looks  like  setting 
have  said  in  his  Narrative  (121),  that  when  up  a  strong  defence  for  a  party  which  had  not 
Plymouth  was  applied  to  "  she  appeared  very  been  accused,  but  possibly  might  be  very 
cordially  willing  "  to  engage  in  it  ;  and  that  liable  to  be.  The  same  day  that  the  Court  of 
before   their   quota   of  men   "  could   be  dis-  Plymouth  decided  to  enter  into  the  war,  the 

,  .  c     ,«■    tt^-    ,     ,   ,  Ai     ,•     rr     ,  •       ,   „  ,    letter  of  Mr.  Winslow,  before  mentioned,  was 
(a)  See  Mr.  Winslow  s  letter  (in  Hutchinson  s  Col,     i,     i  i        T  r.r,     „    j  „j.  At „, *-^_ 

™  i\      t*  •       „„„j; „..„„„  «.„*  u  tu-  dated,  namely,  June  5th,  and  at  the  same  time 

60-1).     It  is  exceeding  strange  that  Hutchinson         .      '        T    A'  '       .      .       ,  ™  ., 

should  print  this  letter  antedated  a  year.  He  has  a  trusty  Indlan  runner  arrived  at  Plymouth 
done  the  same  by  one  of  Captain  Stoughton's,  ib,  from  Nemasket,  with  the  news  of  the  over- 
61-2.  throw  of  the  Pequots  at  Mistick. 


212  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1637. 

election  this  year  ;  but  when  they  saw  that  he  had  lost  his  election,  they 
laid  down  their  halberds  and  went  home,  leaving  the  new  Governor  to 
appoint  others  or  go  without  any.  "  And,"  says  Winthrop,  "  whereas 
they  had  been  wont  to  attend  the  former  Governor  to  and  from  the 
meetings  on  the  Lord's  days,  they  gave  over  now,  so  as  the  new.  Gov- 
ernor was  fain  to  use  his  own  servants  to  carry  two  halberds  before  him  ; 
whereas  the  former  Governor  had  never  less  than  four."  * 

Boston  had  omitted  to  choose  its  Representatives  till  after  the 
ay  '  General  Election,  and  thereupon  the  Town  chose  "  Mr.  Henry 
Vane,  Mr.  William  Coddington  and  Mr.  Atherton  Haulgh ;"  but 
they  were  refused  seats  as  members,  by  the  majority  of  the  court, 
„  ,„  and  were  sent  home  a^ain,  and  an  order  to  the  Town  for  a 
'  new  election.  The  next  day  the  voters  assembled  and  chose 
the  same  gentlemen. f 

The  people  of  Boston  were  not  without  almost  daily  advices  of  what 
was  passing  in  and  about  Connecticut  river,  and  though  the  late  excit- 
ing election  had  diverted  them  somewhat  from  immediate  action  in  the 
war,  yet,  within  a  week  after  that  matter  was  settled,  a  company  of 
forty  men  was  put  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Daniel  Patrick, 

y  ""  of  Watertown.  These  were  hastened  away,  because  intelligence 
had  just  been  received  from  Miantonimo,  that  the  Pequots,  seeing  they 
could  not  escape  from  a  war,  had  sent  away  their  women  and  chil- 
dren "to  an  island."  This  was  only  a  rumor  probably,  though  it  may 
have  been  true  to  some  extent ;  for  there  were  some  hundreds  of 
"  women,  children  and  old  men  "  that  perished  in  the  fort  at  Mistic. 

While  Mason  lay  with  his  forces  at  Narraganset,  he  received  a 
letter  from  Captain  Patrick,  stating  that  he  was  arrived  at  Roger 
Williams'  plantation,  and  should  join  him  with  his  force  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. But  Mason  and  Underhill  concluded  it  unsafe  to  delay,  as  there 
was  a  communication  between  the  Narraganset  women  and  the  Pequots, 
and  hence  there  was  great  danger  that  their  design  might  be  discovered 
and  frustrated ;  therefore  they  marched  without  delay  to  attack  the 
Pequots,  the  result  of  which  has  just  been  recounted.  In  the  mean  time 
Patrick  arrived  at  Narraganset  in  time  to  embark  in  the  same  vessels 
which  had  brought  Mason,  and  returned  in  them  to  the  mouth  of  the 

*"  The  former  Governor  and  Mr.  Coddington,  vres,  practised  by  Mr.  Wilson    and  the  old 

being  discontented  that  the  people  had  left  Governor,  had  not  an  undue  effect  in  bringing 

them  out  of  all  public  service,  gave  further  it  about.    I  offer  no  opinion  upon  it,  but  merely 

proof   of   it    in    the    congregation,  for   they  state  the  facts  as  they  are.     A  knowledge  of 

refused  to  sit  in  the  Magistrates'   seat,  where  subsequent  preceedings  is  necessary  to  form  a 

Mr.  Vane  had   always   sitten   from    his   first  judgment.  —  See  N.  E.  Hist.    Gen.  Reg.,  ii., 

arrival,  and  went  and  sate  with  the  deacons,  133,  &c. 

although  the  Governor  sent  to  desire  them  f  Winthrop  says,  Journal,  i.,  220,  "  The 
to  come  in  to  him.  And  upon  the  general  Court  being  grieved  (at  the  first  choice)  found 
Fast,  they  went  from  Boston  to  keep  the  day  means  to  send  them  home  again,  for  that  two 
at  _ the  Mount  with  Mr.  Wheelwright." —  of  the  freemen  of  Boston  had  no  notice  of  the 
Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  224.  The  only  ques-  election.  So  they  went  all  home,  and  the  next 
tion,  or  at  least  the  first  question  to  be  set-  morning  they  returned  the  same  gentlemen  ; 
tied,  in  considering  the  result  of  the  election,  and  the  court  not  finding  how  they  might  re- 
is,  whether  it  was  really  done  by  a  majority  ject  them,  they  were  admitted."  — See,  also, 
of  the  legal  voters,  or  whether  certain  manoeu-  Town  Records. 


1637.]  PEQUOT    WAR. MARCH    OF    CAPT.    STOUGIITON.  213 

Thames.     Thence  he  marched  with  Mason  from  Pequot  to  Saybrook.* 
Both  Underbill  and  Mason  seem  to  have  had  a  dislike  of  Patrick. f 

It  had  been  agreed  at  Boston,  before  the  march  of  Captain  Patrick, 
that  two  hundred  men  should  be  raised  by  Massachusetts  to  assist  Con- 
necticut in  carrying  on  the  war.  But  before  the  remaining  one  hun- 
dred and  sixtyj  could  be  got  ready,  news  was  brought  of  the  fall  of  Mis- 
tick.  It  was  therefore  thought  needless  to  send  so  large  a  force.  But 
some  of  the  people  began  to  murmur  against  a  reduction  of  the  original 
number,§  and  sent  a  deputation  to  remonstrate  with  the  Governor, 
accompanied  by  three  ministers.  "  The  Governor  took  it  ill."  How- 
ever, "  it  was  thought  fit  to  send  about  forty  ||  men  more,  which  was 
yielded,  rather  to  satisfy  the  people,  than  for  any  need  that  appeared." 
Yet  it  was  generally  believed  that  the  Pequots  were  still  formidable. 
The  much-dreaded  Sassacus  had  not  been  killed  or  taken,  and  he  held 
a  strong  fort  at  a  few  miles  from  that  destroyed  at  Mistick.  Therefore 
vigorous  efforts  were  considered  to  be  yet  necessary. 

There  was  a  day  of  thanksgiving  kept  throughout  Massachu- 
setts, and  about  the  same  time  Capt.  Israel  Stoughton,  of  Dor- 
chester, sailed  from  Boston  for  the  Pequot  country.  He  was  Command- 
er-in-chief of  the  expedition.  Capt.  William  Traske,  of  Salem,  led  the 
Essex  men,  and  Richard  Davenport  was  his  Lieutenant.  Mr.  Wilson,  of 
Boston,  went  as  Chaplain. IF 

Notwithstanding  the  principal  power  of  the  Pequots  was  broken,  the 
stern  cry  of  vengeance  was  continued,  and  Captain  Stoughton  em- 
barked with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  for  the  Pequot  country. 
Amidst  the  preparations  to  crush  those  Indians,  no  voice  of  compas- 
sion is  heard  for  even  such  of  them,  as,  from  their  age  or  other  circum- 
stances, could  merit  no  retributive  scourge  from  the  hand  of  a  foe.  All 
seemed  of  one  opinion,  namely,  that  the  "  sins  of  the  fathers  should 
be  visited  upon  their  children,"  in  the  most  literal  sense  of  the  language 
of  inspiration. 

There  is,  indeed,  a  solitary  letter  in  existence,  in  which  the  writer 

*  Compare  Mather's  Relation,  Hubbard,  Un-  not  this  [the  news  of  the  fall  of  Mistick]  dis- 

derhill  and  Mason's   Histories,  by  which  the  courage  the  sending  of  your  160  men,  but  take 

author  has  been  able  to  show  the  Proceedings  suchrevenge  as  may  be  a  service  to  after  times," 

of  Patrick,  hitherto  unexplained.  &c. — Hutchinson,  Coll.  Orig.  Papers,  61. 

f  "  And  although  Captain  Mason  told  him  ||  From  what  will  elsewhere  appear,  what 

he  did   not  delight  in  his  company,  yet  he  Winthrop  means  by  this  is,  that  the  intend- 

would  and  did  march  along  with   him." —  ed  160   men  were  to  be   reduced  forty ;   for 

Mason  in  /.  Mather,  35.  Mason  says,  that  120  arrived  in  the  Connecti- 

J  The  160  men  were  thus  assessed  on  the  cut,  under  Stoughton,  to  join  in  prosecuting 

towns  :  —  the  war.  —  See  Mason  in  Hist.  Colls.  Mass., 

Boston,              26         Roxbury,            10  18  vol.,  p.  145.     Same  in  I.  Mather's   Rela- 

Salem,                18         Newtown,             9  Hon,  36. 

Ipswich,             17         Newbury,             8  ^f  Lots  were  cast  to  determine  which  should 

Saugus,              16         Hingham,             6  go,  Mr.  Wilson  or  Mr.  Eliot,  and  the  lot  fell 

Watertown,       14         Weymouth,          5  to  the  former.  —  Col.  Recs.     "  I  think  I  have 

Dorchester,        13         Medford,               3  heard  that  reverend  man  of  God,  Mr.  Wilson, 

Charlestown,      12         Marblehead,         3  say,  that  he  was,  before  he  went  out,  as  certain 

160  that  God  would  give  the  English  the  victory  as 

§  And  Mr.  Winslow,  writing  by  authority  if  he  had  seen  it  already  obtained:''— I.  Mather, 

of  the  Court  of  Plymouth,  5  June,  says,  "  Let  Relation,  54. 


;/ 

214  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  1 1637. 


June  7. 


ventures  to  suggest  to  the  Magistrates  of  Boston,  in  the  time 
of  their  energetic  preparations  to  send  out  Captain  Stoughton, 
whether  it  would  not  be  better  to  make  peace  with  the  Pequots,  who 
probably  now  would  be  glad  of  almost  any  terms  ;  even  to  the  "  deliv- 
ering up  of  these  men  or  their  heads,  who  had  wrought  and  brought  so 
much  miserie  upon  themselves  and  theirs  ;  or,  if  not  so,  whether,  if 
they  gave  good  assurance  by  hostages,  the  blood  shed  by  them  might 
not  seem  to  be  sufficiently  expiated  ;"*  with  much  more  upon  the  subject 
of  the  war,  in  the  same  benevolent  strain.  But  it  had  no  visible  effect. 
By  an  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  it  appears 
that  the  squadron  under  Stoughton  had  arrived  in  the  mouth  of 
the  river  before  the  twenty-sixth  of  June  ;  f  as  on  this  day  Mr.  Haynes 
and  Mr.  Ludlowe  were  directed  to  repair  thither  to  treat  with  Captain 
Stoughton  about  prosecuting  the  war. 

Meanwhile  Sassacus  and  another  distinguished  Chief,  Mononotto,with 
the  greater  part  of  the  remaining  Pequots,  had  fled  westward  along  the 
coast,  and  Captain  Mason  being  joined  with  the  Massachusetts  forces, 
with  about  forty  men,  pursued  on  after  them.  But  the  aspect  of  the 
war  was  now  changed.  The  enemy  at  once  became  wanderers  in 
strange  places,  with  extremely  precarious  means  of  subsistence  ;  "  owing 
to  their  children  and  want  of  provisions,"  their  flight  was  slow,  and  they 
became  an  easy  prey  wherever  they  could  be  found.  Their  own  country- 
men were  cruel  enemies  to  them,  who  were  as  much  to  be  avoided  as 
the  now  desperate  and  exulting  Englishmen.  Stoughton  made  several 
dispatches  to  the  Government,  of  his  operations,  but  very  few  of  them 
are  preserved.  From  one,J  hitherto  unpublished,  received  at  Boston 
on  the  sixth  of  July,  it  appears  he  was  then  lying  with  his 
forces  in  "  Pequid  "  river,  and  Captain  Mason  had  joined  him 
with  thirty  men.  Mr.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Ludlow  were  also  with  them.  He 
said  "  there  was  yet  good  tuff  work  to  be  done,  and  how  deere  it  would 
cost  was  unknown  ;  for  Sasaco3  was  resolued  to  sell  his  life  as  deere  as 
he  could,"  and  so  was  "  Momowattuck,  another  great  chief."  A  third 
great  Chief  §  had  been  delivered  into  their  hands,  but  him  they  de- 
tained to  be  "  serviceable  to  them,"  though  they  would  not  promise  him 
his  life.  Forty-eight  other  prisoners,  by  a  pinnace,  "  being  Giggles," || 
were  shipped  for  Boston,  where  they  arrived  at  the  date  above  men- 
tioned.    Stoughton' s  dispatch  came  with  them.    He  further  says,  "  we 

*  Autograph  letter  of  the  Hon.  John  Hum-  the  text.     Captain  Stoughton's  autograph  is 

fret,  dated  June  7th,  1637,  never  published,  here  truly  represented. 
in  possession  of  the  author. 

|  Mason  says  Stoughton   arrived    there  in  /    /\Jf         /  ^Pi 

"  about  a  fortnight  after  his  soldiers  returned  /,   (\\tcLS^-    £*toLi*S7i/DU^ ,  / 

home  from  Mistick   fight."     They   probably  '       v"  /  J 

"  returned  home  by  the  first  of  June."  —  See  ^-^ 

Mason  in  i".  Mather,  36.  §  He  was  sent  out  as  a  spy  afterwards,  of 

%  There  is  no  date  to  this,  but  it  is  marked  as  whose  adventures  there  is  a  curious  account 

having  been  received,  5  :  6.     Few  names  are  in  Hubbard,  Nar.,  128. 

contained  in  the  letter.  —  "  Steward  Calacot,        ||  This  name,  I  question  not,  should  be  Jig- 

Lifetenant  Damport  [Davenport],  Sosomon  "  gles.    There  was  a  Thomas  Jiggles,  of  Boston, 

(a  Dorchester  Indian,  an  interpreter,  of  whom  at  a  later  date.  — See  Caulkins'  Hist.  N.  Lon- 

hereafter) ,  are  all,  except  those  mentioned  in  don,  244. 


1637.] 


PURSUIT    OF    THE   PEQUOTS. 


215 


heare  of  a  great  number  [of  Pequots]  vp  ye  country  among  ye  Neepe- 
netts."  He  then  proceeds  to  say,  "  we  have  settled  on  a  place  for  our 
randavooze,  yc  best  we  could  for  ye  present ;  vpon  ye  mouth  of  Pequid 
riuer,  on  ye  Naanticot  side,  where  we  have  100  acres  of  corne,  if  not  two 
or  three  hundred  men  at  hand,  and  a  curio9  spring  of  water  within  or 
pallazado,  and  may,  by  great  guns,  comand  ye  riuer."  "  We  shall 
ye  next  weake  joyne  in  seeing  wl  we  can  do  against  Sasaco8,  and 
another  great  Sagamor,  Momowattuck." 

Stoughton  had  before,  probably  in  a  letter  to  Winthrop,  detailed  the 
manner  in  which  the  Indian  prisoners,  now  received,  came  into  his 
hands  ;  he  "  having  pursued  the  Pequots  beyond  Connecticot,  and 
missing,  returned  to  Pequot  river,  where  they  were  advertised  that  one 
hundred  of  them  were  newly  come  back  to  a  place  some  twelve  miles 
off.  So  they  marched  thither  by  night  and  surprised  them  all."  *  They 
"  put  to  death  twenty-two  men,  and  reserved  two  Sachems,  hoping  by 
them  to  get  Sasacus,  which  they  promised.  All  the  rest  were  women 
and  children,  of  whom  they  gave  the  Narragansets  thirty,  our  Massa- 
chusetts Indians  three,  and  the  rest  sent  hither.  These  were  disposed 
of  to  particular  persons  in  the  country.  Some  of  them  ran  away,  and 
were  brought  again  by  the  Indians,  our  neighbors,  and  these  we  branded 
on  the  shoulder."  f 

Several  of  the  Pequots  had  fled 
down  into  the  Niantick  country, 
where  Ninigrett  was  Sachem.  This 
Chief  was  desirous  to  shield  them 
from  destruction,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  be  at  peace  with  the  English. 
He  therefore  came  to  Boston 
with  seventeen  of  his  men, 
bringing  a  present  of  ten  fathoms  of 
wampum.  The  Authorities  refused 
to  treat  with  him  unless  he  would 
now  agree  to  give  up  the  Pequots. 
He  at  first  declined  the  proposition, 
but  the  next  day  he  submit- 
ted to  it.  His  present  was 
then  received,  but  he  was  referred 
to  the  Commanders  of  the  army  at 
Pequot  to  treat  further  ;  for  which 
purpose  instructions   were   sent    to 


July  li 


*  "  Being  first  trepanned  by  the  Narragan- 
setts,  under  pretence  of  securing  them,  by 
which  means  "  the  "  Massachusetts  forces  had 
an  easie  conquest  over  them.  The  men  among 
them,  to  the  number  of  thirty,  were  turned 
presently  into  Charon's  ferry-boat,  under  com- 
mand of  Skipper  Gallop,  who  dispatched  them 
a  little  without  the  harbor." — Hubbard,  Nar. 
127.     This  exploit  was  before  the  arrival  of 


the  Connecticut  men,  and  Mason  passes  lightly 
over  it  in  his  history.  A  little  jealousy  is  ob- 
servable among  the  Connecticut  people.  They 
were  fearful  lest  Massachusetts  should  get  too 
large  a  share  of  the  glory  of  the  war. 

f  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  231-2.  See  also 
Hubbard's  Nar.,  127. 

%  This  Chief  had  the  address  to  save  him- 
self and  his  people  generally,  from  the  destruc- 


216  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

them  by  Ninigret.     Then   "  he   was   lovingly  dismissed,   with   some 
small  things  given  him."  * 

Meanwhile  Sassacns,  with  twenty  or  thirty  of  his  people,  fled  to  the 
Mohawks,  who  soon  after  murdered  him  and  all  his  followers,  "  being 
lured  thereunto  by  the  Narhagansets,  as  was  confidently  affirmed  and 
believed."  f 

Being  joined  with  the  Connecticut  forces,  Captain  Stoughton  sailed 
for  Quinnipiak,  afterwards  named  New  Haven.  They  were  three  days 
in  reaching  that  point.  While  the  vessels  sailed  along  the  coast,  a 
party  of  the  English  proceeded  by  land,  accompanied  by  the  Mohegans 
under  Uncas.  At  a  point  of  land  now  in  the  town  of  Guilford,  they 
captured  a  small  party  of  Pequots  who  had  retreated  there  to  elude 
their  pursuers.  One  of  them  proved  to  be  Mononotto,  the  last  great 
Chief  of  the  Pequots.  He  was  at  once  put  to  death,  his  head  cut  off 
and  set  upon  a  tree,  and  the  name  of  Sachem's  Head  given  to  the 
point,  by  which  it  has  ever  since  been  known.  The  wife  of  Mononotto 
was  taken  prisoner.  As  it  was  known  that  through  her  means  the 
lives  of  the  two  captive  girls  of  Wethersfield  were  preserved,  she  and 
her  children  were  spared,  "  and  in  special  recommended  "  to  Governor 
Winthrop,  of  Boston,  "  who,"  on  her  arrival  here,  "taking  notice  of 
her  modest  countenance  and  behavior,  gave  special  charge  concerning 
her."  I 

Animated  by  success,  the  English,  by  the  aid  of  their  Indian 
allies,  were  able  to  scour  the  country  far  and  wide.  At  length, 
coming  "to  a  small  Indian  town  seated  by  the  side  of  a  hideous 
swamp,  into  which  they  all  slipt,  as  well  Pequots  as  natives  of  the 
place. §  Before  our  men  could  make  a  shot  upon  them,  Mr.  Ludlow 
and  Captain  Mason,  with  half  a  score  of  their  men,  happened  to  dis- 
cover this  crew.  Captain  Patrick  and  Captain  Traske,  with  about  one 
hundred  of  the  Massachusetts  men,  came  in  upon  them."  Order  was 
given  to  surround  the  swamp,  but  Lieutenant  Davenport,  rushing  into 
the  swamp  with  some  twelve  others,  came  near  being  cut  off.  He  was 
"  sorely  wounded,"  as  were  two  Ipswich  men,  John  Wedgewood  and 
Thomas  Sherman.  They  were  rescued  at  great  peril  by  Serjeant  Riggs 
of  Roxbury.  It  being  near  night,  the  swamp  was  partially  surrounded 
J  l  14  ^°  Prevent  the  escape  of  any ;  but  early  the  next  morning 
about  thirty  of  the  "lustiest  of  the  enemy"  broke  through 
where  Captain  Patrick's  company  were  stationed,  and  escaped  to  the 


tion  which  fell  successively  upon  the  other  #  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  232. 

tribes.     He  was  alive  till  after  Philip's  war.  f  Hubbard,  Narrative,  128. 

For  nearly  all  the  facts  which  have  been  pre-  t  Ibid.,  131. 

served  about  him,  see  the  Book  of  the  In-  §  Hubbard,  Narrative,  129.     The  "  hideous 

dians,  Book  ii.,  131,  146,   and   153,   edition  swamp  "  mentioned  by  Hubbard  was  a  beauti- 

1851.     For  some  signal  service  which  he  per-  ful  field  when  Dr.  Dwight  wrote   his  poem, 

formed  for  Governor  Winthrop  of  Connecticut,  "  Greenfield  Hill,"  and  probably  long  before, 

that  gentleman    caused    his    portrait    to  be  It  lies  in  the  town  of  Fairfield,  on  the  borders 

painted  ;  from  a  copy  of  which,  in  the  posses-  of  Long  Island  Sound,  about  three  miles  from 

sion  of  the  late  Granville  Temple  Winthrop,  Greenfield  Hill.  —  See    Green.  Hill,  a  Poem, 

Esq.,  the  accompanying  engraving  is  made.  Introd. 


1G37.]  CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR.  217 

woods.  Some  of  them,  however,  lost  their  lives  in  the  attempt ;  "the 
rest  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  conquerors,  of  which  many  were 
killed  in  the  swamp,  like  sullen  dogs,  that  would  rather,  in  their  self- 
willedness  and  madness,  sit  still  to  be  shot  through  or  cut  in  pieces, 
than  receive  their  lives  for  the  asking  at  the  hands  of  those  into  whose 
power  they  were  now  fallen.  Some  that  are  yet  living  [1677],  and 
worthy  of  credit,  do  affirm  that  in  the  morning,  entering  into  the 
swamp,  they  saw  several  heaps  of  them  sitting  close  together,  upon 
whom  they  discharged  their  pieces,  laden  with  ten  or  twelve  pistol 
bullets  at  a  time,  putting  the  muzzles  of  their  pieces  under  the  boughs 
within  a  few  yards  of  them  ;  so  as,  besides  those  that  were  found  dead 
(near  twenty),  it  was  judged  that  many  more  were  killed  and  sunk  into 
the  mire,  and  never  were  minded  more  by  friend  or  foe."  *  "To  this 
issue,"  says  the  same  author,  "  was  the  Pequod  war  brought."  Some 
two  or  three  hundred  prisoners  were  taken  from  the  swamp.  These 
were  divided  among  the  allies.  Of  those  brought  to  Boston,  fifteen  of 
the  boys  and  two  women  were  sent  for  Bermudas  to  be  sold  for  slaves ; 
but  they  were  carried  to  the  Island  of  Providence,  in  the  West  Indies.f 
In  the  beginning  of  August  Captain  Stoughton  proceeded  to 
Block  Island.  After  killing  "  one  or  two"  of  the  Indians,  he 
got  a  parley  with  them,  who  finally  agreed  to  submit  to  the  English,  to 
pay  a  hundred  fathom  of  wampum,  and  to  deliver  up  any  that  could 
be  found  that  had  had  any  hand  in  Captain  Oldham's  death. 
,  _  Mr.  Wilson  returned  to  Boston  from  the  army.  Mr.  Hooker 
and  Mr.  Stone  came  with  him. J  They  took  Providence  in  their 
way,  doubtless  to  have  an  interview  with  Mr.  Williams.  The  same 
day  arrived  also  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Pynchon,  and  about  twelve  others. 
They  "  came  the  ordinary  way  by  land,  and  brought  with  them  a  part 
of  the  skin  and  lock  of  hair  of  Sasacus  and  his  brother,  and  five  other 
Pequod  Sachems,  who,  being  fled  to  the  Mohawks  for  shelter,  with 
their  wampum,  being  to  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds,"  were  put 
to  death,  as  before  mentioned.  "  So  that  now  there  had  been  slain 
and  taken  between  eight  and  nine  hundred.  Whereupon  letters  were 
sent  to  Mr.  Stoughton  and  the  rest  to  call  them  all  home."  § 

Such  is  the  almost  possibly  briefest,  and,  at  the  same  time,  con- 
nected history  of  the  Pequot  war,  that  the  nature  of  the  subject  seemed 
to  allow  ;  nor  can  it  by  any  construction  be  deemed  foreign  to  the 
history  of  Boston.  Boston  counsel  directed  it ;  one  of  its  principal 
Captains  led  Boston  men  to  storm  the  stronghold  at  Mistick ;  and 
Boston  men  kept  the  field  as  long  as  an  enemy  was  to  be  feared. 

*  Hubbard,  130-2.  clesiastical  synod  which  was  to  meet  on  the 

f  See  Winthrop,  i.  30th  of  the  month.     See  next  Chapter, 

j  These  came,  probably,  to  attend  the  ec-        §  Winthrop,  ut  supra,  i.  235. 

28 


218 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 


[1637. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Eeligious  Controversy.  —  Persecutions.  —  The  Persecuted  found  other  Colonies.  —  Grounds  of  the 
Difficulties. — Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson.  —  Mr.  John  Wheelwright.  —  Cotton  and  Vane  favor  Mr. 
Wheelwright.  —  Fast  Sermon  of  the  latter.  —  Called  to  an  Account  for  Opinions  advanced  in  it.  — 
It  is  pronounced  Seditious.  —  Ordered  to  appear  for  further  Trial.  —  A  Synod  called  to  decide  what 
Errors  existed.  —  Mr.  Wheelwright  tried  and  banished.  —  Boston  remonstrates.  —  Remonstrants 
proceeded  against. — Some  expelled  the  Court.  —  Case  of  As  pin  wall,  Coggeshall,  Baulston,  and 
others.  —  Mrs.  Hutchinson.  —  Parentage  and  Character.  —  Trial  and  Banishment.  —  Killed  by  the 
Indians.  — Remonstrants  disarmed.  —  Case  of  Captain  Underbill.  —  Governor  Wrnthrop  censured. 
—  State  of  the  Boston  Church. 


WHILE  the  whole  of  New  England  was  dis- 
tracted by  a  war  with  the  Indians,  Boston  was 
more  distracted,  if  possible,  with  religious  dis- 
sensions, in  which  parents  were  set  against 
children,  children  against  parents,  brother  against 
brother,  as  is  always  the  case  in  religious  as 
well  as  political  controversies. 

The  dissension  of  which  notice  is  now  to  be 
taken  was  far  more  detrimental  to  the  prosperity 
of  Boston  than  any  other,  from  the  day  of  its 
settlement  to  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Other  places,  though  benefitted  by  Boston's  misfortune,  were 
not  so  in  a  corresponding  degree.  The  Dutch  of  New  York  offered  the 
persecuted  of  Boston  the  free  enjoyment  of  their  religion,  which  some 
gladly  embraced  by  settling  in  that  Colony.  Rhode  Island  was  settled 
by  Boston  people,  and  Mr.  John  Wheelwright  led  a  colony  hence  to 
New  Hampshire,  and  founded  Exeter.* 

The  grounds  of  these  distractions  may  be  thus  briefly  stated. f     It 
was  maintained  by  those  called  Antinomians,  J  or  Familists,  §  that  the 


*  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  in  this  con- 
nection, in  answer  to  the  remark  of  Dr.  Eliot, 
"  It  has  always  seemed  very  strange  that  Mr. 
Wheelwright  did  not  go  with  his  friends  to 
Rhode  Island,  instead  of  removing  to  New 
Hampshire,"  that  the  Doctor  did  not  seem  to 
be  aware  that  Mr.  Wheelwright  had  large 
possessions  in  the  last-named  Colony.  It 
may  be  due  to  the  subject  to  remark,  also,  in 
reference  to  a  supposed  discovery  some  years 
since  made,  namely,  that  Mr.  Wheelwright 
made  no  purchase  of  lands  in  N.  Hampshire 
in  1629,  as  set  forth  in  history,  and  that  a 
certain  deed,  purporting  to  be  of  such  pur- 
chase, was  a  forgery.  No  argument  in  favor 
of  the  genuineness  of  said  deed  will  be  here 
offered.  I  shall  only  observe,  that  if  the  deed 
in  question  be  a  forgery,  then  a  large  number 
of  other  papers,  going  to  show,  incidentally, 
that  there  was  such  a  deed  or  purchase,  all 
written  before  1637,  and  which  I  myself  have 
seen,  are  forgeries  also. 

t  From  Welde's  Preface  to  Winthrop's 
Short  Story.     Should  any  one  doubt  to  whom 


belongs  the  chief  authorship  of  the  work  here 
cited,  let  him  read  Cotton's  Way  of  the  Churches 
Cleared,  page  56,  and  elsewhere ;  but  the 
most  conclusive  evidence  will  be  found,  merely 
by  comparing  Winthrop's  Journal,  i.  261,  with 
the  Short  Story,  45-47.  Two  men,  without 
close  conference,  could  not  have  written  things 
so  exactly  coinciding,  being  word  for  word  in 
many  places. 

%  "  A  sect  of  people  that  hold  the  keeping 
of  Moses'  law  to  be  unprofitable,  and  that 
there  is  no  sin  in  children.  They  began  to 
appear  somewhat  above  100  years  ago  [about 
1606],  and  had  one  John  Islebius,  a  German, 
for  their  ringleader."  —  Phillip's  New  World 
of  Words,  6th  ed.,  by  J.  K. 

§  This  was  a  distinct  sect  from  the  Anti- 
nomians originally,  though  they  are  usually 
coupled  in  our  books  as  though  they  were  one 
and  the  same.  The  Familists  bad  their  be- 
ginning with  one  Henry  Nicholas,  before  the 
end  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  He 
called  his  followers  the  "  Family  of  Love,"  and 
hence  their  appellation.— Camden's  Eliz.,  248. 


1637.]  MRS.    ANNE   IIUTCniNSON.  219 

Law,  and  the  preaching  of  it,  is  of  no  use  at  all  to  drive  a  man  to 
Christ ;  that  a  man  is  justified  without  faith  from  eternity  ;  that  he  is 
united  to  Christ  by  the  Spirit,  without  any  act  of  his  ;  that  the  graces 
of  saints  and  hypocrites  may  be  the  same  ;  that  the  whole  letter  of  the 
Bible  is  a  covenant  of  works  ;  that  no  Christian  must  be  pressed  to 
duties  of  holiness  ;  and  so  on,  to  the  number  of  twenty-nine  heads,  or 
"  dangerous  opinions."  After  Mr.  Welde  had  enumerated  these  in  his 
Preface,  he  says  they  were  only  "  some  of  them,  to  give  but  a  taste, 
for  afterwards  you  shall  see  a  litter  of  fourscore  and  eleven  of  their 
brats  hung  up  against  the  sun,  besides  many  new  ones  of  Mistress 
Hutchinson's  ;  all  which  they  hatched  and  dandled." 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  writers  to  speak  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  as  the 
origin  of  the  Antinomian  troubles  ;  but  that  is  not  the  true  state  of  the 
case.*  The  difficulties  with  Roger  Williams  were  of  the  same  char- 
acter, and  of  a  higher  date.f  It  is,  however,  true  that  Mrs.  Hutchin- 
son had  some  advantages  for  gaining  proselytes  that  those  who  pre- 
ceded her  had  not,  and  abilities  of  the  most  superior  cast  for  improving 
them. 

The  community  that  expects  to  rid  itself  of  all  impurities,  and  to 
arrive  at  perfection,  must  expect  its  members  which  constitute  it  will 
live  forever,  and  to  admit  none  to  be  of  its  number  from  any  other 
community,  and  no  children  to  be  born  in  it.  The  Rulers  of  Boston 
were  doubtless  men  in  advance  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived,  and 
they  must  not  be  censured  for  not  having  the  knowledge  which  had  no 
existence  then,  saving,  perhaps,  in  the  brains  of  a  few  theorists.  They 
had  to  learn  that  accidents  and  misfortunes  as  often  happened  to  those 
they  were  assured  led  blameless  lives,  as  to  the  more  wicked,  when 
equally  exposed  to  them. 

0  It  was  soon  found  that  not  only  the  immediate  family  of  Mrs. 

Hutchinson  fell  in  entirely  with  her  views,  but  many  of  the  best 
and  most  influential  men  in  Boston  were  of  her  way  of  thinking  in 
matters  of  religion.  J  So  completely  was  she  master  of  her  subject,  and 
so  irresistibly  did  she  enforce  her  views,  that  she  carried  Cotton 
captive.  Winthrop  for  a  time  wavered,  but  was  finally  rescued  by  the 
interest  of  Wilson,  §  and  became  her  bitterest  enemy.  Her  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  Wheelwright,  ||  having  come  with  his  family  to  Boston  about 

*  Winthrop  says,  Journal,  i.  200,  that  Mrs.  Eve,  to  catch  their  husbands  also  ;  "  and  that 

Hutchinson    "brought    over    with    her    two  "  most  of  these  seducers  lived  in  Boston." 

dangerous  errors,  1.  That  the  person  of  the  J  "  And  indeed  it  was  a  wonder  upon  what 

Holy  Ghost  dwells  in  a  justified  person ;  2.  a  sudden  the  whole  Church  of  Boston  (some 

That  no  sanctification  can  help  to  evidence  to  few  excepted)  were  become  her  new  converts, 

us   our  justification.     From   these   two  grew  and  many  also  out  of  the  Church.     She  drew, 

many  branches."  also,  some  of  eminent  place  and  parts  to  her 

■j-  It  is  said,  in  the  Preface   to  the  Short  party."  —  Short  Story,  34. 

Story,  that   those  who  held   "unsound   and  §  The  Church  of  Boston  were  so  displeased 

loose  opinions  commonly  labor'd  to  work  first  with  the  course  of  Mr.  Wilson,  not  long  after, 

upon  women,  being,  as  they  conceived,  the  that  when  he  went  into  the  pulpit  near  half 

weaker   to  resist;  the  more  flexible,  tender,  of  the  congregation  would  go  out.  —  Neal. 

and  ready  to  yield  :  and  if  once  they  could  ||  He  arrived  on  the  26th  of  May  of  this 

winde  in  them,  they  hoped  by  them,  as  by  an  year,  in  the  same  ship  with  Mr.  Samuel  Whit- 


220  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

five  months  previous,  was  fully  of  her  opinion.*  Many  of  the  in- 
habitants were  highly  pleased  with  Mr.  Wheelwright's  preaching,  and 
an  attempt  was  made  to  have  him  settled  permanently  in  Boston  as 
their  preacher.  It  is  natural  that  the  old  Ministers  should  not  favor 
this  ;  for,  high  as  they  were  estimated  for  learning,  talent  and  piety,  it 
was  possible  that  a  brilliant  young  Minister  like  Mr.  Wheelwright 
might,  in  some  degree,  eclipse  them.  Mr.  Cotton,  nevertheless,  was  in 
favor  of  his  settling  here.  It  was  finally  concluded,  however,  that  he 
should  settle  in  that  part  of  Boston  then  called  Mount  Wollaston,f  over 
"  a  new  Church  to  be  gathered  there."  Winthrop  objected  to  his 
being  settled  on  the  peninsula,  on  the  ground  that  "  he  was  apt  to 
raise  doubtful  disputations,"  and  had  advanced  sentiments  similar  to 
those  of  his  sister  Hutchinson ;  yet  Winthrop  says  he  himself  might 
agree  with  him  as  to  the  point  in  dispute,  and  that  "  he  thought 
reverendly  of  his  godliness,  and  could  be  content  to  live  under  such  a 
ministry."  Winthrop's  course,  however,  in  reference  to  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright, offended  "  divers  of  the  brethren  ;  "  and,  finding  this  to  be  the 
case,  he  the  next  day  confessed  that  he  had  committed  an  offence,  and 
proceeded  to  make  a  long  and  tedious  explanation,  and  winds  up  his 
account  of  it  by  saying :  "  How  this  was  taken  by  the  Congregation 
did  not  appear,  for  no  man  spake  to  it."  Probably  "  no  man"  under- 
stood it.  The  same  kind  of  metaphysics  continues  to  perplex  many 
even  to  the  present  day,  or  all  such  as  seek  to  find  the  meaning  of 
what,  in  itself,  means  nothing.  Mathematicians  never  argued  more 
unprofitably  about  the  "  indivisibility  of  matter,"  or  "  squaring  the 
circle,"  than  the  metaphysicians  of  that  age  did  about  "  evidencing 
justification  by  sanctification,"  and  similar  questions. 

ing.  —  See  Belknap,  N.  H.,  i.  337.  He  lived  *  He  had  preached  against  a  "  covenant  of 
at  Belleau,  in  Lincolnshire,  which  is  only  two  work"  before  he  came  to  Boston,  and  had 
and  a  half  miles  from  Alford,  the  residence  of  converted  Hanserd  Knollys  to  his  opinions, 
the  Hutchinson  family,  into  which  he  married,  After  he  was  silenced  he  lived  for  a  time 
as  previously  mentioned.  —  See  ante,  p.  175.  privately  near  London.  Knollys  heard  of  him 
He  had  an  estate  at  Mawthorpe,  in  the  parish  "  by  some  Christians,  that  he  had  been  instru- 
of  Willoughby,  in  the  same  county,  also  near  mental  to  convert  many  souls,"  and  set  out  to 
Alford,  which,  in  1677,  he  gave  to  his  youngest  visit  him.  At  the  same  time  he  learned  that 
daughter,  Sarah,  "  in  consideration  of  her  Mr.  Wheelwright  had  come  into  the  same 
marriage  to  Richard  Crispe."  —  See  Suffolk  neighborhood  where  he  lived,  namely,  Au- 
Deeds,  ix.  215.  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  his  derley,  in  Lincolnshire.  After  he  had  had  an 
wife  were  admitted  to  the  Church  in  Boston,  interview  with  Mr.  Wheelwright,  he  was  fully 
12  June,  1636.  His  autograph,  as  here  rep-  convinced  that  he  was  under  a  covenant  of 
resented,  is  traced  from  the  original  in  the  work.  But  in  two  or  three  other  interviews 
Mass.  Archives.  In  his  earlier  years  he  wrote  he  became  enlightened,  and  immediately  set 
his  name  Whelewright,  as  the  records  of  Exeter  out  upon  enlightening  others.  This  took  place 
witness.  not  long  before  Mr.  Wheelwright  came  over 

in  1636.  Knollys  followed  him  to  Boston 
soon  after,  as  will  be  seen.  — See  Life  of 
Knollys,  written  by  himself,  18-25. 

He  was  desired  by  many  to  be  their 


7  -         n0  /       ^       t  "  He  was  desired  by  many  to  be  their 

<-J  .         t,  nrJ—K.1     fA^fA     Ch  teacher  with  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wilson, 

ptL<>5G  "i--   UJ     «■  J     but  the  Church  being  so  well  supplied, 

J  t  the  Church  by  vote,  on  Oct.  30th,  1636, 

/^    /'  ffiu  XA/'  allowed  him  to  preach  to  some  of  their 

\  mA&J     -       /  members  removed  to  Braintree,"  &c. — 


1637.]  CHURCH    FAST.  221 

Governor  Vane  supported  the  doctrines  maintained  by  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright, and  carried  on  a  controversy  in  writing  with  Winthrop  ;  and 
Mrs.  Hutchinson  held  a  "  double  weekly  lecture,"  to  which  a  large 
number  of  persons  constantly  resorted,  "  to  the  number  of  fifty ,  sixty, 
or  eighty  at  once."*  At  these  lectures  she  was  able  to  repeat  from 
memory  the  sermons  that  she  had  heard  preached,  and  as  she  went 
along  would  make  her  own  commentaries  upon  them.  In  this  manner 
she  brought  great  numbers  to  her  way  of  thinking. 

As  soon  as  there  was  an  organized  opposition  to  the  "  new  doctrines," 
measures  began  to  be  talked  of,  by  which  a  stop  might  be  put  to  them, 
and  the  Commonwealth  saved  from  ruin  ;  for  it  was  said  that  the  dif- 
ference between  the  doctrines  maintained  by  either  party  was  "  as 
great  as  between  Heaven  and  Hell."  Winthrop's  party  do  not  seem 
to  have  ever  had  the  remotest  idea  that  they  could  be  wrong,  or  that 
the  other  party  could  be  sincere  and  honest  in  their  opinions.  Charity 
is  not  heard  of  among  the  oppressors  ;  and  when  those  of  the  "  new 
doctrines  "  spoke  charitably  of  them,  they  were  spurned  the  more. 
That  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  his  followers  believed  sincerely  that  the 
other  party  were  "under  a  covenant  of  work,"  is  quite  as  clear  now, 
as  that  a  difference  existed  between  the  parties. 

A  Fast  was  kept  "in  all  the  Churches,"  to  lament  the 
troubles  that  seemed  to  be  about  to  overwhelm  the  country  ; 
among  others,  danger  from  the  Indians,  and  the  dissensions  in  the 
Churches  are  particularly  mentioned.  In  his  Fast  sermon  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright "  inveighed  against  all  that  walked  in  a  covenant  of  works, 
called  them  antichrists,  and,"  according  to  Winthrop,  "stirred  up  the 
people  against  them  with  much  bitterness  and  vehemency.  For  this  he 
was  called  into  the  Court,  and  his  sermon  being  produced,  he  justified 
it.  Whereupon  the  Elders  of  the  rest  of  the  Churches  were  called, 
and  being  asked,  if  in  their  ministry  they  did  walk  in  such  a  way,  they 
all  acknowledged  they  did.  So,  after  much  debate,  the  Court  adjudged 
him  guilty  of  Sedition,  and  also  of  Contempt, f  for  that  the  Court  had 
appointed  the  fast  as  a  means  of  reconciliation  of  the  differences,  and 
that  he  had  purposely  set  himself  to  kindle  and  increase  them." 

Governor  Vane  "  and  some  few  more,"  at  once  protested  against 
the  decision  of  the  Court,  in  which  they  "  wholy  justified  Mr.  Wheel- 

*  "  But  the  last  and  worst  of  all,"  says  Mr.  ecclesiastical  factions."  Being  descended  from 
Welde,  in  a  tone  of  deep  lamentation,  "  which  one  of  the  chief  leaders  of  the  party  corn- 
most  suddenly  diffused  the  venom  of  these  plained  of,  namely  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  Mr.  Sav- 
opinions  into  the  very  veins  and  vitals  of  the  age  excuses  himself  for  not  giving  a  more  par- 
people,  was  Mistress  Hutchinson's  double  ticular  account  of  her  than  he  has  done.  I 
weekly-lecture,"  &c.  do  not  object  to  this,  inasmuch  as  he  has  de- 

f  This  much  talked  of  sermon  has  been  pre-  fended   the   other   party,   Mr.    Wheelwright, 

served  (in   manuscript).      Mr.  Savage,   in   a  from  whom  I  am  descended,  in  a  very  satisfac- 

note  to  Winthrop,  thus  remarks  upon  it  :  —  tory  manner.     All  the  defence  Mrs.  Hutchin- 

"  I  unhesitatingly  say,  that  it  was  not  such  as  son  requires,  I  trust  I  have  made  for  her,  and 

can  justify  the  Court   in  their   sentence   for  that  consists  in  truly  narrating  the  rise  and 

sedition  and  contempt,  nor  prevent  the  present  progress  of  the  unhappy  controversy  in  which 

age  from  regarding  that  proceeding  as  an  ex-  she  was  so  large  a  sharer  and  sufferer, 

ample  and  a  warning  of  the  usual  tyranny  of  * 


222  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

wright;"  and  the  Church  of  Boston  tendered  a  petition  in  his  behalf, 
and  justified  his  sermon  also.  Seeing  he  had  so  many  and  such  strong 
friends,  the  Court  concluded  to  suspend  sentence  upon  him  until  the 
next  Court ;  meantime  he  was  "  commended  to  the  Church  of  Boston 
to  take  care  of  him,"  and  ordered  to  appear  at  the  next  Court. 

Boston  was  favorable  to  the  cause  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  and  the 
Court  was  unwilling  to  sit  where  its  doings  were  pretty  likely  to  be 
condemned  by  the  people.*  It  was  therefore  voted  that  it  should  be 
held  next  at  Newtown.  Mr.  Vane  showed  his  dislike  of  the  proceed- 
ing by  refusing  to  put  the  vote,  which  was  done  by  Mr.  Endicott. 

The  result  of  this  day's  election  has  been  stated  in  detailing 

ay  '  the  progress  of  the  Pequot  war,  so  far  as  the  election  of 
officers  was  concerned.!  So  well  had  the  plans  of  the  opposition  to 
the  "  Antinomians  "  been  concerted,  that  the  result  was  all  they  could 
wish  for  ;  yet  the  Court  was  not  prepared  to  sentence  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright, although  he  appeared  as  he  was  ordered  to  do  ;  so  it  gave  him 
a  respite  till  the  next  session,  which  was  to  be  in  August ;  that  in  the 
interim  he  might  "  bethink  himself  and  retract  his  error,  otherwise  he 
must  expect  no  favor."  To  this  proposition  of  clemency,  he  said,  if 
he  were  guilty  of  Sedition  he  was  worthy  of  death ;  but  if  they  pro- 
ceeded against  him,  he  would  appeal  to  the  King,  and  that  he  had 
nothing  to  retract.  In  the  mean  time  an  ecclesiastical  Council  was  con- 
vened, to  discuss  the  matter.  J 

That  an  Assembly,  or  Synod,  formed  for  a  specific  object,  and  of 
materials  of  one  faith,  should  find  much  difficulty  in  agreeing  in  con- 
demning those  of  a  different  faith,  is  not  to  be  expected.     Under  these 
circumstances"  an  Assembly  of  the  Churches  §  at  New-Town," 

us'     '  drew  up  a  "  Catalogue  of  erroneous  opinions,"  to  the  number 

*  "  A  great  part  of  the  body  of  the  people,  It  was  customary,  when  the  Governor  returned 
and  I  am  apt  to  think,  at  the  first,  the  major-  from  Court,  for  the  inhabitants  to  turn  out 
ity  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  were  of  the  same  and  escort  him  to  his  house  ;  but  when  he  re- 
side the  question  with  those  people  who  after-  turned  to  his  house  in  Boston,  from  Newtown, 
wards  came  here."  [To  Rhode  Island.] — See  after  the  passage  of  this  law,  there  was  no 
Callender's  Hist.  Disc,  26.  welcome  of  the  kind  from  the  people. 

f  See  ante,  page  211.  §  "  There  were  all   the   Teaching   Elders 

j  "  An  extraordinary  act  made  by  the  Gen-  through  the  country,  and  some  new  come  out 

eral  Court  this  session,  very  much  heightened  of  England,  not  yet  called  to  any  place  here, 

the  discontent."    Many  persons  of  Mr.  Wheel-  as  Mr.  Davenport,"  &c.  — Winthrop,  Journal, 

wright's  opinions  in  Boston,  were  expecting  i.  237.     This  "  Assembly  "  was  "  three  weeks 

their  friends  from  England;  a  penalty  there-  together  at  Cambridge,  then  called  New  Town, 

fore  was  laid  on  all  persons  against  entertain-  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Bulkley,  alias  Buckley, 

ing  strangers  who  came  with  intent  to  reside,  being  chosen  Moderators  or  Prolocutors,  the 

without  special  liberty  from  the  Government.  Magistrates  sitting  present  all  that  time,  as 

"This,"  says  Hutchinson,  "was  a  very  se-  hearers,  and  speakers  also  when  they  saw  fit." 

vere  order,  and  was  so  disliked  by  the  people  —  Preface  to  the  Short  Story.     Johnson  says 

of  Boston,  that   upon  the  Governor's  return  that  at  this  "first  Synod  held  in  New  Eng- 

from  Court,  they  all  refused  to  go  out  to  meet  land,  there  were  present  about  25  Reverend 

him,  or  shew  him  any  respect."  —  Hist.  Mass.  and  Godly  Ministers,"  who  were  to  "  assist 

i.  62-3.      "  Mr.  Cotton  was   so  dissatisfied  in  cutting  downe  those  cursed  errors."    There 

with  this  law,  that  he  says  [in  his  Answer  to  was  that  "  bright  shining  light,  Mr.  Daven- 

Bailey]  he  intended  to  have  removed  out  of  port,  the  cheerfull,  grave,  and  gracious  soldier 

the  jurisdiction  to  Quinnypiack,  since  called  of  his    (the   Lord   Christ's),  Mr.  Allen,  also 

New  Haven  ;  but  finding  the  law  was  not  im-  Mr.    Tompson,    Mr.   Browne,   Mr.  Fish,    the 

proved  to  exclude  such  persons  as  he  feared  it  .much  honoured  Mr.  Eaton,  and  Mr.  Hopkins  " 

would  be,  he  altered  his  mind."  —  Ibid.,  63.  [both  of  whom  had  just  come  over]. —  Wonder 

See  also  Hutchinson's  Coll.  of  Papers,  67-100.  Working  Prov.,  117. 


1C37.]  BANISHMENT    OF   WHEELWRIGHT.  223 

of  eighty- two,  "  as  were  found  brought  into  New  England,  and  spread 
under  hand  there,"  all  of  which  were  found  to  be  heretical. 

0  Thus  fortified  by  synodical  authority,  the  General  Court  pro- 
ceeded to  pronounce  sentence  against  the  accused,*  first  calling 
upon  him  to  state  "  how  his  mind  stood,  whether  he  would  acknowledge 
his  offence  or  abide  the  sentence  of  the  Court  ?  His  answer  was,  in 
effect,  that  he  had  committed  no  Sedition  nor  Contempt,  and  had  de- 
livered nothing  but  the  truth  of  Christ."  Among  a  great  many  other 
things  which  the  Court  urged  against  him  was  "  the  difference  which 
he  hath  raised  amongst  men,  by  a  false  distinction  of  a  Covenant  of 
Grace,  and  a  Covenant  of  Works  ;  whereby  one  party  is  looked  at  as 
friends  to  Christ,  and  the  other  as  his  enemies,"  by  which  "  all  things 
are  turned  upside  down  amongst  us." 

The  first  day  of  the  Court  was  finished  with  the  record,  that  Mr. 
Wheelwright  was  guilty  of  "  wilfully  neglecting  all  means  of  light,  in 
that  he  would  not  vouchsafe  to  read  a  very  brief  writing,  which  much 
concerned  him  ;  "  and  "  although  the  cause  was  now  ready  for  sen- 
tence, yet  night  being  come,  the  Court  arose,  and  enjoined  him  to 
appear  the  next  morning." 

"  The  next  morning  he  appeared,  but  long  after  the  hour  ap- 
pointed." When  he  came,  "  the  Court  demanded  what  he  had 
to  allege  why  sentence  should  not  proceed  against  him  ?  "  He  merely 
asked  the  Court  to  point  out  on  what  page  or  leaf  of  his  sermon  he  had 
said  that  of  which  he  was  accused. f  This  the  Court  evaded  by  a  sort 
of  subterfuge,  and  sentenced  him  "  to  be  disfranchised  and  banished  our 
Jurisdiction,  and  to  be  put  in  safe  custody,  except  he  should  give  sufficient 
security  to  depart  before  the  end  of  March.  Upon  this  he  appealed  to 
the  King's  Majesty  ;  but  the  Court  told  him  an  appeal  did  not  lie  in 
this  case,"  for  they  had  full  jurisdiction,  as  expressed  in  their  Charter. 
As  he  declined  giving  "  security  for  his  quiet  departure,"  he  was  com- 
mitted to  the  custody  of  the  Marshal.^    The  next  day  he  was  permitted 

*  "  It  was  conceived  by  the  Magistrates  and  tion  hath  been  made  against  its  proceedings, 

others  of  the  country,  that  the  means  which  as  if  Mr.  Wheelwright  had  not  a  lawful  trial, 

had  been  used  proving  ineffectual,    the  case  as  not  being  put  upon  a  Jury  of  Freemen  ;  but 

was  now  desperate,  and  the  last  remedy  was  the  answer  to  this  is  easie,  it  being  well  known 

to  be  applied,  and  that,  without  farther  delay,  to  all  such  as  have  understanding  of  matters 

lest  it  should  be  attempted  too   late,  when  of  this  nature,  that  such  Courts  as  have  power 

fitter  opportunity  might  be  offered  for  their  to  make  and  abrogate  laws,  are  tyed  by  no 

advantage,  as  they  had  boasted,  and  did  cer-  other  orders  but  their  own,  and  to  no  other 

tainly  expect  upon  the  return  of  some  of  their  rule  but  truth  and  justice  ;    and  why  thrice 

chief  supporters,  who  by  a  special  providence  twelve   men,   sitting   as   Judges  in  a  Court, 

were  now  absent  from  them."  —  Short  Story,  should   be  more    subject  to    partiality   than 

23.  twelve  such  called  as  a  jury  to  the  bar,  let 

f  When  he  was  before  the  former  Court  he  others  judge."  —  If  Henry  the  VIII.  ever  pro- 
demanded  whether  he  were  sent  for  as  an  inno-  mulgated  anything  more  arbitrary  than  this, 
cent  or  as  a  guilty  person  1  and  the  Court  said  the  writer  is  ignorant  of  it.  That  such  law- 
"  neither,  but  as  suspected  only;"  then  he  givers  should  fear  the  abrogation  of  their 
asked  for  his  accusers ;  and  was  answered,  Charter  is  very  reasonable.  No  one  will 
"  his  Sermon,  which  was  there  in  Court." —  wonder,  if,  as  Welde  says,  some  of  the  perse- 
Short  Story,  49.  cuted   did   cry  out  to  their   oppressors,  that 

%  In  its   "  Brief  Apology,"  printed  in  the  "  they  were  blinded  in  their  legal  ways,  and 

Short  Story,  48  to  64,  the  Court  says,  "  Objec-  would  stumble  and  fall,  and  in  the  end  break 


224 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1637. 


"to  go  home,  upon  his  promise  that  if  he  were  not  departed  out  of  this 
Jurisdiction  within  fourteen  days,  he  would  render  himself  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Staunton,  one  of  the  Magistrates,  there  to  abide  as  a  prisoner, 
till  the  Court  should  dispose  of  him."  * 

Such  were  the  proceedings  which  drove  Mr.  Wheelwright  to  leave 
the  jurisdiction  of  Boston.  He  was  not  at  a  loss  probably  for  a  place 
of  refuge.  He  had  a  tract  of  land  in  New  Hampshire,  notice  of  the 
purchase  of  which  in  1629,  has  been  taken  ;f  to  that  he  removed,  and 
thus  became  the  founder  of  Exeter.| 

It  might  have  been  hoped,  but  may  not  have  been  expected,  that  by 
a  disposal  of  the  "  leader"  of  the  "heretics,"  the  rest  of  them  would 
be  silenced,  or  forced  to  believe  against  their  convictions  ;  but  hopes 
and  expectations,  under  such  circumstances,  are  generally  delusive  ; 
"  for  Mr.  Wheelwright's  party  persisted  in  their  opinions,  and  the 
principal  of  them  were  as  busy  as  before  in  nourishing  contentions."  § 
At  the  same  time  the  dominant  party  seem  to  have  been  equally 
busy  to  devise  means  to  rid  itself  of  these  also.  They  were 
prominent  persons,  many  of  them,  and  had  signed  a  petition  [|  in  Mr. 


their  necks  into  Hell."  — Preface.  The  "  Brief 
Apology  "  above  cited  is  the  same,  probably, 
which  Winthrop  says  the  "  Magistrates  set 
forth,"  and  afterwards  appeared  in  the  "  Short 
Story."  —  See  Winthrop,  Journal,  i.  221. 

*  Short  Story,  29. 

f  See  ante,  p.  59-60. 

j  "  In  the  "  Short  Story,"  45,  the  writer 
says  this  controversy  "  was  the  Masterpiece 
of  the  old  serpent,  that  the  leaders  were  scat- 
tered and  the  brood  broken  up.  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright is  gone  to  Pascal  "  [Pascataqua],  &c. 
Mr.  Wheelwright,  in  his  Answer  (he  writes  in 
the  third  person),  says,  "  for  him  to  goto  Pas- 
cal :  Avhere  is  the  wonder  1  I  confesse  it  was 
marvellous  he  could  get  thither,  when  they 
expelled  him,  by  reason  of  the  deep  snow  in 
which  he  might  have  perished."  —  Mercurius 
Americanus,  24.  He  no  doubt  went  by  water 
to  Pascataqua  river.  This  was  in  the  winter 
of  1637-8.  In  about  four  years  he  removed  to 
Wells,  because  his  territory  had  been  annexed 
to  Massachusetts.  In  1647  he  settled  in 
Hampton.  He  went  to  England  before  the 
restoration,  and  did  not  return  to  New  Eng- 
land till  after  that  event.  He  was  intimate 
with  Oliver  Cromwell,  having  been  at  the 
same  University  with  him.  After  his  return 
to  N.  England  he  settled  at  Salisbury,  and 
succeeded  the  Eev.  William  Worcester  in  the 
ministry  there.  He  died  15  Nov.,  1679,  "  being 
then  the  oldest  minister  in  New  England." 
He  left  a  will,  dated  25  May,  1679.  His  pos- 
terity are  numerous  and  respectable.  His  son, 
grandson,  and  great-grandson  were  Counsel- 
lors of  Massachusetts.  — Eliot,  Farmer.  The 
names  of  those  dismissed  from  the  Boston 
Church,  and  who  went  with  Mr.  Wheelwright 
to  Exeter,  were  "  Richard  Merrys,  Richard 
Bulgar,  Philemon  Purmot,  Isaac  Grosse,  Chris- 


topher Marshall,  George  Baytes,  Thomas  War- 
dell,  William  Wardell."  —Belknap,  N.  H.,  i. 
37.  See  Hutchinson,  Coll.  Papers,  316.  See 
ante,  p.  219-20,  note. 

§  Winthrop,  i.  244-5. 

||  Readers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  not 
be  satisfied  with  the  simple  fact  that  a  mere 
petition  in  favor  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  had 
subjected  its  signers  to  banishment,  without 
having  the  document  laid  before  them.  I 
therefore  give  the  substance  of  it  from  the 
"  Short  Story." 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  have 
diligently  observed  this  Honoured  Court's  pro- 
ceedings against  our  dear  and  reverend  Brother 
in  Christ,  Mr.  Wheelwright,  now  under  cen- 
sure of  the  Court  for  the  truth  of  Christ,  we 
do  humbly  beseech  this  Honourable  Court  to 
accept  this  Remonstrance  and  Petition  of  ours, 
in  all  due  submission  tendered  to  your  Wor- 
ships." The  Petitioners  then  "desire  the 
Court  to  consider  the  sincere  intention  of  their 
Brother,"  who,  they  say,  by  his  Sermon  on 
the  Fast  day,  "  did,  to  his  best  strength,  labor 
to  promote  ' '  the  end  for  which  that  Fast  was 
appointed,  namely  "  the  publick  peace  of  the 
Churches  ;  and  therefore  deserves  no  such  cen- 
sure "  as  that  bestowed  upon  him.  Secondly. 
As  to  his  "  being  culpable  for  Sedition,"  they 
could  not  see  how  such  charge  could  be  sus- 
tained, as  there  was  no  witness  "  of  any  sedi- 
tious fact."  Thirdly.  His  preaching  "had 
not  stirred  up  his  hearers  to  commit  any  sedi- 
tious act,"  "  not  so  much  as  by  accident,  and 
none  of  them  had  drawn  the  sword,  as  some- 
times Peter  did,  rashly  ;  neither  had  they 
rescued  their  innocent  Brother,  as  sometimes 
the  Israelites  did  Jonathan,  and  even  they  did 
not  seditiously.  The  Covenant  of  Free  Grace 
which  he  held  forth,  rather  taught  them  to 


1G37-]  PETITION    OF    REMONSTRANTS.  225 

Wheelwright's  favor,  which  was  presented  to  the  same  Court  *  that  had 
declared  him  guilty  of  sedition.  This  Court,  therefore,  decided  to  pro- 
ceed against  them,  as  it  "  afforded  a  fair  opportunity." 

The  name  of  William  Aspinwall  stood  first  upon  the  Petition.  The  same 
gentleman  being  a  Member  of  the  General  Court,  f  "it  was  propounded 
whether  he  was  fit  to  be  a  member  ;  "  and  being  called  upon  to  say 
"  whether  he  would  justify  the  matter  contained  in  the  said  writing," 
"peremptorily  affirmed"  that  he  did;  whereupon  he  was  presently 
expelled.  Next,  Mr.  John  Coggeshall,  though  he  had  not  signed  the 
writing,  being  a  Deputy  to  the  Court  when  it  was  promulgated,  yet  he 
"  spake  very  boldly  to  the  Court,  and  told  them,  that  seeing  they  had 
put  out  Mr.  Aspinwall  they  were  best  make  one  work  of  all ;  that 
though  his  hand  were  not  to  the  Petition,  yet  he  did  approve  of  it ; 
but  his  hand  was  to  a  Protestation  which  was  to  the  same  effect ; 
whereupon  he  was  dismissed,"  and  word  sent  to  Boston  to  choose  two 
others.  Then  Mr.  Coddington,  by  an  order  from  the  Town,  moved 
that  the  censure  against  Mr.  Wheelwright  might  be  reversed  ;  of 
course  it  did  not  prevail. 

These  proceedings  vexed  the  people  of  Boston,  and  they  per- 
sisted at  first  in  returning  Mr.  Aspinwall  and  Mr.  Coggeshall  to 
the  General  Court  again.  "  But  Mr.  Cotton  coming  amongst  them, 
and  perceiving  their  rash  and  contemptuous  behaviour,  by  his  wisdom 
diverted  them  from  that  course  ;  "  |  and  they  chose  "  Mr.  William 
Coulborne  and  John  Olyvar." 

The  Court  had  Mr.  Coggeshall  and  Mr.  Aspinwall  before  it,  soon 
after,  and  something  of  asperity  was  exhibited  on  both  sides.  Then 
Mr.  "  William  Baulston"  and  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  were  called  up. 
Mr.  Baulston  told  the  Court,  "That  he  knew  if  such  a  petition  had 
been  made  in  any  other  place  in  the  world,  there  would  have  been  no 
fault   found   with   it."     Mr.  Hutchinson  said,  "  turning  himself  in  a 

give  patiently  their  cheeks  to  the  smighters."  truth  of  Christ,  with  divers  other  scandalous  and 

That,   therefore,   both   Teacher   and  Hearers  seditious  speeches."     Upon  which  his  Editor 

"  were  most  free  from  Sedition."     They  then  remarks  :  — "  Unless  my  opinions  be  as  much 

called  upon  the  Court  in  a  becoming,  though  perverted  by  prejudice  as  those  of  the  majority 

supplicating  manner,  that  it  would,  "  for  its  of  the  Court  appear  to  me,  this  account  of  the 

own  Honour,  make  it  appear  wherein  the  Se-  remonstrance  is  very  unjust." — Journal,  i.  245. 

dition  lay,  or  else  acquit  their  Brother  ;  for  a  *  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  all  kinds  of 

knowledge  of  their  proceeding  would  come  to  cases  were  tried  in  the  General  Court,  and 

all   the   World."      Further,   that  the   Court  that  Attorneys  were  unknown  in  it. 

would  remember  that  "  Satan  was  the  ancient  f  The  "  Deputies  or  Committees  "  for  this 

enemy  to  Free  Grace  ;  "  that  Elijah  was  called  Court  were  chosen  by  the  Town  October  16th. 

the  troubler  of  Israel,  1  Kings  18  :  17,  18  ;  They  were   "  Mr.  William   Coddington,   Mr. 

Amos  was  charged  for  conspiracy,  Amos  7:  John  Coggeshall  and  Mr.  Willm.  Aspernall." 

10.     Paul  was  counted  a  pestilent  fellow,  a  —  Town  Records.    Mr.  Aspinwall 's  autograph 

mover  of  Sedition,  and  a  Ring-leader  of  a  sect,  at  this  date  is  here  copied :  — 
Acts  24 :  5,  and  Christ  himself  was  charged 

with  being  a  teacher  of  new  doctrines.  —  "  The  f)     /]/}                 J?                ^_ — -f)f-~i~~> 

danger   of  meddling   against   the  Prophets"  If    ' /j/.    ^y.      /m  ^ >>*i4jjJrtJ/U 

was  also  suggested,  and  the  danger  of  giving  l/u1  '**•  °~         Jo    &J?~rf%uy 

offence  to  the  followers  of  Jesus,  citing  to  the  & 

Court  Zech.  2:  8,  and  Mat.  18 :  6.  %  Winthrop's  Short  Story,  26,  which  com- 

Winthrop  says  that  this  "  Remonstrance  "  pare   with   his  Journal,  i.  246.     See  also  p. 

charged  "  that  the  Court  had  condemned  the  248-9. 

29 


226  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

scornful  manner,  that  if  they  took  away  his  estate,  they  must  keep  his 
wife  and  children."  *  The  Court  showed  its  exasperation  by  disfran- 
chising both,  and  fining  the  first  twenty  and  the  other  forty  pounds. 
On  another  day  were  ordered  before  the  Court  Thomas  Marshall,  Wil- 
liam Dynely,  William  Dyer  and  Richard  Gridly,  "four  more  of  the 
principal  stirring  men,  who  had  subscribed  to  the  Petition.  Thomas 
Marshal,  the  ferryman,"  would  acknowledge  no  fault,  and  was  disfran- 
chised and  turned  out  of  his  place.  Dynely  and  Dyer  "  had  little  to 
say  for  themselves,  and  were  disfranchised  ;  likewise  Richard  Gridly, 
an  honest  poor  man,  but  very  apt  to  meddle  in  publick  affairs,  beyond 
his  calling  or  skill." 

"All  these,"  says  Winthrop,  "except  Mr.  Wheelwright,  were  but 
young  branches,  sprung  out  of  an  old  root.  The  Court  had  now  to  do 
with  the  head  of  all  this  faction.f  A  woman  had  been  the  breeder  and 
nourisher  of  all  these  distempers,  one  Mistris  Hutchison,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  William  Hutchison  of  Boston,  a  very  honest  and  peaceable  man, 
of  good  estate,  and  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Marvary  [Marbury]  sometimes 
a  preacher  in  Lincolnshire,  after  of  London  ;  a  woman  of  haughty  and 
fierce  carriage,  of  a  nimble  wit  and  active  spirit,  a  very  voluble  tongue, 
more  bold  than  a  man,  though  in  understanding  and  judgment  inferior 
to  many  women.  This  woman  had  learned  her  skill  in  England,  and 
had  discovered  some  of  her  opinions  in  the  ship,  as  she  came  over, 
which  had  caused  some  jealousie  of  her,  which  gave  occasion  of  some 
delay  of  her  admission,  when  she  first  desired  fellowship  with  the 
Church  of  Boston,  but  she  cunningly  dissembled  and  coloured  her  opin- 
ions, as  she  soon  got  over  the  block,  and  was  admitted  into  the  church ; 
then  she  began  to  go  to  work,  and  being  a  woman  very  helpful  in  the 
time  of  child-birth,  and  other  occasions  of  bodily  infirmities,  and  well 
furnished  with  means  for  those  purposes,  she  easily  insinuated  herself 
into  the  affections  of  many  ;  and  the  rather,  because  she  was  much  in- 
quisitive of  them  about  their  spiritual  estates."  J 

The  Court  having  disposed  of  several  of  the  men,  as  is  above  sum- 
marily stated,  proceeded  to  "  confute  and  confound  "  Mrs.  Hutchinson, 
the  account  of  which  occupies  many  close  quarto  pages  in  the  "  Short 

*  Ibid,  32.  Mr.  Wheelwright  gives  a  dif-  What  is  here  said  of  the  Hutchinson  family 
ferent  coloring  to  Mr.  Hutchinson's  manner,  shows  the  writer  to  have  had  such  a  knowledge 
in  his  "  Answer  "  to  the  "  Short  Story."  He  of  it  as  Mr.  Wheelwright  must  have  had,  hav- 
says,  p.  4,  "  I  wonder  Mr.  Edward  Hutchin-  ing  married  a  sister  of  Mr.  Edward  Hutchin- 
son is  amongst  the  crowde,  when  as  he  did  son. 

not  use  to  be  factious  or  opinionate  :  indeed  f  And  here  the  author  interpolates  a  quo- 

the  genius  of  that  family  hath  not  much  in-  tation  from  Virgil  to  give  more  force  to  his 

clined  to  subtilties,  scarce  any  of  the  Hutch-  own  forcible  language  —  Duxfceminafacti. 

insons  have  been  sectaries,  unlesse  a  latere,  J  Short  Story,  33.      The  above  extract  is 

and  indirectly,  by  reason  of  which,  me  thinks,  made   because   it  contains  nearly  all  that  is 

he  might  have  been  placed  more  obliquely  in  known  of  "  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Hutchinson," 

this  predicament  of  Familisme,  &c,  than  he  is.  until  her  banishment  from   Boston.     Making 

This  man  said  in  the  Court  (which  through  allowance  for  the  writer's  enmity  against  her, 

Christian  libertie  he  thought  he  might  very  and  his  deep-seated  prejudice,  and  the  whole 

well   say)   that  if  the  Court   took  away   his  becomes  very  important  to  inquirers  into  the 

means,  he  would  not  be  able  to  maintain  his  personal  history  of  these  times.     Here  seems 

wife  and  children." — Mercurius  Americanus.  to  be   a   fitting   place   to   introduce  a   brief 


1637.] 


PEDIGREE    OF    THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 


227 


Story."  An  analysis  of  the  strange  notions  advanced  on  both  sides 
might  afford  entertainment,  but  perhaps  no  great  instruction,  in  this 
age.  It  is  equally  unimportant  to  attempt  to  show  which  party  had 
the  advantage  in  the  controversy  ;  but  for  fluency  and  apt  quotations 
of  Scripture,  Mrs.  Hutchinson  certainly  seems  to  have  held  a  decided 
superiority  over  the  whole  Court ;  and,  when  it  had  nothing  further  to 
say,  Mr.  Cotton  was  called  upon  "  to  deliver  his  judgment"  upon  the 
matter  at  issue.  He  may  have  enlightened  the  parties  by  what  he 
delivered,  though  Moderns  will  not  probably  be  able  to  discover  in 
what  way  it  was  effected.* 

pedigree  of  the  Hutchinson  family ;  by  the  clue  may  be  obtained  to  many  otherwise  un- 
connection  with  which  of  other   families,  a    explained  circumstances. 


The  Christian  name  of  the  father  of  William  Hutchinson  : 
has  not  been  ascertained.  His  widow  came  with  her  chil- 
dren to  Boston,  as  before  stated,  from  Alford  in  Lincolnshire. 
Arms  the  same  as  the  Ilutchinsons  of  Co.  of  Durham.  Rich- 
ard, 4th  son  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  living  1570. 


Susannah,  widow  of Hutchinson,  was  admitted 

to  the  1st  Church  of  Boston,  12  June,  1636.  Dismissed  with 
Rev.  John  Wheelwright  and  his  wife  to  go  to  the  Falls  at  Ex- 
eter, 3  March,  1639^40.  She  died  at  York,  Maine,  about 
1640. 


William  arrived  in  Boston  in  the  ship  =  Anne,  da.  of  Rev 


Griffin,  18  Sept.,  1634,  joined  Ch.  26 
Oct.  freem.  4  March,  1634-5.  Rep. 
Gen.  Ct.,  rem'd  to  R.  I.,  where  he  was 
its  1st  Gov.,  d.  at  Newport,  ab.  1642, 
— See  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Regr. 
i.,  302. 


Edwd.    Marbury 

of  Lincolnshire  &     mar.,  d.  1667, 

London,     joined    — See  Mercu. 


Samuel,  lived    Edward,  Boston,  Richard,  Lon-  Mary,  wf.  of 

in  Boston,  un-    joined     1st    Ch.  don  ;  had  son  Revd.    John 

Oct.,  1633,  free-  Edward,  old-  Wheelwright 

man  Mar. ,  1633-  est  of  8  sons  ;  joined  1st  ch. 


1st  Ch.  in  Boston  Americanus,    4,    wife     Sarah,  Wm.    of   Ja-    in  Bos.  1636, 

2d  Nov., 1634,  ex-  p.  4-5.                 children,     John,  maica  ;               dismissed   to 

pelled  22  March,                                1634,      Ichabod,  Eliakim,  born    go  to  Exeter, 

1638-9,    removed                                1637.     Returned  1640,d.  inBos-    3  Mar.,  1639- 

to  R.  I.,   thence                              to  London.  ton,    1718,  a.    40. 

to  New   Nether-  77  ;   wf.    Mary,    da.  Henry 

land,  killed  1643.  Shrimpton,  d.  13  Feb.,  1720-1 

—^ \  /■ V V V \  f  v V  N 

1.  Katherine  =  Edward,    b.  =  2.  Abigail,   Francis,   1st  Richard,  Bridget,  Faith,    1st   Susannah,  Zuryell,  A  dau.  Samuel, 


Hamby  of  Ips- 
wich, Eng., 
1st  Ch.  Bos- 
ton, 10  Feb., 
1638. 


1608,  1st  Ch. 
Boston,  and 
freeman,1634, 
died  19  Aug- 
ust, 1675,  of 
wounds  from 
the  Indians. 


wid.ofRob.   Ch.  &  free-  1st    Ch.,  1st  Ch.,   Ch.,  1634,   taken    by  baptiz'd  m.Col-      had 

Button,    &  man,    1634 ;  1634,  fr.  1634,m.    m.   Thom-     Indians,  Boston,     lins,        son 

da.  of  Alice  killed  by  In-  1634-5.       Willis,    as  Savage,  1643,    re-  1636.       both     Rich- 

Fermase,d.   dians,  1643.                   Bridge-   1652,    had     deemed  killed     ard. 

1689.                                                  water.      7  children,  after  three  by  In- 

yrs.    cap-  dians, 

tivity ;  m. 

Jno.  Cole, 

Dec.  1651. 


Elisha, 
bap.  5 
Nov., 
1637,d. 
young. 


Mary,  b. 
11  Oct., 
1666,  d. 
young. 


Elizabeth,     Elisha,  bap.  =  1.  Hannah, : 


bap.  10 
Novemb., 
1639,  m. 
Edward 
Winslow, 
of  Boston 


29  Novem., 
1641,  d.  10 
Dec,  1717. 
Col.  in  the 
Port  Royal 
Expedition, 
1707. 


da.  of  Cap. 

Tho.Hawk- 

ins,  d.  ab. 

1676. 


2.  Elizabeth, 

da.  of   Maj. 

Tho.  Clarke,      Novem., 

and  wid.  of      1643;  m 

Jno.  Freake, 

d.  1712-13. 


Anne,      William, 
bap.  19      bap.    18 


lst,Dyer, 
2d,  Danl. 
Vernon. 


Jan'y, 

1645-6, 

died 

young. 


Katherine, 

bap.    14 

May,  1648, 

died 

young. 


— v 


Susannah,   Edward, 
bap.  10     born   30 
June, 

1649. 
m.Nat. 
Codding- 

ton  of 
Newport. 


January, 
1650-1, 
d.  1692, 


-v "v  \ 

Elisha,  b.  Elizabeth,     Hannah,     Katherine,  Thomas,  b.  30  =  Sarah,  da.  Mary,  b.    Edward,  b. 


16  March,  b.  24  Feb.,  b.  20  Jan.,  b.  24  Feb.,  Jan.,  1674-5, 
1667-8,      1669-70,    1671-2,    m.      1672-3.  d.  3  Dec, 

d.  young,  m John  Ruck.  1739,aged  65, 

Richard-  leaving  a 

son.  great  estate 


Colonel  1  Oct.,     18     June, 

Jn.    Fos-  1676.          1678, 

ter. —  See  Judge    of 

Hist. Mas.  Probate. 

ii.,  190. 


==Lydia  Mehitable, 
Foster,  b-  6  Feb., 
sister      1679-80. 


of 

Sarah. 


Elisha,   b. 

16  May, 

1681,  d. 

1739. 


Thomas,  b.  9  Sept.,: 
1711,  H.  C.  1727, 
Gov.  &  Historian 
of  Mass.  m.  16 
May,  1734  ;  d.  at 
Brampton,  Eng., 
1780,  a.  68. 


:  Margaret,  da. 
of  Wm.,  and 
gr.  da. of  Hon. 
Peleg  Sanford, 
of  Newport, 
R.I. 


Foster,     Hannah,  m.  Sarah,  wf.  of  Abigail,  wf.  of  John  Lydia,  wf.  of  Geo.  Rogers, 

H.    C.       Rev.  Saml  Rev.  Wm.        Davenport,  son  of  merchant,  of   Boston,  son 

1721.      Mather,  son  Welsted.  He  Addington  Daven-  of  Nath.  Rogers,  of  Ports- 

of  Rev.  Cot-  d.  25  April,  port,  m.  24  August,  mouth,  N.  H.    He  died  be- 

ton  Mather,  1753.  1733.  fore  20  Feb.,  1748. 

D.  D. 


William, 
d.  1780, 
in  Eng. 


Thomas,  d.  at 

Heavitree, 

near  Exeter, 

Eng.,     1811, 

a.  71. 


Elisha,  d.  at     =   A  da.  d. 
1771. 


Blurton 


1824,  a.  80. 


Katherine,  b.  13  Benjamin,  b.  2    Hannah,  b.  16  May, 

Feb.,  1652-3;  m.  June,  1656  ;  d.        1658  ;  m.  Peter 

Henry  Bartholo-  before  his        Walker  of  Taunton. 

mew  of  Salem.  father. 


Rev.  John  Hutchinson,  of  Blurton  Parsonage,  published 
the  third  vol.  of  his  grandfather's  History  of  Mass.,  182S. 


*  "  The  Court  saw  now  an  inevitable  neces-  banishment  was  pronounced  against  her,  and 

sity  to  rid  her  away,  except  we  would   be  she  was  committed  to  the   Marshal  till  the 

guilty,  not  only  of  our  own  ruin,  but  also  of  Court  should  dispose  of  her."  —  Short  Story, 

the  Gospel.     So,  in  the  end,  the  sentence  of  43. 


228  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

The  trials  and  troubles  which  Mrs.  Hutchinson  met  with,  together 
with  an  over-exertion  to  fathom  unfathomable  mysteries,  had  unhinged 
her  mind,  and,  in  that  state,  incoherencies  and  contradictions  could  not 
but  abound  in  her  conversations.  She  thus  became  an  object  of  pity, 
instead  of  legal  severity.*  But  it  was  far  otherwise.  Governor  Win- 
throp  issued  a  warrant,  early  in  1638,  ordering  her  "  to  depart  this 
jurisdiction"  without  delay.  She  thought  at  first  to  have  gone  with 
her  brother-in-law  to  New  Hampshire,  but  her  husband  and  some  of 
his  friends  having  in  the  mean  time  purchased  lands  on  Rhode  Island, 
she  journeyed  thence  by  land.  Here  she  resided  until  after  the  death 
of  her  husband,  about  1642.  In  the  mean  time  her  family  had  collected 
around  her,  and  one  or  two  of  her  daughters  had  married.  In  the 
summer  of  the  year  last  named,  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  her  family  re- 
moved into  the  Dutch  territory  of  New  Netherland,  and  settled  near 
what  is  since  called  New  Rochelle,  a  few  miles  to  the  eastward  of  Mr. 
Throgmorton's  settlement,  where  a  small  river,  separating  her  lands 
from  the  present  town  of  East  Chester,  still  bears  the  name  of  Hutchin- 
son's River.f  In  the  Dutch  and  Indian  war,  which  raged  the  following 
year,  she,  and  such  of  her  family  as  happened  to  be  with  her,  fell 
victims  to  the  enraged  Indians,  who  knew  no  difference,  in  their  re- 
vengeful fury,  between  friend  and  foe.J 

After  the  Court  had  disposed  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  by  a  sentence  of 
banishment,  §  Captain  Underhill,  who  had  this  year  done  such  service 

*  Writers,  even  of  modern  times,  have  made  the  manner  by  which  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
the  same  mistake  with  respect  to  Mrs.  Hutch-  daughter  was  liberated.  The  maids  obtained 
inson  as  the  Court  of  1637  did,  in  one  very  by  reprisal  were  of  another  family,  and  their 
important  particular;  namely,  in  that  they  liberation  at  an  earlier  date. —  See  ante,  p.  206. 
treat  her  as  one  perfectly  sane.  Her  mind  §  The  proceeding  of  the  Court  in  passing 
was  completely  bewildered ;  and  though  she  the  sentence  of  banishment  was  as  follows, 
may  have  been  able  to  attend  to  the  ordinary  The  question  was  put  to  the  Court  by  Win- 
occupations  of  life,  yet  no  one,  it  is  believed,  throp  thus  :  "  If  it  be  the  mind  of  the  Court 
can  read  even  what  her  persecutors  have  re-  that  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  for  these  things  that 
corded  of  her  sayings,  without  unhesitatingly  appear  before  us,  is  unfit  for  our  society,  and 
coming  to  the  same  judgment.  if  it  be  the  mind  of  the  Court  that  she  shall 

In  condemning  the  proceedings  against  Mrs.  be  banished  out  of  our  Liberties,  and  im- 
Hutchinson,  I  am  not  prepared  to  go  quite  as  prisoned  till  she  be  sent  away,  let  them  hold 
far  as  Mr.  Ellis  does  in  his  Life  of  that  perse-  up  their  hands."  Hands  were  all  up  but 
cuted  woman.  There  are  some  palliating  cir-  three.  "  Those  that  are  contrary  minded,  hold 
cumstances  on  the  side  of  the  Court.  And,  up  yours."  Two  only  held  up  their  hands, 
while  I  cannot  go  quite  so  far  as  Mr.  Ellis,  I  namely,  Mr.  Coddington  and  Mr.  Colburn. 
admire  his  impartiality,  and  thank  him  for  Mr.  Jennison  declined  voting  either  way,  and 
the  good  service  he  has  done  in  the  cause  of  said  he  would  give  his  reasons  if  required  by 
New  England  history.  His  justification  of  the  Court.  Then  Winthrop  proceeded  :"  Mrs. 
Winthrop,  however,  will  not  probably  be  Hutchinson,  '  The  sentence  of  the  Court  you 
adopted  by  future  historians.  Mr.  Winthrop  hear  is,  that  you  are  banished  from  out  of  our 
was,  no  doubt,  sincere,  and  believed  he  was  jurisdiction,  as  being  a  woman  not  fit  for  our 
doing  the  will  of  God,  for  he  plainly  records  society,  and  are  to  be  imprisoned  till  the  Court 
his  own  actions.  However  much  he  may  have  shall  send  you  away.'"  Mrs.  Hutchinson 
been  influenced  or  spurred  on  by  others,  one  then  said  :  "  I  desire  to  know  wherefore  I  am 
thing  is  certain,  he  seems  willing  to  bear  the  banished."  To  which  Winthrop  replied  : 
whole,  which  is  a  pretty  good  evidence  of  his  "  Say  no  more.  The  Court  know  wherefore, 
sincerity.  and   is   satisfied."     She   was   thereupon   put 

f  See  Bolton's  West  Chester,  i.  514-15.  into   the   custody   of  Mr.  Joseph  Welde,  of 

j  For  further  particulars  and  authorities,  Roxbury,  there  to  wait  the  further  order  of 
see  Book  of  the  Indians,  132,  eleventh  edition,  the  Court.  This  Mr.  Weld  was  brother  of 
The  author  was  misled  there,  however,  as  to   Thomas,  who  published  the  Short  Story. 


1637.]  PETITIONERS    DISARMED.  229 

.against  the  Pequots,  was  required  to  show  cause  why  he  had  put  his 
name  to  the  obnoxious  Petition.  His  defence  was  similar  to  that  of 
others,  namely,  that  he  could  not  see  wherein  offence  should  be  taken  at 
the  Petition.*  "  The  Court  pitticd  him  much,  and  were  grieved  at 
his  obstinacy."  So  he  was  disfranchised,  and  his  commission  taken 
from  him.f  The  same  sentence  was  passed  upon  "  five  or  six  more  of 
the  principal,  whose  hands  were  to  the  said  petition."!  There  were 
nearly  twenty  §  of  those  who  had  signed  it,  who  compromised  by  a  sort 
of  recantation  ;  these,  and  some  others  who  had  been  chief  stirrers  in 
these  contentions,  were  ordered  to  be  disarmed. 

Thus,  it  would  seem,  the  Government  had  become  very  uneasy,  and 
did  not  consider  itself  safe  while  the  other  party  had  arms  in  their  pos- 
session. This  disarming  operation  was  a  very  serious  affair,  and  much 
blood  has  flowed  from  far  less  causes.  The  peaceable  manner  in  which 
it  was  submitted  to,  ought  to  have  convinced  the  Rulers  of  the  sin 
cerity  of  the  motives  of  those  to  whom  the  indignity  was  offered.  The 
names  of  the  Boston  men  thus  disarmed  are  as  follows  :  "  Captain  John 
Underhill,  Mr.  Thomas  Oliver,  William  Hutchinson,00 1|  William  Aspin- 
wall,(r)  Samuel  Cole,  William  Dyer,(r)  Edward  Rainsfoard,  John  Button, 
John  Sanfoard,(r)  Richard  Cooke,  Richard  Fairbanks,  Thomas  Marshall, 
Oliver  Mellows,  Samuel  Wilbore,(r)  John  Oliver,  Hugh  Gunnison,  John 
Biggs,  Richard  Gridley,  Edward  Bates,  William  Dinely,  William  Lith- 
erland,  Mathewe  Iyans,  Henry  Elkins,  Zaccheus  Bosworth,  Robert 
Rice,  William  Townsend,  Robert  Hull,  William  Pell,  Richard  Hutchin- 
son, James  Johnson,  Thomas  Savage,00  John  Davy,  George  Burden, 
John  Odlin,  Gamaliel  Wayte,  Edward  Hutchinson, (r)  William  Wilson, 
Isaack  Grosse,  Richard  Carder,00  Robert  Hardings,  Richard  Wayte, 
John  Porter,00  Jacob  Eliot,  James  Penniman,  Thomas  Wardell,  William 
Wardell,  Thomas  Matson,  William  Baulston,00  John  Compton,  Mr. 
Parker,  William  Freeborne,00  Henry  Bull,00  John  Walker,00  William 
Salter,  Edward  Bendall,  Thomas  Wheeler,  Mr.  Clarke,00  Mr.  John  Cog- 
geshall.00 "  H 

*  "  He  urged  the  libertie  allowed  to  soul-  the  number  of  the  converts." — Winthrop,  i. 

diers,  instanced  in  the  freedome  of  speech  he  247. 

had  to  Count  Nassau." — Wheelwright's  Mer-  ||  The  W  designates  those  who  fled  to  Rhode 
curius  Americanus,  p.  4.  There  is  a  copy  of  Island,  and  they  constituted  the  Colony  of  the 
this  curious  book  in  H.  Col.  Library.  Mr.  Island.  There  were  two  others  in  the  com- 
Ellis  thinks  our  Mr.  John  Wheelwright  could  pany  which  "  incorporated  themselves  a  Body 
not  have  written  it,  while  I  must  profess  the  Politick,"  namely,  Philip  Sherman  and  Ed- 
opposite  opinion,  namely,  that  he  could,  and  ward  Hutchinson,  jun.,  being  in  number  eigh- 
very  probably  did,  write  it.  It  is  true  there  teen ;  every  one  of  Boston,  except  Sherman, 
is  the  circumstance  that  it  is  "  by  John  Wheel-  who  was  among  the  disarmed,  and  lived  in 
wright,  junior,"  in  its  title-page,  but  its  dedi-  Roxbury.  This  little  Colony  was  organized 
cation  is  signed  I.  W.,  and  the  Preface  by  on  the  7th  of  March,  1637-8,  and  chose  for 
"John  Wheelwright."  Why  "junior"  is  their  Governor  Mr.  William  Hutchinson,  who 
used  in  one  case,  and  not  in  the  others,  I  had  hitherto  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
shall  not  undertake  to  explain.  men  in  the  town  affairs  of  Boston.  — See  Cal- 
f  Short  Story,  43-4.  lender's  Hist.  Disc,  p.  30.  Their  enemies  in 
%  Winthrop,  i.  247.  the  Bay  said,  sneeringly,  that  they  had  gone 
§  This  is  Winthrop's  statement,  but  Savage  to  the  "  Island  of  Errors."  —  See  Short  Story 
says  he  does  not  find  but  ten  names  on  the  {Preface). 

Court  records  of  that  session.     He  therefore  %  These  were  not  all  who  signed  in  favor 

thinks  "  the  Governour  "  may  have  "  enlarged  of  Mr.  Wheelwright ;  a  few,  who  were  not  so 


230  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1637. 

All  these  were  ordered  to  deliver  their  arms  "  at  Mr.  Cane's 
Nov.  30.  |-j£eayne's-j  house  at  Boston,  before  the  thirtieth  of  November, 
under  penalty  often  pounds  "  for  every  default  to  bee  made  thereof." 
The  order  extended  to  "  guns,  pistols,  swords,  powder,  shot  and 
match ;  "  and  that  none  of  those  men  above  named  should  buy  or 
borrow  any  guns,  swords,  pistols,  powder,  shot  or  match  ;  otherwise 
they  would  be  subjected  to  the  same  penalty.* 

The  Church  of  Boston  were  highly  offended  at  the  course  taken  by 
Governor  Winthrop,  in  thus  carrying  the  warfare  with  an  exterminating 
hand,  until  the  homes  of  many  of  their  most  beloved  friends  had  been 
made  desolate  ;  and  there  was  danger  that  serious  trouble  might  in 
consequence  ensue.  It  was  proposed  to  call  him  to  account  for  what 
he  had  done  ;  and,  had  he  not  been  a  most  skilful  manager,  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  mind  of  singular  flexibility,  he  would  hardly  have  escaped 
universal  censure.  And,  although  he  finally  gained  Mr.  Cotton  over  to 
his  measures,  yet  so  strong  was  the  Church  of  Boston  attached  to  Mr. 
Wheelwright  and  his  doctrines,  that  a  vote  for  his  expulsion  from  it 
could  never  be  obtained,  and  he  was  in  due  time  regularly  dismissed 
from  it,  as  has  been  before  stated. 

From  the  following  very  sensible  remark  of  Mr.  Callender,f  one 
hundred  years  after  these  troubles,  few  will  dissent  probably  at  this 
day.  "  Mr.  Wheelwright  was  banished  for  what  was  then  called 
sedition,  by  the  same  rule  which  will  make  every  dissent  from,  or 
opposition  to,  a  majority,  in  any  religious  affairs,  to  be  sedition,  and 
an  iniquity  to  be  punished  by  the  Judge.  The  minor  part  must  always 
be  seditious,  if  it  be  sedition  to  defend  their  own  religious  opinions, 
and  endeavor  to  confute  the  contrary." 

strong  in  the  faith,  and  having  "  repented  of  neetion  with  an  account  of  the  dissolution 
their  sin,"  were  not  disarmed;  as  William  of  the  Court,  which  met  in  September  pre- 
Larnet,  Ralph  Mousall,  Ezekiel  Richardson,  ceding ;  which  Court,  after  Mr.  Wheel- 
Richard  Sprague,  Edward  Caring,  Thomas  wright  was  ordered  to  appear  at  the  next 
Ewar,  Benjamin  Hubbard,  William  Baker,  Ed-  Court,  was  "dissolved,"  because,  as  Mr. 
ward  Mellows,  and  William  Frothingham.  Backus  says,  a  vote  could  not  be  obtained 
And  Mr.  Ellis,  who  has  taken  much  pains  in  in  this  Court  to  execute  the  decrees  of  the 
this  matter  in  his  Life  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  Synod. — Ibid.  These  were  the  members  for 
and  to  good  purpose,  very  justly  remarks,  that  November  :  — Boston,  Wm.  Coddington,  Wm. 
' '  even  with  these  additional  names  we  have  Colborne ;  Roxbury,  Joseph  Welde,  George 
not  all  the  adherents  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  Alcock,  Wm.  Parks ;  Dorchester,  Nathl.  Dun- 
Mr.  Wheelwright."  He  then  adds  :  Mr.  Phil-  can,  Richard  Callicott,  John  Glover;  Wey- 
emon  Pormont,  the  first  schoolmaster  of  Boston,  mouth,  Thos.  White,  Richard  Adams ;  Concord, 
accompanied  Mr.  Wheelwright  to  Exeter  in  Simon  Willard,  Thos.  Underwood ;  Sagus, 
1638.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Maud  went  to  Dover.  Saml.  Ward;  Watertown,  Richd.  Brown, 
He  was  also  a  schoolmaster  here.  These  are  Capt.  Wm.  Jennison,  Thos.  Mayhew ;  Cam- 
at  the  head  of  the  catalogue  of  the  Masters  of  bridge,  Joseph  Cooke,  Richd.  Jackson,  John 
the  Boston  Latin  School.  Bridge ;  Charlestown,  Capt.  Robt.   Sedgwick, 

*  It  may  be  well  to  append  here  a  list  of  Lt.  Ralph  Sprague,  Ens.  Abraham  Palmer; 
the  members  which  composed  the  memorable  Lynn,  Lt.  Daniel  Howe,  Timothy  Tomlins ; 
Court  of  Nov.  1637.  Concerning  which  Court  Salem,  Wm.  Hathorne,  Townsend  Bishop, 
Mr.  Backus  remarks,  "  It  was  customary  to  Edwd.  Batter;  Ipswich,  Capt.  Danl.  Denni- 
elect  their  deputies  twice  a  year,  namely,  in  son,  Wm.  Bartholomew ;  Newbury,  Lt.  Edwd. 
the  spring  and  fall  ;  but  to  choose  them  twice  Woodman,  John  Woodbridge.  In  all,  31. 
in  one  fall  was  an  unprecedented  act,  of  which ,  Gov.  and  Deputy,  Winthrop  and  Dudley ;  As- 
I  believe,  no  parallel  can  be  found  from  the  sistants,  Endicott,  Humfrey,  Bellingham,  Har- 
foundation  of  the  country  to  this  day."— Hist,  lakenden,  Stoughton,  Bradstreet,  Nowell. 
of  New  Eng.,  i.,  84.     This  remark  is  in  con-       f  Century  Sermon,  27. 


1C37.] 


ARRIVAL    OF    SHIPS. 


231 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Gibbon's  Voyage. —  Arrival  of  Ships. — Davenport,  Eaton,  Hopkins,  Lord  Ley.  —  Governor  Vane 
returns  to  England. — The  People  show  him  great  Respect.  —  Governor  Winthrop  and  Lord  Ley. 

—  Other  Arrivals.  —  Execution  of  Murderers.  —  Allot  incuts  of  Lands.  — Women  forbidden  to  hold 
Meetings  for  expounding  Scripture. — An  Indian  Deputation. — Accident  at  Spectacle  Island. — 
Ammunition  removed  from  Boston.  —  Origin  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company. — 
Tribute  received  from  the  Indians  of  Block  Island.  —  Mr.  Davenport  and  others  proceed  to  settle 
New  Haven.  —  A  Fast.  —  Mohcgan  Indian  Deputation.  —  Mr.  Coddington  removes  to  Rhode 
Island.  — Sickness  of  the  Governor.  — Arrival  of  many  Ships  and  Passengers.  —  Mr.  John  Josselyn. 

—  His  Account  of  Boston.  —  Captain  Underbill  banished.  —  Extravagance  in  Dress  a  cause  of 
Trouble.  —  An  Execution.  —  A  Fast. 


June. 


June  20. 


APTAIN  Edward  Gibbons  returned  to  Bos- 
ton. He  had  been  gone  so  long  upon  a 
voyage  to  Bermuda,  that  he  was  supposed 
to  have  been  lost.  His  vessel  was  a 
pinnace  of  thirty  tons.  Among  the 
commodities  which  he  brought  home  was 
an  alligator,  probably  the  first  ever  seen 
here.  The  Captain  made  a  present  of  it  to 
the  Governor. 

Three  ships  arrived  from  Ipswich, 
having  in  them  three  hundred  and 
sixty  passengers.  As  one  of  the  ships 
passed  the  Castle,  she  was  carelessly,  fired 
into  by  the  gunner,  by  which  an  honest 
passenger  was  killed.*  Within  a  week  after,  three  other  ships  came 
in  from  London.  In  one  of  them,  named  the  Hector,  came 
Mr.  John  Davenport,  Mr.  Theophilus  Eaton,  Mr.  Edward  Hop- 
kins, son-in-law  of  Mr.  Eaton,  and  Lord  James  Ley,  a  young  man 
about  nineteen  years  of  age,  who  had  come  to  see  the  country. f 

The  time  having  now  arrived  which  Mr.  Vane  had  set  for  his 
departure  for  England,  the  people  assembled  to  show  him  re- 
spect upon  the  occasion.  The  ship  in  which  he  was  to  sail  was  riding 
at  Long  Island,  in  the  harbor.  Many  accompanied  him  in  boats  to  the 
ship  with  their  arms,  and  saluted  his  departure  with  "  divers  vollies," 


June  26. 


Aug.  3. 


*   Winthrop,  i.  227. 

f  For  an  exceedingly  interesting  account 
of  this  young  man,  I  must  refer  the  reader  to 
Mr.  W.  T.  Harris'  edition  of  Hubbard's  New 
England,  p.  695,  &c.  Though  his  name  stands 
out  in  bold  relief  on  the  pages  of  history  after- 
wards, I  cannot  forbear  extracting  a  few  words 
of  what  the  noble  historian  Clarendon  says  of 
him.  He  observes  :  "  The  Earl  of  Marlborough 
[that  being  Lord  Ley's  title]  was  a  man  of 
wonderful  parts  in  all  kinds  of  learning,  which 
he  took  more  delight  in  than  his  title  ;  and, 
having  no  great  estate  descended  to  him,  he 
brought  down  his  mind  to  his  fortune,  and 
lived  very  retired,  but  with  more  reputation 


than  any  fortune  could  have  given  him." 
Such  is  the  character  of  that  modest  young 
gentleman,  who  came  so  early  to  Boston,  drawn 
by  the  hand  of  a  master.  But  his  end,  how- 
ever glorious  it  was  then  considered,  was  one 
to  be  lamented  with  myriads  of  others.  It  was 
his  fate  to  be  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  blind 
ambition.  He  became  an  eminent  naval  com- 
mander, and  perished  in  that  almost  un- 
paralleled battle  off  Lowestoft,  on  the  3d  of 
June,  1665,  in  which  it  is  said  the  Dutch  lost 
4000  men.  Then  also  perished  the  Earls  of 
Falmouth  and  Portland,  Lord  Muskerry,  Ad- 
miral Lawson.  The  Duke  of  York  led  the 
English,  and  Admiral  Opdam  the  Dutch. 


232  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1637. 

while  others  on  the  shore  gave  him  five  discharges  from  a  piece  of 
artillery,  "  and  he  had  five  more  at  the  Castle."  Mr.  Winthrop  did 
not  honor  his  departure  with  his  presence,  though  "  he  left  order  with 
the  Captain  [of  the  Castle]  for  their  honorable  dismission."  *  Lord 
Ley  went  with  Mr.  Vane  for  England.  Of  this  young  nobleman  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  became  jealous  soon  after  his  arrival,  occasioned  by  his 
preferring  the  society  of  Mr.  Vane  and  his  friends  to  his.  The  time 
of  his  arrival  was  unfortunate,  as  then  the  agitation  was  extremely 
great,  occasioned  by  the  proceedings  against  Mr.  Wheelwright  and 
others,  as  has  before  been  narrated.  It  was  usual  for  distinguished 
strangers  to  be  entertained  at  the  Governor's  house  ;  and  no  doubt 
Lord  Ley  would  have  been  entertained  there  on  his  first  coming  to 
Boston,  but  Mr.  Winthrop  was  then  on  a  journey  to  Lynn  and  Salem, 
and  did  not  return  to  Boston  till  two  days  after.  In  the  mean  time  his 
Lordship  was  entertained  at  Mr.  Cole's  inn,f  and  this  Mr.  Cole  was 
one  of  Mr.  Wheelwright's  friends.  On  the  Governor's  return  to  town, 
however,  Lord  Ley  politely  called  upon  him,  and  "  the  Governor 
offered  him  lodging,  &c.  ;  but  he  refused,  saying  he  came  not  to  be 
troublesome  to  any,  and  the  house  where  he  was  was  so  well  governed 
that  he  could  be  as  private  there  as  elsewhere."  J 

An  incident  occurred  a  few  days  after,  which  shows  the  feeling 
between  the  late  Governor  and  Mr.  Winthrop,  which  caused  the 
latter  to  make  an  entry  in  his  journal,  which  is  as  follows  :  "  The 
differences  grew  so  much  here,"  referring  to  the  religious  troubles, 
"  as -tended  fast  to  a  separation  ;  so  as  Mr.  Vane,  being,  among  others, 
invited  by  the  Governor  to  accompany  the  Lord  Ley  at  dinner,  not 
only  refused  to  come,  alleging  by  letter  that  his  conscience  withheld 
him,  but  also,  at  the  same  hour,  he  went  over  to  Noddle's  Island  to 
dine  with  Mr.  Maverick,  and  carried  the  Lord  Ley  with  him."  § 

There  now  "  came  over  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and 
some  other  of  Mr.  Wheelwright's  friends  ;"  but  Governor  Win- 
throp would  not  allow  of  their  "sitting  down"  in  Boston,  excepting 

*  Governor  Vane,  while  in  Boston,  resided  character  in  English  history.  Joining  the 
but  a  few  rods  from  where  I  now  write.  On  Parliament  against  the  King,  he  was,  with 
his  arrival  he  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Cotton,  many  others,  declared  a  traitor  at  the  Restor- 
in  which,  or  an  addition  which  he  made  to  it,  ation,  and  executed  on  Tower  Hill,  June  14th, 
he  continued  to  reside  during  his  stay  here.  1662,  aged  about  50  years,  and  all  his  estates 
When  he  went  away,  he  gave  that  addition  to  were  confiscated.  These,  however,  were  re- 
Mr.  Cotton.  The  house,  or  the  body  of  it,  stored  to  his  family  by  the  restored  King,  he 
was  standing  within  the  memory  of  the  writer,  fearing  its  popularity  might  cause  him  trouble, 
though  with  its  exterior  much  modernized.  Sir  Henry  Vane  left  ten  children,  four  sons 
It  stood  on  the  westerly  side  of  what  is  now  and  six  daughters.  The  family  is  now  repre- 
Tremont-street,  a  few  rods  to  the  south-west  sented  by  his  lineal  descendant,  Henry  Vane 
of  the  passage  thence  to  Pemberton  Square.  Duke  of  Cleveland. 

To  those  who  remember  the  venerable  mansion  f  This  inn  stood  "  on  the  west  side  of  Mer- 

of  Lieutenant-governor  Phillips,  it  will  be  easy  chants'   Row,   midway  from  State   street   to 

to  fix  the  spot  in  their  imaginations,  as  it  was  Faneuil  Hall."  —  Hist.  Ancient  and  Hon.  Art. 

next,  north-easterly,  to  that.  Co.,  p.  45,  2d  ed. 

Governor  Vane  came  no  more  to  New  Eng-  J   Winthrop,  i.  230-1. 

land,  and  henceforth  he  becomes  a  prominent  §  Ibid.  232. 


1637.]  ALLOTMENTS    OF   LANDS.  233 

upon  a  trial  of  four  months,  to  see  which  party  in  the  controversy  they 
would  join.*     This  gave  much  offence  to  their  friends. 

The  business  of  allotting  out  the  lands  to  the  inhabitants  was  a  great 
and  important  concern  of  the  Town.f  Captain  John  Underhill  had 
one  hundred  acres  at  Muddy  River.  Mr.  John  Oliver  had  "  his 
great  allotment  "  of  forty  acres  at  Pullen  Point.  Mr.  William 
Hutchinson  had  six  hundred  acres  between  Dorchester  bounds  and 
Mount  Wollaston.  Mr.  Isaac  Grosse  to  have  a  great  allotment  at 
Muddy  River,  and  "  brother  Hugh  Gunnyson  "  at  the  Mount  "  for  three 
heads."  Mr.  William  Brenton,  in  lieu  of  his  land  at  Hog  Island,  "  to 
have  twenty  acres  more  added  to  his  at  Pullen  Point  Neck."  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Gibbon  eighty  acres  at  Pullen  Point,  "  if  there  to  be  had."  John 
Oliver  fifty  acres  there,  "  and  ye  rather  in  regard  of  his  father's  resign- 
ing his  right  at  Hog  Island  to  ye  Towne." 

Bushnall,  widow,  George  Harwood  and  John  Lowe, 

the  wheelwright,  to  have  lots  and  gardens,  "  vpon  ye  vsuall 
condition  of  inoffensive  carryage."  Thomas  Alcock,  "  a  great  lot  "  at 
Muddy  River.  Mr.  John  Wheelwright  two  hundred  and  fifty  at 
Mount  Wollaston,  "  where  may  be  most  convenient,  without 
preiudice  to  setting  vp  a  Towne  there,"  to  be  laid  out  by  "Mr.  Cod- 
dington  and  Mr.  brother  Wright."  "  Willyam  Wardall,  Willyam 
Coale,  and  Sampson  Shelton,"  two  acres  each  there  for  present  plant- 
ing. The  same  to  Nicholas  Needham.  "Brother  Thomas  Savage 
seaven  acres  of  the  Marsh  "  at  Muddy  River,  to  keep  his  five  cattle  on. 
Thomas  Joyes  had  leave  to  buy  a  piece  of  ground  of  "  brother  Robert 
Turner,  provided  his  carryage  was  inoffensive." 

"  Thomas  Scottoe  ye  sonne  of  our  sister  Thomasine  Scottoe," 
has  leave  to  build  a  house  on  his  mother's  ground.  William 
Balstone  to  have  the  "  remayning  swampe  on  ye  backside  of  Mr.  Cod- 
dington's  swampe,  vnto  ye  widdow  Purton's  Corner  payle,  leaving 
out  two  rodde  and  a  half,  for  eyther  of  ye  high  ways  y*  are  aganst  it ; 
ye  one  being  ye  way  to  ye  milne,  and  ye  other  to  ye  Cove  next  vnto  Mr. 
Coddington's." 

The  men  chosen  for  the  "  Townes  occasions  as  formerly  hath 
been,"  at  this  time  were  "Mr.  Thomas  Olyvar,  Thomas  Lev- 
eritt,  Mr.  Willyam  Hutchinson,  Mr.  Willyam  Coulbourne,  Mr.  John 
Coggeshall,  Mr.  Robert  Harding,  Mr.  John  Sanford,  Mr.  William  Bren- 
ton, Mr.  Willyam  Balstone,  James  Penne  and  Jacob  Ellyot,  for  these 
next  six  monethes."  J     Thomas  Grubbe  and  Jonathan  Negoose  were 

*  Winthrop  does  not  tell  who  they  were,  or  of  whom  William   Aspinwall  came  in.     As 

where  they  went  to.  before,  they  were  chosen  for  six  months,  or 

f  Those  chosen   at   this    time   by  the  town  "  vntill  new  ones  be  made  choise  of.     Their 

to  assign  the  lots  to  the  settlers  were  "  Thorn-  charges  at  theire  meetings  to  be  borne  by  the 

as   Olyvar,  Thomas  Leveritt,  William  Hutch-  Towne  in  generall." 

inson,    Robert     Keayne,     John     Coggeshall,  April  3.  —  Alexander  Winchester  to  have  a 

William  Brenton,  John  Sanford  and  William  garden  plot  next  Wm.  Dyneley's  and  William 

Balstone."  —  Town  Records,  p.  11.  Wilson's  gardens,  on  the  condition  that   he 

%  The    next    election    of    officers    for    the  build  a  house  on  it  "  when  it  shall  come  to  lye 

"  Towne's  occasions  "  was  on  the  16th  Oct.  in  a  streete-way."      Those  authorized  to  lay 

following,   when   the   same   gentlemen    were  out  lands  for  Mr.  Wheelwright  at  Mount  Wol- 

chosen,  excepting  William  Brenton,  instead  laston,  reported  that  they  had  laid  out  for  him 

30 


234 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1637. 


chosen  surveyors  for  the  Highways  towards  Eoxbury,  and  Thomas  Mar- 
shall and  John  Button  for  the  part  towards  the  mill.* 

A  union  of  the  Colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and 
ug*     '  Connecticut  was  first  talked  of  at  Boston  this  year,  hut  as  Plym- 
outh could  not  attend  it  was  deferred.f 

Two  men  were  hanged  here  for  murder,  —  John  Williams 
ep  '  "  and  William  Schooler.  The  murders  were  both  of  an  aggra- 
vated character,  but  that  in  a  special  manner  by  Schooler,  of  a  helpless 
female.  Though  he  was  convicted  upon  circumstantial  evidence,  and 
died  protesting  his  innocence,  posterity  will  hardly  reverse  the  decision.  J 
Meetings  of  women,  for  "  expounding  scripture  in  a  prophetical 
way,"  as  "some  sixty  or  more"  now  did,  was  by  the  Authorities 
"  agreed  to  be  disorderly  and  without  rule."§ 

Miantonimo  came  to  Boston,  agreeably  to  former  treaty  stipu- 
lations, and  preferred  a  complaint  against  the  Niantick  Sachem 
and  another  Chief.     The  government  gave  him  liberty  to  "  right  him- 
self," and  in  return  he  "  acknowledged  that  all  the  Pequod  country  and 
Block  Island  belonged  to  Massachusetts. 

About  thirty  persons  of  Boston  having  gone  to  Spectacle 
Island  for  wood,  "  the  town  being  in  great  want,"  there  came 


40  acres  "  in  the  Sunke  Marsh,"  south-east  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Coddington,  5  acres  for  his  house 
lot  and  205  at  the  end  of  it.  Stephen  Kinsley, 
laborer,  to  have  a  house  plot  next  Alexr  Win- 
chester. 

April  17.  — "  All  the  field  fences  and  gates 
to  be  made  up ;  Sergeant  Hutchinson  and 
Richard  Gridley  to  look  after  the  Fort  Field  ; 
John  Button,  James  Everitt  and  Isaac  Grosse, 
the  Mill  Field ;  Wm.  Coulborne  and  Jacob 
Ellyott  the  field  next  Roxburie.  Richard  Sher- 
man's wife  to  have  a  house  plot  next  Stephen 
Kinsley's  or  Mr.  Daniel  Mawd's  garden. 
Also,  Mr.  Daniel  Mawd,  schoolmaster,  to  have 
a  garden  plot  next  said  Kinsley's  on  condition 
of  building  as  above.  Edmund  [Edward?] 
Hutchinson  to  have  a  garden  at  the  south  end 
of  Mr.  Robert  Keayne's  great  garden." 

May  13.  —  Richard  Fairebancke  to  be  Pound 
Keeper  "  for  the  residue  of  this  our  half 
year  time." 

June  2.  — James  Penniman  to  have  theHil- 
steade  and  marsh  under  it  at  Charles  River,  he 
giving  7  acres  at  Mount  Wollaston  for  five. 
Thomas  Flint,  24  acres  of  Marsh  at  Muddy 
River. 

June  12.  —  George  Woodward,  "  sope  boyl- 
ar,"  for  "  vnlawfull  entry  upon  some  of  the 
Towne's  ground,  and  for  digging  holes  and 
annoying  the  High  Way  with  fish,"  is  fined 
iij  lb.  vj  s.  viij  d.  Mr.  William  Peirce  to  have 
one  hundred  acres  at  Pullen  Point  neck.  Mr. 
Edward  Gibbon  four-score  acres  ;  John  Oly- 
var  50;  Mr.  William  Brenton  60;  Edward 
Bayts  14,  all  at  the  same  place.  George 
Ruggle  a  house  lot  near  the  new  mill. 

_  *  The  lists  of  Town  officers  will  hereafter  be 
given,  but  not  generally  in  the  text.  The 
allotments  of  lands,  though  of  exceeding  great 


interest,  must  be  introduced  in  a  condensed 
form. 

|  July  1.  — Ralph  Hudson  to  have  a  garden 
at  the  end  of  Thomas  Mekin's  garden  ;  Samuel 
Wilbore  a  garden  at  the  side  of  Barnabie  Dor- 
ry falls  house  and  garden. 

August  7. — Richd.  Fairbanke,  allowed  to 

sell  his  shop  to Saunders,  "  a  booke- 

bynder ;"  probably  the  first  in  the  Town. 

August  28. — Richd.  Hull,  carpenter,  may 
sell  his  house  and  ground  near  John  Galloppe 
to  Philip  Sherman  of  Roxbury. 

Sept.  25.  —  Thomas  Makepeace  to  have  a 
house  lot ;  Edward  Dennys  a  house  lot  and 
gardenstead  towards  the  new  mill ;  Richd. 
Wayte  "the  like  thereabout;"  Robert  Gil- 
lam,  mariner,  may  buy  a  house  lot  where 
he  can  ;  Henry  Webbe  may  buy  the  house 
where  he  now  lives  ;  James  Penne,  a  garden 
towards  the  new  mill,  "  to  lay  to  the  house 
that  was  widdowe  Shelley's ;  Valentine  Hill 
a  garden  there  also  ;  Wm.  Cheesbrough  2£ 
rods  square,  of  the  marsh  next  Mr.  Belling- 
ham's,  to  build  on  ;  John  Lowe,  wheelwright, 
the  same,  next  to  bro.  Cheesbrough." 

Oct.  30.  —  John  Hansett  has  granted  a 
great  lot  at  the  Mount  "  for  3  heads." 

Dec.  4.  —  John  Bibbles  has  a  house  lot 
next  Richd.  Woodhouse. 

Dec.  18.  —  John  and  Robert  Woodward,  the 
sons  of  Nathaniel  W.,  allowed  house  lots. 
Edward  Bendall  to  "  keepe  a  sufficient  ferry- 
boate  to  carry  to  Noddle's  Island,  and  to  the 
sbippe  ryding  before  the  Towne  ;  taking  for  a 
single  person  ij  d.,  and  for  two  3d." 

J  See  Winthrop,  i., 241-3. 

§  The  Authorities  were  probably  apprehen- 
sive that  another  Mrs.  Hutchinson  might  rise 
up  among  them.  —  See  Ibid.,  240. 


1638.] 


ANCIENT    AND    IIONORABLE   ARTILLERY. 


235 


on  such  severe  weather,  that  in  two  days  the  bay  was  all  frozen  up 
except  a  little  channel.  In  this  twelve  of  the  men  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing Governor's  Island,  but  seven  others  in  a  small  skiff  were  carried  info 
the  outer  Bay.  Falling  among  Bruster's  Rocks,  they  were  kept  two 
days  without  foqd  or  fire.  The  wind  then  abated,  so  that  they  were 
able  to  recover  Pullen  Point,  where  they  found  shelter  in  a  little  house 
of  Mr.  Aspinwall.  Three  of  them  got  to  Boston  the  next  day,  on  the 
ice,  with  their  feet  and  hands  frozen.  Tbe  rest  reached  Spectacle 
Island.     One  man  died,  and  several  lost  their  fingers  and  toes.* 

The  same  causes  which  led  to  the  disarming  of  certain  resi- 
dents of  Boston,  now  operated  probably  to  cause  the  powder 
and  arms  belonging  to  "the  country,"  to  be  removed  from  Boston  to 
Roxbury  and  Newtown.f 

An  association  of  Boston  men  requested  to  be  incorporated 
into  a  military  Company.  They  were  allowed  to  be  a  Company, 
but  subordinate  to  all  authority.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,"  which,  with  various  changes  of 
name  and  regulations,  continues  to  this  time.  The  associates  were  at 
first  denied  part  of  what  they  asked  for  ;  having,  it  may  be  inferred, 
requested  to  be  made  independent  of  the  civil  authority.     However, 


Jan.  16. 


Feb 


*  Jan.  8. — John  Martyn,  shipcarpenter, 
allowed  a  house  lot ;  Thomas  Pettit,  having 
served  bro.  Olyver  Mellowes  three  years  and  a 
half,  to  have  a  house  lot  toward  the  new  mill. 
Erasmus  Bulloeke,  "  having  been  this  5  years 
in  Towne,"  the  same.  At  the  same  time,  the 
following  persons  had  their  lots  bounded  at 
Muddy  River  :  —  Edward  Browne,  Richd  Bul- 

far,  Benj'1  Ward,  John  Cramme,  Rob'  Houlton, 
arrat  Bourne,  John  Bigge,  WmBeamsly,  Tho- 
masyne  Scottua,  widow,  Alexr  Becke,  Raphe 
Route,  laborer,  Robert  Reade,  Mathew  Ines, 
Jn.  Pemmerton,  Anthony  Harker,  Geo.  Griggs, 
James  Fitch,  Richard  Fitch,  Edward  Jackson, 
Anne  Ormesby,  widow,  Nath1  Woodward  the 
elder,  James  Johnson,  Nath1  Heaton,  Elizabeth 
Purton,  widow,  Wm  Salter,  Wm  Wilson,  Wm 
Townsend,  Wm  Dyneley,  RichdTappin,  Francis 
Bushnall,  Henry  Elkyn,  Richd  Fairbancke,  John 
Mylam,  Rob1  Walker,  James  Davisse,  William 
Pell,  Rob'  Reynolds,  John  Cranwell,  Geo. 
Baytes,  Philemon  Pormont,  Rob'  Meare, 
Edwd  Bendall,  Thos  Wardall,  Mr.  Wm  Black- 
stone,  Rob'  Tytus,  Wm  Courser,  Alexr  Win- 
chester, Henry  Burchall,  Rob'  Turner,  Wm 
Denning,  Joseph  Arratt,  John  Arratt,  Capt. 
John  Underhill,  Wm  Talmage,  Thos  Snow, 
Isaac  Grosse,  sr,  Wm  Coulborne,  Mr.  John  Cot- 
ton, Mr.  Thos  Leveritt,  Mr.  Thos  Oliver. 

Those  who  had  "  great  allotments  at  Rum- 
ley  Marsh  and  Pullen  Point,"  now  had  their 
bounds  described: — Mr.  Henry  Vane,  Esq., 
Mr.  John  Winthropp  the  elder,  James  Penn, 
Mr.  John  Newgate,  Mr.  John  Sanford,  Thomas 
Marshall,  Thomas  Matson,  Benj"  Gillam,  John 
Gallopp,  Mr.  Bob'  Keine,  Mr.  John  Cogges- 
hall,  Mr.  John  Cogan,  Mr.  Rob'  Harding, 
Nicholas  Willys,  John  Odlin,  Wm  Stidson, 
Edwd  Bayts,  Thomas  Matson,  Mr.  Edwd  Gib- 


ones,  Mr.  Richd  Tuttell,  Mr. Glover,  Mr. 

Wm  Dyar,  Mr  Samuel  Cole,  Mr.  Wm  Brenton, 
Mr.  Wm  Aspinwall,  Thos  Buttalph,  Elias 
Mavericke,  Raph  Hudson,  Thos  Fayreweather, 
W"1  Peirce. 

f  Jan.  29.  — These  are  named  as  having  lots 
at  Mount  Wollaston  :  —  lsaacke  Cullymore, 
for  four  heads,  Francis  East,  for  two  heads, 
Francis  Ellyott,  for  four  heads,  Richd  Wayte, 
for  five  heads,  Mr.  Henry  Webb,  for  ten  heads, 
Samuel  Wayte  for  four  heads,  George  Hunne, 
for  five  heads. 

Feb.  12.  — Mr.  John  Clarke,  for  ten  heads  ; 
John  Love,  for  a  house  lot  at  Muddy  River; 
Abel  Porter,  same  at  the  Mount,  "  having 
served  our  bro.  Thos  Grubbe  foure  yeares  ;" 
Richard  Award,  same  (place  not  mentioned) 
condition,  inoffensive  carriage  ;  Tho8  Scot- 
toe,  a  great  lot  at  Muddy  River,  for  three 
heads  ;  Wm  Mawer,  lot  at  the  Mount,  for  nine 
heads  ;  Henry  Gray,  tailor,  house  lot  on  east 
side  Samuel  Wilbore  —  condition  as  above  ; 
James  Hawkins,  for  four  heads  at  the  Mount ; 
Thomas  Hawkins  for  four  ;  Martha  Mushnall, 
for  five ;  Edwd  Dennys,  for  three,  all  at  the  same 
place ;  Isaac  Perry,  a  house  lot  near  Rob1 
Walkins,  at  Muddy  River,  for  three  heads  ; 
Thos  Bell,  at  the  Mount,  for  three ;  John 
Jackson,  carpenter,  for  three  ;  John  Crabtree, 
for  two  ;  Silvester  Saunders,  at  Muddy  R.,  for 
two  ;  Samuel  Howard,  tailor,  at  the  Mount, 
for  three ;  Geo.  Burdon,  for  5  ;  Wm  Ward- 
all,  for  3  ;  William  Browne,  for  three ; 
Edwd  Hutchinson,  the  younger,  for  six  head, 
all  at  the  Mount ;  Rob'  Scott  for  12  ;  Anthony 
Stannyon,  for  11 ;  John  Lowe,  for  4  ;  Steven 
Kinsley,  for  9  ;  Mathew  Chafey,  for  4,  all  at 
the  Mount  also  ;  Raph  Mason,  for  6,  at  Muddy 
River. 


236  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1638. 

M  "the  Military  Company  of  Boston"  had  the  liberty  soon  after 

"to  present  two  or  three  of  their  number  to  the  Council  to  choose 
a  Captain  out  of  them,"  and  Robert  Keayne  received  the  appointment 
of  Captain.  The  Court  was  jealous  of  some  of  those  which  composed 
the  Company,  because  they  had  been  followers  of  Mr.  Wheelwright  and 
Mrs.  Hutchinson  ;  but,  with  Keayne  for  their  Captain,  not  much  was 
to  be  apprehended  from  them,  as  he  had  been  appointed  keeper  of  the 
arms  taken  from  that  faction. 

The  Court  ordered  that  "  Robert  Keayne,  Nathaniel  Duncan,  Robert 
Sedgwick,  William  Spencer,  gentlemen,  and  such  others  as  are  already 
joined  with  them,  and  such  as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  take  into 
their  Company,  shall  be  called  "  the  Military  Company  of  Massachu- 
setts ;"  that  they  should  have  liberty  to  choose  their  officers,  but  the 
Captain  and  Lieutenant  to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Court.  The 
Company  were  to  meet  on  the  first  Monday  of  every  month,  and  it  was 
ordered  that  no  other  training  in  the  particular  towns  "  nor  other  ordi- 
nary Town  Meetings  should  be  appointed  on  that  day."  It  was  also 
ordered  that  this  company  should  have  a  thousand  acres  of  land  "  for 
providing  necessaries  for  their  military  exercises,  and  defraying  of  other 
charges."  The  first  Monday  in  June  following,  the  Company  was  regu- 
larly organized  ;  Daniel  Hough  was  chosen  Lieutenant,  and  Joseph 
Welde,  Ensign,  under  Captain  Keayne. 

This  was  not  originally  an  Artillery  Company ;  but,  in  1657,  the 
General  Court  recognized  it  by  that  name,  as  about  that  time,  prob- 
ably, they  used  a  field-piece  in  their  exercises.  The  title  "Ancient 
and  Honorable  "  first  occurs  in  their  records  on  the  second  of  Sep- 
tember, 1700.  It  doubtless  assumed  the  distinction  "Honorable," 
from  the  circumstance  that  its  Captain  had  belonged  to  "  The  Honor- 
able Artillery  Company"  of  London,  and  time  naturally  gave  the  addi- 
tion "Ancient."  The  Company  was  dispersed  by  the  Revolution,  but 
revived  in  1789,  and  the  Legislature  confirmed  its  name  and  privileges.* 

*  Hist.  Ancient  and  Hon.  Artillery  Co.,  by  Saml.  Ward,  1661;  Jn.  Iligginson,  1662  ;  Thos. 

Z.  G.  Whitman,  2d  edition,  1842.     The  fol-  Shepard,  1663 ;  James  Allen,  1664  ;  Increase 

lowing  is  a  list  of  the   original,  or  charter  Mather,  1665  ;  Edmund  Brown,  1666  ;  Samuel 

members   of  the   company,  as  found  in  that  Danforth,  1667  ;  John  Wilson,  1668  ;   Samuel 

work  :  —  Torrey,  1669;  John  Oxenbridge,  1670  ;  Thomas 

Cakebread,  Thomas          Oliver,  John  Thatcher,    1671  ;     Seaborn     Cotton,     1673 ; 

Cole,  Samuel                    Pendleton,  Joseph  Joshua  Moody,  1674  ;  Samuel  Phillips,  1675  ; 

Collecott,  Richard           Savage,  Thomas  Samuel  Willard,*  1676  ;  Josiah  Flint,  1677  ; 

Gibbons,  Edward             Sedgwick,  Robert  Samuel  Nowell,*  1678  ;  Edward  Bulkley,1679  ; 

Hardinge,  Robert              Spencer,  William  William   Adams,   1680;    John   Richardson,* 

Haugh,  Daniel                  Stoughton,  Israel  1681  ;  Samuel  Whiting,  1682  ;   John   Hales, 

Holman,  John                   Tomlins,  Edward  1683  ;  Samuel  Cheever,  1684  ;  Joshua  Moody, 

Hucken,  Thomas              Turner,  Nathaniel  1685;    then  there  were  none  for  five  years  — 

Jennison,  William           Underhill,  John  under  Andros''  government.     Cotton  Mather,* 

Johnson,  Edward             Upshall,  Nicholas  1691  ;    John  Bailey,   1692  ;    John  Danforth, 

Keayne,  Robert                Weld,  Joseph.  1693  ;  Moses    Fiske,   1694 ;  Peter  Thatcher, 

Morris,  Richard  1695  ;  Michael  Wigglesworth,   1696  ;    Nehe- 

Sermons  do  not  appear  to  have  been  regu-  miah  Walter,  1697;  Joseph  Belcher,*  1698; 

larly  preached  before  the  Company  till  1659  ;  Samuel    Willard,*    1699  ;    Benjamin    Wads- 

and  the  first   record  as  printed  was  that  by  worth,*  1700 ;  Eben'rPemberton,*  1701 ;  Benj. 

Urian  Oakes  in  1672.     John  Norton  preached  Colman,  1702.  Those  with  a  *  were  printed.— • 

that  of  ]659;  Samuel  Whiting,  sen.,  1660,  See  Lothrop's  Artillery  Election  Ser.  for  1838. 


1G38.]  SICKNESS    OF   THE   GOVERNOR.  EARTHQUAKE.  237 

The  Indians  of  Block  Island  sent  three  men  to  Boston,  with 
ten  fathoms  of  wampum,  as  a  part  of  the  yearly  tribute  which 
they  had  formerly  promised  to  pay. 

Not  long  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Davenport  at  Boston,  a  favorable 
account  was  brought  by  the  soldiers  who  had  been  pursuing  the  Pe- 
quots,  of  a  fine  country  for  settlement  beyond  Connecticut  River.  This 
was  Quinnipiak,  explored  toward  the  end  of  the  last  year,  and  possession 
taken  of  it  by  a  few  persons.  Accordingly,  this  spring,  Mr.  Daven- 
M  30  Por^'  ^r*  ^m^en'  Theophilus  Eaton,  Esquire,  and  Samuel 
Eaton,  sailed  from  Boston  for  that  region,  and  this  was  the 
beginning  of  another  Colony,  by  Boston  people,  or  people  who  would  no 
doubt  have  continued  here,  or  in  this  vicinity,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
religious  perplexities  which  they  had  witnessed,  and  in  which  they 
could  not  well  avoid  being  somewhat  implicated.* 

Being  in  continual  fear  that  they  should  be  called  to  an 
account  by  the  Government  in  England,  the  Fathers  now  ap- 
pointed a  Fast  "  for  seeking  the  Lord  to  prevent  the  evil,  and  for  the 
safe  arrival  of  many  friends  soon  expected." 

A  deputation  of  Indians  came  from  Mohegan.     The  Chief 

of  it  was  named  Owsamekin,  who  was  Sachem  of  Acoemeck. 

They  had  heard  that  the  people  here  were  angry  with  them,  and  they 

came  to  learn  whether  it  were  so,  and  if  so,  the  occasion  of  it.     They 

appear  to  have  been  imposed  upon  by  some  mischievous  persons,  for 

there  was  nothing  alleged  against  them.     They  brought  a  present  of 

eighteen  beaver-skins,  which  the  Governor  took,  telling  them  that  if 

they  had  done  nothing  they  had  nothing  to  fear  ;   and,  giving  them  a 

letter  to  this  effect  to  the  Magistrates  of  Connecticut,  dismissed  them. 

Mr.  Coddington  removed  with  his  family  to  Rhode   Island. 

He  had  been  an  Assistant  from  the  first  coming  over  of  the 

Boston  Colony.     Thus  another  excellent  and  valuable  man  was  lost  to 

Boston. 

Mr.  Winthrop  is  again  chosen  Governor.  The  night  following 
ay  "  "he  was  taken  with  a  sharp  fever,  which  brought  him  near 
death."  His  sickness  continued  for  a  month.  To  this  General  Court, 
Boston  sent  Mr.  Atherton  Hough,  Mr.  Robert  Keayne  and  John  Oliver. 
At  the  March  term  preceding,  Mr.  John  Newgate  was  in  the  place  of 
Captain  Keayne,  the  others  were  the  same  as  at  this  time. 

Between  three  and  four  of  the  clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
'  first  day  of  June,  being  clear,  warm  weather,  and  the  wind  west- 
erly, there  was  a  great  Earthquake.     It  came  with  a  noise  like  contin- 
ued thunder,  or  the  rattling  of  coaches  in  London,  but  was  presently 
gone.     It  extended  to  Connecticut,  Narraganset,  Pascataqua,  "  and  all 

*  April  2.  — "Mr.  Atherton  Haulgh,  Mr.    Coulborne,  Mr.  John  Newgate,  James  Penne 
Robte  Keayne,  and  Mr.   John  Olyvar  "   are    and  Jacob  Elyott. 

chosen  deputies  to  the  General  Court.  And  Aug.  20. — The  same  Deputies  were  again 
"  for  ve  Towne's  occasions,"  Thomas  Olyvar,  chosen  to  the  General  Court,  excepting  Mr. 
Thomas  Leveritt,  Mr.  Rob1  Keayne,  Mr.  Wm    Oliver,  and  Mr.  Newgate  was  chosen  in  his 

stead. 


238  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1638. 

the  parts  round  about."  It  shook  the  ships  which  rode  in  the  harbor, 
and  all  the  Islands.  The  noise  and  the  shakings  continued  about  four 
minutes,  and  the  earth  was  unquiet  at  times  for  twenty  days  after.* 
"It  came  from   the  westerne  and   uninhabited  parts  of  this   wilder- 

nesse."  f 

Uncas,  Chief  of  the  Mohegans,  comes  to  Boston,  accompanied 
une  "  by  thirty-seven  men.  He  was  in  trouble  about  harboring  Pe- 
quods.  He  tendered  the  Governor  twenty  fathoms  of  wampum,  but  the 
Council  decided  that  it  should  not  be  received  till  he  had  given  satis- 
faction about  the  fugitives.  This  apparently  disturbed  him  exceed- 
ingly, and  in  this  state  he  desired  they  would  kill  him.  He  made  the 
request  in  perfect  safety,  and  he  knew  it,  or  he  would  not  have  made 
it,  for  he  was  one  of  the  most  unprincipled  Indians  with  whom  the  white 
people  had  any  concern.  He  was  at  this  time  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Haynes.  After  making  great  promises  and  the  most  impressive  protest- 
ations to  keep  them,  "he  was  dismissed  with  a  fair  red  coat  given  him 
by  the  Governor,  and  corn  to  relieve  them  homeward,  and  a  letter  of 
protection  to  all  men." 

Governor  Winthrop  at  this  date  records  in  his  Journal  the  arrival  of 
"  many  ships  this  year,  with  people  of  good  quality  and  estate,"  but  he 
makes  no  mention  of  the  names  of  persons  or  ships.  In  one  of  the 
ships  here  referred  to,  no  doubt,  came  "John  Josselyn,  Gen.,"  a  name 
well  known  in  New  England  history.  The  ship  in  which  he  came  was 
called  the  "  New  Supply,  alias  the  Nicholas  of  London,  Robert  Taylor, 
Master,  the  merchant  or  undertaker,  Mr.  Edward  Tinge,  with  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  passengers,  men,  women  and  children."  Sev- 
eral of  the  passengers  died  during  the  voyage,  chiefly  of  the  Small 
Pox. |  The  Nicholas  came  to  anchor  in  the  inner  Bay  before 
Boston.  On  the  tenth  of  July,  Mr.  Josselyn  says  he  went  on 
shore  upon  Noddle's  Island  to  Mr.  Samuel  Mavereck,  who  was  "  the 
only  hospitable  man  in  all  the  country  ;  giving  entertainment  to  all 
comers  gratis."  He  then  describes  his  visit  to  Boston  in  these  words  :  — 
"  Having  refreshed  myself  for  a  day  or  two  upon  Noddle's  Island,  I 
crossed  the  Bay  in  a  small  boat  to  Boston ;  which  then  was  rather  a 

*  Winthrop,  Journal,   i.,  265.  —  See  also  and  run,  with  ghastly  terrified  lookes,  to  the 

Josselyn,  New  Eng.  Rarities,  109. — In  1755,  next  company  they  could    meet  withall."  — 

this  was  reckoned  one  of  the  five  great  earth-  Ibid. 

quakes  which  had  shaken  New  England.    The  J  "Two  ships,  which  came  over  this  year, 

other  four  were  1658,  1663,  1727  and  1755.  much    pestered,   lost   many  passengers,    and 

Prof.  Winthrop's  Led.  on  Earthquakes,  p.  16,  some  principal  men,  and  many  fell  sick  after 

4to.  1755.      Morton  says,  "it  came  from  the  they  were  landed,  and  many  of  them  died." 

northward,  that  people  were  afraid  of  their  — Winthrop's  Journal,  i.  267.     The  ship  in 

houses  ;  and  it  was  so,  as  that  some,  being  which  Mr.   Josselyn  came  was  probably  one 

without  doors,  could  not  stand,  but  were  fain  of  these.     A  little  further  on  he  makes  this 

to  catch  hold  of  posts  and  poles  to  prevent  entry.     There  came  over  this  summer  twenty 

them  from  falling."  — N.  E.  Memorial,  209.  ships,  and  at  least  3000  persons,  so  as  they 

f  Johnson,    Wond.  Work.  Prov.,  131,  who  were  forced  to  look  out  new  plantations.    One 

adds,   "  the  motion  of   the  earth  was  such,  was  begun  at  Merrimack  [Salisbury]  and  an- 

that  it  caused  divers  men  that  had  never  knowne  other  four  or  five  miles  above  Concord,  and 

an  earthquake  before  (being  at  worke  in  the  another  at  Winnicowett  [Hampton,  N.  H.]  — 

fields),   to   cast    down    their   working-tooles,  Ibid.,  268. 


1638.]  MR.    JOHN    JOSSELYN    IN    BOSTON.  239 

village  than  a  town,  there  being  not  above  twenty  or  thirty  houses. 
And  presenting  my  respects  to  Mr.  Winthrope  the  Governor,  and  to 
Mr.  Cotton  the  Teacher  of  Boston  Church,  to  whom  I  delivered,  from 
Mr.  Francis  Quarles  the  poet,  the  translation  of  the  Psalms  into  English 
meeter,  for  his  approbation  ;  being  civilly  treated  by  all  I  had  occasion 
to  converse  with.     I  returned  in  the  evening  to  my  lodging." 

Mr.  Henry  Josselyn  was  at  this  time  living  at  Black  Point.  He  was 
the  only  brother  of  John,  and  it  was,  no  doubt,  one  object  of  the  latter, 
by  this  voyage,  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  brother.  Therefore  he  sailed  for 
the  Eastern  Coast  on  the  twentieth  of  July.  There  he  continued  ram- 
bling about  the  country  to  his  infinite  amusement  and  admiration ; 
clambering  up  precipitous  rocks  "  upon  all  four,"  with  his  gun  hung 
to  his  back,  shooting  wolves  which  had  been  killing  goats  worth  five 
pounds  apiece,  breaking  up  nests  of  great  snakes,  some  of  which 
snakes  being  as  big  as  the  small  of  his  leg,  and  three  yards  long,  with 
a  sharp  horn  two  inches  long  on  the  end  of  their  tail ;  until  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  September,  when  he  sailed  for  Boston  again.  He  arrived  on 
the  twenty-seventh  following,  it  being  Friday.  After  going  on  board 
a  ship  of  500  tons,  of  which  Mr.  Hinderson  was  master,  and  another 
called  the  Queen  of  Bohemia,  a  privateer,  Captain  Jackson,  lying  in 
the  harbor,  he  landed  in  the  town,  and  refreshed  himself  at  the  ordi- 
nary. The  next  morning  he  went  by  invitation  to  a  fisherman's  house, 
somewhat  lower  within  the  Bay.  There  the  fisherman's  wife  gave  him 
a  "  handfull  of  small  pearl,  but  none  of  them  bored  nor  orient."  Thence 
he  crossed  to  Charlestown.  There,  in  "  one  Long's  ordinary,"  he  found 
Captain  Jackson  and  some  others.  They  concluded  to  take  a  stroll ; 
and  "walking  on  the  back  side  "  they  soon  came  upon  more  snakes. 
One,  a  rattle-snake,  "  was  a  yard  and  a  half  long,"  though  its  "neck 
seemed  no  bigger  than  one's  thumb,"  and  yet  it  "  swallowed  a  live 
chicken,  as  big  as  one  they  give  fourpence  for  in  England." 

Being  on  board  his  ship  in  the  afternoon,  he  had  "the  sight  of  an 
Indian  pinnace,  sailing  by,  made  of  birch  bark,  sewed  together  with 
roots  of  spruce  and  white  cedar  (drawn  out  into  threads),  with  a  deck, 
and  trimmed  with  sails,  top  and  top  gallant,  very  sumptuously."  On 
the  thirtieth  of  September  he  went  on  shore  at  Noddle's  Island  again. 
Here  Mr.  Maverick  made  him  welcome,  and  kept  him  till  his  ship  was 
ready  to  sail  for  England.  Meantime,  in  rambling  about  in  the  woods, 
"  on  the  back  side  of  the  house,"  he  discovered  a  wasps'  nest ;  and, 
mistaking  it  for  "  a  fruit  like  a  pine  apple,"  though  it  was  "plated 
with  scales,  and  as  big  as  the  crown  of  a  woman's  hat,"  he  proceeded 
to  gather  it ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  touched  it,  than  hundreds  of  wasps 
were  about  his  head.  He  escaped,  however,  with  being  stung  but  by 
one  of  them  in  his  upper  lip.  This  caused  such  a  swelling  in  his  face, 
that  when  he  returned  to  the  house  the  people  did  not  know  him  ex- 
cept by  his  clothes  ;  and  yet  he  thought  he  escaped  remarkably  well. 
In  a  few  days  he  sailed  for  England.  The  ship  laid  at  Nantasket  some 
days,  as  she  proceeded  to  sea,  and  the  Master,  Captain  Luxon,  having 


240  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1638. 

been  on  shore  at  Governor's  Island,  returned  with  a  quantity  of  pippins, 
of  which  he  gave  Mr.  Josselyn  half  a  score.  At  this  time  he  remarks, 
"  There  is  not  one  apple-tree,  nor  pear-tree  yet  planted  in  no  part  of 
the  country,  but  upon  that  island."  * 

Captain  Underhill   had  lately  returned  from   England,  and 

ep  '  *  was  making  preparations  to  remove  to  Mr.  Wheelwright's  set- 
tlement. He  therefore  petitioned  the  Court  now  in  session  to  fulfil  a 
promise  it  had  formerly  made  him,  which  was,  that  for  his  services  he 
should  have  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  The  Court,  however,  having 
learned  from  a  "  godly  "  female  that  he  had  spoken  against  some  of 
them,  he  was  called  before  the  Court  and  charged  with  saying,  when 
he  was  "  in  the  ship  lately,"  that  "they  were  as  zealous  here  as  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees  were,"  &c.  To  this  and  other  words  quite  as 
inoffensive  in  themselves,  the  female  before  mentioned  testified.  He 
was  then  questioned  about  signing  the  remonstrance  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Wheelwright  formerly,  and,  not  being  satisfied  with  his  answers,  the 
Court  sent  him  to  jail  first,  and  afterwards  banished  him. 

There  now  arrived  a  ship  from  Barnstaple,  having  on  board 

ep  "  "  about  eighty  passengers,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  from  the 
western  coast  f  of  England.  In  this  ship  came  Mr.  Marmaduke  Mat- 
thews. 

Among  the  many  troubles  with  which  the  Country  in  com- 

ep  '  '  mon  with  Boston  was  disturbed  at  this  period,  were  the  "  cost- 
liness of  apparel,"  and  the  "  new  fashions."  The  Court  undertook  to 
interfere  in  these  matters,  and  sent  for  "  the  Elders  of  the  Churches," 
and  laid  the  subject  before  them.  The  Elders  were  told  by  the  Court 
that  it  was  their  business  to  redress  the  evil,  and  they  promised  to  do 
so.  But  neither  the  preaching  nor  the  practice  of  the  Elders  could 
eradicate  the  difficulty,  "for  divers  of  their  own  wives,"  says  Winthrop, 
"  were  in  some  measure  partners  in  this  general  disorder." 

A  woman  was  hanged  at  Boston  for  the  murder  of  her  own 

child,  a  daughter,  about  three  years  of  age.    This  was  a  deeply 

affecting  and  deplorable  case,  as  the  act  was  unquestionably  committed 

*  An  Account  of  Two  Voyages  to  New  Eng-  Inns  in  1637,  he  probably  included  the  one  in 

land.     The  account  above  extracted  is  from  Charlestown.     He  says,  "  In  1637  there  were 

his  First  Voyage.     His  Second  was  not  made  not   many  houses  in    the  Town  of   Boston, 

till  1663.     In  that  he  again  takes  notice  of  amongst  which  were  two  houses  of  entertain- 

Boston.     They  were  published  in  a  volume  ment,    called   Ordinaries,   into   which    if   a 

together  in  1675.     Second  edition.     From  Dr.  stranger  went,  he  was  presently  followed  by 

Snow's  notice  of  the  visit  of  Josselyn,  it  would  one  appointed  to  that  office,  who  would  thrust 

be   inferred   that   he   derived  his  information  himself  into  his  company  uninvited,  and  if  he 

from  "New  England's  Rarities,"  a  work  by  called  for  more  drink  than  the  officer  thought  in 

the  same  "  John  Josselyn,  Gent.,"  printed  in  his  judgment  he  could  soberly  bear  away,  he 

1672.     I  shall  notice  the  "  Rarities  "    here-  would  presently  countermand  it,  and  appoint 

after.     In  the  details  of  the  second  voyage,  he  the   proportion,   beyond   which  he  could   not 

speaks  of  Boston  in  connection  with  the  date  get  one  drop."  —  Pages  172-3. 

1637,  from  which  he  is  generally  understood  f  What  was  understood    by  the    "  West 

to  say  that  at  that  date  there  were  two  Inns  Country  "  has   been   explained  in  the   early 

or  Ordinaries  in  Boston  ;  when  as,  in  the  rec-  pages  of  this  History.    The  people  about  Lon- 

ords  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  there  was  don    thus    denominated    the    country    about 

more  than  one.      Winthrop  speaks  of  "the  Plymouth. — See  page  22,  ante. 
Inn."     If  Josselyn  meant  that  there  were  two 


1638.] 


HARVARD    COLLEGE. 


241 


when  the  mother  was  deranged.  She  confessed  what  she  had  done, 
and  said  she  killed  the  child  to  prevent  its  being  miserable  hereafter. 
]>ut  it  was  believed  that  the  Devil  had  caused  her  to  do  it,  and  that  by 
taking  away  her  life  a  punishment  would  be  indirectly  inflicted  upon 
him.  Mr.  Peters  and  Mr.  Wilson  went  with  her  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, "  but  could  do  no  good  with  her."  The  name  of  the  wretched 
woman  was  Dorothy  Talbye. 

Soon  after  this  a  Fast  was  kept,  on  the  request  of  the  Elders 
to  the  Governor  and  Council,  for  "  the  apparent  decay  of  the 
power  of  religion,  the  general  declining  of  professors  to  the  world,  and 
the  much  sickness  throughout  the  country."  Things  had  gone  on  so 
badly,  as  the  Fathers  then  really  believed,  that  they  daily  expressed 
their  convictions,  "  that  the  Devil  would  never  cease  to  disturb  their 
peace  ;  "  that  "  at  Providence  he  was  not  idle,"  and  was  stirring  up 
the  people  of  Connecticut  against  the  people  here  ;  and  that  he  had 
really  carried  off,  from  a  place  near  Rhode  Island,  five  Indians  alive.* 

This  is  generally  regarded  as  the  year  in  which  Harvard  College  was 
founded,  although  the  General  Court  had  about  two  years  before  taken 
some  order  about  a  "  Public  School,"  and  the  next  year  directed  that 
it  should  be  at  Newtown  ;  at  the  same  time  appointing  a  Committee 
to  carry  the  order  into  effect.  This  School  might,  and  very  probably 
would  have  remained  without  being  dignified  by  the  name  of  a  College 


*  March  12.  —  Waters  Sinnott,  fisherman, 
to  have  a  house  lot.  Olyvar  Mellowes,  Na- 
thaniell  Chappell,  and  Wrilliara  Hudson ,  eldest 
son  of  bro.  Wm,  H. ,  have  leave  to  take  in  the 
corner  between  the  last  year's  new  impaled 
planting  ground  and  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Mr. 
Wm.  Blackstone's  pales. 

April  2. — James  Johnson,  John  Davisse, 
Geo.  Burden  and  Nath.  Chappell,  to  have  gar- 
dens "  on  the  back  side  of  the  lotts  in  ye  long 
streete."  To  Mr.  John  Mansfield  a  house  lot, 
he  having  served  his  bro.  Mr.  Kobt.  Keayne ; 
Wm.  Hudson  to  be  cow-keeper  this  ^year  ; 
Thos.  Sellen,  a  house  at  the  Mount ;  Edmund 
Oremsby,  one  at  Muddy  R.  for  3  heads ;  Thomas 
Wheeler,  the  same  for  3  heads  ;  Jacob  Wilson, 
same  ;  Maudit  Inge,  the  same  ;  Wm.  Coursar, 
a  garden,  when  a  place  can  be  found  ;  John 
Cranwell  and  Wm.  Salter  to  see  to  the  fences 
of  the  field  "by  them,"  Richd.  Gridley  and 
Benjamin  Gillam  the  Fort  field,  and  Olyvar 
Mellowes,  Thos.  Marshall  and  Jona.  Negoose, 
the  Mill  field  and  the  New  field  ;  Geo.  Grigge 
may  "  sell  his  house  and  garding  vnder  it,  and 
20  acress  of  his  great  lott  to  Mr.  Tuttell  of 
Ipswich  and  Mr.  Tuttell  of  Charlestowne  for 
his  redeeming  out  of  theire  debts."  Geo. 
Harwood,  carpenter,  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  3 
heads ;  Wm.  Hudson,  the  younger,  one  at 
Muddy  R.  for  3  ;  Wm.  Davisse,  "  ye  lock- 
smyth,"  a  house  lot  near  the  new  mill,  con- 
dition, inoffensive  carriage. 

June  1 .  —  Richard  Brockett  may  sell  his 
house  and  garden  next  Wm.  Hudson  the 
younger  to  "  one  Jacob  Legar;"  Saml.  Wil- 

31 


bore  may  sell  his  to  "  one  Mr.  Offley,"  and 
his  (house  and  ground)  next  Roxbury  to  Saml. 
Sherman  ;  John  Spoore,  late  of  Clapton  [near 
Portbury],  in  Somersetshire,  may  buy  Mr. 
Wilkes'  house  and  ground,  and  that  his  bro. 
James  Mattocke,  a  cooper,  may  live  with  him, 
or  in  some  other  place  in  this  town,  and  that 
he  may  also  buy  a  little  house  of  Geo.  Burdon 
near  the  Cove  next  Edward  Bendalls. 

Aug.  7.  — Leave  is  granted  Francis  Lyall  to 
become  an  inhabitant. 

Aug.  20.  —  Thomas  Cornnell  may  buy  bro. 
Wm.  Balstone's  house  and  become  an  inhab- 
itant. 

Sept.  17.  —  "A  stray  sow  that  had  been 
often  taken  in  ye  corne,"  and  no  owner  found, 
is  prized  and  sold  for  40s.,  of  which  "  Sam- 
uell  Gryme  is  to  have  30s.  towards  his  losses 
in  his  corne."  The  residue  to  go  to  Richd. 
Fairbank  for  the  charges  of  her  keeping. 

Nov.  2.  —  Richd.  Rawlings,  plasterer,  may 
buy  Peter  Johnson  the  Dutchman's  house, 
and  inhabit. 

Nov.  5.  —  Mr.  John  Cogan  and  Richard 
Tuttle,  constables  for  this  year.  Geo.  Barrill, 
cooper,  bought  house  and  land  of  Thos.  Pain- 
ter, and  is  admitted  to  inhabit. 

Dec.  10.  —  Arthur  Perrye  to  have  allowed 
him  yearly  "for  drumming  to  ye  Company 
vpon  all  occasions,"  £5. 

Dec.  24.  —  William  Teffe,  a  tailor,  admit- 
ted to  inhabit,  and  to  buy  Jacob  Wilson's 
house  ;  Esdras  Reade,  tailor,  admitted  to  in- 
habit, and  allowed  a  lot  at  Muddy  River  for  4 
heads. 


242 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1639. 


for  some  years,  but  for  the  liberality  of  Mr.  John  Harvard,  who,  dying 
this  year,  gave  a  large  sum  "  to  the  Public  School  at  Newtown."  Thus 
endowed,  it  took  the  name  of  its  benefactor,  and  this  was  the  origin  of 
Harvard  College.*     Mr.  Henry  Dunster  was  its  first  President.! 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


Quiet  Restored.  —  First  Printing  Press.  —  New  Meeting-house  Agitation.  —  Committee  appointed  to 
select  a  Location.  —  Proceedings  thereupon.  —  Population  of  Boston.  —  Case  of  Capt.  Keayne.  — 
Absurd  Legislation.  —  Stocks.  —  Rev.  William  Tompson.  —  Church  gathered  at  Braintree.  —  First 
Post  Office.  —  Number  of  Ships  and  People  Arrived  from  the  Beginning.  —  Apprehension  from  the 
Indians.  —  Thomas  Georges.  —  Ship  blown  up  in  the  Harbor.  —  Capt.  Underhill  Banished.  —  Mian- 
tonimo.  —  Hugh  Bewit  Banished.  —  Ships  Built.  —  Mission  to  England.  —  To  Rhode  Island.  — 
Hanserd  Knollys. 

MANY  of  the  people  who  had  disturbed  the  peace 
of  Boston  by  daring  to  express  their  opinions,  were, 
by  the  beginning  of  the  year  1639,  gone  out  of  its 
jurisdiction,  so  that  tranquillity  was  in  a  measure 
restored,  and  it  was  a  year  of  general  quiet.  It  is 
a  noted  year,  however,  on  several  accounts. 
A  printing  press  was  established  at  Cam- 
bridge. The  first  thing  printed  was  the  Freeman's 
Oath,  the  next  was  an  Almanack  for  New  England, 
made  by  Captain  William  Peirce,  the  mariner, 
the  next  was  the  Psalms,  "newly  turned  into 
meter."| 

In  the  course  of  the  year  there  was  a  good  deal  said  about  erecting 
a  new  Meeting-house.  The  old  one  was  far  from  being  suitable,  or 
capable  of  accommodating  the  inhabitants.  This  occasioned  much 
difficulty ;  not  that  the  people  differed  about  the  necessity  of  having  a 


§?•  March. 


EARLY   PRINTING   PRESS. 


*  In  1640,  the  General  Court  granted  the 
income  of  the  Ferry  between  Boston  and 
Charlestown  as  a  perpetual  revenue  to  the  Col- 
lege ;  and  the  Magistrates  with  the  Ministers 
of  the  Colony  chose  the  Rev.  Henry  Dunster 
"to  be  the  President  of  their  New  Harvard 
College." — Magnolia,  iv.  127. 

f  Mr.  Lechford,  writing  of  New  England  in 
1642,  having  just  left  Boston,  says,  "  Master 
Dunster,  at  Cambridge,  had  divers  young  schol- 
ars there  under  him,  to  the  number  of  almost 
twenty."  —  Plain  Dealing,  or  News  from  New 
England,  p.  37. 

%  Winthrop's  Journal,  i.  289.  —  The  "  print- 
;ng-house  was  begun  by  one  Daye,  at  the 
charge  of  Mr.  [Joseph]  Glover,  who  died  on  sea 
hitherward. "  —  Ibid.  See  Thomas,  Hist.  Print- 
ing, i.  227.  Quincy,  Hist.  H.  V.,  i.  187. 
Timperley's  Encyclop.  of  Printers  and  Printing, 
586,  &c.  —  The  Psalm-book  "newly  turned 
into  meter"  was  printed  in  1640.  Copies  of 
it  are,to  be  met  with,  at  this  day,  only  in  the 


libraries  of  the  curious.  Daye  continued  to 
print  until  1649,  though  he  was  a  poor  printer. 
In  1641,  the  General  Court  ordered  that, 
"  Steeven  Day,  being  the  first  that  sett  vpon 
printing,  is  granted  300  acres  of  land."  — 
Thomas,  Hist.  Printing,  i.  227.  See  Boston 
Courier,  15th  and  29th  July,  1847.  Mr.  Thom- 
as made  the  very  easy  and  natural  conjecture, 
that  Stephen  Day  might  be  a  descendant  of 
the  then  hitherto  most  famous  printer  of  Lon- 
don, whose  Christian  name  was  John.  Cer- 
tainly it  is  reasonable,  for  the  said  John  Day 
had  by  two  wives  26  children,  as  his  last  wife 
herself  says,  who  had  13  of  them  ;  thus  equally 
dividing  the  honor  with  the  first.  This  is 
learned  from  a  monument  to  his  memory, 
erected  by  this  dutiful  widow.  It  would  have 
been  lamentable,  indeed,  if  the  man,  who  was 
the  cause  that  moved  John  Foxe  to  erect  such 
a  monument  to  the  Martyrs,  had  lain  without 
one  himself.  He  died  23d  July,  1584.— See 
Johnson,  Typographia,  i.  534. 


1C39.] 


NEW   MEKT1NG    HOUSE   LOCATION. 


243 


new  and  more  commodious  house,  but.  the  place  on  which  to  build  it 
caused  some  delay  in  the  proceedings.  Then  the  chief  business  of  the 
town  was  transacted  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Meeting-house,  as  it  is  in 
many  country  towns  at  the  present  day.  Traders  had  located  them- 
selves about  it,  at  much  cost  in  building,  and  they  of  course  were 
strenuous  that  the  new  building  should  be  on  or  very  near  the  site  of  the 
old  one  ;  it  was  also  the  vicinity  of  the  Market. 

At  length  the  Church  chose  a  Committee  of  five  of  their  number,  and 
gave  them  power  to  fix  upon  a  location  as  they  saw  fit.  The  Commit- 
tee consisted  of  Governor  Winthrop,  Mr.  [William]  Colborne,  Mr. 
[Edward]  Gibbons,  Mr.  [Robert]  Keayne,  and  Mr.  [William]  Ting. 
While  these  gentlemen  had  the  matter  in  charge,  a  paper*  was  drawn 
up  and  signed  by  a  considerable  number  of  the  influential  inhabitants, 
strongly  urging  that  the  most  preferable  site  for  the  new  house  was  at 
the  Green.  This  place  is  pretty  clearly  designated  in  this  document, 
and  is  very  nearly  that  on  a  part  of  which  the  Old  South  now  stands. 

The  paper  containing  the  argument  for  this  locality  is  a  very  able 
performance,  and  it  is  difficult  now  to  understand  how  the  Committee 
could  come  to  a  decision  adverse  to  it.f  The  signers  of  the  document 
say,  the  Green  "  hath  singular  accommodation  to  the  ayre,  the  want  of 
the  free  accesse  whereof  hath  bin  deeply  found  in  the  Ould  Meeting- 
house, making  burdensome  the  ordinances  to  many,  specially  weake 
hearers,  by  faynting  their  spirits  in  the  summer  time,  when  there  is 
most  concurse  of  people.  And  we  feare  a  greater  defect  hereof  if  the 
house  stand  in  Mr.  Harding's  J  ground,  where  the  easterly  and  south- 


*  This  instrument  would  be  very  properly 
entitled,  "  Arguments  showing  the  Advantages 
of  locating  the  Meeting-house  at  the  Green." 
The  following  are  the  most  exact  copies  of  the 
signatures  to  the  paper  that  our  artists,  Messrs. 


\  P--^aps  it  was  thought  quite  too  far  from 
the  town  or  main  settlement.  It  may  be 
remembered  that  there  were  not  at  this  time 
scarcely  any  houses  so  far  south  as  the  present 
Milk  Street. 

%  This  gentleman,  I  presume,  was  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Harding.  Hence  the  lot  which  he  owned 
in  Boston  was  on  Cornhill  Square,  where  the 


Baker,  Smith  &  Andrew,  can  make.  The 
original  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Author,  and 
has  never  been  published.  It  is  dated  Decem- 
ber 10th,  1639. 


Meeting-house  was  finally  built ;  presuming 
that  the  "Mr.  Harding's  ground"  was  im- 
proved for  the  purpose.  He  was  one  of  the 
"  disarmed,"  and  went  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
was  a  prominent  man  in  that  Colony.  The 
name  is  one  of  respectability  there  and  else- 
where at  this  day. 


244  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1639- 

east  wind  is  much  more  debarred.  If  it  is  said  Mr.  Harding's  is  higher 
ground  than  the  Greene,  and  so  more  obvious  to  the  ayre,  it  is  answered, 
though  it  be  higher  (which  is  but  little),  yet  this  hath  a  farre  greater 
advantage,  for  the  aire  by  reason  of  the  sudden  descents  of  the  earth 
neare  to  it,  and  it  standeth  open,  ready  to  entertayne  every  coole  breath 
of  aire  in  the  summer,  whereas  the  other  place  is  so  muffled,  and  over- 
topped with  chimnyes  on  every  side  almost,  that  it  playnly  confesseth 
its  own  disadvantage/'  * 

Notwithstanding  these  and  many  other  arguments,  the  house  was 
finally  erected  in  what  was  afterwards  Cornhill ;  the  account  of  which 
and  its  erection  have  been  given.f  The  opposition  to  that  site  appears 
to  have  ceased  when  the  decision  was  made  known,  and  the  idea  of 
having  a  new  house  at  once,  seems  to  have  quieted  all  parties,  and  the 
work  went  on  with  harmony  and  activity  the  next  year.  And,  besides, 
Mr.  Cotton,  whose  reputation  had  been  a  little  obscured  by  the  cloud 
of  Antinomianism,  but  who  now  had,  by  his  great  tact  and  prudence, 
dispelled  that  cloud,  and  regained,  in  a  great  measure,  his  former 
splendor,  came  forward  in  favor  of  the  spot  in  Cornhill ;  arguing  that  it 
would  be  unjust  to  those  who  had  purchased  estates  in  that  vicinity, 
because  they  were  situated  near  the  Meeting-house.  But  this  argu- 
ment of  Mr.  Cotton  was  met  by  those  in  favor  of  the  Green  in  a  most 
conclusive  manner,  as  was  another,  the  import  of  which  was,  that  a 
house  would  be  exposed  to  the  cold  winds  more  in  the  winter  at  the 
Green,  and  therefore  very  uncomfortable.  The  Petitioners  answered, 
that  the  cold  in  a  house  was  easily  obviated,  J  —  while  there  was  no 
remedy  for  the  suffocating  heat  of  summer  in  a  location  near  the  Market, 
but  at  the  Green  the  cool  breezes  would  come  in  from  all  parts  unob- 
structed. However,  the  decision  was  in  favor  of  the  other  locality,  as 
before  stated,  and  there  was  in  a  little  time  a  general  acquiescence.  § 
Some  idea  of  the  populousness  of  Boston  and  its  vicinity  at  this 
ay  '  time  may  be  had  from  the  following  facts  recorded  by  Governor 
Winthrop  : —  "  The  two  regiments  in  the  Bay  were  mustered  at  Boston, 
to  the  number  of  one  thousand  soldiers,  able  men,  and  well  armed  and 
exercised."  At  the  head  of  these  Winthrop  appeared  as  General,  and 
Deputy- Governor  Dudley  as  Colonel.  The  captains  and  other  officers 
"  showed  themselves  very  skilful  and  ready  in  divers  sorts  of  skirmishes 
and  other  military  actions,  wherein  they  spent  the  whole  day."  || 

*  It  is  more  difficult  to  reconcile  Mr.  Josse-  at  this  time,  though  they  be  in  many  places 

lyn's  statement  of  "  twenty  or  thirty  houses  "  in  our  day,  as  the   writer  has   had   painful 

with   this,  than  anything  else  I  have  seen,  experience. 

Dr.  Savage  inclines  to  the  opinion  that  Josselyn        §  It  was  finished  the  next  year,  1640  ;  "its 

must  have  dropped  a  cipher  from  his  figures,  cost  about  £1000,  which  was  raised  out  of  the 

somehow,  and  so  instead  of  writing  200  he  weekly  voluntary   contribution   without   any 

wrote  20.     But  how  Josselyn  or  anybody  else  noise  or  complaint." —  Winthrop,  ii.  24. 
could  drop  ciphers  out  of  that  number  when        ||  The   following  items  are  from  the  Town 

they  were  spelling  it  out  and  not  using  figures  Records  ;  in  which  names  are  generally  spelled 

to  express  it,  is  rather  a  hard  question.  as  they  are  recorded,  and  so  of  what  has  gone 

f  See  ante,  pages  141  and  142.  before. 

j  By  this  it  would  seem  that  fires  in  Meet-        Jan.  21.  —  John  Odlyn  allowed  a  piece  of 

ing-houses  in  cold  weather  were  not  unknown  marsh  at  Muddy  River,  until  otherwise  ordered 


1639.] 


NEW    MEETING    HOUSE   LOCATION. 


245 


Ma  22       ^  ^°  ^cnera*  Election,  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Dudley  were 

reelected,   and  Boston  sent  two   deputies   instead   of  three  as 

formerly.      These  were  Captain  Keayne   and  Major   Gibbons.      The 


by  the  Town.  Nicholas  Willys  *  sold  (27  :  10 : 
1638)  his  groat  lot  of  49  acres  at  "  Romely 
Marsh"  to  Richard  Tuttell  *  of  this  town  for 
£30,  13s.  Gd.  James  Hawkings  sold  (9  Nov 
1G38)  for  £15,  one  dwelling  in  this  Town, 
wherein  Geo.  Ruggle  lived,  which  he  bo't  of 
Mr.  Brenton,  to  one  Henry  Garrold,  tanner. 
Jacob  Wilson,  sawyer,  sold  (24  Dec.  last)  to 
Wm.  Teffe,  tailor,  a  house  and  lot,  now  in  the 
use  of  said  Teffe.  Richard  Tuttell  to  be  re- 
sponsible to  the  Town  for  "  one  Dorothie  Bill, 
widdowe,  a  soiourner  in  his  house,"  and  "  for 
anything  about  her."  Robert  Scott  sold  land 
at  Muddy  River  that  was  Richard  Fairebanck's 
to  Thos.  Savage.  William  Hyrick  allowed 
to  be  an  inhabitant.  The  "  owners  of  the 
Wharfe  and  Crayne  "  are  granted  100  acres 
of  land  at  Mount  Wollaston  towards  keeping 
them  in  repair. 

Feb.  18. — Richard  Wright  to  have  a  nar- 
row piece  of  land  at  the  Mount,  "to  ye  fur- 
therence  of  a  water  mylne  building  there,  in 
regard  of  his  redy  serviceablenesse  to  the 
Townes  occasions."  Same  Richard  W.,  fined 
the  sum  of  £6  for  selling  land  at  the  Mount 
"  to  one  Mr.  Pane,  of  Concord,"  without 
license.  Brother  Henry  Pease  may  mow  the 
marsh  against  his  house.  Bro.  Edward  Jack- 
son *  may  mow  the  marsh  bro.  Balstone  for- 
merly mowed.  Bro.  James  Pennyman  may 
mow  the  marsh  in  the  New  field  as  heretofore. 
Sister  widow  Purton  may  mow  the  marsh  in  the 
same  field  under  bro.  Robert  Turner's  garden 
pales.  William  Balstone  sold  (5  Aug.  last) 
his  house,  yards,  gardens,  and  one  close  on 
the  backside  of  Mr.  Coddington's  (one  acre 
more  or  lesse) ,  and  two  acres  more  or  less  in 
the  Mill  field,  bordering  on  Water  Merryall's 
house,  and  three  acres  at  Hogg  Island,  and  80 
at  the  Mount,  to  Thomas  Connell.  Ordered 
that  Edward  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Cole,  Robert 
Turner,  Mr.  Robert  Harding,  Mr.  Wm.  Parker, 
and  Richard  Brackett,  make  a  cart-way  against 
Mr.  Hutchinson's  house,  under  which  they 
drayne  their  gardens,  before  the  11th  of  the 
next  1st  month.  Thomas  Scottow,  joiner,  sold 
all  his  6  acres  at  Muddy  River  to  Thos.  Grubbe, 
and  said  G.  resigned  his  right  to  his  three 
acres  in  the  New  field  in  Boston ;  it  having 
Isaac  Grosse's  lot  on  one  side,  and  widow  Pur- 
ton's  on  the  other.  Mr.  Benjamin  Keayne, 
son  of  bro.  Mr.  Robt.  K. ,  to  have  a  great  lot 
at  Monottinott  river  in  Mount  Wollaston. 

March  25.  — Brother  Mr.  Gryffen  Bowen  to 
have  a  great  lot  at  Muddy  River,  also  bro. 
Richard  Holledge  a  great  lot  there  for  three 
heads.  Bro.  Valentine  Hill  may  build  a  house 
and  shop  on  the  lot  he  bo't  of  bro.  Mr.  Wra 
Aspinwall,  and  let  it  to  Francis  Lysle,  barber. 
John  Hord,   tailor,  having  served  Mr.   Wm 

*  See  his  autograph,  p.  243  ante.    Willis'  ia  the  fourth. 


Hutchinson  in  this  Town  divers  years,  is  al- 
lowed to  be  an  inhabitant.     Bro.  Henry  Pease 

having  promised  to  fence  out  a  highway  thro' 
his  ground,  where  he  dwellcth,  25  feet  broad, 
from  against  the  Cove  near  his  house,  unto  the 
cross  highway,  by  bro.  James  Everills,  must 
do  it  before  the  1st  of  April ,  1040,  or  pay  £5. 
Mr.  John  Underbill,  1st  Aug.  last,  surrendered 
to  Mr.  Thos.  Makepeace  of  Dorchester  his 
house  in  Boston,  his  land  at  Muddy  River,  and 
woodland  in  the  islands,  "  with  garding  and 
house,  and  another  behind  Mr.  Parker's  house, 
and  neare  half  an  aker  upon  the  Fort  Hill,  for 
£100."  Bro.  Robert  Walker  to  be  cow-keeper 
this  year.  No  goat  to  go  on  the  Neck  with- 
out a  keeper  ;  and  "  old  Wing  to  looke  to  this 
order."  Hogs  running  at  large  after  the  8th 
of  April  to  be  impounded  ;  "  in  case  any  shall 
take  ym  vp  into  their  yard,  then  forthwith 
eyther  lett  ye  owners  knowe  of  ym,  or  to  sett  a 
note  of  ym  vpon  ye  whipping-post."  Henry 
Shrimpton,  brasier,  allowed  to  be  an  inhabit- 
ant. 

_  April  29.  — With  the  consent  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Peirce  there  is  to  be  a  passage  way  of  7 
feet  wide,  from  the  lower  part  of  Mr.  Keayne's 
garden,  at  his  mud- wall  house,  to  the  Creek 
near  Edward  Bendall's  new  house.  Samuel 
Graine  allowed  to  be  an  inhabitant. 

May  13.  —  Mr.  Robert  Keayne  and  Capt. 
Edward  Gibbons  were  chosen  deputies  to  the 
General  Court. 

May  27.  —  Mr.  William  Hibbins  is  admitted 
an  inhabitant. 

July  2. — William  Needham,  cooper,  to 
have  a  house  plot  at  the  Little  Island  at  Mount 
Wollaston,  and  Stephen  Kinsley,  husbandman, 
to  have  the  rest  of  the  Island  for  his  house 
plot.  John  Jepson,  shoemaker,  a  great  lot  at 
the  Mount  for  three  heads.  Richard  Carter, 
carpenter,  may  buy  a  house  and  ground  of  Wm 
Hudson  the  younger,  next  Thos.  Oliver's  new 
house  plot ;  condition,  inoffensive  carriage. 
"  Gabryell  Fallowell  may  sell  his  house  and 
ground  in  the  New  field  to  one  Richard  Bidg- 
good,  late  of  London,  cloth-worker,  on  same 
condition." 

July  29. — Bro.  John  Smith  to  have  a  lot 
at  Muddy  River  for  three  heads.  Bro.  Edw? 
Hutchinson  the  younger,  in  behalf  of  his 
father,  Wm  H.,  may  sell  his  house  in  this  town 
to  Mr.  Richard  Hutchinson  of  London,  linen- 
draper.  John  Hurd  to  have  a  lot  for  three 
heads  at  the  Mount.  John  Leverett  a  lot  for 
ten  heads  at  Muddy  River. 

Aug.  6.  —  Capt.  Edward  Gibbons  and  Mr. 
Wra  Tyng  are  chosen  for  Deputies  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 

Aug.  26.  —  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard,  linen- 
draper,  allowed  to  become  a  townsman  ;  also 
John  Seaborne,  tailor,  having  served  three 
years  in  town,  is  allowed  to  be  an  inhabitant. 


246 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1639. 


Nov, 


number  of  Deputies  had  beeu  reduced  to  two  in  each  town.  This  was 
to  prevent  the  Court's  consisting  of  too  large  a  number,  in  the  growing 
state  of  the  country.* 

Captain  Eobert  Keayne  was  an  industrious  and  wealthy  merchant, 
and,  being  more  prosperous  than  many  of  his  neighbors,  their  envy  was 
excited  in  consequence. 

A  complaint  was  preferred  against  him  in  the  General  Court  at 
Boston  for  excessive  charges  on  his  foreign  goods.  And  being  con- 
victed "  hereof,  he  was  fined  two  hundred  pounds."  He  was  finally  let 
off  with  half  the  amount ;  the  other  half  "  respited  to  farther  considera- 
tion of  the  next  General  Court."  It  appears  to  be  true  that  Mr.  Keayne 
had  broken  certain  laws  previously  made,  regulating  the  prices  of  com- 
modities, though  it  is  quite  probable  others  were  equally  guilty  of  the 
same  offence,  and  that  they  were  passed  unnoticed,  owing  to  their  busi- 
ness being  smaller.  It  appeared  at  his  trial  that  he  had  been  known  to 
take  "  above  six  pence  in  the  shilling  profit,  and  even  eight  pence  ; 
and  in  some  small  things,  above  two  for  one."  After  the  Court  had 
censured  him,  he  was  handed  over  to  the  Church,  in  which  there  was  an 
attempt  made  to  excommunicate  him  ;  he  escaped,  however,  with  an  ad- 
monition.f 

From  all  that  can  be  learned  of  Captain  Keayne  it  does  not  appear 
that  he  was  a  bad  man,  but  that  on  the  contrary  he  was  a  very  good 
man ;  yet  he  was  one  of  that  peculiar  mind  and  temperament,  which 
rather  invited  than  repelled  the  insults  from  a  class  common  in  all  com- 


Bro.  Nath1  Williams  to  have  a  lot  at  the 
Mount  for  four  heads.  Bro.  John  Leverett  a 
house  lot  and  gardenstead  next  bro.  Robt. 
Hull's.  Alexr  Pluraley,  who  was  Mr.  Col- 
bourne's  man,  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  three 
heads. 

Sept.  30. —  Thomas  Foster,  the  gunner  at 
the  Castle,  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  six  heads. 
Cleoment  Cole,  who  served  with  Mr.  Robert 
Keayne  four  years,  a  lot  for  seven  heads  at 
same  place.  Thomas  Millard,  husbandman,  a 
lot  for  five  heads,  at  same  place.  Mr.  David 
Offley  a  great  lot  at  Muddy  River  for  15  heads. 
Mr.  Richard  Parker  and  Mr.  Thomas  Fowle 
admitted  inhabitants. 

Oct.  28.  —  Samuel  Sherman  may  let  his 
cow-house  stand  till  spring-time,  on  the  Com- 
mon by  the  gates  next  Roxbury.  Bro.  Nath1 
Woodward  to  have  a  lot  at  Muddy  River  for 
three  heads.  John  Robinson,  late  servant  to 
bro.  Mr  Newgate,  a  house  lot  where  it  may  be 
had. 

Nov.  25. — Bro.  Thomas  Wheeler  to  have  a 
house  lot  and  gardenstead  next  bro.  Saving. 
Mr.  Edward  Tinge  allowed  to  be  an  inhabitant. 
Francis  Lysle  a  lot  for  five  heads  at  the  Mount. 
John  Seaberry,  seaman,  with  leave  bought 
bro.  Water  Merry's  house  and  lot  in  the 
Mylne  field,  so  is  allowed  for  an  inhabitant. 

*  Among  other  acts  of  the  General  Court,  to 
warn  people  against  excessive  charges  for 
wages  and  commodities,  there  is  this  example  : 


THE    STOCKS. 

Edward  Palmer  had  been  employed  to  erect 
Stocks  in  which  to  punish  offenders.  Having 
brought  in  his  bill  for  the  woodwork,  amount- 
ing to  £1,  13s.  &  7d.,  the  Court  decided  that 
it  was  exorbitant ;  and,  instead  of  drawing  an 
order  on  the  Treasurer  for  its  payment,  they 
ordered  him  to  be  set  in  said  Stocks  for  an 
hour,  and  to  pay  a  fine  ot  £5.  It  is  difficult 
at  this  day  to  understand  on  what  ground 
Edward  Palmer  was  subjected  to  an  ignomin- 
ious punishment.  He  probably  found  the 
materials  for  the  Stocks,  and  not  less  than  two 
days  must  have  been  taken  up  in  making 
them.  —  Hubbard,  Hist.  N  Eng.,  248  ;  Win- 
throp,  Savage's  Note,  ii.  85. 

f  The  Rulers  had  not  yet  learned  the  ab- 
surdity of  endeavoring  to  bring  compulsory 
laws  to  bear  upon  what  a  man  should  ask  for 
his  goods,  or  his  time,  when  either  was  under- 


1639.]  CAPTAIN    KEAYNE POST    OFFICE.  247 

munitics.  He  was  deeply  religious,  but,  like  nearly  all  men  who  buy 
and  sell,  his  interest  in  his  business  was  so  strong,  that  he  could  not 
well  help  losing  sight  of  his  conscientious  scruples  at  times.  But  when 
abstracted  from  his  business  he  relented  and  condemned  himself,  lie 
appears  to  have  been  of  a  forgiving  disposition,  and  more  ready  to  re- 
ceive an  injury  than  to  give  one,  and  could  be  oppressed  with  impunity. 
Notwithstanding  Captain  Keayne's  fines,  losses,  trials  and  perplexi- 
ties, he  died  leaving  a  considerable  estate.*  In  his  will,  which  is 
probably  the  longest  one  on  record,  he  enters  into  a  defence  of  the  con- 
duct for  which  he  had  suffered  in  reputation  as  well  as  estate,  which 
renders  it  an  object  of  considerable  curiosity. 

Mount  Wollaston  yet  remained  a  part  of  Boston,  "  and  many 
poor  men  having  lots  assigned  them  there,  and  not  able  to  use 
those  lands  and  dwell  still  in  Boston,"  and  Mr.  Wheelwright  having 
been  driven  away  from  them,  petitioned  to  have  a  Minister  there,  which 
being  granted,  the  Reverend  Mr.  William  Tompson  is  ordained  Pastor, 
and,  in  March  following,  Mr.  Henry  Flynt  is  ordained  Teacher.f 

What  arrangements  there  had  been  in  Boston  previous  to  this 
for  the  safe  conveyance  and  delivery  of  letters  does  not  appear. 
But  the  General  Court  having  the  business  in  charge,  the  following  rec- 
ord is  made  of  its  proceedings  :  —  "  For  the  preventing  the  miscarriage 
of  letters,  it  is  ordered,  that  notice  bee  given,  that  Richard  Fairbanks 
his  house  in  Boston  is  the  place  appointed  for  all  letters,  which  are 
brought  from  beyond  seas,  or  to  be  sent  thither ;  are  to  bee  brought 
unto  him,  and  he  is  to  take  care  that  they  bee  delivered,  or  sent  accord- 
ing to  their  directions ;  and  hee  is  alowed  for  every  such  letter  one 
penny,  and  must  answer  all  miscarriages  through  his  own  neglect  in  this 
kind ;  provided  that  no  man  shall  bee  compelled  to  bring  his  letters 
thither  except  hee  please. "J  There  is  nothing  met  with  for  several 
years  to  show  what  succeeding  regulations  were,  if  any. 

stood  to  be  in  the  market,  or  subject  to  nego-  Tompson,  one  of  the  best  scholars   in  New 

tiation.     And  notwithstanding  the  light  and  England   in  his   time.     Another  of  his   sons 

experience  of  two  hundred  years,  some  of  the  was  named  Samuel,  who  was  ordained  Deacon 

same  kind  of  legislation  remains  on  our  statute  of  the  same  church,  2  Nov.  1679,  and  he  was 

books,  and  finds  as  strenuous  supporters  as  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Tompson  of 

those   were   who   enforced   the   laws   against  Marshfield.  —  See  ibid,  and  the  Antiq.  Journal* 

witchcraft.     The  evil  of  a  law  setting  a  price  vii.   278.      The   Rev.   William   Tompson  was 

on  a  man's  time,  or  wages,  which  is  the  same  a  native  of  Winwick  in  Lincolnshire,  and  grad- 

in  this  case,  was  now  first  cured.     The  law-  uate  of  Oxford,  came  to  N.  Eng.  before  1637, 

makers,  finding  that  men  could  withhold  their  died  10  Dec.  1666,  aged  68.     In  connection 

services    altogether,   could    remove    to   other  with  Mr.  Richard  Mather  he  published  "  An 

places,  and  engage  in  planting  and  other  em-  Answer  to  Mr.  Charles  Herle  his  Book  against 

ployments,  in  due  time  left  the  subject  to  its  the  Independency  of  Churches,"  &c.,4to.  1664. 

natural  course.  His  first  wife,  Abigail ,  died  in  1643,  dur- 

*  He  died  23  March,  1655-6.  His  will,  or  ing  his  absence  in  Virginia;  he  married,  sec- 
an  historical  and  genealogical  abstract  of  it,  ondly,  Anna,  widow  of  Simon  Crosby  of  Cam- 
may  be  seen  printed  in  the  Genealogical  Reg.  bridge.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  all  his 
and  Antiqu.  Journal,  vol.  vi.  89-92, 152-8.  It  children  except  one,  which  was  a  daughter  by 
occupies  158  pages  in  the  folio  volume  in  which  the  second. 

it  is  recorded,  being  the  longest  I  have  ever  \  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Colls.,  xxvii.  48. 
heard  of. 

f  See  Mr.  Hancock's  Century  Sermon,  20.  —  *  The  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Regr.  will  be  thus  desig- 

Mr.   Tompson  was    the  father  of   Benjamin  nated' for  brevity- 


248  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1640. 

Boston  is  complained  of  "for  defect  of  their  ways,  between 
Dec'3,  Powderhorn  Hill  and  the  Written  Tree,  and  is  fined  twenty- 
shillings  and  enjoined  to  mend  them."* 

The  Court  of  Election  was  held  in  Boston,  and  Thomas  Dudley, 
Mayis.  jj  elected  Governor,  and  Richard  Bellingham,  Esq.,  Deputy 
Governor.f  Mr.  Winthrop  took  his  place  among  the  Assistants,  some- 
what disturbed  by  the  result.  He  had  held  the  place  of  Governor  so 
long  that  he  was  regarded  by  many  as  holding  it  by  inheritance. 
"  Some  trouble  there  had  been,"  he  writes  in  his  journal,  "  in  making 
way  for  this  election,  and  it  was  .obtained  with  some  difficulty ;  that 
many  of  the  Elders  labored  much  in  it,  fearing  lest  the  long  continuance 
of  one  man  in  the  place  should  bring  it  to  be  for  life."  But  he  was 
consulted  before  the  election  by  the  leaders,  and  agreed  with  them  that 
it  might  be  well  to  choose  another  in  his  stead.  Especially  as  his 
"  outward  estate  "  had  suffered  much  of  late,  owing  to  the  management 
of  an  unfaithful  steward,  named  Luxford,  and  consequently  required 
more  of  his  attention  than  he  could  well  bestow  upon  it,  with  the  weight 
of  the  Government  upon  him  also. 

Mr.  Winthrop  soon  after  had  a  substantial  proof  of  the  attachment  of 
the  people  to  himself,  in  their  coming  forward  to  relieve  him  in  his  em- 
barrassments. Even  the  General  Court  would  have  voted  him  money 
if  there  had  been  any  in  their  treasury  ;  but  as  it  was,  it  voted  Mrs. 
Winthrop  3000  acres  of  land,  "  and  some  of  the  towns  sent  in  liberally  " 
for  his  relief.  However,  of  about  five  hundred  pounds  so  contributed, 
"  near  half  came  from  Boston."  One  individual,  Mr.  Richard  Dummer| 
of  Newbury,  gave  him  one  hundred  pounds. 

There  came  over  this  year  provisions  in  large  quantities,  both  from 


*  Nov.  25. — Richard  Storer,  son  of  Elizabeth  f  The  Boston  Deputies  were  Oapt.  Gibbons 

Hull,  wife  of  bro.  Robert  Hull,  allowed  to  be  and   Mr.  Wm  Tinge.     They  were  chosen  20 

an  inhabitant,  and  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  three  April,  and  on  28  Sept.  Tyng  and  Hibbins  were 

heads.     Bro.  Arthur  Perry  may  sell  his  house  chosen  for  the  remainder  of  the  year  as  usual, 

to  Silvester  Saunders,  long  a  servant  in  this  At  the  May  term  of  the  Court,  the  inhabitants 

Town.     Nicholis  Baxter,  fisherman,  admitted  of  Mount  Wollaston  petitioned  to  become  a 

an  inhabitant.     Bro.  John  Milles  sold  4  acres  Town,  and  their  request  was  granted,  "  ac- 

at  Hogg  Island  to  Tho.  Savidge,  and  all  his  cording  to  the  agreement  with  Boston,"  and 

planted  ground  in  the  Newfield.    Thos.  Clarke,  that  the  Town  be  called  Bramtree.  — Hancock, 

locksmith,  allowed  to  be  an  inhabitant.  Cent.  Ser.  19. 

Dec.  30. —  Richard  Sherman  to  have  a  lot  at  J  It  is  singularly  remarkable  that  the  very 

Muddy  R.  for  seven  heads  ;  Gregory  Belchar  men  who  had  been  driven  from  Boston  through 

52  acres  at  the  Mount  for  13  heads  ;  William  Mr.  Winthrop's   agency,   more  than   by  any 

Potter  44  acres  for  11  heads  ;  bro.  John  Ken-  other,  still  remained  his  friends  and  benefac- 

ricke  a  great  lot  at  Muddy  R.  for  four  heads  ;  tors.      Nothing  can   exceed   the  kindness  of 

bro.  Geo.  Curtys  a  lot  for  two  heads ;  Wm.  Roger  Williams   to   him,   and   Mr.   Dummer 

Blanton,  carpenter,  admitted  an  inhabitant;  proved  himself  a  friend  in  time  of  need.     It  is 

also    Leonard    Buttle    and    Edmund   Grosse.  true  the  cases  of  these  two  gentlemen  were 

Richard  Wooddas,  fisherman,  a  lot  at  the  Mount  very  different ;  Mr.  Dummer  retired  because  he 

for  three  heads.     The  Town  has  300  acres  set  would  not  enter  into  the  Antinomian  contro- 

apart  at  Muddy  R.  for  "  perpetual  common-  versy,  being  himself  one  of  the  fast  friends  of 

age."     Francis  Dowse,  servant  to  bro.  George  Mr.  Vane  ;  whereas  Mr.  Williams  was  forced 

Burdon,  allowed   to  be  an  inhabitant.     Mr.  to  fly  to  the  wilderness  to  escape  a  worse  fate. 

Edward  Tinge  250  acres  at  the  Mount.     John  Mr.    Dummer  was   the   grandfather   of  Jere- 

Crabtree  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  five  heads,  in-  miah  Dummer,  who  wrote  and  published  the 

stead  of  two  as  formerly.     Bro.  Arthur  Perry  able  "Defence  of  the  New  England  Charters," 

a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  seven  heads.  1721. 


1640.]  tiiomas  gouges.  249 

England  and  Ireland,  but  as  to  passengers  or  settlers  but  few  came  ;  and 
according  to  some,  emigration  entirely  ceased  during  the  year.*  And 
above  one  hundred  years  later  it  was  observed,  that  more  people  had 
removed  out  of  New  England  to  other  parts  of  the  world,  than  had  come 
from  other  parts  to  it.f  And  now  it  may  be  said,  at  another  hundred 
years'  distance,  that,  notwithstanding  the  immense  emigration  from  all 
parts  of  Europe  to  New  England,  far  more  go  from  than  emigrate  to  it. 
So  great  had  been  the  importation  of  provisions  and  other  things,  that 
people  before  the  close  of  the  year  found  themselves  almost  entirely 
without  money,  and  the  Authorities  were  obliged  to  pass  a  law  making 
corn  receivable  in  payment  for  all  new  debts  ;  Indian  at  four  shillings 
the  bushel,  rye  at  five,  and  wheat  six ;  for  old  debts  the  creditor  might 
take  goods  or  land,  at  a  value  to  be  fixed  by  three  men. 

By  letters  from  some  of  Plymouth,  who  had  had  advices  from 
ep '  Connecticut,  disturbances  were  apprehended  from  the  Indians. 
Miantonimo  was  believed  to  be  in  treaty  with  the  Mohawks,  with  evil 
intentions  towards  the  English.  The  Government  here  did  not  think  the 
fears  of  Plymouth  and  Connecticut  very  well  grounded  ;  however,  Captain 
Jennison  was  sent  from  Boston,  with  only  three  men  besides  an  Indian 
interpreter,  to  the  Narragansets,  to  ascertain  the  truth  with  regard  to 
the  rumors.  The  messengers  were  kindly  entertained,  and  they  returned 
well  satisfied  that  no  mischief  was  intended.  It  was  a  part  of  the  busi- 
ness of  Captain  Jennison  to  invite  Miantonimo  to  Boston.  He  said  he 
would  come  provided  Mr.  Williams  might  come  with  him ;  and  as  to 
remaining  at  peace  with  the  English,  the  Narragansets,  he  said,  had  no 
other  purpose,  unless  the  English  begun  first.  The  English  thought  it 
rather  strange  that  Miantonimo  would  not  communicate  through  their 
Pequot  interpreter,  while  they  refused  to  allow  Roger  Williams  to  ac- 
company him  to  Boston. 

Some  time  this  summer  Mr.  Thomas  Gorges  J  arrived  at  Boston,  on 
his  way  to  his  Government  of  New  Somersetshire  ;   "a  young  gentle- 

*  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  93.  —  "  They,"  f  Dr.  Franklin  said  before  1760,  "  There  has 

observes   the   same  Author,  "  who  then  pro-  not  gone  from  Britain  to  our  Colonies  these 

fessed  to  be  able  to  give  the  best  account,  say,  twenty  years  past  to  settle  there,  so  many  as 

that  in  298  ships,  which  were  the  whole  num-  ten  families  a  year."  —  Stiles'  Christian  Union, 

ber  from  the  begining  of  the  Collony,  there  111. 

arrived  21,200   passingers,  men  women   and  J  Probably  son  of  Capt.  William  Gorges,  and 

children,  perhaps  about  4000  familes."  —  Ibid,  had  a  son,  Henry,  living  in  Barbadoes  in  1686. 

"  This  sudden  stop  to  emigration  had  a  sur-  He  had   also  a  son,   Ferdinando,  residing  in 

prising   effect  upon   the  price   of  cattle,  the  Maine  the  same  year,  as  agent  for  his  father, 

demand  for  which  increased  as  the  inhabitants  who  leased  to  John  Littlefield  for  21  years  cer- 

multiplied,  and  the  price  of  a  milch  cow  had  tain  lands,  mills,  &c,  on  Oguncot  river.     If 

kept  from  25  to  £30,  but  fell  at  once  this  year  Ferdinando   Gorges,  Esquire,  the  Author  of 

to  5  or  £6.    A  farmer  who  could  spare  but  one  "America  Painted  to  the  Life,"  printed  in 

cow  in  a  year  out  of  his  stock,  used  to  clothe  1659,  be  the  same  Ferdinando  in  Maine,  1686, 

his  family  with  the  price  of  it  at  the  expense  said  Ferdinando  was  grand-son  of  Sir  Ferdi- 

of  the  new  comers;  when  this  failed  they  were  nando.     However,  the  Ferdinando  of  Maine, 

put  to  difficulties,  although  they  judged  they  1686,  was  son  of  Thomas  and  brother  of  Henry 

had  12,000  neat  cattle,  yet  they  had  but  about  of  Barbadoes,  as  original  papers  under  his  own 

3000  sheep  in  the  Colony."  —  Ibid.     See  also  hand  in  my  possession  certify.     Ferdinando, 

Johnson's   Wonder   Work.   Prov.,  31,  Stiles'  Esquire,  speaks  of  his  "uncle  Capt.  Robert 

Christian  Union,  110,  Dummer's  Defence  of  the  Gorges,"  and  of  his  "  couzen,  Captaine  William 

New  Eng.  Charters,  9.  Gorges,  who  had  been  his  grand-father's  Lief- 

32 


250 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1640. 


man  of  the  Inns  of  Court,  kinsman  "  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges.  His  stay 
was  short,  and  he  left  a  very  favorable  impression  on  the  minds  of  the 
best  people  here. 

One  of  the  ships  that  arrived  this  season  met  with  an  accident  which 
came  near  occasioning  its  loss.  She  was  struck  by  a  whale,  the  wind 
blowing  heavy,  which  stove  in  her  bows  above  water,  breaking  "  the 
planks,  six  timbers  and  a  beam,  and  staved  two  hogsheads  of  vinegar." 
Something  of  terror  overspread  the  town  on  this  day,  caused 
us'  '  by  a  great  explosion  of  gun-powder  in  a  ship  lying  in  the 
harbor,  the  Mary  Rose  of  Bristol.     There  were  twenty-one  barrels  of 


tenant  in  the  fort  of  Plymouth."  —  See  "  Amer- 
ica Tainted  to  the  Life"  p.  24.  There  was 
living  at  Wraxall,  0°  of  Somerset,  in  1673, 
Edward  Gorges,  Esq.  In  Hazard's  Collections, 
i.  392,  there  is  a  petition  of  "Edward  Lord 
Gorges,"  1635,  concerning  lands  in  New  Eng- 
land. By  Lechford's  Plain  Dealing,  it  appears, 
that  "  Master  Thomas  Gorges  "  was  the  "  sonne 
of  Capt.  Gorges  of  Batcombe,  by  Chedder  in 
Somersetshire."  Hence,  I  suppose,  Thomas 
Gorges  was  a  son  of  Capt.  William  Gorges,  as 
before  stated.  The  note  of  Hutchinson,  that 
he  was  son  of  Sir  Eerdinando  Gorges,  was  an 
error  easily  made.  —  See  Burke,  Extinct  and 
Dorment  Baronetcies. 

Jan.  27.  —  William  Needham  is  granted  a 
lot  for  two  heads  at  the  Mount ;  Robert  Hew- 
stead  for  8  heads ;  Geo.  Wright  for  3 ;  bro. 
Henry  Shrimpton  for  3  ;  bro.  Richard  Hogge 
for  5  ;  bro.  John  Spoor  for  5  ;  Edmund  Gross e 
"  ye  square  peece "  next  William  Lether- 
land's ;  Richard  Critchley  for  5  heads ;  bro. 
John  Gallopp*  the  meadow  on  Long  Island ; 
Thomas  Clarke,  smith,  for  8  heads  at  the 
Mount ;  bro.  Edward  Bendall  to  bestow  all 
goods  without  owners  ;  Samuel  Grame  a  great 
lot  at  the  Mount  for  4  heads  ;  Robert  Mears  sold 
to  Dorothy  Bill,  widow,  and  her  son  James 
Bill,  his  house  and  garden,  "  where  they  now 
live  ;<"  Robert  Bradford,  tailor,  allowed  to  in- 
habit ;  bro.  Anthony  Stoddard  a  lot  of  100 
acres  ;  Thos.  Foule  600  acres  ;  Saml.  Mavericke 
600  ;  Henry  Messenger  for  2  heads  at  Muddy 
River ;  bro.  Joshua  Scotto  *  a  lot  there  for  3 
heads ;  Thos.  Painter,  joiner,  for  4  heads ; 
bro.  Robert  Hull  6  acres  at  Hog  Island  ;  Benj. 
Negoose  allowed  to  inhabit ;  Mr.  Wm  Tomp- 
son  120  acres  at  the  Mount ;  Mr.  Henry  Flint 
80  ;  John  Lugg  a  lot  for  9  heads  ;  John  Uyall 
[Viall]  weaver,  allowed  to  inhabit  ;  Mr.  Benj. 
Keayne  200  acres  at  the  Mount ;  to  the  Can- 
oneer  of  Boston  500,  and  2000  to  the  Town. 

Feb.  24.  — Mr.  Richard  Parker  400  acres  at 
the  Mount ;  to  Lewys  Kidby  a  house  lot  next 
John  Lowes  two  rods  towards  the  sea ;  Wra 
Blanton,  carpenter,  a  lot  for  3  heads  at  Muddy 
R.,  and  a  house  lot  on  the  Neck;  Leonard 
Buttles,  bricklayer,  lot  for  4  at  Mud.  R. ; 
Edward  Fletcher  may  be  an  inhabitant,  and 
have  a  house  lot ;  bro.  Richd  Bracket  may  mow 
the  marsh  in  the  New  field ;   bros.  Arthur 

*  See  his  autograph,  p.  243  ante. 


Perry,  Richd  Hogg  and  John  Hurd,  each  a 
house  lot ;  Wm  Briscoe,  tailor,  may  inhabit, 
and  have  a  lot  at  the  Mount  for  8  heads  ;  John 
Marshall,  husbandman,  having  served  bro. 
Edward  Hutchinson,  is  allowed  to  inhabit ; 
Robt.  Wing  a  lot  at  Mud.  R.  for  4  ;.  Lewys 
Kidby,  fisherman,  same  for  2 ;  John  Moore, 
the  Governor's  servant,  same  for  3  ;  bro.  Tho. 
Mekyns,  the  younger,  for  7 ;  Geo.  Barrell, 
cooper,  for  9  ;  W'n  Kirkby,  fisherman,  for  3  ; 
John  Arnould,  plasterer,  for  2  ;  Richd  Carter, 
sawyer,  for  3  ;  Waters  Sinnott,  fisherman,  3  ; 
Thos.  Jewell,  of  the  Mount,  miller,  12  acres  ; 
the  like  to  Mr.  Daniel  Welles  for  20  heads,  80 
acres  ;  Peter  Brackett  for  12  heads,  48  acres ; 
Saml.  Allen,  28  acres  for  7  heads ;  to  Wm 
Allyce  12  acres  for  3  heads  ;  Jacob  Wilson  16 
acres  for  4  ;  John  Reade  44  acres  for  11  ; 
Robt.  Stephens  12  acres  for  3  ;  Geo.  Rose  20 
acres  for  5 ;  Henry  Addams  40  acres  for  10  ; 
Thos.  Place  20  acres  for  5  ;  John  Harbar  12 
acres  for  3  ;  Benj.  Albye  12  do.  for  3  ;  Thos. 
Simons  40  do.  for  10  ;  John  Marchant  8  do.  for 
2  ;  Geo.  Poffer  20  do.  for  5  ;  John  Pafflyn  8 
do  for  2 ;  Robt.  Sharpe  16  do.  for  4  ;  John 
Dassett  28  do.  for  7  ;  Thos.  Blysse,  36  for  9  ; 
Thos.  Gilbert  28  for  7  ;  Henry  Neal  12  for  3  ; 
Henry  Maudsley  12  for  3  ;  James  Covey  16  for 

4  ;  Saml.  Bitfeild  20  for  5  ;  James  Clarke  8 
for  2  ;  James  Wiseman  12  for  3  ;  John  Col- 
lyns,  of  Monanticott,  12  for  3  ;  Christopher 
Collyns  8  for  2  ;  Geo.  Aldrich  20  for  5  ;  An- 
thony Newton  12  for  3  ;  Matthew  Smith  20  for 

5  ;  John  French,  of  Monoticott,  40  for  5  ; 
John  Mills,  of  the  same,  44  for  6 ;  Rich'1 
Rockett,  of  same,  40  for  5  ;  Nicholas  Hath- 
way,  of  the  same,  36  for  4  ;  Thos.  Bird  36  for 
4  ;  Geo.  Sheppard  18  for  2  ;  Thomas  Tayer  40 
for  9  ;  Danyell  Lovell  and  his  mother  12  for  3  ; 
David  Rogers  8  for  2  ;  John  Onyon  8  for  2. 
All  these  at  Mount  Wollaston.  From  Lewys 
Kidby  to  Waters  Sinnott,  all  probably  resided 
in  Boston  proper.  Those  from  Thos.  Jewell  to 
John  Onyon  resided  already  at  the  Mount,  or 
in  that  part  of  it  called  Monoticott,  or  Monan- 
ticott. William  Mawer,  late  of  Boston,  hus- 
bandman, sold  Capt.  Edward  Gibbon  a  house 
and  garden,  now  occupied  by  Wra  Teffe,  tailor  ; 
date  of  sale  12  Feb.  1640.  Brethren  Edward 
Randsford  and  Wm.  Hudson  ordered  to  accom- 
pany the  surveyor  to  lay  out  the  planting 
ground  at  Long  Island. 


1040.]  underiiill's  REPENTANCE MIANTONIMO.  251 

powder,  and  all  on  board  lost  their  lives,  being  fourteen  or  fifteen  per- 
sons, excepting  one  man,  whose  preservation  was  very  remarkable  ; 
"  being  carried  up  in  the  scuttle,  and  so  let  fall  in  the  same  into  the 
water,  and  being  taken  up  in  the  ferry  boat,  near  dead,  he  came  to  him- 
self the  next  morning,  but  could  not  tell  anything  of  the  blowing  up  of 
the  ship,  or  how  he  came  there."  Some  of  the  goods  were  saved,  but 
the  loss  was  estimated  at  two  thousand  pounds. 

Captain  Underhill  who  had  been  banished,  and  since  lived  at 
Pascataqua,  was,  at  his  request,  allowed  to  come  to  Boston  for 
the  purpose  of  making  confessions  of  faults  and  miscarriages,  to  the 
Church.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  passions,  and,  though  a  firm  believer 
in  religion,  had  been  carried  away  by  them  on  many  occasions,  and  had 
committed  great  improprieties.  Now  the  firmness  of  the  soldier  seems 
to  have  forsaken  him,  and  he  appeared  before  the  Church  more  like  an 
ignorant,  simple  child  than  like  a  man.  "  He  came  in  his  worst  clothes," 
says  Winthrop,  though  usually  "  accustomed  to  take  great  pride  in  his 
bravery  and  neatness.  Without  a  band,  in  a  foul  linen  cap  pulled 
close  to  his  eyes,  and  standing  upon  a  form,  he  did,  with  many  deep 
sighs  and  abundance  of  tears,"  confess  his  wicked  course.  Such  was 
the  man  who,  so  lately,  was  not  "  afraid  to  meet  the  enemy  in  the 
gates,"  and  to  carry  fire  and  sword  into  the  midst  of  the  strong  holds 
of  the  Indians.* 

The  next  distinguished  visitor  in  Boston  was  Miantonimo,  who 
had  been  invited  by  Captain  Jennison  as  previously  stated.  Gov- 
ernor Dudley  gave  him  entertainment  at  Roxbury,  but  being  displeased 
at  the  Governor's  employment  of  a  Pequot  interpreter,  he  came  off  ab- 
ruptly to  Boston.  He,  no  doubt,  thought  the  English  intended  him  an 
insult  He  had  assisted  in  destroying  that  nation,  and  the  English 
themselves  had  been  a  means  of  causing  the  Narragansets  to  look  upon 
a  Pequot  as  too  vile  a  being  to  be  allowed  to  occupy  a  place  among  the 

*  About  the  time  of  his  banishment,  Under-  and  here  he  got  up  a  rebellion  against  the 
hill  wrote  to  the  Governor  of  New  Netherland  Dutch  Authorities,  and  they  banished  him. 
for  permission  to  settle  in  his  province.  Gov.  The  difficulty  was  in  time  settled,  and  he  pur- 
Kieft  at  once  granted  his  request,  on  condition  chased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians  on 
of  his  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Long  Island,  a  part  of  which  remained  in  his 
States  General.  —  Brodhead's  N.  York,  291.  family  nearly  200  years.  He  died  at  his  estate 
However,  in  the  time  of  the  government  of  called  Killingworth ,  in  1672,  in  the  town  of 
Thomas  Gorges,  Esq.,  at  Pascataqua,  he  left  Oyster  Bay,  and  there  lies  buried,  but  whether 
Dover  and  settled  at  Stamford,  in  Connecticut,  any  monument  marks  the  spot,  I  am  not  in- 
near  the  residence  of  Capt.  Patrick,  another  formed.  He  left  a  will,  witnessed  the  18  Sept. 
of  the  Captains  wTho  had  served  against  the  1671.  There  is  a  very  elaborate  pedigree  of 
Pequots.  Here,  at  the  head  of  50  other  Eng-  his  descendants  in  Mr.  Bolton's  Hist,  of  West- 
lishmen,  Underhill  was  gladly  taken  into  the  chester,  ii.  228.  His  will  is  a  curiosity,  of 
service  of  the  Dutch,  whose  total  annihilation  which  there  is  a  copy  in  Thompson's  Long 
was  then  threatened  by  the  Indians.  This  was  Island,  ii.  361.  His  first  wife  was  Mary 
in  September,  1643.  To  the  employment  of  Mosely,  who  came  over  from  Holland  with 
Underhill  and  his  company  of  English,  the  him  ;  and  his  second  was  Elizabeth  Feeks,  who 
Dutch  probably  owed  their  preservation,  but  it  survived  him.  In  his  will  he  names  "my 
was  not  in  time  to  save  the  unfortunate  Mrs.  brother  John  Browne,  Henry  Townsend,  Mat- 
Hutchinson  ;  she  and  her  family  were  cut  oil' a  thew  Pryer,  son  John  Underhill,  son  Nathan- 
little  before  Underhill  took  the  field.  After  iel  to  live  with  his  mother  till  21."  Nathaniel 
fighting  valiantly  for  the  Dutch  until  the  In-  settled  in  Westchester,  and  thus  the  family 
dians  were  subdued,  he  settled  on  Long  Island,  became  the  historical  property  of  Mr.  Bolton. 


252  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON.  [1640. 

living.  The  same  insult  had  been  lately  offered  him  in  his  own  country, 
and  he  probably  regarded  the  new  Governor  as  one  of  doubtful  author- 
ity, which  may  account  for  his  conduct  at  Roxbury.  But  at  Boston  he 
found  no  better  regard  paid  him,  the  Authorities  refusing  to  have  any 
conference  with  him  till  he  had  submitted  to  their  way  of  proceeding. 
He  very  justly  complained  that  he  should  be  subjected  to  the  English 
customs,  when  they  were  allowed  to  use  their  own  when  they  came  to 
his  country.  The  interview  did  not  give  much  satisfaction  to  either 
party.  Miantonimo  had  received  an  insult,  and  the  English  were  in 
some  doubt  what  the  return  might  be  to  them. 

One  Hugh  Bewett  was  banished  for  maintaining  that  he  was 

free  from  original  sin,  and  that  true  Christians  could  live  without 

committing  any  sin.     By  the  order  of  the  Court,  he  was  to  be  gone  in 

fifteen   clays  upon  pain  of  death,   and  if  he  returned  he  should  be 

hanged. 

There  was  a  mode  of  punishment,  practised  at  this  period,  which  may 
be  mentioned  for  its  peculiarity  ;  it  was  by  inserting  the  tongue  of  cer- 
tain offenders  in  a  cleft  stick,  and  was  probably  employed  chiefly  upon 
the  tongues  of  females.  One  Mrs.  Oliver  was  whipped  for  reproaching 
the  Magistrates.  "  She  stood  without  tying,  and  bare  her  punishment 
with  a  masculine  spirit,  glorying  in  her  suffering."  Some  time  after 
"  she  had  a  cleft  stick  put  on  her  tongue  half  an  hour  for  reproaching 
the  Elders."  This  kind  of  punishment  was  soon  abandoned,  the  cases 
doubtless  becoming  too  numerous  to  be  attended  to.* 

Affairs  had  taken  such  a  turn  in  England,  that  a  general  want  of 
foreign  commodities  began  to  be  felt  here,  and  the  people  saw  that  they 
must  build  their  own  ships  and  do  their  own  business  at  sea.  Mr.  Hugh 
Peters  stirred  up  some  to  join  him  at  Salem  in  building  a  ship  of  three 
hundred  tons,  and  this  example  was  followed  at  Boston,  and  one  of  half 
the  dimensions  was  built  here.  The  work  was  accomplished  with  diffi- 
culty, owing  to  the  want  of  money,  but  the  ship-wrights  received  for 
their  wages  such  articles  as  the  country  produced. 

The  King  of  England  having  been  driven  to  relinquish  much  of  his 
arbitrary  power  over  the  Parliament,  some  friends  there  wrote  over  that 
it  was  now  thought  a  favorable  time  for  the  Colony  to  apply  to  the  Par- 
liament for  privileges,  and  that  by  applying  they  might  gain  much  ; 
but  the  nature  of  what  was  to  be  gained  is  not  mentioned.  But  the 
Government  did  not  think  very  favorably  of  an  application  at  first,  and 
their  view  taken  of  it  should  be  added  by  way  of  a  note  to  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence  of  the  American  Congress  of  1776.  It  was  said, 
though  indirectly,  that  they  were  now  free,  but  if  they  put  themselves 

*  Among  the  First  Church  excommunicants  ren ;  and  being  dealt  withal,  did  deny  and 

in  1638,  is  mentioned  Anne  Walker,  wife  of  forsware     the     same."       Sister     Temperance 

Richard  Walker,   who  was  "cast   out"  for  Jewett  is  admonished  for  having  "  entertained 

"  sundry  scandals."  Brother  Richard  Wayte  is  disorderly  company,  and  ministring  unto  them 

"  cast  out  "  for  "  purloyning  buckskin  leather"  wine  and  strong  waters  even  unto  drunkenness, 

out  of  some  entrusted   to   him,  so   much  as  and   that  not  without   some   iniquity  in  the 

would  make  three  men's  gloves,  "  to  the  scan-  measure  and  practice  thereof."     This  was  in 

dal  of  many  without,  as  well  as  of  his  breth-  1640.  — See  Shaw's  Descript.,  &c,  239-40. 


1640.] 


MISSION    TO    ENGLAND. 


253 


under  the  protection  of  Parliament,  they  might  be  subjected  to  any  laws 
Parliament  might  make. 

Notwithstanding  these  scruples,  the  Court  of  Assistants  being  assem- 
bled, the  advice  of  the  Elders  was  sought,  and  in  the  end  it  was 
determined  that  the  providence  of  God  seemed  to  favor  the  sending 
Agents  to  England,  for  a  ship  belonging  to  Boston  and  bound  thither 
was  then  ready  to  sail.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Peters  of  Salem,  Mr.  Welde 
of  Roxbury,  and  Mr.  Hibbins  of  Boston,  were  fixed  upon  for  the  service  ; 
but  the  Church  of  Salem  would  not  allow  Mr.  Peters,  their  Pastor,  to 
leave  them,  and  so  for  the  present  the  mission  was  laid  aside.  The 
next  year,  however,  encouraged  by  the  continued  success  of  Parliament, 
the  Church  of  Salem  consented,  though  with  reluctance,  for  Mr.  Peters 
to  go.  But  there  was  no  ship  bound  from  these  parts  for  England,  and 
the  Commissioners  were  obliged  to  go  to  Newfoundland,  to  seek  pas- 
sages among  the  returning  fishermen,  and  in  this  way  accomplished 
their  journey,  at  a  great  expense  of  time.  Mr.  Peters  and  Mr.  Welde 
did  not  return  to  New  England,  but  Mr.  Hibbins  came  back  in  1642, 
"  with  divers  others  who  went  over"  with  him.  It  does  not  appear 
that  anything  of  immediate  importance  was  effected  by  the  Commission- 
ers, with  the  exception  of  the  procurement  of  some  valuable  presents.* 


*  Mar.  30.  —  Edward  Gibbon  sold  the  house 
which  he  bot  of  Mawer  (some  time  Wm  Hud- 
son's the  elder)  to  Teffe  the  occupant ;  John 
Freind,  carpenter,  now  dwelling  here,  allowed 
to  remain  and  inhabit ;  John  Palmer  the  same, 
if  he  can  get  a  house,  or  land  to  set  one  on  — 
"  it  being  not  ppr.  to  allow  a  man  an  inhabit- 
ant without  a  habitation."  —  Ordered  that  no 
more  land  be  granted  in  the  Town,  out  of  the 
open  ground,  or  common  field,  which  is  left 
between  Sentry  Hill  and  Mr.  Colborn's  end, 
except  3  or  4  lots  to  make  up  the  street  from 
bro.  Robt.  Walker's  to  the  Round  Marsh ; 
Edward  Baytes  being  at  Isle  Sables,  shall  have 
6  months  to  build  on  his  lot.  Ordered  that 
the  street  from  Mr.  Atherton  Haulghe's  to 
Sentry  Hill  be  laid  out,  "  and  soe  be  kept  open 
forever;"  Wm  Davis,  gunsmith,  to  have  20 
acres  at  the  Mount ;  Wm  Hudson  recommended 
to  keep  an  Ordinary;  Wm  Briscoe,  tailor,  to 
have  a  lot  between  Robt.  Walker's  and  the 
Round  Marsh  ;  to  look  to  the  fences  ;  Richd 
Fairbanks  and  Wm  Salter,  the  field  towards 
Roxbury ;  Benjn.  Gillam  and  Edmd.  Jacklyn,* 
the  Fort  field  ;  Wm  Hudson  and  Edwd.  Bendall, 
the  New  field ;  Mr.  Valentine  Hill  and  John 
Button,  the  Mill  field. 

April  27.  —  Saml.  Sherman  allowed  a  lot 
at  the  Mount  for  15  heads  ;  John  Scarlett  and 
Ed.  Goodwine  for ,2  each ;  Saml.  Sherman  may 
let  his  house  stand  near  Roxbury  Gate,  where 
it  now  is,  but  must  set  his  fence  straight  "  as 
he  do  not  incroch  vpon  the  High-way  ;  "  good- 
man  Marshall,  and  goodm.  Raynolds,  and  B. 
Gridley  may  buy  the  marsh  at  Hogg  Island  ; 
Peter  the  Dutchman  allowed  one  acre  at  Long 


Island ;  John  Robertsonne  to  have  the  lot 
granted  to  Bibble,  which  he  forfeited  by  not 
building  on  it ;  John  Woodward  a  house  lot 
next  Henry  Gray,  if  he  build  on  it  in  5  months  ; 
Ed.  Goodwine  a  lot  next  W.  Briscoe's,  same 
conditions  ;  Natha.  Willis  is  spared  clearing 
half  an  acre  at  Spectacle  Island,  "  in  regard 
his  servant  did  scald  his  legg;"  Wm  Hibbins 
chosen  Treasurer,  except  of  the  taxes  ;  Ben. 
Gillum  to  have  the  ungranted  land  at  Long 
Island. 

May  25.  —  Ed.  Ting  may  dig  turf  on  the 
island  among  the  flats  by  Mill  Field,  going  to 
Charlestown  ;  Christopher  Stanley  may  buy  6 
acres  on  Hog  Island,  "  yf  it  be  here  to  be 
sould." 

June  29.  —  Cotton  Flack  a  house  lot  in 
the  way  from  Mr.  Colborn's  to  the  sea,  next 
goodm.  Briscoe's ;  Robt.  Howen  a  great  lot 
near  Braintree  for  4  heads  ;  John  Riall  a  lot 
at  the  Mount  for  4  also  ;  Geo.  Barrell  may 
have  that  acre  at  Spectacle  Island  passed  over 
to  him  by  goodm.  Smith. 

Aug.  31.  —  Wm  Douglas  may  be  a  towns- 
man, "  he  behaving  himself  as  becometh  a 
Christian  man."  Theodore  Atkinson  a  great 
lot  at  Mud.  R.  for  2  heads,  if  to  be  had. 

Sept.  28.  —  The  townsmen  chosen  for  the 
next  6  months  were,  Mr.  Bellingham,  Win- 
throp,  senr.,  Ting,  Gibbons,  Colburn,  Eliot, 
Newgate,  Atherton,  "  Hough,"  and  Wm  Hib- 
bins ;  Mr.  Newgate  and  bro.  Jona.  Negus,  f 
surveyors  of  Highways,  and  Wra  Courser,  Town 
Crier.  Henry  Webb  to  have  200  acres  at  the 
Mount,  beyond  Monotocott  river,  adjoining  the 
farms  of  Mr.  Edwd.  Ting  and  Edwd.  Hutchin- 


*  See  his  autograph,  ante,  p.  243. 


t  See  his  autograph,  ante,  p.  243. 


254 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1640. 


Whatever  difficulties  happened  about  the  country,  Boston  was  the 
point  where  they  were  to  be  settled  ;  and  though  the  people  of  this 
Town  are  accused  of  minding  other  people's  business  as  well  as  their 
own,  there  is  generally  some  grounds,  on  which  a  pretty  good  defence 
may  be  set  up  for  their  seeming  officiousness.  They  had  given  them- 
selves a  great  deal  of  trouble  about  the  religious  aberrations  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Rhode  Island,  ever  since  a  part  of  the  Church  of  Boston  had  been 
settled  there.*  It  was  very  unsatisfactory  to  some  here,  to  know  that 
many  members  of  the  Church,  who  had  not  been  excommunicated,  were 
in  full  communion  with  others  who  were  under  that  anathema. 

At  this  time  the  case  of  Mr.  Hanserd  Knollys  was  under  special 
notice.  This  gentleman,  according  to  his  own  account,  had  been  per- 
secuted and  prosecuted  in  the 
High  Commission  Court,  about 
five  years  before,  and,  being  ap- 
prehended in  Boston  in  Lincoln- 
shire, was  for  some  time  kept  a 
prisoner  in  the  house  of  the  war- 
rant officer.  At  length  he  so 
terrified  the  conscience  of  that 
officer,  that  he  set  open  his  doors 
and  let  him  escape.  Proceeding 
immediately  to  London,  he  there 
waited  to  find  a  ship  to  take  him 
to  New  England.  But  it  was  so 
long  before  an  opportunity  offer- 
ed, that  he  had  "  neither  silver 
nor  gold  left,"  but  only  "six 
brass  farthings."  His  wife, 
more  provident  than  himself, 
however,  had,  unknown  to  him, 
Thus  embarking  in  want  and  dis- 


HANSERD   KNOLLYS. 


five  pounds,  which  she  gave  him. 


son;  bro.  Robt.  Scott.  200  do.,  next  bro. 
Webb's  —  no  allowance  for  "  rockieness  or 
swampe." 

Oct.  26. — Bro.  Peter  Oliver  may  have  60 
acres  at  Mud.  R.,  if  to  be  had  ;  bro.  Jas  Oliver 
40  there.  Mr.  Colburn,  Mr.  Eliot,  and  Mr. 
Peter  Oliver,  to  see  that  a  bridge  be  made  at 
Mud.  R.  as  ordered  ;  Mr.  Cogan  to  see  that 
the  bridge  ordered  to  be  built  at  Romney 
Marsh  be  "  donne  with  all  speede."  John 
Biggs  sold  4  acres  at  Mud.  R.  at  4s.  the  acre  ; 
Bro.  Wm  Talmage  to  have  5  acres  added  to  his 
at  same  place,  a  former  grant  conferred  to 
bro.  Ed.  Fletcher  ;  Euan  Thomas  to  be  con- 
sidered of  for  a  resident ;  Leonard  Buttall  asks 
leave  to  set  up  a  lime  kiln  at  Fox  hill. 

Nov.  30.  —  Bro.  Edmond  Jackline  to  mowe 
the  marsh  formerly  mowed  by  bro.  Pease. 

Dec.  28.  — Miles  Tarne  to  have  land  at  Long 
Island,  and  to  be  considered  in  regard  to  a  lot 


for  5  heads  at  Mud.  R.  "  Bro.  Day  "  to  be 
considered  on  the  same  request.  Bi*o.  Alexr. 
Beck  to  mow  marsh  in  the  New  field  near 
where  "  Mr.  Hough  takes  boat." 

The  rate  this  year  made  by  the  Townsmen, 
amounting  to  £179,  "  for  the  discharge  of  the 
country  levy,  was  delivered  to  Mr.  Henry 
Webb,  constable." 

Bro.  John  Button  chosen  Constable  in  place 
of  Mr.  John  Cogan. 

*  Marchlst,  1640.  —  "  The  Church  of  Boston 
sent  three  brethren,  viz.  —  Capt.  Edward  Gib- 
bons, Mr.  [William]  Hibbins,  and  Mr.  Oliver, 
with  letters  to  Mr.  Coddington  and  the  rest  of 
our  Members  at  Aquiday,  to  understand  their 
judgments  in  divers  points  of  religion,  formerly 
maintained  by  all,  or  divers  of  them,  and  to 
require  them  to  give  account  to  the  Church 
of  their  unwarrantable  practice  in  communica- 
ing  with  excommunicated  persons,  &c.    When 


1G41.]  IIANSERD    KNOLLYS.  255 

tress,  sickness  and  death,  and  a  protracted  voyage  of  twelve  weeks,  all 
conspired  to  try  the  fortitude  of  this  conscientious  Puritan.  In  the 
midst  of  the  ocean  their  water  became  nauseous,  their  bread  rotten,  and 
other  provisions  were  in  a  like  condition.  They  sailed  from  Gravesend 
on  the  twenty-sixth  of  April,  1638,  in  a  ship  commanded  by  a  Captain 
Goodlad,  in  company  with  the  Nicholas  of  London,  and  several  others.* 
From  this  ship  they  were  separated  in  a  very  dark  and  stormy  night, 
after  they  had  kept  company  twenty-one  days.  They,  however,  arrived 
at  Boston  about  the  twentieth  of  July  following,  having  lost  one  child 
on  the  voyage,  which  died  of  convulsion  fits.  "  But,"  says  Mr.  Knollys, 
"  God  was  gracious  to  us,  and  led  us  through  those  great  deeps,  and  ere 
we  went  on  shore,  came  one  and  enquired  for  me,  and  told  me  a  friend 
that  was  gone  from  Boston  to  Rhode  Island  had  left  me  his  house  to 
sojourn  in  ;  to  which  we  went  and  two  families  more  with  us,  who  went 
suddenly  to  their  friends  and  other  relations  in  the  country  ;  and  I, 
being  poor,  was  necessitated  to  work  daily  with  my  hoe,  for  the  space 
of  almost  three  weeks.  The  Magistrates  were  told  by  the  Ministers  that 
I  was  an  Antinomian,  and  desired  they  would  not  suffer  me  to  abide  in 
their  district.  But,  within  the  time  limited  by  their  law  in  that  case, 
two  strangers  coming  to  Boston  from  Piscattuah,  hearing  of  me  by  a 
mere  accident,  got  me  to  go  with  them  to  that  plantation,  and  to  preach 
there,  where  I  remained  about  four  years.  Being  sent  for  back  to 
England  by  my  aged  father,  I  returned  with  my  wife  and  one  child 
about  three  years  old,  and  she  was  then  great  with  another ;  we  came 
safe  to  London  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  December,  1641."  f 

People  should  be  cautious  in  passing  judgment  condemnatory  of  the 
actions  of  those  who  for  conscience  sake  endured  such  hardships,  and 
suffered  so  many  privations,  even  though  cotemporary  evidence  may 
seem  to  favor  such  judgment.  The  intolerance  of  the  Rulers  of  those 
times,  as  in  all  other  times,  doubtless,  warped  their  decisions,  and 
caused  them  to  lend  a  willing  ear  to  scandals  of  doubtful  foundation, 
when  they  tended  to  degrade  the  objects  of  their  suspicion.  Mr. 
Knollys  went  to  reside  in  a  part  of  the  country  where  the  people  were 

they  came,  they  found  that  those  of  them  who  Gospel,  Mr.  Hanserd  Knollys,  who  died  in 
dwell  at  Newport,  had  joined  themselves  to  a  the  93d  year  of  his  age,"  19th  Sept.,  1691. 
church  there  newly  constituted,  and  thereupon  "  Written  with  his  own  hand  to  the  year  1672, 
they  refused  to  hear  them  as  messengers  of  and  continued  in  general,  in  an  Epistle  by  Mr. 
our  Church,  or  to  receive  the  Church's  letter."  William  Kiffin."  12mo.  :  London,  1812.  — 
— Winthrop,  i.  329.  Thus  this  Author  dis-  Concerning  this  curious  book  I  will  just  re- 
patches  the  result  of  the  Mission  in  a  very  mark,  that  the  author  probably  had  not  the 
summary  manner.  He  adds  that,  "  the  Elders  remotest  idea  when  he  wrote  his  "Life  and 
and  most  of  the  Church  [of  Boston]  would  Death,"  that  ever  anybody  would  consult  it 
have  cast  them  [of  Rhode  Island]  out,  but  all  for  anything  but  the  edification  they  might 
being  not  agreed,  it  was  deferred." — Ibid.  derive  in  a  purely  spiritual  point  of  view  ;  nor 

*  The  time  of  his  sailing,  the  name  of  the  does  ' '  Mr.  William  Kiffin ' '  enter  at  all  into 

captain   with   whom   he   sailed,    and  several  the  prophane  history  of  Mr.  Knollys,  though  he 

other  facts  here  stated,  are  not  found  in  Mr.  pretends  to  have  done  so  "  in  general."     Not- 

Knolly's  Life,  cited  in  the  next  note,  but  are  withstanding  what  I  have  here  said  of  this 

derived  from  a  comparison  of  Josselyn  and  book,    should  any  of  my  readers  consult  it, 

Winthrop  with  Knolly's  own  account.  they  will  not  probably  complain  that  I  have 

f  "The  Life  and  Death  of  that  Old  Disciple  over-estimated  it.    But  one  copy  of  it  is  known 

of  Jesus  Christ,  and  Eminent  Minister  of  the  by  me  to  be  in  this  country. 


256  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1641. 

in  a  very  unsettled  state,  for  the  want  of  a  due  administration  of  good 
government.*  In  such  a  community,  under  such  circumstances,  it  is 
very  difficult  for  a  person,  however  well-disposed  he  may  be,  to  escape 
entirely  all  causes  of  censure.  Such  was  Mr.  Knollys'  case  at  Dover, 
the  place  over  which  Captain  Underhill  was  Governor.  The  latter  had 
been  a  means  of  giving  him  a  place  which  provided  him  support,  and  he 
thus  became  under  obligation  to  him.  This  led  him  into  difficulty  with 
the  Authorities  at  Boston ;  for,  at  his  instigation,  he  had  written  letters 
into  England  unfavorable  to  them,  in  one  of  which  he  said,  "  they  were 
more  arbitrary  than  the  High  Commission  Court,  and  that  there  was  no 
real  religion  in  the  country."  But  before  he  left  New  England  he 
came  to  Boston,  and  openly  confessed  himself  in  error,  and  this  was 
supposed  to  have  been  one  cause  which  moved  Captain  Underhill  to 
come  and  do  likewise  afterwards,  as  previously  related. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  acts  of  Mr.  Knollys  in  New  England, 
certain  it  is  he  became  a  man  of  distinction  in  his  own  country  after  his 
return  there  ;  and  his  memory  is  held  in  the  greatest  esteem  to  this  day, 
by  a  highly  respected  class  of  people,  who  have  honored  it  by  instituting 
a  learned  society  bearing  the  name  of  Hanserd  Knollys. f 

*  The  Court  at  Boston,  taking  advantage  of  and  "  signed  in  the  presence  of  the  General 

this  situation  of  affairs,  had  intimated  its  in-  Court,  by  Geo.  Willys,  Bobt.  Saltonstall,  Wil- 

tention  to  extend  its  jurisdiction  beyond  the  liaru   Whiting,   Edwd.    Holiock   and   Thomas 

Merrimack  —  "three  miles  to  the  northward  Makepeace,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the 

of  it  and  every  part  thereof,"  by  a  line  to  be  other   partners   of   the   two   Patents."  —  See 

drawn  from  the  most  eastern  to  the  most  west-  Belknap,  N.  H.,  i.  52-6. 

ern  point.     This  put  in  execution  would  have        f  I  had  completed  thus  far  this  History, 

swallowed  up  the  whole  of  New  Hampshire,  when  a  new   edition  of  Winthrop's   Journal 

and  no  inconsiderable   part  of  Maine ;    thus  made  its  appearance.     It  had  been  looked  for 

leaving   Gorges'    and   Mason's   Patents  "no-  with  some  anxiety,  presuming  its  notes  would 

where."     The  pretensions  of  this  government  be  greatly  improved,  and  that  by  their  aid  I 

were   strengthened,    owing   to    the   unsettled  might  make  my  work  more  valuable.     Suffice 

state  of  the  settlements  on  the  Pascataqua.  it  to  say,  that  my  anticipations  of  advantage 

These  settlements,  which  were  four  in  number,  from  the  new  edition  will  be  but  very  partially 

had  each  its  Governor,  and  were  under  no  in-  realized.     The  Editor,  so  far  as  I  can  discover, 

structions  from  the  Government  in  England;  from  not  a  very  thorough  examination,  has 

hence   the   continual   feuds   and    contentions  been  content  to  issue  the  work  without  much 

among  them.     And,  owing  to  the  internal  dis-  additional  matter,   and  with  very  slight  cor- 

tractions  in  that  country,  present  relief  could  rections.     It  was  thought  proper  thus  specially 

not  be  expected  ;  therefore,  some  of  the  most  to  notice  Winthrop's   Journal   at   this   time 

considerate  among  them  applied  to  the  Gov-  (July,  1853),  as  it  has  been,  and  will  yet  be, 

ernment  at  Boston  to  be  annexed  to  Massachu-  one  of  my  best  authorities,  for  the   period   it 

setts.     After  about  a  year's  negotiation,  Arti-  covers ;  and  its  notes  are  often  appropriate, 

cles,  dated  in  April,  1641,  were  agreed  upon,  and  the  result  of  great  research. 


1641.] 


EMIGRATION   TO    THE   WEST   INDIES. 


257 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

Expedition  to  the  Isle  of  Sable.  —  Some  Families  emigrate  to  the  West  Indies. — Disaster  and  Return.  — 
Death  of  Capt.  Peirce.  —  Rhode  Island  People  taken  and  imprisoned.  —  Great  Training.  —  Thanks- 
giving.—  Destructive  Tempest.  —  Proceedings  against  Mr.  Maverick.  —  Body  of  Liberties. — 
Accident  from  Lightning. — Severe  Winter.  —  Remarkable  Hog  Case.  —  Capt.  Keayne. —  Mrs. 
Sherman.  —  George  Story.  —  A  Fast.  —  Osamokin  visits  Boston.  —  Edward  Bendall. — A  Diving 
Bell  successfully  employed.  —  Cotton's  Seven  Vials. — Alarm  from  the  Indians.  —  Proceedings 
against  them.  —  They  are  Disarmed.  —  Miantonimo.  —  Comes  to  Boston  to  repel  Charges  against 
him.  —  His  magnanimous  Conduct.  —  How  entertained. 


AT  the  General  Election  Mr.  Belling- 
ham  *  is  chosen  Governor,  and  Mr.  Endicott 
Deputy-Governor.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward  preached 
the  Sermon. f  Among  other  things  the  Court 
ordered,  "  that  the  Elders  should  be  desired  to 
agree  upon  a  form  of  catechism  which  might  be 
put  forth  in  print." 

A  very  successful  business  is  carried  on  to  the 
Isle  of  Sable  this  summer,  by  some  of  the  enter- 
prising men  of  Boston.  A  vessel  "with  twelve 
men  went  there  provided  to  continue  a  year. 
Their  return  was  in  oil  and  the  teeth  of  the  morse, 
or  walrus.  "  One  John  Webb,  alias  Evered,"  was  the  conductor  of 
the  enterprise.  J 

Some  families  went  from  Boston  to  settle  at  Providence  in  the  West 
Indies.  They  went  in  two  small  vessels,  to  the  number  of  thirty  men, 
five  women,  and  eight  children.  Captain  William  Peirce  conducted 
the  enterprise  —  the  same  gentleman  who  had  been  of  such  service  to 
the  Colony  from  its  beginning  ;  but  in  this  expedition  he  fell  a  sacrifice 
to  Spanish  barbarity,  being  killed  by  a  cannon  shot  as  he  was  entering 
the  port  of  his  destination.     No  explanation  is  given  for  the  outrage. 


BITING  BELL. 


*  See  ante,  p.  176.  The  autograph  of  Gov. 
Bellingham  at  this  ,  ^ 

period  is  here  rep-     "/\  *  2>  t&c*-*<&ht. ec**^, 

resented. 

f  Winthrop  has  an  agreeable  criticism  upon 
that  performance,  but  whether  a  just  one  or 
not,  is  a  matter  of  not  much  consequence  now. 
Winthrop  was  displeased,  because  "  some  of 
the  Freemen  "  had  chosen  Mr.  Ward  without 
asking  leave  "  of  the  Magistrates  or  Governor," 
and  "  seeing  he  had  cast  off  his  pastor's  place 
at  Ipswich ,  and  was  now  no  minister  by  the 
received  determination  of  our  Churches  ;  and, 
among  other  things,  he  advised  the  people  to 
keep  all  their  Magistrates  in  an  equal  rank, 
and  not  give  more  honor  or  power  to  one  than 
to  another."  —  Journal,  ii.  35.  Mr.  Ward  rec- 
ommended also,  "  that  Magistrates  should 
not  give  private  advice,  and  take  knowledge 
of  any  man's  cause  before  it  came  to  public 
hearing."  —  Ibid.,  36.     This  was  taken  as  in- 

33 


direct  advice  for  the  employment  of  Attorneys 
in  legal  questions.  But  Lawyers  were  held  in 
abhorrence  by  the  Puritan  fathers.  Winthrop 
brings  six  arguments  against  receiving  that 
advice.  A  little  later  than  this,  Mr.  John 
Rogers,  the  famous  Puritan  preacher  of  Lon- 
don, thus  speaks  of  the  "  incredible  wicked- 
nesse  of  that  profession,  their  guiltinesse  of 
all  manner  of  sinnes  which  the  nation  lyes 
under,  as  blood,  theft,  oppression,  injustice, 
contentions,  hatred,  cozenage,  and  fraud,  re- 
bellion, lying,  perjury,  and  what  not."  — 
Heavenly  Nymph,  &c.  4to,  1653,  p.  221. 
This  being  the  current  opinion  of  those  days, 
it  is  no  wonder  the  people  of  Boston  were 
determined  to  exclude  them  from  a  footing 
here.  Indeed,  up  to  the  time  of  our  great 
Revolution,  Lawyers  were  looked  upon  as  a 
class  unsuited  to  good  society,  by  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  the  community  ! 
%  Lechford,  Plain  Dealing,  45. 


258  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1641. 

At  the  time  the  vessel  was  fired  upon,  "  the  deck  was  full  of  pas- 
sengers," yet  none  were  hurt  except  Captain  Peirce  and  one  Samuel 
Wakeman.  The  latter  was  mortally  wounded.  He  belonged  to  Hart- 
ford, and  may  have  been  the  same  who  was  a  Freeman  of  Massachusetts, 
1632,  and  three  years  later  a  Deputy  to  the  General  Court  from  Rox- 
bury.  He  was  upon  a  trading  design,  and  did  not  belong  to  those  who 
intended  to  settle  on  the  island.  The  others  returned  to  New  England 
soon  after  this  calamitous  outrage. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  very  unfavorable  accounts  were  brought 
from  Rhode  Island ;  that  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  constantly  broaching 
new  heresies  ;  that  many  were  turned  Anabaptists,  would  not  wear  any 
arms,  denied  all  magistracy  among  Christians,  and  "divers"  other 
opinions  quite  as  alarming  as  these.  So  that  the  conscientious  Rulers 
of  Boston  were  much  grieved,  if  not  angry,  at  what  they  considered 
bold  presumption.  And  why  an  armed  expedition  was  not  dispatched 
into  that  Colony  to  break  up  the  obnoxious  nursery  of  errors,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  imagine.  Perhaps  they  had  too  much  business  to  attend  to  at 
home.  However,  they  soon  had  an  opportunity  of  showing  the 
Islanders  that  it  was  not  very  safe  for  any  of  them  to  make  their 
appearance  in  Boston ;  for  Mr.  "William  Collins,  the  same  before  no- 
ticed,* and  Francis  Hutchinson,  son  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  coming  here  on 
business,  were  taken  up,  imprisoned  and  fined.f  They  would  not  pay 
the  fine,  however,  and  were  eventually  discharged. J 

A  "  great  training  "  commenced  in  Boston,  which  continued 
two  days.  The  number  of  the  trainers  is  set  down  at  1200,  and 
it  was  remarked  "  that  there  was  no  man  drunk,"  though  liquors 
abounded  ;  and  that  no  man  swore  an  oath,  nor  was  there  any  fighting. 
This  certainly  was  remarkable,  but  there  may  be  those  who  will  ques- 
tion the  fact,  presuming  that  the  Governor  and  Council  might  not  hear 
all  that  was  said  during  those  two  days  of  trainings. § 

Notwithstanding  the  harsh  usage  dealt  out  here  to  those  who  differed 
from  them  in  opinions,  the  Rulers  appointed  a  thanksgiving  to  be  kept 
in  all  the  Churches  "  for  the  good  success  of  the  Parliament  in  Eng- 
land," which  was  kept  accordingly,  on  the  second  of  September. 


*  Ante,  page  227.  duct    of   the   Government  :  —  "  Because    the 

f  Mr.  Collins  was  fined  £100,  and  Hutchin-  winter   drew  on,  and  the  prison  was  incon- 

son  £50.    "  We  assessed  the  fines  the  higher/'  venient,  we  abated  them   [their  fines]  to  £40, 

says   Winthrop,    "partly  that    by    occasion  and  to  £20.     At  last  we  took  their  own  bonds 

thereof  they  might  be  the  longer  kept  in  from  for  their  fine,  and  so  dismissed  them.     They 

doing  harm  (for  they  were  kept  close  prison-  refused  to  come  to  the  church  assemblies,  ex- 

ers),  and  also  because  that  family  had  put  the  cept  they  were  led,  and  so  they  came  duly." 

country  to  so  much  charge  in  the  Synod  and  — Journal,  ib.     I  suppose?     "  coming  duly" 

other  occasions,  to  the  value  of  £500  at  least."  means  that  they  were  forced  duly  to  the  at- 

Upon  this  proceeding,  Winthrop's  commenta-  tendance  at  meetings.     This  was  a  practice  in 

tor  remarks  :  —  "  Such  arbitrary  conduct  can-  other  cases.    Backus,  from  the  Colony  Records, 

not  be  overlooked  by  faithful  history  in  silence  ;  says    they   were   "banished    upon    pain    of 

yet  nothing  can  be  more  clear  than  that  our  death." 

Magistrates  thought  they  were  doing  God  ser-  §  Lechford  says,  "  Profane  swearing,  drunk- 
vice." —  Journal,  ii.  40.  enness,  and  beggers,  are  but  rare  in  the  com- 
%  Winthrop  makes  this  excuse  for  the  con-  passe  of  this  Patent."  —  Plain  Dealing,  29. 


1G4L]  SAMUEL    MAVERICK SEVERE   WINTER.  259 

There  was  a  remarkable  tempest  of  above  two  days'  continu- 
ance. It  was  "  as  fierce  as  a  hurricane."  "  Divers  boats  and 
a  bark  were  cast  away  in  the  harbor,"  but  fortunately  no  houses  were 
blown  down  nor  lives  lost.  The  tide  rose  to  a  fearful  height,  higher 
than  it  had  been  known  since  the  Town  was  settled. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick  was  put  to  some  trouble  on 
account  of  his  having  shown  hospitality  to  some  accused  persons.  One 
Thomas  Owen,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  William  Hale,  had  been  imprisoned 
under  the  charge  of  illicit  conduct.  They  found  means  to  escape  from 
custody,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  Mr.  Maverick  had  admitted  them 
to  his  house.  Nothing  appears  to  show  why  he  harbored  them.  He 
may  have  allowed  them  refuge  as  any  other  humane  person  would  have 
done,  seeing  them  in  great  distress.  Whatever  the  circumstances  may 
have  been,  he  was  fined  one  hundred  pounds  for  such  benevolent  hos- 
pitality, but  it  was  remitted  in  part  afterwards.  Several  other  persons 
were  fined  in  small  sums  for  being  accessory  to  the  escape  of  those 
persons,  as  Mr.  Chedley,  Mr.  Ducket,  Mr.  Wollaston,  Mr.  Oateley, 
William  Cope,  and  Mary  Wilbee.  Mr.  Dutchfield,  Mr.  Williams,  and 
Mr.  Hale,  "  were  admonished  to  take  heed  of  the  like  concealment." 

A  code  of  laws,  called  "  The  Body  of  Liberties,"  was  adopted  by 
the  General  Court  this  year.*  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  laws,  and 
was  originally  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward  of  Ipswich,  the  Author 
of  that  curious  book  entitled  "  The  Simple  Cobler  of  Agawam."f 

The  winter  of  the  years  1641-2  was  exceedingly  severe.  From 
their  own  observations  and  the  accounts  of  the  Indians,  the  people  of 

*  These  laws  are  printed  in  Hutchinson's  agree  with  a  cowkeeper  for  the  summer.     Bro. 

Collection  of  Orig.  Papers,  161,  &c.  Everill  and  bro.  Burden  may  sink  a  pit  at  the 

f  Jan,  25. — The   Townsmen   chosen  were  upper  end  of  the  wharf  before  bro.  Burden's 

Bellingham,  Winthrop,  Hough,  Ting,  Gibbons,  house,  and  put  a  vessel  therein  to  water  their 

Newgate,  Colburne,  Eliot  and  Hibbins.     Abra-  leather  ;  and  if  it  be  found  an  annoyance  they 

ham  Warren  had  formerly  a  grant  at  Hogg  are  to  fill  it  up  again. 

Island.      Evan   Thomas   and   Henry   Dawson  July2Q.  —  Robt.  Wing  to  have  20  bushels 

admitted  inhabitants.     Mr.  Bworne  [Bourne?]  of  Indian  corn  for  looking  to   the  low  water 

desires  a  place  next  his  house  "  for  building  mark   in   Sentry   Field    this   year.     Anthony 

the   ship."     Edward   Arnoll  proposed   for   a  Stanyan  admitted  an  inhabitant.     Bro.  John 

resident.     Richd.  Bennett  and  Thoraas  Stan-  Oliver*   chosen   Treasurer,   and   to   keep  the 

burie  admitted  inhabitants.  "  Towne's  bookes."     Thus  a  Town  Clerk  was 

Feb.  22.  —  Abraham  Hagburne  and  Richd.  chosen.     Henry  Stevens  to  have  a  lot  for  5 

Sanford  admitted  residents ;  Abra.  Perrie  sells  heads  at  "  Brayntry." 

his  house.  Philip  Rice  admitted  an  inhabitant.  Sept.  27.  —  David  Phippen  admitted  a  towns- 
Mar.  29.  —  Bro.  John  Leveret  to  have  a  man,  and  may  have  a  house  lot  if  he  can  find 
little  plot  of  marsh  in  the  New  field  —  about  3  one.  Job  Judkin  a  lot  for  5  heads  at  the 
rods.  A  street  to  "go  up  to  the  New  field  by  Mount  "  als  Braintry."  John  Search  a  house 
Sentry  Hill,"  for  the  Town's  use.  lot  near  Robt.  Walker.  John  Bigs,  for  work 
April  26.  —  Bro.  Wentworth  Day  to  have  "done  about  the  Magistrates  seat,"  to  have 
100  acres  at  Mud.  R.  Bro.  James  Johnson,*  the  marsh  in  Sentinel-hill  Field,  about  one 
bro.  Buttoll  and  Goodm.  Tame,  may  use  a  rod  and  a  half  acres,  for  40s. 
a  piece  "adjoining  Mr.  Hibbins  his  garden  Nov.  29.  —  Sampson  Shore  admitted  a  towns- 
pale,  and  so  over  towards  Elder  Oliver's  little  man,  also  Edwd.  Arnold.  Granted  to  Valen- 
house,  and  down  to  the  Creek  eastward,  and  tine  Hill,  merchant  of  Boston,  and  his  asso- 
up  to  the  Highway  westward,  for  dressing  his  ciates,  all  the  waste  ground  from  the  point  of 
leather."  the  marsh  between  Wm.  Ting's  pale  and  John 
May  3. —  John  Search  admitted  an  inhab.  Lowe's  house,  &c,  for  a  term  of  years,  for 
Bro.  John  Davis  *  and  bro.  Thos.  Buttolph  to  wharfing  and  warehousing  purposes. 

*  See  his  autograph,  ante,  p.  243.  *  See  his  autograph,  ante,  p.  243. 


260  HISTORY    OP    BOSTON.  [1642. 

Boston  judged  that  the  cold  had  not  been  so  intense  for  forty  years. 
The  ice  was  so  strong  in  the  harbor  that  "  horses  and  carts  went  over 
in  many  places  where  ships  had  sailed,"  and  it  extended  "  to  sea  so 
far  as  one  could  well  discern.*  Captain  Gibbons  and  his  wife,  with 
divers  on  foot  by  them,  came  riding  from  his  farm  at  Pullen 
e  '  '  Point,  right  over  to  Boston,  when  it  had  thawed  so  much  as  the 
water  was  above  the  ice  half  a  foot  in  some  places  ;  and  they  passed 
with  loads  of  wood  and  six  oxen  from  Muddy  River  to  Boston.  When 
it  thawed  it  removed  great  rocks,  of  above  a  ton  or  more  weight,  and 
brought  them  on  shore.     The  snow  was  likewise  very  deep." 

There  came  many  letters  by  a  ship  from  England  which  arrived  at 
the  Isle  of  Shoals  this  winter.  These  letters  were  dispatched  to  Boston 
by  a  footman,  who  remarkably  escaped  drowning  at  Salem.  The  per- 
son who  piloted  him  across  the  river  upon  the  ice,  fell  in  and  was 
drowned,  while  the  bearer  of  the  letters  extricated  himself  as  the  ice 
gave  way  under  his  feet.  The  letters  of  which  he  was  the  bearer,  it 
may  be  inferred,  were  of  great  moment  to  the  people  of  Boston,  for 
Winthrop  says,  God  preserved  the  bearer  of  them  more  on  account  of 
the  letters  "than  for  any  goodness  of  the  man"  who  had  them  in 
charge  !f 

99  The  wind-mill  at  the  north  end  of  the  Town  was  struck  by 
lightning,  shattering  the  "  upper  sail  in  many  pieces,  and,  miss- 
ing the  stones,  entered  the  standard,  rived  it  down  in  three  parts  to  the 
bottom,  and  one  of  the  spars  ;  and  the  main  standard  being  bound  about 
with  a  great  iron  hoop,  fastened  with  many  long  spikes,  it  was  plucked 
off,  broken  in  the  middle,  and  thrown  upon  the  floor,  and  the  boards 
upon  the  sides  of  the  mill  rived  off,  the  sacks  in  the  mill  set  on  fire,  and 
the  miller,  being  under  the  mill  upon  the  ground  chopping  a  piece  of 
board,  was  struck  dead  ;  but  company  coming  in  found  him  to  breathe, 
and  within  an  hour  or  two  he  began  to  stir,  and  strove  with  such  force, 
as  six  men  could  scarce  hold  him  down.  The  next  day  he  came  to  his 
senses,  but  knew  nothing  of  what  had  befallen  him,  but  found  himself 
very  sore.  His  hair  on  one  side  of  his  head  and  beard  was  singed,  one 
of  his  shoes  torn  off  his  foot,  but  his  foot  not  hurt." 

At  the  General  Court  now  in  session,  there  fell  out,  says  Winthrop, 
"  a  great  business  upon  a  very  small  occasion."  This  "  great  business  " 
had  its  beginning  as  far  back  as  1636,J  and  may  be  thus  briefly  stated. 
A  hog  had  been  found  running  at  large,  contrary  to  a  Town  order.     It 

*  "  To  end  this  year  1641,"  says  Johnson,  low,  says  expressly  that  it   had  its  rise  in 

"  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  send  a  very  sharp  1636.  — See  his  Journal,  ii.  69.     There  was  a 

winter,_insomuch  that  the  harbor,  where  ships  hog  taken  up  in  1638,  as  has  been  noticed  in 

ordinarily  anchor,  was  frozen  over  of*  such  a  an  extract  from  the  Town  records,  ante,  page 

thickness   that   it  became  passable   both  for  241,  but  nothing  appears  in  the  original  rec- 

horse,  carts,   and  oxen,  for  the  space  of  five  ords  authorizing  a  belief  that  it  was  the  same 

weeks."—  Wonder-Work.   Prov.,  170.  hog  about  which  this  difficulty  arose.     It  is 

f  His  name  is   not  mentioned,  nor  is  the  true  that  in  both  cases  the  animals  were  of  the 

name  of  the  ship  given.     See  Journal,  ii.  60.  feminine  gender,  but  this  is  hardly  sufficient 

%  Dr.  Snow  refers  the  origin  of  the  hog  con-  evidence  that  the  cases  are  identical.  ■ 
troversy  to  1638,  but  Winthrop,  whom  I  fol- 


1G42.]  a  iioa  case  —  origin  of  the  senate.  261 

was  taken  up  and  delivered  to  Captain  Kcayne,  and  the  Captain  used 
the  prescribed  means  to  find  its  owner,  but  none  appeared.  He  put  it 
into  an  enclosure  with  one  of  his  own,  and  there  it  remained  many 
months.  Meantime,  having  occasion,  he  killed  his  own  hog.  Not  long 
after,  a  woman  appeared,  wife  of  one  Sherman,  her  husband  being  in 
England,  who,  having  lost  a  hog,  averred  that  the  one  killed  was  the 
hog  she  had  lost ;  her  claim  not  being  sustainable  upon  the  one  left, 
because  it  had  other  marks  than  those  she  alleged  were  upon  hers. 
Whereupon  Mrs.  Sherman*  immediately  noised  it  abroad  that  Captain 
Keayne  had  thus  deprived  her  of  her  real  property.  In  such  cases,  as 
has  been  heretofore  intimated,  Captain  Keayne  stood  a  poor  chance  for 
justice,  however  good  his  cause  might  prove  to  be  ;  for  the  common 
people  were  prejudiced  against  him  because  he  had  been,  as  was  com- 
monly reported,  a  sharp  dealer  with  them.  However,  the  accusation 
against  the  Captain  was  soon  made  a  Church  matter  of;  but  upon  inves- 
tigation, in  which  "many  witnesses  were  examined,"  he  was  fully 
acquitted*;  the  Church  being  satisfied  no  doubt  that  the  charge  was 
made  through  a  mistake,  if  it  were  not  a  piece  of  knavery. 

In  all  probability  the  affair  would  have  rested  here,  but  for  the  popu- 
lar clamor,  of  which  one  George  Story,  a  young  merchant  from  London, 
was  a  leader.  He  lodged  in  the  house  with  Mrs.  Sherman,  and  may 
have  been  the  prime  mover  in  the  first  instance  ;  but  of  this  there  does 
not  appear  to  be  any  evidence.  Story  had  a  grudge  against  Captain 
Keayne,  because  he  had  been  ordered  before  the  Governor,  at  some 
previous  period,  to  answer  to  a  charge  of  living  in  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Sherman  under  suspicious  circumstances,  and  that  it  was  Captain  Keayne 
who  was  the  cause  of  his  being  thus  dealt  with.  However  this  may 
have  been,  Story  caused  an  action  to  be  brought  in  the  Superior  Court, 
where,  upon  a  full  hearing,  Captain  Keayne  was  again  cleared,  and  costs 
allowed  him.  He  also  recovered  twenty  pounds  damages,  for  having 
been  falsely,  as  the  Court  believed,  accused  of  stealing  a  hog.f 

Story  became  exceedingly  exasperated  at  this  decision,  and  sought 
revenge  in  the  most  persevering  manner.  In  "  searching  town  and 
country  to  find  matter  against  Captain  Keayne  about  this  stray"  hog, 
he  at  length  procured  a  witness,  who  had  testified  at  the  late  trial  in 
favor  of  Keayne,  who  now  pretended  that  he  had  on  that  trial  forsworn 
himself.  Upon  this  discovery,  Story  petitioned  the  General  Court,  in  the 
woman's  name,  for  a  rehearing  of  the  cause.  This  being  granted,  the 
"  best  part  of  seven  days  "  was  spent  in  the  new  trial.  Even  then  it 
was  not  determined,  for  there  were  nine  Magistrates  and  thirty  Depu- 
ties, and  a  verdict  could  not  be  obtained  without  the  greater  number  of 

*  She  did  not  belong  to  that  class  of  females  his  claim  to  the  fine  of  £20,  which,  though 

authorizing  the  significant  prefix  Mrs.  to  her  awarded  him,  had  not  been  paid,  excepting 

name,  but  I  have  lent  it  to  her  on  the  present  perhaps  £3  for  the  charges  of  witnesses.     He 

occasion,  to  avoid  a  harshness  of  language.  was  at  any  time  ready  to  remit  the  whole,  if 

f  In  the  progress  of  this  "  sow  business,"  Mrs.  Sherman  would  acknowledge  her  error  of 

as  Winthrop  calls  it,  the  next  year,  for  the  falsely  accusing  him. — Winthrop,  Journal,  ii. 

sake  of  peace,  Captain  Keayne  relinquished  117. 


262  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON.  [1642. 

both,  which  neither  had.  The  present  state  of  the  case  was  partly 
owing  to  "  cross  witnesses,"  and  "  some  prejudices  which  blinded  some 
men's  judgments  that  they  could  not  attend  the  true  nature  and  course 
of  the  evidence."  Notwithstanding,  it  was  finally  determined  in  favor 
of  Captain  Keayne,  there  being  for  him  seven  of  the  Magistrates  and 
eight  Deputies,  and  against  him  two  Magistrates  and  fifteen  Deputies, 
and  there  were  seven  Deputies  "  which  stood  doubtful."  Things  stand- 
ing thus  in  a  clear  case,  there  was  somewhat  of  contention  among  the 
members  of  the  Court.  This  contention  did  not  cease  until  1644,  and 
then  the  General  Court  was  divided  into  two  branches ;  and  thus 
originated  the  present  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  ;*  and  thus 
truly  did  "  a  great  business  grow  out  of  a  very  small  occasion."! 

In  the  case  of  Captain  Keayne  it  is  strikingly  manifest  how  men  of 
narrow  minds  and  vindictive  spirits  were  ready  to  show  themselves  as 
soon  as  he  was  accused.  It  was  sufficient  for  their  wicked  purposes 
that  he  was  accused,  and  their  prejudiced  judgments  were  jready  to 
pervert  all  circumstances  to  his  disadvantage.  Unfortunately,  the  ex- 
istence of  people  with  such  minds  did  not  cease  with  the  trial  of  Captain 
Keayne. 

This  singular  trial  must  have  perplexed  and  mortified  all  the  better 
part  of  the  community,  and  the  expense  accruing  was  no  small  item  at 
that  day. | 

There  was  a  general  Fast  kept,  occasioned  principally  for  the 
uy    '  danger  England  was  conceived  to  be  in,  and  the  "  foul  sins  "  of 
this  country. 

Massasoit,  the  "great  Sachem  of  Pokanoket,"  now  called 
Osamekin,  came  to  Boston,  accompanied  by  many  men  and  other 
Sagamores.    Winthrop  says  he  entertained  them  kindly ;  but  the  nature 
of  his  business  is  not  mentioned. 

By  the  enterprise  and  skill  of  Edward  Bendall,  the  hull  of  the  Mary 
Rose,  which  was  blown  up  in  August  of  the  last  year  and  sunk,  was 
raised,  and  the  harbor  cleared  of  the  obstruction  which  it  occasioned. 
The  owners  had  been  allowed  a  year  by  the  Court  to  weigh  the  wreck, 
but  they  had  made  no  effort  to  do  so.  Bendall  was  encouraged  to 
undertake  the  labor,  having  been  offered  all  he  could  realize  if  he  fully 
succeeded,  and  half  of  what  he  could  get  if  he  succeeded  but  partially. 

*  Though  the  case  of  Captain  Keayne  was  lose  their  effect  by  the  non-concurrence  of  the 

one  of  great  vexation  to  him  in  its  time,  it  has  former,  who  were  so  much  fewer  in  number  ; 

often  since  afforded  lyceum  orators  and  their  but,  by  the   firmness   of  Mr.   Winthrop,   the 

auditors  much  amusement.    One  said  recently,  Assistants  maintained  their  right  at  this  time, 

when  the  General  Court  was  in  session,  that  and  the  Deputies   not  being  able  to  prevail, 

"  Mrs.  Sherman's  pig  was  the  origin  of  the  moved  that  the  two  houses  might  sit  apart." 

present  Senate,  and  he  hoped  the  members  of  For  a  most  lucid  and  excellent  view  of  the 

it  would  not  disgrace  their  progenitor.'"  Government  and  Laws  of  Massachusetts,  see 

f  See   Hutchinson,   Hist.  Mass.,  i.    142-3,  its  Judicial  History  by  the  able  hand  of  Judge 

who,  under  date  1645,  has  reference  probably  Washburn,  8vo.  Boston,  1840. 
to   this   case.      He   says,  "About   this   time        J  The  next  year  the  Town  "  allowed  Wm. 

there  was  a  struggle  for  power  between  the  Courser  20s.  for  his  service  about  the  swine, 

Assistants,  or  Magistrates,  and  the  Deputies,  which  tooke  him  up    (as   he   sayeth)    about 

The  latter  could  not  bear  their  votes  should  three  weekes  time." 


1G42.]  FEARS   FROM    THE    INDIANS.  263 

He  made  use  of  the  Diving  Bell,  which  was  probably  the  first  ever  used 
in  the  harbor  of  Boston,*  though  it  docs  not  appear  to  have  been 
known  by  that  name  until  long  after,  f  The  knowledge  of  its  principle, 
however,  is  coeval  with  the  first  and  simplest  branches  of  mechanics."! 

Two  ships  arrived  from  England  about  this  time  "  but  brought  not 
above  five  or  six  passengers.  There  came  in  one  of  them  some  copies 
of  Mr.  Cotton's  book  entitled  the  Seven  Vials.  It  was  printed  from 
notes  taken  in  characters,  without  the  author's  consent,  and  he  was  dis- 
pleased that  it  should  appear  not  having  a  proper  revision  by  himself."  § 
The  people  of  Connecticut  were  greatly  alarmed  by  a  discovery 
'  which  they  had  made,  that  the  Indians,  "all  over  the  country," 
had  entered  into  a  conspiracy  to  cut  off  the  English  throughout  New 
England.  A  message  to  this  effect  being  received  at  Boston,  measures 
for  security  were  at  once  taken.  Kutshamokin  was  visited  by  an  armed 
force,  at  Braintree,  and  ordered  to  appear  at  Boston,  which  he  did 
without  hesitation,  and  his  men  were  disarmed.  But,  on  examination, 
nothing  suspicious  could  be  found  against  the  chief  or  his  men,  and  he 
was  dismissed.  Notwithstanding,  orders  were  sent  to  Newbury, 
Ipswich,  and  Rowley,  to  disarm  Pasaconaway  and  other  Indians  on 
the  Merrimac  ;  and  yet  it  did  not  appear  that  there  was  any  evil  design 
intended  by  the  Indians  towards  the  English  at  all.  But  the  proceeding 
had  the  bad  effect  of  vexing  the  Indians,  and  serving  the  undertakers 
of  it  no  good  purpose  whatever.  It  was  probably  the  case  that  some 
of  the  evil-disposed  Indians  had  circulated  the  report  to  annoy  some  of 
their  own  countrymen  ;  for  they  always  had  feuds  among  themselves.  || 
Their  history,  like  that  of  the  white  people,  is  full  of  similar  examples. 

*  Beckman,  in  his  History  of  Inventions,  of  water  for  endangering  him,  &c." — Journal, 

tells   us   of  a   Diving   Bell   successfully   em-  ii.  73. 

ployed  at  Toledo  in  the  presence  of  the  Em-  §  A  copy  of  this  is  in  the  library  of  the 

peror   Charles  V.     Hence   its  use   is   carried  writer.     Mr.  Humfrey  caused  it  to  be  printed, 

back  prior  to  1558,  the  year  of  that  Emperor's  for  the  copy  of  which  he  received  300  of  the 

death.     They  were  employed  at  various  times  books.     He  wrote  the  preface  to  it,  from  which 

not  long  after  the  destruction  of  the  "  Invin-  it  appears  he  viewed  it  to  be  of  great  impor- 

cible  Armada,"  but  with  what  success  is  not  tance  that  it  should  be  circulated  at  that  time 

known.  in  England.     This  was  his  apology  for  printing 

\  I  think  it  is  not  to  be  found  in  Diction-  it  "before  the  author  had  afforded  him  more 

aries  before  the  time  of  Dr.  Noah  Webster.  liberty   and  leisure   to   have    fyled    over  his 

J  Winthrop's  description  of  Bendall's  con-  owne  notions."  In  the  close  of  his  preface 
trivance  for  submarine  operations  is  worth  Mr.  Humfrey  prays  "  for  the  most  desired 
extracting.  "  He  made  two  great  tubs,  bigger  ruine  and  speedy  begunne  downefall  of  that 
than  a  butt,  very  tight,  and  open  at  one  end,  most  cursed  kingdome  of  Antichrist,  according 
upon  which  were  hanged  so  many  weights  as  to  the  scope  and  drift  of  that  Prophisie,  ex- 
would  sink  it  to  the  ground  (600  feet).  It  was  pressed  in  the  pouring  out  of  these  Seven 
let  down,  the  diver  sitting  in  it,  a  cord  in  his  Vials." 

hand  to  give  notice  when  they  should  draw  ||  According  to   the  account  received   from 

him  up,  and  another  cord  to  show  when  they  the  authorities  of  Connecticut,  the  people  of 

should  remove  it  from  place  to  place,  so  he  that  colony  had  some  cause  of  alarm.     It  was 

could  continue  in  his  tub  near  half  an  hour,  stated   that   three    different    Indians,    "  near 

and  fasten  ropes  to  the  ordnance,  and  put  the  about  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  manner, 

lead,  &c,  into  a  net  or  tub.     When  the  tub  one  to  Mr.  Eaton,  of  New  Haven,  another  to 

was  drawn  up,  one  knocked  upon  the  head  of  Mr.  Ludlow,  and  the  third  to  Mr.  Haynes ;" 

it,  and  thrust  a  long  pole  under  water,  which  that  this  last  named  Indian  "  being  hurt  near 

the  diver  laid  hold  of,  and  so  was  drawn  up  by  to  death  by  a  cart,  &c,  sent  after  Mr.  Haynes, 

it ;  for  they  might  not  draw  the  open  end  out  and   told   him   that    Englishman's   God   was 


264  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1642. 

However,  messengers  were  sent  to  Miantoninio  to  acquaint  him  with 
what  was  suspected  of  the  Indians,  and  to  request  him  to  come  to 
Boston.  The  messengers,  as  on  all  former  occasions,  found  him  above 
suspicion,  and  he  soon  after  came  to  Boston,  as  he  was  requested. 

There  is  no  record  of  any  New  England  Indian  superior  to 
ept'  '  Miantonimo.  Indeed  there  is  none  which  will  compare  with  him 
for  wisdom,  magnanimity  and  justice  ;  and,  had  not  a  mistaken  and 
wicked  policy  been  adopted  towards  him  by  his  English  neighbors,  his 
biography  would,  ere  this,  have  shone  as  one  of  the  brightest  gems  in 
the  annals  of  New  England.  But  in  this  history,  he  can  only  be 
spoken  of  incidentally.  His  memory  claims  a  special  treatise,  which, 
one  day,  it  will  no  doubt  receive.     May  it  be  worthy  of  him. 

When  he  came  to  Boston  agreeably  to  the  request  before  stated,  the 
court  was  assembled,  "  and  before  his  admission,"  says  Governor  Win- 
throp,  "  we  considered  how  to  treat  with  him,  for  we  knew  him  to  be 
a  very  subtile  man,  and  agreed  upon  the  points  and  order,  and  that  none 
should  propound  anything  to  him  but  the  Governor,  and  if  any  other  of 
the  Court  had  anything  material  to  suggest,  he  should  impart  it  to  the 
Governor." 

Such  were  the  precautions  taken  by  the  wisest  and  most  learned  men 
in  the  country,  to  enter  into  a  negotiation  with  a  single  Indian  who 
never  knew  schools  nor  courts  of  law  —  nothing  but  the  school  of  nature 
and  the  natural  laws  of  man,  as  taught  by  his  own  native  genius. 
Here  was  truly  a  Nobleman  of  Nature,  in  the  presence  of  men  who 
would  have  been  great  in  any  age  —  men  supported  by  all  the  learning 
afforded  by  the  Universities  of  England,  and  the  experience  of  years. 
These  were  taking  counsel  how  they  should  proceed  in  a  treaty  with  a 
single  unlettered  Savage  from  the  depths  of  the  wilderness !  Where 
can  there  be  found  an  instance  parallel  to  this  ?  Who  is  there  that 
would  not  be  proud  of  this  position  of  Miantonimo  ? 

All  things  being  arranged,  Miantonimo  was  assigned  a  place  at  the 
foot  of  the  Council  table,  "  over  against  the  Governor  ;  "  but  he  would 
not  proceed  on  any  business  excepting  in  the  presence  of  some  of  his 
own  Counsellors,  observing,,  that  they  should  bear  witness  on  their 
return  to  his  people  of  all  his  sayings.  And  it  was  noted  by  the  Eng- 
lish, that  in  all  his  answers  he  was  very  deliberate,  and  showed  a  good 
understanding  in  the  principles  of  justice  and  equity,  and  great  inge- 
nuity. He  called  upon  the  English  to  produce  his  accusers,  but 
they  could  bring  nothing  but  vague  rumors  and  hearsay  statements, 
and  they  thus  found  themselves  in  a  most  awkward  and  unpleasant  pre- 
dicament. He  had  come  to  Boston  to  answer  to  a  capital  charge,  and 
he  probably  believed  that  the  authorities  stood  in  the  light  of  accusers 
if  they  did  not  produce  others ;  and  he  remarked,  that  if  the  charge 

angry  with  him,  and  had  set  Englishman's  foot,  but  they  were  doubtless  abused  by  some 

cow  [oxen]  to  kill  him,  because  he  had  con-  of  their  mischievous  countrymen,  whose  aim 

cealed   such   a  conspiracy."      These   Indians  it  was  to  bring  about  a  war. — See  Winthrop's 

may  have  believed  there  was  such  a  plot  on  Journal,  ii.  79. 


1642.]  MIANTONIMO.  265 

were  proved  against  him,  he  came  prepared  to  suffer  the  consequences  ; 
and  now  if  he  had  been  accused  falsely,  he  expected  that  the  authors 
of  such  accusation  would  be  subjected  to  the  same  penalty.*  He  thought 
it  a  strange  course  for  the  English  to  pursue  upon  a  mere  rumor,  for 
they  acknowledged  they  knew  none  of  the  parties  who  had  accused  the 
Narragansets,  and  he  asked  why  they  had  taken  away  the  arms  of  the 
Indians  upon  such  an  occasion.  The  Governor  excused  the  English  as 
well  as  he  could,  and  the  chief  relieved  his  embarrassment  by  expressing 
himself  satisfied  with  his  explanation.  He  gave  the  Court  to  understand 
that  he  believed  Uncas  to  be  at  the  root  of  all  the  mischief,  for  it  was 
evident  he  was  in  an  underhand  manner  using  every  wile  he  could  to 
discredit  the  Narragansets  with  the  English. 

This  was  the  most  important  negotiation  which  had  ever  been  held 
with  the  Indians  in  New  England. f  It  lasted  two  days.  Miantonimo 
said  he  had  been  dissuaded  from  going  to  Boston,  for  that  the  English 
would  put  him  to  death ;  he  replied  that,  inasmuch  as  he  had  done 
them  no  wrong,  he  did  not  in  the  least  fear  to  come  here  ;  and,  more- 
over, that  he  would  come  at  any  time  to  meet  Uncas  face  to  face,  and 
that  he  would  prove  his  treachery  if  he  durst  come. 

While  in  Boston  the  Indians  were  furnished  with  their  meals  at  a 
table  by  themselves.  Miantonimo  did  not  seem  pleased  with  thus 
being  denied  the  Governor's  table,  and  did  not  readily  partake  his  food 
in  this  way,  but  on  the  Governor's  sending  him  meat  from  his  own 
table,  he  accepted  it,-  and  made  no  farther  objection.  When  he  was 
ready  to  leave  the  town,  a  coat  was  given  him,  and  one  to  each  of  his 
counsellors.  After  taking  his  leave  of  the  Governor  and  such  of  the 
magistrates  as  were  present,  he  took  a  second  leave  for  those  magis- 
trates which  were  not  present,  by  returning  and  giving  his  hand  to  the 
Governor  again,  saying  that  was  for  the  absent  ones. 

Notwithstanding,  the  Connecticut  people  reiterated  their  complaints 
and  suspicions,  and  had  some  new  grounds  for  them,  yet  the  authorities 
at  Boston  wisely  refused  to  make  war  upon  the  Indians.  They  kept  up 
watches  and  guards,  however,  until  near  the  end  of  October,  and 
meantime  returned  the  Indians  all  their  arms. 

*  Had  he  studied  in  the  same  schools  with  f  On  some  accounts,  perhaps,  that  of  Eoger 

Michael  Servetus  he  could  not  have  employed  Williams    with    the    Narragansets    may    be 

arguments  more  like  those  made   use   of  by  thought  to  be  of  as  great  moment.  —  See  ante, 

that  martyr  than  he  did.  —  "  Pourquoy  Mes-  p.  204.    In  the  next  chapter  the  story  of  the 

seigneurs,  je  demande  que  mon  faulx  accusateur  melancholy   sacrifice  of  Miantonimo    to  envy 

soit  puni  poena  talionis,"  et  cet.  —  Rosco,  Leo  and  interest  will  be  given  —  to  the  envy  of  the 

X.  iv.  437.  Mohegans  and  the  interest  of  the  English. 

34 


ANCIENT    SPINNING-WHEEL. 


2G6  history  of  boston.  [1642. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Few  Emigrants  from  England.  — Mr.  Humfrey  and  Others  leave  New  England.  —  Commercial  Enter- 
prise. —  Thomas  Lechford.  —  Some  Account  of  him  and  his  Stay  in  Boston.  — His  "  Plain  Dealing  " 
about  it. — Appalling  News  from  England. — Raging  of  the  Civil  War.  — Capt.  Coytmore's  Voyage 
to  Fayal.  —  An  Endeavor  to  defeat  Winthrop's  Reelection  as  Governor.  — Union  of  the  Colonies. — 
Arrival  of  emigrant  Children.  —  Arrival  of  a  French  armed  Ship.  —  Mons.  La  Tour.  —  His  Enter- 
tainment at  Boston.  —  Receives  Aid  to  go  against  D'Aulnay.  —  Government  censured  for  allow- 
ing it.  —  Inhabitants  begin  to  manufacture  Cotton  Goods.  —  Censurable  Conduct  of  the  Rulers 
towards  the  Indians.  —  They  cause  a  War  between  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansets.  —  Case  of 
Miantonimo.  —  Adjudged  to  die  by  the  English.  —  His  Execution.  —  Interference  with  the  Shawmut 
Settlers.  —  Case  of  Samuel  Gosten  and  Others. 

SO  few  people  had  come  over  from  England,  of 
late,  that  there  was  very  little  demand  for  land  ; 
cattle  had  fallen  in  value  ;  the  present  season  was 
unfavorable  to  crops  ;  all  of  which,  added  to  the 
fears  from  the  Indians,  caused  several  gentlemen 
to  leave  the  country  and  return  to  their  native  land. 
Among  them  were  Mr.  Humfrey,  four  ministers, 
'and  a  schoolmaster.  Under  these  circumstances, 
a  fast  was  ordered  to  be  kept.  Among 
ep  *  '  the  occasions  for  its  appointment,  was  the 
ill  news  out  of  England,  concerning  the  breach 
between  the  King  and  Parliament,  and  the  unseasonableness  of  the 
weather,  which  changed,  says  Winthrop,  "so  soon  as  the  fast  was 
agreed  upon." 

A  little  before  this,  ten  ships  had  sailed  from  Boston,  laden  with  pipe 
staves  and  other  produce  of  the  country.  Four  of  these  ships  were 
built  hereabouts  the  present  year.  Soon  after,  there  arrived  a  small 
ship  from  Madeira  with  wine  and  sugar.  She  belonged  to  a  Mr. 
'  Parish,  who  came  in  her.  He  exchanged  his  cargo  for  pipe 
staves,  and  thus  the  commerce  of  Boston  begun  to  advance  in  a  small 
and  almost  imperceptible  way. 

In  the  course  of  the  present  year,  Mr.  Thomas  Lechford  published  a 
book  about  this  country,  which  he  entitled  "  Plain  Dealing,  or,  Newes 
from  New  England."  #  He  returned  to  England  about  the  close  of  last 
year,  "having  been  forth  of  his  native  country,"  as  he  expresses  it, 
"  almost  for  the  space  of  foure  yeeres  last  past."  He  appears  to  have 
left  Boston  on  the  third  of  August,  1641,  in  company  with  the  commis- 
sioners who  went  for  England  by  the  way  of  Newfoundland-!  He 
probably  came  over  with  the  intention  of  taking  up  his  residence  here 
in  Boston,  and  to  introduce  the  practice  of  law,  that  being  his  pro- 

*Mr.  Savage,  I  suppose,  has  reference  to  this  poor  lawyer.     Perhaps  he  had  evidence  of  his 
work  in   his    notes   to   Winthrop's    Journal,   poverty ;  if  so  he  has  kept  it  to  himself.     He 
though  he  calls  it  News  from  England.     It  is    probably  did  not  have  reference  to  his  abilities, 
so  in  both  of  his  editions  of  that  work.     If    But  little  is  known  of  Mr.  Lechford. 
Lechford   made   a  book  of  this   title  I  have        f  See  ante,  p.  253.   Mr.  John  Winthrop,  Jr. 
never  met  with  it.     He  says  Lechford  was  a   went  in  the  same  company. 


1G42.]  tiiomas  lechford.  267 

fession.  He  was  the  first  lawyer  that  made  the  attempt,  and  he  failed 
in  it,  owing  to  the  circumstances  already  stated.*  The  time  for  tol- 
erating lawyers  had  not  yet  arrived.  The  governor  and  magistrates 
thought  themselves  competent  to  decide  all  matters  of  difference  be- 
tween man  and  man. 

Mr.  Lechford  was  a  man  of  good  understanding,  and  his  book  upon 
the  institutions  of  the  Country  is  of  great  value,  inasmuch  as  it  gives  an 
insight  into  many  things  which  could  not  otherwise  be  obtained.  His 
statements  are  honestly  and  accurately  made,  and  must  ever  be  con- 
sulted by  all  who  desire  minute  and  authentic  information  upon  the 
civil  and  religious  state  of  the  country  at  the  time  he  was  here.  He 
appears  to  have  known  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  Boston  and  the 
neighboring  country  before  they  came  over;  mentions  his  "old  ac- 
quaintance, Master  Roger  Ludlow,  Mr.  Frost,  sometime  of  Notting- 
ham, and  his  sonnes,  John  and  Henry  Grey."  Bailey  cited  Lechford's 
work  in  his  "  Disswasive,"  against  Cotton,  which  occasioned  the  latter 
to  censure  the  Plain  Dealing.  From  Cotton,  it  appears  that  Lechford 
died  soon  after  he  had  published  his  work,  and  that  he  had  defended 
the  celebrated  Prynne  in  his  trials.  While  in  Boston  he  was  employed 
in  a  cause  between  William  Cole  and  Francis  Doughty,  but  whether  he 
was  allowed  to  appear  in  Court  as  Counsel,  there  is  some  uncertainty.! 
When  he  was  here,  he  says  "the  Generall  and  great  Quarter  Courts, 
were  kept  in  the  great  Church  Meeting-house  at  Boston,  which  is  as 
faire  a  Meeting-house  as  they  can  provide  ;  to  which  every  Sabbath  or 
Lord's  Day  they  come  by  wringing  of  a  bell,  about  nine  of  the  clock, 
or  before."  J 

Mr.  Lechford  at  this  time  says,  "Master  Bellingham"  is  Governor, 
Mr.  Endicot  Deputy  Governor,  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Dudley,  Mr.  Hum- 
frey,  Mr.  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Mr.  Stoughton,  Mr.  Winthrop, 
Jr.,  Mr.  No  well,  Assistants  ;  Mr.  No  well,  Secretary ;  Mr.  Stephen 
Winthrop,  Recorder,  whose  office  is  to  record  all  judgments,  marriages, 
births,  deaths,  wills  and  testaments,  bargains  and  sales,  gifts,  grants, 
and  mortgages.  There  is  a  Marshall  who  is  a  Sheriff  or  Bailiff,  and 
his  deputy  is  the  Jailer  and  Executioner."  § 

*  See  ante,  p.  257.  a  generall  Towne-meeting."     Capt.  Gibbons, 

f  Possibly  it  was  in  the  case  of  Cole  vs.  Val.  Hill,  Henry  Webb  and  Anthony  Stodder 

Doughty  (3:7:  1640)  to  which   the   Colony  appointed  to  trade  with  the  Indians, 

records  refer,  1  Dec.  1640.     The  words  of  the  Jan.  31.  —  John  Gutteridge,  Richd.  Taylour, 

record  are  —  "  Mr.  Thomas  Lechford,  acknowl-  Edwd.   Weeden,  Richd.   Knight,   and   James 

edging  he  had  overshot  himselfe,  and  is  sorry  Hudson,  admitted  townsmen, 

for  it,  promising  to  attend  his  calling,  and  not  Feb.  12.  —  The  high-way  from  John  Lowe's 

to  meddle  with  controversies,  was  dismissed."  house  by  the  Cove  to  Geo.  Burden's  house,  to 

—  Savage's  Extract.    What  "  calling  "  he  had  continue  as  "  this  day  laid  out." 

assumed  does  not  fully  appear.  Feb,  28.  —  Hugh  Gunnison  proposes  to  keep 

X  Whether  the  bell  were  hung  in  the  Meet-  an   "  Ordinary  Avith  a   cook's  shop."     John 

ing-house  may  admit  of  a  question.  Peirce  and  Richd.  Dexter  admitted  inhabitants. 

^  Jan.  10.  —  Deer  Island  ordered  to  be  im-  Dorchester  men  "  forwarned  "  not  to  cut  tim- 

proved  for  the  maintenance  of  a  Free  School  for  ber  on  any  of  the  hills  of  upland  in  the  marsh 

the  Town,  and  "  such  other  occasions  as  the  beyond  Naponset  river,  and  to  make  satisfac- 

Townsmen  shall  think  meet."     No  more  land  tion  for  what  they  had  cut  already, 

to  be  granted  to  new  inhabitants,  "  unlesse  at  Mar.  4.  —  The  remaining  Town's  land  to  be 


268  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1643. 

It  was  remarked  that  the  winter  of  1642-3,  though  there  fell  more 
snow  than  had  fallen  in  any  winter  since  the  settlement  of  the  country, 
was  not  so  hard  and  frosty  as  some  others  had  been. 

Early  in  the  year,  news  was  received  from  England,  of  a  char- 
acter which  caused  the  people  of  Boston  great  uneasiness  ;  that 
the  Parliament  had  lost  500  men  at  Brentford,  and  yet  it  had  24,000 
men  completely  equipped  in  the  field ;  that  the  King  had  fled  to 
Reading  and  set  the  500  prisoners  free,  they  having  taken  an  oath  not 
to  serve  against  him,  and  yet  they  had  been  absolved  from  that  oath  by 
those  two  Puritan  Divines,  Dr.  Downing  and  Mr.  Marshall ;  these,  with 
many  other  items  of  intelligence  of  battles  and  contests  in  which  their 
friends  and  kinsmen  were  engaged,  caused  the  Churches  to  keep  "  Di- 
uers  days  of  humiliation." 

The  ship  Trial,  which  had  made  a  voyage  to  Fayal,  Captain 
'  Coytmore,  now  arrived.  He  took  out  pipe-staves  and  fish,  and 
found  an  excellent  market  for  them ;  thence  he  went  to  St.  Christo- 
pher,* where  he  not  only  had  a  successful  trade,  but  he  recovered  consider- 
able valuable  property  from  some  ships  which  had  been  cast  away  there. 
In  this  last  business  he  employed  the  diving-bell  with  good  success.  He 
had  license  to  prosecute  this  enterprise  by  the  Governor  of  the  Island, 
Sir  Thomas  Warner,  and  to  have  half  of  what  he  could  get.  By  this 
voyage  of  Captain  Coytmore,  wine,  sugar,  and  cotton  were  "  made  very 
plentiful  and  cheap  "  at  Boston.  Several  other  vessels  returned  soon 
after,  making  successful  voyages  also,  "though  some  of  them  went 
among  the  Turks." 

divided  among  the  present  inhabitants,  and  other  remote  place  for  the  slaughter  of  beasts, 

such  as  shall  be  admitted  in  two  months.  that  such  loathsome  smells  might  be  avoided. 

Mar.  28. — Balph  Gulthorp,  Jacob  Chap-  — Goodm.  Basse  and  goodm.  Backster,  both 

man,  Wm.  Fay,  Benj.  Thwing,  John  Baker,  of  Braintrey,  may  buy  the  overplus   in  the 

Wm.  Burnell,  James  Hudson,  Bobt.  Williams,  Three  Hill-marsh  there. 

Wm.  Franklin,  Jr.,  Daniel  Briscoe,  and  Thos.  Dec.  26. —  Thomas  Joy,  carpenter,  may  set 

Blott,  admitted   townsmen. — Kobert  Turner  up  a  house  by  the  water  side,  by  his  dwelling- 

to  be  paid  18s.  for  diet,  beer  and  fire,  for  the  house  in  the  Mill  Field.  —  Harman  Atwood 

selectmen.  admitted  a  townsman. 

Apt.  25.  — Wm.  Philpot  and  Bobt.  Turner  All  parents  are  ordered  to  bring  in  a  note  of 

admitted    inhabitants.  —  John    Buggle    cow-  the  names  and  date  of  births  of  all  their  chil- 

keeper  in  the  Town.  dren  ';  unto  the  Clarke  of  the  Writs,  within  a 

May  2.  — Mr.  Wm.  Ting  and  Capt.  Gibbons  week  after  their  birth,  under  the  pcenaelty  of 

chosen  Deputies  to  the  General  Court.  —  Si-  6d.  for  every  "  neglect ;  burials  ordered  to  be 

mon  Bogers  admitted  a  townsman.  returned,  also. 

Aug.  29.  —  The  constables  ordered  to  take  *  Winthrop  is  my  authority,  ii.  94,  but  he 

care  for  building  a  "  salt-peter  house  in  the  calls  the  Island,  Christophers.     Casual  readers 

prison  yard,"  30  feet  long  and  14  wide,  "  set  of  his  Journal  might  suppose  some  other  island 

upon  posts  7  foot  high  above  ground,  with  a  was  meant  by  him,  and  it  was  the  duty  of  his 

covering  of  thatch,  and  the  walls  clapboarded  Editor  to  have  told  his  readers  the  reason  that 

tight."  Winthrop   so   changes   the   name,  which,   in 

Oct.  31.  —  Edwd.  Fletcher  may  finish   his  point  of  fact,  is  giving  a  false  name.     The 

porch  which  he  hath  begun  to  set  up  3  ft.  reason  of  the  misnomer  is   this  :    all   places 

into  ye  street,  but  must  take  it  away  if  found  bearing  the  name  of  a  Saint  of  the  Catholics, 

inconvenient.  —  Widow   Tuthill    may   remove  were  considered  by  our  fathers  here  at  that 

her  windmill  into  the  Fort,  which  must  be  time,  to  be  wickedly  so  named  ;  or,  in  other 

placed  as  Capt.  Gibbon  directs.  words,  that  the  persons  for  whom  such  places 

The    Constable    to    notify    Bobert     Nash,  were  named  were  no  saints;  and  therefore  it 

butcher,  to   remove   his  garbage  out  of  his  was  impious  to  use  the  prefix  saint  after  the 

yard  near   the    street,  and   to  provide  some  example  of  the  Catholics. 


1043.]  FAVOR    OF    PARLIAMENT   TO    NEW    ENGLAND.  269 

At  the  May  election  this  year,  Mr.  Winthrop  was  again  elected 
ay  "  Governor,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Ezckiel  Rogers,  who  preached  the 
sermon,  discoursed  very  pointedly  against  the  same  individual  being  so 
often  re-chosen.  Winthrop  expected  he  would  take  that  course  in  his 
sermon,  and  he  therefore  tried  to  prevent  his  being  employed  to  perform 
the  service  ;  and  hence  it  turned  out  that  Winthrop  could  not  prevent 
the  choice  of  Rogers,  nor  could  Rogers  defeat  the  election  of  Winthrop. 
The  Deputy  Governor,  Mr.  Endicott,  was  also  re-chosen.  There  were 
two  new  Magistrates  chosen,  Mr.  William  Ilibbins  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Simonds.  At  this  court,  Commissioners  appeared  from  Connecticut, 
New  Haven,  and  Plymouth,  duly  authorized  to  form  an  alliance  for 
their  mutual  benefit,  and  thus  originated  the  celebrated  Confederation 
of  the  "United  Colonies  of  New  England."  Roger  Williams'  Colony, 
or  Rhode  Island,  and  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorge's  Colony,  were  not  invited  to 
come  into  the  confederation ;  the  former  being  composed  of  excommu- 
nicants,  and  the  latter  had  called  "  a  poor  village  "  a  city,  and  elected 
"  a  tailor  its  mayor,  and  had  entertained  one  Hull,  an  excommunicated 
person,  for  their  minister." 

One  John  Cook,  "an  honest  young  man,"  is  accidentally 
'  killed  from  the  bursting  of  a  gun  which  he  had  overcharged  to 
salute  a  ship. 

A  ship  owned  here,  called  the  Seabridge,  arrived  from  England, 
bringing  twenty  children  "  and  some  other  passengers,"  and  three  hun- 
dred pounds'  worth  of  goods  ;  this  outlay  was  the  contribution  of  friends 
to  New  England,  given  last  year.  The  "  children,  with  many  more  to 
come  after,  were  sent  by  money  given  on  a  fast  day  in  London,  and 
allowed  by  the  Parliament  and  City  for  the  purpose." 

There  came,  by  the  Seabridge,  probably,  the  highly  gratifying  intel- 
ligence, that  Parliament  had  passed  an  order  allowing  all  commodities 
to  or  from  New  England  to  be  free  of  duties  in  both  countries.  It  came 
in  the  form  of  a  State  Paper,  attested  by  Henry  Elsynge,  Clerk  to  the 
Parliament.* 

In  the  mean  time,  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  experienced  some 
'  alarm,  but  more  mortification,  in  having  their  weakness  exposed 
to  the  observation  of  a  foreign  power  at  a  very  unexpected  time.  This 
was  caused  by  the  arrival  of  a  French  armed  ship,  named  the  Clement, 
in  which  were  one  hundred  and  forty  people.  The  town  was  com- 
pletely surprised ;  the  ship  having  passed  the  Castle,  her  salute  not 
being  even  answered,  there  being  none  there  to  answer  it;  "for  the 
last  Court  had  given  order  to  have  the  Castle  Island  deserted,  and  a 
great  part  of  the  work  being  fallen  down."  It  was  observed,  that  had 
this  been  a  hostile  ship,  it  might  have  carried  off  the  guns  of  the  Fort, 

*  The  date  of  the  document  is  "  Veneris,  10  was  issued.     An  erroneous  date  to  the  above 

Martii,  1642;"  simply,  Friday,  March  10th,  document   has   gone  into  several   respectable 

1643;  from  which,  and  the  date  of  the  arrival  works  by  their  authors'  mistaking    1642   for 

in  the  text,  it  is  evident  that  the  important  1642-3.     Elsynge  became   disaffected  to  the 

paper  did  not  remain  long  in  England  after  it  Parliament,  and  resigned  his  place  soon  after. 


270  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1643. 

taken  away  two  ships  then  in  the  harbor,  and  even  sacked  the  town  at 
will.  But  it  was  the  ship  of  friends,  and  not  enemies.  It  was  a  ship  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  tons,  from  Rochelle,  under  the  command  of  Monsieur 
Charles  de  la  Tour ;  the  master  and  his  company  being  French  Protes- 
tants. He  had  come,  not  to  give  offence,  but  to  ask  assistance  to 
enable  him  to  dispossess  D'Aulnay*  of  the  territories  which  he  claimed 
in  the  eastern  coasts.  As  the  French  ship  came  into  the  harbor,  Mrs. 
Gibbons,  the  wife  of  Captain  Edward  Gibbons,  with  her  children,  were 
met  in  a  boat  going  to  their  farm.  One  of  La  Tour's  gentlemen  knew 
her,  and,  informing  him  who  she  was,  Monsieur  immediately  had  a  boat 
manned  and  proceeded  after  her.  Mrs.  Gibbons  not  knowing  the  stran- 
gers, hastened  from  them  as  fast  as  she  could,  and  landed  on  Governor's 
Island,  where  the  Governor  himself  and  some  of  his  family  then  hap- 
pened to  be.  La  Tour  met  Governor  Winthrop  very  cordially,  and 
opened  his  business  to  him.  Here  he  continued  and  supped  with  him. 
Meantime  Mrs.  Gibbons  returned  to  the  town  in  the  Governor's  boat, 
by  which  means  the  news  of  the  strangers  spread  with  great  rapidity. 
After  supper  La  Tour  took  Governor  Winthrop  to  Boston  in  his  own 
boat.  They  were  met  on  the  way  by  three  shallops  of  armed  men, 
who  came  out  to  escort  them  into  the  town.  Monsieur  was  lodged  at 
Captain  Gibbons'.  This  was  proof  that  he  came  on  no  hostile  design, 
"because  he  voluntarily  put  himself  in  the  power  of  the  English." 
The  next  day  an  answer  was  given  relative  to  his  business ; 
namely,  that  the  Government  could  not  afford  him  any  assistance  ; 
but  that  if  any  of  their  people  would  enlist  under  him  of  their  own  free 
will,  the  Government  would  make  no  objection ;  they  being  satisfied 
that  La  Tour,  and  not  D'Aulnay,f  was  the  rightful  proprietor  of  the 
territories  in  dispute.  This  was  satisfactory  to  La  Tour.  He  then 
requested  the  privilege  of  landing  and  exercising  his  men  on  shore, 
which  was  granted,  only  he  was  desired  to  land  them  in  small  com- 
panies, "so  as  not  to  alarm  the  women  and  children." 

The  following  week  the  people  of  Boston  had  a  training,  in  which  the 
Frenchmen  took  a  part.  All  things  passed  off  to  the  mutual  satisfaction 
of  both  parties.  The  Boston  officers  entertained  the  French  officers, 
and  the  soldiers  entertained  the  soldiers  at  their  houses  in  a  brotherly 
manner.  The  English  were  surprised  to  see  the  exact  discipline  of  the 
Frenchmen,  and  La  Tour  expressed  his  admiration  of  the  English  ;  saying 
he  should  not  have  believed,  had  he  not  with  his  own  eyes  seen  it.  He 
attended  the  Governor  at  church,  "  all  the  time  of  his  abode  here,"  and 
the  Governor  did  not  fail  to  appear  as  important  as  he  could  before  the 

*  The  best  source  whence  to  derive  informa-  Author.     Several  parts  of  it  were  translated 

tion   respecting   Acadia    (the    French   wrote  by  the  writer  for  his  works  upon  the  Indians  ; 

l'Acadie),  and  the  difficulties  between  D'Aul-  enough  to  satisfy  him  that  the  value  of  Charle- 

nay  and  La  Tour,  is  Charlevoix,  Histoire  et  De-  voix  is  not  generally  understood. 

script.  Gen.  de  la  Nouvelle  France.     It  is  very  f  His  name,  as  given  by  Charlevoix,  is  "  M. 

strange  this  work  has  not  been  translated  into  d'Aunay  de  Charnise,"  who,  in  the  use  of  the 

English,  and  found  an  editor  capable  of  ren-  name  in  his  narrative,  drops  all   except  the 

dering  justice  to  that  learned  and  valuable  last  part  of  it,  namely,  Charnise. 


1G43.]  LA    TOUR   IN    BOSTON.  271 

French  General,  being  regularly  attended  "  with  a  good  guard  of  hal- 
bcrts  and  musketeers." 

There  was  a  good  deal  said  through  the  country  towns  against  this 
entertainment  of  La  Tour.  Endicott  thought  it  was  very  unwise  to  let 
the  Frenchmen  see  the  Forts,  or  to  allow  them  any  accommodations. 
La  Tour's  wife  being  attended  by  two  Friars,*  gave  Mr.  Endicott  suffi- 
cient reason  to  denounce  the  whole  of  them  as  "idolatrous  French." 
In  this  the  ex-Governor  did  not  seem  to  consider  that  it  would  be  ill 
policy  to  attempt  to  exercise  authority  and  deny  privileges  that  the  sit- 
uation of  the  Town  could  not  enforce  or  refuse.  But  there  was  one  view 
of  the  affair  which  placed  Mr.  Winthrop  in  a  very  unfavorable  light ; 
and  that  was  a  connivance  at  any  assistance  that  might  be  afforded  in 
men,  ships,  and  munitions,  by  the  people  under  his  Government.  The 
present  Government  of  the  United  States  would  stand  in  the  same  rep- 
rehensible attitude  before  the  world,  were  it  to  say  the  same  to  its  citi- 
zens, if  applied  to  for  assistance  by  any  adventurer  under  similar  cir- 
cumstances. 

Captain  Gibbons  and  Thomas  Hawkins  entered  into  Articles 

"  of  Agreement  with  "  Mounseir  Latour,  Knight  of  the  Orders  of 
the  King,  Leftenant  Generall  of  New  France,"  by  which  they  were  to 
furnish  four  ships  for  his  expedition ;  namely,  the  Seabridge,  Philip 
and  Mary,  Increase,  and  Greyhound.  Said  ships  were  to  be  ready  by 
the  tenth  of  the  following  month,  with  sixty-eight  men,  and  to  continue 
in  the  service  two  months,  at  two  hundred  pounds  per  month. f 

All  things  being  ready,  the  armament  sailed  from  Long  Island, 

'  proceeding  through  Broad  Sound  with  the  tide  at  half  flood, 

"  where  no  ships  of  such  burthen  had  gone  out  before,  or  not  more  than 

one."     D'Aulnay  fled  on  their  approach,  and  after  committing 

"  several  depredations,  and  taking  some  plunder,  the  English  ves- 
sels returned  to  Boston,  about  the  twentieth  of  August,  without  the  loss 
of  a  man.  Of  D'Aulnay's  men,  three  were  killed.  Thus  terminated 
this  mistaken  and  inglorious  expedition. 

The  course  of  affairs  in  England  continued  adverse  to  emigration, 
and  hence  the  usual  supplies  of  goods  became  so  much  lessened,  that 
the  people  here  begun  to  see  the  necessity  of  setting  about  manufac- 
turing their  own  goods  ;  therefore  this  year  "  they  fell  to  a  manufacture 
of  cotton,  whereof  they  had  store  from  Barbadoes,  and  hemp  and  flax," 
in  which  Rowley  exceeded  all  other  towns. J 

*  "  One  was  a  very  learned,  acute  man.  sented,  and  the  annexed  cut  is  designed  to  rep- 
Divers  of  our  elders  who  had  conference  with  resent  the  ancient  loom.  Few  implements  of 
him,  reported  so.  They  came  into  the  town  husbandry  changed  less,  probably,  than  the 
but  once,  lest  they  should  give  offence,  being  spinning-wheel  and  loom  for  200  years.  They 
brought  to  see  Mr.  Cotton  and  confer  with  are  remembered  by  thousands  of  this  age,  and 
him."  —  Winthrop,  ii.  153.  it  is  not  40  years  since  they  were  to  be  found 

f  The  Articles  were  witnessed  by  William  in  nearly  every  industrious  family  throughout 
Ting,  Robt.  Keajne,  and  Estienne  Dupru. —  the  country  towns  of  New  England,  —  not  even 
See  Hazard,  Hist.  Colls,  i.  499,  &c.  excepting  the  families  of  the  clergymen.     But 

J  In  the  engraving  commencing  this  chap-  they  are,  owing  to  the  great  improvement  in 
ter,  an  old-fashioned  spinning-wheel  is  repre-    spinning  and  weaving,  fast  dropping  into  dis- 


272 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1643. 


Owing  to  the  undue  interference  of  the  Government  with  the  affairs 
of  Rhode  Island,  serious  trouble  was  given  to  the  Indians.  They  were 
constantly  harassed  and  annoyed  by  orders  of  which  they  knew  not  the 
purport,  and  requests  for  their  attendance  upon  courts  at  Boston,  which 
must  have  appeared  to  them  either  as  childish,  or  the  occasion  of  some 
hidden  motives  to  deprive  them  of  their  lands  or  freedom  or  both.  Now, 
two  chiefs,  Socononoco  and  Pumpam,  subjects  of  Miantonimo,  had,  by  the 
influence  of  the  English,  declared  themselves  independent  of  the  latter, 
and  came  to  Boston  to  assert  their  independence  before  the  Governor. 
This,  when  once  maintained,  or  backed  up  by  the  English,  would 
authorize  them  to  dispose  of  whatever  lands  they  could  claim  under  any 
plausible  pretext.  The  present  case  was  indeed  a  little  different. 
Miantonimo  had  sold  to  the  people  of  Warwick  a  tract  of  land,  doubtless 
with  the  full  consent  of  the  sub-chiefs  ;  but  these,  or  one  of  them,  had 
been  influenced  to  deny  all  consent  to  such  sale,  by  those  settlers  in 
that  country  who  had  put  themselves  under  the  protection  of  Boston,  or 
Massachusetts.  Consequently,  Miantonimo  was  summoned  to  appear 
here  to  show  on  what  ground  he  claimed  jurisdiction  over  the  Indians 
before  mentioned.  Nothing  could  be  more  absurd  than  to  require  an 
Indian  Chief  of  that  day  to  substantiate  any  of  his  wilderness  claims  in 
an  English  Court.  However,  Miantonimo  came  to  Boston  as  requested  ; 
"in  the  begining  of  the  Court,"  and  "before  the  whole  Court,"  was 
questioned  as  to  his  having  "  any  interest"  in  the  Sachems  Socononico 
and  Pumpam.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  mockery  of  a  trial,  it  was  tri- 
umphantly recorded  that  "  he  could  prove  no  claim."  Such  treatment 
of  a  man  of  a  magnanimous  mind,  who  was  above  any  petty  connivances, 
was  calculated  to  give  any  impression  but  a  favorable  one  of  English 
justice. 

Out  of  this  interference,  on  the  part  of  the  Government  here,  grew  a 
cloud  of  troubles,  both  to  the  English  and  the  Indians.  It  thickened 
and  gathered  darkness,  and  eventually  burst  upon  the  heads  of  the  Nar- 
ragansets,  completely  deluging  them  in  ruin. 

The  conduct  of  the  settlers  towards  the  Indians  does  not,  in  a  large 
majority  of  cases,  bear  scrutiny.  It  was  thought  warrantable  to  set  one 
tribe  against  another,  that  they  might  be  diverted  from  thoughts  of  hos- 
tilities against  themselves.*  Connecticut  had  been  the  means  of  a  war 
between  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansets  ;  they  took  the  part  of  the 
Chief  of  that  tribe  —  the  unprincipled  Uncas  —  because  he  could  be 


use,  and  few  are  to  be  found  at  this  day,  ex- 
cept in  the  garrets  and  outhouses  of  the  farm- 
ers. They  will  soon  all  disappear,  and  be 
known  only  from  prints  of  them  and  their 
accompanying  descriptions. 

*  Abundance  of  authorities  might  be  cited 
in  proof  of  this  statement,  and  all  from  the 
Colonists'  own  accounts.  Great  allowance, 
however,  is  to  be  made  for  their  circumstances, 
and  the  light  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 


1643.]  WAR   AMONG    THE   INDIANS.  273 

made  to  conform  to  their  wishes.     On  the  other  hand,  a  portion  of  the 
Narragansets  had  revolted  under  the  influence  of  the  people  here,  as 
already  stated.     And  thus  stood  Miantonhno  and  the  true  Narragansets, 
surrounded  by  a  power  which  it  was  useless  to  resist.    At  length,  driven 
by  insults  and  injuries  to  repel  force  by  force,  their  great  Chief  fell 
accidentally  into  the  hands  of  Uncas,  who,  but  for  fear  of  retaliation, 
would  at  once  have  put  him  to  death.     lie  however  led  his  prisoner  to 
Hartford,  and  there  the  Government  took  him  in  charge.*     Not 
knowing  what  to  do  with  him,  it  was  finally  determined  to  submit 
the  matter  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  who  were  soon 
to  meet  at  Boston,  that  they  might  take  the  responsibility  of 
disposing  of  him.     The  Commissioners  being  met,f  the  disposi- 
tion of  Miantonimo  was  debated,  and  although  this  Court  had  no  juris- 
diction over  the  case,  nor  any  just  grounds  J  of  complaint  of  any  kind 
against  the  Sachem,  they  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Uncas  would  not 
be  safe  if  he  were  suffered  to  live  ;  yet  they  acknowledged  a  want  of 
any  grounds  by  which  he  could  be  put  to  death,  though  the   arts  of 
casuistry  had  been  pretty  severely  tasked  to  justify  the  proceedings 
relative  to  him  thus  far.     Strange,  however,  as  it  seems,  and  as  it  will 
seem  in  after  times,  it  was,  with   the   advice   of  the  Elders  of  the 
Churches  §   determined,  that  Uncas  might  put  Miantonimo   to   death, 
"  that  so   execucon  may  be  donn  according  to  justice  and  prudence, 
Yncas  carrying  him  into  the  next  part  of  his  own  Government !  "  || 
This  decision  was  not  made  known  to  Uncas  until  the  return  of  the 

*  It  appears  that,  as  soon  as  the  Mr.  Gorton  ants  of  the  people  whose  acts  we  are  reviewing, 

at  Shaomet  heard  of  the  capture  of  Mianto-  could  we  give  a  picture  of  them  without  a 

nirao,  he  sent  a  messenger  to  Uncas  to  demand  blemish  in  any  part  of  it,  but  no  people  have 

his  liberation.     This  caused  Uncas  to  convey  yet  lived  who  have  left  materials  for  such  a 

him  to  Hartford ;  no  doubt  fearing  he  would  picture  behind  them.     Our  Fathers  acknowl- 

be  rescued  by  the  Narragansets  if  he  should  edged  and  felt  that  they  had  great  imperfec- 

endeavor  to  keep  him  a  prisoner.  tions.     Did  they  believe  that  their  posterity 

f  They  were  John  Winthrop  and  Thomas  would  by  any  false  coloring  misrepresent 
Dudley,  for  Massachusetts ;  Edward  Winslow  them  ?  They  would  have  spurned  such  an 
and  William  Collier,  for  Plymouth  ;  George  idea.  They  were  ofttimes  mistaken,  erred  in 
Fenwick  and  Theophilus  Eaton,  for  Connecti-  judgment,  and  had  the  same  prejudices  to  con- 
cut  ;  Edward  Hopkins  and  Thomas  Gregson,  tend  with  as  are  common  to  all  men.  Had 
for  New  Haven.  Hazard,  ii.  11. —  Dr.  Holmes,  they  lived  to  this  day,  they  would  have  seen 
usually  fair  and  candid,  seems  a  little  biassed  and  acknowledged  them.  They  were  men  of 
in  his  account  of  the  affair  of  Miantonimo.  He  truth,  and  sought  to  do  righteously,  and  they 
evidently  thought  that  it  was  presumptuous  in  would  have  spurned  the  sycophant  apologist 
people  of  these  times  to  question  the  acts  of  the  for  what  was  really  wrong,  as  they  spurned  all 
Commissioners  ;  and  thus  he  gently  rapped  the  iniquitous  attempts  at  deception.  They  have, 
skirts  of  Judge  Davis  and  Mr.  Savage.  "  The  though  in  other  words,  said  to  us,  as  the  noble- 
pleading  of  an  Advocate  may  be  seen  in  a  note  minded  Cromwell  said  to  him  who  undertook 
upon  Winthrop,  and  the  opinion  of  a  Judge  to  paint  his  portrait,  "Paint  me  as  I  am." 
in  another  upon  Morton."  —  Annals,  i.  272.  Would  not  our  Fathers  have  made  the  same 

J  The  words  of  the  Commissioners  are  that  reply  to  us  1 

"  they  had  not  sufficient  grounds,"  &c.  — Mr.  §  "  In  this  difficulty,"  says  Winthrop,  "  we 

Bancroft,  in  his  Hist,  of  the  U.  States,  does  not  called  in  five  of  the  most  judicious  Elders  (it 

take  the  part  of  the  Indians  in  his  account  of  being  in  the  time  of  the  General  Assembly  of 

these  troubles.     On  the  other  hand,  he  rather  the  Elders)  [at  Boston],  and  propounding  the 

inclines  to  justify  their  enemies,  whose  works  case  to  them,  they  all  agreed  that  he  ought  to 

certainly  do  not  warrant  any  such  justifica-  be  put  to  death."  —  Journal,  ii  131. 

tion.  ||  Records  of  the  United  Colonies  in  Haz- 

It  would  indeed  be  pleasant  to  us,  descend-  ard,  ii.  13. 

35 


274 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 


[1643. 


Connecticut  Commissioners.     When  it  was  communicated  to  him,  it  is 

said  he  "readily  undertook  the  execu- 
tion" of  his  victim.  With  a  guard  of 
English  soldiers  Miantonimo  was  led 
away  into  the  dominions  of  the  Mohe- 
gans.  When  he  had  arrived  at  a  place 
appointed,  a  brother  *  of  Uncas  who  fol- 
lowed close  behind  him,  at  a  signal  given, 
"  clave  his  head  with  an  hatchet."  f  Thus 
inhumanly  and  unjustly  perished  the 
^'greatest  Indian  Chief  of  whom  any  ac- 
=§=»  count  is  to  be  found  in  New  England's 
annals. 

Before  Miantonimo  was  finally  disposed  of,  the  people  of  Shaomet  J 
or  Warwick  were  considerably  exasperated  at  the  conduct  of  the  Rulers 
of  Boston  for  the  course  they  had  taken  respecting  jurisdiction  in  that 
country, §  and  especially  as  they  had  assumed  the  management  of  affairs 
there  which  interfered  with  their  rights.  They  had  undertaken  to  dic- 
tate to  the  people  of  Shaomet,  and  to  decide  what  they  should  do  in 
certain  difficulties  which  they  had  with  their  neighbors  at  Patuxet.  || 
Mr.  Samuel  Gforton  If  was  at  the  head  of  the  Shaomet  settlement ;  a 


DEATH    OF    MIANTONIMO. 


*  Some  doubt  exists  as  to  the  real  name 
of  this  brother  of  Uncas.  It  probably  was 
Oneko.  See  Book  of  the  Indians,  ii.  130, 
11th  Edition.  The  same  individual  is  meant 
by  Wowequa,  Nowequa,  Owaneco,  &c. 

f  There  is  near  Norwich  a  place  called  Sa- 
chem's Plain,  a  beautiful  piece  of  level  ground 
not  far  from  the  banks  of  the  wild  and  ro- 
mantic Shetucket.  Here  it  is  said  the  battle 
was  fought ;  here  it  is  said  Miantonimo  was 
brought  to  die  ;  and  here  he  did  die  and  was 
buried.  Upon  the  place  of  his  interment  a 
heap  of  stones  were  piled,  which  for  many 
years  pointed  out  to  the  traveller  the  place  of 
the  wretched  tragedy.  But  more  than  fifteen 
years  ago  this  simple  monument  was  removed 
by  the  neighboring  cultivators,  and  used  in  the 
construction  of  their  fences.  The  writer,  in 
traversing  this  plain  many  years  since,  could 
find  no  indication  of  the  place  where  Mianto- 
nimo once  lay,  and  on  inquiry  of  a  resident 
near  the  place,  could  learn  nothing,  only  that 
"  he  had  heard  there  was  once  an  old  Indian 
buried  there."  Since  then,  by  the  exertions 
of  my  worthy  friend,  Wm.  C.  Oilman,  Esq.  of 
Norwich,  there  has  been  a  durable  monument, 
in  the  shape  of  a  square  block  of  granite, 
"  erected  on  a  mound"  in  Sachem's  Plain,  in 
memory  of  the  brave  Chief,  bearing  the  sim- 
ple and  appropriate  inscription  in  capitals  — 
"MIANTONOMO.  1643."  This  was  done 
July  3d,  1841. 

%  Often  written  Shawomet,  and  sometimes 
Mishawomet,  which  it  appears  was  its  original 
name.     This  in  1648  received  the  name  of 


Warwick,  in  honor  of  the  Earl  of  that  name, 
who  granted  it  to  Gorton  and  his  company,  as 
will  be  found  mentioned  hereafter. 

§  The  people  of  Patuxit  (then  a  part  of 
Providence)  falling  into  a  quarrel  with  Gorton 
and  his  friends,  who  were  seated  here  on  com- 
ing from  Newport,  the  latter  purchased  Sha- 
omet of  Miantonimo,  and  removed  thither. 
The  troubles  continuing,  those  of  Patuxit,  viz. 
"Wm.  Arnold,  Robt.  Coale,  Wm.  Carpenter, 
Benedict  Arnold  and  his  Companie,  vppon 
their  petition,  were  taken  vnder  our  gouer- 
ment  and  pteccon."  Thus  they  submitted  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  They  at 
first  applied  for  military  aid  against  those  of 
Shaomet,  when  the  Government  told  them 
they  could  not  interfere  without  they  submit- 
ted to  its  jurisdiction.  See  Hutchinson,  i. 
118-19.  —  Backus,  i.  118-19. 

|[  Often  written  Pawtuxit,  Pawtuxet,  Pa- 
tuxit, and  Patuxet. 

^[  He  was  of  a  good  family,  had  resided  in 
London,  came  over  to  Boston  in  1636,  where 
he  continued  about  a  year,  then  went  to  Ply- 
mouth, and  after  about  another  year  he  went 
to  R.  Island,  which  was  in  June,  1638  ;  thence 
he  went  in  1639-40  to  Patuxet,  a  part  of  Prov- 
idence, which  he  purchased  of  the  Indians. 
These  Indians  revolting,  as  has  been  mentioned 
in  the  text,  was  a  main  cause  of  the  present 
difficulties.  After  obtaining  his  liberty  in 
1643,  and  having  no  security  against  the  ma- 
lignity of  his  persecutors,  he  went  over  to 
England  and  obtained  a  Patent  of  Shaomet 
from  the  Earl  of  Warwick  ;    having  first  ob- 


1G43.]  EMIGRATION   TO    THE   WEST   INDIES.  275 

man  of  an  ardent  temperament,  and  though  perhaps  not  always  con- 
scientious, and  irreproachable  as  to  moral  rectitude,  like  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, and  numerous  others  of  that  day,  he  was  bewildered  in  the 
mazes  of  an  unintelligible  kind  of  metaphysics.  *  This  has  been  made 
use  of  to  his  discredit  by  writers  since  his  time,  who  yet  had  a  system 
of  religious  philosophy  equally  visionary,  had  its  possessors  had  the 
sanguine  temperament  of  a  Gorton  wherewith  to  have  maintained  it. 
This  gentleman  had  about  a  dozen  men  in  his  settlement ;  and  when 
he  was  requested  to  come  to  Boston  to  give  an  account  of  his  conduct, 
he  is  said  to  have  "answered  the  Messengers  disdainfully,"  and  instead 
of  obeying  the  summons,  "sent  two  letters  full  of  blasphemy f  against 
the  Churches  and  magistracy."!  This  could  in  no  wise  be  borne,  and 
war  was  determined  on.  Forty  men  were  at  once  raised  for  the  expe- 
dition,  and  put  under  Capt.  George  Cook,§  Lieut.  Humphrey  Ath- 
erton,  and  Mr.  Edward  Johnson.  On  arriving  at  Shaomet  they 
found  the  place  fortified,  and  the  occupants  determined  to  defend  it, 
notwithstanding  they  were  besieged  by  more  than  three  times  their 
number.  The  fort  was  repeatedly  fired,  but  the  besieged  quenched  it 
amidst  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  How  long  the  attack  lasted  is  not 
stated,  but  the  place  was  finally  surrendered,  and  nine  of  the  besieged 
taken  captive,  three  having  escaped.  These  were  brought  in  triumph 
to  Boston.  It  is  remarkable  that  during  this  hot  siege  none 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Captain  Cook  marched  the  prisoners 
through  the  streets  of  the  Town,  halting  before  "  the  Governor  his  house 
in  a  military  order ;  the  soldiers  being  in  two  files,  and  after  every  five 
or  six  soldiers  a  prisoner.  So  being  before  the  Governor  his  door,  the 
Commissioners  came  in,  and  after  the  Governor  had  saluted  them  he 


tained  a  written  submission  of  the  Indians  to  tain  that  whatever  impious  opinions  his  adver- 

Charles  I.,  dated  19  Aug.  1644.     He  arrived  saries   imputed  to  him,  and  whatever   horid 

in  Boston  with  his  Patent  in  1648.     Here  the  consequences  they  drew  from  the  opinions  he 

Authorities  would  have  executed  their  old  sen-  owned,  he  ascribed  as  bad  to  them,  and  fixed 

tence  upon  him,  had  he  not  had  from  the  Earl  as  dreadful  consequences  on  their  tenets."  — 

of  Warwick  a  better  shield  than  that  with  Cattender,  i.  37.      Had  Gorton  lived  in  these 

which   he    had   furnished  Miantonimo  in   his  days  he  would  not  unlikely  have  been  denomi- 

fatal   war.     Gorton  is  said  to   have   died  at  nated  a  Transcendentalist.      See  Mr.  Mackie's 

Warwick  between  27  Nov.  and  10  Dec.  1677.  Life  of  Gorton,  381. 

The  authority  for  this  date  is  not  given.     Mr.  f  Those  letters  should  have  been  published, 

Callender  refers  to  an  address  of  Gorton  to  that    people    of    other    times    might    know 

Charles  n.,  dated  1679,  and  says  "  he  lived  what  constituted  blasphemy  against  Churches 

to  a  great  age."  —  Hist.  Dis.  38.     His  poster-  and  Magistrates.     It  was  doubtless  something 

ity  are  numerous  at  this  day.     A  son,  bearing  of  the  nature  of  treason  against  the  King. 

his  father's  name,  lived  to  be  94  years  of  age.  J  One  of  their  answers  was  signed  by  "  Gor- 

*  "  It  is  likely  that  the  reader  would  want  ton,   Eandal    Hoi  den,    Robert    Potter,    John 

to  know  what  Gorton's  sentiments  really  were,  Wickes,  John   Warner,   Richard   Waterman, 

which  were  so  offensive.     To  this  I  answer,  William  Woodale,  John  Greene,  Francis  Wes- 

that  he  evidently  was  a  man  of  smart  capac-  ton,   Richard    Carder,   Nicholas   Power,  and 

ity,  and  of  considerable  learning,  and   when  Sampson  Shatton.     It  contained  a  long  mys- 

he  pleased  could  express  his  ideas  as  plainly  tical  paraphrase  upon  their  warrant,  and  many 

as  any   man,   but   he  used  such   a  mystical  provoking  sentences  against  those  Rulers  and 

method  in    handling    the   Scriptures   and   in  their  Ministers."  —  Backus,  i.  120. 

speaking  about  religion,  that  people  are  not  §  He  was  killed  in  Ireland  in  1652,  in   the 

agreed  to  this  day  [1777]  in  what  his   real  service  of  the  Parliament.     See   Antiquarian 

sentiments  were. " — Backus,  i.  31.    " 'Tis  cer-  Journal,  i.  137 . 


276 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1643. 


SIIAOMET   PRISONERS   IN    BOSTON. 


went  forth,  with  them,  and  passing  through  the  files,  welcomed  them 
home,  blessing  God  for  preserving  and  prospering  them,  and  desired 

of  the  Captain  a  list  of  their 
names,  that  the  Court  might 
know  them,  if  hereafter  there 
should  be  occasion  to  make 
use  of  such  men." 

The  Governor  having  thus 
disposed  of  those  brave  vol- 
unteers, "caused  the  prison- 
ers to  be  brought  before  him 
in  his  hall,  where  was  a  great 
assembly.  There  he  laid  be- 
fore them  their  contemptuous 
carriage,  and  how  obstinately 
they  had  refused  to  do  right  to 
those  they  had  wronged,  against  all  the  fair  means  and  moderation  we 
had  used  ;  that  now  the  Lord  had  delivered  them  into  our  hand."  It 
was  in  vain  that  Mr.  Gorton  urged  that  this  Government  had  no  juris- 
diction over  his  Country  or  affairs,  and  he  and  his  companions  were  all 
sent  to  prison. 

Not  being  exactly  of  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  this  jurisdiction,  they 
refused  to  attend  public  worship  on  the  "  Lord's  day,"  though  urged  to 
do  so.  This  of  course  could  not  be  allowed,  and  they  were  taken  by 
force,  and  made  to  attend  and  hear  "the  word."  Such  proceedings 
would  hardly  be  credited,  if  they  were  not  recorded  by  the  chief  direc- 
tor in  them ;  but  as  discreditable  as  they  were  thus  far  to  Boston,  it 
would  afford  great  relief  to  the  reader,  probably,  had  they  stopped  here  ; 
yet  this  pitiful  crusade  against  those  few  poor  exiles  in  a  neighboring 
wilderness  is  but  begun.  They  were,  after  about  a  month's  imprison- 
ment, brought  before  the  General  Court,  and,  after  undergoing  a  kind 
of  trial,  disposed  of  in  the  following  manner :  —  Mr.  Gorton  was  sen- 
„  „  tenced  to  be  confined  in  Charlestown,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Court,  and  kept  at  hard  work,  "and  to  wear  such  bolts  or 
irons"  as  would  prevent  his  escape;  that  if,  in  the  mean  time,  he 
should  speak  or  write  "any  of  the  blasphemous  and  abominable  heresies 
wherewith  he  had  been  charged  by  the  Court,  upon  conviction  thereof, 
he  should  be  condemned  to  death  and  executed;"  that  seven  of  his 
companions  should  be  dispersed  into  seven  towns,  and  there  kept  at 
work  for  their  living,  and  wear  irons  upon  one  leg,  on  the  same  con- 
ditions as  were  awarded  to  Gorton.  Their  names  and  places  of  confine- 
ment were,  John  Wicks  to  Ipswich,  Randall  Houlden  to  Salem,  Robert 
Potter  to  Rowley,  Richard  Carder  to  Roxbury,  Francis  Weston  to 
Dorchester,  John  Warner  to  Boston.  There  were  three  others  whose 
sentences  differed  from  the  above  :  William  Waddell  to  be  confined  at 
Watertown ;  Richard  Waterman  was  dismissed,  but  ordered  to  appear  at 
the  next  Court,  and  not  to  depart  without  license,  under  one  hundred 


1C43.]  SIIAOMET    SETTLERS.  277 

pounds  penalty,  and  the  charges  on  his  account  to  be  defrayed  out  of 
his  goods  which  had  been  plundered  ;  Nicholas  Power  was  dismissed 
with  an  admonition. 

The  costs  and  charges  accruing  from  this  affair  now  amounted  to 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  to  liquidate  which,  about  eighty 
head  of  cattle,  among  other  property,  were  secured  and  taken  from  the 
settlement  at  Shaomet. 

Overdoing  in  any  matter  is  usually  attended  by  a  corresponding 
weakness,  which  in  most  cases  brings  the  authors  into  contempt.  In 
the  case  of  Gorton  and  his  associates  the  Authorities  proceeded  as 
though  they  were  amenable  to  no  higher  power,  and  it  was  by  a  small 
majority  of  the  Magistrates  that  Gorton  and  several  others  escaped 
being  put  to  death  ;  "all  saving  three  were  of  opinion  that  he  ought 
to  die."  The  question  of  death  was  determined  by  vote,  and  Gorton 
himself  says,  and  not  untruly,  that  "  they  cast  lots  for  their  lives." 

The  next  step  taken  with  the  prisoners  has  never  yet  been  accounted 
for  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  They  had  been  kept  in  confinement 
through  a  cold  winter,  and  by  the  General  Court  in  the  Spring  "  they 
were  all  sent  away,  because  it  was  found  that  they  did  corrupt  some  of 
the  people,  especially  the  women  by  their  heresies."  * 

Now  this  record  was  made  with  great  apparent  honesty,  but  the 
reason  given  for  the  liberation  of  the  victims  appears  rather  one  of 
pretence  than  reality.  While  those  men  were  lying  in  confinement,  a 
ship  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Warwick  was  to  return  to  England  from 
Boston,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Gorton  was  favorably 
known  to  his  lordship,  and  that  this  same  Robert  Rich,  Earl  of  War- 
wick, had  done  much  for  New  England,  and  was  "  a  great  friend  and 
patron  of  Puritan  Divines."  Therefore,  that  the  news  which  might  be 
carried  to  the  Earl  by  this  ship,  had  something  to  do  with  the  liberation 
of  Gorton  and  his  friends,  is  highly  probable. f 

A  ship  belonging  to  Boston,  named  the  Hopewell,  of  about 
sixty  tons,  returned  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  wines,  pitch,  sugar, 
ginger  and  other  commodities.     She  had  traded  at  a  Spanish  island  near 
Teneriffe. 

There  now  sailed  out  of  Boston  harbor,  five  ships,  three  of 
which  were  built  here.     Two  of  the  three  were   of  300  tons 

*  There  was  a  special  General  Court,  begun  heard  of  "  an  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and 

7  March,  1644,  at  which,  "finding  that  Gor-  Commons  assembled  in  Parliament,  whereby 

ton  and  his  company  did  harm  in  the  Towns  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  is  made  Governor  in 

where   they  were   confined,  and  not  knowing  Chief,  and  Lord  High  Admiral  of  all  those 

what  to  do  with  them,  at  length  agreed  to  sei  Islands  and  Plantations  within  the  bounds  and 

them  at  liberty,  and  gave  them  fourteen  days  upon  the  coasts  of  America."  —  Hazard,  i.  533. 

to  depart  out  of  our  jurisdiction  in  all  parts,  The  wholesome   rebuke  which  the  Rulers  re- 

and  no  more  to  come  into  it  upon   pain  of  ceived  for  this  arrogant  conduct  will  be  found 

death.     This  censure  was  thought  too   light  noticed  in  its  chronological  order,  three  years 

and  favorable,  but  we  knew  not  how  in  jus-  later.     Morton,  in  his  Memorial,  wrote  against 

tice  we    could    inflict    any  punishment  upon  Gorton  with   unbecoming  intemperance,  and 

them,  the  sentence  of  the  Court  being  already  Gorton  answered  him,  which  answer  may  be 

passed."  —  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  156.  seen  in  the  Appendix  to  Hutchinson's  Hist,  of 

f  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  Government  bad  Massachusetts,  vol.  i.  p.  549,  &c. 


278  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1643. 

burthen,  and  the  other  two  of  160  tons  each.  In  one  of  them  were 
many  passengers  bound  for  London  ;  among  whom  were  "  men  of  chief 
rank  in  the  country."     They  carried  much  value  in  beaver. 

By  order  of  the  General  Court,  all  the  Magistrates  and  the  Teaching 
Elders  of  the  six  nearest  Churches,  were  appointed  to  be  "forever 
Governors  of  the  College."  Those  "  Governors  "  met  at  Cambridge  to 
"  consider  of  the  Officers  of  the  College,"  and  chose  Herbert  Pelham, 
Esquire,  Treasurer.     He  was  the  first  in  that  office. 

This  year  the  General  Court  divided  the  Colony  into  four  Counties  : 
Essex,  Middlesex,  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  after  those  shires  of  the  same 
name  in  England.*  In  reconstructing  the  Counties  afterwards,  those 
of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  became  false  to  their  names,  and  continue  to 
hold  a  geographical  position  in  contempt  of  the  meaning  or  true  defi- 
nition of  them.f 

Attempts  were  constantly  made  all  along  from  the  first  settlement  of 
Boston,  to  induce  those  who  had  come  here  to  emigrate  to  other  places. 
This  year  Governor  Winthrop  records  that  "  the  Lord  Baltimore  being 
owner  of  much  land  near  Virginia,  being  himself  a  Papist,  and  his 
brother,  Mr.  Calvert,  the  Governor  there  a  Papist  also,  but  the  Colony 
consisted  both  of  Protestants  and  Papists,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Captain 
Gibbons  of  Boston,  and  sent  him  a  Commission,  wherein  he  made  tender 
of  land  in  Maryland  to  any  of  ours  that  would  transport  themselves 
thither,  with  free  liberty  of  religion,  and  all  other  privileges  which  the 
place  afforded,  paying  such  annual  rent  as  should  be  agreed  upon  ;  but 
our  Captain  had  no  mind  to  further  his  desire  herein,  nor  had  any  of 
our  people  temptation  that  way." 

*  Essex  contained  Salem,  Linn,  Enon  (Wen-  of  the  Causey  leading  toward  Charlestown." 

ham),  Ipswich,  Rowley,  Newbury,  Gloucester,  on  condition,   that  within  three  years  they 

Ohochichawick  [Andover].  erect  "  vpon  or  neere  some  part  of  the  prim- 

Middlesex    contained    Charlestown,    Cam-  ises,  one  or  more  Corn-Mills."     This  was  an- 

bridge,  Watertown,  Sudbury,   Concord,  Wo-  nulled  the   same  year.     Select-men  are  now 

burn,  Medford,  Linn  Village  [Reading].  recognized  in  the  records  as  "  Select-Towns- 

Suffolk  contained  Boston,  Roxbury,  Dor-  men." — "  Jas.  Oliver  and  Mr.  Edwd.  Tynge 

Chester,  Dedham,  Braintree,  Weymouth,  Hing-  may  straighten  their  street  pales  from  David 

ham,  Nantasket  (Hull).  Sellecke  his  corner  poste  unto  the  said  Tynge's 

Norfolk     contained    Salisbury,    Hampton,  diall  poste." 

Haverhill,    Exeter,    Dover,   Strawberry-Bank  Sept.  25. —  Arthur  Perry,  drummer,  to  have 

(Portsmouth.)  — Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  £9,  for  drumming  for  the  Town  a  year  and  a 

117.  half. 

f  Jan.  30. — John  Stevens  and  Henry  Simons  Nov.  27. — William  Franklin,  black-smith, 

admitted  to  inhabit. — John  Smith,  Gent.,  to  chosen  Constable  in  stead  of  Edward  Tynge. 

have  his  rate  remitted,  because  of  his  great  Arthur   Perry   to   give   his  best   diligence  in 

losses  in  Ireland.  learning  Geo.  Clifford  and  Nathl.  Newgate  in 

Feb.  27. —  Thomas  Grubbe,  James  Averill,  all  the  skill  and  use  of  the  drum.  —  Thomas 

James  Johnson,  Myles  Tame,  Thos.  Buttalph,  Clarke,  late  of  Dorchester,  may  "  wharfe  before 

leather  dressers,  may  have  a  place  "  to  water  his  property  in  the  Mill-field."  —  John  Milom 

their  leather,"  near  James  Davis  his  house. —  and  Val.  Hill  the  same  in  the  same  field  ;  the 

Richd.  Peapes  desires  to  purchase  a  piece  of  last  two   to  leave  a  landing   place   between 

land  "  towards  Mr.  Blackstone's  Beach."  them.      Wm.   Tynge   may   wharf  before  his 

April  1. — Mr.  Hibbins  and  Capt.  Gibbons  property   in   the    marsh    near   John    Lowe's 

chosen  deputies  to  General  Court.  house.     A  Highway  two  rods  wide  to  be  pre- 

July  31.  —  Granted  to  Henry  Simons,  Geo.  served  on  the  Beach  from  Edw.  Bendall's  Cove 

Burden,  John  Button,  John  Hill   and  "  their  toward  John  Gallop's  Point, 
partners,  all  that  Cove  on  the  northwest  side 


1044.] 


STRANGE    LIGHTS. 


279 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


Ship  blown  up.  —  Prodigies.  —  Lights  seen.  —  Strange  Noises  heard.  —  Submission  of  several  Indian 
Tribes.  —  Efforts  to  repair  the  Castle.  — A  Eur  Company  formed.  — First  Ship  built  in  Boston.  — 
Daniel  Gookin. — Appalling  News  from  Virginia.  —  Ship  captured  in  the  Harbor.  —  Capt.  Stagg. 

—  Great  Excitement.  —  Case  of  the  captured  Ship.  —  One  executed  for  Murder.  —  Another  Prodigy. 

—  Honors  to  Gen.  La  Tour.  —  Arrival  of  his  Lady.  —  Arrival  of  Roger  Williams  from  England.  — 
Capture  of  another  Ship  in  the  Harbor.  —  Passaconaway's  Submission.  —  A  East.  —  Free  Schools. 
■ — Election.  —  Ship  Trial.  —  Her  important  Voyage.  —  Commerce  encouraged. — Fur  Traders 
killed  by  Indians.  —  Capt.  Hawkins'  Voyage  and  Wreck.  —  Fort  rebuilt.  —  Negro  Slaves.  —  Case 
of  Smith  and  Keyser. —  Gentlemen  go  to  England  and  take  part  in  the  Wars.  —  Rainsborow,  Stough- 
ton,  Bourne,  Leverett,  Hudson,  &c.  —  Heretical  Books.  —  Punishment  of  Partridge. 


Jan.  2. 


IN  the  course  of  July  of  the  last  year,  there 
arrived  at  Boston  one   Capt.  John   Chaclclock, 
whose  father  had  been  Governor  of  Bermuda. 
He  was  one  who  volunteered  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Gen.  La  Tour.     Being  now  re- 
turned here,  he  was  about  to  sail  for  Trinidad  ; 
but  as  his  vessel  was  riding  before  the  Town  she 
was  accidentally  blown  up.     By  that  calamity 
five  men  were  killed,  and  three  escaped  badly 
burned.     The  Captain  happened  to  be  on  shore 
at  the  time.     Three  of  the  same  company  had  not 
G00KIN  long  before  fallen  from  one  of  the  ship's  yards 

into  the  sea  and  were  drowned.  All  such  acci- 
dents or  misfortunes  were  attributed  to  some  wicked  conduct  of  the 
sufferers,  but  those  which  now  happened  were  not  put  to  the  account 
of  these  mariners  for  their  having  been  engaged  in  the  expedition 
against  D'Aulnay.  During  the  past  winter  there  had  been  seen 
many  strange  lights,  and  many  noises  heard,  to  the  great  "  affright- 
ment "  of  the  inhabitants. 

As  three  men  were  approaching  the  Town  in  a  boat  about 
midnight,  they  saw  two  lights  "in  form  like  a  man"  rise  up 
out  of  the  water  near  the  north  point  of  the  Town  Cove,  and  after  pass- 
ing about  in  the  direction  of  the  Town,  "  vanished  away"  at  the  south 
point  of  the  same  Cove.  These  strange  lights  were  seen  about  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour.  The  names  of  the  witnesses  to  their  appearance  are 
not  given,  nor  is  there  any  mention  made  whether  the  deponents  had 
any  instruments  in  their  boat  which  might  have  contained  magnifying 
fluids  of  any  kind,  known  in  later  times  to  have  great  efficacy  in  visual 
phenomena.  However,  the  chronicler  of  these  wonders  does  not  inti- 
mate that  he  himself  saw  any  of  them.  About  a  week  after,  the  same 
writer  records  that  "the  like  lights  were  seen  by  many,  arising  about 
Castle-Island,"    and   that   in  about  twelve   minutes  "  they  came   to 


Jan.  18. 


280  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1644. 

John  Gallop's  Point."  *  Soon  after  "  a  light  like  the  moon 
arose  about  the  north-east  point  in  Boston,"  and  met  another  at 
Noddle's  Island,  and  "there  they  closed  in  one,  and  then  parted,  and 
closed  and  parted  divers  times,  and  so  went  over  the  hill  in  the  island 
and  vanished.  Sometimes  they  shot  out  flames  and  sometimes  sparkles." 
This  was  seen  "by  many"  also,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
About  the  same  time  a  doleful  voice  was  heard  on  the  water  between 
Boston  and  Dorchester.  The  voice  was  "most  dreadful,"  suddenly 
shifting  itself  "  from  one  place  to  another,  about  twenty  times,  and  at  a 
great  distance." 

The  evidence  of  the  reality  of  the  "  doleful  and  dreadful  voices  "  is 
rather  stronger  than  in  the  case  of  the  lights,  for  they  were  "  heard  by 
divers  godly  persons  ;"  and  about  fourteen  days  after  they  were  heard 
again  on  the  other  side  of  the  town,  towards  Noddle's  Island.  It  is 
gravely  stated  that  "these  prodigies  had  some  reference  to  the  place 
where  Captain  Chaddock's  vessel  was  blown  up,"  which  gave  occasion 
for  a  report,  that  the  man  who  was  the  cause  of  that  accident,  was  a 
necromancer,  and  had  "  done  some  strange  things  by  his  art  in  his  way 
from  Virginia  hither  ;"  that  all  the  bodies  blown  up  were  found  but  his, 
which  never  was.  Hence  it  is  left  to  be  inferred  that  the  master  teacher 
of  the  black  art  of  necromancy  took  away  the  body  as  well  as  the  soul 
of  his  pupil,  at  the  moment  of  the  catastrophe. 

Without  a  knowledge  of  these  characteristics  of  the  minds  of  the 
early  inhabitants,  an  indispensable  criterion  would  be  wanting  by  which 
a  just  judgment  is  to  be  formed  of  their  actuating  motives.  Minds 
trammelled  with  such  absurdities  were  readily  attached  to,  and  borne 
away  by  the  car  freighted  with  the  wildest  hallucinations. 

A  deputation  of  Indians  about  Boston  came  and  submitted 

themselves   to   the    Government   of  the   country.      They  were 

"  Cutshemekin,  Agawam,f  and  Josias,  successor  and  heir  of  Chicka- 

tabot."     Their  submission  was  in  their  own  names,  and  in  the  names 

of  all  the  Sachems  of  Wachuset,  and  those  from  Merrimack  to  Tehticut. 

Something  more  than  a  month  after,  Pessacus,  the   successor  of  Mian- 

tonimo  in  the  chieftainship  of  the  Narragansets,  sent  Washose, 

one  of  his  Chiefs,  to  Boston,  to  request  liberty  of  the  Governor 

that  he  might  make  war  upon  Uncas.     The  same  messenger  had  come 

upon  the  same  errand  in  the  preceding  October,  and  then,  as  at  this 

time,  his  request  was  refused.     He  was  told  that  if  Pessacus  made  war 

upon  Uncas,  the  English  would  fall  upon  the  Narragansets. 

A  shock  of  an  Earthquake  was  felt  in  different  places,  but  it 

was  less  violent  than  that  before  noticed,  and  does  not  appear 

to  have  done  much  damage.     There  was  a  special  Court  called  by  the 

Mar  h  7    Governor  to  act  upon  the  important  subject  of  putting  in  repair 

the  Fort  on  Castle  Island,  which  had  gone  to  ruin,  as  has  been 

*  Before  or  at  the  close  of  the  work,  this  f  This  was  the  name  of  the  place,  and  not 
and  all  like  localities  will  be  shown  by  an  of  the  Chief.  By  it  was  undoubtedly  meant 
original  map.  Masconomo,  who  was  Sachem  of  Agawam. 


1G44.]  FORT   REBUILT. WESTERN   FUR   TRADE.  281 

before  observed,  and  to  receive  the  submission  of  certain  Indian  tribes 
which  had  been  tendered.  Several  of  the  towns  *  had  determined,  that 
if  the  General  Court  would  not  repair  the  fort,  they  would  do  it  at  their 
own  expense.  However,  after  various  objections  to  the  measure  and 
"much  debate,"  it  was  carried,  and  a  grant  of  a  hundred  pounds  was 
made  for  its  maintenance  when  it  should  be  in  defence,  and  a  garrison 
of  twenty  men  residing  in  it.  Fifty  pounds  more  were  granted  for 
fortifying  Bird  Island  Passage.  Then  the  Indians  came  into  Court  and 
made  their  submission,  and  desired  to  be  received  under  its  protection. 
They  represented  the  Indians  about  Dorchester,  Ipswich,  Wachuset  and 
Meclford.  They  had  the  terms  submitted  to  by  Pomham  and  Socono- 
noco  explained  to  them,  and  also  the  ten  commandments,  to  all  of 
which  they  freely  assented.  The  Court  gave  each  of  them  a  coat  of 
two  yards  of  cloth  and  their  dinner  ;  and  to  them  and  their  men,  every 
of  them  a  cup  of  sack  at  their  departure. 

At  the  same  Court  "  divers"  of  the  merchants  of  Boston  petitioned 
to  be  incorporated  into  a  Company  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  the  fur 
trade  at  "the  great  lake,"  supposed  to  lie  in  the  north-west  part  of 
the  Patent  of  the  Colony.  They  asked  for  a  Charter  to  run  twenty-one 
years.  There  was  an  opposition  to  granting  such  a  monopoly,  but 
without  its  encouragement  the  merchants  would  not  attempt  to  make 
a  discovery  of  the  Lake,  and  the  Court  finally  acceded.  The  discovery 
was  undertaken  by  way  of  the  Delaware  river,  "  under  the  conduct  of 
Mr.  William  Aspinwall,  a  good  artist."  But  nothing  was  effected  by 
the  enterprise,  the  Dutch  and  Swedes  interposed  difficulties,  and  the 
undertaking  was  abandoned  in  about  two  months. 

The  first  ship  built  in  Boston  was  named  the  Trial.  She 
now  concluded  a  prosperous  voyage,  under  the  conduct  of 
Master  Thomas  Graves.  He  took  out  a  cargo  of  fish  "to  Bilboa,  which 
he  sold  "  at  a  good  rate  ;"  thence  he  freighted  for  Malaga.  He  brought 
home  wine,  fruit,  oil,  iron  and  wool,  "  which  was  a  great  advantage  to 
the  country,  and  gave  encouragement  to  trade.  About  two  months 
after  the  same  ship  was  sent  out  upon  the  Eastern  Coast  to  trade  with 
La  Tour  and  others  towards  Canada." 

The  troubles  in  Virginia  which  arose  in  consequence  of  the  Civil 
War  in  England,f  caused  an  accession  of  several  valuable  men 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston.  Among  the  most  conspicuous  of 
these  was  Mr.  Daniel  Gookin.J  They  had  escaped  a  great  massacre 
there  by  the  Indians,  the  news  of  which  they  were  the  first  to  bring  to 
New  England.  It  took  place  on  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth  of  April, 
in  which  near  five  hundred  people  are  said  to  have  perished. § 

*  These  were  Boston,  Charlestown,Roxbury,  with  the  history  of  New  England.     Further 

Dorchester,  Cambridge  and  Watertown,  which  notice  of  him     ^~7>^  .  /> 

were  "  near  one  half  of  the  Commonwealth."  will  be  taken        /  1  /*f)t0f.  g/itR-t-rx 

fSome  declaring  for  the  Parliament  and  hereafter.  /^  /tv4^(y.,  UwA //? 

others  for  the  King.  c7  ^*- 

%  From  this  time  forth  his  name  is  identified       \  Winthrop   unhappily  remarks  upon   this 

36 


282  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1644. 

As  the  Civil  War  raged  in  England  it  occasioned  alarms  and  difficul- 
ties here.  Until  July  of  last  year  the  Republicans  had  kept  possession 
of  Bristol.  On  the  twenty-second  of  that  month  it  was  compelled  to 
surrender  to  the  Royalists  under  Rupert  and  the  Marquis  of  Hertford. 
Consequently  the  ships  belonging  to  that  city  were  adjudged  prizes  to 
the  Parliament's  ships  wherever  they  were  found.  There  happened  to 
be  lying  at  this  time  at  Boston,  a  Bristol  ship  of  100  tons, 
aj  laden  with  fish  and  bound  for  Bilboa.  Before  this  ship  was 
ready  for  sea,  a  Parliament  man-of-war  of  twenty-four  guns,  Captain 
Thomas  Stagg,  sailed  into  the  harbor.  Without  consulting  the  Author- 
ities he  proceeded  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  Bristol  ship.  The 
Master  hesitating,  Captain  Stagg  allowed  him  but  half  an  hour  in  which 
to  make  up  his  mind,  having  in  the  mean  time  moored  and  prepared  his 
ship  to  open  hostilities  if  he  refused  to  surrender.  The  affair  being 
known  to  the  people  of  the  Town,  there  was  a  great  assemblage  of 
them  upon  Windmill  Hill  to  witness  the  issue.  But  the  Master  of  the 
Bristol  ship  not  thinking  it  prudent  to  resist,  surrendered  without  mak- 
ing further  opposition.  The  Deputy  Governor  wrote  to  Captain  Stagg 
to  know  what  authority  he  had  to  take  a  step  of  this  sort  ?  whereupon 
he  produced  his  commission  from  the  Earl  of  Warwick.  He  was  then 
requested  to  take  or  to  send  his  commission  to  the  Governor  at  Salem, 
which  he  did  soon  after. 

This  affair  caused  considerable  excitement  in  Boston,  and  for  breach 
of  the  peace  several  were  taken  into  custody.  Among  others  a  Bristol 
merchant  residing  here  endeavored  to  raise  a  party  to  attack  Captain 
Stagg,  but  being  apprehended,  the  tumult  was  soon  allayed.  Some  of 
the  Officers  of  Government  were  of  the  opinion  that  Captain  Stagg  had 
invaded  their  liberties  by  coming  into  the  Port  and  capturing  a  ship 
under  such  circumstances,  which  opinion  had  before  been  advanced  by 
some  of  the  Elders  in  their  pulpits.  But  others  were  of  a  different 
opinion.  The  latter  maintained,  that  as  Captain  Stagg  acted  under  the 
authority  of  Parliament,  and  as  the  Parliament  was  of  their  own  relig- 
ion, and  they  had  so  openly  declared  in  favor  of  its  cause,  should 
they  now  oppose  its  authority,  it  would  grieve  all  their  friends  in  Eng- 
land, and  give  countenance  to  those  in  the  West  Indies,  Virginia  and 
elsewhere  to  continue  their  rebellious  proceedings.  These  and  other 
similar  arguments  prevailed,  and  Captain  Stagg  was  not  further 
molested.* 

29        At  the  General  Election  this  year,  Mr.  Endicott  was  chosen 
Governor,  Mr.  Winthrop  Deputy.      Mr.  William  Hathorne  was 

sad  event,  "  that  the  evil  was  sent  upon  them  mers,  in  his  Political  Annals  of  N.  Eng.,  says 

from   God   for  their  reviling  the  gospel  and  the  people  here  "  out-canted  Cromwell."     If 

those  faithful  ministers  he  had  sent  among  that  Annalist  meant  by  the  use  of  that  phrase 

them."  —  Journal,  ii.   165.      In  this  he  had  to  insinuate  that  the  Puritan  Fathers  here  were 

reference   to    the  rejection   of    Mr.   Tompson  hypocrites,  it  was  a  base  calumny,  and  his  prej- 

and  Mr.  Knowles,  who  were  sent  as  mission-  udices  will  be  ranked  higher,  probably,  than 

aries    to    Virginia    two    years    before.      See  his  philosophy.     He  wrote  in  the  time  of  our 

ante,  p.  247.  great  Revolution,  and  published  his  work  be- 

*  In  writing  of  the  affairs  of  this  time,  Chal-  fore  the  close  of  it.    Had  he  published  it  after 


1044.]  GENERAL   LA   TOUR   AND    HIS    LADY.  283 

made  speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  who  was  the  first  of  such 
officers  alter  the  General  Court  was  divided  into  two  Houses.  Consid- 
erable emulation  had  been  growing  up  between  Salem  and  Boston  ;  the 
former  had  begun  to  feel  that  Boston  was  taking  the  lead  in  various 
ways.  It  was  doubtless  a  little  mortifying  to  Mr.  Endicott  and  the 
people  in  the  country  about  Salem,  to  sec  the  older-settled  place  falling 
behind  the  other  in  importance ;  and  that  consequently  the  men  of 
talent  and  worth  there  would  be  obliged  to  hold  secondary  places,  how- 
ever superior  their  abilities  might  be  to  others  in  Boston.  Therefore  a 
grand  effort  was  made  by  the  Essex  people  to  turn  the  scales  of  Gov- 
ernment, by  having  a  majority  in  it  of  members  favorable  to  their  cause. 
They  felt  encouraged,  now  that  Mr.  Endicott  was  again  Governor,  and 
looked  forward  to  the  time  when  Salem  should  be  the  Seat  of  Govern- 
ment. But  the  Boston  men  had  acquired  too  extensive  an  influence, 
and  the  Essex  men  failed  in  their  design.  Winthrop  ungenerously 
called  the  effort  of  the  Salem  people  a  "plot,"  and  speaks  of  the 
matter  as  though  some  dishonor  was  attached  to  it,  which  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  the  case. 

A  man  named  William  Franklin  was  condemned  to  die,  and  was 
afterwards  hanged  for  the  murder  of  a  boy  named  Nathaniel  Sewell. 
The  boy  was  one  of  the  twenty  children  brought  to  Boston  last  year  by 
the  ship  Seabridge,  from  London.  Being  put  an  apprentice  to  Frank- 
lin, it  appeared  that  he  came  to  his  death  through  the  cruel  and  bar- 
barous treatment  of  his  master. 

It  is  related,  that  about  nine  in  the  evening,  there  fell  a  great 

Axls  26  . 

flame  of  fire  down  into  the  water  towards  Pullen  Point ;  that  it 
lighted  the  air  far  about ;   but  that  it  was  no  lightning,  for  the  sky  was 
very  clear.     Thus  an  ordinary  meteor  was  taken  for  a  prodigy. 
.  General  La  Tour,  who  had  been  several  days  in  Boston,  and 

was  entertained  with  much  respect  and  great  hospitality,  sailed 
hence,  receiving  distinguishing  marks  of  honor.  The  train-bands  made 
a  guard  for  him  to  his  boat,  and  the  Deputy  Governor  and  other  distin- 
guished gentlemen  accompanied  him  to  the  wharf.  On  coming  on 
board  his  bark,  which  carried  six  guns,  he  discharged  them  all  as  a 
salute,  which  salute  was  answered  by  the  soldiers  with  their  pieces, 
and  one  cannon  ;  while  the  four  ships  then  in  the  harbor  each  honored 
his  departure  with  a  discharge  of  three  pieces  of  ordnance. 

Only  eight  days  after  the  departure  of  General  La  Tour,  his 
Lady  arrived  in  a  ship  from  London,  commanded  by  a  Captain 
Bayley.  They  narrowly  escaped  falling  into  the  hands  of  D'Aulnay, 
who  knew  of  their  being  upon  the  voyage  ;  and,  in  cruising  for  them, 
he  fell  in  with  the  ship  in  which  they  wTere,  but  Captain  Bayley  had 
the  address  to  deceive  him,  as  to  who  he  was,  and  thus  arrived  safe  at 
Boston,  bringing  a  letter  from  D'Aulnay  to  the  Governor  about  his  diffi- 
culties with  La  Tour. 

that  event,  he  might  more  aptly  have  said   Third,  and  he  would  have  found  none  to  dis- 
that  George  Washington  out-canted  George  the   pute  him. 


284  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1644. 

Being  arrived  in  Boston,  Madam  La  Tour  brought  an  action  against 
Captain  Bayley  for  damages.  It  appeared  that  he  had  agreed  to  trans- 
port her  directly  to  Acadia,  and  that  she  had  come  with  stores  and 
munitions  to  the  aid  of  her  husband,  and  the  damage  consisted  in  the 
unreasonable  length  of  the  voyage  ;  it  being  of  about  six  months'  dura- 
tion. The  jury  gave  her  2000  pounds,  for  which  Captain  Bayley's  ship 
was  attached,  but  on  taking  account  of  the  cargo  it  was  valued  only  at 
1100  pounds,  and  it  cost  the  Lady  about  700  pounds  to  hire  vessels  to 
convey  her  and  her  effects  to  Acadia. 

As  might  have  been,  and  probably  was  expected,  the  owners  of  the 
ship  and  cargo  attached  by  the  Lady  La  Tour  took  the  first  opportunity 
to  indemnify  themselves.  They  seized  a  Boston  ship  in  London  the 
next  year,  but  soon  released  her,  probably  doubting  their  ability  to  hold 
her ;  or,  perhaps  they  thought  it  a  more  expeditious  way  of  realizing 
money  to  attach  the  bodies  of  Mr.  Stephen  Winthrop,  son  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  Captain  Joseph  Weld,  who  happened  then  to  be  in  London. 
The  former  was  recorder  of  the  Court  in  Boston,  and  the  latter  was  one 
of  the  jury  in  the  case  of  Captain  Bayley's  ship.  And  had  it  not  been 
for  the  interference  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  these  gentlemen  would  have 
been  seriously  troubled,  as  they  were  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  4000 
pounds.  The  kindness  of  Mr.  Vane  is  handsomely  acknowledged  by 
Governor  Winthrop,  who  says,  "  both  now  and  at  other  times  Mr.  Vane 
showed  himself  a  true  friend  of  New  England,  and  a  man  of  a  noble  and 
generous  mind."  The  suit  ended  in  a  bill  of  costs  to  both  parties,  after 
much  vexation  to  all  concerned. 

At  or  about  the  same  time  Mr.  Roger  Williams  arrived  here,  but 
whether  in  Captain  Bayley's  or  by  another  ship  is  not  mentioned.  He 
came  with  an  absolute  charter  of  Rhode  Island,  and  "  letters  from  divers 
Lords  and  others  of  the  Parliament,"*  which  were  expressed  in  the 
most  favorable  terms  of  the  man  whose  memory  is  at  this  day  cherished 
throughout  the  world  as  the  great  assertor  of  Civil  Liberty.  They 
spoke  of  "  his  printed  Indian  labors,  the  like  whereof  they  had  not  seen 
extant  from  any  part  of  America,"  and  that  "it  had  pleased  both 
Houses  of  Parliament  freely  to  grant  him,  and  friends  with  him,  a 
Charter  for  those  parts  of  his  abode. "f 

There  was  now  riding  in  the  harbor  a  Dartmouth  ship,  and  among 
others  a  Londoner,   Captain  Richardson.      Dartmouth  had  not  long 

*  The  letter  to  the  Governor  and  Assistants  Prince  Kupert  was  entirely  cut  to  pieces,  suf- 

was  signed  by  Northumberland,  Robert  Harley,  fering  a  loss  of  above  10,000  men,  with  their 

William  Masha?n,  John  Gurdon,  Cor.  Holland,  arms,   artillery,  ammunition,   &c.     This  was 

J.  Blakiston,  P.    Wharton,  Thomas  Barring-  one  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the  war,  and  had 

ton,  Oliver  St.  John,  Isaac  Pennington,  Gilbert  the  news  of  it  reached  Boston  at  this  time, 

Pykering,  and  Miles  Corbet. — Winthrop,  Jour-  Winthrop  could  hardly  have  failed  to  notice 

nal,  ii.  193.     The  date  of  the  letter  Winthrop  it,  and,  in  imitation  of  Parliament,   to  have 

did  not  preserve.     It  is  entered  in  his  Journal  celebrated  it  by  a  Thanksgiving.      Nothing 

between  the  17th  and  19th  of  Sept.  had  given  the  Parliament  such  confidence  in 

|  It  may  be  that  Mr.  Williams  left  England  the  final  success  of  their  cause  since  the  war 

before  the  memorable  battle  of  Marston-Moor,  began,  and  its  effects  were  sensibly  felt  here, 

which  was  fought  on  the  2d  and  3d  of  July  of  In  his  Thanksgiving  Sermon  before  Parliament 

this  year,  in  which  the  royalist  army  under  on  the  18th  of  July,  fifteen  days  after  the  bat- 


1G44.]  CASE    OF   A    DARTMOUTH    SHIP.  285 

before  fallen  into  the  King's  hands,  and  hence  a  parallel  case  to  that 
before  related.  Captain  Richardson  seized  the  Dartmouth  ship,  but  as 
that  ship  had  before  been  surrendered  to  the  Government,  the  Captain 
of  the  London  ship  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  prize.  He  would  not 
probably  have  so  readily  yielded,  but  being  within  range  of  the  guns 
of  the  Castle,  he  could  not  safely  do  otherwise  ;  and  it  appeared  that 
Captain  Richardson  had  not  a  requisite  commission  for  making  captures, 
and  secondly,  if  the  Dartmouth  ship  were  made  a  prize  of,  some  Boston 
merchants  stood  ready  to  take  her,  as  one  of  their  own  had  lately  been 
taken  by  the  royalists  in  Wales.  However,  one  or  two  shots  were  ex- 
changed between  the  Castle  and  the  London  ship,  but  no  one  was 
hurt,  though  at  one  time  the  business  looked  very  serious.  Captain 
Richardson  was  fined  a  barrel  of  powder,  and  ordered  to  satisfy  the 
soldiers  who  had  been  called  out  to  bring  him  to  terms.  The  Govern- 
ment then,  "  with  advice  of  divers  of  the  Elders,"  proceeded  to  con- 
fiscate the  Dartmouth  ship. 

The  apology  for  these  and  similar  irregular  proceedings  is  to  be 
found  in  the  distracted  state  of  England,  and  the  advantage  which  it 
gave  to  the  unscrupulous  in  all  places  to  turn  the  misfortunes  of  others 
to  their  own  private  advantage. 

In  this  state  of  affairs  the  work  at  Castle  Island  was  earnestly 
pressed,  and  Mr.  Richard  Davenport  was  appointed  to  take  the 
command  of  the  fort.  He  is  the  same  before  mentioned,  who,  under  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Endicott,  cut  out  the  Cross  in  the  Ensign,  and  whether 
in  memory  of  that  circumstance  or  not,  is  not  stated,  but  in  a  short  time 
after,  having  a  child  born,  he  named  it  Truecross.  This  child  was  a 
daughter,  who  married  Stephen  Minot,  in  1654.  Captain  Davenport 
had  been  in  the  Pequot  war.  He  commanded  the  Castle  till  July, 
1665,  being  then  killed  by  lightning.* 

tie,  Mr.  Richard  Vines  said,  he  could  say  as  in  its  forme  at  the  Castle  Island."     An  High- 

the  Roman  historian  said  after  the  defeat  of  way  ordered  to  be  laid  out   ' '  to  the  South 

Hannibal  by  Scipio,  —  "The  Roman  Empire  Windmill  that  lyeth  betweene  Thos.  Whee- 

had  not  seen  a  greater  day,"  —  "nor  England  lar's  and  Robt.  Woodward's  gardens."     Ens. 

than  that  of  Mars  ton-Moor,"  though  in  the  Savage,  Mathew  Chafeth,*  Isaak  Cullimore, 

first  summer  of  the  war,  he  says  "  God  wrote  John  Gallop,  Sen.,  John  Sweet,  John  Hill  and 

himself  our  God  in  great  letters  at  Edge  Hill."  Samson  Shore  may  make  wharfs  before  their 

*  See  Antiqua.  Jour.  iv.  353.  properties  in  the  Mill-field.     Gryphen  Bowin, 

Jan.  8. —  A  Committee  appointed  to  treat  Gent.,  may  have  a  house  lot  if  there  are  any. 
with  all  the  neighboring  towns  concerning  a        Mar.  18.  —  Anthony  Stoddard  may  make  an 

convenient  way  of  fortifying  the  Castle.   Wm.  entrance  from  the  street  into  his  cellar  "  near 

Hibbins,  Gent.,  Mr.  John  Wilson,  Deac.  Wm.  our  Pastor's  house  "  [Wilson].     James  Oliver 

Colbron   consti-  may  ' '  open  his  shop-window-board  two  feet 

tuted  the  Com-     /r^U-t  <£~y>-8b<il^~~ '  *nto  fcne  stree*-" 

mittee.    Agreed       s^r*-  Apl.  29.  —  Christopher  Stanley  may  wharf 

that  the  fortification  begun  on  Fort  Hill,  and  before  his  property  in  the  Mill-field  near  Win- 

another   "somewhere  about   Walter  Merry's  nesemet-ferry. 

Point,  shall  be  raised."     That  is,  built  up.  July    29.  —  Zache     Bozworth      appointed 

Jan.  19.  —  Granted  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  Pound-keeper.      Walter  Merry  may  "  wharf 

and  his  partners,  3000  acres  of  common  land  before  his  property  by  his  present  dwelling." 

at  Braintree,  to  encourage  the  setting  up  Iron  Charity  White  to  have  26s.  for  keeping  John 
Works,  to  be  about  Monotocot  river. 

Jan.  29.  —  Boston  agrees  to  provide  all  the  *,Sf?  "s  ^graph,  ante,  p.  243.    I  make  his  signature 

, .     ,        „               ....  °~      .,      r      '  ,          ,        .  read  Mathew  Chaffe.    He  was  a  petitioner  for  placing  the 

timber  lor  repairing  the  Castle,  and  to  "  lay  it  new  Meeting-house  at  the  Green. 


286  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1645. 

At  a  Town-meeting,  Major  Gibbons  was  chosen  a  Committee 
Jan.  27.  ^  ^ye  orders  concerning  the  Fortifications  in  the  Town.* 
There  was  purchased  of  Thomas  Scotto,  for  the  use  of  the  town,  his 
dwelling-house,  yard  and  garden,  for  fifty-five  pounds.  It 
Mar'  3L  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  lands  of  Henry  Messenger,  on 
the  east  by  Mr.  Richard  Hutchinson's,  by  the  common  street  south, 
and  the  burying  place  west.f 

Passaconaway,  Sachem  on  Merrimack  river,  and  his  sons  came 
1  ay'  to  Boston  and  put  themselves,  lands  and  people  under  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  English ;  making  a  formal  submission,  as  Pumham  and 
Socononoco  had  done. 

The  troubles  in  England  continuing,  a  Fast  was  held  by  order 

ay  *  of  the  General  Court.     A  drought  had  been  very  severe,  and  this 

was  comprehended  in  the  objects  to  be  fasted  for ;  but  for  this,  Win- 

throp  says,  they  were  prevented  from  praying  "  by  the  Lord's  sending 

them  rain." 

The  establishment  of  free  schools  was  early  attended  to,  as  has 
already  been  mentioned.  This  year  the  Town  ordered  fifty  pounds 
should  be  allowed  yearly  forever  to  a  master,  and  a  house  for  him  to 
live  in,  and  thirty  pounds  to  an  usher ;  they  were  to  teach  reading, 
writing  and  ciphering,  and  Indian  children  were  to  be  taught  gratis.  J 
This  order  was  confirmed  by  the  General  Court. 

At  the  Court  of  Election  at  Boston,  Thomas  Dudley  was 
1  ay  "  chosen  Governor,  Winthrop  Deputy  Governor,  and  Endicott 
"Sergeant   Major  General."     Herbert   Pelham,  Esq.,§  was   chosen 

Berry  13  weeks.    Nicholas  Upshall  may  wharf  ling,  Sergt.  Davis  and  Edwd.  Bendall  are  ap- 

before  his  land  in  Mill-field.    Richd.  Lippencot  pointed  to  hire  eight  fit  men  for  the  garrison 

admitted  a  townsman.  at  the  Castle. 

Dec.  2. —  Jasper  Rawline  may  improve  a  April  28.  —  Thos.  Joy  is  fined  20s.  for  not 

rod  of  upland  at  the  eastern  end  of  Serg.  Hues  making  the  passage  as  ordered  2  Dec.     David 

his    Cornfield   near    Rocksbury-gate,   for   the  Pheppen  may  wharf  before  his  property  near 

making   of  bricks.     Thomas   Joy  ordered   to  Mill  Creek. 

"  make  a  safe  passage  way  over  his  sellar  in  May  26. — John  Mylom*  to  make  safe  the 

the  high  way  by  the  water  in  the  Mill-field,  passage  over  the  bridge  near  Leonard  Buttle's 

in  two  days."    Mr.  Woodbridge  to  be  paid  £8,  house,  within  three  days,  or  a  fine  of  20s.  tr. 

due  him  for  keeping  the  school  last  year.     A  be  levied, 

sufficient  cartway  ordered  to  be  made  "  in  the  J  See  ante,  p.  182. 

street,"  from  the  Cove  toward  Charlestown.  §  Although  Mr.  Pelham  had  just  arrived  in 
The  Town  to  bear  half  the  charge  and  the  the  country,  such  was  his  distinction  that  he 
"  neighbors  "  the  rest.  This  was  Dec.  30.  was  at  once  elected  an  Assistant,  and  also  one 
Dear  Island  is  let  to  James  Penn  and  John  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies. 
Oliver  for  three  years,  for  £7  a  year,  for  the  He  was  of  the  family  of  the  Duke  of  New- 
use  of  the  school.  castle,  returned  to  England  and  lived  upon  his 

*  Edward  Mills  admitted  townsman  ;  —  10s.  estate  in  the  country  there,  1650.     He  had 

to  be  paid  widow  Howin  towards  her  relief  in  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  Colony  in  that 

consideration  of  her  shop  in  the  market-place  country,   respecting    propagating   the   gospel 

speedily  to  be   removed.      Joshua  Scotto  to  among    the   Indians.  —  Hutchinson,    i.    144. 

straighten  his  pale  at  the  head  of  his  house  Farmer,  following  Johnson,  says  Mr.  Pelham 

plat  near  John  Lowe's  house,  as  the  head  of  came  over  in  1639.     He  might  also  come  over 

John  Lowe's  pales  run,  and  to  have  that  marsh  in  1645,  as  Hutchinson  says,  but  Hutchinson 

therein  contained.  is  no  doubt  mistaken  in  supposing  that  he  had 

f  Macklin  Knight,  Wm.  Parsons,  Jonathan  not  been  in  the   country  before   1645.     The 

Balston  and  Thomas  Smith  admitted  towns-  subject  of  propagating  the  gospel  in  America 
men. 

April  10.  —  Thos.    Marshall,    Wm.    Frank-  *  See  his  autograph,  ante,  p.  243. 


1G45.]  CAPTAIN   THOMAS   HAWKINS.  287 

Assistant  in  place  of  Captain  Israel  Stoughton,  who  had  been  in  Eng- 
land the  preceding  year,  and  now  had  gone  again  for  that  country. 
Captain  Keayne  and  Major  Gibbons  represented  Boston,  and  Captain 
George  Cook  was  speaker. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  the  ship  Trial  of  Boston  completed  a  pros- 
perous, though  perilous  voyage.  She  had  been  to  England  and  Hol- 
land, and  had  experienced  "divers  most  desperate  dangers;"  having 
been  forced  upon  the  sands  of  Flushing,  and  again  upon  those  of  Dover. 
There  arrived  also  the  Endeavor  of  Cambridge.  In  all,  about  eleven 
ships  had  arrived,  bringing  linen,  woollen,  shoes,  stockings  and  other 
useful  commodities,  so  that  the  inhabitants  "had  plenty  of  all  things." 
The  ships  took  in  exchange,  wheat,  rye,  peas  and  other  produce  of  the 
country.  The  export  in  corn  alone  amounted  this  year  to  20,000 
bushels.  Thus  commerce  flourished  and  the  people  were  much  en- 
couraged. 

Meantime  a  serious  misfortune  happened  to  the  crew  of  a  small  bark 
which  some  Boston  merchants  had  sent  out  to  trade  for  furs  in  Delaware 
Bay,  under  the  conduct  of  one  Captain  Luther.  The  bark  continued  in 
the  Bay  through  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  they  began  to  trade  with 
the  Indians,  and  had  good  success  ;  but  as  she  was  about  to  come  away, 
fifteen  Indians  came  on  board,  apparently  to  trade  as  usual,  and  having 
weapons  concealed  under  their  blankets,  suddenly  rushed  upon  the  men, 
killed  all  but  two,  whom  they  took  captive,  and  then  plundered  the 
vessel.  The  Captain  was  among  the  slain,  and  the  interpreter  and  a 
boy  were  the  prisoners.  The  interpreter  however  was  well  treated,  and 
had  a  large  share  of  the  spoil,  and  it  was  supposed  he  had  been  the 
occasion  of  the  massacre,  for  he  had  been  put  out  of  his  place  of  inter- 
preter for  his  misconduct.  His  name  was  Redman.  Soon  after,  other 
Indians  surprised  those  who  had  committed  the  piracy,  killed  their 
Chief  and  took  away  their  plunder.  Meanwhile  the  Governor  of  New 
Sweden,  Mr.  John  Printz,  employed  an  Indian  Chief  to  bring  the  cap- 
tives to  him,  and  they  were  now  brought  to  Boston.  Redman 
was  afterwards  tried  for  his  life,  and  found  guilty  by  the  Grand 
Jury  ;  but  he  was  ultimately  acquitted. 

Other  disasters  followed.  Capt.  Thomas  Hawkins,  of  whom  mention 
has  been  made  before,  a  man  of  enterprise,  who  had  been  a  shipwright 
of  London,  built,  and  sent  out  last  year,  a  ship  of  400  tons.  She  wTas 
probably  the  largest  and  handsomest  ship  which  had  ever  been  built 
here,  having  ornamental  carved  work,  and  being  painted  with  taste  and 
skill.  She  was  called  the  Seafort,  in  compliment  to  her  strength. 
This  ship,  in  company  with  Captain  Kerman  in  a  London  ship,  sailed 

was  brought  before  Parliament  while  Mr.  Pel-  Ward  of  Suffolk,  Jeremiah  Burroughes  of 
ham  was  in  New  England,  by  the  Rev.  Wil-  Norfolk,  John  Rawlinson  of  Derby ;  Daniel 
liam  Castell,  of  Courtenhall,  in  Northampton-  Featley,  Edward  Marbury,  Edmond  Calamy, 
shire.  His  application  was  by  petition,  "  ap-  Adomiram  Byfield,  William  Janeway,  Joseph 
proved  by  70  able  English  Divines."  Among  Caryll,  Mathias  Styles  and  Stephen  Denison 
those  Divines  we  find  John  White  of  Dorset-  of  London ;  Daniel  Rogers  of  Peterborough, 
shire,   Henry  Paynter  of  Devonshire,   John   and  others.     See  Force's  Tracts,  vol.  i. 


288  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1645. 

for  Malaga  with  tobacco  and  other  commodities.  They  were  both  cast 
away  on  the  coast  of  Spain  in  December,  about  five  miles  from  Cales. 
Nineteen  of  those  on  board  perished,  among  whom  were  Captain  Ker- 
man,  Captain  Coytmore  of  Charlestown,  a  Mr.  Pratt  and  his  wife.  Mr. 
Pratt  was  a  surgeon  of  high  repute  in  the  country,  had  been  here  many 
years,  was  of  Mr.  Hooker's  Church  before  he  went  to  Connecticut,  and 
probably  came  over  with  him,  or  at  the  same  time.  The  great  demand 
for  surgeons,  by  reason  of  the  Civil  War,  influenced  him  to  go  for  Eng- 
land, though  he  was  over  sixty  years  of  age.  He  left  no  posterity. 
Those  who  escaped  with  their  lives  were  pillaged  of  almost  everything 
after  they  had  reached  the  shore,  by  the  barbarous  natives  on  the  coast ; 
but  when  they  came  to  Cales  the  Spaniards  treated  them  kindly,  gave 
the  women  and  others  clothes,  many  of  whom  escaped  from  the  wrecks 
without  shoes  or  garments,  and  the  Governor  of  the  place  gave  Captain 
Hawkins  500  pounds  for  the  wreck  of  his  ship,  and  he  and  his  company 
soon  after  proceeded  to  London  in  an  English  ship,  which  then  hap- 
pened to  lie  at  Cales.  The  name  of  the  Captain  of  this  ship  was 
Mariot,  whose  kindness  to  those  shipwrecked  people  should  be  remem- 
bered, for  "  he  clothed  many  of  them  with  his  own  clothes,"  and  did  all 
in  his  power  to  alleviate  their  sufferings.  Singular  as  it  may  appear, 
Captain  Hawkins  was  cast  away  again  the  following  year,  at  the 
same  place,  as  were  five  other  ships  in  his  company.  But  this  time  his 
people  were  all  saved. 

This  year  there  was  a  cruel  attempt  to  bring  Negroes  from  Africa  to 
this  market  for  slaves.  One  Capt.  James  Smith,  with  a  mate  of  the 
name  of  Thomas  Keyser,  made  a  voyage  to  Guinea,  and  there  joining 
some  Londoners,  landed  in  the  country,  attacked  and  killed  many  of 
the  Negroes.  They  appear  to  have  brought  but  two  to  Boston.  The 
manner  of  their  capture  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Government, 
Smith  and  Keyser  were,  on  the  motion  of  Richard  Saltonstall,  Esq., 
prosecuted  and  held  to  answer. 

One  of  the  Negroes  was  sold  to  Mr.  Francis  Williams  of  Pascataqua, 
who  was  required  to  return  him  to  Boston  that  he  might  be  restored  to 
his  native  country,  and  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  prohibiting 
Slavery.  This  act  however  was  afterwards  repealed,  or  disregarded. 
Four  years  before,  a  law  was  made  "  that  there  shall  never  be  any  bond 
slavery"  in  the  Colony;  and  the  following  year,  1646,  with  special 
reference  to  the  transaction  of  Smith  and  Keyser,  the  Court  enacted, 
that  "  it  was  bound  by  the  first  opportunity  to  bear  witness  against  the 
heinous  and  crying  sin  of  man-stealing,  as  also  to  prescribe  such 
timely  redress  for  what  was  past,  and  such  a  law  for  the  future,  as 
might  sufficiently  deter  all  others  belonging  to  the  Colony  to  have  to 
do  in  such  vile  and  most  odious  courses,  that  the  Negro  interpreter, 
with  others  unlawfully  taken,  be  by  the  first  opportunity,  at  the  charge 
of  the  Country  for  the  present,  sent  to  his  native  country,  Guinea." 

Nothing  further  appears  in  the  printed  statutes  upon  Negro  slavery 
until  1703.     Then  a  law  was  made  merely  to  prevent  owners  of  slaves 


- 


-IT  @  1BI  M 


1645]  BOSTON    MEN    GO    TO    THE    WAR   IN   ENGLAND.  289 

setting  them  at  liberty  without  becoming  responsible  to  the  country  in 
"all  charge  for  or  about  them,"  and  prohibiting  them  and  Indians  from 
being  abroad  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  This  law  was  occa- 
sioned by  a  war  with  the  Indians  which  broke  out  that  year. 

Notice  has  been  taken  of  the  departure  of  Captain  Stoughton  for 
England,  and  that  there  went  with  him  several  others.  These  were 
military  men,  and  considered  the  .best  in  the  country.  The  most  of 
them  doubtless  went  to  take  part  in  the  war  which  raged  in  England, 
and  who  had  learned  that  the  "  Popish  party,"  as  they  considered  that 
of  the  King,  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  overthrown.  The  fame  of  Crom- 
well had  reached  them,  and  he  was  a  Puritan  of  the  right  stamp  ;  who 
had,  in  the  battle  of  Marston  Moor,  acquired  the  name  of  Ironsides  for 
achieving  the  victory  when  it  was  supposed  to  be  lost ;  and  that,  above 
all,  he  and  his  followers  fought  "for  conscience  sake,"  knowing  "from 
within  that  their  cause  was  just." 

Soon  after  Mr.  Stoughton's  arrival  in  England  he  was  made  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  under  his  friend, Col.  William  Rainesborow,  who  had 
formerly  lived  here  at  Charlestown ;  Mr.  Nehemiah  Bourne,  a  ship- 
carpenter,  was  made  a  Major  in  the  same  regiment.  He  went  from 
Boston.  From  the  land  he  was  transferred  to  the  sea  service.  Mr. 
John  Leverett,  of  Boston,  afterwards  Governor  of  the  Colony,  was  made 
Captain  of  foot,  and  William  Hudson,*  Ensign  in  his  company,  and  Mr. 
Lioll,  Surgeon  to  the  Earl  of  Manchester's  Life  Guard.  These  all  did 
eminent  service,  and  all,  except  Mr.  Stoughton,  returned  again  "to  their 
wives  and  families."  He  fell  sick  and  died  at  Lincoln.  For  his  good 
service,  Captain  Leverett  was  created  a  Knight  and  Baronet ;  but 
owing  probably  to  a  jealousy  which  might  arise  among  his  friends,  he 
kept  his  title  to  himself,  making  no  display  of  its  honors  ;  or,  it  may 
be,  that  such  titles  did  not  comport  with  his  ideas  of  a  Christian  Com- 
monwealth. 

There  was  considerable  agitation  during  the  session  of  the  General 
Court,  which  continued  from  the  fourteenth  of  May  to  the  fifth  of  July, 
respecting  captures  of  ships  in  the  harbor,  and  there  was  a  proposition 
to  commit  the  subject  to  the  military  officers.  The  discriminating  part 
of  the  Court  thought  the  delegation  of  such  a  power  to  the  Military 
would  be  attended  with  difficulties,  and  result  in  injuries  to  the  general 
good ;  but  the  majority  of  the  Court  consisting  of  military  men,  the 
measure  was  carried.  The  difficulty  with  Captain  Stagg  was  the  prin- 
cipal cause  of  the  present  agitation.  The  Deputies  desired  to  pass  a 
bill  giving  security  and  protection  to  all  ships  which  should  come  into 
the  port  as  friends,  and  although  it  passed  in  their  branch,  the  Magis- 
trates would  not  consent  to  it,  because  it  would  bring  them  into  collision 


*  The  Autograph   of  William   Hudson,  as 
copied  from  the  records  of  this  period.     There 
were  several  families  of  Hudson  in  Boston  at 
this  time. — See  Antiqu.  Journal,  ii.  190. 
37 


290  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1645. 

with  the  Parliament.  A  similar  bill,  however,  did  pass  in  a  modified 
form,  which  authorized  Major  Gibbons,  of  Boston,  and  Major  Sedgwick 
of  Charlestown,  to  keep  the  peace  in  their  respective  towns,  "  and  not 
to  permit  any  ships  to  fight  in  the  harbor  without  license  from  Author- 
ity." 

A  new  watch-house  erected  on  Fort  Hill  was  struck  with  light- 
u  7    '  ning.     The  boards  and  timber  at  one   end  of  it  were  torn  in 
pieces,  and  it  was  otherwise  damaged. 

About  this  time  notice  is  taken  of  the  importation  of  books  into  the 
country.  They  would  not  probably  have  been  mentioned,  but  for  their 
contents  giving  offence;  "some  in  defence  of  Anabaptism  and  other 
errors,  and  for  liberty  of  conscience  as  a  shelter  for  their  toleration ; 
others  in  maintenance  of  the  Presbyterial  government  against  the  Con- 
gregational way  here."  These  books  were  the  occasion  of  a  sort  of 
Synod,  which  convened  at  Cambridge,  in  which  the  books  were  exam- 
ined and  answers  to  them  written.  These  answers  were  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  be  printed. 

The  appearance  of  the  heretical  books  doubtless  had  some  influence 
on  the  case  of' Captain  Alexander  Partridge.  He  was  an  Anabaptist,* 
and  appears  to  have  arrived  in  New  England  in  October  of  this  year. 
He  had  been  in  the  service  of  Parliament,  but  on  his  voyage  to  Boston 
"he  broached  and  zealously  maintained  divers  points  of  Antinomianism 
and  Famalism."  Being  called  before  the  Magistrates,  he  refused  to 
answer  their  interrogations.  At  length  he  consented  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Cotton,  which  having  done,  Mr.  Cotton  reported  that  "he  found  him 
corrupt  in  his  judgment,  but  ignorant  of  those  points  which  he  had 
maintained,  and  that,  upon  argument,  he  was  come  off  from  some  of 
the  worst  of  them,  and  he  had  good  hope  to  reclaim  him  wholly." 
This  did  not  satisfy  some  of  the  Magistrates,  and  they  insisted  that  he 
should  sign  a  paper  that  he  relinquished  the  whole.  This,  of  course, 
as  a  conscientious  man,  he  could  not  do,  until  he  was  convinced,  and 
this  should  have  been  sufficient ;  but  this  did  not  satisfy  the  majority 
of  the  Rulers.  There  was  the  law  of  banishment  made  in  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright's case,  and  the  last  year  a  law  had  been  made  for  the  banishment 
of  Anabaptists.  Some  of  the  Magistrates,  indeed,  pleaded  for  the  sus- 
pension of  the  operation  of  those  laws,  and  urged  the  cruelty  of  banish- 
ing persons  at  this  season  of  the  year.  Nevertheless,  there  was  a  ma- 
jority of  one  or  two  for  banishment,  and  the  sentence  was  accordingly 

*  Dr.    Daniel    Featly  this  note    was    intended   to  represent  a  fol- 

came  out  this  year  upon  lower  of  David  George,  of  whom  he  makes 

the   Anabaptists,   as   he  some  mention  in  his  Dipper,  p.  28. 
did  twenty  years  before        To  show  how  English  Churchmen  as  well  as 

on  the  Eoman  Catholics.  Puritans  abhorred  the  Anabaptists,  the  follow- 

His  curious  book  against  ing  is  extracted  from  the  Epistolce  Ho-Elian<z,  of 

them  is  entitled  The  Dip-  the  learned  and  curious  James  Howell.     "If 

per  Dipt,  or  the  Anabap-  I  hate  any,"  he  says,  "  'tis  those  schismatics 

tists  Ducked  and  Plung'd  that  puzzle  the  sweet  peace  of  our  Church,  so 

over  Head  and  Ears,  &c.     To  this  there  is  a  that  I  could  be  content  to  see  an  Anabaptist 

frontispiece  by  Marshall,  in  which  are  repre-  go  to  Hell  on  a  Brownist's  back." — Page  270, 

seated  fifteen  sorts  of  Baptists.      The  cut  in  edition,  1726.     Howell  wrote  in  1G35. 


1645.] 


TITLES    TO    LANDS. 


291 


Sept.  29. 


pronounced  by  the  Court  on  Captain  Partridge.*  He  soon  after  found 
his  way  to  Rhode  Island.  It  should  be  remembered  that  the  Elders 
used  their  exertions  to  effect  the  result  accomplished. 

How  far  the  grants  of  the  Town,  of  lands  to  the  inhabitants,  were  to 
be  considered  complete  titles  of  such  grants,  seems  to  have  been  a 
question  among  some  of  the  grantees  ;  for,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Select 
Men,  it  was  ordered,  that,  "  whereas  the  severall  graunts  of 
howslots  and  other  lands,  recorded  in  this  Towne  Booke,  are 
entered  onely  as  graunted  to  the  ptyes  themselves,  without  mention 
of  their  heyres,  it  hath  bene  thought  fitt  to  be  hereby  declared  and  or- 
dered," that  all  such  grants  should  "be  estates  in  fee  simple,"  except 
such  estates  as  had  been  granted  for  a  term  of  years. 

The  winter  set  in  very  early,  and  is  recorded  "as  the  earliest  and 
sharpest"  since  Boston  was  settled ;  and  that  the  "  cold  was  as  vehe- 
ment to  the  southward  as  here.  Ships  were  put  from  their  anchors 
with  the  ice  and  driven  on  shore,  and  one  ketch  was  carried  out 


Dec.  25. 


to  sea  and  wrecked  on  Lovell's  Island."  f 


*  Notwithstanding  this  treatment,  he  and 
Gov.  Coddington,  "  in  behalfe  of  the  Ilanders 
of  Roode  Hand,"  requested  that  they  might 
be  "  resceauied  into  combination  with  all  the 
vnited  Colonyes  of  New  England."  They  were 
answered  that  Rhode  Island  was  within  the 
bounds  of  Plymouth  ;  that  their  "  present 
state  was  full  of  confusion  and  danger,  haueing 
much  disturbance  amongist  themselves,  and  noe 
security  from  the  Indians  ;"  that  though  the 
Commissioners  desired,  "  in  severall  respects," 
to  afford  advice  and  help,  all  they  could  do 
then  was  to  "  consider  and  advize  how  they 
might  be  accepted  vpon  iust  termes,  and  with 
tender  respects  to  their  consciences."  —  Haz- 
ard, ii.  99-100. 

f  Sept.  15.  —  Wm.  Colbron  and  James  Penn 
are  appointed  "to  lay  out  the  way"  through 
the  gardens  towards  the  south  Wind-mill.  To 
begin  between  Nicholas  Parker's  house  and 
Robt.  Renolds'  garden,  and  to  go  forth  be- 
tween Amos  Richardson's  and  John  Palmer's 
house. 

Sept.  29.  —  A  house  lot  is  granted  to  Arthur 
Clarke  next  the  lot  of  John  Search.  — Arthur 
Perry  to  have  £5,  for  drumming  the  last  year. 


and  305.  more  for  drum  heads.  Alexander 
Becke  paid  £4,  7s.  for  the  marsh  granted  him, 
31 :  1 :  1645. 

Oct.  27.  —  "  Ordered  yt  ye  Constables  shall 
sett  off  65  of  Henry  Messenger's  rates  for  mend- 
ing the  Schoole  Mr.  his  pt  of  the  ptition  fence 
betweene  their  gardens."  The  remains  of  the 
marsh  in  the  Town's  hands,  over  against  John 
Barrel's  house,  is- granted  to  Edward  Bendall, 
his  paying  therefor  what  Wm.  Colbron  and 
John  Oliver  said  it  was  worth,  but  he  refused 
it  at  their  price. 

Dec.  26.  —  "Select  men"  chosen.  They 
had  for  some  time  been  denominated  ' '  Select 
townsmen."  They  were  at  this  time,  Win- 
throp,  Hibbins.  Gibbons,  Keayne,Thos.  Fowle, 
Colbron,  Hill,  Eliot,  and  Penn. 

Dec.  29.  —  James  Penn  is  chosen  Recorder 
and  Treasurer.  —  The  town  guarantees  to  Sam- 
uel Maverick.  Gent.,  that  his  contribution  to- 
wards the  Fort  on  Castle  Island  shall  be  re- 
funded, in  case  said  Garrison  be  defeated  or 
demolished,  except  by  adversary  power,  within 
three  years.  Ordered  that  Mr.  Fowle  and 
James  Penn  with  the  Constable  shall  take 
Wm.  Francklin's  account,  "  lat  Constable  " 


292 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1646. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


GORGES   OF   WRAXALL.* 


Fever  in  the  Town.  —  Death  of  Mr.  John  Oliver.  —  Dudley  elected  Governor.  —  Episcopalian  Troubles. 
—  Vassall,  Child,  and  others. — They  petition  the  General  Court. — Prosecuted  for  it. — The  Sub- 
ject examined.  —  Opinion  of  the  Elders  upon  the  Authority  of  Parliament  over  them.  —  Dr.  Child 
before  the  Court.  —  The  Court  divided.  —  Child  and  others  imprisoned.  —  Their  Papers  seized.  — 
Prevented  from  proceeding  on  their  Voyage  to  England. — An  Agent  sent  to  England. — Voyage 
of  the  Ship  Supply.  —  New  England's  Jonas.  —  New  England's  Salamander.  —  Some  Narraganset 
Indians  in  Boston.  —  Anabaptists.  —  La  Tour's  Conduct.  —  Return  of  an  Indian  Captive.  —  Large 
Arrival  of  Wine.  — Arrival  of  Capt.  Cromwell.  —  Return  of  Gorton  and  others,  with  an  Order  of 
Parliamentary  Commissioners.  —  Termination  of  the  Troubles  with  the  Rhode  Island  People. 

^^t  As  is  not  uncommon  now,  after  a  sharp  -winter,  the 

^7  spring  of  this  year  "opened  early  and  more  seasonably 

.; -.z-mziBSi  ^an  many  before  it;"  but  it  was  attended  with  sadness 
1  to  several  families,  owing  to  a  malignant  fever  which 
proved  very  fatal ;  often  terminating  in  five  or  six 
days.  Among  those  cut  off  in  Boston,  Mr.  John 
Oliver,  "  a  gracious  young  man,"  is  specially  men- 
tioned ;  though  "  not  full  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was 
an  expert  soldier,  an  excellent  surveyor  of  land,  and 
one  who,  for  the  sweetness  of  his  disposition,  was  gen- 
erally beloved,  and  greatly  lamented."  He  was  designed  for  the  minis- 
try, and  had  "  exercised  publicly  for  two  years."  f 

The  first  appearance  of  any  peculiar  malady  or  disease  in  the  town 
appears  to  be  taken  notice  of  by  Governor  Winthrop  in  his  Journal,  for 
which  scientific  medical  men  will  hereafter  feel  greatly  obliged  to  him. 
At  or  near  the  commencement  of  this  year  the  Governor  mentions  "  a 
disease  which  raised  a  scandal  upon  the  Town,"  but  from  all  he  does 
say  about  it,  there  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  what  the  disease  was. 
Perhaps  those  curious  in  the  matter  may  be  better  able  to  decide  the 
question  than  the  Historian,  and  they  are  therefore  referred  to  the  orig- 
inal Authority. 

At  the  May  Election,  Mr.  Dudley  and  Mr.  Winthrop  changed 
places  ;  Mr.  Endicott  kept  his  place  of  Serjeant  Major  General ; 
and  he  was  also  elected  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colo- 
nies, and  Mr.  Herbert  Pelham  was  the  other.  Mr.  Edward  Norris 
preached  the  Sermon.  Hathorne  was  again  Speaker,  and  Gibbons  and 
Keyane  represented  the  Town. 

The  Episcopalians  in  Boston  and  its  vicinity  had  hitherto  been  rather 
quiet,  which  may  be  attributed  to  the  smallness  of  their  numbers.  But 
now,  some  accessions  having  been  made  to  their  ranks,  consisting  of 
individuals  of  birth  and  standing,  they  thought  it  time  to  assert  their 
right  to  the  same  religious  privileges  as  those  enjoyed  by  others.     Mr. 

*  Arms  as  borne  by  "Edward  Gorges,  of  f  He  belonged  to  a  distinguished  family,  for 
Wraxall,  in  Corm.  Somerset,  Esqr.,"  in  1673.  a  pedigree  of  which,  so  far  as  my  limits  will 
See  Blome's  Britannia,  also  ante,  p.  249.  admit,  see  next  page. 


May  6. 


PEDIGREE    OF    THE    OLIVER    FAMILY. 


293 


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294  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

William  Vassall,  Dr.  Robert  Child,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick  were  the 
leaders  of  the  Churchmen.  Mr.  Yassall  was  early  conspicuous  in  the 
Massachusetts  Company,*  and  chosen  a  member  of  its  government  in 
1629.  He  came  over  with  his  family  the  next  year  with  the  second,  or 
Boston  Colony,  but  returned  again  the  same  year.  In  1635  he  came 
again  to  New  England,  and  'settled  at  Scituate,  where  he  was  highly 
respected.  After  the  persecutions  about  to  be  related,  he  returned  to 
England.f  Dr.  Child  was  a  young  man,  had  been  in  Boston  or  its 
neighborhood  about  two  years,  and  came  over,  it  is  said,  to  examine 
into  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  country.  He  was  a  man  of  learning,  and 
had  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  at  Padua.  Mr.  Samuel 
Maverick  is  the  same  often  mentioned  in  the  previous  pages  of  this 
history.  These,  with  Mr.  Thomas  Fowle,f  a  merchant  in  Boston,  Mr. 
Thomas  Burton,  §  Mr.  David  Yale,  ||  Mr.  John  Smith,**  and  Mr.  John 
Dand,ff  presented  to  the  General  Court  a  "Remonstrance  and 
ay  '  humble  petition, "||  which  they  commenced  by  complimenting  the 
Government  for  its  "eminent  gifts,  continual  care  and  constant  vigi- 
lancie,  which  hath  procured  unto  this  wilderness  Peace  and  Plenty, 
while  their  native  land  was  so  sharply  afflicted  with  the  devouring 
sword."  They  then  call  attention  to  the  "poor  handfull  here  plant- 
ed," and  to  the  storm  which  was  hanging  over  their  heads,  prepared 
to  burst  upon  them  as  a  punishment  for  their  sins.  They  reminded  the 
Court  of  the  "unwonted  malignant  sicknesses  and  noysome  shamefull 
diseases,"  afflicting  the   Country,  evidently  insinuating  that  their  intol- 

*  See  ante.  pp.  55,  70,  90.  8  Oct.,  1651.     He  had  sons,  Joseph,  David,  b. 

f  The  present  Lord  Holland  takes  the  Vas-  Boston,  18  Sept.  1645,  Theophilus,  b.  in  Bos- 

sall  in  his  name  from  this  family,  and  his  ton,  14  Jan.  1651.     See    Geneal.  of  the  Yale 

ancestors  were,  by  marriage,  heirs  to  part  of  Family,  by  Mr.  Elihu  Yale,  8vo.,  New  Haven, 

the  estate  of  his  brother,  Samuel  Vassall.  —  1850.     Mr.   Yale's   estate   in   Boston  was  on 

See  Debrett's  Peerage.  what  is  now  Pemberton  Square. 

J  The  same  who  was  Select-man  last  year.  **  "  He  formerly  lived  about  two  or  three 

See  ante,  p.  291.     He  was  before  this  prepar-  years  in  Boston,  but  had  removed  to  Rhode 

ing  to  leave  the  country,  and  after  he  left  he  Island     before     this    Remonstrance."  —  New 

sent  for  his  wife  and  children,  as  Mr.  Winslow  England' 's  Salamander. 

heard,  and  published  in  his  New  England's  Sal-  ff  "  He  hath  lived  in  Boston  as  a  sojourner 

amander.  since  these  warres  in  another  man's  house  at 

§  Little  appears  to  be  known  of  this  gentle-  board-hire,  —  whose  businesse  and  occupations 

man.     From  the  researches  of  H.  N.   Otis,  there  are  unknown  to  us ;  and  whose  carriage 

Esq.,  of  New  York,  it  appears  that  "  Thomas  till  this  present  was  seemingly  faire."  —  Ibid. 

Burton  "  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  From  this  it  would  seem  that  Mr.  Dand  came 

first  John  Otis,  of  Hingham.    See  N.  E.  Antiq.  over  to  escape  the   troubles   in  England,  and 

Jour.,  ii.  283-4.     From  this  marriage  there  perhaps  to  reside  here,  but,  finding  his  religious 

were  many  descendants  in  Plymouth  Colony,  views  were  disliked,  concluded  to  return. 

"Mr.  Stephen  Burton,"  who  married  Eliza-  Johnson    says   these    "persons    were   of  a 

beth,  daughter  of  Gov.  Josiah  Winslow,  was  linsiwolsie  disposition,  some  for  prelacy,  some 

probably  son  of  Thomas.  —  See  ibid. ,  vi.  348.  for  presbytery,  and  some  for  plebsbytery. "     He 

||  He  came  to  New  England  in  1637,  settled  is  very  partial.  — See  Wonder  Work.  Prov.  202. 

in  New  Haven ;  in  1645  he  settled  in  Boston,  J  J  It  is  an  extensive  document,  and  may  be 

as  a  merchant.     He  bought  a  house  and  gar-  read  with  profit  in  this  connection.   It  is  to  be 

den  of  Edward  Bendall,  23  Aug.,  1645.     Ow-  found  in  "  New  England's  Jonas   Cast  up  at 

ing  probably  to  the  rigorous  government  here,  London,'''   and    occupies    seven   close   octavo 

he  returned  to  England,  and  did  not  reside  pages  in  that  work  in  Force's  Tracts,  vol.  4. 

permanently  again  in  this  country.     On  leav-  It  may  also  be  found  in  the  Mass.  Hist.  Soc. 

ing  Boston  he  gave  Oapt.  Thomas  Clark,  and  Colls.,  and  in  Hutchinson's  Coll.  of  Orig.  Pa- 

Capt.  Thomas  Lake  a  power  of  attorney,  dated  pers,  188-196. 


1646.]  TROUBLES    WITH    THE    EPISCOPALIANS.  295 

erance  and  disregard  of  the  laws  of  England  had  been  the  occasion  of 
them. 

The  Court  considered  the  petition  of  a  seditious  character,  and 
ordered  the  Petitioners  before  it.  Winthrop,  Dudley,  Pelham,  Flint, 
Hibbins,  Nowell,  Bellingham  and  Bradstreet  constituted  the  Court. 
The  Petitioners  were  charged  with  "  contemptuous  and  seditious  ex- 
pressions, and  were  required  to  find  sureties  for  their  good  behavior." 
The  Court  ordered  an  answer  to  the  Petition  to  be  drawn  up  and  pub- 
lished, which  was  accordingly  done.* 

Meantime  there  was  much  agitation  in  the  community.  The  Civil 
Authorities  had  applied  to  the  Elders  for  their  opinions  respecting  the 
bearing  of  the  laws  of  England  upon  the  Government  here.  They  had 
been  thrown  into  great  confusion  by  the  plain  statements  of  Doctor 
Child,  to  meet  and  overcome  which  they  had  found  it  necessary  to  act 
quite  as  independent  of  England  as  their  posterity  did  a  little  more  than 
one  hundred  years  later,  when  they  undertook  to  discharge  the  contents 
of  certain  chests  of  tea  into  the  harbor,  instead  of  the  warehouses  to 
which  they  were  destined.  Fortunately  for  Boston,  at  this  early 
day,  the  Government  of  England  was  too  unsettled  itself  to  under- 
take to  settle  the  Government  here.  HowTever,  the  Elders  gave  in 
a  very  sensible  opinion.  That  the  Colony  received  its  power  of  gov- 
ernment and  other  privileges  from  England  by  Charter  ;  that  they  owed 
allegiance  and  fidelity  to  that  Country,  and  were  dependent  upon  it  for 
protection,  with  much  more,  bearing  equally  against  the  arguments  for 
Independence. 

The  Court  came  together  by  adjournment  in  November,  in 
'which  the  case  of  Dr.  Child  and  others  was  taken  up.  Meanwhile 
Mr.  Fowle  had  made  preparations  to  sail  for  England.  He  was  there- 
fore sent  for  by  the  Court,  as  was  also  Mr.  John  Smith  of  Rhode  Island, 
who  wTas  then  in  Boston.  Being  required  to  find  sureties  for  their  ap- 
pearance at  another  day,  they  were  under  no  little  perplexity.  They 
therefore  demanded  a  hearing  at  once,  and  likewise  to  knoAV  wThy  they 
were  proceeded  against,  while  the  rest  of  the  Petitioners  were  not 
called  upon.  Whereupon  all  save  Mr.  Maverick  were  soon  in  attend- 
ance. Dr.  Child  was  the  chief  speaker  on  the  part  of  the  Petitioners, 
and  for  his  "  plain  dealing"  with  the  Court  he  may  not  have  repented, 
though  he  was  compelled  to  suffer.  "  The  Court  let  them  know  that 
they  did  take  notice  of  their  contemptuous  speeches." 

Mr.  Fowle  and  Mr.  Smith  succeeded  in 'finding  sureties  the  same 
day,  and  were  liberated.  The  others  went  without,  none  being  required 
of  them.     Finally  the  Court  agreed  that  Child,  being  a  leader,  should 

*  It  is  entitled  a  "Declaration,"  &c.     It  inent  was  "  a  proceeding,  which  at  this  day 

maybe  seen  in  Hutchinson's  Col.  of  Orig.  Pa-  [about  1760],  would  not  appear  for  the  honor 

pers,  occupying  22  pages  of  that  work.     Gov-  of  the  supreme  Authority."     That  "  a  parallel 

ernor  Hutchinson,  when  his  attachments  were  was  attempted  between  the  fundamental  laws 

stronger  for  the  early  men  of  New  England  and  of  England  and  those  of  the  Colony,  which,  in 

their  principles  than  they  were  at  a  later  date,  some  parts  of  it,  is  liable  to  objection."  — 

observes,  that  the  Declaration  of  the  Govern-  Hist.  Massachusetts,  i.  146-7. 


296  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

be  fined  fifty  pounds,  Mr.  Maverick,*  "because  he  had  not  yet  ap- 
pealed" to  England,  ten  pounds,  and  the  other  four  thirty  pounds 
each.f  Upon  which  they  all  appealed  to  Parliament,  and  tendered 
their  appeal  to  the  Court  in  writing,  but  the  Court  would  neither  accept 
nor  read  the  document.  It  should  be  remarked  that  the  Court  was  not 
unanimous  in  the  sentence  passed ;  Mr.  Bellingham,  Mr.  Saltonstall, 
and  Mr.  Bradstreet  dissented  from  the  rest,  and  desired  that  their  dis- 
sent should  be  entered  upon  the  records,  which  stands  much  to  their 
honor  and  credit.  "  Two  or  three"  of  the  Deputies  dissented  also,  but 
their  names  are  not  given  by  Winthrop. 

After  these  harsh  proceedings,  Dr.  Child,  Mr.  Dand,  Mr.  Smith  and 
Mr.  Vassall,  prepared  to  proceed  at  once  to  England,  a  ship  being  ready 
to  sail.  But  their  troubles  did  not  end  here.  The  Court  judged  it 
dangerous  to  allow  these  men  to  proceed  to  England  under  such  circum- 
stances. Therefore,  under  pretence  of  staying  Dr.  Child  on  account  of 
his  fine,  it  was  determined  to  seize  and  detain  him,  and  to  take  away 
and  to  destroy  whatever  papers  any  of  them  might  have,  calculated  to 
expose  the  proceedings  here.  And,  as  if  it  were  the  determination  of 
the  heads  of  the  Government  to  aggravate  their  intended  outrage  to  the 
utmost  they  could,  they  say,  "  we  agreed  to  defer  it  till  the  Doctor  had 
been  on  ship-board."  But,  perceiving  their  plan  was  discovered,  they 
say,  "  we  sent  the  officers  presently  to  fetch  the  Doctor,  and  to  search 
his  study  and  Dand's,  both  at  one  instant,  which  was  done  accord- 
ingly." In  the  Doctor's  trunk  they  found,  they  confessed,  "nothing 
which  concerned  the  business  ;"  but  with  Mr.  Dand  they  found  some 
obnoxious  papers  ;  two  petitions  to  Parliament  setting  forth  the  expe- 
rience of  the  Petitioners  in  the  Court  in  Boston,  and  suggesting  reme- 
dies ;  and  a  paper  containing  queries.  These  consisted  of  some  twenty 
simple  questions,  respecting  the  validity  of  the  Patent  of  the  Colony  ; 
whether  certain  acts  were  not  treason  ;  whether  the  Courts  had  a  right 
to  hinder  the  establishment  of  Churches  according  to  the  reformed 
English  Church,  and  others  of  a  similar  nature. 

Winthrop  says,  and  no  doubt  truly,  that  when  Dr.  Child  was  brought 
before  the  Governor  and  Council,  he  fell  into  a  great  passion  ;  and  he 
might  well  have  added,  that,  if  any  man  had  passions,  he  must  have 
been  something  more  or  less  than  human,  if  he  had  not  shown  them,  to 
have  been  thus  circumvented.  The  same  writer  .says,  "  Considering  he 
was  a  man  of  quality,  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar,  proper  respect  should 

*  It,  may  appear  strange  that  Mr.  Maverick  or,  having  a  large  property  at  stake,  he  might 

should  submit  to  so  many  indignities,  as  from  not  wish  to  jeopardize  it. 

time  to  time  it  has  been  seen  that  he  did  ;  a  f  Savage  suggests  that  the  poverty  of  the 
man  that  Boston  could  not  do  without.  He  Public  Treasury  "  might  inflame  the  fines 
was  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  great  liberality,  which  the  tyrannical  rulers  inflicted  on  such  as 
A  few  pages  back  we  have  seen  how  much  the  differed  from  them  but  slightly  in  their  notions 
Town  was  indebted  to  him  for  help  to  re-  of  policy."  It  will  be  remembered  that  Win- 
build  the  Fort  on  Castle  Island.  He  may  throp,  then  Governor,  was  the  leader  in  this 
have  looked  upon  these  and  other  proceedings  business.  —  See  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  248,  n. 
against  him,  as  petty  annoyances,  to  which  —  Winslow  says  the  fines  were  never  exacted, 
it  was  best  quietly  to  submit,  not  wishing  to  set  — New  Eng.  Salamander,  &c.  Mass.  Hist. 
an  example  of  opposition  to  the   Government ;  Colls.,  vol.  12. 


1646.]  VASSAL CHILD  —  MAVERICK.  297 

be  shown  him  ;  "  but,  if  he  "gave  such  big  words,  and  would  behave 
himself  no  better,  he  should  be  confined  in  prison  and  clapped  in 
irons."  His  case  was  still  further  aggravated  by  a  refusal  of  his  fine, 
which  he  offered  to  pay.  And  thus  he,  Dand  and  Smith  were  held  in 
durance  "  for  two  or  three  days,  till  the  ships  were  gone,"  and  thus  was 
a  victory  gained  over  these  few  individuals  in  a  manner  altogether 
unworthy  of  those  who  achieved  it ;  and  yet,  with  a  sinister  joy  it  is 
added  ;  that  "  Doctor  Child  was  very  much  troubled  to  be  hindered  from 
his  voyage,"  and  that  his  fine  was  rejected,  "seeing  they  have  new 
matter  and  worse  against  him,  for  the  writings  were  of  his  hand  ;  and 
that  he  took  his  confinement  grievously,  but  he  could  not  help  it "  ! 
However,  upon  "  tender  of  sufficient  bail,  he  was  set  at  liberty,  but 
confined  to  his  house,"  *  and  ordered  to  appear  at  the  next  Court  of 
Assistants.  Dand  and  Smith  were  sent  to  prison,  but  were  allowed  to 
lodge  in  the  house  of  their  keeper,  "and  to  have  what  diet  they  pleased." 
Thomas  Joy,  a  young  carpenter,  for  some  kind  offices  to  the  prisoners, 
and  inquiring  of  the  Marshal  when  he  went  to  search  Mr.  Dand's  study, 
if  his  warrant  were  in  the  king's  name,  "  was  laid  hold  on,  and  kept  in 
irons  about  four  or  five  days,"  which  was  sufficient  to  extort  a  confession 
of  wrong  on  his  part,  as  it  allowed  him  to  return  to  the  care  of  his  family 
"  upon  reasonable  bail."  Thus,  arbitrary  power  shows  its  strength  and 
importance,  when  those  in  the  more  humble  walks  of  life  are  accident- 
ally or  otherwise  thrown  within  its  insolent  grasp. 

The  object  of  the  Government  had  thus  far  been  pretty  well  accom- 
plished in  its  attempt  to  keep  a  knowledge  of  its  doings  from  Parliament. 
This  it  was  determined  to  do,  until  an  Agent  of  their  own  choosing  should 
be  sent  over,  prepared  to  counteract  any  representations  of  the  aggrieved 
parties.  It  was  proposed  that  the  Governor,  Mr.  Winthrop,  should  go  ; 
but  he  did  not  incline  to  leave  his  government,  or  to  appear  in  England, 
excusing  himself  on  the  score  of  age,  being  about  fifty- eight,  and  with 
other  considerations.  Mr.  Winslow,  of  Plymouth,  was  finally  engaged 
to  go,  and  great  efforts  were  made  to  fortify  him  with  documents  to 
enable  him  to  meet  the  charges  against  the  Rulers  in  Boston  success- 
fully.!    But  nearly  two  years  elapsed  before  he  could  be  got  ready. 

Things  being  thus  arranged,  it  was  not  important  that  the  offences  of 
Dr.  Child  and  his  associates  should  be  considered  in  so  heinous  a  light 
as  hitherto  they  had  been.  But,  how  soon  after  they  were  allowed  to 
proceed  on  their  journey  to  England,  does  not  appear,  though  probably 
towards  the  close  of  the  present  year.     Mr.  Vassall,  and  Mr.  Fowle,  it 

*  From  New  England's  Jonas,  p.  24,  it  ap-  self  with  indirect  contradictions,  and  sneers  at 
pears  his  bail  was  £800,  and  that  he  was  con-  the  Major's  book,  as  "  a  two-penny  jeering 
fined  to  the  house  of"  Mr.  Leder,"  —  perhaps  gigge,"  and  designates  Mr.  Vassall  as  a  Sala- 
Mr.  John  Leader.  mander,  and  hence  the  title  of  his  own  book. 

f  Mr.  Winslow  undertook  to  answer  Major  Hubbard  says,  "  Mr.  Vassall  was  a  man 
Childe's  New  England's  Jonas,  and  so  far  as  of  a  pleasant  and  facetious  wit,  but  in  his 
its  title  is  concerned,  the  Answer  is  tolerably  actings  and  designs  of  a  busy  and  factious 
conclusive.  His  Answer  was  entitled  New  spirit,  and  indeed,  meer  Salamander  by  hia 
England's  Salamander  Discovered.  It  is  by  disposition,  that  could  take  content  in  no  ele- 
no  means  a  favorable  specimen  of  Mr.  Win-  ment  but  the  fire."  —  Hist.  N.  Eng.  See  also 
slow's  reasoning  faculties.  He  contents  him-  Winthrop's  Journal,  ii.  321. 
38 


298  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

is  supposed,  went  at  the  time  Dr.   Child  and  the  two  others  were 
attached,  and  had  their  papers  seized. 

They  went  in  a  ship  named  the  Supply.*  About  the  time  of  her 
'  sailing,  Mr.  Cotton  preached  a  Thursday  lecture  sermon,  with 
special  reference  to  persons  going  over  in  her  with  written  complaints 
against  the  late  transactions  in  Boston.  Some  belonging  to  the  ship,  or 
going  in  her,  were  his  hearers  at  the  lecture,  and  he  warned  them 
against  the  bearers  of  such  communications ;  that  any  such  papers 
would  prove  a  Jonas  f  to  the  voyage,  and  recommended,  if  a  storm 
did  arise,  that  certain  trunks  should  be  searched  for  a  Jonas.  A  storm 
did  arise,  and  a  certain  female  on  board,  who  had  heard  Mr.  Cotton's 
late  sermon,  ran  about  the  ship  in  much  consternation,  insisting  that  if 
any  passenger  had  a  Jonas,  it  should  be  produced,  and  the  ship  delivered 
of  it.  She  gave  Mr.  Vassall  a  call  at  midnight.  He  asked  her  why  she 
came  to  him?  "Because,"  she  said,  "  it  was  thought  he  had  some 
writings  against  the  people  of  God."  He  told  her  he  had  only  a 
petition  to  Parliament,  merely  praying  that  they  might  enjoy  the  liberty 
of  English  subjects  ;  and  surely  that  could  be  no  Jonas.  She  next  paid 
Mr.  Fowle  a  visit,  "in  like  distracted  manner."  He  told  her  he  had 
only  a  copy  of  the  petition,  which  himself  and  others  had  presented  to 
the  Court  at  Boston.  This  he  produced  and  read  to  her,  and  then  said, 
that  if  she  and  others  judged  that  that  was  the  cause  of  the  storm,  they 
might  have  it,  and  do  what  they  would  with  it.  She  took  the  paper  to 
her  companions,  who,  after  a  consultation,  decided  that  it  should  be 
cast  overboard.  But  it  is  remarked,  that  though  it  was  thus  ceremoni- 
ously committed  to  the  waves,  there  was  no  immediate  cessation  of  the 
tempest ;  nor  did  it  prevent  another  J  which  seemed  to  have  doomed 
them  all  to  certain  destruction  near  Scilly,  fourteen  days  after.  || 

Notwithstanding  those  and  other  storms  during  the  voyage,  and  not- 
withstanding the  real  Jonas  continued  in  the  ship,  and  was  "  cast  up  at 
London  "  in  safety,  as  were  all  the  ship's  company  ;  yet,  it  was  reported 
that  they  owed  their  safety  to  the  destruction  of  the  petition  to  Parlia- 
ment, when,  as  Major  Childe  says,§  it  was  only  a  copy  of  a  petition  to 
their  own  Court  at  Boston  ;   still  the  petition  to  Parliament,  with  a  copy 

*  From  New  England's  Salamander,  &c,  the  valuable  facts  from  his  opponent,  who  speaks 

following  persons  appear  to  have  sailed  in  this  thus  of  the  stormy  passage.    "  After  they  had 

ship  with  Mr.  Vassall,  and  Mr.  Fowle  :  Capt.  came  to  sea,"  he  says,  they  "  had  the  terriblest 

Wm.  Sayles,  then  late  Governor  of  Bermudas,  passage  that  ever  he  heard  on  for  extremitie 

Mr.  William  Golding,  minister  of  the  same  of  weather;  the  marriners  not  able  to  take  an 

island,  Herbert  Pelham,  Esq.,  Capt.  Leverett,  observation  of  sunne  or  star  in  seven  hundred 

Capt.  Harding,  and  Mr.  Richard  Sadler.     Mr.  leagues  sayling  or  thereabouts."     It  was  then 

Thos.    Peters  had  his  goods  and  bedding  on  that  "  certaine  well-disposed  Christians  called 

board  to  go  also,  but   hearing   Mr.  Cotton's  to  mind  the  things  delivered  by  Mr.  Cotton," 

lecture,  he  took  them  out  and  went  in  another  Sec,  as  in  the  text. —  Hubbard,  in  his  Hist,  of 

ship  by  way  of  Spain.  N.  Eng.,  is  quite  at  random   in  his  account 

f  Hence  the  name  given  to  the  Book  before  of  these  affairs, 
cited.  ||  New  England's  Jonas.  §  Ibid. 

X  Mr.   Winslow   complains   much   of   the        Hubbard  (517)  says  this  work  was  by  Mr.  Vas- 

account  given  by  Child  ,  although  he  omits  sail,  "  assisted  as  was  said  by  a  Relation  of  Dr. 

nearly  all  the  charges  stated.     Childe's  state-  Child." 
ment  had  the  good  effect  to  draw  out  many 


1646.]  INDIAN    TROUBLES. DE    LA    TOUR.  299 

of  that  thrown  overboard,  and  other  writings  of  that  nature,  were  still 
in  the  ship,  and  safely  delivered  at  London,  as  before  mentioned.* 

Amidst  the  difficulties  with  the  Episcopalians,  a  deputation  of 
Narragansets  arrived  in  Boston.  They  had  agreed  to  pay  a  certain 
amount  of  wampum  as  an  indemnity  for  some  alleged  wrongs  which  they 
had  done  the  English,  and  there  was  now  due  from  them  "  above  1300 
fathoms."  The  time  for  payment  had  expired,  and  they  were  not  able 
to  pay  at  this  time  but  100  fathom,  and  that  chiefly  in  "old  brass 
kettles."  The  English  were  likewise  poor,  and  had  endeavored  to  borrow 
money  to  enable  their  agent,  Mr.  Winslow,  to  proceed  to  London  to 
oppose  their  enemies.  This  may  account  in  part,  perhaps,  for  their 
sharp  dealings  with  the  Indians,  who  were  certainly  much  the  poorer  of 
the  two.  The  Indians  were  accused  of  breaking  their  promise,  and 
treated  with  an  insolence  but  rarely  extended  to  criminal  debtors  of  a 
later  age,  and  their  small  payment  was  refused.  Whereupon  they  went 
to  Mr.  Henry  Shrimpton,f  the  brazier,  sold  him  their  old  kettles  for 
what  he  would  give,  and  to  show  the  English  that  their  honesty  was  as 
real  as  their  poverty,  left  the  amount  in  his  hands  for  them,  until  they 
were  able  to  bring  an  additional  sum,  that  it  might  be  worthy  of  the 
notice  of  their  creditors. J 

There  was  an  attempt  by  petition  to  obtain  a  repeal  of  the  laws,  or 
some  of  them,  against  Anabaptists  at  the  previous  court.  The  incentive 
to  which  is  probably  to  be  referred  to  certain  steps  of  a  very  liberal 
character  which  had  been  taken  by  Parliament ;  that  body  had,  by  its 
Commissioners,  sent  directions,  or  recommendations,  to  all  the  English 
plantations  in  New  England  and  the  West  Indies,  that  all  men  should 
enjoy  liberty  of  conscience. §  But  there  was  a  party  which  succeeded 
in  counteracting  any  such  liberality  towards  "Anabaptists  and  other 
heretics."  In  answer  to  the  petitioners  for  the  repeal  of  those  laws, 
the  Court  "  ordered,  that  the  laws  in  their  petition  mentioned,  should 
not  be  altered  or  explained  at  all."  Hence,  that  men  with  restless 
minds,  should  prefer  to  enter  into  the  civil  wars  abroad,  to  submitting 
to  such  tyranny  here,  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  Among  those  men  were 
Emanuel  Downing,  Nehemiah  Bourne,  Robert  Sedgwick,  and  Thomas 
Fowle.|| 

*  There  is  a  singular  want,  in  Winthrop's  The  English  account  of  it  may  be  found  in  the 
Journal,  of  almost  every  element  from  which  Records  of  the  United  Colonies  in  Hazard,  and 
to  make  anything  like  a  clear  history  of  this  a  condensed  account  in  the  Book  of  the  Indi- 
disturbance,  nor  has  his   editor   thrown   any   ans,  Book  ii. 

light   upon   it.     Winthrop   has   pretty   fully        \  See  Backus',  Hist.  N.  Eng.  i.  188. 
stated,   though   very   diffusely,  the   part   the        ||  To  cite  Winthrop's  Journal  for  every  fact 
Court  acted  ;  and  its  fears  of  the  consequences,    for  which  these  pages  are  indebted,  would  be 
though   somewhat  disguised,  are  very  appa-    superfluous.     No  account  of  the  early  times  of 
rent.  Boston  would  be  of  much  value  without  its 

,  f  Shrimpton's  Christian  name  is  not  men-  use.  It  is  really  a  "  Journal  of  Boston,"  and 
tioned  in  the  Records  of  the  U.  Colonies  in  incidentally  a  "  Journal  of  events  in  the  coun- 
Hazard,  but  there  was  living  at  this  time  in  try,  having  a  special  bearing  upon  Boston." 
Boston,  Henry  Shrimpton,  brazier,  who,  it  is  This  would  have  been  something  like  a  legiti- 
believed,  is  meant.     See  ante,  p.  245,  250.  mate  title  to  that  work.     It  is  for  the  most 

%  This  debt  gave  the  Indians  much  trouble,    part  almost  exclusively  of  Boston  affairs. 


300  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

Some  of  the  people  of  Boston,  who  had  been  at  so  much  pains, 
formerly,  to  advance  the  interests  of  M.  De  La  Tour,  had  cause  this 
season  to  regret  having  made  his  acquaintance.  Having  been  at  New- 
foundland, he  came  hence  in  a  vessel  belonging  to  Sir  David  Kirk. 
Some  of  the  merchants  fitted  him  out  upon  a  trading  voyage  at  the 
eastward,  with  goods  to  the  value  of  400  pounds.  The  crew  consisted 
of  twelve  men,  five  of  whom  only  were  of  Boston,  and  when  they  came 
to  Cape  Sable,  which  was  in  mid-winter,  La  Tour  and  his  Frenchmen 
seized  upon  the  vessel  and  cargo,  drove  out  the  five  Englishmen,  and 
went  off  with  the  booty.  The  men,  thus  turned  ashore,  would  have 
perished,  but  for  the  kindness  of  the  Indians  in  those  parts,  by  whose 
assistance,  after  several  months  of  sufferings  and  hardships,  they  were 
enabled  to  return  to  Boston.* 

The  distress  and  affliction  of  the  family  of  Hutchinson,  from  banish- 
ment and  the  tomahawk  of  the  Indians,  has  been  noticed  in  a  previous 
chapter.f  Some  of  those  banished,  had  became  reconciled  to  the  govern- 
ment here,  and  had  returned,  and  were  again  residents  of  Boston.  But 
there  was  a  daughter  of  a  murdered  family,  a  captive  among  the  Indians, 
if  living,  the  thoughts  of  which  must  have  saddened  many  of  the  hours  of 
her  near  kindred.  That  she  was  living  among  the  barbarians  was  prob- 
ably a  more  dreaded  thought  than  that  she  had  early  died  by  their  cruel 
hands.  From  this  long  and  painful  suspense  her  relations  were  relieved 
in  July  of  this  year,  by  the  survivor  of  the  murdered  family  being, 
uy'  in  an  unexpected  moment,  brought  and  delivered  to  them.  The 
Dutch  having  made  peace  with  the  Indians,  this  captive  was  restored, 
with  other  prisoners,  in  fulfilment  of  the  treaty  of  peace.  Her  name, 
and  her  marriage  with  John  Cole,  of  Boston,  has  been  stated  in  the 
pedigree  of  her  family.  She  had  been  upwards  of  three  years  a 
captive  with  the  Indians,  and  had  been  so  accustomed  to  them  that  she 
left  them  only  by  compulsion ;  had  forgotten  her  native  tongue,  and 
looked  upon  her  nearest  friends  as  her  enemies.J 

The  commerce  of  Boston  had  become  considerably  extended,  judging 
from  the  large  quantity  of  wines  brought  here  in  English  ships ;  there 
having  arrived  in  the  spring  about  800  butts.  It  is  however  remarked, 
that  it  came  to  a  "  bad  market." 

The  arrival  of  Captain  Cromwell  §  in  Boston,  caused  considerable 

sensation  among  the  people.     He  was  well  known  to  many  here 

'  ten  years  before,  though  then  in  the  capacity  of  a  common 

seaman.     Having  entered  into  the  Civil  Wars,   "had  been  out  divers 

years  with  Captain  Jackson  in  a  man  of  war  ;  "  and  being  deputed  by 

*  Winthrop,  who  had  been  so  taken  with  f  See  chap.  xxiv.  p.  228,  ante. 

La  Tour  formerly,  consoles  himself  with  this  %  Her  descendants  are  probably  numerous  at 

reflection  upon  his  late  conduct : — "  Whereby  this  day  ;  few,  if  any,  of  whom,  perhaps,  are 

it  appeared,  as  the  Scripture  saith,  that  there  aware  of  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  of  this 

is  no  confidence  in  an  unfaithful  or  carnal  man.  their  early  progenitor. 

Though  tied  with  many  strong  bonds  of  cour-  §  Perhaps  Samuel  "  Orumwell,"  who  was  a 

tesy,  etc.,  he  turned  pirate,  etc."  —  Journal,  freeman  of  the  Colony,  1634.     Thomas  C.  of 

".  266.  B.,  willed  six  bells  to  the  Town,  1649. 


1646.]  REBUKE   OF    COMMISSIONERS.  301 

Jackson,  he  took  several  Spanish  vessels,  and  in  them  found  great 
riches.  As  he  was  proceeding  up  the  bay  to  Boston  with  three  ships, 
he  was  forced  by  adverse  winds  to  put  into  Plymouth.  While  there, 
an  occurrence  of  a  serious  nature  happened.  Being  on  shore  with 
many  of  his  company,  one  of  them  drew  his  rapier  upon  him.  To  pre- 
vent his  doing  mischief  the  Captain  gave  him  a  blow,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  died.  The  case  was  examined  by  the  authorities  at  Plym- 
outh, and  the  Captain  was  discharged.  He  presented  Governor 
Winthrop  with  an  elegant  Spanish  sedan,  intended  by  the  Viceroy  of 
Mexico  for  his  sister,  of  some  fifty  pounds'  value.  "  He  and  all  his 
men  had  much  money,  great  store  of  plate,  and  jewels  of  great  value  ; 
yet  he  took  up  his  lodgings  in  a  poor  thatched  house,  notwithstanding 
he  was  offered  the  best  in  the  town,"  saying,  that  the  poor  man  who 
occupied  it  had  entertained  him  when  others  refused  to  admit  him  into 
their  dwellings,  and  now  he  would  not  slight  him  when  he  had  it  in  his 
power  to  serve  him  ;  thus  showing  himself  to  be  a  noble-hearted  sea- 
man, of  whom  it  was  said,  he  never  knew  father  or  mother,  nor  did 
they  ever  know  him  ;  having  been  produced  by  the  Cesarean  birth. 

Notwithstanding  the  efforts  made  by  the  Agents  in  England  to  excuse 

the  proceedings  against  the  Rhode  Island  people,  the  Commissioners  for 

Plantations  were  well  satisfied  that  the  Government  at  Boston  had 

y'  been  conducted  in  a  manner  which  could  not  be  justified  by  any 
sound  principles  of  policy ;  and  the  following  is  the  most  favorable  con- 
struction that  Winthrop,  as  head  of  the  Government,  could  make  of  the 
rebuke  of  the  Commissioners,  which  was  about  this  time  brought  over. 
He  says,  that  on  complaints  preferred  to  those  Commissioners  by  Gor- 
ton, Greene  and  Holden,  who  had  gone  to  England*  for  the  purpose, 
they  ordered  the  Agents  of  Massachusetts  to  appear  and  answer  the 
charges  contained  in  the  Petition  of  the  Rhode  Island  men  ;  "  where- 
upon some  appeared,  but  they  having  no  instructions  about  the  case, 
and  the  writings  sent  over  to  Mr.  Welde  the  year  before  being  either 
lost  or  forgotten,  a  full  answer  could  not  be  given  in  the  particular  ; 
and,  the  Petitioners  being  favored  by  some  of  the  Commissioners,  partly 
for  private  respects,  and  partly  for  their  adhering  to  some  of  their  cor- 
rupt tenets,  and  generally  out  of  their  dislike  of  us  for  our  late  law  for 
banishing  Anabaptists,  they  seemed  to  be  much  offended  with  us  for  our 
rigorous  proceeding,  as  they  called  it,  against  them  ;  and  thereupon, 
without  sending  to  us  to  hear  our  answer,"  they  gave  them  an  order  f 
"  to  return  with  freedom"  to  their  lands  at  Narraganset,  "  and  there  to 

*  What  time  they  sailed  for  England  does  themselves  to  the  Parliamentary  Commission- 
not  appear.  But  they  went  not  only  armed  ers,  they  succeeded  as  above  stated. — Backus, 
with  the  complaints  of  their  own  grievances,  i.  195. 

but  they  carried  over  "  the  surrendering  of  the       -j-The  Order  is  given  in  full  in  Winthrop, 

Narragansets,  of  themselves  and  lands  to  the  notwithstanding  it  must  have  been  very  offen- 

King ;  but  found  him  not  able  to  help  either  sive  to  him  to  have  recorded  it.     It  bore  the 

himself  or  them.      However,  they  published  "Seal  of  Warwick,  Governor  and  Admiral," 

their  case  and  a  narrative  of  their  sufferings,  and  was  signed  by  the  Commissioners :    Not- 

in  1645,  under  the  title  of  Simplicity's  Defence  tingham,  Fra.  Dacre,  Fer.  Rigby,  Cor.  Hol- 

against  Seven-headed  Policy."     Then  applying  land,   Sam.   Vassall,  George   Fenwick,  Fran. 


302  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

inhabit  and  abide  without  interruption;"  also  requiring  the  Govern- 
ment at  Boston,  "  and  all  others  whom  it  might  concern,  to  permit  Mr. 
Samuel  Gorton,  Mr.  Rendall  Holden,  Mr.  John  Greene,  and  others, 
goods  and  necessaries  carried  with  them  out  of  England,  to  land  at  any 
part  of  New  England,  and  without  any  molestation  to  pass  through  any 
part  of  the  country  to  Narraganset  Bay,  and  hereof  to  fail  not." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Rhode  Island  men  in  the  harbor  of  Boston, 
one  of  them,  Mr.  Holden,*  sent  the  order  of  the  Commission- 
ers to  Governor  Winthrop  ;  who,  finding  himself  thus  disarmed,  sub- 
mitted with  what  dignity  he  could.  He  sent  Mr.  Holden  word 
ep  '  '  that  he  had  not  authority  of  himself  to  give  them  leave  to  land, 
but  the  Council  were  to  meet  in  two  or  three  days,  when  he  would  lay 
the  subject  before  them ;  at  the  same  time  he  thought  it  prudent  to 
assume  responsibility  enough  to  give  Mr.  Holden  to  understand,  that  he 
would  not  be  looked  after  in  the  mean  time.  Thus  ended  these  very 
serious  difficulties,  the  progress  and  termination  of  which  necessarily 
form  a  portion  of  the  History  of  Boston,  of  deep  interest ;  and  not 
only  to  Boston,  but  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island, 
and  to  the  whole  country. 

Being  thus  thwarted  in  their  measures  towards  Rhode  Island  by  the 
officers  of  the  Parliament  of  England,  it  naturally  enough  caused  the 
Government  here  to  change  its  tone  somewhat  towards  that  body.  So 
long  as  Parliament  did  not  interfere  with  any  of  their  determinations, 
all  was  very  well,  and  its  ships  were  protected  in  preference  to  those 
of  the  Crown.  Now  it  was  thought  best  to  consider  the  relation  in 
which  the  "  Colony  stood  to  the  State  of  England,  and  what  subjection 
it  owed  to  that  State,"  with  many  other  similar  reflections.! 

Allein,    ¥m.   Purefoy,    and    Geo.    Snelling.  fore  his  house  on  like  terms,  and  to  be  "ye 

Another   order,  going  more  into   particulars,  breadth  of  all  his  ground."     Geo.  Griggs  and 

bearing  the  same  date,  viz.,  15  May,  1646,  has  Will.  Blanton  to  make  their  garden  fence  be- 

these  additional  signatures  :     "  Northumber-   tween  them  by ,  or  pay  20s.  Walter  Merry 

land,  Pembroke  and  Montgomery,  Manchester,  to  make  a  highway  16  feet  broad  from  his  house 

Wm.  Waller,  Dennis  Bond,  and  Ben.  Rudyer.  to  the  water  side  by  15  May,  or  pay  20s. 

—  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  272-3,  280-2.     The  Mar.  23.  —Nicholas  Willis,  James  Everell, 

names  to  the  "  Order,"  as   found   upon   the  Thomas    Grubb,   Robert  Turner,    constables. 

Providence  Records,  differ  somewhat  from  these  Wm.  Colbron  and  James  Penn  to  lay  out  the 

as  given  by  Winthrop,  according  to  the  copy  footway   from   Mr.   Nicholas    Parkes'    house 

in  Backus,  i.  198  ;  the  latter,  however,  gives  through  the  gardens  to  the  Mill  lane  or  street, 

but  five  names,  "  Warwick,  Northumberland,  Propositions  about  a  fortification  at  the  North 

Nottingham,  John  Holland,  H.  Vane,  &c."  End,  "  att  Walter  Merry's  point." 

*  Mr.  Holden  is  only  mentioned  by  name,  as  Mar.  30.  —  John  Berry  apprenticed  to  Edwd. 

arriving  at  this  time.     Mr.  Gorton  continued  Keyley ;  Wm.  Brisco  and  Tho.  Buttolfee  for 

in  England  till  1648,  as  before  stated.  the  town.     Mr.  Cuddington  to  set  up  his  gar- 

f  The  important  town    affairs    deserving  a  den  fences  by  the  14  Apl.  next,  between  John 

record,  this  year,  follow  :  —  Odlin  and  himself  and  others,  or  pay  5s.  a  rod. 

Feb.   23.  —  Edward  Harrison    admitted   a  Henry  Duglice  admitted  a  townsman.     Geo. 

townsman.     Thos.  Scotto  to  see  "  y'  ye  graves  Halsoll  may  make  a  "  cawsey  "  10  feet  square 

be  digged  five  foot  deep,"  and  to   be  Pound  from  his  wharf  at  the  north  end  of  it,  to  low 

keeper.      Christopher  Lawson  may  "  wharfe  water  mark,  to  be  free  of  access, 

afor  his  howse,  being  yl  wch  was  Sampsone  Aprl.  27.  —  Wm.  Blancher  admitted  to  in- 

Shoors,  by  Walter  Merry's,"  maintaining  a  habit,  and  to  follow  his  trade  —  a  tailor.  Thos. 

highway.     Barnabas  Faour  and  Arthur  Perry  Jones  cowkeeper,  at  2s.  a  cow.     "  A  ratt  of 

may  wharf  before  their  doors,  maintaining  a  £100  for  ye  Countrey's  debts."     One  "  for  ye 

cart-way.     Alexander  Adams  may  wharf  be-  Towne's  ocations  mad  £133,  12s."    Maj.  Gib- 


1646.] 


D  AULNAY    IN    BOSTON. 


303 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


D'Aulnay  comes  to  Boston.  —  His  Reception  and  Business.  —  Makes  a  Treaty  with  the  Commissioners 
of  the  United  Colonies.  —  His  Departure.  —  A  Ship  launched.  —  Unfortunate  commercial  Adven- 
tures. —  John  Eliot  begins  to  preach  to  the  Indians.  —  Winslow  sails  on  his  Embassy.  — Death  of 
Canonicus  —  of  Thomas  Hooker  —  of  Mrs.  Winthrop.  —  Quarantine.  —  A  Marriage. — Ambassa- 
dor from  New  Netherland.  —  Law  against  llomanists. — Other  curious  Laws.  —  Election.  —  Ar- 
rival of  Gorton.  —  Execution  of  Margaret  Jones  for  Witchcraft.  —  Order  of  Court  about  Witches. 
—  The  Rocking  Ship.  —  Thomas  Jones.  —  Synod.  —  Cambridge  Platform.  —  Second  Church.  —  New 
Brick  Church.  —  Death  of  Governor  Winthrop.  —  Commerce.  —  Bazaleel  Payton. 


Sept.  20. 


THE  difficulties  experienced  by  the  people  of  Boston, 
growing  out  of  the  contentions  between  La  Tour  and 
D'Aulnay  were  not  yet  at  an  end.    The  unwise  course 
taken  by  the  Government  to  sustain  the  former  in  his 
pretensions,  justly  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  lat- 
ter.    He  accordingly  came  to  Boston  to  demand  satis- 
faction.    His  manner  of  reception  is  thus  described 
by  Mr.  Winthrop,  then  Governor  of  the  Col- 
ony.    "  It  being  Lord's  day,*  and  the  people 
oliter.  ready  to  go  to  the  assembly  after  dinner,  Monsieur 

Marie,  and  Monsieur  Louis,  with  Monsieur  D'Aulnay,  his  Secretary, 
arrived  at  Boston  in  a  small  pinnace,  and  Major  Gibbons  sent  two  of 
his  chief  officers  to  meet  them  at  the  water-side,  who  conducted  them 
to  their  lodgings,  without  noise  or  bustle.  The  public  worship  being 
ended,  the  Governor  repaired  home,  and  sent  Major  Gibbons,  with 
other  gentlemen,  with  a  guard  of  musketeers  to  attend  them  to  the 
Governor's  house,  who,  meeting  them  without  his  door,  carried  them 
into  his  house,  where  they  were  entertained  wTith  wine  and  sweetmeats, 
and  after  a  while  he  accompanied  them  to  their  lodgings,  being  the 
house  of  Major  Gibbons,  where  they  were  entertained  that  night.  The 
next  morning  they  repaired  to  the  Governor,  and  delivered  him  their 
commission,  which  was  in  form  of  a  letter  directed  to  the  Governor  and 
magistrates.     It  was  open,  but  had  a  seal  only  let  into  the  paper  with 


bons  and  Capt.  Keayne  Deputies  to  the  Gen. 
Court.     Win.  Halston  admitted  to  inhabit. 

May  18.  —  All  persons  admitted  to  inhabit 
to  have  equal  right  of  Commonage.  All  ad- 
mitted hereafter  not  to  have  that  right  unless 
they  heir  it.  Ordered  that  but  70  milch  kine 
be  kept  on  the  Common.  Elder  Oliver's  horse 
may  go  there.  No  person  allowed  to  sell  his 
right  of  Commonage.  A  fine  for  any  cow  or 
horse  except  the  70,  if"  found  upon  ye  Neck." 

Oct.  19.  —  Bro.  Tho.  Marshall,  bro.  Chaffy, 
bro.  Negoose  and  Wm.  Franklin,  late  Consta- 
bles, ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  Gen.  Court 
for  not  paying  "  yl  woh.  is  behind  on  ye  Gar- 


rison wages."  A  "  ratt  of  £60  to  be  forthwith 
made  by  the  townsmen  for  ye  satisfieing  of  ye 
Garrison  at  ye  castle  this  year  ensuing." 

*  ' '  The  Governor  acquainting  them  with  our 
manner,  that  all  men  either  come  to  our  pub- 
lic meetings,  or  keep  themselves  quiet  in  their 
houses,  and  finding  that  the  place  where  they 
lodged  would  not  be  convenient  for  them  that 
day,  invited  them  home  to  his  house,  where 
they  continued  private  all  that  day  until  sun- 
set, and  made  use  of  such  books,  Latin  and 
French,  as  he  had,  and  the  liberty  of  a  private 
walk  in  his  garden,  and  so  gave  no  offence, 
&c."  —  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  275. 


304  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1646. 

a  label.  Their  diet  was  provided  at  the  ordinary,  where  the  Magis- 
trates use  to  diet  in  Court  times  ;  and  the  Governor  accompanied  them 
always  at  meals.  Their  manner  was  to  repair  to  the  Governor's  house 
every  morning  about  eight  of  the  clock,  who  accompanied  them  to  the 
place  of  meeting ;  and,  at  night,  either  himself  or  some  of  the  Com- 
missioners, accompanied  them  to  their  lodgings."  * 

It  was  three  days  before  the  Commissioners  had  assembled,  and  were 
ready  to  hear  the  complaints  of  Monsieur  D'Aulnay.  To  the  charge 
that  the  Government  had  lent  assistance  to  La  Tour,  it  was  answered 
that  leave  was  only  granted  that  he  might  hire  people  to  conduct 
his  ships  home  ;  and  that  the  Government  had  no  hand  in  the  action 
complained  of.  The  matter  was  discussed  two  days,  but  there  is  no 
full  report  of  the  arguments  advanced  on  either  side.  D'Aulnay  laid 
his  damages  at  8000  pounds,  but  did  not  insist  upon  pecuniary  satis- 
faction entirely;  while  the  Commissioners  would  not  admit  "any 
guilt"  on  their  part.  As  an  offset,  some  charges  were  brought  against 
D'Aulnay.  Finally  it  was  agreed  that  the  wrongs  charged  on  one 
side  should  balance  those  charged  on  the  other ;  but  as  the  Commis- 
sioners disclaimed  the  actions  of  the  volunteers  who  went  with  La  Tour, 
they  agreed  "  to  send  a  small  present  to  D'Aulnay,  in  satisfaction  of 
that,  and  so  all  injuries  and  demands  to  be  remitted,"  and  peace  to  be 
concluded.  A  treaty  was  accordingly  signed  by  the  parties.  The  pro- 
s  t  28  Posed  "  small  present"  was  in  due  time  sent  to  the  Frenchman. 
'It  consisted  of  the  sedan,  "very  fair  and  new,"  which  Captain 
Cromwell  had  given  to  Mr.  Winthropf  a  few  months  before,  and  which 
was  now  given  to  D'Aulnay,  as  Winthrop  says,  because  it  was  of  no 
value  to  him  !  Thus  cheaply  was  Monsieur  D'Aulnay  got  rid  of,  and 
his  8000  pounds  claim. 

D'Aulnay  and  his  suite  left  Boston  the  same  day  the  treaty  was 
signed  ;  "  the  Governor  and  our  Commissioners  accompanying  them  to 
their  boat,  attended  with  a  guard  of  musketeers,  and  gave  them  five 
guns  from  Boston,  three  from  Charlestown,  and  five  from  Castle  Island  ; 
and  we  sent  them  aboard  a  quarter  cask  of  sack  and  some  mutton. 
They  answered  all  our  salutations  with  such  small  pieces  as  they  had,  and 
so  set  sail ;  Major  Sedgwick  and  some  other  gentlemen  accompanying 
them  as  far  as  Castle  Island." 

0     17      The   launching  of  a  ship  in  this   early  day  was  no  ordinary 

event  in  the  affairs  of  Boston.     One  is  launched  at  this  time  of 

300  tons  burthen.  J     The  ships  belonging  to  Boston  were  this  year  not 

*  "  The  two  first   days   after   their  arrival  ing  he  knew  our  minds  he  would  do  it  of  him- 

their  pinnace  kept  up  her  flag  in  the  main  top,  self.     Whereupon   he   gave   order   to  have  it 

which  gave  offence  both  to  the  Londoners  who  taken  down."  —  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  275. 
rode  in  the  harbor,  and  also  to  our  own  people,        f  See  ante,  page  301. 

whereupon  Monsieur  Marie  was  put  in  mind       j  Now,  Oct.  4th,  1853,  one  of  4000  tons  is 

of  it.     At  first  he  excused  it  by  a  general  cus-  launched,  and  although  its  launching  was  wit- 

tom  of  the  King's  ships,  both  French,  English  nessed  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people,  it  is  not 

and  Dutch,  &c,  to  use  it  in  all  places  ;   but  so  important  an  event  in  the  history  of  Boston 

being  now  under  our  government,  if  we  would  at  this  time,  as  that  of  300  tons  was  in  the 

so  command,  he  would  cause  to  be  taken  down,  period  under  notice  ;  yet  the  "  Great  Republic  " 

We  desired  him  not  to  put  us  to  that,  but  see-  of  Mr.  M'Kay  marks  an  era  in  shipbuilding. 


1646.]  DISASTERS JOHN    ELIOT,  305 

very  prosperous.  Major  Gibbons  and  Captain  Leverett  had  a  ship  cast 
away  at  Virginia,  and  lost,  as  near  as  could  be  estimated,  2000  pounds. 
A  small  craft  that  was  fitted  out  to  trade  at  Barbadoes,  was  found  cast 
ashore  at  Scituatc,  but  her  crew  were  all  lost.  Another,  which  went  to 
trade  about  the  Gulf  of  Canada,  was  taken  by  D'Aulnay,  as  trespassing 
on  his  rights.* 

Mr.  John  Eliot,  Minister  of  Roxbury,  having  with  great  labor 
and  perseverance  so  far  learned  the  language  of  the  Indians  as 
to  be  understood  by  them,  began  to  preach  to  them.  He  preached  con- 
stantly in  two  places  ;  one  week  at  the  wigwam  of  Waban,  near  the 
mill  in  Watertown,  and  the  next  week  in  the  wigwam  of  Kutshamokin, 
near  the  mill  in  Dorchester.  To  show  the  Indians  that  what  Mr.  Eliot 
was  doing  was  approved  of  by  the  best  people,  Governor  Winthrop 
and  other  gentlemen  of  Boston  often  attended  at  the  wigwams  to  give 
countenance  to  his  undertaking. 

Mr.  Eliot  had  a  happy  faculty  of  winning  the  love  and  respect  of  the 
Natives,  and  he  soon  became  their  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  adviser 
and  guide  ;  and,  by  his  mildness  and  moderation,  he  often  saved  those 
who  would  listen  to  him,  from  impositions,  and  prevented  altercations 
among  them,  and  between  them  and  their  white  neighbors.  He  began 
early  with  the  little  Indian  children,  by  asking  them  simple  catechet- 
ical questions,  whom  he  would  induce  to  answer  by  giving  them  at  first 
a  cake,  an  apple,  or  something  of  which  he  knew  them  to  be  fond. 
These  Indian  labors  became  very  extensive  ;  even  from  the  Merrimack 
river  to  Cape  Cod.  To  carry  on  this  work  he  suffered  almost  every 
privation  and  hardship,  and  if  the  good  he  did  passed  away  with  the 
generations  to  whom  it  extended,  he  had  his  reward  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  benefited  great  numbers  of  the  benighted  race,  and  ele- 
vating them  in  the  scale  of  humanity.  It  is  unjust,  in  view  of  Mr. 
Eliot's  labors,  to  inquire,  as  some  have  done,  "  Cui  bono?"f  The 
same  inquiry  will  apply  to  all  the  good  that  has  been  done  in  the  world, 
with  equal  justice.  Mr.  Eliot  continued  his  labors  through  a  long  life. 
He  died  in  Roxbury,  on  the  twentieth  of  May,  1690,  in  the  eighty- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

D  It  was  about  the  middle  of  December  before  Mr.  Winslow  was 

ready  to  sail  for  England.  He  went  prepared  in  the  best  possible 
manner  to  counteract  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Child,  Mr.  Gorton,  and  others ; 
who,  as  has  been  observed,  were  using  their  endeavors  to  give  an  im- 
pression unfavorable  to  the  Government  at  Boston.  Mr.  Winslow  failed 
to  accomplish  all  that  was  hoped  for,  while  he  succeeded  quite  as  well 
as  any  one  acquainted  with  the  case,  could  have  expected.  J 

*It  was  agreed,  in  the  late  treaty  with  D'Aul-  profited  by  former  experience.  The  ship  taken 
nay,  that  the  people  of  Boston  should  not  by  D'Aulnay  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Dob- 
trade  within  his  territories  without  license,  son.  She  was  "double  manned,"  and  fitted 
When  it  was  known  at  Boston  that  this  ship  for  war.  Her  cargo  was  valued  at  £1000. 
and  cargo  was  confiscated,  the  merchants  in-  f  Douglass,  i.  172.  —  Rogers,  Ch.  Disc,  63. 
terested  were  for  making  reprisal,  but  were  j  A  law  was  made  this  year  forbidding  any 
restrained  by  the  Government,  which  had  person  to  swear,  under  a  penalty  of  10s.,  and 
39 


306  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1647. 

Among  the  remarkable  occurrences  of  this  year  was  the  death 
of  the  great  Indian  Chief,  Canonicus  ;  "a  very  old  man,"  says 
Winthrop.  There  is  nothing  by  which  his  exact  age  can  be  deter- 
mined, but  it  may  be  remembered  that  he  was  the  most  important  Chief 
in  the  country  when  the  Pilgrims  arrived  at  Plymouth.  The  death  of 
Miantonimo  undoubtedly  affected  him  much,  as  he  put  all  his  depend- 
ence on  him,  in  conducting  his  public  affairs  with  respect  to  other 
tribes  and  foreigners.  Though  Miantonimo  was  not  his  son,  he  was  his 
nephew,  and  was  regarded  by  him  with  all  the  fondness  of  a  father. 
Canonicus  was  never  at  Boston,  probably,  although  he  had  much  indi- 
rect intercourse  with  the  Government  here.  * 

Other  deaths  of  remarkable  persons  are  recorded ;   among  them  Mr. 
Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hartford,f  and  Mrs.  Winthrop,  wife  of  the  Gov- 
ernor,  "a  woman  of  singular  virtue,  prudence,  modesty  and 
piety,  and  specially  beloved  and  honored  of  all  the  country. "J 
She  was  ill  but  a  single  night ;   "  having  fell  sick  on  the  thirteenth  of 
June,  in  the  afternoon,  died  the  next  morning."     These   deaths  were 
occasioned  by  an  epidemic,  which  "  took  them  like  a  cold,  and  a  light 
fever  with  it.     Such  as  bled  or  used  cooling  drinks  died."    It  extended 
"  throughout  the  country,  among  Indians,  English,  French  and  Dutch." 
Some  forty  or  fifty  only  died  of  it  in  Massachusetts.     There  was  great 
mortality  in  the  West  India  Islands,  and  there  was  much  fear  in  Boston 
that  ships  from  those  islands  would  import  it.     The  arrival  of  Captain 
George  Dell  §  from  St.  Christopher's  caused  a  good  deal  of  excite- 
ment, as  he  ran  his  vessel  in  under  a  false  pretence  to  avoid  a  sort 
of  rude  quarantine  which  then  existed.     Other  arrivals  about  the  same 
time  caused  considerable  uneasiness. 

A  marriage,  which  took  place  at  Boston  on  the  fourth  of  Au- 
gust of  this  year,  gave  the  chief  Magistrate  some  concern,  and  he 
signifies  his  displeasure  by  calling  it  a  "  great  marriage  ;"  which,  be- 
cause the  bridegroom,  Mr.  Samuel  Danforth,  being  of  Hingham,  the 
marriage  was  to  be  solemnized  by  a  Sermon  from  "Mr.  Hubbard"  of 
that  town.  On  Mr.  Hobart's  (for  that  was  his  name)  arrival  in  Boston, 
"  the  Magistrates  sent  to  him  to  forbear."  The  reasons  alleged  for  the 
order  to  "forbear"  were,  that  "his  spirit  had  been  discovered  to  be 

if  any  Indian  presumed  to  powwow,  he  should  myself  had  with  that  great  Sachem  Mianto- 

"pay  10s.  and  stop  powwing.  If  a  child,  over  16  nimo,  about  the  league  which  I  procured  be- 

years  of  age,  curse  his  parents,  it  shall  be  put  tween  the  Massachusetts  English,  &c,  and  the 

to  death.     John  Eliot  was  allowed  £10  for  in-  Narragansets  in  the  Pequot  war." — Backus, 

structing  the  Indians,  out  of  the  £20  granted  i.  91. 

by  the  Lady  Armine.  Persons  absenting  them-  f  Though  Mr.  Hooker's  death  is  recorded  by 

selves  from  public  worship  to  pay  5s.     If  any  Winthrop  in  his  Journal  (ii.  310),  before  that 

renounced  the  Church,  and   pretended  to  be  of  his  wife,  it  is  believed  to  have  taken  place 

spiritually  illuminated,  they  were  to  be  fined  after  it:  viz.,  July  7th. 

40s.  a  month.  J  See  the  Winthrop  pedigree,  page  72,  ante. 

*  Several    years    after  the  death  of   these  §  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  Boston,  7 

Chiefs,  Roger  Williams  thus  testifies  of  one  of  May,  1651,  and  died  about  two  years  after, 

them:     "It   was   not   price  nor  money   that  leaving  a  good  estate  for  those  times,  which, 

could  have  purchased  Rhode  Island.     It  was  by  his  inventory,  amounted  to  £1506, 14s.,  l\d. 

obtained  by  love  ;  by  the  love  and  favor  which  His  will  is  printed  in  the  Antiquarian  Journal, 

that  honorable  Gentleman  Sir  Henry  Vane  and  v.  442-3. 


1647.] 


LAW   AGAINST   ROMANISTS. 


307 


averse  to  our  ecclesiastical  and  civil  government,  and  he  was  a  bold 
man,  and  would  speak  his  mind,  and  we  were  not  willing  to  bring  in 
the  English  custom  of  ministers  performing  the  solemnity  of  marriage, 
which  sermons  at  such  times  might  induce  ;  but  if  any  ministers  were 
present,  and  would  bestow  a  word  of  exhortation,  &c,  it  was  permit- 
ted."* 

It  appears,  however,  that  the  objections  did  not  lie  so  much  against 
sermons  at  marriages,  as  to  the  officiating  Minister  who  preached  them  ; 
for  Mr.  Cotton  was  allowed  to  preach  a  sermon  at  Mr.  Danforth's  mar- 
riage with  "  the  virtuous  daughter  of  Mr.  Wilson."  f 

About  the  same  time  Governor  Peter  Stuyvessant,  having  arrived  at 
New  York,  and  on  assuming  the  government  there,  sent  his  Secretary 
to  Boston  with  letters  to  Governor  Winthrop,  "with  a  tender  of  all 
courtesy  and  good  correspondency."  J 

A  law  was  made  by  the  General  Court  this  year,  providing,  that  "no 
Jesuite  or  spiritual  or  ecclesiastical  person  ordained  by  the  authority  of 
the  Pope  or  See  of  Rome,"  shall  come  within  its  jurisdiction.  The  oc- 
casion of  the  law  at  this  time,  was  "  the  great  wars  and  combustions" 
in  Europe. §  Another  law  of  far  greater  moment  was  made  at  the 
October  term  of  the  same  court.  This  was  the  law  establishing  Public 
Schools  —  believed  to  be  the  first  legislative  enactment  of  the  kind  in 


*  Winthrop,  Journal,  ii.  313. — Lincoln's 
Hist.  Hingham,  77. 

f  Mather,  Magnalia,  Book  iv.  p.  155.  But 
Mather  says  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Danforth 
with  Miss  Wilson  took  place  "  in  the  year 
1651."  Mather  is  not  exact  in  dates  of  this 
description.  See  a  pedigree  of  the  Danforth 
Family  in  the  Antiquarian  Journal,  vii.  321. 

J  Jan.  25.  —  It  was  ordered  by  the  Town 
that  William  "Dauice  the  apotecary  "  have 
leave  to  set  up  a  "  pajll  afor  his  hall  window 
and  parlor  window  three  foot  from  his  house." 
Mr.  Tho.  Oliver  to  have  £9,  for  curing  Rich. 
Berry,  that  was  Tho.  Hawkins'  man.  George 
Halsoll  shall  make  up  the  Town's  highway  be- 
tween his  garden  and  the  sea,  that  he  hath 
digged  away,  by  the  6th  of  May  next.  The 
same  shall  keep  a  passage  boat  between  his 
wharf  and  "  ye  ships  wher  the  ships  rid," 
and  may  take  a  penny  a  person  for  passage. 

Mar.  18.  —  Select  men  for  this  year,  W"m. 
Colbourne,  Mr.  Anthony  Stodder,  Jacob  Eliot, 
Wm.  Davie,  Tho.  Marshall,  James  Everill  and 
James  Penn.  Major  Gibbons  and  Wm.  Tinge, 
deputies  to  the  Gen.  Court.  Constables,  Mr. 
Wm.  Dauice,  Robert  Hull,  Tho.  Buttolfe,  and 
James  Penn.  Surveyors,  James  Oliver,  Wm. 
Hudson,  Richd.  Gridley,  and  Edwd.  Fletcher. 
Sealers  of  leather,  bro.  Copp.  Evan  Thomas, 
Wm.  Courser,  and  John  Stevenson. 

Mar.  29.  —  No  inhabitant  shall  entertain 
man  or  woman  from  any  other  town  or  coun- 
try, but  shall  give  notice  of  any  such  sojourn- 
ers if  they  intend  to  reside  in  the  Town,  within 
eight  days  after  their  coming,  upon  penalty  of 
20s.     No  house  shall  be  sold  or  let  without 


first  informing  the  Selectmen.  "No  person 
shall  goe  about ' '  to  dig  a  cellar  or  erect  any 
building  "  in  ye  face  of  ye  street,"  till  they 
have  notified  the  Selectmen.  "  Heniry  Weeb  " 
to  enjoy  the  wharf  he  bo't  of  Edwd.  Tinge 
without  disturbance.  Wm.  Brisco  and  Ralph 
Roott  to  see  to  making  up  the  fences  at  Muddy 
river.  No  pson  shall  dig  "  soods  out  of  ye 
Common  vpon  p'ill  yl  may  ensue  on  ye  damage 
soe  done."  A  highway  12  feet  [wide]  to  be 
made  "  through  Mr.  Stough ton's  ground  along 
ye  rayle  side  and  soe  thro  Rich.  Cook's  and 
Tho.  Butolffs  ground  to  ye  farder  end  of  ye 
lots  to  Tho.  Munt's  ground  on  ye  farthest 
side." 

Apl.  26.  —  Benjamin  Ward  may  wharf  be- 
fore "his  on  pprietye."  The  8th  pt  of  y8 
marsh  he  bo't  of  ye  Town  next  to  him  "  for 
£3  p.  an.  this  too  years,"  he  shall  pay  £4  a 
year  for  after  that,  if  the  remainder  be  not  let 
to  make  up  £20  a  year.  John  Anderson  may 
wharf  as  above,  and  take  wharfage.  John 
Milam  may  wharf  "afore  ye  highway  y*  lys 
next  him." 

May  31. — John  Jibson  [Gibson],  John 
Chandler  and  Tho.  Leader  may  inhabit.  Mr. 
Edwards  may  live  in  the  town.  Martin  Steb- 
bin  forbid  to  brew  any  more  beer  to  sell,  save 
only  this  week.  Isaac  Groose  forbid  to  sell 
any  beer  by  the  quart  any  more  within  doors. 

July  26.  —  Martin  Stebbin  fined  20s.  for 
brewing  beer  to  sell  without  order.  Robt. 
Nash  shall  not  kill  beasts  in  the  street  now 
laid  out,  and  shall  remove  his  slaughterhouse 
on  penalty  of  19s.  and  6d. 

§  Hazard,  Historical  Collections,  i.  550 


308  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1648. 

New  England.  It  is  an  object  now  of  pleasing  curiosity,  to  observe  the 
origin  of  this  law.  The  wise  fathers  of  that  time  were  fully  sensible 
that  knowledge  was  of  great  importance  to  all  men  ;  that  the  strong 
hold  of  "  Satan  "  consisted  in  their  ignorance  ;  that,  therefore,  all  means 
should  be  employed  by  them  to  counteract  the  "  chief  project  of  that 
ould  deluder;"  and  hence  this  early  resort  to  a  law  for  universal  educa- 
tion.* 

At  the  general  election  for  1648,  Mr.  Winthrop  is  again 
ay  '  re-chosen  Governor,  and  Mr.  Dudley  Deputy  Governor,  Mr. 
Endicott  Sergeant  Major,  who,  with  Mr.  Bradstreet,  is  chosen  a  Com- 
missioner of  the  United  Colonies.  Mr.  Symmes,  of  Charlestown, 
preached  the  Sermon.  Captain  Keayne  and  James  Penn,  Deputies 
for  Boston. 

As  an  occurrence  not  often  happening,  it  is  observed  that  there  ar- 
rived at  Boston  from  London  three  ships  on  one  of  the  days  of  the 
month  of  May.  In  one  of  them,  probably,  came  Samuel  Gorton,  on 
his  return  to  his  Patent  in  Rhode  Island.  The  Authorities  excused 
themselves  for  allowing  him  to  land  in  Boston  and  to  proceed  on  his 
journey  unmolested,  alleging  that  if  they  attempted  to  execute  their  old 
sentence  upon  him,  such  act  might  prejudice  their  cause  in  England  ; 
thus  entirely  keeping  out  of  sight  the  real  cause, — the  order  of  the 
Commissioners  of  Parliament,  already  noticed  in  these  pages. 
T  r_  The  first  execution  for  witchcraft  in  the  Colony  took  place  in 
Boston.  The  victim  was  a  female  named  Margaret, f  the  wife 
of  [Thomas  1]  Jones  of  Charlestown.J  Such  proceedings  as  are  found 
recorded  about  it  show  that  the  minds  of  people  were  then  in  a  most 
melancholy  state  of  superstitious  slavery.  Margaret  Jones  perished  on 
the  gallows,  as  much  for  her  good  offices,  as  for  the  evil  influences  im- 
puted to  her.  She  had  been,  like  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  many  of  the 
early  mothers  of  the  Colony,  a  physician  ;  but  being  once  suspected  of 
witchcraft,  "she  was  found  to  have  such  a  malignant  touch,  as  many 
persons  were  taken  with  deafness,  or  vomiting,  or  other  violent  pains 
or  sickness  ;"  her  medicines,  though  harmless  in  themselves,  "  yet  had 
extraordinary  violent  effects;"  that  such  as  refused  her  medicines, 
"she  would  tell  that  they  would  never  be  healed,  and  accordingly 
their  diseases  and  hurts  continued,  with  relapse  against  the  ordinary 
course,  and  beyond  the  apprehension  of  all  physicians  and  surgeons." 
As  she  lay  in  prison,  "a  little  child  was  seen  to  run  from  her  into 
another  room,  and  being  followed  by  an  officer,  it  was  vanished." 
There  was  other  testimony  against  her,  more  ridiculous  than  this.     To 

*  The  General  Court  ordered  that  if  a  young  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  is  right.     The  error  in 

man  paid   his   addresses  to  a  young  woman  Danforth's  Almanack,  that  her  name  was  Alice, 

without  consent  of  her  parents,  or,  in  their  may  have  arisen  from  confounding  the  wife  of 

absence,  the  consent  of  the  County  Court,  he  Thomas  Jones  with  the  wife  of  Richard,  whose 

should  be  fined  £5  ;  if  repeated,  £10,  and  for  name  was  Alice.     The  latter  was  a  widow  in 

a  third  offence,  to  be  imprisoned.     An  order  1643.  —  See  Suffolk  Reg.  Deeds,  i.  41. 

was  passed  to  cause  a  uniformity  of  weights  J  There  is  nothing,  says  Mr.  Frothingham, 

and  measures  throughout  the  Province.  on  the  Records  of  Charlestown  relative  to  this 

f  Winthrop  says  her  name  was  Margaret,  affair.  — Hist.  Charlestown,  117. 


1648.]  WITCHCRAFT THE    ROCKING    SHIP.  309 

make  her  case  appear  as  bad  as  possible,  and  that  there  could  be  no 
mistake  about  it,  the  recorder  of  it  says,  that  "her  behavior  at  her 
trial  was  very  intemperate,  lying  notoriously  and  railing  upon  the  jury 
and  witnesses ;"  and  that,  "in  the  like  distemper  she  died"!  It  is 
not  unlikely  that  this  poor,  forsaken  woman  was  indignant  at  the  abom- 
inable testimony  against  her,  and  that  her  denial  of  the  charges  was 
construed  into  "  lying  notoriously."  And  in  the  honest  belief  of  witch- 
craft, the  same  recorder  notes,  in  the  most  complacent  credulity,  that 
"the  same  day  and  hour  she  was  executed,, there  was  a  very  great 
tempest  at  Connecticut,  which  blew  down  many  trees,  &c."  ! 

Terrible  forebodings  were  spread  abroad  in  the  community  respecting 
the  visitation  of  witchcraft,  and  the  General  Court  made  an  order  for 
the  watching  of  suspected  persons ;  and  some,  probably,  thought  se- 
M  riously  of  sending  to  England  to  procure   "witch  finders,"   as 

that  profession  was,  about  this  time,  in  high  repute  under  the 
notorious  villany  of  one  Matthew  Hopkins.* 

The  case  of  Margaret  Jones  opens  to  the  reader  of  the  history  of  the 
Fathers  of  Boston  a  page  which  must  cause  a  sigh  of  sorrow  in  this 
age,  and  doubtless  many  in  ages  to  come.  It  presents  them,  neverthe- 
less, as  they  really  were,  laboring  under  the  most  abject  influence  of 
the  monster  —  superstition.  And  yet  they  were  no  more  its  subjects 
than  all  the  rest  of  the  world ;  but  such  was  the  actual  state  of  the 
minds  of  men  two  hundred  years  ago.  Margaret  Jones  had  gone  down 
to  a  disgraceful  grave,  but  her  husband,  probably  despised  for  the  sins 
of  his  wife,  resolved  to  leave  the  country.  He  accordingly  took  passage 
T  in  a  ship  for  Barbadoes.    That  ship,  called  the  Welcome,  was  a 

Boston  ship  of  three  hundred  tons,  and  concerning  her  it  is 
honestly  told,  that  "as  she  was  riding  before  Charlestown,  having  in 
her  eighty  horses  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  ballast,  in  calm 
weather,  fell  a  rolling,  and  continued  so  about  twelve  hours,  so  as  though 
they  brought  a  great  weight  to  the  one  side,  yet  she  would  heel  to  the 
other,  and  so  deep  as  they  feared  her  foundering."  The  County  Court 
was  now  in  session  in  Boston,  and  the  fact  of  the  rolling  ship  "  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  Magistrates,  and  withal  that  one  Jones,  the  husband 
of  the  witch  lately  executed,"  had  taken  passage  in  her,  but  that  there 
was  some  question  about  his  ability  to  pay  his  passage,  and  hence  some 
unseen  spirit  was  thus  troubling  the  ship.  The  Court  therefore  sent  an 
officer  and  arrested  Jones.  One  of  the  magistrates  remarked,  upon  the 
issue  of  the  warrant  for  his  arrest,  "  that  the  ship  would  stand  still  as 
soon  as  he  was  in  prison.  And  as  the  officer  went,  and  was  passing 
over  the  ferry,  one  said  to  him,  '  You  can  tame  men  sometimes,  can't 
you  tame  this  ship  ? '  The  officer  answered,  '  I  have  that  here,  that,  it 
may  be,  will  tame  her,  and  make  her  be  quiet ;'  and  with  that  showed 
his  warrant.  And,  at  the  same  instant,  she  began  to  stop,  and  presently 
staid,  and  after  he  was  put  in  prison,  moved  no  more."  f 

*  See  Oaulfield's  Memoirs  of  Remarkable  Per-  f  Winthrop,  Journal  ii.  326,  327.  Other 
sons,  ii.  122.  —  Also  Butler's  Hudibras  (Part  equally  strange  things  about  this  ship  are  told 
ii.  Cant.  3)  and  his  Annotators.  with  as  much   faith  and  minuteness  by  the 


310  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1648. 

While  the  community  was  agitated  by  fears  of  witchcraft,  there  was 

one  of  the  most  important  Synods*  convened  at  Cambridge  to  establish 

a  Rule  of  Faith  for  the  Churches.     It  was  adjourned  from  June 

ep '     *  to  the  fifteenth  of  September,!  and,  at  the  end  of  the  month 

last  named,  a  Platform  was  unanimously  adopted.  J 

Until  this  year  there  was  but  one  Meeting-house  in  Boston ;  now  the 
population  had  so  much  increased,  that  another  was  absolutely  necessary 
for  their  accommodation.  It  was  therefore  agreed  that  one  should  be 
erected  at  the  North  End,  and  the  following  year  its  foundation  was 
laid  at  the  head  of  what  is  since  North  Square.  Another  year  elapsed 
before  preaching  became  constant  in  it.  This  was  the  "  Church  of  the 
Mathers."  Samuel  Mather  was  its  first  minister.  He  was  son  of 
Richard  of  Dorchester,  and  brother  of  Increase  Mather. §  The  first  || 
sermon  was  preached  on  the  fifth  of  June,  1650,  and  the  members  who 
were  on  that  day  united  by  covenant,  were  Michael  Powell,  James  Ash- 
wood,  Christopher  Gibson,  John  Phillips,  George  Davis,  Michael  Wills, 
and  John  Farnham. 

The  Second  Church,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  other,  was  called  the 
North  Church,  and  in  time  the  Old  North.  It  was  burnt  "to  ashes" 
in  1676,  and  rebuilt  the  following  year.  These  were  of  wood.  When 
the  last  had  stood  ninety-eight  years,  the  town  was  in  possession  of  a 
hostile  army  ;  which  being  in  want  of  fuel,  it  was,  with  other  edifices, 
torn  to  pieces,  to  supply,  as  far  as  it  might,  that  purpose. 1F     After  the 

same  author,  but  I  have  not  room  for  them,  serpent  is  the  Devil ;  the  Synod  the  represen- 

They  may  be  read  with  harmless  embellish-  tative  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  New  Eng- 

ment  in  the  Magnolia  Christi  Americana.  land.      The   Devil    had    formerly   and   lately 

*"  An  Ecclesiastical  Council,  or  Synod,  is  a  attempted  their  disturbance  and  dissolution; 
Convention  of  duly  qualified  persons,  called  to  but  their  faith  in  the  seed  of  the  woman  over- 
consult,  and  judge  about  affairs,  in  which  came  him  and  crushed  his  head."  —  Winthrop, 
Churches,  one  or  more,  are  concerned."  —  Dr.  Journal,  ii.  330. 

Increase  Mather's  Disquisition  concerning  Ec-  J  This  is  agreeable  to  the  Preface,  page  4, 

clesiastical  Councils,  p.  i.  Boston,  18  mo.,  1716.  of  the  Saybrook  Confessions  of  Faith,  in  1708. 

This  Synod   now  met,  is   considered,  in  the  Published  at  N.  London,  in  1710,  12mo. 

Ecclesiastical  history  of  New  England,  as  a  §  In  1716,  Dr.  Increase  Mather  said,  "  My 

continuation  of  that  convened  in  1646.     At  dearest  brother,  Samuel  Mather  (whose  suc- 

the  conclusion  of  its  present  session,  it  was  cessor  I  am  here  in  Boston,  he  having  been  the 

dissolved.  first  that  preached  the  Gospel  to  that  Church 

f  Mr.  Allen,  of  Dedham,  preached  a  sermon  unto  which  I  have  been  related  for  more  than 

at  the  opening  in  September,  which,  according  fifty  years,  and  after  his  removal  from  New 

to  Winthrop,  was  one  of  superior  excellence.  England,  became  the  Pastor  of  a  Congrega- 

In  connection  with  his  account  of  the  Sermon,  tional  Church  in  Dublin,  where  also  he  was 

he  relates  the  following  curious  incident,  ren-  succeeded  by  another  brother,  the  well  known 

dered  doubly  curious  from  its  peculiar  appli-  Nathaniel  Mather),  wrote  an  Irenicum,"  &c— 

cation :  —  "It  fell  out  about  the  midst  of  his  Disq.  concern.  Eccl.  Councils,  p.  xi. 

sermon,  there   came  a  snake   into   the   seat,  ||  The  first  sermon  of  which  any  knowledge 

where  many  of  the  Elders  sate,  behind   the  is  found.     See  the  splendid  and  able  history 

preacher.     It  came  in  at  the  door  where  peo-  of  this  Church,  by  the   Rev.  Chandler  Rob- 
pie  stood  thick  upon  the  stairs.    Divers  of  the .  bins,  who  says,  "No  account  has  been  dis- 

Elders  shifted  from  it,  but  Mr.  Thompson,  one  covered  of  the  first  occupancy  of  the  edifice, 

of  the  Elders  of  Braintree  (a  man  of  much  or  of  its  formal  consecration."  —  Page  6. 

faith),  trode  upon  the  head  of  it,  and  so  held  it  ^f  Dr.  Lothrop  wrote  in  the  Records  of  the 

with  his  foot  and  staff  with  a  small  pair  of  Church,  "The  house  which  was  built  in  1677, 

grains,  until  it  was  killed.     This  being  so  re-  was  in  very  good  repair,  and  might  have  stood 

markable,  and  nothing  falling  out  but  by  Di-  many  years  longer,  had  not  those  sons  of  vio- 

vine  Providence,  it  is,  out  of  doubt,  the  Lord  lence,   with   wicked    hands,    razed   it   to   the 

discovered  somewhat  of  his  mind  in  it.     The  foundation.     A  number  of  evil-minded  men  of 


1G48.] 


SECOND    CHURCH.  NEW    BRICK. 


311 


SECOND    CHURCH. 


destruction  of  their  house  in  1775,  the  Congre- 
gation went  to  the  New  Brick,*  to  worship 
with  Dr.  Lathrop,  in  Hanover  Street,  and 
formed  one  Society  ;  taking,  together  with 
their  Pastor,  the  name  and  records  of  the 
Second  Church.  This  house,  which  stood  from 
1721  to  1844,f  has  given  place  to  one  of  stone, 
in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  which 
was  dedicated  on  the  sixteenth  of  September, 
1845.  | 

The  first  Minister  of  the  New  Brick  Church, 
was  the  Rev.  William  Waldron,  son  of  Col- 
onel Richard  Waldron,  of  Portsmouth,  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  grandson  of  Major  Richard 
Waldron,  of  Dover,  in  the  same  state, §  whose 
life  was  so  tragically  ended  by  the  Indians,  on  the  night  of  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  June,  1689.  Contemporary  with  him  in  the  Old  North, 
were  the  venerable  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  his  son  Cotton,  and  the  Rev. 
Joshua  Gee.  The  Rev.  William  Welsteed  succeeded  Mr.  Waldron,  and 
the  Rev.  Ellis  Gray  was  his  Colleague,  and  died  before  him.  Mr.  Wel- 
steed died  in  1753,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pember- 
ton,  son  of  a  distinguished  father  of  the  same  Christian  name,  many 
years  Pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church.  It  was  with  Dr.  Pemberton's 
Society  that  Dr.  Lathrop  and  the  Society  of  the  Old  North  united,  as 
already  stated.  The  war  had  driven  Dr.  Pemberton  into  the  country, 
and  he  died  the  same  year  that  the  Churches  of  the  Old  North  and 
New  Brick  were  united. 

There  arrived  in  Boston  one  Mr.  Harrison,  from  Nansemond 
in  Virginia.  Being  a  Nonconformist  Minister  there,  and  having 
attracted  many  followers,  he  and  Mr.  William  Durand,  their  Elder,  were 
banished  by  the  Governor,  Sir  William  Berkley.  He  came  here  to  seek 
advice,  as  to  where  they  should  go,  or  what  they  should  do.  Mr.  Du- 
rand had  before  resided  in  Boston.  Mr.  Harrison  returned  to  England, 
after  "  a  year  or  two,"  but  what  became  of  Mr.  Durand  does  not  ap- 
pear. || 


Oct.  20. 


the  King's  party,  obtained  leave  of  Gen.  Howe 
to  pull  it  down,  under  a  pretence  of  wanting  it 
for  fuel,  although  there  were  then  quantities 
of  coal  and  wood  in  the  town."  —  Mr.  Rob- 
bins'  History,  129. 

*  The  origin  of  this  Church  will  be  related 
in  its  order  of  time. 

f  For  an  interesting  account  of  it,  see  Mr. 
Robbins'  excellent  description,  in  his  His- 
tory before  cited,  p.  178-9.  The  engraving 
of  the  New  Brick  Church  here  represented,  is 
copied  from  one  in  Bowen's  Picture  of  Bos- 
ton. 

%  The  Ministers  of  the  Second,  or  Old  North, 
succeeded  in  the  following  order  :  Samuel  Ma- 
ther ;    John   Mayo,   1655   to   1672 ;   Increase 


Mather,  1669  to  1723  ;  Cotton  Mather,  1685 
to  1728 ;  Rev.  Joshua  Gee,  1723  to  1748  ; 
Samuel  Mather  (son  of  Cotton)  1732  to  1741 ; 
Samuel  Checkley,  Jr.,  1747  to  1768  ;  John 
Lathrop,  1768  to  1816;  Henry  Ware,  Jr., 
1817  to  1830  ;  R.  W.  Emerson,  1829  to  1832 ; 
Chandler  Jiobbins,  1833 . 

§  See  Antiquarian  Journal,  v.  182. 

||  Jan.  31. — There  are  but  few  entries  in 
the  Town  Records  for  1648.  Deer  Island  is 
let  to  Edward  Bendall  for  seven  years,  at  £14 
a  year,  which  rent  is  for  "ye  schoole's  use  in 
pvison  and  clothing  ;"  but  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  to  cut  wood  on  said  island  for  their 


own  use. 
Mar.  13. 


■"  Townsmen  "  chosen,  Colbron, 


312  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1649. 

The  most  memorable  occurrence  of  this  year  was  the  death  of  Gover- 
nor Winthrop.     He  died  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,*  having  just 
entered  upon  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age.    He  continued  his  Diary 
or  Journal  to  within  about  one  month  of  his  decease  ;  the  last  entry 
being,  "  11,  (11.)  1648,"  which  corresponds  to  the  eleventh  of  Jan- 
uary, 1649.     He  made  no  entry  in  December,  and  but  two  in  Novem- 
ber.     In  the  last  named  month  he  records  the  arrival  of  a 
Nov  g    Dutch  hoy,  of  about  thirty  tons,  with  cordage  and  other  goods. 
She  had  in  her  seven  men,  and  came  from  the  Isle  of  Wite  to 
Boston  in  five  weeks.     The  other  entry  for  this  month  is  an  account 
of  the  remarkable  escape  from  shipwreck  of  Bazaleel  Payton,  a  mem- 
ber  of  the  Church  of  Boston,  who,  in  a  vessel  of  sixty  tons,  on 
arriving  in  the  Outer  Bay,  was  taken  with  a  great  easterly 
storm  in  the  night,  lost  all  his  anchors,  was  driven  among  Cohasset 
rocks,  and  by  the  immense  waves  out  of  water  upon  the  sand.     This 
fortunate  little  vessel  was  not  thus  abandoned  by  the  tempest.     A  sea, 
more  overgrown  than  that  by  which  she  had  been  placed  upon  a  high 
ridge  of  sand,  came  and  wafted  her  landward  of  her  resting  place,  and 
left  her  safely  floating  in  a  smooth  lake  beyond  ! 

1649.  Under  this  date,  as  above  noticed,  Winthrop  makes  the  last 
Jan.  ll.  record  in  his  Journal.  It  is  merely  a  note  of  accidents  and 
providences;  detailing  the  particular  manner  in  which  "about  eight 
persons  were  drowned  this  winter,  all  by  adventuring  upon  the  ice  but 
three  ;"  but  as  he  does  not  accompany  his  details  with  the  names  of 
any  of  the  sufferers,  the  record  is  nearly  valueless.  And,  judging  from 
the  few  entries  in  the  Town  Records  this  year,  there  was  not  much 
worthy  of  special  notice. f 

Eliot,  Anth.   Stoddard,  Edward   Tinge,  Tho.  dore  foure  foot  into  ye  street  from  his  howse 

Marshall,  James  Everill,  Jas.  Penn.     Consta-  dore,  and  sixe  foot  from  his  howse  side." 

bles,     Jeremye    Howchin,    David    Phypeny,  Feb.  26. —  Mr.  Bichd.  Bellingham  may  wharf 

Nicholas  Busby,  Wm.  Beamsley.     Surveyors,  "  afor  his  pprietye,"  between  Walter  Merry 

John  Button,    Beni.    Fawer,   Walter   Merry,  and   Wm.   Winbourne ;    but   not  to    "  piudic 

Wm.    Blanton,   and    Mr.    Cole    for   Rumney  the   battery."       Jerimye   Howchin    may   set 

Marsh.      Sealers   of  leather,  Tho.    Marshall,  up   a  porch    four  feet    from    his   house,   all 

Edmond  Jackson.  along  by  his  house  to  put  up  a  pale  before 

Mar.  27.  —  Robt.  Renolds  paid  his  6s.  and  it.     Jacob  Eliot  may  have    the  swamp   next 

8d.  due  the  Town  for  land,  which  "  Leift.    Sau-  his    allotment    at   Muddy    River,   next    Cot- 

idge  reciued  for  a  debt  due  to  him."      Wm.  ton  Flax  [Flagg?     The   same  spelt  Flack  by  a 

Philips  paid  £1,  16s.  Sd.,  due  from  Chr.  Stan-  former  Recorder.  —  See   ante, -p.  253]   house, 

ley  to  the  Town  for  land,  which  Lieut.  Savage  Bro.    Bendall's    request    about   Deer   Island, 

received  as  above.  which   the  Town  let  him  for'  seven  years,  to 

May  29. — Thomas    Emims    [Enions?]    and  have  it  fourteen  more,  is  granted,  —  to   pay 

Michaill  Wills  admitted  inhabitants.     Benia.  £14  a  year,  and  "  to  leave  a  supply  of  wood 

Ward  shall  pay  £3  a  year,  and  not  £4,  "  for  for  on  family  forever,"  and  any  fruit  trees  he 

ye  marish  y'  hea  hyers  of  ye  Towne,"  which  may  plant.     James  Johnson  to  have  16  feet 

his  contract  did  bind  him  unto.     John  Hurd  of  ground   from   his   house   southward  along 

pays  10s.  "  for  -a   small   pece   of  ground   at  down  to  his  garden  pale  post ;  for  which  he 

ye  end  of  his  howse  plat."  shall  make  and  "  maintaine  for  ever  a  sufficient 

*  "  About  10  o'clock." —  Morton's  Memorial,  high  way  for  foot  and  cart  over  ye  watercourse 

p.  130.  wch  runs   from  Mr.  Hutchinson's  yard  alonge 

|  Jan.  29.  — Hugh  Gunison  may  "  payle  in  by  his  howse  end."     "  John   Baytman.,  John 

for  40s."  six   foot   of  ground   in   width,  and  Burrill,   Tho.  Hawkins,  James  Hawkins   and 

twelve  in  length .  "  downe  to  his  signe  post."  ye  rest  of  ye  naybours  "   may  remove    "that 

Isaac  Walker  may  set  '•  vp  a  porche  afore  his  crose  worke  yl  is  set  over  the    milne   creeke, 


1G49.] 


CHARACTER    OF    GOV.    WINTHROP. 


813 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 


Character  of  Gov.  Winthrop.  —  Death  of  the  King.  —  Labors  of  John  Eliot  among  the  Indians  noticed 
in  England.  —  Action  of  Parliament  relative  thereto.  —  Origin  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  among  the  Indians. — Some  Account  of  it.  —  Hon.  Itobt.  Boyle.  —  William  Pynchon.  —  His 
Book  upon  Redemption,  &c,  ordered  to  be  burnt  in  the  Market  Place.  —  He  returns  to  England. — 
His  Death. — The  Founder  of  Roxbury  and  Springfield.  —  Overtures  to  the  French  of  Canada. — 
Town  Affairs.  —  Streets  and  High-ways  laid  out.  —  Lands  at  Braintree.  —  Gift  of  Capt.  Cromwell. 
—  Clock. — Trade  prohibited  with  Places  which  favored  the  Cause  of  the  King. — Law  against 
Extravagance  in  Dress.  —  Lands  granted  at  the  Blue  Hills. 


THE  death  of  Governor  Winthrop  forms  an  important 
era  in  the  history  of  Boston.  Of  the  character  of  that 
great  man  much  has  been  written,  yet  generally  by 
those  who  have  but  very  superficially  studied  his  char- 
acter. The  attentive  reader  of  these  pages  of  the 
history  of  his  place  of  life  and  death,  cannot  but  per- 
ceive, it  is  believed,  the  justness  of  this  remark.  John 
Winthrop  had  some  noble  traits  of  character,  and  he 
had  that  constitution  of  mind  which  peculiarly  fitted 
eliot.*  ^m  for  a  jeac[er  0f  a  body  politic.     He  was  conscien- 

tious, and  at  the  same  time  somewhat  credulous  ;  honest,  but  artful ; 
accomplishing  his  purposes  as  though  they  were  the  purposes  of  others ; 
though  practical,  he  was  not  a  man  of  genius.  In  his  circumstances  it 
were  better  so.  He  was  of  more  value  to  a  new  country  than  twenty 
men  of  genius  ;  men  who  would  have  thought  the  existence  of  the 
Commonwealth  depended  upon  untried  projects.  John  Winthrop  set  on 
foot  no  discovery,  nor  did  he  invent  anything.  It  is  well  that  he  did 
not.  His  day  and  place  were  better  without  them.  There  is  enough  to 
do  in  a  new  country  for  a  century,  before  a  century  of  discoveries  and 
inventions  should  begin.  John  Winthrop  was  remarkable  for  his  frank- 
ness and  candor.  When  he  was  in  the  wrong  he  did  not  require  fre- 
quent promptings  to  cause  him  to  confess  his  error.  This  gave  the 
people  great  confidence  in  him.     His  own  Diary  is  a  record  of  his  fail- 


wch  hindreth  ye  passage  of  boats,"  but  shall 
make  the  creek  "  goe  alonge  out  to  loe  watter 
marke."  Mr.  Wm.  Brenton  may  "set  vp  a 
portch  afore  his  howse,  to  hang  ouer  in  the 
street  writh  Mr.  Hills  and  Mr.  Hardings."  En- 
sign Hutchinson  Benia.  Gillum,  Benia.  Ward, 
Jona.  Balston,  John  Compton,  Tho.  Smith, 
Steeven  Butler,  and  Rich.  Richison,  may  make 
a  highway  from  their  houses  over  the  marsh  to 
the  bridge,  and  over  Mr.  Hill's  ground,  at  their 
own  charge,  "  which  was  £8,  16s.,"  and  they 
are  to  be  free  froni  highway  charges  nine 
years.  Ordered  that  a  highway  of  twelve 
feet  between  Cant.    Harding's   and   William 

40 


Dauice's  houses  shall  go  along  to  the  bridge 
which  the  town  and  Mr.  Hill  set  up,  beiDg  to 
be  made  by  the  Town  and  Mr.  Hill  ;  and  for 
that  highway  Mr.  Hill  to  have  a  way  to  his 
ground  by  the. sea  side,  along  by  the  house  of 
Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  and  a  cartway  below  the 
wharf. 

*  It  is  not  ascertained  with  certainty,  to 
what  family  of  Eliot  or  Elliot,  our  "Apostle 
to  the  Indians  "  belonged.  The  above  coat  is 
the  earliest  given  by  Guillim,  and  was  borne 
by  the  Elliots  of  Surry,  as  early  as  the  time  of 
Edward  III.  Sir  Gilbert  Eliot,  father  of  Lord 
Heathfield,  bore  similar  arms. 


314  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1649. 

ings  as  well  as  of  the  failings  of  other  men.  This  is  a  proof  of  his 
general  sincerity.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  steadiness  of  purpose. 
His  mind  once  made  up  for  an  undertaking,  no  common  obstruction 
could  prevent  his  carrying  it  on.  This  was  strikingly  observable 
throughout  his  course  in  planting  himself  in  New  England.  He  never 
faltered  from  the  time  he  came  into  the  Massachusetts  Company  till  he 
breathed  his  last  on  this  peninsula.  He  felt  that  he  was  the  great  Man 
of  the  Colony,  and  in  time  it  was  conceded  that  he  was  the  first  *  of  the 
great  men  of  his  time  in  it.  In  putting  down  the  Antinomians  he  acted 
a  singular  part ;  while  he  was  the  head  of  their  opponents,  he  almost 
induces  the  belief  that  what  he  did  he  was  compelled  by  circumstances 
to  do  ;  thus  seeming  to  follow  where  in  reality  he  led.  Hence,  he  some- 
times adroitly  accomplished  his  ends  by  making,  apparently,  a  shield  of 
others. 

While  the  letters  of  Governor  Winthrop  breathe  the  warmest  domes- 
tic affections,  his  records  of  the  punishments  visited  upon  supposed 
offenders  are  remarkable  for  their  want  of  feeling.  The  late  execution 
of  a  woman  charged  with  the  crime  of  witchcraft,  is  the  record  of  one 
with  a  heart  of  marble  coldness.  This  is  but  one  of  many  instances  to 
which  reference  might  be  made  ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  Mr. 
Winthrop  made  his  record  under  the  fullest  convictions  of  the  awful 
nature  of  the  crimes  for  which  the  accused  suffered  ;  and  that  they 
were  clearly  guilty  of  those  crimes  ;  that  his  was  the  day  of  burning, 
maiming,  and  drawing  and  quartering,  in  obedience,  as  was  conceived, 
to  the  laws  of  God. 

Mr.  Winthrop  has  been  called  the  father  of  the  country.!  He  was 
emphatically  the  father  of  Boston,  and  no  death  had  happened  in  it  since 
its  settlement  which  caused  so  deep  a  sensation  amongst  the  inhabitants. 
"His  funeral,"  says  Captain  Edward  Johnson,  "was  very  sadly  and 
solemnly  performed,  by  a  very  great  concourse  of  the  greater  part  of 
this  Colony  ;  whose  mournful  looks  and  watery  eyes  did  plainly  demon- 
strate the  tender  affection  and  great  esteem  he  was  in."  t 

It  has  been  said  of  Governor  Winthrop,  by  a  writer  of  much  discern- 
ment, §  that  his  virtues  were  many  and  his  errors  few  ;  that  opposition 
to  his  views  made  too  great  an  impression  upon  him  ;  that  before  he  left 
England  he  was  of  a  more  catholic  spirit  than  some  of  his  brethren,  but 
afterwards  he  grew  more  contracted,  and  was  disposed  to  lay  too  great 
a  stress  upon  unimportant  matters  ;  that  he  pursued  with  great  vehe- 
mence the  adherents  of  Mr.  Vane,  probably  from  political  motives  ; 
and,  it  may  be  added,  that  he  made  intolerance  subservient  to  his  ambi- 
tion. In  his  last  sickness  he  gave  evidence  of  the  commission  of  such 
errors.  Being  requested  to  sign  an  order  for  the  banishment  of  some 
person  for  heterodoxy,  he  declined,  saying,  "  I  have  done  too  much  of 
that  work  already." 

*  And  here  originated  that  error  of  ignorance,    f  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  151. 
that  he  was  theirs*  Governor  of  Massachu-    J  Wonder-Working  Providence,  &g.  212-13. 
setts.  —  See  Ante,  p.  57.  §  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  151. 


1649.]  PROTEST   AGAINST    LONG    HAIR.  315 

In  his  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Winthrop  is  supposed  to  have  been 
erect,  rather  spare  in  flesh,  though  muscular,  somewhat  long-favored,  or 
of  a  countenance  regularly  oval,  blue  eyes  and  dark  hair,  and  about  six 
feet  in  height.  He  was  interred  in  the  burying  ground  rendered  mem- 
orable as  the  resting  place  of  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson,*  now  King's  Chapel 
burial  place,  in  the  northerly  side  of  it.  There  arc  two  ancient  por- 
traits of  Winthrop  ;  one  is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  Capitol  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  the  other  in  the  hall  of  the  Antiquarian  Society  at 
Worcester,  f 

The  residence  of  Governor  Winthrop  stood  on  the  westerly  side  of 
what  is  now  Washington  Street,  very  nearly  opposite  School  Street.  It 
was  a  two  story  wooden  structure,  and  was  standing  in  1775.  In  that 
year  it  was  destroyed  by  the  soldiers  of  the  British  King.|  What  time 
the  family  of  Mr.  Winthrop  vacated  it  does  not  appear.  It  was  after- 
ward the  residence  of  the  Reverend  Thomas  Prince,  and  in  it  he  chiefly 
wrote,  probably,  his  invaluable  "Annals."  Hence  the  spot  on  which 
that  house  stood  will  ever  be  held  in  veneration  as  the  place  where 
were  composed  two  of  the  most  important  works  upon  the  early  history 
of  New  England,  which  have  ever  appeared. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Endicott  succeeded  to  the  place 
of  Governor,  Mr.  Dudley  to  that  of  Deputy  Governor,  and  Mr.  Edward 
Gibbons  was  made  Major- General.  The  custom  of  wearing  long  hair 
appears  now  to  have  become  very  obnoxious  to  the  Magistrates,  and 
other  sober  people,  and  a  sort  of  an  association  is  formed  against 
it.  Several  of  the  prominent  Magistrates  signed  a  protest 
denouncing  the  practice,  in  which  they  say,  that  "  Forasmuch  as  the 
wearing  of  long  hair,  after  the  manner  of  Russians  and  barbarous  Indians, 
had  begun  to  invade  New  England,  contrary  to  the  rule  of  God's  word, 
which  says  it  is  a  shame  for  a  man  to  wear  long  hair,  do  declare  and 
manifest  our  dislike  and  detestation  against  it."§ 

Next  to  the  death  of  Winthrop,  the  most  stirring  event  in  Boston 

was  doubtless  that  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Charles  the  First,  who 

was  beheaded  at  Whitehall,  about  two  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon  of 

the  thirtieth  of  January,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age.|j 

The  appalling  news  reached  Boston  very  soon  after  the  inter- 

*  The  writer  of  the  "  Introduction  "  to  Bridg-  known  career  in  England,  it  can  only  be  among 

man's  Memorials,  &c,  p.  13,  has  a  remark  of  the  possible  things  that  he  might  paint  the  por- 

doubt  as  to  whether  Mr.  Johnson  was  buried  trait  of  our  Governor. 

here.     He  evidently  had  not  weighed  the  evi-  J  Shaw's  Description,  p.  290 ,  Snow's  His- 

dence  of  Judge  Sewall  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  tory,  104. 

Prince,  against  the  opinion  of  some  moderns,  §  The  signers  of  the  Protest  were  Governor 
who  by  their  doubts  of  such  authorities  sup-  Endicott,  Dep.  Gov.  Dudley,  Mr.  Richd.  Bel- 
pose  they  are  becoming  authorities  themselves,  lingham,  Mr.  Richd.  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Increase 
—  See  ante,  p.  99-100.  There  is  in  the  book  Nowell,  Mr.  William  Hibbins,  Mr.  Thomas 
of  Bridgman,  a  very  neat  and  concise  notice  Flint,  Mr.  Robt.  Bridges  and  Mr.  Simon  Brad- 
of  the  Winthrops,  prepared,  I  presume,  by  the  street.  —  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,\.  152. 
able  hand  of  a  talented  descendant,  Hon.  R.  ||  Some  one  of  Dr.  Holmes'  authorities  seems 
C.  Winthrop,  of  Boston.  to  have  misled  him  in  saying  Charles  was  51 

f  This  last  is  said  to  have  been  painted  by  when  beheaded.     All  agree,  I  believe,  that  he 

Vandyke,  but  when  that  artist  could  have  done  was  born  on  the  19th  of  November,  1600.  — 

it,  is  not,  perhaps,  easily  settled.     From  his  See  American  Annals,  i.  289. 


316  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1649. 

ment  of  Winthrop,  but  at  what  precise  date  does  not  appear.  Those 
were  days  when  the  death  of  a  King  was  viewed  to  be  an  awful  dis- 
pensation, especially  when  Subjects  took  the  responsibility  of  bringing 
it  about ;  for  then  it  was  a  generally  received  opinion  that  the  King 
was  amenable  to  no  human  tribunal,  and  that  it  was  treason  in  a  Sub- 
ject to  impeach  his  motives  or  question  his  conduct. 

Notwithstanding  the  violence  and  desolation  which  had  hitherto 
spread  their  shroud  over  England,  the  day  of  agony  had  no  sooner 
passed,  but  the  labors  of  Eliot  among  the  Indians  caused  every  devout 
Christian  to  think  earnestly  upon  some  plan  for  their  advancement. 
Some,  it  may  be,  thought  the  souls  of  this  benighted  race  of  as  much 
importance  as  the  souls  of  Kings.  The  Civil  War  being  now  at  an 
end,  many  found  time  to  turn  their  thoughts  towards  the  wilderness  of 
New  England  ;  and,  in  less  than  six  months  after  the  death  of  Charles, 
plans  for  improving  the  condition  of  the  Indians  were  so  far  matured, 
and  there  was  sufficient  interest  in  them  in  Parliament,  to  cause  that 
body  to  pass  an  act  "  for  promoting  and  propagating  the  Gospel 
uy  "of  Jesus  Christ  in  New  England;"*  being  moved  thereunto, 
they  say,  "  by  the  testimonial  of  divers  faithful  and  godly  ministers  and 
others  in  New  England."  The  Act  established  a  Corporation,  consist- 
ing of  a  President,  Treasurer,  and  fourteen  assistants,  with  power  to 
purchase  lands  in  mortmain  to  the  amount  of  2000  pounds  a  year,  to 
have  a  common  seal,  make  by-laws  and  receive  contributions.  At  the 
same  time  a  collection  was  ordered  to  be  made  throughout  England  and 
Wales,  and  the  ministers  of  every  parish  were  required  to  read  the  Act 
to  their  Congregations,  and  to  exert  themselves  to  procure  contribu- 
tions, and  to  go  from  house  to  house  for  that  purpose. f 

This  was  the  origin  of  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  among 
the  Indians — a  Society  of  great  importance  so  long  as  the  race  for  which 
it  was  instituted  were  of  any  account.  And  it  is  specially  noticed 
here,  because  it  "  has  all  along  had  its  Commissioners  at  Boston."  J 
The  Corporation  chose  Judge  William  Steel,  President,  and  Henry 
Ashurst,  Esq.,  Treasurer.  He  was  the  father  of  Sir  Henry  Ashurst, 
Baronet,  and  Sir  William  Ashurst,  Alderman  of  London.  Of  this  Society 
the  Honorable  Robert  Boyle  was  the  first  Governor  under  its  Charter, 
which   Charter  was  not  obtained,   however,  until   the   fourteenth   of 

*  Parliamentary  History   of  England,  xix.  Robert  Houghton,  George  Dun,  William  Mul- 

156.  lens,  John  Hodgson,  Edward  Parks,  Edward 

f  Ibid.  157-8.     By  this  means  a  sum  was  Clud,  Thomas  Aires,  and  John  Stone.  _  These 

realized  suflicient  to  enable  the  Society  to  pur-  and  the  others  were  all  denominated  citizens  of 

chase   estates  of    the  yearly  value  of  about  London.     They  were  to  choose  their  President 

£600.  —  Oldmixon,  Brit.  Empire  in  America,  and  Treasurer  from  their  own  number.  —  See 

i.  99.  an  abstract  of  the  Act  in  Hazard's  Hist.  Colls., 

%  Turell's  Life  of  Colman,  64.  Of  the  sixteen  i.  635-6.     The  Act  provided  that  the  Commis- 

members  authorized  by  the  Act,  five  had  been  sioners  of  the  United  Colonies  of  New  Eng- 

resident    here  :  —  Herbert   Pelham,   Richard  land,   or  such  as  they  might  appoint,   should 

Hutchinson,  Robert  Tomstra,  Richd.  Floyd,  and  have  power  to  receive  and  dispose  of  moneys, 

Edward  Winslow.     The  names  of  the  others  &c— See  also  Morton's  Memorial,  ed.  Davis,  sub 

were  James   Shirley,   Abraham   Babbington,  anno  1649,  and  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  164. 


1649.] 


SOCIETY    FOR   PROPAGATING   THE    GOSPEL. 


317 


Charles  the  Second,*  1662.  The  appointment  of  Mr.  Boyle  was  made 
by  the  King  without  his  knowledge,  and  he  generously  contributed  to 
its  funds  while  he  held  the  office,  and  by  his  will  after  he  was  com- 
pelled "  by  sickness  and  infirmity  "  to  resign  it.  f 

By  the  Charter  of  this  Society  its  members  were  not  allowed  to  ex- 
ceed the  number  of  forty-five. J  These  had  power  to  "fill  vacancies,  and 
to  appoint  Commissioners,  residents  in  New  England.  §  One  hundred 
years  after  the  elate  of  the  Charter,  there  was  an  attempt  to  establish 
another  Society  here,  with  a  title  or  name  somewhat  different  to  that 
of  the  mother  Society,  which  was  authorized  by  an  Act  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Province,  but  the  King  refused  to  sanction  it,  and  it  was 
abandoned.  But,  in  1787,  a  number  of  Boston  gentlemen,  and  a  few 
others  in  its  vicinity,  procured  an  Act  of  incorporation  for  "  Propagat- 
ing the  Gospel  among  the  Indians,  and 
others  in  North  America."  Under  this 
Act  a  Society  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

It  was  mainly  to  enlighten  the  Society 
incorporated  in  1662,  that  the  Honorable 
Daniel  Gookin  composed  his  invaluable 
"Historical  Collections  of  the  Indians," 
as  appears  by  the  "  Epistle  Gratulatory 
and  Supplicatory"  prefixed  to  that  work, 
and  addressed  to  the  Corporation  "re- 
siding in  London,  and  particularly  for  the 
Hon.  Robert  Boyle,  Esquire,  Governor 
thereof."  II 


HON.    ROBERT    BOYLE. 


*  See  Birch's  Life  of  the  Hon.  Robt.  Boyle, 
335.  Most  writers  give  a  wrong  date  to  this 
Charter.  Dr.  Holmes  among  others.  It  is 
dated  February  7th. 

f  Ibid,  page  389.  The  above  portrait  is  from 
a  rare  folio  print  engraved  by  "  Fr  :  Diodati." 
Mr.  Boyle  was  distinguished  by  his  cotempo- 
raries  as  the  great  Christian  Philosopher,  "  not 
more  distinguished  for  his  noble  extraction 
than  eminent  piety  and  universal  learning." 
—  Humphrey's  Hist.  Account  of  the  Soc.for 
Prop.  Gospel  in  For.  Parts,  p.  5. 

J  As  an  object  of  much  interest  their  names 
are  here  given  from  the  Charter:  —  Edward, 
Earl  of  Clarendon ;  Thomas,  Earl  of  South- 
ampton ;  John,  Lord  Roberts ;  George,  Duke  of 
Albemarle ;  James,  Duke  of  Ormond ;  Edward, 
Earl  of  Manchester ;  Arthur,  Earl  of  Anglesey ; 
William,  Viscount  Say  and  Seal;  Francis  War- 
ner, Alderman  of  London;  Erasmus  Smith, 
Esq.,  Henry  Ashurst,  Richard  Hutchinson, 
Joshua  Woolnough,  George  Clarke,  Thomas 
Speed,  Thomas  Bell,  John  Rolfe,  citizens  of 
London;  Robert  Boyle,  Esq.,  Sir  William 
Thompson,  Sir  William  Bateman,  Sir  Anthony 
Bateman,  Sir  Theophilus  Biddolph,  Sir  Law- 


rence Bromfield,  Knights;  Tempest  Milner, 
William  Love,  William  Peake,  Aldermen  of 
London;  Thomas  Foley,  Esq.,  Thomas  Cox, 
John  Micklethwait,  Edward  French,  Doctors 
in  Physic;  Charles  Dayley,  Thomas  Staynes, 
John  Jurian,  William  Antrobus,  John  Ba- 
thurst,  Harman  Sheafe,  Thomas  Gillibrand, 
James  Hayes,  John  Benbowe,  Lawrence  Brins- 
ley,  Barnabas  Meares,  John  Acrod,  John  Dock- 
ett,  Edward  Boscawen,  and  Martin  Noell, 
citizens  of  London. 

§  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  resident 
Commissioners  early  appointed  :  —  Gov.  Sam- 
uel Shute,  Dep.  Gov.  Wm.  Dummer,  Increase 
Mather,  D.D.,  John  Foster,  Esq.,  John  Hig- 
ginson,  Esq.,  Edward  Bromfield,  Esq.,  Elisha 
Hutchinson,  Esq.,  Simeon  Stoddard,  Esq., 
Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  Penn  Townsend,  Esq., 
Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  Cotton  Mather,  D.D., 
Rev.  Nehemiah  Walter,  Mr.  Daniel  Oliver, 
Mr.  Thomas  Fitch,  Adam  Winthrop,  Esq., 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq. 

||  It  is  dated  7  December,  1674.  Tho 
work  of  Gen.  Gookin  forms  the  principal 
part  of  the  1st  volume  of  the  Mass.  Hist. 
Collections. 


318 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1649. 


The  same  Deputies  were  chosen  to  serve  in  the  General  Court  this 
year  as  last,  but  the  "  Select  Men"  varied.* 

Mr.  William  Pynchon,  of  Springfield,  having  published  a  book  upon 
Redemption  and  Justification,  the  General  Court  ordered  it  to  be  pub- 
licly burnt  in  the  Market  Place,  under  the  conviction  that  it  contained 
doctrines  of  a  dangerous  tendency.  But  the  burning  of  the  book  (if 
it  were  burnt),  did  not  satisfy  the  Court,  probably,  for  Mr.  John  Nor- 
ton was  appointed  to  answer  it,  and  the  Author  was  put  under  restraint. 
The  next  year  the  Answer  was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  England  for  publi- 
cation. At  the  May  term  of  the  Court,  Mr.  Pynchon  handed  in  a  paper 
containing  a  sort  of  recantation,  "upon  which  an  order  was  passed, 
that  he  might  have  liberty  to  repair  home  some  time  the  next  week, 


*Mar.  12. —  They  were  "Wm.  Colborne, 
Jacob  Eliot,  Anthony  Stoddard,  Jeriniy  How- 
chin,  Tho.  Marshall,  James  Everill,  and  James 
Perm."  For  clerks  of  the  market,  Jerimy 
Howchin  and  James  Penn.  For  Constables, 
Mr.  Thomas  Clarke,  Theodore  Atkinson  and 
Barnabas  Fawer.  Surveyors  of  the  high  ways, 
Christopher  Gibson,  Walter  Merry,  John  But- 
ton and  Wm.  Blanton.  Sealers  of  leather, 
Rich.  Webb  and  Robert  Turner.  Mr.  Thos. 
Clarke  is  fined  20s.  for  refusing  to  serve  as 
Constable.  —  "  Ordered,  that  the  highway  on 
the  south  side  of  the  water  mill  shall  run 
along  by  the  corner  of  said  mill  a  rod  in 
breadth,  as  it  is  laid  out  in  a  straight  line  to 
the  Mill  Hill  that  lies  to  the  ferry  to  Charles- 
town." 

April  19.  —  Isaac  Walker  is  chosen  Consta- 
ble in  place  of  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke.  William 
Philips  agreed  to  give  13s.  4d.  a  year  for  the 
school  for  land  that  Christopher  Stanley  gave 
in  his  will  for  the  school's  use.  John  Barrill, 
John  Odlin,  Wm.  Ludkin,  James  Browne, 
Beniamin  Negoose,  Ralph  Masson,  James 
Dauise,  Edward  Dinis,  Thos.  Munte,  Richd. 
Cartter,  Abell  Porter,  Thos.  Grube,  John 
Strange,  Thos.  Wegborne,  James  Jemson,  to 
have  Spectacle  Island  forever,  by  paying  6d. 
an  acre  a  year  "  to  the  use  of  the  school." 
On  neglecting  to  pay  the  rent  to  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Town  on  the  first  of  February,  they 
were  to  forfeit  the  land.  John  Jackson,  Ga- 
malliel  Waight,  James  Hudson,  Wm.  Kerby, 
Tho.  Bell,  Robt.  Linchorne,  Anthony  Harker, 
Abell  Porter,  Tho.  Spalle,  Tho.  Munte,  Wa- 
ter Senot,  Wm.  Coope,  Rich.  Hollige,  Nicholas 
Baxster,  Wm.  Lane,  Edwd.  Browne,  Benia- 
min Negoose,  Beniamin  Warde,  Francis  East, 
Henirye  Allin,  Edwd.  Rainsford,  Tho.  Venner, 
John  Odlin,  Wm.  Ludkin,  Geo.  Griggs,  James 
Dauis,  Richd.  Richardson,  Robt.  Blote,  Mathew 
Jones,  Mawdit  Ingles,  Rich.  Flud,  Jona.  Bal- 
stone,  Tho.  Stanberrye,  Christopher  Parrise, 
John  Viall,  Mathew  Chaffey,  Micaell  Wills, 
come  under  the  same  obligation  with  respect 
to  Long  Island.  Mr.  Bowen  and  Peter  Oliver 
to  perambulate  at  Muddy  River.  Alexander 
Becke   cow-keeper,   at  2s.    a  head.      Ensign 


Hutchinson,  Benj.  Gillum,  Benj.  Ward,  Jona. 
Balston,  John  Compton,  Tho.  Smyth,  Steven 
Butler,  and  Richd.  Richardson,  may  make  a 
highway  from  their  houses  over  the  marsh  to 
the  bridge,  and  over  Mr.  Hill's  ground,  at  their 
own  charge  —  they  to  be  free  from  highway 
charges  till  £8,  16s.  be  run  out,  which  they 
have  disbursed.  A  highway  is  laid  out  11  feet 
wide  between  Capt.  Harding's  and  Wm.  Davis' 
houses,  "  along  straight  to  the  bridge  which 
the  town  and  Mr.  Hill  set  up,  on  the  condi- 
tion "  that  the  highway  at  the  seaside  is  de- 
molished only  away  by  the  house  of  Wm. 
Hudson,  senior. 

June  26. — Richd.  Taylor  agreed  with  the 
Selectmen  "  to  ringe  the  bell  at  9  of  ye  clocke 
at  night,  and  half  an  hour  after  four  in  the 
mc-rninge,  and  to  have  for  his  recompense  £4 
a  yeare."  Martin  Saunders,  Sanil.  Basse  and 
Mathew  Barnes  on  behalf  of  "Brayntrye," 
agree,  that,  whereas  Boston  hath  certain  land 
between  the  bounds  of  Dorchester  and  Way- 
mouth,  being  commonly  called  Mount  Wollas- 
ton,  it  shall  belong  to  "  Braintrye  ; "  Boston 
reserving  the  right  of  allotting  all  lands  therein 
not  allotted,  Braintree  paying  therefor  £50,  in 
four  years,  "  in  come,  as  wheat,  rye,  pease  and 
Indian  at  50s.  in  each  of  them."  Braintree  to 
enjoy  for  a  Common  the  1500  acres  formerly 
laid  out  as  such,  and  to  lay  taxes  on  the  lands, 
excepting  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Wilson.  The  next 
year  it  was  agreed  that  "  all  the  land  at  Brain- 
tree undisposed  of,  besides  the  2000  acres  for 
the  school's  use,  is  not  hereafter  to  be  allotted 
to  any  particular  persons,  but  to  be  improved 
for  the  public  service  of  Boston." 

John  Loo,  John  Scotto,  Wm.  Hanbery, 
Isaac  Walker,  Edmond  Jackson,  John  Shaw, 
Joseph  Wormewall,  Leonard  Buttolfe  to  pay 
£3,  3s.,  2d.  yearly  forever  for  the  schools'  use, 
for  their  land  inBendall's  cove,  "  as  their  evi- 
dences will  show  it  forth."  Benj.  Ward  to 
pay  £3  a  year  for  land  by  his  house,  for  the 
same  use.  Edward  Bendall  "  hath  Deare 
Hand  for  20  years,  he  and  his  to  pay  £14  a 
year  "  for  the  same. 

Aug.  27.  —  Anthony  Stoddard  may  sell  his 
land  to  Moses  Payne,  of  "  Brantre,"  and  may 


1650.] 


INTERCOURSE    PROPOSED    WITH    CANADA. 


319 


if  he  pleased,  and  that  he  should  have  Mr.  Norton's  answer  to  his  book 
to  take  with  him  to  consider  thereof,  until  the  following  October  session 
of  the  Court."  * 

By  these  proceedings  another  valuable  and  enterprising  man  was  lost 
to  the  country.  Mr.  Pynchon  returned  to  his  native  land  in  1G52,  then 
more  tolerant  than  this  he  had  adopted, f  and  returned  not  again.  He  died 
at  Wraysbury,  near  Stanes,  a  hamlet  on  the  Thames,  in  October,  1662, 
aged  about  seventy-two  years.  Two  very  important  places  in  the  Com- 
monwealth justly  consider  him  their  father  ;  Roxbury,  always  a  place  of 
much  consideration,  and  now  a  large  city  ;  and  flourishing  Springfield, 
nothing  behind  her  sister  towns,  and  soon  destined  to  become  a  city  also. 

The  French  Governor  of  Canada  had  two  years  before  been  sent  to 
with  an  offer  of  friendship  and  proposals  for  a  free  intercourse  be- 
tween that  Government  and  New  England,  and  had  good  encourage- 
ment of  reciprocity  on  the  part  of  Governor  D'Aillebout.  This  had 
been  continued  by  correspondence  till  the  present  year,  when  the 
French  in  their  turn  sent  messengers  to  Boston.  They  were  influenced 
to  form  an  alliance  with  New  England,  by  which  they  might  act  with 
more  certainty  of  success  in  a  war  against  the  Iroquois,  whom  they 
accused  of  breaking  the  most  solemn  leagues.  But  the  Government 
here  wisely  declined  entering  into  a  war ;  and  at  that  day  the  inter- 
position of  an  immense  wilderness  was  a  sufficient  excuse  for  no  imme- 
diate commerce. 


' '  take  it  next  vnto  yl  hee  hath  hired  of  ye 
Towne,  or  else  where,  if  he  see  cause."  Robt. 
Nash  is  fined  19s.  6d.,  "  for  his  leaving  his 
slaughter  house  with  noyesonie  smells,  to  ye 
offence  of  ye  Towne."  "Mr.  Souther  is  ad- 
mitted a  townseman."  Tho.  Painter  may  erect 
a  "  milne  at  Fox  Hill,"  and  must  finish  it  in 
two  years,  "  and  at  the  first  pecke  of  come  it 
grinds  he  is  to  begin  his  rent  of  40s.  p.  ann. 
for  ever,"  for  the  Town's  use.  James  Pilbeam 
is  admitted  an  inhabitant.  "  Wm.  Francklin 
is  fined  20s.  for  setinge  vp  his  howse  and  com- 
inge  out  on  the  Towne's  ground,  and  not  callinge 
ye  Selectmen  to  view  it,"  and  to  be  fined  20s, 
every  ten  days  till  "  ye  abuse  be  reformed." 
"  Vallentine  Hill  shall  make  vp  his  ground  at 
ye  bridge  with  in  14  dayes,  or  else  he  is  fined 
20s."  "Geo.  Halsell  is  fined  20s.  for  not 
making  vp  his  high  way  afore  his  shop  suffi- 
ciently." "Daniel  Turant  shall  erect  his 
wharfe  for  ye  high  way  before  his  howse,"  be- 
fore 3  :  11  :  or  pay  20s.  Mr.  Clarke,  mariner, 
must  clear  the  highway  at  his  cellar,  "  y'  noe 
harme  be  done  bye  it,"  within  six  days,  or  pay 
20s.  Wm.  Beamsley  shall  remove  his  oyster 
shells  from  the  high  way  before  his  door  by 
the  1st  of  the  11th  mo.,  or  pay  20s.  John 
Baker  ordered  to  remove  his  house  which 
stands  on  the  high  way  by  the  1st  of  the  11th 
mo.,  or  be  fined  20s. 

Nov.  31.  — "John  Milam  fined  20s.  for  ye 
defect  of  his  way  before  ye  milne,  and  20s.  for 
defect  of  ye  bridge  by  John  Butmans,"  if  not 
mended  in  four  dayes.     Edmond  Jackson  fined 


20s.,  "  for  defect  of  his  way  by  his  cellar,  be- 
tween James  Euirill  and  himself,"  if  not 
mended  by  the  5th  of  the  11th  mo.  Edward 
Belcher  chosen  "  watter  Bayley,"  to  have  half 
the  fines  accruing.  Owners  of  the  Wind-mill 
to  secure  it  from  doing  damage  to  cattle  or 
swine,  or  make  satisfaction  "  sufficiently." 
Wm.  Franklin  fined  20s.,  "for  disablinge  ye 
passage  way  over  ye  creeke  by  John  Batman's 
howse."  The  Select-men  sold  the  reversion  of 
"  Bendall's  D^oke  or  Cove,"  and  the  flats  be- 
longing to  it  to  James  Euerill,  31st,  9th,  49, 
for  £6,  16s.,  lOd.  a  year  forever;  not  to 
include  the  land  at  the  head  of  the  Cove, 
"  roundabout  by  John  Glover's,  George  Bur- 
den's, Hugh  Gunison's,  Capt.  Wm.  Tinge's, 
Wm.  Franklin's,  and  Robt.  Nashe's,  and  eight 
foot  to  the  eastward  of  it,"  which  is  high 
way ;  as  also  from  the  eastward  side  of  the 
eight  feet,  and  "roundabout  bye  ye  corner  of 
Edward  Bendall's  bricke  house,  and  so  by 
Samuell  Col's  howse,  as  alsoe  to  Edward  Ting's 
wharfe  shall  goe  a  high  way  of  20  foot  in 
breadth . ' ' 

*  Fragment  of  an  original  paper,  dated  7 
May,  1651. 

f  Mr.  Eliot  seemed  disposed  to  do  justice  to 
Mr.  Pynchon's  memory,  in  his  New  Eng.  Bi- 
ography, but  he  remitted  his  usual  research  to 
gain  any  information  respecting  him,  and  has 
confounded  him  with  his  son  John.  It  is  diffi- 
cult to  understand  how  Dr.  Allen  could  have 
omitted  him.  — See  Bliss'  Historical  Discourse 
at  Springfield.  —  See  also  ante,  p.  90. 


320  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1650. 

The  Town  chose  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  James  Penn  to 
serve  in  the  General  Court  as  Deputies.  Select  men  were  the 
same  as  last  year,  also  the  Clerks  of  the  Market.  The  Constables  were 
Robert  Button,  Edmund  Jackson,  John  Phillips  and  Christopher  Gib- 
son. George  Halsell  and  William  Cotton,  Surveyors  of  high  ways,  and 
Nathaniel  Bishop  and  William  Courser  Sealers  of  leather.  At  the  same 
time  it  was  agreed  that  Peter  Oliver  should  have  fifteen  pounds  a  year 
for  seven  years,  "  to  maintain  the  high-ways  from  Jacob  Eliot's  barne 
to  ye  fardest  gate  bye  Roxsbury  towne's  end,  to  be  sufficient  for  cart 
and  horse,  to  ye  satisfaction  of  ye  countrye."  It  was  "  agreed  on  y* 
theire  shall  be  a  carte  bridge  by  John  Milame  *  set  up  by  John  Bate- 
man's  howse,  according  to  contract."  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop,  William 
Phillips,  and  William  Beamesley  were  "  chossen  to  ioyne  wth  ye  Se- 
lect men  of  ye  Towne  to  lay  out  the  high-ways  by  ye  new  Meeting- 
house." 

M  „  James  Penn  was  chosen  Treasurer  for  the  Town,  Anthony 
Stoddard,  Recorder,  and  Thomas  Bell  and  David  Hickborne  to 
"  execute  the  order  about  swine.  Sergeant  Scoott  had  notice  that 
Captain  Hardings  pale  before  his  house  be  taken  away  within  a  month 
upon  penalty  of  twenty  shillings."  f 

At  the  annual  Election,  Mr.  Endicott  was  rechosen  Governor,  and 
Mr.  Dudley  Deputy.  There  was  no  change  in  the  chief  magistracy  till 
1654. 

N  Captain  Thomas  Cromwell,  of  Boston,  left  by  his  will,  the  last 

year,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Town,   "six  bells."     It  was  agreed 

that   the    Select   men  should   now   dispose    of  those   bells   "to    the 


*  Feb.  26.  — He  had  been  fined  20s.  for  not  it  shall  turne  vp  from  the  water  side  through 

making  a  cart  bridge  at  John  Bateman's  howse,  Mrs.  Hawkins  her   garden,   and   soe  by  Mr. 

"and  if  hee  goeth  not  aboute  it  within  sixe  Winthrop's    house    betweene    Maior    Bornes 

dayes  hee  is  fined  20s.  euery  sixe  dayes  till  it  house  and  his  garden  before  Mr.  Holiok's  to 

bee  finished."     The  Towne  could  not  impose  a  the  Battery." 

fine  above  20s.  (Hutchinson) ,  but  they  made  April  22.  —  Thomas  Marshall  is  chosen  to 

it  up  by  imposing  it  often.  take  the  place  of  James  Penn  in  the  General 

f  Mar.  25.  — Thomas  Painter  may  sell  his  Court ;  the  latter  being  chosen  by  the  Church 

house  to  Ephraim  Hunt.    Tho.  Munt  may  mow  "  for  other  service." 

the  marsh  at  Bird  Island.     Bro.  Becke  to  re-  April  29.  —  "Ordered  that  Elias  Maverick 

ceive  £5,  4s.  for  keeping  Tho.  Rand.  and  James  Johnson,  chosen  by  George  Burden, 

April  12.  —  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop,  William  Deacon  Eliot  and  Thomas  Clarke,  who  were 

Phillips   and  William  Beamsley,   to  lay   out  chosen  by  the  Townsmen,  in  the  presence  of 

high  ways  at  the  north  end  of  the  Town.     A  Mr.  Newgate  and  with  consent  of  him,  should 

way  of  a  rod  wide  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  lay   out  a  cart    and   horse   way  at    Rumley 

water  side  from  the  Battery  to  Charlestowne  Marsh  from  Mr.  Holiock's  farm  towards  the 

ferry,  that  another  two  rods  wride  "  be   pre-  mill." 

served  by  Will.  Philips  in  the  feild  that  was  Dec.  1.  —  Mr.  Vener  and  the  neighbors 
Mr.  Stanley's,  and  soe  to  the  ferry  point  at  thereabout  may  dig  a  well  and  set  a  pump  in 
Charlestowne  leading  vnto  the  crose  way  that  it  near  the  shop  of  William  Davis,  if  without 
leads  from  the  water  mills  vnto  the  water  side  "  anoyance  to  the  street  passage  for  waste 
betwene  Good  Duglas  and  Water  Merrye's  water."  Mr.  Glover  and  bro.  Burden  have 
garden,"  as  this  day  staked  out,  and  "  vntill  "  set  vnto  them  the  ground  before  their  prop- 
buildings  be  there  erected  gaites  and  stiles  rietyes,  soe  fare  as  from  the  corner  of  Mr. 
may  suffice."  The  rod  wide  way  formerly  or-  Web's  house  to  the  corner  of  Goodman  Hurd's 
dered  "from  Gallop's  point  to  the  Battery,  shop  vpon  a  straight  line  for  which  they  are  to 
being  interrupted  by  Mrs.  Hawkins  her  house,  pay  30s.  a  year  for  euer." 


1651.] 


BELL    FOR    A    CLOCK. 


321 


best   advantage,"  and  to  lay  out   the   proceeds    "for   one   bell   for   a 
clocke."  * 

The  General  Court  passed  an  order  bearing  more  heavily  upon 
Boston,  than  upon  any  other  place  within  its  jurisdiction ;   this 
order  was  to  prohibit  commerce  with  Barbadoes,  Bermudas,  Virginia 
and  Antigua,  because  these  places  held  out  for  the  King  against  Par- 
liament.    The  next  year,  on  learning  that  an  armament  was  sent  to 
reduce   them,    the    Court   modified  their    former 
order,  so  as  to  admit  trade  with  them,  provided 
Sir  George  Ayscough  succeeded  in  his  attempt  to 
reduce  them  ;  he  having  the  command  of  the  ex- 
pedition.    • 

A  disposition  among  the  common  people  to  be 
extravagant,  caused  the  General  Court  to   enact 
that  if  a  man  was  not  worth  two   hundred  pounds 
he  should  not  wear  gold  or  silver  lace  or  buttons, 
or    points   at   the   knees ;    and,   because  of  the 
scarcity  of  leather,  they  should  not  walk  in  great 
boots.    Women  not  enjoying  property  to  the  value 
of  two  hundred  pounds  were  forbid  to  wear  silk  or 
tiffany  hoods  or  scarfs. 
one  in  great  BooTs.f         The   town   disposed   of  500   acres  of  land  at 
Brantree  to  Moses  Payne,  and  is  to  "ioyne  this  500  acres  with  the 
former  500  set  to  him,  taking  in  all  the  land  betwixt  the  two 
great  Blew  Hills  and  the  next  hill  to  them;"  what  there  is  over 
1000  acres,  "  he  is  to  pay  proportionably  after  the  raites  of  forty  shil- 
lings a  year  for  500  acres  forever,"  and  the  land  to  be  bound  for  the 
rent.  J 


*«»  «tC  ^=^^=?^5 


*  See  an  abstract  of  Cromwell's  will  in  the 
Antiquarian  Journal,  iii.  268.  His  wife  was 
named  Anne,  whom  he  made  "  sole  execu- 
trix ;"  mentions  daughter  Elizabeth,  but  no 
other  children.  The  "  six  bells  "  were  in  the 
custody  of  Henry  Walton,  a  witness  to  his 
will,  which  is  dated  29  Aug.,  and  proved  26 
Oct.  1649. 

f  This  cut  of  "  one  walking  in  great  boots  " 
against  the  statute,  is  an  exact  copy  of  a  per- 

41 


son  fashionably  dressed  at  that  period.  I  do 
not  find  that  any  belonging  to  Boston  were 
' '  dealt  with  ' '  for  offending  this  law.  Jonas 
Fairbanks  and  Robert  Edwards,  two  individ- 
uals of  Essex  County,  are  the  only  offenders 
mentioned.  —  See  Antiquarian  Journal,  vi. 
30. 

J  Dec.  30.  — Bro.  Fletcher  may  make  a  cel- 
lar door  two  feet  and  an  half  "rysing  from 
his  house." 


322 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1651. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 


The  Country  again  disturbed  by  Witchcraft.  —  Case  of  Hugh  Parsons.  —  Misfortune  in  his  Family.  — 
He  is  accused  of  Witchcraft.  —  His  Examination.  —  Testimonies  against  him.  —  His  Wife's  Confession 
and  Death.  —  His  Acquittal  and  Character.  — Prosecutions  for  Heresy.  —  Case  of  Clarke  —  of  Cran- 
dall  —  of  Holmes.  — Severe  Punishment  of  the  latter.  —  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall's  Reproof. — Mr. 
Cotton's  Defence.  —  Law  against  Dancing  at  Taverns.  —  Boston  described  by  Capt.  Edward  Johnson. 


THE  year  now  commenced  was  by  no 
means  a  quiet  one.  Witchcraft  and  heresy 
were  busy  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  coun- 
try. On  the  late  execution  of  a  witch  in 
the  Town,  some  may  have  flattered  them- 
selves that  by  that  execution  a  stop  was 
put  to  their  mischiefs,  while  many  others, 
doubtless,  fancied  those  imaginary  beings 
were  busy  in  the  region  of  the  clouds, 
deputizing  some  of  their  number  to  prowl 
nightly  about  the  dwellings  of  the  poor  and 
friendless.  These  fancies  were  soon  turned 
to  realities,  for,  so  well  had  the  witches  suc- 
ceeded in  an  interior  town,  that  a  second 
execution  would  have  taken  place  here,  had 
not  the  accused  died  in  prison  before  the  time  set  for 
execution  arrived.  The  present  case,  to  which  allusion  is 
made,  was,  if  possible,  more  deplorable  than  that  of  Mar- 
garet Jones.  Mary,*  the  wife  of  Hugh  Parsons,  of  Spring- 
field, upon  giving  birth  to  a  child  in  October  of  the  last 
year,  was,  by  her  sickness,  thrown  into  a  deranged  state  of 
mind.  Her  husband  was  a  sawyer,  which  avocation  took 
him  from  home,  and  his  wife  did  not  receive  the  care  and  attention  which 
her  situation  required.  Being  neglected  and  much  alone  with  her  child, 
she  caused  its  death,  under  the  conviction  that  she  was  commanded  to 
do  so.  Not  long  after  this,  in  her  bewildered  state  of  mind,  and,  it  may 
be,  at  the  instigation  of  some  enemy  of  her  husband,  she  alleged  that  he 
had  caused  the  child's  death  by  witchcraft.  The  chief  Magistrate  of 
Springfield,  William  Pynchon,  Esquire,  in  the  line  of  his  duty  was  obliged 
to  investigate  the  cause  of  the  death  of  the  child.  J  A  large  number  of 
the  inhabitants  came  before  him  and  gave  in  their  testimony,  and  Mary 
Parsons  among  them.     The  minutes  taken  by  Mr.  Pynchon  at  the  ex- 


StJPERSTI- 
TIOK.f 


*  Her  maiden  name  was  Lewis.  —  Spring- 
field Town  Records. 

f  The  above  engraving  is  intended  to  repre- 
sent the  dispersion  of  superstitions  as  the  light 
of  knowledge  breaks  in  upon  them. 


X  The  first  dates  in  Mr.  Pynchon 's  minutes 
are  "March    12,  18,  22,  1650."  —  Original 

Manuscript. 


1651.] 


CASE    OF    HUGH    PARSONS. 


323 


animations,  make  a  somewhat  formidable  volume,  all  of  which  Avere 
transmitted  to  Boston.  Here  the  Jury  found  the  accused  guilty.  After 
he  had  lain  long  in  prison,  "the  cause  coming  legally  to  the  General 
Court  for  issue,  the  Court  on  perusal  of  the  evidence"  decided  that  he 
was  not  "  legally  guilty  of  witchcraft,  and  so  not  to  dy."  *  This  de- 
cision was  induced,  no  doubt,  in  consequence  of  the  confession  of  his 
wife,  and  the  previous  action  of  the  Court  upon  her  case.  She  had 
been  finally  imprisoned  upon  two  indictments,  "  the  one  for  hauing 
familiarity  with  the  Devill  as  a  witch,  to  which  she  pleaded  not 
guilty  ;"  and  the  second  "  for  willfully  and  most  wickedly  murdering 
her  own  child,  to  which  she  pleaded  guilty,  confessed  the  fact,  and 
according  to  her  deserts  was  condemned  to  dy."f  But,  as  before  re- 
marked, she  perished  in  prison,  and  thus  escaped  the  ignominious  death 
which  awaited  her. 

The  proceedings  and  strange  evidence  J  given  in  the  case  of  Hugh 
Parsons,  are  probably  the  most  extraordinary  of  any  upon  record.  At 
his  examination,  Parsons  demeaned  himself  in  the  most  commendable 
manner,  nor  was  there,  throughout  the  whole  proceedings,  anything 
impeaching  his  conduct,  excepting  the  charge  of  witchcraft.  This 
charge  he  quietly,  and  with  becoming  dignity,  repelled,  as  he  did  also 
the  same  charge  against  his  wife.     But  he  was  reproached  for  this,  and 


*  General  Court  Records,  iii.  347. 

f  Ibid,  page  295. 

j  Here  follow  specimens  of  the  evidence : 
"  John  Stebbinge  testifies  vppon  oath  (Hugh 
Parson  being  present)  that  as  my  wife  was 
entring  into  one  of  her  fitts,  she  looked  vp  the 
chimney.  I  asked  her  what  she  looked  at,  and 
observing  her  ey  fixed  on  something,  asked  her 
again  (for  she  did  not  answer  at  first)  what 
she  looked  on,  and  she  said  with  a  gesture 
of  strange  wonderment,  0  deere,  there  hangs 
Hugh  Parsons  vppon  the  pole  (for  there  stood 
a  small  pole  vppright  in  ye  chimney  corner) 
and  then  she  gave  a  start  backward,  and  said, 
0,  he  will  fall  vppon  me  ;  and  at  that  instant 
she  fell  downe  into  her  fitt.  Rowland  Steb- 
bing  being  present  doth  also  testifie  the  same 
vppon  oath."  William  Brooks  testified,  "  that, 
the  same  day  that  Hugh  Parsons  was  appre- 
hended, and  about  the  same  tyme  of  the  day 
that  the  Conestable  brought  him  alonge  by  the 
dore  of  Goody  Stebbing,  she  was  first  taken 
with  her  fitts,  and  cryed,  Ah,  witch,  Ah  witch, 
iust  as  he  was  passing  by  the  gate.  Goodm. 
Lankton  and  Hannah  his  wife  do  ioyntly  tes- 
tifie vppon  oath,  that  on  Friday  last,  being 
the  21  February,  they  had  a  pudding  in  ye 
same  bagg,  and  that  as  soon  as  it  was  slipped 
out  of  the  bag,  it  was  cut  lengthwise  like  the 
former  pudding,  and  like  another  on  ye  23  Feb. 
as  smoth  as  any  knife  could  cut  it,  namely,  one 
slice  al  alonge,  wan  tinge  but  very  little  from 
end  to  end.  A  neighbor  came  in  and  she 
shewed  it  to  him,  and  that  neighbor  took  a 


peace  of  it  and  threw  it  into  the  fire  ;  that 
about  an  hower  after  she  heard  one  mutter 
and  mumble  at  the  dore  ;  then  she  asked  Goody 
Sewell,  who  was  then  at  her  howse  (and  neere 
ye  dore)  who  it  was  ;  she  said  it  was  Hugh  Par- 
sons, and  that  he  asked  whether  Goodman 
Lankton  were  at  home  or  no.  I  said  no,  and 
so  he  went  away,  but  left  not  his  errand." 
The  accused  being  present,  was  asked  what 
he  had  to  say  to  this ;  "he  spake  to  other 
thinge,  and  not  to  the  question  ;  being  asked 
the  2d  tyme, what  his  errand  was,  he  spake  again 
of  other  by  matters  ;  the  third  time,  being 
charged  to  make  a  direct  answer,  he  then  said 
it  was  to  gett  some  hay  of  him,"  &c.  John 
Lumbard  said  that  Hugh  Parsons  had  been  told 
before  that  Goodman  Lankton  had  no  hay  to 
sell,  and  that  "  to  gett  hay  was  no  true  cause 
of  his  comming  thither,  but  rather  that  ye 
spirit  that  bewitched  the  pudding  brought  him 
thither."  Thomas  Burneham  swore  that  he 
told  Hugh  Parsons,  a  little  before  his  apprehen- 
sion, "  here  is  strange  doings  in  towne  about 
cutting  of  puddinge  and  whetting  of  sawes  in 
ye  night  tyme,"  and  the  said  Parsons  was 
much  agitated,  "  and  wholy  silent,  but  at  last 
he  said  he  had  not  heard  of  it  before,  but  he 
tooke  occasion  to  speak  of  other  matters  as 
pleasantly  as  anybody  else,  but  to  the  matter 
of  the  pudding  he  would  say  nothing.  This 
matter  about  the  puddinge  and  whettinge  of 
sawes  was  often  tossed  vp  and  downe  betweene 
seuerall  persons,  and  many  said  they  never 
heard  the  like." 


324  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1651. 

found  his  own  troubles  were  increased  by  it,  as  she  soon  began  to 
believe  herself  a  witch,  and  confessed  accordingly.* 

In  their  written  verdict,  under  the  hand  of  their  Foreman,  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Hutchinson,f  the  Jurors,  in  the  usual  form  declare,  that,  "Hugh 
Parsons,  not  having  ye  feare  of  God  before  his  eyes,  in  or  about  March 
last,  and  diuers  times  before  and  since,  as  they  conceue,  had  familiar 
and  wiced  conuerse  with  ye  Deuil,  and  did  vse  diuers  deuilish  practses 
and  wichecrafte,  to  ye  hurte  of  diuers  psons,"  &c. ;  and  declare  him 
guilty  according  to  the  evidence,  and  leave  him  to  the  "  Corte  for  his 
further  tryal  for  his  life."  But  they  say,  "considered  w"1  ye  testimony 
of  diuers  y*  are  at  Springfield,  whose  testimonys  were  only  sent  in 
writing,  as  also  ye  confession  of  Mary  Parsons,  and  ye  impeachment  of 
some  of  ye  bewitched  psons  of  ye  said  Hew  Parsons ;"  that  is  to  say, 
if  the  Court  judged  the  testimony  to  be  sufficient,  taking  into  consider- 
ation the  above  facts,  then  they  "  finde  ye  saide  Hugh  Parsons  giltie  of 
ye  sin  of  wichcrafte." 

After  his  acquittal,  Hugh  Parsons  resided  a  while  in  Boston,  where 
he  received  some  small  proceeds  of  the  little  estate  which  he  left  at 
Springfield.  He  is  believed  finally  to  have  gone  to  Long  Island,  and 
nothing  further  is  known  of  his  fortunes. 

His  behavior,  throughout  his  extraordinary  trials  and  vexatious 
afflictions,  was  that  of  an  honest  and  conscientious  man  ;  one,  whose 
desire  it  was  to  do  justly,  and  to  speak  and  act  with  prudence  and  dis- 
cretion in  all  things  and  at  all  times.  He  evidently  was  a  man  having 
a  superior  mind  to  most  of  those  with  whom  his  lot  was  cast,  and  hence 
it  is  not  unlikely,  that,  owing  to  this  circumstance,  as  is  often  the  case, 
a  jealousy  was  excited  against  him,  the  lamentable  consequences  of 
which  have  here  been  briefly  related. 

The  heresies,  to  which  allusion  was  made,  were  promulgated  by  sev- 
eral of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island.  These  began  the  preceding  year 
to  preach  "from  house  to  house,"  in  the  Colony  of  Plymouth,  doctrines 
since  owned  by  the  denomination  called  Baptists.  The  Authorities  of 
that  Jurisdiction  did  not  deal  with  them  with  much  rigor,  allowing  them 
to  depart  under  their  own  cognizances.  This  mildness  on  the  part  of 
Plymouth  encouraged  some  of  them  to  accept  of  an  invitation  to  preach 

*  In  the  course  of  the  examination  of  Mary  lott,  and  we  were  sometymes  like  catts  and 

Parsons,  Thomas  Cooper  testified  that  she  told  sometymes  in  our  owne  shape,  and  we  were 

him  she  should  have  been  a  witch  before  that  plodding  for  some  good  cheere  ;  and  they  made 

time  had  she  not  been  afraid  to  see  the  Devil,  me  go  barefoote  and  make  the  fires,  because 

At  length,  however,  she  ventured  to  have  an  I  had  declared  so  much  at  Mr.  Pynchons." 

interview  with  him,  at  which  interview,  she  It  may  even  now  be  thought  wonderful,  that 

said,  "  the  Deuill  told  me  that  night  I  should  the  men  in  authority,  in  that  day,  should  never 

not  fear,  for,  said  he,  I  will  not  come  in  any  have  harbored  a  suspicion  that  persons  under 

apparition,  but  only  come  into  thy  body  like  a  such  circumstances  were  insane, 
winde,  and  trouble  thee   a  little  while,  and       f  His  autograph,  as  it  stands  to  the  verdict 
presently  go  forth  again ;  and  so  I  consented.  f  „       ,       »    st 

And  that  night  [she  went  to  a  sort  of  general  b-d-vu  c^i£?->  (^^^^y^t/ 

meeting  of  witches,  which  she  describes  thus  :]  ^~ 

I  was  with  my  husband  and  goodwife  Mericke  of  the  Jury.    He  was  a  prominent  man  in  Bos- 

and  Bessie  Sewell  in  goodman  Stebbinge  his  ton,  as  will  often  be  seen  by  these  pages. 


1651.]  PROCEEDINGS   AGAINST    HERETICS.  325 

in  Massachusetts.  Here  they  fared  very  differently.  The  disturbance 
began  at  Lynn,  at  the  house  of  William  Witter,  "  an  aged 
uy  '  brother  of  the  Church,"  who,  not  being  able  to  go  to  Newport 
to  hear  what  he  considered  the  word  of  God  truly  preached,  had  there- 
fore invited  Mr.  John  Clarke,  Obadiah  Holmes,  and  John  Crandal  to  his 
house,  there  to  enjoy  a  season  of  communion  agreeable  to  their  opin- 
ions of  divine  worship.  The  officers  of  Government  soon  learned  where 
they  were,  and  the  object  of  their  visit.  A  writ  was  therefore  issued 
for  their  apprehension,  and  they  were  apprehended  accordingly.  Their 
T  o0  arrest  was  on  Sunday,  in  the  midst  of  a  sermon,  which  one  of 
them,  Mr.  Clarke,  was  delivering ;  who,  in  his  Narrative  *  of 
the  affair,  says,  "  two  Constables  with  clamorous  tongues,  made  an  in- 
terruption in  my  discourse,  and  more  uncivilly  disturbed  us  than  the 
pursuivants  of  the  old  English  Bishops  were  wont  to  do."  Being  thus 
apprehended  "they  carried  us  away  to  the  ale-house  or  ordinary." 
This  was  about  noon.  In  the  afternoon  one  of  the  Constables  proposed 
to  them  to  go  to  Mr.  Whiting's  meeting.  To  which  it  was  answered, 
that  being  in  his  hands  they  would  not  resist,  but  if  they  were  carried 
to  meeting,  then  they  should  "  be  constrained  to  declare  themselves." 

Accordingly,  as  the  custom  of  the  times  was,  they  were  "  carried" 
to  meeting.  On  entering  the  assembly,  Clarke  says  he  "showed  his 
dissent  from  them  by  his  gesture."  It  being  prayer  time,  he  took  off 
his  hat  as  he  entered,  and  "  civilly  saluted  them,  and  turned  into  the 
seat  he  was  appointed  to."  Then  he  says,  "  I  put  on  my  hat  again, 
and  sat  down,  opened  my  book  and  fell  to  reading.  Mr.  Bridges  [the 
Magistrate  who  issued  the  warrant]  being  troubled,  commanded  the 
Constable  to  pluck  off  our  hats,  which  he  did,  and  where  he  laid  mine 
there  I  let  it  lie."  At  the  close  of  the  services  Mr.  Clarke  stood  up 
and  begun  "to  declare  himself,"  but  was  soon  silenced.  They  were 
then  taken  to  the  Ordinary,  and  there  "  watched  over  that  night  as 
thieves  and  robbers."  The  next  day  they  were  sent  to  Boston, 
and  "cast  into  prison."  Ten  days  after,  Clarke  was  brought 
into  Court  "  and  fined  twenty  pounds,  or  to  be  well  whipped." 
After  a  short  imprisonment  he  paid  the  fine.  Mr.  Crandal  was 
fined  but  five  pounds,  which  he  paid,  and  with  Clarke  returned  to  Rhode 
Island.  Mr.  Holmes  would  not  pay  the  fine  imposed  on  him,  which 
was  thirty  pounds,  and  he  was  kept  in  prison  till  the  Court  met  in  the 
beginning  of  September  ;  and  then,  after  the  public  Lecture,  "  when  I 
heard  the  voice  of  my  keeper,"  he  says,  "  come  for  me,  even  cheerful- 
ness did  come  upon  me,  and,  taking  my  testament  in  my  hand,  I  went 
along  with  him  to  the  place  of  execution."!  Here  he  requested  the 
privilege  "  to  give  an  account  of  the  faith  "  for  which  he  was  to  suffer; 
but,  he  says,  "  in  comes  Mr.  Flint,  and  says  to  the  Executioner,  '  Fel- 
low, do  thine  office,  for  this  fellow  would  but  make  a  long  speech  to 

*  In  Backus',  Hist.  New  Eng.,  i.  215.  of  State  Street.     There,  or  in  that  immediate 

•)•  The  "  place  of  execution  "  was  that  now   vicinity,  was  the  Market,  and  near  the  Market 
occupied  by  the  Old  State  House  at  the  head    stood  the  Whipping  Post. 


326  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1651. 

delude  the  people.'"  Yet  he  attempted  to  speak,  "still  Mr.  Flint 
calls  to  the  man  to  do  his  office.  So  before,  and  in  the  time  of  his 
pulling  off  my  clothes,  I  continued  speaking,  telling  them  that  I  had  so 
learned,  that  for  all  Boston  I  would  not  give  my  body  into  their  hands 
thus  to  be  bruised  upon  another  account,  yet  upon  this  I  would  not. 
give  the  hundredth  part  of  a  wampum  peaque  *  to  free  it  out  of  their 
hands." 

Mr.  Holmes  was  whipped  with  exceeding  severity,  f  yet  he  told  the 
Magistrates  it  was  as  with  rods  of  roses.  The  spectators  were  many 
of  them  moved  with  pity.  Two  persons,  J  for  expressing  sympathy,  and 
taking  the  bleeding  victim  by  the  hand  after  his  punishment,  were 
fined  forty  shillings  each,  which  if  they  refused  to  pay  they  were  to  be 
whipped  also. 

Soon  after  these  troubles  Mr.  Clarke  went  to  England,  and  the 
following  year  published  a  narrative  of  them  ;  upon  which  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall  wrote  to  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wilson,  "  that  it  did 
not  a  little  grieve  his  spirit  to  hear  what  sad  things  were  reported  daily 
of  their  tyranny  and  persecutions  in  New  England  ;  as  that  they  fined, 
whipped  and  imprisoned  men  for  their  consciences."  Mr.  Cotton  re- 
plied to  him,  in  which  reply  he  attempted  a  justification  of  the  proceed- 
ings against  the  Rhode  Island  men.  His  defence  will  not  be  regarded 
more  satisfactory,  at  this  day,  probably,  than  it  was  at  that  day  to  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall.  § 

Among  the  laws  passed  this  year,  there  was  one  against  dancing  at 
taverns,  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings.     An  act  was  made  empow- 
ering the  town  of  Boston  to  choose  seven  Commissioners  who,  to- 
gether with  one  Magistrate,  were  to  hear  and  determine  all  civil 
actions,  not  exceeding  ten  pounds.     They  had  jurisdiction  in  criminal 
cases  also,  where  the  penalty  or  fine  did  not  exceed  forty  shillings.  || 

*  Indian  money,  and  current  then  and  above  only  by  having  his  fine  paid  by  a  friend.     The 

one  hundred  years  later  among  the  English,  following  day  he  "  went  to  visit  a  friend  about 

To  the  time  of  the  American  Revolution  of  six  miles  from  Boston, -where  the  same  day  he 

1775,  a  peag  or  peaque  was  of  the  value  of  the  fell  sick,  and  within  ten  days  ended  his  life." 

6th  part  of  a  penny.  —  Holmes  in  Backus.      Spur's  fine  was  also 

f  In  an  account  of  his  sufferings  in  Boston,  paid  by  a  friend.  He  belonged  to  the  Church 
which  Mr.  Holmes  sent  to  the  "  well-beloved  of  Boston.  He  left  a  narrative  of  the  affair, 
brethren,  John  Spilsbury,  William  Kiffm  and  which  is  in  Backus.  Hazel  was  of  Rehoboth, 
the  rest  in  London,"  he  wrote,  that  the  spec-  and  between  60  and  70  years  of  age. 
tators  of  the  scene  said  "the  man  striking  §  They  may  be  read  in  Hutchinson's  Coil's. 
with  all  his  strength,  yea  spitting  on  his  hand  Orig.  Papers,  401-7,  and  Backus,  i.  245-50. 
three  times,  with  a  three-corded  whip,  gave  Hutchinson  remarks  upon  the  letter  of  Mr. 
me  therewith  thirty  strokes."  —  Backus,  i.  236. '  Saltonstall,  that  "  it  discovers  a  good  deal  of 
In  a  manuscript  of  Gov.  Joseph  Jencks  it  is  that  catholic  spirit  which  too  many  of  our 
remarked,  that  Mr.  Holmes  was  whipped  "  in  first  settlers  were  destitute  of." —  Orig.  Pa- 
such,  an  unmerciful  manner,  that  in  many  pers,  401.  Yet  it  is  surprising  that  Hutchinson 
days,  if  not  some  weeks,  he  could  take  no  rest  seems  to  have  been  ignorant  of  the  cases  of 
but  as  he  lay  upon  his  knees  and  elbows,  not  persecution  detailed  in  the  text,  and  that  Mor- 
being  able  to  suffer  any  part  of  his  body  to  ton,  Hubbard,  and  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  scarcely 
touch  the  bed  whereon  he  lay."  —  Ibid.,  237.  allude  to  them  at  all. 

Holmes  had  a  brother  Robert  living  in  the  ||  This  was  probably  a  sort  of  experimental 

parish  of  Manchester,  Lancashire,  in  1617.  —  Court,  made  to  relieve  the  County  Court  of 

Ibid.,  261.  small  causes  ;  for  Hutchinson  says  it  was  only 

%  John  Hazel  and  John  Spur.     Hazel  was  authorized  for  a  year,  and  he  did  not  find  that 

imprii.ned  seven  days,  and  escaped  the  lash  it  was  revived.  —  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  174-5. 


1651.]  DESCRIPTION    BY   EDWARD    JOHNSON.  327 

Four  years  before,  the  General  Court  had  become  too  much  encumbered 
with  small  matters,  and  it  ordered  that  houses  of  entertainment  should 
be  licensed  by  the  County  Courts.  * 

The  Town  sent  Captain  John  Leveritt,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke,  for 
Deputies  to  the  General  Court.  The  Selectmen  were  "  Mr.  Richard 
Parker,  Captain  Leveritt,  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke,  Mr.  Edward  Ting,  Mr. 
Houchin,  Deac.  Marshall  and  Anthony  Stoddard'."  Mr.  Hezekia  Vsher, 
Edward  Fletcher,  George  Davis,  John  Sinderland  were  Constables. 
William  Cotton  and  George  Hailshall  were  Surveyors  of  Highways. 
William  Courser  and  Robert  Read,  Sealers  of  Leather.  Jeremy 
Houchin,  Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures  ;  Edward  Ting  Treasurer ; 
Anthony  Stoddard,  Recorder,  f 

One  who  was  present  at  the  first  settlement  of  Boston,  and  had  seen 
its  progress  for  the  twenty  years  in  which  it  had  existed,  thus  describes 
it :  "  Invironed  it  is  with  the  brinish  flouds,  saving  one  small  istmos, 
which  gives  free  accesse  to  the  neighbor  townes,  by  land  on  the  south 
side  ;  on  the  northwest  and  northeast,  two  constant  faires,J  are  kept 
for  daily  traffique  thereunto.  The  forme  of  this  Towne  is  like  a  heart, 
naturally  situated  for  fortifications,  having  two  hills  on  the  frontice  part 
thereof  next  the  sea  ;  the  one  well  fortified  on  the  superfeices  thereof, 
with  store  of  great  artillery  well  mounted.  The  other  hath  a  very 
strong  battery  built  of  whole  timber  and  filled  with  earth,  at  the  descent 
of  the  hill  in  the  extreme  poynt  thereof  betwixt  these  two  strong  armes 
lies  a  large  cave  or  bay,  on  which  the  chiefest  part  of  this  Towne  is 
built,  overtopped  with  a  third  hill ;   all  three  like  overtopping  towers, 

*  The  order  was  as  follows  :    "  It  is  ordered  June  30.  — James  Jimson  to  see  "  that  noe 

by  the  Authoritye  of  this  Court,  that  hence  stones   nor  tymber   shall  lye  vpon  the  Flats 

forthe  all  such  as  are  to  keepe  houses  of  comon  above  48  hours."     Wm.  Pollard  to  see  that 

entertainment,  and  to  retayle  rume,  beer,  &c,  no  stones  or  timber  lie  in  the   streets  at  the 

the  Clerks  of  the  writts  and  such  as  are  to  South  End  of  the   Town,  and  Richd.  Bennet 

ende   small    causes,    shalbe   licenced    at  the  the  same  at  the  North  End ;  agreeable  to  an 

County  Courts  of  the  shire  where  they  live,  or  order  of  31  Nov.  1649. 

the  Court  of  Assistants  ;  so  as  this  Court  may  July  28. — Wm.    Baker,    carpenter;    John 

not  be  thereby  hindered  in  their  more  weighty  Chamberlin,   currier;   and   Wm.  Talbot,  sail- 

affayres." — Original  Paper,  dated  28  May,  maker,  admitted  to  inhabit. 

1647.  Signed  by  "Jo:  Winthop,  Govr.,"  and  Aug.  11.  —  The  Select  men  are  ordered  to 

on  the  part  of  the  house  by  "  Bozoun  Allen."  "  take  care  from  tyme  to  tyme  for  the  preven- 

f  Mar.  31.  —  Goodman  Leader,  Sen.  to  yoke  "tion  of  danger  of  fyer  by  defectiue  chimneys." 

and  ring  all  the  swine.     Henry  Rust  admitted  Nov.  6.  —  Martin  Stebins  is  fined  20s.  unless 

to  inhabit.  he  secure  his  chimney  from  danger  of  fire  in 

Afl.  28.  — Thomas  Alcocke  appointed  cow-  ten  days, 

keeper,  at  2s.  a  head.  Sept.  29.  — Hope  Allen,  currier,  admitted  an 

May  26.  —  John  Button  paid  a  fine  of  20s.  inhabitant, 

for  letting  a  "  forriner  have  a  shop  and  enter-  Oct.  27. — Nicholas  Parker  may  wharf  be- 

tainment  in  his  house,"   and  was  ordered  to  fore  his  property  by  Charlestown  ferry, 

discharge  him  forthwith  out  of  his  house,  or  Nov.  24.  —  John  Web,  brasier,  admitted  to 

pay  20s.  more.  inhabit  for  six  months,  "and  if  he   behave 

June  20.  —  If  Francis   Smith   dont   remove  himself  well  for  longer   tyme."     Saml.  Nor- 

his  house  out  of  the  Highway  in  three  days,  den  fined  for  entertaining  a  foreigner,  igno- 

he  shall  be  fined  20s.  and  10s.  a  day  after,  rantly,  6s.  and  Sd.  "  and  to  discharge  them  of 

If  Wm.  Frainklin  dont  "  fill  vp  the  ground  he  his  house."     If  any  chimney  "  be  on  fyer,  so 

hath  digged  in  the  Townes  Highway  at  the  as  to  flame  out  of  the  top,"  the  party  inhab- 

north  end   of   the   bridg   near   the   house    of  iting  the  house  to  be  fined  10s. 

Humphrey  Milam  "  in  ten  days,  he  shall  pay  J  This  is  no   doubt  a  printer's   error,   and 

20s.  should  be  ferries;  otherwise  it  is  nonsense. 


328 


HISTORY    OP    BOSTON. 


[1652. 


keepe  a  constant  watch  to  fore  see  the  approach  of  forrein  dangers, 
being  furnished  with  a  beacon  and  lowd  babling  guns,  to  give  notice  by 
their  redoubled  eccho  to  all  their  sister  townes.  The  chiefe  edifice  of 
this  citylike  Towne  is  crowded  on  the  sea-bankes,  and  wharfed  out 
with  great  industry  and  cost,  the  buildings  beautiful  and  large  ;  some 
fairely  set  forth  with  brick,  tile,  stone  and  slate,  and  orderly  placed 
with  comly  streets,  whose  continuall  inlargement  presages  some  sump- 
tuous city.  The  wonder  of  this  moderne  age,  that  a  few  years  should 
bring  forth  such  great  matters  by  so  meane  a  handfull.  But  now  be- 
hold, in  these  very  places  where  at  their  first  landing  the  hideous  thick- 
ets in  this  place  were  sich  that  wolfes  and  beares  nurst  up  their  young 
from  the  eyes  of  all  beholders,  where  the  streets  are  full  of  girles  and 
boyes  sporting  up  and  down."  * 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 


Mint  Established.  —  An  assumption  of  Authority.  —  Favored  by  the  state  of  Affairs  in  England.  — 
John  Hull  appointed  Mint-Master.  —  Some  Account  of  him.  —  Coining  unnoticed  by  Parliament, 
and  Cromwell.  —  Death  of  John  Cotton.  —  Had  ordered  his  Papers  to  be  burnt.  —  Incidents  of  his 
last  Sickness.  —  John  Norton  named  as  his  Successor.  —  Personal  Appearance  of  Cotton.  —  His  Por- 
trait. —  Laws  against  Extravagance  in  Dress.  —  War  declared  against  the  Indians.  —  The  Dutch 
and  Indians  accused  of  plotting  the  Destruction  of  the  English.  —  Death  and  Character  of  Gov. 
Dudley.  —  The  Great  Fire.  —  Another  Clamor  against  the  Indians.  —  Maj.  Willard  sent  against 
them.  —  They  avoid  Hostilities.  —  Maj.  Willard  censured.  —  Heretical  Books.  —  Muggleton  and 
Reeves. 

THIS  year  money  was  begun  to  be  coined  in  Boston. 
The  increase  of  trade  made  a  home  currency  necessary. 
Money  in  bullion  had  flowed  in  from  the  West  Indies, 
owing  in  some  measure  to  the  success  of  the  buccaneers 
among  the  islands  in  that  region.  Therefore  "  it  was 
thought  necessary  for  preventing  fraud  in  money  to  erect 
a  mint  for  coining  shillings,  sixpences  and  three- 
pences." f 

It  was  no  small  stretch  of  authority  for  a  Colony  or 
Province  to  presume  to  coin  money ;  but  this  Colony  was 
now  very  peculiarly  situated,  and  its  presumption  in 
taking  this  step  was  greatly  favored  by  the  recent  state  of  affairs  in  the 
mother  country.     Things  had  been  so  overturned  there  that  the  people 


BRENTON. J 


*  Johnson,  Wonder-working  Prov.,  chap.  xx. 
p.  42.  This  description  of  Johnson  is  copied 
nearly  verbatim  in  Ogilby's  great  folio  "  Amer- 
ica :  being  the  latest  and  most  accurate  De- 
scription of  the  New  World,"  p.  159-60, 
printed  twenty  years  after  Johnson  wrote. 
He  mentions  one  fact  not  in  Johnson,  namely, 
that  it  (Boston)  "  was  anciently  called  Acco- 
monticus  " .' 


f  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  78. 

|  The  above  are  the  Arms  of  Brenton,  of 
Hertfordshire.  They  are  still  borne,  with  aug- 
mentation, by  the  naval  commanders  of  the 
name  in  England,  all  descended  from  Mr. 
Wm.  Brenton,  of  Boston,  freeman  14  May, 
1634,  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  and 
afterwards  Governor  of  Rhode  Tsland,  of  whom 
hereafter. 


1652.]  A    MINT    ESTABLISHED.  329 

here  felt  that  they  were  under  little  or  no  control  from  that  Govern- 
ment, and  even  their  allegiance  hung  only  by  a  thread  of  very  ques- 
tionable strength  and  durability.  * 

It  appears  that  "  for  some  years  paper  bills"  had  been  used  for 
money;  but  as  these  "were  very  subject  to  be  lost,  rent  or  counter- 
feited, and  other  inconveniences,"!  a  supply  of  hard  money  was  re- 
solved upon.  Accordingly,  the  General  Court  authorized  John  Hull, 
"a  silversmith,"  and  Robert  Sanderson,  of  Boston,  officers  of 
its  "  Jurisdiccon,"  for  "melting,  refyning  and  cojning  of  sil- 
ver." They  took  an  oath  that  all  money  coined  by  them  should  "  be 
of  the  just  alloy  of  the  English  cojne ;  that  every  shilling  should  be  of 
due  weight,  namely,  three  penny  troj  weight,  and  all  other  pieces  pro- 
portionally, so  neere  as  they  could."  Measures  were  then  taken  to 
provide  a  suitable  "mint  howse  and  all  tooles  and  implements  neces- 
sary for  carrying  an  end  of  the  order ;  that  the  sajd  mint  howse  should 
be  sett  vppon  the  land  of  the  sajd  John  Hull ;"  J  that  when  he  should 
cease  to  be  Mint  Master,  the  Country  was  to  have  the  ground  on  which 
the  house  stood  at  the  valuation  of  two  "  indefferent  men  equally  chosen 
by  the  Countrje  and  sajd  John  Hull." 

The  pieces  at  first  coined  had  only  the  initials  of  New  England  on 
one  side,  and  on  the  other  the  Roman  numerals  expressive  of  their  value. 
But  the  General  Court  soon  ordered  that  all  pieces  of  money  should 
have  a  double  ring  with  this  inscription,  "  Massachusetts,  and  a  tree 

*  "No  other  Colony  ever  presumed  to  coin  Samuel,  Hannah  and  Elizabeth.     At  the  de- 

any  metal  into  money.    It  must  be  considered,  cease  of  said  daughter  Hannah  and  her  hus- 

that  at  this  time  there  was  no  king  in  Israel."  band,  said  children  to  have  the  revei'sion  of  all 

—  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  78.  lands  at  Muddy  River  ;  lands  in  Boston  for- 

f  Mr.   Felt  from  Mass.  Archives.      See  his  merly  Mr.  Cotton's  at  Cotton-Hill,  warehouses, 

Hist.  Acct.  Mass.  Currency,  33.  wharf,  &c.  ;  a  small  tenement  leased  by  Capt. 

J  His  land  is  not  described  in  the  Book  of  Daniel  Henchman,  with  pasture  adjoining  Mr. 

Possessions.     He  died  intestate,  and,  after  his  Robert  Sanderson,  purchased  of  Sarah  Phip- 

death  (which  took  place  29  Sept.,  1683,  aged  pen.     This  document  was  subscribed  by  Saml. 

59,  according  to  Hist.  Ant.  and  Hon.  Art.  Co.),  Sewall  and  his  wife,  13  Mar.,  1683-4,  and  wit- 

his  estate  was  distributed  between  Judith  his  nessed  by  "  Daniel  Quinsey,  John  Alcocke  and 

widow,  and   his   daughter  Hannah,  wife   of  Eliakim  Mather." 

Samuel  Sewall,  as  follows  :  12  Mar.  1683-4 —  John  Hull  is  styled  silversmith  in  legal  pa- 
Widow  to  have  the  mansion  house,  late  bought  pers.  It  was  doubtless  owing  to  his  skill  in 
of  Mr.  Edward  Rawson,  and  the  little  orchard  that  business  that  the  General  Court  selected 
adjacent  ;  one  moiety  of  all  the  warehouses,  him  as  its  Mint  Master.  In  one  of  Judge 
yard  and  wharf  on  the  Mill  Creek  in  Boston,  Sewall's  interleaved  Almanacks,  he  wrote 
near  the  Little-bridge,  called  Oliver's-bridge  ;  against  14  Aug.  1683,  "  My  father  watched 
lands  at  Muddy  River  (Brookline)  now  occupied  his  last."  The  Almanack  is  by  Cotton  Ma- 
-by  Simon  Gates  ;  Swamp-line  land  occupied  ther.  —  See  Antiquarian  Journal,  vii.  345. 
by  Geo.  Bairstow ;  Hogscote-land,  occupied  by  Mr.  Hull  had  other  children  besides  the  wife 
Andrew  Gardner;  a  third  of  the  dwelling  of  Sewall,  but  they  all  died  before  their  father, 
houses  in  Boston  held  by  mortges ;  one  from  The  first  recorded  are  Elizabeth  and  Mary, 
Hudson  Leverett,  occupied  by  him  ;  one  from  twins,  born  23  Jan.  1652;  Hannah  (who  be- 
Richd.  Woodde,  occupied  by  his  widow  ;  and  came  the  wife  of  Sewall)  b.  14  Feb.  1657- . 
one  from  Wm.  Hoar,  baker,  occupied  by  him  ;  She  was  married  28  Feb.,  1675-6.  It  is  not 
also  the  dwelling  house  and  land  bo't  of  Robt.  probable  that  the  father  of  the  Mint  Master 
Walker;  the  small  pasture  bo't  of  John  Dam-  ever  came  to  this  country;  but  that  this  son 
erill,  fronting  on  the  street  leading  towards  came  over  with  an  uncle  or  grandfather.  Farmer 
Fort  Hill  in  Boston  ;  all  the  lands  in  Slier-  learned  by  SewalVs  Diary,  that  Robert  Hull, 
born  alias  Boggastow.  At  the  death  of  said  of  Boston,  blacksmith,  freeman  1637,  was  bis 
Judith  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  the  three  grandfather.  John  no  doubt  learned  his  trade 
children  of  her  daughter,  Hannah  Sewall,- viz.  of  silversmith  before  his  emigration. 


330 


HISTORY    OP   BOSTON. 


[1652. 


in  the  centre  on  one  side,  and  New  England  and  the  year  of  our  Lord 
on  the  other  side."  *  This  was  strictly  adhered  to  by  the  Mint  Master, 
but  the  General  Court  did  not  probably  contemplate,  that  all  the  money 
which  might  be  coined  for  thirty  years  should  have  the  "  year  of  Our 
Lord  1652,"  on  it,  yet  such  was  the  case.f 

It  has  been  long  since  remarked,  that  it  was  singular  Parliament  took 
no  notice  of  this  infringement  of  one  of  its  vital  prerogatives,  but  it 
only  proves  one  of  two  things  ;  namely,  that  Parliament  was  too  much 
occupied  to  consider  of  the  matter,  or  that  it  did  not  care  to  disturb 
the  quiet  of  New  England,  as  its  loyalty  was  no  doubt  considered 
beyond  question ;  nor  does  Cromwell  appear  to  have  alluded  to  the  sub- 
ject. And  "there  was  a  tacit  allowance  of  it  even  by  Charles  the 
Second  for  more  than  twenty  years  ;  and  although  it  was  made  one  of 
the  charges  against  the  Colony  when  the  Charter  was  called  in  question, 
yet  no  great  stress  was  laid  upon  it.  It  appeared  to  have  been  so 
beneficial  that,  during  Sir  Edmund  Andros'  administration,  endeavors 
were  used  to  obtain  leave  for  continuing  it ;  and  the  objections  against 
it  seem  not  to  have  proceeded  from  its  being  an  encroachment  upon  the 
prerogative,  for  the  motion  was  referred  to  the  master  of  the  Mint,  and 


12d. 


6d.  PIECES 


2>d.  PIECES. 

*  Mr.  Felt  says,  "  A  pine  tree  appears  to 
have  been  a  favorite  symbol  with  the  authori- 
ties of  Massachusetts."  The  rudeness  of  the 
impression  on  the  early  coins  may  render  it 
rather  uncertain  whether  a  pine  tree  was  in- 
tended to  be  represented,  or  some  other  tree. 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  simply  a  tree,  of  no 
particular  genus,  was  originally  intended ; 
and  that  at  length  it  received  the  name  of  one 
of  the  most  common  tribe  of  trees  of  New 
England.  When  the  people  "  declared  them- 
selves free  from  British  rule,  they  had  it  ap- 
pointed on  the  State  flag,  April  11th,  1776. 
It  continued  to  the  adoption  of  the  thirteen 
stripes.  Even  before  this  appointment,  it  was 
under  the  colors  with  such  a  tree  that  the  bat- 
tle of  Bunker  Hill  was  fought  by  our  forces." 
—  Hist.  Mass.  Cur.,  35. 


It  may  be  just  to  infer 
that  the  same  Flag  or  Col- 
ors was  used  on  the  land 
as  on  the  sea  in  the  early 
period  of  our  history. — 
Such  being  the  fact,  and 
the  Sea  Colors  being  truly 
described  in  an  English 
work  published  before 
1700,  we  find  a  tree  in 
the  colors  then  in  use  no 
more  representing  a  fine  than  it  does  a  cab- 
bage. It  is  exactly  copied  in  the  annexed 
engraving.  The  ground  is  red,  also  the  Cross. 
The  tree  is  green. 

f  It  may  have  been  the  policy  of  the  Rulers 
not  to  alter  the  date  ;  willing,  perhaps,  that  it 
might  be  thought  in  England  a  matter  only 


1652.] 


MINT    AND    COINAGE. 


331 


the  report  against  it  was  upon  mere  prudential  considerations."  *  A 
great  sum  was  coined,  and  Master  Hull  realized  a  large  fortune  ;  so 
advantageous  was  his  contract  with  the  Government.!  But  it  was  re- 
marked by  a  cotemporary,  that  his  good  fortune  was  well  deserved  ;  in 
that  "  he  was  the  son  of  a  poor  woman,  but  dutiful  to  and  tender  of  his 
mother,  which  Mr.  Wilson,  his  minister,  observing,  pronounced  that 
God  would  bless  him ;  and  although  he  was  then  poor,  yet  he  should 
raise  a  great  estate."  J 

The  Town  sent  the  same  Deputies  to  the  General  Court  this  year  as 
last.§     The  other  officers  varied.  || 


resorted  to  in  a  single  year,  for  a  temporary 
relief,  and  which  had  been  probably  laid  aside 
the  same  year. 

*  Hutchinson,  i.  178. 

f  "He  was  to  coin  the  money  of  the  just 
alloy  of  the  then  new  sterling  English  money, 
and  for  all  changes  which  should  attend  melt- 
ing, refining  and  coining,  he  was  to  be  allowed 
to  take  15«\  out  of  every  20s.  The  Court  were 
afterwards  sensible  that  this  was  too  advan- 
tageous a  contract,  and  Mr.  Hull  was  offered 
a  sum  of  money  by  the  Court  to  release  them 
from  it ;  but  he  refused  to  do  it.  He  left  a 
large  personal  estate  and  one  of  the  best  real 
estates  in  the  country.  Samuel  Sewall,  who 
married  his  only  daughter,  received  with  her, 
as  commonly  reported,  £30,000  in  New  Eng- 
land shillings."  —  Ibid. 

J  Mather,  Magnolia,  B.  iii.  47. 

§  Jan.  5.  — Thomas  Noble  admitted  an  in- 
habitant. 

Jan.  26.  —  Wm.  Whitwell  may  keep  an  or- 
dinary till  the  next  7th  month.  Martin  Steb- 
bins  allowed  the  same  liberty.  Richd.  Wooddy 
admitted  an  inhabitant  '.'  vpon  promise  not  to 
be  offensive  by  his  trayd." 

Feb.  23.  — Joshua  Scotto  may  wharf  before 
his  property,  "  by  the  north  east  end  of  the 
Mill  Bridge. ' '  John  Vyall  may  keep  a  house 
of  common  entertainment,  "  provided  he  keepe 
it  nere  the  New  Meetinghouse,  or  northward 
of  it."  James  Davis  may  keep  a  house  of 
common  entertainment. 

||  Mar.  8.  —  Select  men  were  Mr.  Adam 
Winthrop,  Capt.  Savage,  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke, 
Mr.  Jeremy  Houchin,  Deacon  Marshall,  En- 
sign Hutchinson  and  Mr.  Wm.  Brenton.  The 
Constables  were  Jacob  Sheaffe,  Mr.  James  Ast- 
wood,  Samuel  Bitsfeid,  and  Wm.  Ludkin  ;  for 
Rumley  Marsh  John  Tuthill ;  for  Muddy  River 
John  Kenerick.  "  Ordered  that  James  Euer- 
ill  and  the  neighbors  wch  set  vp  the  Conditt  by 
the  Dock,  shall  have  on  of  the  bells  (which 
were  given  by  Capt.  Crumwell)  for  a  clocke, 
and  enioy  it  whiles  they  make  that  vse  of  it 
there." 

Mar.  16.' — Ensign  Hutchinson  chosen  Treas- 
urer, and  Thomas  Savage  Recorder.  Deacon 
Marshall  sealer  of  weights  and  measures. 

Mar.  29.  — "  Thomas  Alkok  "  to  keep  the 
cows   "  wch  goe  one   the   Common   one  this 


Neck,"  and  to  have  2s.  and  6d.  each,  and 
to  pay  for  wintering  "of  the  Town  bull." 
"  Sargt.  Richd.  Cooke"  may  set  a  house  on 
the  Town's  ground,  between  the  house  Mr. 
Woodmansey  lives  in,  and  the  Town  "  skoole  " 
house,  extending  from  the  street  to  Henry 
Messenger's  ground,  behind  the  "  skoole  house 
downe  along  by  the  burying-place  ;  67  foot 
wide  behind  the  skole  house,"  and  60  next 
Henry  Messenger ;  trees  planted  or  to  be 
planted,  and  buildings  to  be  holden  as  se- 
curity for  the  rent.  Enlargement  of  the  school- 
house  was  provided  for. 

April  3. — Ens.  James  Oliver  and  Sergt. 
Peter  Oliver  may  set  up  a  wind  mill  on  the 
"  tope  of  the  hile  between  the  Towne  and  the 
hile  called  Fox  hile  ;"  to  pay  12d.  a  year  to 
the  Town,  or  forfeit  5s.  a  quarter.  Said  "  mile 
to  stand  stile  "  when  the  "  cheef  military  com- 
mander of  this  Towne  or  of  this  regiment " 
shall  order  it. 

April  2.  —  John  Anderson  may  wharf  before 
the  high-way  adjoining  his  land  on  one  side 
and  John  Crabtre's  on  the  other ;  may  take 
wharfage  of  strangers  but  not  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Town.  Wm.  Franklin  shall  make 
good  the  bridge  by  John  Batman's  house,  over 
the  Mill-creek  ;  and  to  make  it  passable  both 
for  carts  and  horse,  in  ten  days,  or  be  fined 
20s. 

May  31. — Edward  Flecher  requested  that 
Tho.  Sewal  might  reside  in  the  Town,  and 
"  Rich.  Greedly,  Jno.  Parker,  Miles  Tarne, 
Richard  Thayre,  all  of  Boston,"  became  se- 
curity against  his  becoming  chargeable  to  the 
Town. 

July  26.  —  Richd.  Waite  may  set  a  porch 
before  his  house,  3  ft.  into  the  street,  and  6  ft. 
wide,  and  pay  the  Town  6d.  every  25th  of 
March  "  henceforth  and  for  euer."  James  Pit- 
ney allowed  to  inhabit,  but  Theodore  Atkin- 
son had  to  become  bound  for  him  in  £20. 
Wm.  Shattoke,  shoemaker,  allowed  to  inhabit ; 
also  Silvester  Harbert. 

Aug.  9.  — Robt.  Feeld  may  keep  a  "  cook's 
shopp  and  draw  beare,"  and  Wm.  Courser  may 
also  keep  a  cook  shop.  Oct.  5.  — Wm.  Whit- 
well and  Martin  Stebbin  allowed  the  same 
privilege. 

Aug.  30.  — Awgoston  Lindon  and  James 
Westmorland  admitted  inhabitants. 


332  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1652. 

Nothing  since  the  death  of  Governor  Winthrop  had  caused  so  great 
a  sensation  in  the  Town  as  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Cotton.  He  was  in 
his  sixty-eighth  year  ;  *  of  whom,  onef  eminently  qualified  to 
draw  his  character,  says,  "  His  excellent  learning  and  profound 
judgment,  eminent  gravity,  Christian  candor  and  sweet  temper  of 
spirit,  whereby  he  could  very  placidly  bear  those  who  differed  from  him 
in  their  apprehensions,  made  him  most  desired  whilst  he  was  amongst 
them,  and  the  more  lamented  when  he  was  removed  hence.  So  equal 
a  contention  between  learning  and  meekness,  magnanimity  and  humil- 
ity, is  seldom  seen  in  any  one  person.  He  was  a  famous  light  in  his 
generation,  a  glory  to  both  Englands  ;  one  in  whom  was  so  much  of 
what  is  desirable  in  a  man,  as  the  consciences  of  all  that  knew  him  ap- 
pealed unto,  is  rarely  to  be  seen  in  any  one  conversant  upon  earth. 
And  as  concerning  any  tenet,  wherein  he  may  be  thought  to  be  singular, 
it  must  be  remembered,  that  although  he  was  a  star  of  the  first  magni- 
tude, yet  he  was  on  this  side  of  that  place  and  state  where  the  spirits 
of  just  men  are  made  perfect,  and  where  the  '  wise  shall  shine  as  the 
brightness  of  the  firmament.'  " 

It  is  related,  that  on  his  death-bed  Mr.  Cotton  ordered  his  son  to  burn 
all  his  papers  which  related  to  the  unhappy  controversy  in  Sir  Henry 
Vane's  time  ;  and  that  "  he  had  bundled  them  all  up  "  with  the  inten- 
tion to  do  it  himself,  but  had  omitted  it  till  he  had  not  strength  to  go 
into  his  study  where  they  were.  His  son  complied  reluctantly  with  the 
injunction  of  his  dying  father,  but  not  till  he  had  taken  the  advice  of 
Mr.  Norton.  That  advice  was  in  obedience  with  the  injunction.  J 
N  Mr.  Cotton  preached  his  last  sermon  about  one  month  before 

'his  death.  His  final  sickness  was  occasioned  by  a  cold  taken 
while  passing  the  ferry  to  Cambridge  ;  whither  he  went  to  preach  a 
sermon  to  the  students  at  the  College.  An  inflammation  of  the  lungs 
followed,  and  he  expired  on  Thursday,  about  noon,  or  "  between  eleven 
and  twelve  o'clock,  after  the  bell  had  called  to  the  lecture."  When 
upon  his  death-bed,  the  members  of  his  Church,  aware  that  his  dissolu- 
tion was  near  at  hand,  requested  him  to  name  some  one  to  succeed  him, 
and  he  desired  them  to  apply  to  Mr.  Norton,  of  Ipswich.  § 

The  personal  appearance  of  Mr.  Cotton,  according  to  his  grandson,  || 

Oct.  5.  —  Sergt.  Robt.  Turner  may  let  his  sen  gentleman  of  the  Great  Artillery  of  Bos- 
new  house  jet  into  the  street  further  than  his  ton. 

old  one  is,  and  to  pay  2s.  and  (id.  a  year  for  Dec.  27.  —  William  Inglish  is  admitted  a 

ever.  townsman.     Richard  Taylor  may  set  a  shop  at 

Nov.  29.  — Thomas  Bligh  is  allowed  to  live  the  south  end  of  Mrs.  Hamblo's  house. 

in  the  Town,  "  he  carrying  himself  without  *  He  was  born  4  Dec,  1585,  and  was  there- 

scandall."    Mr.  Thomas  Browghton  may  wharf  fore  just  entered  upon  his  68th  year, 

before  his  ground  at  the  ferry  towards  Charles-  f  Hubbard,  Hist.  New  Eng.,  553,  ed.  Harris. 

town,  if  he  do  it  "  within  a  year  and  a  day."  J  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  179. 

Good.  Arnal  and  Sergt.  Wm.  Cotton  fined  5.5.  for  §  Dr.  Pond's  Preface  to  his  edition  of  the 

committing  nuisance.     "Those  whoe  "  paved  Life  of  Cotton,  by  John  Norton,  p.  8.     For 

the  lane  irom  the  Cove  at  Mr.  Hamberye's,  several  of  the  above   facts  I  am  indebted  to 

north-west  to  the  house  of  Robt.  Bradford's,  this  work. 

to  be  paid  40s.  ||  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  in  the  Magnolia,  B. 

Dec.  10. — Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  is  cho-  iii.  page  28. 


1653.]  WAR   WITH    THE   NARRAGANSET    INDIANS.  333 

was  as  follows  :  "  The  reader,"  he  says,  "  that  is  inquisitive  after  the 
prosopography  of  this  great  man,  may  be  informed,  that  he  was  of  a 
clear,  fair,  sanguine  complexion,  and,  like  David,  of  a  ruddy  counte- 
nance ;  rather  low  than  tall,  and  rather  f;it  than  lean,  but  of  a  becoming 
mediocrity.  In  his  younger  years  his  hair  was  brown,  but  in  his  latter 
years  as  white  as  the  driven  snow.  In  his  countenance  there  was  an 
inexpressible  sort  of  majesty,  which  commanded  reverence  from  all  that 
approached  him."  * 

The  laws  which  had  been  passed  against  extravagance  in  dress  at  a 
previous  Court,  had  been  pretty  rigorously  enforced.  One  woman  was 
fined  for  wearing  "broad  bone  lace,"  one  for  wearing  tiffany,  and 
another  for  wearing  a  silk  hood.  Allice  Flint  Avas  complained  of  for 
this  last  offence,  but  as  she  made  it  appear  that  she  was  worth  <£200, 
the  law  did  not  reach  her  case  ;  but  Jonas  Fairbancks  did  not  escape 
censure  for  wearing  "  those  great  prohibited  boots,"  although  he  es- 
caped without  being  fined. 

1653.         Captain  Leverett  and  Captain  Clarke  are  again  chosen  Dep- 
Mar.  14.  uties  to  the  General  Court.f 

The  wTar  between  England  and  the  Dutch  caused  much  alarm  in  Bos- 
ton, and  a  war  with  the  Narraganset  Indians  also  broke  out  this  year. 
It  was  declared  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  250 
men  were  ordered  to  be  raised.  Owing  chiefly  to  the  relation 
of  England  to  the  Dutch,  a  jealousy  had  sprung  up  here,  that 
the  people  of  Manhattan  had  leagued  with  the  Indians  to  distress  and 
break  up  the  settlements  of  New  England.  This  jealousy  was  strength- 
ened when  the  Rulers  considered  the  part  they  had  acted  in  causing 
the  death  of  Miantonimo.  Ninigret  was  now  a  leading  Chief  among 
the  Narragansets,  and  he  had  spent  much  time  of  late  at  New  York. 
It  turned  out,  however,  that  the  fears  of  the  English  respecting  a  plot 
between  the  Dutch  and  Indians  against  them,  was  without  sufficient 
foundation  upon  which  to  make  war  ;  and,  after  long  and  tedious  exam- 
inations, the  Commissioners  learned  that  Ninigret  had  been  sojourning 
at  Manhattan  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. J  From  the  information 
elicited,  however,  it  appears  not  unlikely  that  the  Dutch  Governor  at 

*  His   portrait    accompanying  this   history  Wenborne  ;  John  Doelittell,  at  Rumley  Marsh  ; 

very  well   agrees   with  this   description,   and  Peeter  Ashpinall  at  Muddy  River ;  Clarkes  of 

may  tend  to  dispel  any  doubt  of  the  genuine-  the  Market,  Tho.  Buttalls  and  Corparall  Henry 

ness  of   the  picture  from  which  it  is  copied,  Pownding  ;  Seallers   of  leather,  Wm.  Corser 

should  there  be  any  who  might  wish  to  appear  and  Robt.  Reade  ;    Surveyors  of  High-wayes, 

wise  by  expressing  doubt.     It  has,  I  believe,  Mathew  Barnes,  Richd.  Benit,  Thomas   Wi- 

never  before  been  engraved.     It  is  copied,  as  burne ;    at  Rumley  Marsh,  James  Pemerton  ; 

its   inscription   imports,  from   a   painting  in  packers  of  flesh  and  fish,  Serjt.  John  Barrell ; 

possession   of  John  Eliot  Thayer,  Esq.,  of  Wm.  Dinsdall  and  Isack  Collimore  to  looke  to 

Boston,  who  is  a  descendant  of  Cotton.  carriages  and  wheels  of  the  great  artilery." 

f  "  Seleckt  men,   Ens.  Edwd.  Hutchinson,  "Granted  Isack  Collimoor  a  houselot  at  the 

Ens.  Jerymy  Howchine,  Lieutt.  James  Oliuer,  northwest   end  of  Mackallin  Knights  ground 

Tho.  Marshall,  Mr.  Wm.  Brenton,  Mr.  Samll.  towards  the  house  of  Mr.  Howchins." 

Cole,  Cornet  Peeter  Oliuer.      Comissioner  to  J  "  In  Anno  1653,  there  were  great  troubles 

carry  in  the  voats  for  Magistrats,  Mr.  Nathll.  and  commotions  raised  in  the  spirits  of  men, 

Dunkom.       Constables,    Mr.   Joseph    Rocke,  with  reference  to  the  Indians,  it  being  gener- 

Henry  Bridgham,  Bartholmew  Chevars,  Wm.  ally  believed  that  there  was  an  horid  conspi- 


334 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1654. 


New  York  was  laying  plans  by  which  he  could  avail  himself  of  the 
Indians'  services,  should  his  situation  require  them.* 

Mr.  Endicott  had  held  the  office  of  Governor  since  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  and  Mr.  Dudley  had  served  as  his  Deputy  for  the  last 
two  years.  Now  the  labors  of  the  latter  were  come  to  an  end.  Mr. 
Dudley  died  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  thus 
u  y  '  passed  away  another  principal  founder  of  the  Colony  ;  one  of 
the  most  energetic  and  active  men  who  had  ever  lived  in  it.  His  firm- 
ness was  fully  equalled  by  his  fidelity  ;  and  though  he  was  highly  in- 
tolerant, according  to  more  modern  ideas  of  toleration,  yet  his  integrity, 
and  honesty  of  purpose,  in  carrying  out  that  which  he  conceived  to  be 
the  true  interests  of  the  people,  will  never  be  questioned  by  those  who 
have  attended  at  all  to  his  character.! 

A  fire,  known  for  many  years  after  as  "  The  Great  Fire,"  occurred 
this  year ;  but  neither  its  extent  nor  locality  is  known.  The  Town 
may  be  said  to  have  been  very  fortunate  in  respect  to  fires  hitherto. J 
The  immediate  affairs  of  the  Town  are  important  and  interesting.  § 


racy  amongst  the  Indians  throughout  this  land 
to  cut  off  all  the  English,  and  that  they  were 
animated  thereto  by  the  Dutch,  there  being,  at 
that  time,  war  between  England  and  Hol- 
land."—  Dr.  I.  Mather,  Relation  of  the  Trou- 
bles, &c,  p.  67-8. 

*  The  war  would  have  been  prosecuted  but 
for  the  influence  of  Boston.  Dr.  Mather  says, 
"  The  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies 
did  apprehend  themselves  called  upon  to  wage 
warr  against  Ninigret  and  such  Indians  as 
should  adhere  to  him  in  his  bloudy  proceed- 
ings ;  but  the  Council  at  Boston  not  concur- 
ring in  those  conclusions,  the  intended  expe- 
dition failed  at  that  time."  — Ibid.,  69. 

f  There  is  believed  to  be  no  portrait  of  Gov- 
ernor Dudley  in  existence.  This  is  very  sin- 
gular, and  much  to  be  lamented  by  his  numer- 
ous posterity  at  the  present  day ;  one  of 
whom,  bearing  the  name,  has  within  a  few 
years,  travelled  over  a  great  part  of  England 
to  make  researches  respecting  his  ancestry,  but, 
it  is  believed,  not  with  entire  success.  His 
biography  is  of  the  deepest  interest,  and  may 
be  read  in  Eliot  and  Allen,  and  most  of  our 
histories.  The  family  arms  have  been  given 
in  this  work.  — See  ante,  p.  137. 

%  Capt.  Robert  Keayne,  who  wrote  his  will, 
or  the  first  part  of  it,  on  the  1st  of  August 
this  year,  is  supposed  to  refer  to  this  fire  in 
the  following  passage  :  "  Haveing  thought  of 
the  want  of  some  necessary  things  for  the 
Towne  of  Boston,  as  a  Market-place  [house] 
and  Condit ;  the  one  a  good  helpe  in  danger  of 
fyre,  the  want  of  which  we  have  found  of  sad 
experience."  —  Antiquarian  Journal,  vi.  90. 
From  the  following  Town  orders  it  would  seem 
that  the  Great  Fire  happened  not  long  before 
14  Mar.  1653.  Also  from  the  Town  Records :  — 

Mar.  14.  —  "  Ordered  that'  thear  be  a  lad- 
der or  ladders  to  every  house  within  this  Town, 


that  shall  rech  to  the  ridg  of  the  house,  which 
every  houshowlder  shall  provide  for  his  house 
by  the  last  day  of  the  3d  mo.  next,  one  the 
penaltie  of  6s.  8d.  ;  that  every  householder 
shall  provide  a  pole  of  about  12  foot  long  with 
a  good  large  swob  at  the  end  of  it,  to  rech 
the  rofe  of  his  house  to  quench  fire  ;  that  the 
seleckt  men  shall  provide  six  good  and  large 
ladders  for  the  Towne's  vse,  which  shall  hang  at 
the  outside  of  the  Meetinghouse,  to  be  branded 
with  the  Town  mark;  that  a  bell  man  goe 
about  the  Town  in  the  night,  from  10  vnto  5 
a  cloke  in  the  morning." 

§  Jan.  31.  —  William  Ware  is  admitted  a 
townsman. 

Feb.  28. —  William  Gifford,  bricklayer,  ad- 
mitted to  inhabit,  but  Mr.  Richd.  Bellingham 
was  obliged  to  "  secur  the  Town  fro  all  dam- 
mage  for  one  whole  year."  Goodm.  Waters 
must  remove  his  fence  from  "  crose  the  old 
hie  way  "  leading  from  Tho.  Hawkins  house 
over  the  little  bridge  behind  the  water  mill  to 
the  ferry  to  Charlestown  before  7  Mar.  next, 
or  be  fined  20s.  Wm.  Foxley,  and  Mr.  Pig- 
hogg  [Piggot]  "  chururgeon,"  are  admitted  to 
inhabit.  Francis  Hudson  may  wharf  before 
his  ground  near  the  ferry  at  Charlestown,  if 
he  do  it  within  a  year  ,  and  leave  a  way  a  rod 
and  an  half  between  his  house  and  said  wharf. 
John  Lowes  fined  5s.  for  entertaining  Francis 
Burges  without  the  liberty  of  the  "  Selekt" 
men.  Good.  Watters  fined  10s.  for  entertain- 
ing Roger  Sowers  without  the  liberty  of  the 
"  Seleckt "  men. 

Mar.  28.  — Thomas  Rider  fined  20s.  for  re- 
ceiving John  Lightfoot  as  an  inmate,  but  it 
was  afterward  remitted.  [Joseph  Rocke  was 
fined  several  times  for  not  acting  as  Consta- 
ble, until  the  General  Court  ordered  his  fines 
to  be  returned.] 

April  25.  —  Mr.  Simon  Aires  fined  10s.  for 


1654.]  EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    NARRAGANSETS.  335 

Captain  Thomas  Clarke  and   Captain  Thomas   Savage  were 

chosen  Deputies  to  the   General   Court.     The  "Townsmen" 

chosen  at  the  same  time  were  Mr.  William  Brenton,  Mr.  William  Davis, 

Mr.  Jeremyah  Houchin,  Mr.  James  Oliuer,  Mr.  Samuel  Cole,  Mr.  Peter 

Oliuer,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Marshall.* 

At  the  General  Election,  Mr.  Richard  Bellingham  was  chosen 
Governor,  and  Mr.  Endicott   Deputy  Governor.      There  is  no 
record  that  a  sermon  was  preached  at  the  Election,  nor  is  it  at  pres- 
ent known  whether  any  sermons  were  preached  from  1650  to  1655, 
inclusive.! 

The  troubles  and  complaints  against  the  Indians  were  louder  this  year, 
if  possible,  than  they  were  the  last  year,  and  nothing  short  of  an  exter- 
mination of  the  Narragansets  seemed  likely  to  satisfy  the  Connecticut 
people.  One  of  the  most  serious  complaints  against  them  was,  that 
they  kept  up  a  war  upon  the  Long  Island  Indians  ;  and  this,  enforced 
with  other  accusations,  caused  the  Commissioners  again  to  declare  war. 
A  force  of  270  foot  and  forty  horse  were  therefore  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed into  the  Narraganset  country  to  take  satisfaction.  Of  this 
"army"  Major  Simon  Willard  had  the  chief  command.  On  his  arri- 
val Major  Willard  found,  doubtless,  what  he  expected  to  find,  namely, 
that  the  Indians  had  all  run  away  into  the  swamps  and  hiding-places ; 
and  hence,  if  he  and  his  men  were  disposed  to  fight,  there  was  nobody 
to  fight  with.  In  due  time  the  army  returned  home,  having  effected 
nothing  of  importance. 

There  was  considerable  clamor  raised  against  Major  Willard,  and 
there  were  some  that  supposed  he  had  secret  instructions  from  the  Gov- 

his  chimney  being  on  fire   "contrary  to  or-  Oct.  26. —  Walter  Senett  may  dig  a  cove  in 

der."  the  Marsh  near  Mr.  Ransford's  to  lay  his  boat 

May  30.  —  David  Hichbone  fined  20s.  for  re-  in. 
ceiving  James  Robinson  into  his  house  as  an 
inmate,  but  on  "  his  sorrow  for  the  same,"  the 
fine  was  not  exacted.  Robert  Sanders  may  in- 
habit, and  Mr.  Thomas  Ruck  may  "  retayle 
strong  water." 

June  27.— Roger  Else  admitted  an  inhab-  Dec.  26.  —Joshua  Scotto  and  Wm.  Frank- 

itant.     Mr.  Robtt.  Woodmancye  to  be  paid  nn  may  alter  the  draw  bridge,  "to  make  it 

40s."  as  part  of  his  repayres  of  his  house,"  rise  in  two  leaves,"  it  being  heavy  and  danger- 

[which  had  probably  been  injured  in  stopping  ous  jn  0ne  leaf. 

the  progress  of  the  late  fire.    Immediately  fol-  *  Mar.  12.  —  Habacuck  Glover,  Tho.  Matt- 
lowing  this  order  to  remunerate  Mr.  Wood-    son, Farnham,  and  Thomas  Wilbourne, 

mancye,  the  Town  Records  state,  that]  "  For-  were  chosen  Constables.  Richard  Crichley, 
asmuch  as  sad  events  have  been  by  fire,  when  Hough  Drury, Goose,  and  Nathll.  Ad- 
it breaketh  out  beyond  its  due  bounds,  to  the  ams>  surveyors  ;  for  Rumney  Marsh,  Thomas 
damage  and  losse,  nott  only  of  estate  but  life  Stocker ;  searchers  and  packers  of  flesh  and 
also,  for  preventyon  whereof  it  is  hereby  or-  fish,  Wm.  Dinsdayle  and  John  Barrell.  "The 
dered  that  noe  fire  shall  be  kindled  within  Select  Men  have  liberty  to  agree  with  Joseph 
three  rod  of  any  warehouse  or  wharfe  or  wood-  Jynks  for  Ingins  to  carry  water  in  case  of  fire, 
pile,"  &c,  upon  certain  penalties:  From  jf  they  see  cause  sbe  to  doe."  Wm.  Hearsey 
which  it  is  probable  that  the  great  fire  orig-  was  Constable  of  Rumney  Marsh,  and  Garrett 
inated  from  a  fire  made  in  the  open  air  near  Bourne,  of  Muddy  River, 
some  building  or  woodpile,  &c.  \  Mar.  27.  — Mr.  Wm.  Davis,  Mr.  Peeter 

Aug.  28.  —  Mr.  Foot  shall  fence  his  "  sel-  Oliver,  John  White  and  Peeter  Aspinwall  to 

ler  from  the  highway  neare  the  bridge  over  the  join  with  Cambridge  to  lay  out  a  High  way 

mill  stream,"  or  pay  20s.  through   Muddy   River   to   Cambridge.      Mr. 


336 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1654. 


ernment  at  Boston,  which  prevented  his  fighting  the  Indians ;  but  it 
would  have  been  more  just  had  the  Indians  been  accused  of  acting 
under  "secret  instructions,"  by  which  Major  Willard's  army  found 
none  of  them  to  fight  with.  Nevertheless,  it  may  be  that  there  were 
influential  men  in  Boston  who  regarded  a  war  with  the  Narragansets 
altogether  unwarrantable  and  unnecessary.  Mr.  Roger  Williams  was, 
doubtless,  consulted,  and  there  is  a  letter  of  his  extant  in  which  he  re- 
minds the  English  "  that  the  Narragansets  were  their  first  friends  ;  that 
they  had  been  true  in  all  the  Pequot  wars,  and  had  been  the  means  of 
the  coming  in  of  the  Mohegans,  too ;  that  a  Narraganset  had  never 
stained  his  hand  in  English  blood  ;  but  that  the  Long  Islanders  had,  as 
well  as  the  Pequots ;  while  many  hundreds  of  the  English  had  ex- 
perience of  the  love  and  desire  of  peace  among  the  Narragansets." 

Before  retreating  from  the  Narraganset  country,  Major  Willard  en- 
deavored to  bring  Ninigret  to  hold  a  treaty,  but  the  Chief  was  afraid  to 
venture  among  so  many  soldiers.  Two  gentlemen,  however,  who  ac- 
companied the  expedition,  Captain  Davis  and  Captain  Seely,  procured 
an  interview  with  him,  and  he  made  certain  promises,  which  it  is  said 
he  ke$tfidem  Punicam  ;  for  the  very  good  reason,  probably,  that  they 
were  extorted  from  him,  and  that  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  perform 


Samuell  Cole,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures. 
The  grant  to  Mr.  Thomas  Broughton  to  wharf 
or  make  a  "  Carrocadd  before  his  land  at  Cen- 
ter Haven  is  contynued."  Mr.  Willm.  Davis, 
Treasurer  for  the  Town,  and  Thomas  Marshall, 
Recorder.  Mr.  James  Oliver  and  Robtt.  Tur- 
ner to  run  the  line  between  Cambridge  and 
"Rocksbury,"  and  Boston,  "in  pambula- 
tyon."  Capt.  Robt.  Kayne  and  John  Touthill 
to  run  between  Boston,  Charlestown  and  Linn 
"  in  pambulatyon." 

April  24.  —  "  Thomas  Olcott  shall  kepe  the 
cows,  and  to  have  2s.  a  head  for  every  cow 
that  goes  vpon  the  comon,  and  6d.  a  head  for 
the  hire  of  2  bulls  wdl  he  hath  hereby  power 
to  gather  vpon  every  cowe." 

June  28.  — The  Town  agreed  with  Wm.  Ire- 
land and  Aron  Waye  to  make  good  the  High 
way,  as  now  laid  out  by  Lin,  leading  thence 
to  VVenesemett ;  the  part  newly  laid  out,  partly 
in  the  land  of  Mr.  Newgate,  and  partly  in 
their  own  ;  to  keep  it  in  repair  seven  years,  and 
to  be  paid  £5.  Wm.  Bruff  admitted  an  in- 
habitant ;  Willm.  Wenbourne  being  bound  for 
him.  Mr.  Dean  Winthrop  and  Amos  Rich- 
ardson, agents  "  vnto  Mr.  Steaven  Winthrop 
doe  lay  out  a  highway  through  the  marsh  from 
Henry  Bridgham's  house  to  Benjamin  Ward's 
wharf;"  thence  through  the  Town's  marsh,  in 
a  line  with  the  street  as  staked  and  marked. 
Richd.  Norton  fined  for  receiving  Geo.  Palmer 
into  the  Town. 

July  31. — Tho.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Bridgett 
Sandford  admitted  inhabitants.  Mr.  Hezekiah 
Vsher,  and  Thos.  Clarke,  shopkeeper,  to  col- 
lect the  money  for  the  College,  subscribed  by 
the  Select  Men.     Thos.  Hawkins  to  pay  2s. 


and  6d.  for  the  use  of  the  Lane  that  leads  to 
the  Mill  Cove,  by  the  year;  and  may -fence  it 
in  as  long  as  the  Town  sees  good.  It  was  a 
rod  and  half  wide. 

Aug.  28.  —  On  Hugh  Williams  security, 
Mary  Hayle  may  "  reside  with  us."  Mathew 
Barnes  shall  remove  the  pales  at  the  corner  of 
the  Mill,  and  his  wood  from  the  High  way,  or 
be  fined  20s. 

Sept.  25. — Mr.  Wm.  Davis,  Mr.  Jeremy 
Houchin,  and  Mr.  Peter  Oliuer,  to  view  the 
land  at  the  end  of  the  house  that  was  Geo. 
Bennitt's,  and  determine  whether  it  belongs 
to  said  house  or  the  Town.  "  Simon  Rogers 
chosen  bellman  ;  to  begin  the  1  Oct.  and  soe 
to  contyneue  till  the  1st  of  3d  mo."  Edward 
Greneclif  admitted  to  inhabit.  Mr.  John  Floyd 
fined   5s.    for   receiving  Mrs.  Pacey  into   his 

house  as  an  inmate.  Farnham  fined  5s.  for 

receiving  Goodman  Wales  as  above.  Joseph 
Swett  admitted  an  inhabitant.  If  any  per- 
sons take  earth  out  of  the  Lane  leading  from 
"  Theoder  Atkinsons  house  to  Rich.  Gridleys, 
they  shall  bring  two  loads  of  gravel  for  every 
load  of  earth." 

Oct.  31. — Richard  Green  admitted  an  in- 
habitant, and  Jasper  Rawlins  became  bound 
for  him.  Robert  Brooks  admitted  to  in- 
habit. 

Dec.  10.  —  The  order  of  24  :  9  :  51  is  re- 
pealed, but  it  is  ordered  that  "  iff  anye 
chimney  shall  be  fired  soe  as  to  flame  out  att 
the  topp,"  its  owner  to  be  fined  5s.  The 
bridge  leading  over  the  Mill  stream  near  John 
Bateman's  house  shall  be  mended  up,  by  the 
owners,  so  as  people  may  pass  safely  over, 
within  a  week. 


©a 


i 


5 

§ 

s 


a 
1 


1C54.] 


HERETICAL   BOOKS.  337 


thorn.  This  is  a  fair  inference,  when  it  is  known  that  Davis  and  Scely 
told  him,  that  if  he  did  not  do  as  they  had  ordered  him,  "he  must 
expect  that  ere  long  his  bend  would  be  set  upon  an  English  pole." 

As  nothing  was  effected  against  the  Indians,  and  as  the  army  had 
returned,  many  apprehended  that  they  would  be  encouraged  to  commit 
depredations.  Hence  soldiers  were  kept  in  readiness  to  act  against 
them.  Boston  ordered  that  the  soldiers  which  were  pressed  for  the 
expedition  against ' '  Ninicraf t, ' '  should  be  in  readiness  to  march  at 
D ec'  25'  two  hours'  notice.  The  number  of  Boston  men  "  impressed  "  was 
thirty-two,  and  William  Hudson,  Evan  Thomas,  William  Blanton  and 
Nicholas  Upsall,  were  allowed  seventeen  pounds  and  fifteen  shillings  for 
billeting  them.     This  allowance  was  in  January  following. 

To  prevent  the  scarcity  of  coin,  the  General  Court  ordered 
Aug.  22.  ^a^  persong  should  not  carry  away  with  them,  out  of  the  coun- 
try, more  than  twenty  shillings  each,  which  it  judged  would  be  sufficient 
to  pay  their  expenses  ;   and  searchers  were  appointed  to  carry  out  the 

order. 

There  had  been  a  recent  importation  of  books,  which  were  pro- 
nounced heretical  by  the  Government.  An  order  was  therefore  passed 
forbidding  all  persons  having  in  their  possession  books  bearing  the  names 
of  John  Reeve  and  Lodowick  Muggleton  ;  *  and  they  were  ordered  to 
be  delivered  to  those  authorized  to  receive  them,  who  were 
Oct.  18.  ^recte(j  pnblicly  to  burn  them  in  the  Market  Place,  which  doubt- 
less was  accordingly  done. 

At  the  same  Court  there  was  an  order  made  that  no  man  should  be  a 
Deputy  to  the  General  Court,  "  who  was  not  correct  in  the  main  doc- 
trines of  religion."  It  was  also  ordered  that  taxes  might  be  paid  in 
barley  at  five,  rye  and  peas  at  four,  and  corn  at  three  shillings  the 
bushel. 

The  General  Court  came  to  a  regulation  respecting  their  board  in 
Nov'  times  of  Sessions  ;  namely,  that  they  should  take  their  meals, 
especially  their  dinners,  in  the  Court  House  chamber.  Lieutenant  Phil- 
lips agreed  to  give  each,  beside  their  meals,  a  cup  of  wine  or  beer,  with 
two  meals,  and  a  fire  and  a  bed,  for  three  shillings  a  day. 

The  death  of  Major  General  Gibbons,  which  happened  on  the 
Dec'  9'  ninth  of  December  of  this  year,  was  a  great  loss  to  the  Colony,  f 

*A  synoposis  or   abstract  of  Muggleton's  GOD,   Christ  Jesus."  —  He  seems  to  have 

books  would  afford  much  amusement,  if  not  in-  agreed  with  the  Rulers  here  in  one  respect ; 

struction,  at  this  day.     He  was  as  wild  and  namely,  in  waging  war  against   the  Quakers, 

sanguine  in  his  theories  as  any  enthusiast  prob-  William   Penn  fell   under  his  rebuke,  whom 

ably  ever  was  before  or  since  his  time.     His  he  calls  a  "  Lyon-like  Quaker,"  who  had  come 

portrait  in  one  of  his  books  now  by  me,  has  out  "with  another  thundering  letter"  "The 

under  it  this  inscription :  — "  L  OB  O  WICK  great   mistery,"  he  says,  "that  God   become 

MUGGLETON,  Byed  the  14  of  March  169  J  :  flesh,  is  hid  from  the  eyes  of  the  seed  of  the 

then  aged  88  years  7  months  :  and  14  Dayes."  serpent,  such  as  William  Penn  the  Quaker  is." 

Another  of  his  books  has  this  title  :  —  "  The  f  There  is  a  good  sketch  of  him  in  Dr.  Eliot's 

Acts  of  the  Witnesses  of  the  Spirit,  in  Five  N.  E.  Biog.  Diet.     He  is  also  noticed  by  Dr, 

Parts  ;  by  Lodowick  Muggleton,  one  of  the  two  Allen,  though  Mr.  Savage  says  he  is  not.    (Note 

t Reeve  was   the   other]   Witnesses,  and  True  in  Winthrop,  new  edition,  i.  p.  228.) 

Vophets  of  the  onlv  High,  Immortal,  Glorious  I  am  not  aware  of  any  data,  by  which  the 

43 


338  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1654. 

He  was  the  chief  of  the  military  men  in  the  country  ;  having  been  kept 
in  his  of  ce  of  Major  General  by  annual  elections.  The  other  impor- 
tant offices  which  he  held  will  have  been  observed  in  the  previous  pages 
of  this  history.*  He  was  probably  the  greatest  adventurer  among  the 
Boston  merchants,  in  La  Tour's  expedition,  by  which  he  lost  a  large 
amount,  so  that,  at  his  death,  his  estate  was  rendered  insolvent.  There 
was,  at  his  decease,  a  debt  due  him  from  the  Town.  Its  consideration 
was  referred  "to  the  Selectmen  "  of  the  following  year,  "  together  with 
the  help  of  the  ancient  Townsmen."  Mr.  Thomas  Lake,  and  Mr.  Joshua 
Scottow  were  Administrators  to  Major  Gibbon's  estate,  who,  the  records 
say,  had  frequently  demanded  the  debt  of  the  Town,  the  amount  of 
which  was  but  forty-five  pounds.  It  was  finally  adjusted,  and  twenty 
pounds  were  paid,  "  because  ye  whole  debt  appears  nott  so  clearly  due." 

age  of  Gen.  Gibbons  can  be  learned.  He  was  West  Indies  was  noticed  in  the  latter  page, 
probably  not  above  sixty.  He  had  sons  Jotham  During  that  voyage  he  probably  fell  in  with 
and  John.  Jotham  had  lands  given  him  by  some  European  voyager,  who,  on  his  return  to 
Squaw  Sachem  and  Webcowit  on  the  west  side  his  country,  manufactured  the  absurd  tale  of 
of  Mistick  ponds  in  1637.  Gharlestown  after-  Gibbon's  being  met  with  about  the  Arctic  re- 
wards claimed  those  lands,  and  a  tedious  law-  gions,  and  that  he  had  discovered  a  North- 
suit  grew  out  of  it.  The  cause  was  decided  24  :  West  Passage,  &c. ;  which  fabrication  deceived 
1:1661-2.  The  jury  gave  Charlestown  "  three  many.  Among  others,  Capt.  Arthur  Dobbs  was 
parts,"  and  "one  part"  to  the  defendant,  rather  disposed  to  credit  the  legend,  as  late 
Thomas  Gleison,  "as  the  land  belonging  to  as  1744,  who  prints  the  story  in  his  Account 
Jotham  Gibbons,  and  for  the  defendant  costs  of  Hudson's  Bay,  123,  &c.  —  The  reader  will 
of  Court,  6s.  and  2^."  Gleison  lived  upon  the  find  more  of  this  matter,  if  he  will  take  the 
land  at  the  time  of  the  suit. —  Court  Papers.  By  trouble  to  examine  an  article  in  the  N.  Amer. 
the  same  papers  it  appears  that  Major  Gibbons  Rev.,  vol.  xlviii.  p.  129,  &c.  (No.  CII.  Jan., 
understood  the  Indian  language  and  was  an  in-  1839.)  The  anachronism  in  the  fabrication, 
terpreter  between  the  English  and  Indians.  making  Gibbon's  voyage  two  years  later  than 
*  See  ante,  pp.  200,  231.  —  The  voyage  of  it  was,  may  have  arisen  from  accident  or  inten- 
Gapt.  Gibbon  (as  he  was  then  styled)  to  the  tion. 


1655.] 


DEATH    OF    Mil.    WINSLOW. 


:;:;:> 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


Gov.  Endicott  removes  to  Boston.  —  Death  of  Edward  Winslow.  —  His  Character.  —  Law  about  Home 
Manufactures.  —  Improvement  in  Scythes.  —  Movement  for  a  Reduction  of  Duties.  —  Bale  of  Irish 
Servants.  —  Scotch  Prisoners  sent  over.  —  Various  Town  Regulations.  —  Arrival  of  Quakers.  — 
Seized  and  Imprisoned,  i —  Their  Books  Burnt.  —  Proceedings  against  Heretics,  how  far  Justifiable. 
Mary  Fisher.  ■ —  Laws  against  Quakers.  —  Nicholas  Upsall.  ■ —  Banishment  and  Sufferings.  —  Crom- 
well.  —  People  invited  to  remove  to  Jamaica.  —  Decline  it.  —  John  Leverctt.  —  Execution  for  Witch- 
craft. —  Death  of  Capt.  Keayne —  of  Miles  Standish.  —  Forts  Repaired.  —  Samuel  Sharp.  —  Trans- 
fers of  Real  Estate  not  hitherto  regularly  Recorded.  —  Removal  of  the  Gallows  • —  The  North  Bat- 
tery Repaired. 

«,  •  THE    election,   this    year    resulted   in   the 

choice  of  Mr.  Endicott  for  Governor,  and  Mr. 
Bellingham  for  Deputy  Governor,  which  offices  they 
continued  to  fill  for  the  ten  following  years  ;  at  the  end 
of  which  period  Mr.  Endicott  died.     At  this  Court  an 
order  of  request  was  made,  that  the  present  and  future 
Governors  would  reside  in  Boston ;   or,  within  four  or 
winslow.         fiye  miles  of  the  Town,  "  out  of  respect  to  strangers." 
With  this  request  Mr.  Endicott  complied  ;  he  had  hith- 
erto resided  at  Salem.    His  place  of  residence  was  on  what  is  now  Tre- 
mont  Street,  near  the  house  of  Mr.  Cotton.* 

Another  of  the  great  men  of  New  England  died  this  year.  This  was 
Governor  Edward  Winslow.  No  death  could  have  cast  a  greater  gloom 
over  the  country ;  and  although  he  belonged  to  Plymouth  Colony,  yet 
he  was  much  identified  with  the  affairs  of  Boston.  There  had  not  lived 
in  New  England,  perhaps,  a  man  of  greater  talents,  or  one  of  higher 
moral  worth.  He  had  no  superior  among  that  band  of  worthies  who 
gave  an  imperishable  name  to  the  Mayflower  ;  and  he  is  the  only  one 
of  all  the  "  one  hundred  and  one  "  who  came  to  Plymouth  in  1620,  of 
whom  the  hand  of  an  artist  has  left  any  painting,  bearing  the  char- 
acter of  an  authentic  portrait,  f  He  was  in  England  chiefly  as  an  agent 
for  this  Jurisdiction,  when  he  was  appointed  by  the  Lord  Protector  a 
Commissioner  to  superintend  or  to  direct  the  naval  operations  against 


*  Shaw's  Description,  291.  Mr.  Endicott's 
oldest  son  was  named  John,  whose  wife  was 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jeremy  Ho wchin,  a  dis- 
tinguished inhabitant.  He  died  without  issue 
in  1668,  leaving  all  his  estate  to  his  wife.  His 
house  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Sudbury  St.,  ad- 
joining the  land  of  George  Bates  on  the  west. — 
Will.  His  widow  rn.  (Aug.  1668)  Rev.  James 
Allen,  who  arrived  in  N.  Eng.  in  1662.  Their 
children  were  Hannah,  b.  22  July,  1669  ;  James, 
21  Aug.  1670  ;  John,  29  Feb.  1672  ;  Jeremiah, 
29  Mar.  1673.  Mrs.  Allen  died  seven  days  after 
the  birth  of  this  child,  and  Mr.  A.  rn.  again, 
11  Sept.  same  year,-Sarah  Hawlins  (Breet)  and 
had  Thomas.  20  May,  1675  ;  Sarah,  13  Sept. 


1679  ;  both  died  infants.  Jeremiah  A.,  the 
son  above  named,  had  an  only  dau.  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  John  Wheelwright,  and  d. 
12  Jan.  1717.  Mr.  W.  died  5  Oct.  1760,  a.  71. 
Mr.  Allen's  first  wife  was  Hannah  Dummer, 
whom  he  m.  18  Aug.  1663.  She  d.  Mar.  1668. 
He  was  minister  of  the  First  Church.  —  MS. 
Memoranda  of  Thos.  Walcutt  among  Snow's 
papers. 

f  The  original  was  formerly  in  the  Winslow 
Mansion  at  Marshfield,  but  is  now  deposited 
with  the  Historical  Society  in  this  city.  It  has 
been  beautifully  engraved  for  Mr.  Young's 
"  Chronicles  of  Plymouth,"  and  recently  by 
Mr.  Bartlett  for  "  The  Pilgrim  Fathers.'''' 


340 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1655. 


the  Spanish  West  Indies,  under  the  immediate  command  of  Admirals 

Penn  and  Venables.    A  disagreement  arose  between  those  commanders, 

which  gave  him  so  much  anxiety  and  uneasiness,  that  a  fever  was 

y  '  the  consequence,  and  he  died  near  Hispaniola,  at  the  age  of  about 
fifty-nine  years.  *  His  body  was  deposited  in  the  sea,  upon  the  cere- 
mony of  which,  "forty-two  pieces  of  ordnance  "  were  discharged. 

A  want  of  material  for  clothing  had  now  begun  to  be  considerably 
felt  in  the  Colony,  and  to  cause  the  people  to  supply  themselves,  the 
General  Court  made  a  law,  "that  all  hands  not  otherwise  necessarily 
employed,  as  women,  boys  and  girls,"  should  "spin  according  to  their 
skill  and  ability."  The  Selectmen  of  the  Towns  were  required  to  look 
to  the  condition  of  each  family,  and  to  "  assess  spinners  "  in  it,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances.  Thus  people  were  enjoined  by  legal  enactments 
to  look  to  their  own  interests  in  the  matter  of  home  manufactures. 

Before  this  period  scythes  for  cutting  grass  were  a  very  clumsy  imple- 
ment of  husbandry,  but  this  year  Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  introduced  a  great 
improvement  into  their  manufacture.  The  nature  of  his  improvement 
was  such,  that  no  one  since  his  time  has  been  able  materially  to  improve 
upon  him. 

0  There  was  a  movement  among  the  merchants  of  Boston  this 

year  to  effect  a  reduction  of  duty  on  malt.  Beer  was  an  article 
of  great  importance,  for  the  brewing  of  which  malt  was  largely  imported. 
Accordingly  several  petitions,  signed  by  some  of  the  most  considerable 
importers,  were  presented  to  the  General  Court  f     In  one  of  these  they 

*  He  was  born  at  Droitwich  in  Worcestershire, 
October  19th,  1595.  Few  lines  upon  New  Eng- 
land worthies  are  more  familiar  than  those  upon 
Mr.  Winslow  in  Morton's  Memorial  :  — 

"The  Eighth  of  May,  west  from  'Spinola  Shore, 
God  took  from  us  our  Grand  Commissioner, 
Winslow  by  name,  a  man  in  Chiefest  Trust, 
Whose  life  was  sweet,  and  conversation  just ; 
Whose  Parts  and  Wisdome  most  men  did  excell : 
An  honor  to  his  Place,  as  all  can  tell." 

There  is  a  pedigree  of  Gov.  Winslow's  de- 
scendants in  the  Antiquarian  Journal,  iv.  297, 
&c. 

f  The  following  are  the  autographs  of  such 
of  the  anti-tariif  men  of  1655,  as  signed  the 
petition :  — 


04rf£ 


WILLIAM  HUDSON  * 


'  See  p.  289. 


•Wltfa)  tP*$ 


EDW.  HUTCHINSON 


1655.] 


PETITION    FOR   REDUCTION    OF    DUTIES. 


341 


say,  "  that  whereas  their  is  a  law  about  the  ympost  or  custom  of  mault 
brought  over  from  other  parts,  which  your  Petitioners  conceive  to  be 
piuditiall  to  this  Coition  Welth,  and  also  a  discoridgmt  to  marchants," 
they  therefore  pray  for  a  repeal  of  said  law.  In  another  they  say,  "  The 
well  knowne  advantage  accrueing  by  freedome  of  ports  and  hindranc  of 
trade,  proportionally  according  to  largeness  of  customs  imposed,  that 
this  seeming  good  may  not  bring  upon  this  Countrey  a  reall  evell,  and 
from  custom  upon  one  thing  grow  to  custom  on  another,  till  step  by  step 
under  spectous  pretences  we  are  insensiblie  brought  under  taxes  for 
every  thing,  as  the  wofull  experience  of  other  nations  well  known  unto 
us  sheweth."  Therefore  "for  the  good  of  the  present,  and  to  prevent 
this  evell  in  future  ages,  we  are  become  your  humble  petitioners  to  re- 
move the  customs  upon  malt,  that  after  ages  may  remind  you  as  fathers 
of  theire  freedome,  and  the  present  may  bow  before  you  for  theire  expe- 
rience of  your  care  of  theire  wellfare."  * 

Notwithstanding  the  evils  arising  from  the  duties  complained  of,  as 
set  forth  by  the  Petitioners,  the  General  Court  could  not  or  would  not 
view  the  "  evells  "  in  the  light  which  they  did,  and  referred  them  to  a 
former  order  of  their  body  for  such  satisfaction  as  they  might  obtain 
from  it. 

From  the  Records  of  the  Town,  its  progress  and  prosperity  are  very 
apparent ;  many  new  orders  are  adopted  and  new  offices  created,  f 

f  Jan.  29.  —  Mathew  Ians  "  approved  of  to 
keep  a  house  of  publique  entertaynment. "  — 
Land  was  taken  of  Tho.  Munt  to  make  a  High- 
way " neare  unto  Mr.  Farnesid's  house."  John 
Suuiner  may  inhabit. 

Feb.  26. —  Upon  the  desire  of  "  our  sister 
Baxter"  (her  husband  being  "  taken  at  sea  and 
lost  what  he  had  in  1653"),  his  rate  of  15s. 
was  remitted.  —  Thos.  Hill,  and  John  Mosse, 
tailor  may  inhabit.  —  Ordered  "  that  a  dis- 
tresse  be  leveyed  ' '  on  the  land  that  was  John 
Shawe's,  butcher,  for  rent  due  on  Bendall's 
Dock. 

Mar.  12.  —  Selectmen  chosen  ;  — Mr.  Wm. 
Brenton,  Mr.  Samll.  Cole,  Mr.  Wm.  Davis,  Mr. 
Peter  Oliuer,  Mr.  James  Oliuer,  Mr.  Wm.  Pad- 
dey,  and  Tho.  Marshall.  —  Constables,  Bro. 
Shrimpton,  Joseph  Rock,  John  Webb,  Hough 
Drurye.  Bro.  Shrimpton  refusing,  is  fined  5s., 
and  Rich :  Hollidge  was  chosen.  For  Muddy  Riv- 
er, John  White ,  for  Rumney  Marsh,  Simon 
Bird.  —  Surveyors,  Nathaniel  Adams,  Richard 
Crichley,  Goose  the  carter,  and  Sam.  Sendall ; 
for  Rumney  Marsh,  Edward  Weeden.  Clerks  of 
the  Market,  Wm.  Cotten,  Heugh  Williams 
and  Theodore  Atkinson.  Searchers  and  Sealers 
of  leather,  Wm.  Courser  and  Robt.  Reed. 
Searchers  and  Packers  of  flesh  and  fish,  James 
Mattock,  Sen.,  and  Wm.  Dinsdayle.  Corders 
of  Wood,  Tho.  Leader,  Rich.  Taylor,  Anthony 
Harker,  Rich.  Greene. 

Mar.  30.  —  Wm.  Davis  chosen  Treas- 
urer and  Recorder.  —  Peter  Oliuer,  Seal- 
er of  Weights  and  Measures.  —  Capt. 
James  Oliuer,  Robt.  Turner,  John  Hull, 


ED.  HUTCHINSON  JUN. 

*  This  petition  seems  to  have  been  drawn  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Broughton  ;  that  is,  it  is  in  his 
chirography,  and  is  signed  by  him  and  Mr. 
Robert  Pateshall,  only. 


j^&g)^ 


C^^O^^OJ  £fi  <^0  -t^JtAzX?^ r 


342 


HISTORY    OP    BOSTON. 


[1655. 


By  order  of  the  "State  of  England,"  many  Irish  people  had  been 
sent  to  New  England.  On  their  arrival  they  were  sold  by  those  at 
whose  expense  they  had  been  brought  over,  to  any  of  the  inhabitants 
who  were  in  want  of  slaves  or  servants.  There  arrived  the  last  year  a 
ship  called  the  Goodfellow,  Captain  George  Dell,  with  a  large  number 
of  emigrants  of  the  above  description.  *  Many  of  the  Scotch  people 
had  been  sent  before  this  in  the  same  way.  Some  of  them  had  been 
taken  prisoners  at  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Dunbar.  There  arrived  in  one 
ship,  the  "  John  and  Sara,"  John  Greene,  master,  early  in  the  summer 
of  1652,  about  272  persons.  Captain  Greene  had  orders  to  deliver  them 
to  Thomas  Kemble  of  Charlestown,  who  was  to  sell  them,  and  with  the 
proceeds  to  take  freight  for  the  West  Indies,  f 

No  sooner  had  one  trial  been  gone  through  with,  but  another  followed 

it  closely.    The  Baptists  had  just  been  got  rid  of,  and  now  came  another 

strange  sect.   This  was  composed  of  people  called  Quakers. J  There 

were  but  two  of  them  at  first,  Mary  Fisher  and  Ann  Austin.  §    To 


Jacob  Eliott,  Peter  Oliuer  and  John  White  "to 
run  the  line  between  Cambridg  and  Boston,  and 
Roxbury  and  Boston,  att  Muddy  River."  Capt. 
Robt.  Keayne,  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson,  John 
Tuttill,  John  Dolitle  and  Tho.  Stocker  to  run 
the  line  between  Lyn  and  Boston,  and  Charles- 
towne  and  Boston.  Tho.  Alcock  to  have  2s.  6d* 
a  head  for  keeping  the  cows.  Mrs.  Richards 
allowed  20s.  deduction  on  her  rates.  Thos. 
Jones  may  inhabit,  but  Robt.  Sanderson  to  be 
security.  Alexander  Beck  and  Ralph  Roote  to 
oversee  the  fence  of  the  Common  field  at  Muddy 
River.  An  order  was  made  to  prevent  the  trees 
"  planted  on  the  Neck  "  from  being  spoiled.  A 
well  of  "  Robt.  Nannye's  "  is  much  complained 
of,  and  ordered  "  to  be  made  up  secure  ;  "  also 
"  his  seller  in  the  street."  The  legacy  left  by 
"  Mis  Hudson,  deceased,"  for  the  school  to  be 
let  to  Capt  Jas.  Oliver  at  16s.  per  an. 

April  16. — The  Commonage  shall  be  laid 
out  to  the  Commoners ;  the  names  of  those  en- 
titled to  Commonage  to  be  taken. 

Apl.  27.  —  The  guns  in  the  Market  place 
shall  be  trimmed  up  against  the  Court  of  Elec- 
tion, annually,  at  the  charge  of  the  Town.  — 
John  Birchall  may  inhabit,  also  "  Mis  Pacy," 
if  Mr.  Bradstreet,  or  John  Johnson  and  Mr. 
Parkes  of  Roxbury  will  be  security.  —  The 
wife  of  Christopher  Piggott  to  be  sent  to  her 
husband  at  Muddy  River  by  the  Constable, 
forthwith. 

May  28.  —  James  Bill  to  sell  no  more  wood 
at  Dear  Island,  because  there  is  no  more  left 
than  is  convenient  for  a  farm.  — Richard  Otis, 
smith,  may  inhabit. 

July  30.  —  Martin  Stebbin  may  sell  beer 
'  vpon  his  good  behavior,  for  one  year."  — 
Christopher  Avery  may  inhabit.  Mathew 
Barnes  to  "  mend  ye  bridge  at  ye  mill  doore  in 
4  dayes,"  or  be  fined  20s.  Wm.  Blanton  may 
"  dig  six  or  eight  load  of  earth  outt  of  a 
swamp  by  ye  windmill,  or  where  Mr.. Cole  and 
Mr.  Peter  Oliver  allow."  —  Edward  Greenliff 


may  "  set  a  house  of  18  foot  deepe  and  12  foot 
to  ye  front  from  ye  end  of  Mr.  Batts  tan  house." 
for  2s.  6d.  per.  an.,  "for  a  dying  house."  — 
A  "  noysome  pitt  by  the  house  of  Joseph  How. 
copper,"  to  be  filled  up  in  a  month. 

Oct.  29.— Thos.  Duer,  Christopher  Clarke 
and  John  Barrett  may  make  a  "  defence  for  ye 
cawsy  before  their  houses,"  by  setting  down 
posts  and  rails  or  otherwise.  Mathew  Pries  may 
inhabit.  Wm.  Whittwell  may  sell  beer.  Mau- 
ditt  Ingles,  Jno.  Marshall,  and  Rich.  Taylor 
"  are  chosen  to  be  sworn  measurers  for  all 
corn"  brought  by  vessels.  James  Bates  of 
Dorchester  may  buy  the  house  and  land  which 
Wm.  Lane  gave  his  daughter,  Eliz.  Rider  and 
her  children,  in  Dorchester. 

Nov.  27.  —  Isaac  Walker,  Saml.  Norden, 
Robt.  Nanny,  Robt.  Gibson  and  Samson  Shore, 
"  are  fined  10s.  a  man  for  their  chymneys  be- 
ing on  fire." — Sam.  Jewell  may  inhabit, Marke 
Hames  being  security  in  40s.  —  Deacon  John- 
son may  set  up  a  porch  before  his  house  door, 
four  feet  into  the  street.  —  Robt.  Wyatt  and 
Wm.  Lane  to  sweep  chimneys,  and  to  cry 
about  the  streets  that  they  may  be  known. 
Lieut.  Fisher  to  survey  and  draw  a  draft  of  all 
lands  belonging  to  Boston  in  Braintree,  also  of 
all  lands  given  by  the  Town  to  the  Ironwork, 
"  and  confirmed  to  Mr.  Leader  on  their  behalf." 
"Mis  Hanbury#is  fined  5s.  for  entertaining 
Francis  Smith  contrary  to  order." 

*  Original  paper  of  the  time  in  possession  of 
Frederic  Kidder,  Esq. 

f  See  N.  E.  H.  and  Gen.  Reg. ,  i.  p.  377,  &c, 
where  the  names  of  those  brought  over  by  Capt. 
Greene  may  be  seen. 

| ' '  The  name  Quaker  was  given  first  in  the 
year  1650."  —  Besse's  Sufferings  of  the  Qua- 
kers, Pref.  p.  iii. 

§They  came  from  Barbadoes.  Douglass, 
Sum.  i.  447.  — From  N.  Eng.  Judged,  p.  8,  it 
seems  that  they  came  from  England  by  way  of 
which  is  doubtless  the  fact.     They 


1650.]  QUAKER    DIFFICULTIES.  343 

.  these,  however,  there  was  a  large  accession  in  the  following  Au- 
A"s'  "  '  gust.  Captain  Robert  Lock  arrived  in  the  Speedwell  of  London, 
bringing  forty-one  passengers  ;  of  which  number  eight  were  Quakers. 
Their  names  were  William  Brand,  John  Copeland,  Christopher  Holder, 
Thomas  Thurston,  Mary  Prince,  Sarah  Gibbons,  Mary  Weatherhead  and 
Dorothy  Waugh.  * 

These  people  had  been  landed  but  a  few  days  when  they  were  brought 
s  before  the  Court  of  Assistants.  When  they  were  apprehended 
ep  '  *  they  had  certain  books  in  their  possession,  containing  the  Avrit- 
ings  of  some  of  the  Quakers.  These,  to  the  number  of  about  one  hun- 
dred volumes,  shared  the  fate  of  those  of  the  Muggletonians  ;  being 
made  a  bonfire  of  in  the  Market-place,  and  their  owners  were  sent  to 
prison.  After  informal  examinations  they  were  condemned  as  Quakers, 
and  the  Masters  of  the  vessels  who  brought  them  into  the  country  were 
compelled  to  give  bonds  to  carry  them  out  of  it.  They  were  kept  in 
confinement  several  weeks,  f  and  then  were  sent  away.  Mary  Fisher 
and  Ann  Austin  were  put  on  board  a  vessel  commanded  by  William 
Chichester,  who  came  under  bonds  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  transport 
them  beyond  this  jurisdiction,  and  to  allow  no  one  to  speak  with  them. 
Lock  was  bound  to  land  the  eight  which  he  brought,  "  nowhere  but  in 
England."! 

The  people  of  Boston,  and  the  majority  of  the  people  of  New  Eng- 
land, had  settled  themselves  in  this  country  to  maintain  and  perpetuate 
what  they  conceived  to  be  the  principles  of  true  Christianity.  They 
had  made  the  greatest  sacrifices  thus  to  situate  themselves,  and  they 
considered  that  they  had  the  best  possible  right  to  keep  out  those  who 
differed  from  them  in  those  fundamental  doctrines  for  which  they  had 
gone  into  exile.  They  had  sought  this  asylum  for  the  exercise  of 
their  opinions,  and  not  for  those  who  entertained  opinions  totally  sub- 
versive of  them.  Hence,  that,  so  long  as  they  had  the  power  to  keep 
out  intruders,  it  is  not  at  all  strange  that  they  exercised  it.  And,  in 
exercising  it,  they  did  no  more  than  has  been  done  in  the  present  age  in 
Boston,  making  but  partial  allowance  for  the  distance  of  the  periods  of 
the  transactions.  That  was  not  a  day  of  charity  for  difference  of  relig- 
ious opinions.  And  wTho  can  say  that  charity  universally  prevails  even 
at  this  day  among  religious  sects  ?  Few  sects  indeed  have  arisen,  where 
none  of  their  members  were  fanatics  in  their  origin.  Few  indeed  which 
have  not  produced  some  whose  pilgrimages  to  reform  the  world  have 
not  been  as  romantic  as* that  of  the  maiden  Mary  Fisher.§ 

came  in  the  ship  Swallow  of  Boston,  Simon  sengers  is  printed  in  the  N.  E.  H.  G.  R.  and 

Kempthorn  of  Charlestown,  Master.  —  Besse,  Antiquarian  Journal,!.  132. 

Suf.  of  the  Quakers,  ii.  177.  f  About  eleven,  according  to  Bishop,  N.  E. 

*The  orthography  of  these  names  is  given  Judged,  p.  41. 

exactly  as  they  stand  on  the  original  list,  at-  J  JV.  Eng.  Judged,  p.  8. 

tested  by  the  "  Searchers  "  at  Gravesend,  dated  \  This  remarkable  female,  "  being  moved  of 

30  May,  1656,  which  list  is  now  before  me.  the  Lord,"  undertook  a  journey  to  Constanti- 

They  are  very  nearly  the  same  in  Bishop's  N.  nople,  to  warn  the  Turks  to  "flee  from  the 

Eng.  Judged,  p.  3.     His  only  variations  are  wrath  to  come."    This  was  at  a  time  when  the 

Gibbens  and  Thirston.     The  entire  list  of  pas-  Grand  Vizier  laid  encamped  with  a  great  army 


344 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1656 


In  reviewing  these  early  scenes  it  is  very  apparent,  that,  in  general, 
the  pioneer  sectaries  rather  courted  than  avoided  persecutions  ;*  and  this 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of  when  those  branded  as  persecutors  are  held 
up  to  universal  scorn,  f 

There  was  no  law  at  this  time  against  Quakers ;  hence  it  was  not 
untruly  averred,  that  those  who  were  seized  and  imprisoned  were  ille- 
gally proceeded  against.  Aware  of  this,  the  Authorities,  at  the  next 
session  of  the  G-eneral  Court,  made  laws  to  meet  the  case  of  the  Quakers.  | 
Masters  of  vessels  were  subjected  to  a  fine  of  one  hundred  pounds  if  they 
brought  a  Quaker  into  any  part  of  the  Colony,  and  to  give  security  to 
take  him  away  again  ;  and  if  a  Quaker  came  within  the  Jurisdiction, 
he  was  to  be  sent  to  the  House  of  Correction  and  whipped  twenty 
stripes. 

The  next  year  other  laws  were  made  against  Quakers,  and  against 
those  who  countenanced  or  befriended  them.  If  any  person  entertained 
a  Quaker  an  hour,  he  was  to  be  fined  forty  shillings,  and  if  persisted 
in,  the  offender  was  to  have  one  of  his  ears  cut  off ;   and  if  repeated  he 


near  Adrianople.  When  she  got  to  Smyrna  the 
English  Ambassador  sent  her  back  to  Venice. 
Nothing  discouraged,  she  proceeded  by  the 
coast  of  the  Morea  by  land,  and  in  due  time, 
"  without  any  abuse  or  injury  offered  in  that 
long  journey  of  about  600  miles,"  arrived  at 
Adrianople.  She  found  means  to  convey  a  mes- 
sage to  the  Grand  Vizier,  which  was,  that  "  an 
English  woman  had  a  message  from  the  Great 
God  to  the  Great  Turk."  She  was  soon  al- 
lowed an  audience,  and  was  treated  with 
respect.  When  she  left,  a  guard  was  offered 
her,  but  she  declined  it,  and  proceeded  in  safety 
to  Constantinople,  "  without  the  least  hurt  or 
scoff."  Her  historian  compares  her  treatment 
among  the  Mahometans  with  that  she  received 
among  the  New  England  Christians  ;  by  which 
comparison,  he  says,  much  glory  redounds  to 
the  one,  while  to  the  other  belongs  "  everlast- 
ing shame  and  contempt."  —  See  N.  Eng. 
Judged,  22-4.  Even  the  philosophic  Hutch- 
inson could  not  forbear  remarking,  that  Mary 
Fisher  "  fared  better  among  Turks  than  among 
Christians."  —  Hist.  Mass.  i.  169. 

*  It  is  very  certain  that  the  Quakers  acted, 
as  they  conceived,  under  the  injunctions  of  the 
higher  law  ;  nor  were  they  the  only  people  who 
have  endeavored  to  obey  that  law,  without 
stopping  to  inquire  whether  they  were  not  de- 
feating their  own  objects  by  sapping  the  found- 
ations of  all  law. 

f  To  set  in  as  clear  a  light  as  we  may  how 
the  early  fathers  of  Boston  viewed  the  Quakers, 
the  following  extract  is  made  from  Mr.  John 
Norton's  "  Tractate,"  which  he  entitles,  "  The 
Heart  of  New-England  Rent  at  the  BLAS- 
PHEMIES of  the  present  Generation,  concern- 
ing the  Doctrine  of  the  Quakers ,"  &c.  18  mo. 
London,  1660.  Pages  83.  —  Mr.  Norton  was 
amongst  the  severest  against  the  Quakers,  and 
they  did  not  forget  him  when  they  were  able  to 
speak  through  the  Press,  as  may  elsewhere  be 


seen  in  this  history.  —  Mr.  Norton  says,  page 
2,  "That  the  Doctrine  of  the  Enthusiasts  in 
Germany,  and  Libertines  in  the  Low-Coun- 
treys,  was  a  dead  sea  of  heterodoxy,  consisting 
in  a  great  degree  of  pernicious  waters  of  old 
heresies,  till  then  out  of  mind  for  many  hun- 
dred years,  and  that  the  Doctrine  of  the  Qua- 
kers (as  to  the  substance  of  it)  is  but  the  open- 
ing of  that  vast  and  horrid  sink  (such  as  makes 
the  Land  to  stink  in  the  nostrils  both  of  God 
and  man,  more  than  the  Frogs  that  sometime 
annoyed  Egypt)  ;  "  &c.  In  another  place  the 
same  Author  says,  "  That  the  persons  thus 
opinionated  are  called  Quakers  not  from  their 
tenets,  but  from  the  gesture  wherewith  they 
are  acted,  at  or  about  the  reception  of  their 
revelations  ;  or,  when  else,  in  reference  to 
credit  their  Doctrines.  This  very  gesture  as 
circumstanced,  renders  their  way  in  no  small 
degree  suspitious ;  it  being  the  ancient  and 
known  manner  of  Satan,  when  he  inspired  his 
Enthusiasts,  to  afflict  the  bodies  of  his  instru- 
ments with  pains,  and  those  often  in  their  Bow- 
els, and  to  agitate  them  with  Antick  and  un- 
couth motions,  and  in  particular,  with  this  of 
quaking  and  trembling ;  thereby  to  amuse  igno- 
rant spectators  with  a  superstitious  astonish- 
ment, and  so  to  dispose  them  to  the  expectation 
of  some  strange  discovery,  preter-humane,  in 
pretence  divine,  but  in  deed  diabolical." —  Pages 
7-8.  For  the  opportunity  to  consult  this 
rare  work  I  am  indebted  to  my  obliging  friend, 
Mr.  Charles  Deane. 

J  Preamble:  —  "Whereas  there  is  a  cursed 
Sect  of  Hereticks  lately  risen  up  in  the  world, 
which  are  commonly  called  Quakers,  who  take 
upon  them  to  be  immediately  sent  of  God,  and 
Infallibly  assisted  by  the  Spirit,  to  speak  and 
write  blasphemous  Opinions,"  &c,  "  speaking 
evil  of  Dignities,  reproaching  and  reviling 
Magestrates  and  Ministers,"  &c.  — Persecuters 


MauVd,  &c. 


p.  a 


1656.]  LAWS    AGAINST    QUAKERS.  345 

was  to  lose  the  other  ear.  If  this  did  not  enforce  an  observance  of  the 
law,  whipping  and  boring  the  tongue  with  a  hot  iron  were  to  be  the 
consequences.  In  1658  there  was  an  act  passed  causing  a  fine  of  ten 
shillings  to  be  levied  on  any  who  should  be  known  to  attend  a  Quaker 
meeting  ;  and  five  pounds  upon  a  speaker  at  such  meeting.  And  in 
October  of  the  same  year  the  penalty  of  death  was  decreed  against  all 
Quakers  who  should  return  to  the  Colony  after  they  had  been  banished.* 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  body  of  the  people  to  suppose  that 
this  law  was  unanimously  sanctioned.  The  feeling  among  intelligent 
men  out  of  the  General  Court  had  its  effect.  Two  of  the  principal  mer- 
chants of  Boston,  Capt.  Edward  Hutchinson  and  Capt.  Thomas  Clarke, 
members  of  the  Court,  entered  their  dissent  against  the  law.  f 

How  it  happened  that  these  gentlemen  were  not  censured  by  the 
Court  does  not  appear ;  while  Nicholas  Upsall,  an  aged  and  highly 
respectable  inhabitant,  for  showing  some  compassion  on  those  Quakers 
who  had  been  thrown  into  prison,  was  himself  cast  into  the  same  prison, 
as  soon  as  they  were  put  on  board  Captain  Lock's  ship  for  retransporta- 
tion,  as  before  mentioned.  He  was  afterwards  fined  and  banished,  and 
endured  incredible  hardships  for  his  interference  in  behalf  of  the  Qua- 
kers. He  was  a  freeman  of  the  Colony  as  early  as  1631 ;  in  1634  was 
a  Bailiff  of  Dorchester.  He  settled  in  Boston  probably  about  1644. 
His  banishment  was  in  the  winter  of  1656-7,  from  which  he  did  not 
return  for  three  years  ;  and  then  it  was  at  the  peril  of  perpetual  im- 
prisonment. J  He  was  therefore  again  thrown  into  prison.  This  last 
imprisonment  continued  two  years.  He  did  not  long  survive  these  pro- 
tracted cruelties.  He  died  in  1666.  §  Such  were  the  beginnings  of  the 
troubles  with  Quakers,  and  it  will  ever  be  lamented  that  here  they  had 
not  ended. 

After  the  enactment  of  the  laws  against  "  Quakers  and  Heretics," 
those  laws  were  published  in  Boston  with  beat  of  drum  through  its 
streets ;  and  the  Rulers  doubtless  hoped  that  they  should  not  be  hence- 
forth troubled  with  any  more  of  those  sects. 

Notwithstanding  the  people  here  far  outwent  their  brethren  of  the 
same  faith  in  England  in  their  intolerant  proceedings,  yet  they  cheerfully 

*  These  laws  may  be  seen  in  the  Persecutors  at  Sandwich  until  the  spring  permitted  him  to 

MauVd,  2-41.  proceed  to  Ehode  Island. 

f  See  New  England  Judged,  101-2.  §  See  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen,  Reg.,  v.  465-6, 
j  Immediately  upon  his  being  banished  he  where  will  be  found  some  account  of  his  de- 
went  to  Sandwich  in  Plymouth  Colony.  When  scendants  ;  a  respectable  branch  of  whom  are 
Governor  Bradford  heard  he  was  there,  he  or-  citizens  of  Boston  at  this  day.  In  New.  Eng. 
dered  the  Town  not  to  allow  him  to  remain.  Judged,  John  Capen  of  Dorchester  is  said  to 
But  from  some  cause  the  Governor's  mandate  be  his  brother.  Bishop  and  others  write  his 
was  not  obeyed.  He  then  ordered  him  to  ap-  name  Upshall,  but  his  own  autograph  is  as 
pear  at  Plymouth.  But  Mr.  Upsall  wrote  him  here  annexed.  • 
a  letter  stating  that,  owing  to  his  age  and  in- 
firmities, and  the  extreme  inclemency  of  the  ^  ^  p  ■■^5^' 
season,  he  could  not  comply.  And  thus  the 
humanity  of  the  Governor  took  the  place  of 
law,  and  the  poor  exile  was  allowed  to  sojourn 

44 


%mjjt 


346  HISTOBY    OF    BOSTON.  [1656. 

fell  in  with  Cromwell's  government,  *  knowing  Cromwell  had  their  wel- 
fare much  at  heart.  He  knew  they  had  settled  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try that  they  might  enjoy  what  those  of  the  same  sect  enjoyed  at  this 
time  in  England,  and  he  knew  how  sterile  the  country  was,  and  how 
incongenial  the  climate  of  it  was  also.  He  therefore,  after  the  conquest 
of  Jamaica,  invited  the  people  of  New  England  to  remove  to  that 
delightful  island.  But  they  had  become  too  firmly  seated  in  their  chosen 
retreat,  and  had  too  many  ties  of  interest  to  break  from  or  to  relinquish 
them  for  any  uncertainties.  They  therefore  declined  the  invitation,  and 
few  if  any  could  be  found  to  accept  of  it,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Leverett 
of  Boston,  then  the  Colony's  agent  at  Cromwell's  Court,  very  much 
favored  the  proposition  for  a  removal. 

It  was  probably  fortunate  for  Boston  that  it  had  at  this  period  one  of 
its  greatest  men  at  the  Court  of  the  Protector.  It  was  owing  to  this  cir- 
cumstance, undoubtedly,  that  the  proceedings  against  the  Baptists  and 
Quakers  were  passed  over  as  they  were ;  and  that  the  claims  and  complaints 
of  Patentees  to  the  eastward  were  unheeded.  Mr.  Leverett,  as  formerly 
mentioned,!  had  been  an  officer  in  the  Protector's  army,  and  had  very 
considerable  influence  with  him,  from  an  intimacy  which  appears  to  have 
existed  between  them  from  the  first. 

The  Quakers  were  hardly  out  of  sight  before  there  happened  an  event 
in  Boston,  which  they  were  ready  to  record  as  a  judgment  from  heaven 
upon  the  place  for  the  cruelty  that  had  been  practised  upon  them.  This 
was  the  execution  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hibbins,  for  the  imputed  crime  of 
witchcraft.  She  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  William  Hibbins,  an  early  settler 
in  Boston,  one  who  had  been  among  the  fathers  of  the  Town,  and  who, 
when  his  wife  was  accused,  was  in  the  service  of  the  Colony,  and  had 
been  so  for  many  years.  She  was  tried  and  condemned  in  the  year 
j  1655,  but  was  not  executed  until  this  year.  This  woman,  it  is 
said,  was  possessed  of  an  unfortunate  temper,  and  when  her  hus- 
band, who  had  been  prosperous,  became  somewhat  reduced  in  his  cir- 
cumstances before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1654,  showed  herself 
turbulent,  and  perhaps  troublesome.  The  proceedings  of  the  Church 
against  her  caused  her  to  be  more  obnoxious  to  her  neighbors,  until 
some  of  them,  to  show  their  sagacity,  probably,  accused  her  of  witch- 
craft.J 

Mrs.  Hibbins  is  said  to  have  been  a  sister  of  Governor  Bellingham, 
and  was  otherwise  very  respectably  related,  but  at  this  time  it  seems 
that  her  friends  had  deserted  her,  and  thus  the  poor  widowed  mother 
was  sacrificed  in  accordance  with  the  blind  laws  of  the  age. 

*The  General  Court  appointed  the  11th  of  his  will  (Gen.  Reg.,Yi.  158),  says  Mr.  Hibbins 

June  for  a  day  of  humiliation,  because  "  Rant-  was  brother  to  Major  Denison.  His  wife  Anne, 

ers  and  Quakers"  were  disturbing  England,  as  appears  from  her  will  (i.  p.  284),  had  had 

for  the  preservation  of  the  Protector,  and  for  a  former  husband  named  Moore,  and  that  by 

the  success  of  his  naval  expeditions  ;  and  that  him  she  had  three  sons  whom  she  left  in  Eng- 

Protestant  armies  might  prevail  against  those  land.     To  these  she  left  her  effects,  in  expecta- 

of  Antichrist.  tion  that  they  would  come  over,  or  one  of  them, 

f  See  ante,  p.  289.  and  receive  them. 

J  Hutchinson,  i.  187-8. —  Capt.  Keayne,  in 


1656.]  TOWN    REGULATIONS.  347 

There  were  other  memorable  deaths  this  year,  but  they  were  in  the 
natural  course  of  human  events.  Among  those  recorded  was  that  of 
Captain  Robert  Keayne.  Captain  Myles  Standish  died  at  Duxbury,  and 
Mr.  Samuel  Sharp  at  Salem.* 

It  is  noted  upon  the  records  of  the  Town  that  a  "  greatt  bell " 
was  lent  to  Capt.  Richard  Davenport  for  the  use  of  "  Castle 
Island."  William  Dawes  was  paid  three  pounds  for  work  done  at  Fort 
Hill,  and  ten  pounds  to  Capt.  Thomas  Savage  and  Capt.  "James  Olli- 
uer"  for  that  amount  paid  by  them  to  Henry  Blake  for  brick  and  lime 
used  at  the  same  place.  "  Sam.  Syndall  "  was  paid  four  pounds  and  ten 
shillings  also  for  work  done  at  Fort  Hill,  f  Also  Mr.  Jasper  Rawlins 
was  paid  twenty  shillings  for  brick  and  lime  used  at  the  same  place. 

Hitherto  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  systematic  plan 
of  recording  the  possessions  of  real  estate  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town;  for  it  is  noted  that  "  Isaake  Culimore's  "  land  "not 
being  formerly  recorded,  is  now  orderly  performed."  Also  the  land 
of  Macklin  Knight,  which  he  had  exchanged  with  "Goodman  Culli- 
more  "  for,  formerly,  "  is  acknowledged  to  be  his  proper  right." 

At  the  same  time  were  recorded  Capt.  Thomas  Clarke  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Savage  as  Deputies  to  the  General  Court.  The  Select  men 
were  Mr.  William  Brenton,  Thomas  Marshall,  Mr.  Samuel  Cole,  Capt. 
James  Olliuer,  Cornet  Peter  Olliuer,  Mr.  William  Paddy  and  Win. 
Davis.  The  Constables  were  Wm.  Toy,  Daniel  Turin,  J  Wm.  English 
and  Henry  Allen.  Wm.  Ireland  and  Henry  Stevens  exercised  the  same 
office  at  Rumney  Marsh  and  Muddy  River.  Wm.  Toy  requested  that 
Hugh  Drury  might  be  admitted  a  Constable,  which  was  granted.  § 
William  Davis  was  chosen  Treasurer  and  Recorder. 

On  account  of  the  ' '  greatt  inconveniencies  by  persons  irregular  rid- 
ing through  the  streets  of  the  Towne,  and  galloping,"  it  was  ordered 
that  for  every  offence  of  this  kind  the  delinquent  should  be  fined  two 
shillings  and  sixpence  ;  except  "  vpon  dayes  of  military  exercise, 
or  any  extraordinary  case  require  it."    Ensign  John  Everell  and 

*  From  the  connection  of  Capt.  Standish  with  Hitchbone  to  see  that  all  the  hogs  were  yoked 

the  affairs  of  Boston,  his  death  is  here  properly  and  ringed. 

noticed.  He  died  3  October,  1656.  See  Gen.  Feb.  25.  —  Win.  Talniage  allowed  6s.  for 
Reg.,  ii.  244.  Although  I  here  mention  the  land  taken  into  the  highway. — Nathl.  Wood- 
death  of  Mr.  Sharp,  it  may  be  found  that  he  ard  and  family  may  inhabit,  and  Thomas  Har- 
died  in  1658,  as  Dr.  Bentley  states.  He  was  wood  became  their  security, 
one  of  the  Fathers  of  Massachusetts  ;  being  an  J  The  fifth  autograph  on  page  243,  ante,  I 
Assistant  in  England,  and  one  of  Gov.  Endi-  read  George  Turen. 

cott'a  Council  in  Salem.     He  had  the  direction  §  At  the  same  time  Richard  Samford,  Sen., 

"  of  the  ordnance  and  artillery  business  gener-  Robt.  Wright,  Jacob  Eliott,  and  Sam.  Norden 

ally,"  and  was  Mr.  Cradock's  agent.  He  came  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  highways.  Habacuck 

over  with  Mr.  Higginson,  bringing  the  (silver)  Glover  and  Wm.  Cotton,  Clerks  of  the  Market. 

Seal  of  the  Company  and  a  copy  of  the  Char-  Jno.  Parker,  Jno.  Stivinson,  Wm.  Dinsdale, 

ter.     He  was,  with  Mr.  Skelton,  authorized  to  Jno.    Cunny,   Tho.    Leader,   Richd.    Taylor, 

assume  the  Government,  should  Mr.  Endicott  Anthony  Harker,  Richd.  Greene,  Richd.  Grid- 

not  be  alive  on  their  arrival.  ley,  Mauduitt  Ingles,  Alexr.  Adams  and  Wm. 

f  Henry  Lee  allowed  to  inhabit,  "  upon  his  Beamsley,  were  chosen  to  fill  several  minor  offi- 

good  behavior,"  and  Capt.  Davenport  to  be  his  ces.     "  Wm.  Davis  is  chosen  Commissioner  to 

security  to  the  Town  for  "  any  charge  that  may  receive  ye  proxyes  for  magistrates,  and  to  carry 

arise  by  his  family."  Wm.  Spowell  and  David  them  in  att  ye  County  meeting." 


348 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1656. 


Mr.  Joseph  Rock  requested  liberty  "  to  stop  carts  from  passing  through 
the  paved  lane  by  their  houses."  They  were  allowed  "  to  set  up  posts  at 
the  end  of  the  lane,"  till  the  Select-men  should  take  the  matter  in  hand. 

The  "  Gallowes  to  be  removed  to  ye  next  knole  of  land  before 
the  next  execution."  * 

The  North  Battery  was  ordered  forthwith  to  be  repaired. 
u  y  '  This  Battery  stood  "  at  the  lower  part  of  the  north  end  "  of  the 
Town.  It  was  not  demolished  until  after  the  war  of  Independence.! 
The  site  was  then  converted  into  a  wharf  for  the  accommodation  of 
ships  and  merchandise,  and  it  still  bears  the  name  of  Battery  Wharf. 
This  was  a  very  important  point,  as  it  commanded  a  great  extent  of  the 
harbor,  and  much  expense  Was  laid  out  early  this  year  to  put  it  in  a 
condition  to  be  of  service  in  case  an  enemy  should  appear.  J 


*  Mar.  31.  —  "  James  Everill  is  enjoyned  to 
secure  ye  cellar  where  ye  old  Meeting-house 
stood."  —  Henry  Phillips,  butcher,  may  repair 
the  lane  leading  behind  his  house  to  the  spring. 
The  surveyors  to  repair  one  half  of  it  at  the 
Town's  expense,  for  a  foot  way.  Win.  Pearse 
admitted  to  inhabit.  James  Nabors  and  Mi- 
chael Wills  his  security  in  £10.  Tho.  Reade 
admitted  also,  and  Lieut.  Wm.  Hudson  his 
security  in  £20.  —  Joseph  Rock  must  remove 
his  fence  between  his  house  and  Mr.  Lyndes  in 
a  week,  or  pay  20s.  He  must  set  said  fence 
in  a  line  from  the  corner  post  of  his  house  to 
ye  corner  of  Mr.  Lyndes.  The  piece  of  land 
formerly  granted  to  Edward  Greenliff,  by  the 
Spring,  is  let  to  Mathew  Coy  at  2s.  6d.  a  year, 
for  the  school's  use.  Richard  Pittman  fined 
20s.  and  to  depart  the  Town  forthwith,  if  he 
put  not  in  security  ;  and  ' '  to  secure  his  chim- 
ney from  danger  within  a  day  on  penalty  of 
20s."  —  "James  Nabors  is  fined  5s.  for  his 
chimney  flaming  out." 

April  28.  —  Richd.  Gridley  to  be  paid  £10 
for  lime  and  bricks  at  Fort  Hill. — Martin 
Stebbinsmay  draw  beer  the  ensuing  year.  John 
Poole  admitted  to  inhabit. 

May  26.  —  Walter  Merry  is  fined  10s.  for 
receiving  an  inmate.  Wm.  Beamsley  fined  10s. 
for  receiving  an  inhabitant  without  licence. 
Wm.  Pollard  chosen  shepherd  for  the  year,  and 
to  have  8d.  a  sheep. 

July  28.  —  Tho.  Harding  may  inhabit  ; 
Walter  Merry  and  Tho.  Munt  his  security  in 
£40.  "  If  any  young  persons  or  others  be 
found  without  either  Meeting-house  idling  or 
playing  during  ye  time  of  publick  exercise  on 


ye  Lord's  day,"  the  Constable  was  ordered  to 
bring  them  before  authority. 

Aug.  25.  —  Gabriell  Tesherly  may  inhabit : 
Mr.  [William]  Brenton  being  security  in  £20. 
Butchers  may  throw  their  "  garbidge  "  into 
the  "  Mill-Creek  over  the  Draw-bridge,  and  in 
no  other  place."  Richard  Webb,  shoemaker, 
set  the  frame  of  his  house  three  feet  on  the 
Town's  land  without  Liberty.  John  Parker 
may  inhabit ;  Richd.  Greene  being  his  security 
in  £20. 

|  Chiefly  inferred  from  Pemberton  in  Mass. 
Hist.  Colls.,  iii.  249. 

%  Sept.  29. — Isaac  Cullimore  was  allowed 
50s.  for  work,  done  on  the  Battery.  —  Oct.  29. 
Capt.  James  Olliuer,  Peter  Olliuer,  Wm.  Pad- 
dy, and  Wm.  Davis  were  paid  £16  "  for  so 
much  disbursed  by  them  for  repayring  ye  North 
Battery." — Similar  accounts  were  brought  in 
and  allowed  the  following  year. 

Robert  Doutch  admitted  to  inhabit ;  Walter 
Merry  and  Tho.  Munt  security  in  £20.  Capt. 
Tho.  Savage  may  make  cellar  doors  before  his 
new  house  between  the  Draw-bridge  and  the 
Conduit ;  to  come  out  3  feet  from  his  house  and 
no  more. 

Oct.  29.  —  A  Pound  is  ordered  to  be  "  sett 
vpp  "  at  Rumney  Marsh. 

Dec.  29.  —  Application  to  be  made  to  the 
next  General  Court  to  have  the  line  between 
Boston  and  Lynn  determined.  —  Goodman 
Wales  to  have  6s.  and  8d.  of  his  tax  abated, 
"  in  regard  of  his  poverty."  "  Care  to  be  taken 
to  pay  Rich.  Gridley  for  building  ye  Schoole 
house  chimney." 


1657.] 


TOWN-IMtUSI 


349 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


A  Town-House.  —  Sketch  of  its  History.  —  Movement  for  Repairing  the  Fort  on  Castle  Island.  —  Loss 
of  many  Persons  at  Sea.  —  Mr.  Mayhew  and  others.  —  Other  Quakers  arrive.  —  Severity  towards 
them. — Imprisoned,  whipped,  and  banished.  —  Case  of  William  Leddra  and  others. — Trial  by 
Jury  at  first  denied  them  by  Gov.  Endicott.  — They  appeal  to  England.  —  Their  Appeal  not  allowed. 
—  Endicott  the  Father  of  American  Independence.  —  The  Quakers  denounce  Woes  upon  their 
Persecutors.  — Death  of  William  Paddy.  —  Death  of  the  Lord  Protector  Cromwell.  —  Earthquake. 

THE  Deputies  to  the  General  Court  were  the  same 
this  year  as  the  last.  The  Select-men  were  Dea.  Tho. 
Marshall,  Mr.  Wm.  Brenton,  Mr.  William  Paddy, 
Mr.  Samuel  Cole,  Ens.  Joshua  Scottow,  Ens.  John 
Hall  and  William  Davis.* 

The  subject  of  a  Town-house  had  been  agitated  since 
the  death  of  Captain  Keayne,  and  perhaps  before.  It 
was  known  that  that  gentleman  intended  to  do  some- 
thing towards  such  a  building,  and,  in  December 
scottow.  f  last,  it  was  ordered  in  Town  meeting,  that  at  the  next 
meeting  "  some  time  should  be  spent  to  consider  of  Captain  Keayne's 
will  in  respect  of  ye  legacyes  given  to  ye  Towne."  Accordingly,  at  the 
next  meeting,  it  was  recorded,  that  "vpon  ye  perusall  of 
Capt.  Keayne's  will,  itt  is  agreed  y*  forthwith  ye  executrix 
and  ouerseers  of  ye  sd  will  be  advised  with  concerning  said  legacyes, 
withoutt  delay."J 


*  Constables  —  Nat.  Adams,  Nat.  Williams, 
Amos  Richardson  and  Jno.  Collins.  At  Rum- 
ney  Marsh,  James  Peruberton,  and  for  M. 
River,  Tho.  Gardiner.  —  It  was  ordered,  that 
if  Nat.  Williams  take  a  journey  to  England 
before  his  year  be  out,  the  Town  will  chose 
another  Constable. 

|  Skottow  of  London.  — Az.  an  estoile  or.  — 
Crest  —  A  lion's  head  erased  arg.  collared 
gules.  —  There  are  in  St.  Swithins  Church, 
Norwich,  Eug.,  on  a  mural  tablet,  the  Arms  of 
Scottowe  and  Suckling.  —  Scottowe,  fess  or 
and  az.  a  star  counter  changed,  and  Suckling, 
per  pale  gul.  and  az.  three  bucks  tripping  or.  — 
Richd.  Scottowe  was  an  Alderman  of  Norwich, 
and  died  1616.  —  The  name  signifies  the  lot  or 
portion  on  the  hill,  and  such  is  the  situation  of 
Scothowe  in  the  County  of  Norfolk.  Jeffey 
de  Scothowe  held  the  manor  of  Scothowe  as 
early  as  1120.  —  See  Bloomfield's  Hist.  Norfolk, 
iv.  251,  292  ;  v.  7  ;  vi.  340. 

J  A  complaint  being  made  against  a  son  of 
Goodwife  Samon  for  living  without  a  calling,  it 
was  ordered  that  if  his  mother  "  dispose  nott  of 
him  "  before  the  next  Town  meeting,  then  the 
"  Townsmen  "  would  do  it.  —  Mathew  Barnes 
to  secure  the  Mill-bridge  by  a  fence  4  feet  high 


within  six  days,  or  pay  20s.  —  Jno.  Andrew's 
tax  abated  6s.  and  8d.  —  Robt.  Harris  to  have 
4  acres  allowed  him  "  out  of  the  Towne's  waste 
land,"  for  "  two  highwayes  "  taken  out  of  his 
land  at  Muddy  River. 

Feb.  23.  —  [John?]  Frasy  may  inhabit. — 
Capt.  James  Johnson  hired  all  the  waste  land 
belonging  to  the  Town  on  the  south  side  of  the 
creek  by  Mr.  Winthrop's  warehouse,  adjoin- 
ing the  land  let  to  Ben.  Ward,  for  £4,  10s.  a 
year  for  the  school's  use.  —  Tho.  Walker  to  be 
paid  40s.  for  bricks  and  lime  for  the  Fort.  — 
Richd.  Woody  30s.  which  he  disbursed  on  the 
bridge  by  Mr.  Winthrop's  warehouse. 

Mar.  9.  —  The  paved  lane  by  Mr.  Shrimp- 
ton's  ordered  to  be  laid  open,  and  no  more  to 
be  shut  up.  —  Capt.  Savage,  Mr.  Stodard,  Mr. 
Howchin,  and  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson,  Sen., 
a  Committee  "  to  consider  of  ye  modell  of 
ye  Townehouse  to  be  built ; "  also  of  the 
exjtense  and  location,  and  to  take  up  subscrip- 
tions "  to  propagate  such  a  building."  Mar. 
26.  —  George  Burrill,  cooper,  fined  10s.  for  har- 
boring John  Gilbert.  Mar.  30.  —  Ralph 
Hutchinson,  10s.  for  the  same  offence.  John 
Hart,  10s.  for  the  same.  —  No  persons  to  keep 
shop  or  set  up  manufactures  unless  first  ad- 


350 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1657. 


A  Townhouse  was  the  result  of  this  movement,  but  at  what  time  com 
pleted  does  not  clearly  appear.  It  is  incidentally  mentioned  a  few  years 
later,  as  being  entered  by  a  flight  of  several  steps.  It  was  where  the 
old  State  house  now  stands,  at  the  head  of  State  Street,  and  stood  until 
the  great  fire  of  1711,  in  which  it  was  consumed.  It  was  built  of  wood. 
The  following  year,  1712,  a  brick  edifice  was  erected  on  the  same  spot. 
This  the  fire  of  1747  destroyed,  and,  what  is  vastly  more  lamented  now 
than  even  the  loss  of  the  building  could  have  been  then,  many  records 
and  other  public  papers  wrere  burnt  up  with  it !  *  The  building  now 
standing  was  built  the  next  year,  but  both  its  interior  and  exterior  have 
undergone  numerous  changes,  while  the  compass  of  its  walls  remains  the 
same.  As  late  as  1791,  it  was  described  as  "an  elegant  brick  build- 
ing," situated  "  one  mile  and  297  yards  from  the  Fortification  "  on  the 
Neck  ;  "110  feet  in  length,  and  thirty-eight  in  breadth.  The  ascent  to  the 

lower  floor,  as  fronting  the  Long-wharf 
is  by  an  elevated  flight  of  large  stone 
steps,  railed  round  with  neat  iron  bal- 
lus trades."  There  were  side  entrances 
as  at  the  present  day,  and  one  from 
Cornhill,  now  Washington  Street.  In 
this  building  were  accommodated  the 
General  Court  of  the  Commonwealth, 
clerks  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court, 
and  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

It   behoved   the    people   of 
ep  '     '  Boston  to  look  well  to  the  de- 
OL^STATE  HousE.f  fences  of  the  Town,  and  now  that  the 

North  Battery  had  been  put  in  a  good  condition,  Captain  Clarke  and 
Captain  Savage,  the  Deputies  in  the  General  Court  from  Boston,  moved 


initted  inhabitants.  John  Vyall  may  "  draw 
beere  "  till  29  Sept.  nest.  Clement  Gross  also. 
Wm.  Pollard  chosen  Pound-keeper. 

April  27. — "  Eichard  "Way  admitted  into 
the  Town,"  if  "  his  brother  Axon  Way  "  give 
security  for  him  and  his  family,  which  he  did 
by  making  his  mark  to  a  bond  for  £20,  on  the 
Town  records.  —  Richard  Smith  admitted  on 
the  "  commendation "  of  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson, 
Sen.  ;  but  Henry  Blague  and  John  Pease  had 
to  give  bonds  in  £20.  —  Edward  Blake  admit- 
ted to  inhabit,  on  the  security  of  John  Blake, 
who  wrote  his  name  well  to  a  bond  for  £20  on 
the  records.     He  had  a  family. 

June  29.  —  Tho.  Dinsdale  may  hire  a  room 
of  Oapt.  Tho.  Savage.  —  John  Clow  having 
served  an  apprenticeship  may  follow  his  call- 
ing. Ens.  Jno.  Web  to  supply  Richard  San- 
furd  wherewith  to  support  the  little  infant 
Mary  Langham  till  further  order.  —  Geo. 
Broome  readmitted  [to  inhabit]  "  with  caution 
of  his  future  good  behavior." — Joseph  Bel- 
knap is  to  pay  8s.  rent  for  land  occupied  by 
him. 

July  28.  —  "  Deac.  Marshall  and  Ens.  Hall 


appointed  to  gaine  liberty  in  writing  of  Mr. 
Seaborne  Cotton  and  his  mother,  to  bring  water 
downe  from  their  hill  to  ye  Conduitt  intended 
to  be  erected."  Workmen  ordered  to  be  em- 
ployed to  prepare  for  the  conveyance  of  the 
water  to  the  same.  Edward  Gold  granted  4 
rods  of  ground  from  the  corner  of  Wm.  Blan- 
ton's  pale  by  the  street  seaward,  at  4s.  per  an. 
Mr.  Thomas  Broughton  fined  5s.  for  his  chim- 
ney being  on  fire.  Ben.  Gillam  fined  10s.  for 
making  a  fire  on  the  wharf.  James  Baulston 
for  the  same.  —  Wm  Foster,  seaman,  Wm. 
Duglas,  and  Robt.  Smith,  tailor,  admitted  in- 
habitants ;  Deac.  Marshall  being  their  security. 

*  In  the  Massachusetts  Magz.  iii.  467,  it  is 
said,  "  A  vast  number  of  ancient  books  and 
early  records,  together  with  a  collection  of  val- 
uable papers,  were  destroyed  ;  and  to  the  rav- 
ages of  this  calamity  we  may  attribute  the  im- 
perfect accounts  that  are  to  be  obtained  of  the 
first  and  second  building." 

f  This  view  of  the  Old  State  House  is  re- 
duced from  one  prepared  for  the  Massachusetts 
Magazine,  August,  1791.  It  is  a  south-east- 
erly view. 


1657-]  QUAKERS    PERSECUTED.  351 

that  body  to  make  an  appropriation  for  completing  the  fort  at  Castle 
Island.     A  grant  of  fifty  pounds  was  thereupon  made.* 

There  happened  a  disaster  at  sea  this  year,  which  is  not  very  circum- 
stantially related.  Captain  Garret  sailed  from  Boston  with  "  many  con- 
siderable  passengers."  Nothing  was  ever  heard  of  them  after- 
wards. Among  the  passengers  were  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew,  Junior, 
of  Martha's  Vineyard,  Mr.  Ince,  Mr.  Pelham,  and  Mr.  Davis;  all 
scholars  and  Masters  of  Arts,  who  had  been  educated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege. Mr.  Mayhew  had  been  of  great  service  to  the  Indians,  and  was 
at  this  time  upon  a  voyage  to  England,  with  one  of  them,  to  represent 
their  condition  to  the  people  of  that  country,  with  the  hope  of  procur- 
ing assistance  towards  their  civilization,  f 

The  severity  with  which  some  of  the  Quakers  were  dealt  with  the 
last  year  did  not  prove  to  be  any  security  that  they  would  avoid  the 
jurisdiction  in  future.      One  Mary  Clark,  wife  of  John  Clark,  merchant 
tailor  of  London,  venturing  to  New  England  to  comply  with 
what  she  conceived  to  be  a  spiritual  command,  was  whipped  in 
a  cruel  manner.    In  the  mean  time  Christopher  Holder  and  John  Cope- 
land  were  seized  in  Salem,  and,  after  being  very  roughly  handled,  J  were 
"had  to  Boston."    Here  the  operation  of  whipping  was  per- 
formed "  with  a  knotted  whip  of  three  cords,"  with  all  the 
physical  ability  the  "Hang-man"  could  command.  Another  "Friend," 
Samuel  Shattock,  of  Salem,  had  to  suffer  the  same  for  interfering  when 
Holder  was  gagged.    He  was  imprisoned  for  some  time  in  Boston  before 
he  was  whipped.    When  this  was  done  he  was  banished.  §    These  were 
by  no  means  all  who  suffered  punishments  as  heretics  this  year,  in  Bos- 
ton.    Lawrence  Southick  and  his  wife  Cassandra,  "  an  aged  and  grave 

*  John  Philips  fined  10s.  for  entertaining  land's  wife  5  weeks,  12s.  Qd.  —  Samuel  Cole 
Stone  and  family.  to  be  held  accountable  for  Elizabeth  Knap,  as 

Aug.  31.  —  Jno.  Peirce  admitted  to  inhabit,  he  took  her  into  his  house  contrary  to  order.  — 
on  the  testimony  of  James  Auerell  and  Isaak  Philip  Curtis  to  be  paid  20s.  for  killing  a  wolf 
Colimore.  Jno.  Lewis  must  remove  offensive  at  Muddy  River  last  winter.  —  Joseph  Worm- 
matter  by  his  slaughter  house  by  Sept.  5th.  all's  rent  to  be  half  abated,  and  the  other  half 

Graves  fined  for  his  chimney  being  on  fire  paid  by  Capt.  Savage  to  the  Town's  use  ;  said 

and  flaming  out,  and  his  landlord  for  want  of  a  land  being  lately  in  possession  of  said  Savage, 

ladder.  —  Hugh  Stone  and  Thomas  Thayer  may  —  Capt.  Savage  to  preserve  the  fence  about  the 

inhabit.  —  Christopher  Perrust  to  return  the  buryingplace,  and  to  enjoy  title  and  use   of 

deed  of  his  land,  instead  of  that  bill  of  £50,  said  ground  for  20  years. 

which  the  Town  received  of  him,  which  was  for  Dec.  29. — Richard  Seward  may  inhabit, 
the  supply  of  his  wife  if  he  had  gone  to  Ja-  Nat.  Fryar  being  bound  in  £20.  —  Mr.  Bush- 
maica.  — Wm.  Blanton  must  lay  gravel  in  the  nell  and  Mr.  Glouer  had  "  liberty  to  set  vp  a 
little  lane  from  Henry  Phillips'  house  to  Peter  pump."  Daman  Mahoone  fined  20s.  for  enter- 
Duncan's.  —  Henry  Mason,  a  brewer,  may  in-  taining  two  Irish  women,  "  and  is  to  quitt  his 
habit,  Daniel  Turell  and  John  Baker  security  house  of  them  forthwith  at  his  perill." 
in  £20,  each  of  whom  wrote  his  name  hand-  f  Prince,  in  Mayhem's  Ind.  Converts,  291, 
somely,  as  the  records  testify.  Sept.  28. —  from  which  it  may  be  inferred,  that  the  Master 
Gawdy  James  may  inhabit,  Capt.  Johnson  and  of  the  Ship,  Capt.  Garret,  was  Mr.  Mayhew's 
Wm.  Salter  being  security.  wife's  own  brother.     See  also  Morton's  Mem., 

Oct.2Q.  —  Wm.  Ware,  in  consideration  of  Edit.  Davis,  274-5. 

his  long  sickness  and  low  estate,  has  his  rates  %  Holder,  for  attempting  to  speak  after  "  the 

abated.  Priest  had  done,  was  haled  back  by  the  hair  of 

Nov.  30.  —  Wm.  Spowell  to  be  paid  4s.  6d.  his  head,  and  his  mouth  violently  stopped  with 

"  for  looking  to  ye  boyes  a tt  ye  Meetinghouse.''  a  glove  and  handkerchief  thrust  thereinto  it 

—  Wm.  Salter  for  keeping   Chi-istopher  Hoi-  with  much  fury."  —  N.  Eng.  Judged.      §  Ibid. 


352  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1658. 

couple,"  *  inhabitants  of  Salem,  and  their  son  Josiah  ;  j  Richard  Dowd- 
ney,  of  Dedham  ;  William  Shattock,  a  shoemaker  of  Boston,  who  had 
a  wife  and  children.  As  John  Small,  Josiah  Southick  and  John  Bur- 
ton were  on  their  way  from  Salem  to  Rhode  Island,  "  to  provide  a  place 
for  themselves  and  families,"  they  were  arrested  at  Dedham,  where  the 
"  Constable  with  aid,  and  with  a  halbert  and  brazen-headed  staff,  con- 
veyed them  like  murtherers  through  the  streets  of  Boston."  When  Gov- 
ernor Endicott  understood  that  they  were  only  passing  quietly  through 
the  country,  he  ordered  them  to  be  set  at  liberty.  That  he  should  at 
the  same  time  fine  them  twelve  shillings,  is  far  more  unaccountable  than 
his  clemency.  It  was  indeed  making  the  poor  Quakers  pay  for  the  blun- 
ders, or  more  inexcusable  conduct  of  his  officers. 

Meanwhile,  Sarah  Gibbens  and  Dorothy  Waugh  found  means  to  get 
back  to  Boston,  for  which  they  were  imprisoned  three  days  without 
food,  and  then  "whipped  with  a  three-fold  knotted  whip,  tearing  off 
their  flesh."  Then  eight  days  more  were  added  to  their  imprisonment, 
after  which  they  were  sent  out  of  the  jurisdiction.  Horred  Gardner,  of 
Newport,  with  a  child  at  her  breast,  and  a  girl  named  Mary  Staunton, 
were  taken  up  in  Weymouth,  and  being  sent  to  Boston  were  imprisoned, 
whipped,  and  again  imprisoned  ;  yet  amidst  her  sufferings,  "  she 
kneeled  down  and  prayed  the  Lord  to  forgive  them."  Why  Thomas 
Harris,  of  Barbadoes,  should  at  this  time  make  his  appearance  in  the 
place  does  not  appear,  unless  it  were  to  invite  persecution.  If  he  came 
for  this,  he  certainly  did  not  go  away  without  it ;  as  to  other  business, 
it  does  not  appear  that  he  had  any.  At  the  same  time  came  William 
T  .  Lecldra  J  and  William  Brend.  The  cruelties  perpetrated  on  these 
poor,  misguided  men  are  altogether  of  a  character  too  horrid  to  be 
here  related.  The  following  individuals  came  in  for  a  share  of  suffer- 
ing ;  — Humphry  Norton,  §  John  Rouse,  ||  Samuel  Gaskin,  and  Joshua 

*  On  the  11th  of  May,  1659,  Lawrence  and  1661.  He  is  said  to  have  been  "  of  Barbadoes." 

Cassandra  Southick,  their  son  Josiah,  Saml.  — "  Capt.  Johnson,  who  led  forth  William  Led- 

Shattock,  Nicholas  Phelps  and  Joshua  Buffum,  dra  to  be  put  to  death,  was  afterwards  taken 

were  called  before  the  Court,  and  banished  on  with  a  distemper  which  deprived   him  of  his 

pain  of  death,  and  allowed  but  a  fortnight  to  reason  and  understanding  as  a  man."  —  Besse, 

prepare  for  their  departure.     Three  of  them,  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  ii.  271.      N.  Eng. 

Shattock,  Phelps  and   Southick,  the  younger,  Judged,   326-9.      The  Court  do'  not  seem  to 

sailed  for  England  by  the  way  of  Barbadoes.  have  desired  to  put  Leddra  to  death,  but  he 

Buffum  fled  to  Rhode  Island,  but  the  "  aged  would  not  accept  of  life  on  any  terms.     He 

couple,"   Southick  and  his  wife,    "went  to  was  banished  in  Sept.  1660,  but  returning,  was 

Shelter  Island,  where,  shortly  after,  they  died  apprehended.     He  then  had  liberty  to  go  to 

within  three  days  of  each  other."  —  Besse,  ii.  England,  but  he  would  not  go,  and  seemed  to 

198.     N.  Eng.  Judged,  107.  dare  the  Court  in  various  ways.     He  said  they 

■j- He  returned  from  England,  where  he  had  were  murderers,  and  their  Ministers  were  deceiv- 

been  banished,  about  1660-61,  and  "  appeared  ers,  &c.  —  See  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.  i.  202. 
manfully  at  Boston  in  the  face  of  his  persecu-        §  He  was  imprisoned  some  time  in  Plymouth 

tors."  For  thus  carrying  himself  he  was  again  colony,  then  banished  ;  and  at  New  Haven  "was 

imprisoned.     After  about  nine  weeks,  namely,  cast  into  prison  and  chained  to  a  post,  and  kept 

in  Sept.  1661,  he  was  sentenced  to  be  whipt  at  night  and  day  for  20  days,  with  great  weights 

a  cart's  tail,  ten  stripes  in  Boston,  the  same  in  of  iron,  in  an  open  prison  without  fire  or  can- 

Roxbury,  and  the  same  in  Dedham.    After  these  die,  or  any  suffered  to  come  to  visit  him,  in  the 

whippings  were  gone  through  with,  "he  was  car-  bitter  cold  winter,  it  being  the  12th  month, 

ried  fifteen  miles  from  any  town  into  the  wilder-  1657,"  [Feb.  1658,  N.  S.]  —  N.  Eng.  Judged, 

ness,  and  there  discharged."  —  Besse,  ii.  224-5.  203-4.     Besse,  Suf.  Quakers,  ii.  196. 

%  He  was  put  to  death  in  Boston,  March  14th,        ||  He  was  a  young  man  without  a  family,  as 


1658.]  QUAKER    PROPHECIES.  353 

Buffum.  House  was  son  of  Lieut. -Colonel  Rouse,  of  Barbadoes.  The 
father  had  formerly  lived  in  New  England.  Nicholas  Phelps,  who  lived 
"  about  five  miles  olf  Salem  in  the  woods,"  was  doomed  to  suffer  for 
allowing  some  Quakers  to  meet  at  his  house.  Anne  Needham,  being 
sick,  was  not  proceeded  against  with  the  others.  William  Marston,  of 
Hampton,  an  old  man,  was  imprisoned  and  heavily  fined  for  having 
Friends'  books  in  his  house,  and  for  affording  relief  to  some  in  prison. 

The  Quakers  demanded  a  trial  by  Jury,  and,  being  denied  it,  they 
"  appealed  to  England,"  but  Governor  Endicott  treated  a  demand  for 
such  an  appeal  with  derision.  Endicott,  however  much  he  may  be  con- 
demned by  the  sectaries  who  differed  from  him,  was  the  real  father 
of  American  Independence.*  It  was  in  vain  that  the  poor  Quakers 
demanded  wherein  they  had  broken  any  laws  of  England.  They  were 
answered  by  orders  for  their  commitment,  and  additional  stripes  for 
their  presumption.  And  not  without  good  reason  did  they  exclaim 
against  "such  monstrous  illegality,"  and  that  such  "great  injustice 
was  never  heard  of"  before.  Magna  Charta,  they  said,  was  trodden 
down,  and  the  guaranties  of  the  Colonial  Charter  were  utterly  dis- 
regarded. 

These  persecuted  people  were  fully  persuaded  that  a  day  of  wrath 
would  overtake  New  England,  and  they  did  not  fail  to  declare  their 
belief  from  time  to  time.  And  indeed  it  was  not  long  before  their  pre- 
dictions were  fulfilled.  The  terrible  war  with  the  Indians,  which 
followed  in  a  few  years,  was  viewed  by  them  as  the  vengeance  of 
Heaven  for  their  cruelties  to  the  Quakers.  That  it  was  a  visitation 
from  the  Almighty  for  the  sins  of  the  people,  as  their  leaders  believed, 
the  writings  of  those  leaders  afforded  the  persecuted  all  the  evidence 
they  could  require,  f 

o        Mr.  William  Paddy,  merchant  of  Boston,  died  this  year.     He 

°'  was  an  excellent  man,  and  one  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  settled  at  Plymouth,  in  which  Colony  he  was  made  a  Free- 
man in  1636,  He  was  a  Deacon  of  the  Church  of  Plymouth.  In  1657 
he  removed  to  Boston.     He  was  a  Deputy  to  the  first  General  Court 

were  Christopher  Holder  and  John  Oopeland.        *He  was  no  sooner  settled  in  the  country 

These  men  had  their  right  ears  cut  off'  in  the  than  he  began  to  show  his  independence  by 

prison,  Sept.  16th,  1658. —  N.  Eng.  Judged,  banishing  the  Brownes.     The  next  and  most 

91-2.     This  being  a  private  execution,  Katha-  prominent  step  was  the  cutting  out  the  Cross 

rine  Scott,  of  Providence,  being  in  Boston  at  of  the  national  Colors.     Those  who  took  the 

the  time,  pronounced  it  the  "  works  of  dark-  laws  into  their  own  hands,  and  threw  the  tea 

ness  ;"  whereupon,  "  though  she  was  a  mother  into  the  harbor  in  1773,  were  only  putting 

of  many  children  and  of  an  unblamable  con-  Endicott's  precepts  in  practice.     But  that  early 

versation,  and  a  grave,  sober,  ancient  woman,"  American  Independence  had  as  little  to  do  with 

and  some  of  the  Court  "  knew  her  father  and  equal  rights  as  can  well  be  imagined, 
called  him  Mr.  Marberry,"  she  was  publicly        f  There    were    this    year,    according    to  a 

whipped,  and  then  told  that  if  she  came  again  "  Declaration  to  the  Parliament,  &c,"  above 

here  "  they  were  likely  to  have  a  law  to  hang  one  hundred  and  forty  Quakers  then  in  prison 

her."     She  may  have  been  a  sister  of  Mrs.  in  England,  and  one  thousand  and  nine  hun- 

Anne  Hutchinson.     Mrs.  Scott  had  daughters  dred  others  who   had  suffered  in  the  last  six 

Patience  and  Mary,  both  at  this  time  imprisoned  years,  also  twenty-one  imprisoned  till  death.  — 

and  in  1659  also.     The  former  was  only  about  Besse,  Suff.  of  the  Quakers,  i.  Pref.  iv. 
eleven  years  old. 

45 


354 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 


[1659. 


of  Plymouth.  His  residence  was  in  what  is  now  North  Centre  street, 
then  called  Paddy's  Alley,  which  name  it  bore  above  a  hundred 
years.* 

This   year   died   also    Oliver   Cromwell,    Lord   Protector   of 
ep  '   *  England,   "  who  was  buried  with  more  than  regal  pomp."     He 
was  born  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1599,  and  hence  was  in  his  fifty- 
ninth  year.f 

A  "great  earthquake"  is  recorded  as  having  happened  this  year, 
but  no  particulars  have  been  found. 


CHAPTER    XXXVn. 


Mistaken  Policy  of  Rulers.  —  Troubles  with  the  Quakers  continued.  —  Case  of  Robinson  and  Stevenson. 
—  Mary  Dyar. — All  three  are  hanged  on  the  Common. — Accident  at  the  Drawbridge. — Alice 
Cowland.  —  Many  imprisoned,  fined  and  whipped.  —  Retributive  Justice  foretold  by  the  Quakers.  — 
Instances  produced.  —  Quakers  complain  to  the  King,  who  orders  a  stop  to  be  put  to  further  Pun- 
ishments. —  Some  who  were  banished  return  with  the  King's  Mandate.  —  Arrival  of  Whalley  and 
Goffe.  —  Effect  of  the  Restoration  of  Charles  II.  in  Boston.  —  Agents  sent  to  England  to  vindicate 
the  Country.  —  It  causes  Agitation  in  the  General  Court.  —  Favorable  Influence  of  Lord  Say  and 
Seale,  and  Mr.  Crowne.  —  Return  of  the  Agents.  —  Great  Disappointment  of  the  People.  —  Death  of 
Major  Atherton. 


RUSSELL.  J 


THE  blindness  of  rulers  is  sometimes  as  great,  at 
least,  as  that  of  the  ruled.  In  the  persecution  of  the 
Quakers,  the  former  must  have  seen  that,  in  their 
steps  from  one  severity  to  another,  the  evil  they  were 
endeavoring  to  crush  increased  rather  than  diminished ; 
and  yet  they  persisted  in  their  course  until  they  had 
taken  the  lives  of  several  persons. 

There  can  be  but  poor  consolation  to  those  who 
make  laws  in  the  consideration  that  they  had  notified 
all  mankind  of  their  sanguinary  character,  and  that 


*  He  is  highly  eulogized  by  Morton,  in  N. 
England's  Memorial,  279.  Morton's  Editor 
found  a  record  in  which  it  is  said  that  "  The 
name  is  now  extinct. ' '  His  first  wife  was  Alice, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Freeman,  of  Sandwich, 
whom  he  married  in  1639,  and  had  sons  Thom- 
as and  Samuel,  born  in  Plymouth.  He  had 
nine  children,  and  left  a  large  estate  for  those 
days  —  near  £3000,  all  of  which  was  in  debts 
except  about  £500.  His  will  is  dated,  20  Aug. 
1658  ;  proved,  21  Sept.  following. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1830,  as  workmen  were 
digging  up  a  portion  of  the  foundation  of  the 
old  State  house,  at  the  head  of  State  street,  to 
make  alterations  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
Post  Office  in  that  building,  a  stone  was  found 
which,  from  the  inscription,  must  have  been  once 


at  the  head  of  the  grave  of  Mr.  William  Paddy. 

On  one  side,  —  "Hear  lyeih  the  body  of  Mr. 

William  Paddy,  Aged   58  years.     Departed 

this  life  August  the—  ,  1658."     On  the  other 

side  — 

"  Here  sleaps  that 
Blessed  one  whose  lief 
God  help  ts  all  to  liue 
That  so  when  time  shall  be 
That  we  this  world  must  lief 
We  ever  may  be  happy 
With  blessed  William  Paddy." 

He  was  probably  buried  in  the  Johnson  bury- 
ing ground  (now  King's  Chapel).  His  Auto- 
graph may  be  seen  ante,  p.  340. 

f  Noble's  Memoirs,  i.  91,  &c. 

{  Some  account  of  the  family  of  Kussell  has 
been  published  by  the  writer  in  the  New  Eng. 


1659.] 


ROBINSON. STEVENSON. 


DYAR. 


355 


whoever  rushes  upon  the  point  of  a  sword  is  a  self-murderer  ;  but  thus 
did  the  rulers  of  those  days  with  evident  self-justification  proceed  to 
make  and  execute  laws  against  heretics ;  as  though  it  were  not  the 
consciences  of  people  that  caused  them  to  question  the  righteousness 
of  such  laws,  but  that  through  their  wicked  obduracy  they  had  wilfully 
broken  them  ;  thus,  in  effect,  claiming  that  there  could  be  no  con- 
scientiousness except  in  their  own  breasts.  Such  is  the  manifestation 
of  human  nature  at  a  certain  stage  of  civilization. 

William  Robinson,  formerly  a  merchant  .of  London,  Marmaduke 
Stevenson,  of  the  eastern  part  of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  Mary  Dyar, 
of  Rhode  Island,  who  was  banished  formerly  among  the  Antinomians, 
were  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  The  two  men  were  hanged  *  on 
the  Common,  f  but  Mary  Dyar,  after  she  was  upon  the  ladder 
with  her  arms  and  legs  tied,  and  the  rope  about  her  neck,  was  spared 
at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  her  son,  and  sent  out  of  the  Colony ;  but 
she  was  so  fully  persuaded  that  her  death  was  necessary  in  the  cause 
she  had  espoused,  that  she  returned  again  the  next  year,  and  was  exe- 
cuted on  the  first  day  of  June.  | 


Hist.  Gen.  Regr.  vi.  27-1.  Richard  Russell, 
honorably  mentioned  in  the  present  chapter, 
has  now  no  male  descendants  in  America,  ac- 
cording to  the  investigations  of  Mr.  H.  G. 
Somkrbt,  who  was  honored  with  the  friendship 
of  the  late  worthy  Major  Gen.  L.  C.  G.  Rus- 
sell, 0.  B.,  of  Ashland  Hall,  County  of  Salop, 
who  took  great  interest  in  his  researches,  being 
the  representative  of  the  family,  and  born  in 
Charlestown.  See  also  Burke's  Landed  Gentry, 
ii.  1165-6.  Autograph  of  the  progenitor  in 
America, 

In  1820,  Sir  Isaac  Heard  granted  to  James 
Russell,  of  Clifton,  Gloucestershire,  son  of 
James  Russell,  of  Charlestown,  to  be  borne  by 
him  and  other  members  of  his  family  in  New 
England,  Ar.  on  a  chev.  betw.  three  cross  cross- 
lets  fitchee  sable,  an  eagle's  head  erased  or,  a  bor- 
dure  eng.  gu.  chgd.  with  eight  plates. —  Crest 
—  on  a  wreath  of  the  colors  a  demi  lion  ramp, 
ar.  charged  on  the  shoulder  with  a  sal  tire  couped 
az.  betw.  the  paws  a  cross  crosslet  fitchee  erect 
sa. 

*  "  So  being  come  to  the  place  of  execution, 
hand  in  hand,  all  three  of  them,  as  to  a  weding 
day,  with  great  cheerfulness  of  heart ;  and 
having  taken  leave  of  each  other,  with  the  dear 
embraces  of  one  another,"  they  were  swung  off 
under  the  direction  of  the  Chief  Marshal, 
Edward  Michelson  of  Cambridge,  the  same  who 
afterwards  officiated  in  the  same  capacity  in 
hanging  the  Indians  taken  in  Philip's  war.  — 
"  The  bodies  being  dead,  your  Executioner," 
says  Bishop,  addressing  himself  to  the  Authori- 
ties, "  and  Officers  were  so  barbarous,  that 
when  their  dead  bodies  were  cut  down,  they 


were  suffered  to  fall  to  the  ground,  with  which 
the  skull  of  W.  Robinson  was  broke,  his  body 
being  stiff  ere  it  was  cut  down ;  and  when 
down  their  shirts  were  ripped  off  with  a  knife, 
and  their  naked  bodies  cast  into  a  hole  of  the 
earth,  which  was  digged,  without  any  covering ; 
and  when  some  Friends  came  and  desired  their 
bodies  to  be  put  into  coffins,  and  so  into  some 
enclosed  ground,  where  beasts  might  not  turn 
them  up,  your  Executioner  suffered  them  to 
wrap  them  in  linnen,  and  to  put  them  in  again, 
but  to  take  them  away  he  suffered  them  not. 
x\nd  when  a  Friend  [Nicholas  Upsal]  had 
caused  pales  to  be  brought  to  fence  the  place, 
into  which  they  were  cast,  that  so  their  bodies 
might  not  be  preyed  iipon  by  the  bruit  crea- 
tures, seeing  you  would  not  suffer  them  to  be 
removed  ;  but  there  left  their  bodies  together  in 
a  pit  in  an  open  field,  which  was  soon  covered 
with  water."  —  New  Eng.  Judged,  125-6. — 
Southey  has  given  the  substance  of  the  above  in 
one  of  the  volumes  of  his  Common  Place  Booh, 
but  which,  I  do  not  remember. 

1 1  suppose  a  branch  of  a  tree  was  the  gal- 
lows. Perhaps  the  "Great  Tree"  near  the 
Frog  Pond.  While  Stevenson  and  Robinson 
were  awaiting  their  execution,  they  drew  up  a 
solemn  warning,  dated,  "  In  the  Common  Gaol, 
in  the  Bloody  Town  of  Boston,  the  6th  month, 
1659."  They  commence  by  saying,  "Hearken 
and  give  ear,  thou  Town  of  Boston,  lend  an  ear, 
O  ye  Rulers,  Chief  Priests,  and  Inhabitants 
thereof!  Listen  all  you  that  dwell  therein, 
Rich  and  Poor,  Small  and  Great,  High  and 
Low,  Bond  and  Free,  of  what  sort  soever,  give 
ear,"  &G.  —  N.  Eng.  Judged,  235-6. 

In  a  short  exhortation  by  Robinson,  he  dates  it 
"  In  the  Hole  of  the  Condemned,  in  Boston  Gaol, 
the  16th  day  of  the  8th  Month,  1659."—  lb. 
261. 

%  "  A  comely  grave  woman,  and  of  a  goodly 


356  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1659. 

As  the  people  were  returning  from  the  execution  of  Robinson  and 
Stevenson,  the  draw  of  the  Draw  Bridge  fell  upon  a  crowd  of  them, 
mortally  wounding  a  woman,  and  severely  hurting  several  others.  This 
the  Quakers  and  those  who  believed  them  wrongfully  persecuted, 
readily  declared  to  be  a  judgment  from  Heaven. 

It  being  known  that  Robinson  and  Stevenson  were  to  be  put  to  death 

if  they  returned  to  Boston,  and  they  being  resolved  to  return,  a  number 

of  their  friends  accompanied  them,  as  Alice  Cowland,   "to  bring  linen 

wherein  to  wrap  the  dead  bodies  of  them  who  were  to  suffer,"  and 

Daniel  Gould,  of  Salem,  William  King,  Hannah,  wife  of  Nicholas 

Phelps,  Mary  Trask  and  Margaret  Smith,*  of  the  same  town, 

"  to  look  the  bloody  laws  in  the  face,"  as  they  professed.     They  were 

all  taken  up  and  imprisoned.     Robert  Harper,  of  Sandwich,  and  Edward 

Wharton,   of  Salem,  were  also  thrown  in  about  the  same  time  ;    and, 

after   going    through    the    prescribed    forms,    were    severely 

whipped,!  except  Alice  Cowland,  Hannah  Phelps,  Mary  Scott 

and   Hope  Clifton,   who  were  "admonished."     They  all  laid  in  jail 

until  their  friends  paid  the  jailer's  fees. 

The  Quaker  historians  seem  to  have  been  diligent  to  discover  how 
their  principal  persecutors  ended  their  days.  They  felt  as  sure  that  all 
those  who  participated  in  opposing  them  would  meet  with  their  reward 
in  this  life,  as  ever  any  sect  did  which  had  been  persecuted  ;  and  they 
go  on  to  enumerate  a  large  number  of  cases  to  prove,  not  only  that 
their  belief  is  the  true  belief,  but  that  Heaven  had  made  it  manifest  to 
all  men  by  its  visitations  upon  such  misguided  and  persecuting  victims. 

The  representations  of  the  Quakers  in  England,  against  the  Govern- 
ment at  Boston,  |  caused  Charles  the  Second  to  issue  a  letter  to -the 
Governor,  requiring  him  to  desist  from  any  further  proceedings  against 
them.  A  ship  was  immediately  chartered  for  <£300,  and  Samuel 
Shattock,  who  had  been  banished,  was  appointed  to  convey  the  King's 
letter  to  the  Governor  in  Boston.  In  the  same  ship  came  several  other 
Quakers,  and  the  master,  Ralph  Goldsmith,  was  a  Quaker  also.  After 
a  voyage  of  about  six  weeks  they  arrived  in  the  harbor.  Shattock  him- 
self had  the  satisfaction  to  deliver  the  King's  letter  to  the  Governor 

personage,  and  one  of  a  good  report,  having  an  great  gun,  "with  hia  clothes  stripped  off,  and 

husband  of  an  estate,  fearing  the  Lord,  and  a  there  the  skin  was  torn  from  his  back,  and  his 

mother  of  children."  —  N.  Eng.  Judged,  157.  flesh  beat  on  his  bones."  —  N.  Eng.  Judged. 

—  She  returned  to  Boston,  Oct.  8th,  1659,  with  J  Edward  Burroughs  was  the  principal  in- 

Hope  Clifton,  also  of  R.Island.  They  came,  says  strument  in  procuring  the  King's  Letter  or 

Bishop,  to  visit  Christopher  Holder,  then  lying  Mandamus  ;  for  when  the  news  of  W.  Leddra's 

in  prison.  —  See  also  Besse,  ii.  206.     "  John  death  came  to  the  ears  of  the  Friends  at  Lon- 

Webb,  who  with  armed  men  led  Mary  Dyar  to  don,  and  of  the  danger  many  others  of  their 

her  execution,  as  he  with  others  were  busy  in  persuasion  were  in,  they  were  much  concerned, 

killing  a  whale,  or  great  fish,  was  on  a  sudden,  and  Edward  Burroughs  speedily  repaired  to  the 

after  a  strange  manner,  carried  into  the  sea  and  Court,  and   having  got  access  to  the  King's 

drowned."  —  lb.  270.  presence,  stated  that  "  there  was  a  vein  of  inno- 

*  These  two  women  "  had  been  unjustly  de-  cent  blood  opened  in  his  dominions,  which,  if 

tained  in  the  House  of  Correction  at  Boston,  not  stopped,  might  overrun  all."  Whereupon 

one  of  them  about  ten  months,  and  the  other  the  King  said,  "  I  will  stop  that  vein,"  and  at 

about  eight."  —  Ibid.  ii.  211.  once  issued  the  Mandamus,  &c.  It  was  dated  9 

f"  Daniel  Gold  was  tied  to  the  wheel  of  a  Sept.  1661. — Besse,  Suf.   Quakers,  ii.  226. 


1659.] 


KING  S    MANDAMUS. 


357 


with  his  own  hand.  After  perusing  it,  Mr.  Endicott  replied,  "We 
shall  obey  his  Majesty's  command,"  and  soon  after  issued  an  order  for 
the  discharge  of  all  the  Quakers  then  in  prison.  "William  Salter  was 
the  prison-keeper  during  the  Quaker  prosecutions.* 

There  were,  a  little  previous  to  this,  twenty- eight  persons  f  lying  in 
the  Boston  jail,  one  of  whom,  Wenlock  Christison,  was  under  sen- 
tence of  death. J  Not  long  before  the  time  for  his  execution  arrived,  an 
order  of  Court  was  issued  for  the  liberation  of  all  of  them.  This  order 
was  occasioned,  as  the  Quakers  believed,  by  the  receipt  of  some  intelli- 
gence from  London,  that  complaints  against  its  proceedings  were  likely 
to  succeed  with  the  King. 

These  prisoners,  however,  did  not  all  escape  punishment.  "  Peter 
Pearson  and  Judith  Brown  were  whipt  with  twenty  cruel  stripes  through 
the  town  of  Boston."  "A  guard  armed  with  swords,  were  appointed 
by  the  Court  to  drive  them  all  out  of  that  jurisdiction  into  the  wilder- 
ness country,  which  they  performed  accordingly."  For  some  cause  not 
stated,  John  Smith  and  his  wife  Margaret  were  ordered  back  to  prison 
again.  They  had  already  been  kept  from  their  home  in  Salem  near  two 
years.  Two  others  of  those  liberated,  John  Chamberlain  §  and  George 
Wilson,  inhabitants  of  Boston,  soon  returned  to  the  town.  They  were 
immediately  arrested,  and  "  sentenced  to  be  tied  to  the  cart's  tail,  and 
whipped  through  three  towns  into  the  wilderness,  which  was  cruelly 


*  The  following  graphic  account  of  the  arri- 
val and  proceedings  of  Shattock  and  his  com- 
panions, as  given  by  Besse,  are  too  characteristic 
of  the  times  and  people  to  be  omitted ;  they 
therefore  follow  in  his  own  words:  —  "The 
Townsmen  [  of  Boston  ]  seeing  a  ship  with 
English  colors,  soon  came  on  board  and  asked 
for  the  Captain.  Ralph  Goldsmith  told  them 
he  was  the  Commander.  They  asked  whether 
he  had  any  letters.  He  answered,  yes.  But 
withal  told  them  he  would  not  deliver  them 
that  day.  So  they  returned  on  shore  again, 
and  reported  that  there  were  many  Quakers 
come,  and  that  Samuel  Shattock  (who  they 
knew  had  been  banished  on  pain  of  death  )  was 
among  them.  [Capt.  Oliver  went  on  board, 
and  supposing  the  seamen  were  most  Quakers, 
he  came  into  Boston,  and  said,  as  is  reported, 
'  There  is  Shattock,  and  the  Devil  and  all.'  — 
N.  Eng.  Judged,  345.]  But  they  knew  nothing 
of  his  errand  or  authority.  Thus  all  was  kept 
close,  and  none  of  the  ship's  company  suffered 
to  go  on  shore  that  day.  Next  morning  Capt. 
Goldsmith,  with  Samuel  Shattock,  the  King's 
Deputy,  went  on  shore,  and  sending  the  boat 
back  to  the  ship,  they  two  went  directly 
through  the  Town  to  the  Governor's  house,  and 
knockt  at  the  door :  He  sending  a  man  to 
know  their  business,  they  sent  him  word  that 
their  Message  was  from  the  King  of  England, 
and  that  they  would  deliver  it  to  none  but  him- 
self. Then  they  were  admitted  to  go  in,  and 
the  Governor  came  to  them,  and  commanded 
Samuel  Shattock's  hat  to  be  taken  off,  and 
having  received  the  Deputation  and  the  Man- 


damus, he  laid  off  his  own  hat ;  and,  ordering 
Shattock's  hat  to  be  given  him  again,  perused 
the  papers,  and  then  went  out  to  the  Deputy 
Governor's,  bidding  the  King's  Deputy  and 
Capt.  Goldsmith  to  follow  him.  When  he  had 
consulted  with  the  Dep.  Governor,  he  returned 
to  Shattock  and  Goldsmith,  and  said  '  We 
shall  obey  His  Majesty's  command.  After  this 
the  Master  of  the  Ship  gave  liberty  to  his  pas- 
sengers to  come  on  shore,  which  they  did,  and 
had  a  religious  meeting  with  their  friends  of 
the  Town,  where  they  returned  praises  to  God 
for  his  mercy  manifested  in  this  wonderful  de- 
liverance."—  Sufferings  of  the  Quaker s,  ii.  226. 

f  The  names  mentioned  are  John  Chamber- 
lain, John  Smith  and  wife  Margaret,  Mary 
Trask,  Judith  Brown,  Peter  Pearson,  Geo. 
Wilson,  John  Burstow,  Elizabeth  Hooton, 
Joane  Brooksup,  Mary  Malins,  Catharine 
Chattam,  Mary  and  Hannah  Wright,  Sarah 
Burden,  Sarah  Coleman  and  three  or  four  of 
her  children,  Ralph  Allen,  William  Allen  and 
Richard  Kirby. 

J  Christison  told  the  Court  that  putting  him 
to  death  would  only  increase  the  people  they 
intended  to  destroy  ;  for,  said  he,  "  there  came 
five  in  place  of  the  last  man  you  executed." 
Mr.  Richard  Russell  opposed  the  sentence  of 
death  against  Christison. 

§  Chamberlain  had  been  made  a  Quaker  of 
by  witnessing  the  constancy  with  which  Steven- 
son and  Robinson  met  death,  as  before  nar- 
rated. Besides  his  imprisonment  and  banish-? 
ment  he  had  been  nine  times  whipped.  —  Besse, 
ii.  224. 


358  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1660. 

executed,  especially  at  the  last  of  the  three,  where  the  executioner  had 
provided  a  cruel  instrument,  with  which  he  miserably  tore  their  flesh  ; 
which  instrument  they  would  have  bought  and  sent  to  England,  but 
that  was  not  permitted." 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  agents,  Mr.  Bradstreet  and  Mr.  Norton,  did 
not  succeed  in  their  mission  to  the  Court  of  England,  after  the  Restora- 
tion, when  the  events  just  recorded  were  well  known  there.  And  it  is 
said  that  one  of  the  agents  fled  from  London,  on  being  informed  that 
"  William  Robinson's  father  was  coming  up  out  of  the  North,  to  call 
him  to  an  account  for  murthering  his  son."  # 

The  General  Court  made  a  law  forbidding  the  celebration  of  Christ- 
mas, under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings.  The  law  compelling  all  persons 
to  attend  meetings  under  the  same  penalty  was  still  in  force,  and  the 
Quakers  were  at  this  time  great  sufferers  under  that  enactment.  In 
many  instances,  the  fines  accumulated  to  a  large  amount  against 
the  same  individual,  and  many  were  thrown  into  jail,  and  their  cows, 
sheep,  and  other  substance,  were  taken  from  them  ;  thus  great  distress 
was  caused  to  many  families. 

The  most  memorable  event  which  occurred  this  year  in  Boston,  per- 
haps,  was  the  arrival  of  General  Edward  Whalley  and  Colonel 
William  Goffe,  two  of  the  individuals  who  had  sat  as  judges  at 
the  trial  of  King  Charles  the  First.  They  came  with  a  Captain  Pierce, 
and  probably  brought  considerable  effects  with  them.  They  had  not  been 
outlawed  when  they  left  England,  jior  did  they  leave  it  until  they  had 
lost  all  hope  that  the  Commonwealth,  which  they  had  been  instrumental 
in  establishing,  would  be  overthrown.  They  had  been  fast  friends  of 
the  immortal  Cromwell,  and  had  stood  by  him  in  many  sanguine  fields. 
Whalley  had  been  one  of  his  Lieutenant-Generals,  and  Goffe  a  Major- 
General.  They  were  grave  and  dignified  in  their  deportment,  becoming 
the  high  stations  they  had  held.  On  their  arrival  they  were  courteously 
received  by  Governor  Endicott,  and  treated  with  respect  and  attention 
by  the  principal  persons  of  Boston.  They  did  not  disguise  themselves, 
but  went  publicly  to  meetings,  for  as  yet  there  had  been  no  news  of  the 
restoration  of  Charles  the  Second.  This  news  was  not  received  until 
the  end  of  November  following.  It  was  expected  that  the  Judges  of 
the  late  King  would,  on  that  event,  be  proscribed,  and  many  of  them 
had  provided  for  such  extremity  as  well  as  they  could.  These  two 
were  said  not  to  have  been  among  the  most  obnoxious,  and  hence  it 
was  hoped  by  them  and  their  friends  that  they  would  be  excepted, 
should  clemency  be  extended  to  any  ;   and,  there  was  soon  a  rumor  by 

*  N.    Eng.    Judged,    46-7.  —  The    alleged  manner  of  his  death.     Having  preached  in  the 

failure  of  this  embassy  is  said  by  many  to  have  forenoon,  he  fell  down  dead  in  his  own  house 

caused  the  premature  death  of  Mr.  Norton,  before  the  service  in  the  afternoon.     "  He  was 

See  Eliot,  Bio g.  Diet.  340.     While  the  Qua-  observed  to  fetch  a  great  groan,  and,  leaning  his 

kers  freely  said  "  he  was  cut  off  by  a  sudden  head  against  the  chimney-piece,  was  heard  to 

and  unexpected  stroke,"  for  his  exertions  in  say,  '  The  hand  or  judgment  of  the  Lord  is  upon 

exciting  the  Magistrates  in  their  cruel  proceed-  me,'  and  he  sunk  down  and  spakeno  more,  and 

ings  against  their  people.     Yet  I  do  not  find  had  fallen  into  the  fire,  had  not  an  ancient  man, 

that  there  was  anything  very  singular  in  the  then  present,  prevented  it."  —  Besse,  ii.  270. 


1661.1  CHARLES    SECOND    PROCLAIMED. 


359 


way  of  Barbadoes,  that  all  the  Judges  would  be  pardoned  but  seven. 
But  the  Act  of  Indemnity  soon  followed  this  rumor,  and  Whalley  and 
Golfe  were  excepted. 

They  fixed  their  residence  at  Cambridge,  whither  they  proceeded 
very  soon  after  they  landed  in  Boston.  They  soem  to  have  been  inmates 
for  a  time  with  Major  Gookin,  with  whom  probably  they  deposited 
their  effects  when  it  became  necessary  for  them  to  retire  into  the  caves 
of  the  surrounding  wilderness  to  escape  the  pursuivants  of  the  King!* 
This  their  personal  safety  soon  compelled  them  to  do. 

Charles  the  Second  was  proclaimed  in  London  the  lawful 
May  29.  g^  of  England}  and  the  news  0f  ft  'm  c]ue  time  reached  Boston. 

It  was  a  sad  day  to  many,  and  they  received  the  intelligence  with  sor- 
row and  concern,  for  they  had  been  warm  friends  of  Cromwell  and 
July'   his  government.     They  now  saw  the  latter  trodden  under  foot,  and 
the  grave  of  the  former  desecrated.     But  there  was  no  alternative, 
and  the  people  of  Boston  made  up  their  minds  to  submit  to  a  power 
they  could  not  control.     They,  however,  kept  a  sort  of  sullen 
^6\    silence  for  a  time,  but  fearing  this  might  be  construed  into  con- 
tempt or  opposition  to  the  King,  they  formally  proclaimed  him 
in  August. 

Meanwhile,  the  Quakers,  and  perhaps  some  other  enemies  of  New 
England,  had  obtained  the  King's  ear,  and  he  sent  over  a  requirement 
calling  upon  the  Government  here  to  answer  the  complaints  in  England. 
This  led  to  the  sending  over  Mr.  Bradstreet  and  Mr.  Norton,  as  agents, 
as  has  been  stated.  They  were  instructed  by  the  General  Court  to 
represent  the  Colony  as  loyal  and' obedient,  and  to  endeavor  to  take  off 
all  scandal  which  had  been  promulgated  to  its  prejudice.  This  was  an 
undertaking,  of  which  it  may  be  truly  remarked,  that  men  who  had  grown 
gray  in  political  intrigues  might  have  shrunk  from  in  concern  ;  for  even 
the  Clergy  of  the  Colony  had  justified  every  circumstance  of  the  course 
of  Cromwell,  and  publicly  lauded  the  piety,  as  well  as  justice,  of  the 
Court  which  had  brought  their  Monarch  to  the  scaffold.f 

The  requisition  of  the  King  for  some  to  appear  to  answer  the  com- 

*  The  King's  Commissioners  afterwards  made  there  was  no  more  done  in  it.     Capt.  Peirce, 

the  reception  of  these  judges  a  ground  of  com-  who  transported  Whaly  and  Gough  into  New 

plaint  against  the  Colony.     They  say,  "Col.  England  may  probably  say  something  to  their 

Whaley°and  Gough  were  entertained  by  the  estate." — Hutchinson,  Col.  Orig.  Paps.  419- 

Magistrates  with  great  solemnity,  and  feasted  20.  —  See  also  Stiles'  Hist,  of  the  Judges,  a 

in  every  place,  after  they  were  told  they  were  work  deserving  a  beautiful  edition  and  a  com- 

traytors  and  ought  to  be  apprehended.     They  petent  Editor. 

made  their  abode  at  Cambridge  untill  they  f  Eliot,  N.  Eng.  Biog.  Diet.  340,  gives  it  as 
were  furnished  with  horses  and  a  guide  and  his  opinion  that, Mr.  Norton  made  a  great  mis- 
sent  away  to  Newhaven  ;  for  their  more  secu-  take  in  undertaking  in  a  matter  that  required 
rity,  Capt.  Daniell  Gookin  is  reported  to  have  so  much  duplicity,  and  sums  up  by  saying, 
brought  over  and  to  manage  their  estates;  and  that,  "  every  man  should  mind  his  own  busi- 
the  Commissioners  being  informed  that  he  had  ness  ;  "  that  all  agreed  Mr.  Norton's  death  was 
many  cattle  at  his  farm  in  the  King's  province,  caused  by  the  unkind  treatment  he  received  for 
which  were  supposed  to  be  Whalyes  or  Gough 's,  his  services  in  the  unthankful  business  which 
caused  them  to  be  seazed  for  his  Majestye's  use,  he  undertook.  That  this  caused  him  to  die  of 
till  further  order,  but  Capt.  Gookin,  standing  apoplexy,  many  months  after  his  return,  may 
upon  the  priviledges  of  their  Charter,  andrefus-  be  quite  as  probable  as  the  reason  assigned  for 
ing  to  answer  before  the  Commissioners,  as  soe,  it  by  the  Quakers,  mentioned  in  a  previous 


360  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1661. 

plaints  against  the  Government  of  Boston,  caused  much  agitation  in  the 
General  Court ;  and  when  it  was  finally  decided  to  send  over  agents, 
it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  procure  suitable  persons  ;  so  sensible  was 
everybody  that  the  complaints  to  be  answered  had  too  much  founda- 
tion to  be  easily  excused,  or  by  any  subterfuge  explained  away.*  And, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  influence  which  Lord  Say  and  Seale,  then  a  Privy 
Counsellor  to  the  King,  and  Col.  William  Crowne  had  with  Charles 
the  Second,  the  Colony  would,  in  all  probability,  have  felt  his  early 
and  heavy  displeasure.  Colonel  Crowne  was  in  Boston  when  Whalley 
and  Goffe  arrived  here,  and  was  among  those  who  visited  them,  though 
he  is  at  the  same  time  called  a  "  Noted  Royalist."  Returning  to  Eng- 
land soon  after,  had  he  been  disposed,  Crowne  could  have  made  state- 
ments of  what  he  had  witnessed  in  Boston  relative  to  the  persecution  of 
the  Quakers,  and  the  reception  of  the  Regicides,  which  might  have 
caused  the  King  to  take  a  course  altogether  different  from  the  mild  and 
conciliatory  one  which,  fortunately  for  Boston,  he  did  take.f  Both 
Lord  Say  and  Seale  and  Mr.  Crowne  had  interests  in  New  England,  and 
doubtless  many  personal  friends ;  hence  the  influence  they  exerted  in 
their  favor.  The  latter  afterwards  received  a  substantial  acknowledg- 
ment for  his  good  will,  which  consisted  in  a  grant  of  a  valuable  tract 
of  land.  J 

The  immediate  sequel  to  the  mission  of  Bradstreet  and  Norton  may 
be  thus  briefly  given : —  Charles,  through  the  exertions  of  a  few  friends 
to  New  England  —  or  doubtless  more  properly,  Boston,  —  "graciously  " 
received  the  letter  forwarded  by  the  General  Court,  and  although  he 
"  confirmed  the  Patent  and  Charter,"  objects  of  great  and  earnest 
solicitude  in  their  letter  to  him,  yet  "  he  required  that  all  their  laws 
should  be  reviewed,  and  such  as  were  contrary  or  derogatory  to  the 
King's  authority  should  be  annulled  ;  that  the  oath  of  allegiance  should 
be  administered ;  that  the  administration  of  justice  should  be  in  the 
King's  name  ;  that  liberty  should  be  given  to  all  who  desired  it,  to  use 
the  book  of  Common  Prayer  ;"  in  short,  establishing  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  Boston.  Scarcely  anything  in  that  day  could  have  been  more 
grievous  to  the  Rulers  and  Ministers.  Nor  was  this  all.  The  elective 
franchise  was  extended  "  to  all  freeholders  of  competent  estates,"  if 
they  sustained  good  moral  characters. 

The  Agents  returning  and  bringing  such  a  mandate  from  the  King 
was  the  cause  of  confusion  and  dismay  in  the  whole  country.     Instead 

note.  Yet  Doctor  Cotton  Mather  says,  "  There  not  unlikely.     They  sailed  from  Boston,  Feb. 

were  many  -who  would  not  stick  to  say  that  10th,    1662,   and   returned   in   the    following 

'  he  had  laid  the  foundation  of  ruin  to  all  our  autumn. 

liberties,'  and  that  his  melancholy  mind  imag-  f  Hutchinson  has  printed  a  letter  from  Lord 

ined  that  his  best  friends  began  therefore  to  Say  and  Seale  to   Gov.  Endicott,  which  was 

look  awry  upon  him."  —  Magnolia,  i.  297. —  brought  over  by  Col.  Crowne.     It  bears  date 

New  Edit.  2  vols.  10  July,  1661.     It  will  repay  perusal  in  this 

*It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  two  persons  connection.  —  See  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  220-1. 

who   had    been  most   forward    in   the   harsh  J  See  an  able  article  in  the  N.  E.  Hist,  and 

measures  against  the  Quakers,  should  be  chosen  Gen.  Reg.,  vi.  46,  &c,  by  Samuel  Jennison, 

to  go  to  England  to  excuse  the  matter.     It  is  Esq.,  relative  to  William  and  John  Crowne. 

said  that  they  were  averse  to  going,  and  it  is  John  is  there  said  to  be  a  son  of  William. 


1GG1.] 


AGENTS    UNJUSTLY    ASSAILED. 


3G1 


of  being  thankful  for  such  lenity,  many  were  full  of  vexation  and  indig- 
nation ;  and  most  unjustly  assailed  the  Agents  for  not  accomplishing 
an  impossibility.  They  did,  without  doubt,  all  that  any  persons  could 
have  done  under  the  circumstances  ;  but  this  was  no  security  against 
the  ebullitions  of  ingratitude  which  followed.  To  be  thus  disarmed  in 
the  presence  of  Churchmen,  Antinomians,  and  Quakers,  whom  they  had 
endeavored  by  all  means  to  crush,  was  quite  too  humiliating  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  without  some  retaliation  ;  and  it  has  often  happened  before 
as  well  as  since,  that  friends  were  abused  and  maltreated  for  nothing 
but  doing  their  duty.  This  is  the  most  sure  way  to  add  to  the  triumph 
of  an  enemy,  and  thus  unjust  revenge  meets  its  reward. 

Among  the  deaths  which  occurred  this  year  in  Boston,  there  was  one 
of  special  note  ;  it  was  the  accidental  death  of  Major  Humphrey  Ather- 
ton,  of  Dorchester.  He  had  been  attending  a  military  parade  on  the 
Common,  and,  as  he  was  returning  home  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  his 
horse  stumbled,  and  threw  him  with  such  violence,  that  it  caused  his 
immediate  death.* 


*  This  happened  on  the  16th  of  June,  and 
he  died  the  same  night. —  See  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen. 
Regr.,  ii.  382;  v.  395.  —  The  Quaker  writers 
remark  upon  the  manner  of  Major  Atherton's 
death  ;  viewing  it  as  a  judgment  upon  him, 
because  he  favored  the  prosecutions  against 
their  people.  They  say,  "Humfray  Adderton, 
who  at  the  trial  of  Wenlock  Christison,  did,  as 
it  were,  bid  defiance  to  Heaven,  by  saying  to 
Wenlock,  '  You  pronounce  Woes  and  Judge- 
ments, and  those  that  are  gone  before  you  pro- 
nounced Woes  and  Judgements;  but  the  Judge- 
ments of  the  Lord  God  are  not  upon  us  yet,'' 
was  suddenly  surprised:  having  been,  on  a 
certain  day,  exercising  his  men  with  much 
pomp  and  ostentation,  he  was  returning  home 
in   the  evening,   near   the   place   where   they 

46 


usually  loosed  the  Quakers  from  the  cart,  after 
they  had  whipped  them,  his  horse,  suddenly 
affrighted,  threw  him  with  such  violence,  that 
he  instantly  died  ;  his  eyes  being  dashed  out 
of  his  head,  and  his  brains  coming  out  of  his 
nose,  his  tongue  hanging  out  at  his  mouth,  and 
the  blood  running  out  at  his  ears :  Being  taken 
up  and  brought  into  the  Court-house,  the  place 
wherfe  he  had  been  active  in  sentencing  the 
innocent  to  death,  his  blood  ran  through  the 
floor,  exhibiting  to  the  spectators  a  shocking 
instance  of  the  Divine  vengeance  against  a  dar- 
ing and  hardened  persecutor;  that  made  a 
fearful  example  of  that  divine  judgement, 
which,  when  forewarned  of,  he  had  openly 
despised,  and  treated  with  disdain." — Besse, 
ii.  270. 


362  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1662. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

Alarming  Dissensions. — A  Synod  appointed.  —  Samuel  Whiting. — Disagreements  in  the  Synod. — 
French  Protestants.  —  Thomas  Breedon.  —  Imprisoned  and  fined.  —  Thomas  Lake.  —  The  King'3 
Proclamation  treated  with  Indignity.  —  Its  Effect  in  England.  —  Adam  Winthrop.  —  Chiefs  of 
the  Wampanoag  Indians.  —  Wamsutta.  —  His  Death.  —  Its  Cause.  —  Pometacom  succeeds  him.  — 
Notice  of  his  Dress.  — New  coining  Regulation.  —  A  Fast.  — An  Earthquake.  —  Obstruction  of  the 
Printing  Press.  —  The  Indian  Bible.  —  Death  of  John  Norton.  —  Dr.  John  Owen  invited  to  settle  in 
Boston.  —  Effects  of  the  Restoration. — Agents  expected  from  England.  —  The  Charter  committed 
to  special  keeping.  —  Arrival  of "  Commissioners  from  the  King. — Men  raised  to  go  against  the 
Dutch  at  Manhattan.  — The  place  capitulates  and  they  are  disbanded.  —  Capt.  Davenport  killed  by 
Lightning.  — Incidents  attending.  —  Crops  blighted.  — Wheat  has  not  recovered  to  this  day. 

*  NOTWITHSTANDING  the  rigorous  course  pur- 
sued by  the  Authorities  against  the  Quakers,  it  does 
not  seem  to  have  occurred  to  the  former  that  differ- 
ences of  opinion  might  arise  among  themselves,  by 
which  the  safety  of  the  State  would  be  endangered. 
And  yet,  although  this  was  the  case  at  the  very  time 
of  the  persecutions  already  detailed,  that  was  no  rea- 
son why  another  sect  should  intrude  itself  into  the 
community,  and  proceed  in  a  manner  tending  directly 
whiting.  to  break  down  and  undermine  its  government  and 

laws.  Those  differences  of  opinion  relative  to  certain  theological  points 
had  at  this  time,  in  the  opinion  of  the  General  Court,  become  alarming. 
To  remedy  the  evil,  that  body  ordered  a  Synod,  or  Council  of  all  the 
Churches,  to  convene  at  Boston,  in  the  month  of  September.  This  has 
been  regarded  by  many  as  one  of  the  most  famous  Councils  ever  con- 
vened in  the  Country.  Few  of  its  proceedings  have  been  recorded. 
Over  its  deliberations  Mr.  Samuel  Whiting,  of  Lynn,  is  believed  to 
have  presided  ;  a  place  for  which  his  mind  and  manners  were  most  hap- 
pily adapted,  and  to  similar  places  he  was  often  called,  as  it  were  by 
common  consent.* 

It  does  not  appear  that  this  famous  Synod  was  able  to  settle  anything. 
Some  of  its  troubles  were  about  proper  subjects  for  baptism,  and  "  a 
Consociation  of  Churches."  Pamphlets  were  afterwards  published  by 
some  of  the  prominent  Divines.  Mr.  Chauncy  and  Mr.  Davenport  were 
opposed  by  Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  Richard  Mather  ;  one  party  advocating 
and  the  other  opposing  certain  propositions  advanced  in  the  Council. 

*  The  Ret.  Samuel  Whiting  was  a  native  of  name  of  Whiting  is  very  ancient  in  Old  Boston. 
Old  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  and  although  he  Mr.  Thompson,  the  Historian  of  that  City, 
■was  not  long  a  resident  of  "New  England  finds  the  name  of  William  Whiting  in  the  Sub- 
Boston,"  he  is  sufficiently  identified  with  its  sidy  Roll  of  Edward  III.  (1333),  as  an  inhabi- 
early  history  to  be  noticed  in  this  place.  His  tant  at  that  time  ;  and  the  Arms  of  the  family 
arrival  in  Boston  was  on  May  26th,  1636.  have  been  preserved  at  St.  Lawrence  Chantry 
Here  he  resided  until  he  was  settled  in  Lynn,  not  less  than  three  hundred  years.  The  con- 
which  was  in  the  following  November.     The  nection  of  our  Samuel  Whiting  with  some  of 


1662.] 


GENKALOOY    OP    TUG    WHITING  FAMILY. 


363 


The  same  General  Court*  that  ordered  the  Synod,  granted  some  French 
Protestants  liberty  to  settle  in  the  country.  Application  was  made  by 
Dr.  John  Touton,  one  of  their  number,  an  inhabitant  of  Rochclle. 


tho  most  remarkable  men  <>I"  the  age  will  bo  descendants  from  time  to  time  for  more  than  a 

linmil  appropriately  noticed  in   many  places  ;  century  following.    The  annexed  brief  pedigree 

especially  in  the  excellent  memoir  of  him  by  will   furnish  a  duo  to  those  who  may  have  a 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather  in  his  Magnalia.     He  was  desire  to  trace  out  the  descendants  of  this  early 

son  of  John   Whiting,  Mayor  of  Boston  in  father  of  New  England. 
.16110  and  1008  ;    and  this  office  was  held  hy  Ins 

John  Whitinc,  Mayor  of  Boston,  above  mentioned  = 


_A 


Samuel,  b.  in  Boston,  Co.  of  Lincoln,  20  Nov.,  1597,  Emman-  =  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  lit.  Hon. 


uel  Col.  Cambridge,  A.  I!.,  1616,  A.  M.  1020.  He  died  at  Lynn 
in  1679,  a.  about  S2.  He  was  twice  married.  11  is  lirst  wife  d. 
in  England.  Of  three  cli.  by  her,  one  only  survived,  who  came 
to  N.  E.  with  her  father,  and  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Welde,  of  Roxbury. 


Oliver  St.  John,  Chief  Justice  of 
England,  and  own  cousin  to  Oliver 
Cromwell.  She  d.  at  Lynn,  1077,  a. 
72. 


John,  Mayor   of 
Boston,  1665. 


Samuel  b.  1033,  =  Dorcas,  da.  of  Leon-    John,  returned    Joseph,  b.  at  =  Mary,  da. 


in  Eng.,  came 
to  N .  England. 
Minister  of  Bil- 
lerica,   d.  1713. 


ard  Chester,  one  of    to  Eng.,  settled  Lynn,    1641, 

the  first  settlers  of    at  Leverton,  d.  11.  C,  1061; 

Weathersneld,    Ct.     10S9.     He  was  set.  at  South- 

a  grad.    H.  C.  hamp.  L.  I., 

1057.  1682,  d.1723. 


of  Gover- 
nor Tho. 
Danforth. 


Dorothy,  m.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hobart 
of  Topsfield,  son  of  Rev.  Peter  H. 
of  Hingham,  who  was  grandfather 
of  David  Brainard,  missionary  to  the 
Indians. 


Elizabeth,  m.  Rev. 
Thomas  Clarke,  of 
Chelmsford,   1707. 


Samuel, 'b.  1662,     John,  b.  1664;     01iver,b.  =  Anna    John,  b.  1681,  =  Mary,  dau.  Rev.    John  Cot 


d.  1715. 

Dorothy. 

Joseph,  b.  1669, 
d.  1701. 


H.  C,  1685, 
Minis,  of  Lan- 
caster ;  killed 
by  Indians, 
1697.  His  wf. 
was  AliceCook 
of  Cambridge. 


1665,    of 
Lancas- 
ter ;     d. 
1736. 


I 

Samuel,  b.  1702,  of  = 
Billerica;  d.  1772; 
fourth  son,Deacon, 
&c. 


Dan- 
forth. 


H.     C.     1700. 

ord. Minister  at 

Concord,  1712; 

d.  1752. 


ton,  of  Hampton,  N.  H.,  gr. 
gr.  dau.  of  Rev.  John  C.  of 
Boston,  gr.  gr.  dau.  of  Gov. 
Simon  Bradstreet,  and  gr.  gr. 
dau.  of  Gov.  Thos.  Dudley, 
and  gr.  gr.  dau.  of  Gov.  Step. 
Goodyear  of  Ct. 


~V~ 


Mary.  b.  1713,  m.  Rev.   Daniel 
Rogers  of  Littleton. 

Elizabeth,  m.  Rev.  Saml.  Web- 
ster, of  Salisbury. 


John  of  Royalston,     Thomas,  b. 


b.  25  June,  1716. 

Stephen,  b.  6  Aug., 
1720. 


25  June, 
1717. 


Timothy,  b.  24  Feb.,  1732;  d.  12  = 
July,  1799;  lived  in  Lancaster; 
Justice  Peace,  &c. 


:  Mary  Lake,  a  descendant 
of  Captain  Thos.  Lake, 
merchant,  of  Boston.  See 
pedigree  of  Lake,  and 
Nev>  Eng.  Hist.  &  Gen. 
Reg:  i.  327. 


Timothy,  b.  17  June,  1758,= 
Capt.  in  the  Revolutionary 
army;  d.  13  Jan.   1826  ; 
—   lived  in  Lancaster. 


John,  b.  24  Feb. 
1760,  d.  1810; 
General  in  Revo- 
lutionary army, 
&c. ;  lived  in  Lan- 
caster. 


1.  John,  Col.,d.l852,a.70. 

2.  Polly,  d.s.p.,  1799. 

3.  Sally,  d.  s.  p. 

4.  Samuel  Kidder,  b.1787, 
Lawyer;  d.  1S17.  Lt. 
Charles  Jarvis,  Sur- 
veyor General  of  Cali- 
fornia, is  his  son. 

5.  Levi,  b.  1790;  Col.  TT. 
S.  A.;  d.  1852.  Lt. 
Wm.  H.  Chase,  U.  S. 
A.,  is  his  descendant. 

6.  Nancy  W.,  b.  1793. 

7.  Thomas  J.,  b.  1796. 

8.  Joseph,    b.    18    July, 


1.  Timothy  D.,  b.  1785;  d. 
,s.  p.,  1851. 

2.  Julia,  b.  1787,  d.  s.  p., 
1817. 

3.  Henry,  b.  1788;  General 
U.  S.  A.;  a  brave  officer 
and  elegant  scholar, 
author,  &c;  d.  1851. 
Among  his  children  are 
Lt.  Henry  Macombe,  U. 
S.  A.,  and  Lt.  William 
Danforth,  U.  S.  N. 

4.  Sophia,  d.  s.  p.,  1853. 

5.  Fabius,  Major  TJ.  S.  A.; 
d.  .«.  p.,  1842. 


Christopher,  b.     1. 
27  Nov.,  1761; 
d.,  s.  p. 

2. 


J 


1798;  d.  19  Mar.  1799.  6.  Maria,  b.  1794. 


7.  Solon,  b.  1797. 

8.  Caroline  Lee,  b.  1800; 
wife  of  N.  Mercellus 
Hentz  of  Florida;  distin- 
guished authoress. 


9.  Harriet,  born  1800; 
m.  Paul  Willard,  Esq., 
of  Charlestown,  l0  Oc, 
1821;  parents  of  Paul 
W.  jr.,  Esq.,  Counsel- 
lor at  law,  of  Boston. 

10.  James,  Esq.  b.  1805,  of  Boston. 

*The  legislators  of  those  days  employed 
quite  as  many  hours  in  the  public  service  as 
others  have  since,  as  appears  from  an  original 
paper,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy :  — 
"  The  Deputyes  have  voted  to  sitt  till  4  a  clocke 
afternoon,  and  to  meet  at  8,  the  2d  day.  Our 
Honored  Majists.  consent  hereto.  William 
Torrey,  Clerk.     The  Magistrates  consent  here- 


1.  William,  b.  18  Oct. 
1788,  Concord,  Mass. 
Col.;  m.  Hannah  Con- 
ant,  a  descend,  of  Roger 
C.  See  p.  52,  ante. 
These  are  the  parents  of 
William  Whiting,  Esq., 
of  Boston,  the  eminent 
Jurist,  &  Pres.  of  the  N. 
Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Society. 

2.  Prentiss.  3.  Henry.  4. 
George.  5.  Mary.  6. 
Lucy.  7.  Harriet.  8.  Re- 
becca. 


Thomas,  of  Boston,  b.  1748  ;  IT.  C, 
1775,  d.  at  Concord,  1820.  He  had 
ch.  Lydia,  Martha,  Samuel,  Joseph. 
Mary  m.,  1st,  Capt.  Barron,  IT.  S. 
A.;  2d,  Judge  Simeon  Strong;  ch. 
Mary  Baron  and  Stephen  Barron. 
Lydia,  m.  John  Mullekin,  of  Lexing- 
ton ;  ch.  Nathl.  Deacon  ;  John  and 
Dr.  Isaac,  of  Dorchester. 
William,  of  Lancaster;  b.  at  Con- 
cord, 1760,  d.  1832  ;  m.  Rebecca, 
da.  Rev.  Josiah  Brown,  of  Sterling; 
she  was  b.  1762,  d.  1848. 
John  Lake,  m.  Olive,  dau.  of  Ross 
Wyman,  and  had  ch.  inter  alios, 
John  Lake,  Relief  and  Lucy. 


to.  Edward  Rawson,  Secretary,  18th  8mo. 
1662."  —  The  following  named  gentlemen 
composed  the  Court  of  Assistants  this  year.  — 
"  John  Endicott,  Esq.,  Rich.  Belengham,  Esq., 
Samuell  Symonds,  Esq.,  Daniel  Gookin,Esq., 
Symo  Willard,  Esq.,  Richard  Russel,  Esq., 
Wm.  Hathorne,  Esq.,  Eliazer  Lusher,  Esq." 
—  Orig.  Paper. 


364  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1662. 

While  these  affairs  were  progressing,  Capt.  Thomas  Breedon  made 
considerable  disturbance  in  Boston.  He  had  done  some  mischief  in 
England  by  his  representations  of  the  proceedings  here  relative  to  the 
Quakers,  and  other  affairs  ;  and  though  he  may  not  have  gone  any  fur- 
ther than  the  truth  justified  him  in  going,  perhaps  it  would  have  been 
quite  as  well  if  the  same  could  be  said  in  respect  to  his  discretion  and 
motives.  However  this  may  be,  he  was  at  this  time  in  Boston  again, 
and  for  what  he  did  in  England  against  the  people  here,  or  upon  some 
other  account,  he  was  called  before  the  Court ;  and,  behaving  with  inso- 
lence, the  Court  caused  him  to  be  imprisoned,  and  sentenced  him  to 
pay  a  fine  of  200  pounds.  How  long  he  was  imprisoned  does  not  ap- 
pear ;  but  through  the  exertions  of  Capt.  Thomas  Lake  he  was 
allowed  to  give  bail  to  the  amount  of  1000  pounds,  and  abide 
the  future  order  of  the  Court.  Afterwards,  at  the  intercession  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  of  Connecticut,  who  acted  upon  the  suggestion  of  Sir 
Thomas  Temple,  the  fine  was  remitted. 

Breedon  was  a  favorite  of  the  Royalists,  and  hence  his  treatment  was 
viewed  by  many  as  an  indignity  towards  the  King.  If  this  were  not 
sufficient  to  evince  such  indignity,  another  event  occurred  far  less  equiv- 
ocal in  its  tendency.  A  copy  of  the  King's  Proclamation  having  been 
sent  by  the  General  Court  to  be  published  in  Woburn,  the  Constable  of 
the  town,  whose  duty  it  was  to  publish  it,  refused  to  do  so  ;  and  one  of 
the  Select  men  of  the  same  town  spoke  disrespectfully  of  it.*  These 
acts,  if  not  treasonable,  bordered  very  closely  upon  high  misdemeanors. 
The  offending  parties  were  therefore  proceeded  against ;  but  when  they 
were  arraigned,  no  tangible  evidence  could  be  found  against  them,  and 
they  were  acquitted.  This  showed  the  Royalists  clearly  that  all  the 
parties  which  administered  the  laws  were  not  on  the  side  of  the  King  ; 
or,  in  other  words,  that  they  were  all  against  him.  These  and  previous 
proceedings,  urged  at  the  Court  of  England  by  aggrieved  parties  and 
their  friends,  served  to  bring  about  the  stringent  measures  towards  the 
country  which  soon  after  followed. 

„  .„  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  and  Mr.  John  Richards  petitioned  the 
General  Court  "  in  behalfe  of  the  Orphan  Adam  Winthrop." 
The  Island  then  known  as  the  Governor's  Garden  being  held  by  the 
heirs  of  the  late  Governor  Winthrop,  on  condition  that  two  bushels  of 
apples  should  be  delivered  to  the  Court  annually  in  October,  the  prayer 
of  the  Petitioners  was,  "  that  the  said  penalty  may  wholly  be  taken  off, 
considering  the  small  advantage  that  thereby  accrues  to  the  said  Court." 
The  petition  was  granted. 

The  present  year  is  remarkable  for  many  important  events  ;  not  the 
least  of  which  was  the  accession  to  the  chieftainship  of  the  Wampano- 
ags  of  one  of  the  sons  of  Massasoit,  whose  name  was  Pometacom, 
afterwards  known  as  King  Philip.  He  succeeded  his  brother  Wamsutta, 
who  died  about  the  beginning  of  August  of  this  year.     His  death  was 

*See  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.  v.  392. — Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.  i.  225. 


1GG2.]  THE    WAMPANOAG    CHIEF,    ALEXANDER.  365 

sudden,  and,  as  he  had  been  treated  with  indignity  by  Major  Winslow, 
that  circumstance  was  believed  by  the  [ndians  to  have  hastened,  if  it 
did  not  cause,  his  death.  The  circumstance  was  at  least  a  very  unfor- 
tunate one  for  the  English,  and  is  briefly  as  follows:  —  Some  Boston 
men  going  down  into  the  Narraganset  country,  there  heard  that  Wani- 
sutta,  now  called  Alexander,  was  plotting  mischief  against  the  English, 
and  was  endeavoring  to  engage  the  Narragansets  to  join  with  him  in  it. 
The  Boston  men  sent  this  information  to  Governor  Prence  of  Plymouth. 
It  is  not  likely  that  the  Plymouth  people  had  any  very  serious  appre- 
hensions that  mischief  was  intended  them,  but,  agreeably  to  their  estab- 
lished policy  towards  the  Indians,  it  was  thought  best  to  inquire  into 
the  matter,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep  up  the  exercise  of  the  as- 
sumed authority  which  had  grown  up  gradually  over  the  peaceful  Mas- 
sasoit,  father  of  Alexander.  Therefore,  the  Governor  sent  an  order 
requesting  the  Chief  to  come  to  Plymouth  to  clear  up  the  matter.  It  is 
said  that  he  promised  to  do  so  ;  but  if  he  made  such  a  promise,  he  ap- 
pears to  have  disregarded  it,  and  it  was  rumored  that,  at  the  same  time 
he  was  to  have  been  in  Plymouth,  he  went  over  into  the  country  of  the 
Narragansets.  This,  added  to  the  former  reports,  caused  the  Governor 
to  send  Major  Winslow  with  a  few  mounted  men,  well  armed,  to  bring 
him  to  Plymouth.  The  Chief's  principal  residence  was  at  Sowams  or 
Sowamset,  since  Warren,  in  Rhode  Island. 

Sending  thus  unceremoniously  for  an  independent  Sachem,  was,  ap- 
parently, a  high-handed,  if  not  an  unjustifiable,  measure.  However, 
Winslow  proceeded  into  the  woods,  and,  taking  the  well-known  resorts 
of  the  Indians  in  his  way,  found  a  company  of  them  in  a  wigwam 
when  he  had  got  about  half  way  to  Bridgewater.  The  Major  and  his 
party  dismounted,  seized  the  guns  of  the  Indians,  which  they,  being  on 
a  hunting  excursion,  had  left  standing  on  the  outside  of  their  shelter. 
They  then  entered  and  made  prisoner  of  the  Chief,  and  conveyed  him 
to  Plymouth.  There  is  no  material  difference  in  the  accounts  of  the 
affair  thus  far.  By  some  it  is  said  that  this  conduct  of  the  English 
threw  him  into  a  raging  passion,  T,nd  that  it  brought  on  a  fever,  of  which 
he  died  shortly  after,  as  already  mentioned.  By  others  it  is  said  he 
submitted  to  his  captivity  quietly,  and  very  freely  went  to  Plymouth, 
and  there  became  sick  and  died,  though  he  was  treated  in  the  kindest 
manner,  and  had  the  best  medical  attendance.  Yet  it  is  pretty  well 
agreed,  on  all  hands,  that  his  death  was  much  hastened  by  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Plymouth  Government,  whatever  they  were. 

On  the  death  of  Alexander  his  brother  Philip  succeeded  to  the  Chief- 
tainship of  the  Wampanoags.  Of  him  there  will  be  occasion  to  speak 
more  at  length  hereafter.  He  appears  to  have  been  of  a  temperament 
quite  different  from  that  of  his  father,  or  of  his  late  brother.  He  was 
more  cunning  than  magnanimous  ;  could  dissemble  without  appearing 
to  do  so  ;  he  was  proud  without  much  of  ostentation,  and  more  vain 
than  arrogant. 

About  this  time  he  came  to  Boston,  dressed  in  the  richest  style,  prob- 


366  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1663. 

ably,  that  any  Indian  had  ever  appeared  on  the  peninsula  of  Shawmut. 
His  girdle  was  thick  set  with  beads  of  various  colors,  wrought  into 
grotesque  and  curious  figures.  His  buskins  were  ornamented  with  the 
same  material,  and  in  similar  pleasant  devices.  His  dress  was  accounted 
to  be  worth  the  large  sum  of  twenty  pounds. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court,  Mr.  Hull,  the  Mint  Master, 
was  instructed  to  coin  one.  half  of  the  silver  bullion,  which  should  be 
brought  in  to  be  coined  for  a  year,  into  two  pence  pieces  ;  and  one-fifth 
of  the  same  kind  of  silver  into  pieces  of  the  same  denomination  for  the 
next  following  seven  years.  At  the  same  Court  a  bounty  of  forty  shil- 
lings was  offered  for  every  wolf  killed.  A  fast  was  ordered  to  be  kept 
on  the  fifth  of  June,  for  the  success  of  the  Agents  in  England,  dis- 
union, the  "  unsettled  state  of  great  troubles,"  and  some  other  matters. 
"At  the  shutting  in  of  the  evening  there  was  a  great  earthquake, 
T1662;  and  the  same  night  another  something  less  than  the  former. 
'  And  again,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  same  month,  there  was 
another  about  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morning."*  It  does  not  appear 
that  any  considerable  damage  was  occasioned  by  these  earthquakes. 

The  sermon  before  the  General  Court  this  year  was  preached  by  Mr. 
Higginson,  of  Salem.  It  was  recommended  by  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Boston, 
and  Mr.  Whiting  of  Lynn.  The  last-named  gentleman  may  have 
preached  the  election  sermon  the  last  year. 

Some  difficulty  had  grown  up  respecting  the  liberty  of  printing.  How 
it  originated  does  not  clearly  appear.  It  was  of  such  a  nature,  how- 
ever, as  to  cause  a  suspension  of  the  Printing  Press  at  Cambridge,  since 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Court  of  last  year,  much  to  the  detriment 
of  the  printers,  and  owners  of  the  establishment.  At  the  May  session 
of  the  Court  for  the  present  year,  Mr.  Thomas  Danforth,  "in  behalf 
of  the  owners  of  the  Press  and  Printers,"  stated  to  that  body  that  not- 
withstanding Captain  Gookin  and  Mr.  Mitchell  were  "nominated  and 
impoured  "  at  the  last  session  to  authorize  printing,  they  had  not  only 
refused  to  accept  the  trust,  but  they  would  allow  of  no  printing  at  all. 
Whereupon  the  Court  ordered  that  printing  might  be  done  "  at 
the  same  liberty  as  formerly,"  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the 
Court,  f  How  far  the  prohibition  under  Captain  Gookin  and  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell extended  is  uncertain,  though  probably  only  to  prevent  the  issue  of 
works  ;  for  the  Indian  Bible  was  finished  this  year  at  the  Cambridge 
press,  under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  Mr.  John  Eliot,  who  had 
translated  the  whole  into  the  language  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians. 

One  of  the  bereavements  of  this  year  was  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Nor- 
ton, already  incidentally  mentioned.  He  was  born  at  Starford  in  the 
County  of  Hertford,  England,  May  the  sixth,  1606.  He  came  to  New 
England  in  1635,  and  preached  the  winter  of  that  year  at  Plymouth, 
and  was  urged  to  continue  there,  but  he  soon  became  permanently  set- 
tled at  Ipswich.    There  he  remained  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Cotton.    He 

*  Morton's  Memorial.  f  Original  Paper. 


1604.]  DEATH    OF    JOHN    NORTON. DR.    JOHN    OWEN.  367 

soon  after,  agreeably  to  the  dying  request  of  that  eminent  man,  took  his 
place  in  Boston,  as  has  before  been  stated.  He  was  considered  the 
greatest  man  in  prayer  of  his  time.  "  I  have,"  says  one,*  "  heard  of 
a  godly  man  in  Ipswich,  who,  after  Mr.  Norton's  going  to  Boston,  would 
ordinarily  travel  on  foot  from  Ipswich  to  Boston,  which  is  about  thirty 
miles,  for  nothing  but  the  Weekly  Lecture  there  ;  and  he  would  profess 
that  '  it  was  worth  a  great  journey,  to  be  a  partaker  in  one  of  Mr.  Nor- 
ton's prayers.'  "     He  died  on  the  fifth  of  April. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Norton,  great  hopes  were  entertained  that  his 
place  would  be  supplied  by  Doctor  John  Owen,  as  it  was  well  known 
that  he  intended  to  come  to  New  England.  Therefore,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  authorized  the  Governor  to  write  to  that  distinguished 
Divine,  desiring  him  to  come  over  and  accept  the  place.  A  letter  was 
accordingly  sent,  and  even  the  ship  was  designated  in  which  he  was  to 
sail;  but  he  and  "some  choice,  ones"  were  "diverted,  and  that  not 
from  hopes  of  better  times  there,  but  fears  of  worse  here."f 

No  sooner  had  the  government  of  Cromwell  been  overturned,  but  the 
enemies  of  Massachusetts  gained  ground  fast  in  England.  This  was  to 
be  expected,  keeping  in  view  the  proceedings  of  the  Government  here, 
from  its  very  infancy.  The  Rulers  literally  trembled  at  the  restoration, 
and  their  fears  daily  increased  after  that  event.  News  was  brought, 
early  this  spring,  that  several  men  of  war  were  ordered  to  proceed  to 
New  England,  and  that  in  them  were  coming  certain  gentlemen  of  dis- 
tinction. Accordingly,  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court,  J  orders 
were  given  to  Captain  Davenport,  of  the  Castle,  to  give  the 
speediest  possible  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  expected  ships  ; 
a  Committee  was  appointed  to  repair  on  board  them,  and  to  present  the 
respects  of  the  Court  to  the  gentlemen  expected  ;  to  acquaint  those  in 
command  that  it  was  the  desire  of  the  Authorities  for  them  to  give  strict 
orders  to  officers  and  soldiers  under  them,  that  on  their  coming  ashore, 
they  would  at  no  time  come  above  "  a  convenient  number,"  and  those 
without  arms,  and  to  behave  themselves  orderly,  and  to  give  no  offence 
to  the  people  and  laws  of  the  place. 

In  this,  certainly,  there  was  nothing  unreasonable,  and  it  shows  how 
much  at  heart  the  Rulers  at  Boston  had  the  morals  of  their  little  com- 
munity. They  well  knew  the  clangers  that  the  young  would  be  exposed 
to  if  large  numbers  of  sailors  and  soldiers  were  allowed  to  go  on  shore, 
and  there  left  to  follow  their  usual  vicious  inclinations. 

The  loss  of  their  Charter  was  one  of  the  things  the  people  most 
dreaded.  It  had  more  than  once  been  demanded,  but  the  demands  had 
thus  far  been  successfully  evaded,  and  singular  circumstances  happened 
which  favored  the  course  of  the  Rulers  in  that  particular.     Now  the 

*  Mather,  Magnolia,  i.  301,  new  ed.    In  this  now  be  strong,  all  ye  people  of  the  land,  saith 

work,  and  in  Dr.  Eliot's  N.  Eng.  Biog.  Diet.,  the  Lord,  and  work,  for  I  am  with  you,  saith 

are  to  be  found  good  accounts  of  Mr.  Norton,  the  Lord  of  hosts."      If  Clarendon  had  been 

|  Extract  of  a  letter  of   Capt.   Gookin   in  present  at  the  reading  of  this  test,  he  might, 

Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  226.  with  propriety,  have  exclaimed,  as  he  did  in  his 

J  Mr.  Richard  Mather  of  Dorchester  preached  history,  that  the  people  here  "  were  already 

the  Election  Sermon,  fromHaggai,  ii.  4.  "  Yet  hardened  republicans." 


368  HISTORY   OP   BOSTON.  [1664. 

situation  of  things  was  changed.  If  the  Charter  should  be  again  de- 
manded, the  demand  would  probably  be  backed  up  by  a  power  which 
could  not  be  resisted  ;  by  soldiers  on  the  spot  and  ships  of  war  riding 
before  the  town. 

Thus  circumstanced,  the  Court  thought  it  prudent  to  make  some  dis- 
position of  the  Charter.  They  therefore  ordered  Mr.  Rawson,  the  Sec- 
retary, to  bring  it  into  Court,  preparatory  to  hiding  it.  It  being  brought 
in,  and  the  matter  duly  considered,  it  was  put  into  the  keeping  of  four 
of  their  number.  These  were  Mr.  Bellingham,  Mr.  Leveret,  Captain 
Clarke,  and  Captain  Johnson  ;  who  were  "  directed  to  dispose  of  it  as 
might  be  most  safe  for  the  country." 

Meanwhile,  four  ships*  sailed  from  Portsmouth  with  about  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  soldiers,  with  orders  to  rendezvous  at  a  given  point  in 
Long  Island  Sound  ;  and  after  levying  upon  New  England  for  ad- 
ditional forces,  to  proceed  against,  the  Dutch  at  New  Netherland. 
This  armament  was  under  the  command  of  Col.  Richard  Nichols,  a  gen- 
tleman of  high  respectability,  who  had  been  a  soldier  under  Marshall 
Turenne,  and  was  now  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  bed-chamber  to  the 
Duke  of  York.  With  Colonel  Nichols  were  associated  Sir  Robert  Carr, 
Col.  George  Cartwright,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  who  had  been  for- 
merly very  ill-treated  in  Boston.  These  gentlemen  had  a  commission 
from  the  King,  constituting  them  Commissioners  for  visiting  the  colo- 
nies of  New  England,  hearing  and  determining  all  matters  of  complaint, 
and  settling  the  peace  and  security  of  the  country ;  any  three  or  two 
of  them  to  be  a  quorum,  Colonel  Nichols  being  one. 

The  fleet  having  been  separated  in  a  fog,  the  Guinea,  on  board  of 
which  were  the  Commander  in  Chief,  Colonel  Nichols,  and  Colonel 
Cartwright,  having  made  Cape  Cod,  proceeded  up  to  Boston.  On  the 
J  l  23  Tuesday  following  the  gentlemen  laid  their  Commission  be- 
fore the  Governor  and  Council ;  their  chief  business  being 
now  to  obtain  aid  in  men  for  the  reduction  of  the  Dutch  at  New  Neth- 
erland, as  before  mentioned.  As  many  as  the  country  could  spare  were 
desired  to  be  ready  by  the  twentieth  of  August.  The  Commissioners 
promised,  that  if,  in  the  mean  time,  the  Dutch  should  be  reduced,  or  a 
treaty  should  be  concluded,  the  men  would  not  be  required  to  march. 

It  has  been  said,  with  something  of  plausibility,  that  the  people  here 
were  very  slow  in  complying  with  this  requisition  for  men  ;  shrewdly 
arguing,  among  themselves,  that  it  was  rather  bad  policy  for  them  to 
assist  in  conquering  the  Dutch,  that  the  conquerors  might  come  and 
reduce  them  to  an  obedience  which  they  had  so  long  striven  against 
successfully,  f  However  this  may  have  been,  the  General  Court  pro- 
ceeded to  raise  two  hundred  men,  and  Colonel  Nichols  meanwhile  sailed 

*The  Guinea,  of  36  guns  ;  the  Elias,  of  30  ;  of  New  York,  p.  737.     If  this  kind  of  policy 

the  Martin,  of  16  ;  and  the  William  and  Nich-  did  influence  the  Bostonians,  to  say  the  least, 

olas,  of  10  — Brodhead's  Hist,  of  the  State  of  they  were  swayed  by  a  very  short-sighted  one  ; 

New  York,  736.  altogether  wide  of  their  usual  deep  sagacity. 

|Mr.  Brodhead  insinuates  this,  in  his  Hist.  See  Smith's  Hist.  ofN.  Y.,  32-35,  &c.  ed.  1814. 


1664.] 


LIGHTNING. 


BLIGHTED    CROPS. 


360 


AuK.  27. 


upon  his  expedition.  It  was  completely  successful ;  the  Dutch  capitu- 
lated, and  hence  there  was  no  occasion  for  the  soldiers  raised 
in  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  and  they  were  disbanded. 
There  was  much  damage  occasioned  this  year  by  lightning. 
11  y  ft  Captain  Richard  Davenport,  commander  of  the  Castle,  being 
fatigued  with  labor,  laid  down  upon  his  bed  to  rest,  and  was  struck 
dead.  Three  or  four  of  the  people  were  hurt,  and  a  dog  was  killed 
at  the  gate.  There  was  only  a  wainscot  partition  between  the  room 
where  the  Captain  was  killed,  and  the  magazine  of  powder."*  This 
year  was  noted  also  for  other  calamities  ;  "it  pleased  God  to  smite  the 
fruits  of  the  earth,  the  wheat,  in  special,  with  blasting  and  mildew." f 
Little  has  been  raised  on  the  seacoast  since.  { 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 


Return  of  the  King's  Commissioners  to  Boston. —  Make  a  Bad  Beginning.  —  Their  Authority  Opposed.  — 
Proceed  to  Plymouth  and  Rhode  Island.  —  Death  of  Gov.  Endicott.  —  Commissioners  return  to  Boston. 
■ —  Interview  with  the  Magistrates.  ■ —  Unsatisfactory. . —  Disloyalty  to  the  King  very  Apparent.  —  The 
Government  consent  to  Proclaim  the  King.  < —  Required  to  abstain  Coining  Money.  —  To  allow  other 
Religious  Sects  their  Freedom.  —  The  Government  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  Authority  of  the  Com- 
missioners, and  Appeal  to  their  Charter.  —  Case  of  Thomas  Deane.  —  The  People  called  upon  by  the 
Government  not  to  support  the  Commissioners.  ■ —  A  Proclamation  to  that  Effect  issued.  —  The  Commis- 
sioners break  off  Intercourse  with  the  Government.  —  Cause  of  their  Ill-success.  —  Fate  of  Carr  and 
Cartwright.  —  Carr's  Difficulties  in  Boston.  —  Assaults  a  Constable.  —  Proceedings  against  him. 

THE  King's  Commissioners,  except  Colonel  Nichols, 
returned  to  Boston  on  the  fifteenth  of  February, 
and  soon  held  a  sort  of  Court,  preparatory  to 
correcting  whatever  errors  and  abuses  they  might  dis- 
cover in  the  administration  of  affairs  under  the  exist- 
ing   Government.     They  began   by  making   a   very 
strange  request ;  which  was,  that  the  Authorities  should 
summon  all  the  people  of  the  Province  to  assemble  at 
the    ensuing    annual   election.     This   very  naturally 
brattle.  caused  some  ill  feeling  in  the  Government.     They 

could  not  understand  what  such  a  requisition  meant,  while  they  could 
very  well  understand  that  it  was   highly  preposterous.      Hence  the 


*  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  253.  —  Hub- 
bard, Hist.  N.  Eng.,  642.  —  Besse  speaks  of 
this  casualty,  as  among  the  judgments  upon 
those  who  had  persecuted  the  Quakers ;  but 
what  is  remarkable  in  this  author,  is  his  mis- 
taking the  name  of  Capt.  Davenport.  He  says, 
"  John  Danfort,  a  member  of  the  Church,  and 
Captain  of  their  Castle  by  Boston,  as  he  lay,  in 
the  heat  of  the  day,  upon  his  bed,  was  struck 
dead,  in  a  strange  manner,  by  thunder  and 
lightning." —  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  ii.  270. 
—  See  also  Bishop,  N.  E.  Judged,  491.  —  The 
date  of  ihe  accident  is  given  July  15,  by  Hutch- 
inson; but  Judge  Sewall,  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg., 
vii  208,  places  it  on  the  16th. 
47 


f  Morton,  Memorial,  Ed.  Davis,  307. 

%  Lewis,  Hist.  Lynn,  152.  —  "  This  was 
looked  at,"  says  Morton,  "  by  the  judicious 
and  consciencious  of  the  Land,  as  a  speaking 
Providence  against  the  vnthankfulness  of  many 
for  so  great  a  mercy,  and  their  murmuring  ex- 
pressed in  their  words,  by  slighting  and  under- 
valuing terms  of  it :  as  also  against  voluptu- 
ousness, and  abuse  of  the  good  creatures  of 
God,  by  licentiousness  in  drinking,  and  fash- 
ions in  apparel ;  for  the  obtaining  whereof,  a 
great  part  of  this  principal  grain  was  often- 
times unnecessarily  expended. ' ' —  Memorial ,  ed. 
1669,  p.  172-3.  —  See  also  Mather,  Magnalia, 
(new  edition)  vol.  i.  page  80. 


370  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1665. 

measure  was  opposed,  and  thus  early  did  the  Commissioners  array 
themselves  unnecessarily  against  the  Authorities.  The  Council  said  the 
people  were  at  liberty  to  assemble,  but  they  should  not  encourage  it, 
for  two  special  reasons.  One  was,  the  great  detriment  it  would  be  to 
the  country  to  take  the  men  from  their  business.  Another  was,  the 
exposing  of  their  families  to  the  depredations  of  the  Indians.  To  these 
objections  Cartwright  insolently  replied,  that  the  request  was  a  very 
reasonable  one,  and  that  whoever  opposed  it  was  a  traitor.  The  Com- 
missioners then  set  about  writing  letters  for  assembling  the  people  on 
their  own  authority,  and  soon  after  set  out  to  hold  courts  in  Plymouth 
„    ,  ,,    and  Rhode  Island.     The  death  of  Governor  Endicott  occurred 

Mmvn  T  t 

in  their  absence.  The  Plymouth  Authorities  appear  to  have 
submitted  very  readily  to  the  purposes  of  the  Commissioners,  and  the 
people  of  Rhode  Island  were  no  doubt  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  to 
retaliate,  as  far  as  words  would  go,  in  declaring  the  wrongs  they  had 
received  from  the  people  of  Boston.  However,  having  set  affairs  in  a 
train  according  to  their  views,  the  Commissioners  returned  privately* 
and  separately  to  Boston,  about  the  latter  end  of  April. 

The  Magistrates  having  assembled  the  day  before  election  to 

J  '  prepare  for  the  business  of  that  day,  the  Commissioners  desired 
an  interview.  The  Magistrates  at  first  declined  it,  because  they  said 
there  was  no  Court ;  yet  they  finally  consented.  At  the  interview 
several  papers  were  communicated  by  the  Commissioners.  To  the  con- 
tents of  these  there  could  not  have  been  much  objection,  judging  from 
a  few  items  which  have  been  preserved.  They  were  on  the  whole  flat- 
tering to  the  Country,  declaring  the  King's  great  kindness  for  the  people, 
and  his  desire  to  advance  their  interests,  who  "had  given  so  good  an 
example  of  sobriety  and  industry  to  all  others."  It  was  stated,  too,  that 
so  far  was  the  King  from  wishing  to  abridge  their  liberties,  he  was 
ready  to  enlarge  them.  The  Commissioners  hoped  by  these  protestations 
to  be  able  to  make  such  representations  of  their  loyalty  as  would  remove 
all  causes  of  jealousy  from  their  Royal  Master.  But  it  was  of  no  avail. 
The  word  loyalty  had  too  long  been  expunged  from  their  vocabulary  to 
find  a  quiet  place  in  it  again. 

At  every  step  the  Commissioners  must  have  seen  that  whatever  they 
effected,  and  whatever  impression  they  made,  would  prove  little  better 
than  foot-prints  in  the  sand.  Yet  they  proceeded  in  their  duties.  They 
requested  that  a  map  of  the  Colony  should  be  prepared  for  them,  that 
they  might  hear  and  determine  claims  regarding  territory. 

As  soon  as  the  business  of  the  election  was  passed,  the  Court 

desired  the  Commissioners  to  communicate  all  of  his  Majesty's 

commands  and  requirements.     But  this  they  refused  to  do  ;  saying,  that 

when  they  had  answered  what  had  already  been  given  them,  they  would 

*  Their  returning  privately,  is  said  to  have  for  after  what  they  had  seen  of  the  Bostonians 

been  to  avoid  the  honorable  reception  which  I  do  not  think  they  had  anyxeason  to  appre- 

they  would   otherwise   have   received.      This  hend  any  very  crushing  load  of  honors.     Seo 

reason  appears  to  me  to  be  a  very  strange  one  ;  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  234. 


1CG5.]  INTERVIEW    WITH    THE   MAGISTRATES.  371 

communicate  more.  The  Court  thought  best  to  comply,  so  far  at  least 
as  appearances  were  concerned.  They  therefore  agreed  that  their 
allegiance  to  the  King  should  be  published  "by  sound  of  trumpet," 
and  that  Mr.  Oliver  Purchis*  should  proclaim  the  same  on  horseback  ; 
and  that  Mr.  Thomas  Bligh,  Treasurer,  and  Mr.  Richard  Wait,  should 
accompany  him  ;  that  the  reading  in  every  place  should  end  with  the 
words,  "  God  save  the  King."  Another  requirement  of  the  Commis- 
sioners was  that  the  Government  should  stop  coining  money ;  another, 
that  Episcopalians  should  not  be  fined  for  not  attending  the  religious 
meetings  of  the  community,  as  they  had  hitherto  been  ;  another,  that  they 
should  let  the  Quakers  alone,  and  let  them  go  about  their  affairs.  These 
were  only  a  part  of  the  requirements,  but  they  were  the  principal,  and 
were  partially  complied  with.  They  agreed  also  to  celebrate  the 
King's  restoration  by  a  Thanksgiving  ;  also  in  the  same  manner  the 
discovery  of  the  "  Gunpowder  Treason." 

Notwithstanding  a  pretended  acquiescence,  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment, to  the  requests  of  the  Commissioners,  it  was  evident  from  the 
first  that  little  could  be  effected  by  the  latter,  from  the  evasive  manner 
in  which  all  their  orders  or  recommendations  were  received.  At  length 
the  Commissioners  found  it  necessary  to  put  the  question  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  direct,  "  Whether  they  acknowledged  his  Majesty's 
Commission  ?  "  f  The  Court  sent  them  a  message,  desiring  to 
be  excused  from  giving  a  direct  answer,  inasmuch  as  their 
Charter  was  their  plea.  Being  still  pressed  for  a  direct  answer,  they 
declared  that  "it  was  enough  for  them  to  give  their  sense  of 

y  '  the  powers  granted  to  them  by  Charter,  and  that  it  was  beyond 
their  line  to  determine  the  power,  intent  or  purpose  of  his  Majesty's 
Commission." 

There  were  those  in  Boston  who  had  been  suffering  for  their  noncon- 
formity to  certain  laws  of  the  land,  and  they  thought  the  present  time 
afforded  them  a  prospect  for  redress.  Among  the  individuals  was  Mr. 
Thomas  Deane,  J  a  merchant.     What  his  case  was  does  not  clearly 

*  So  he  spelled  his  own  Dame.     From  the  and  he  and  Mr.   Lidget  were  the  first   who 

accompanying  Autograph  it  would  appear  that  made  advances  on  consignments  of  goods  from 

he  was  a  very  good  writer.  England.     He  returned  to  England  and  died 

s>  at  Freefolk,  Hants,  27  April,  1686,  aged  46, 

//«  /*  (if  as  aPPears  hy  an  inscription  in  Freefolk  Chapel. 

y )l  C/W      HJll/Y*(    (bP$  His  second  wife,  Anne,  daughter  of  William 

•  fc^^/L-   J     wu^     r#^  parrj  of  Londonj  died  31  Jan  ;  170£?  aged  52. 

f  The  following  passage  in  a  communication  His  first  wife  was  daughter  of  William  Browne, 

which  the  Commissioners  made  to  the  General  of  Salem.     Mr.  Deane  was  of  the  family  of 

Court  on  the  18th  of  May,  was  very  ill-calcu-  Deane  of  Deanlands.     James  Deane  was  his 

lated  to   gain   the   end   desired.      "  We   are  father,  whose  will  is  in   Doctor's  Commons, 

heartily  sorry,"  they  say,  "  to  find,  that  by  London.  —  Items  furnished  by  Mr.  W.  E.  and 

some  evil  persuasions,  you  have  put  a  greater  Mr-  J-  Deane,  of  Boston.  —  See  also  N.  Eng. 

value  upon  your  own  conceptions,  than  upon  Hist-   and   Gen-  Re£->  m-  48°-     The  accom- 

the  wisdom  of  his  Majesty  and  Council ;  which  panying  copy  of  an  autograph  is  from  a  power 

argues   either  an  unreasonable  jealousy   and  of  attorney  from  Thomas  Deane  and  Peter  Ser- 

distrustofhis  Majesty's  so  often  repeated  graces  geant  of  Boston,  to  John  Walley  of  Boston, 

and  favors  intended  towards  his  subjects  here,  dated  2  Feb.,  1633. 
or  that  his  Majesty  is  not  a  competent  inter-  y^Tl^      O^ 

preter  of  your  Charter. ' '  %//**/  ^^^ 

{  He  was  established  in  Boston  as  a  factor,  <"""  '-^-^c^2 


372  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON.  [1665. 

appear,  nor  is  it  of  much  importance  in  the  present  instance.     It  is 

sufficient  that  he  applied  to  the  Commissioners  for  justice,  and  they 

therefore  notified  the  Court  that  they  should  be  in  session  at 

ay  '  '  the  house  of  Captain  Thomas  Breedon,  the  next  day,  where 
the  case  of  Mr.  Deane  and  others,  against  the  Governor  and  Company 
and  Joshua  Scottow,  merchant,  defendants,  was  to  be  heard,  and  desired 
their  attendance  by  their  Attorney. 

This  act  of  the  Commissioners  brought  the  contest  between  them  and 
the  Authorities  to  a  crisis.  The  Commission  was  at  this  time  full, 
though  at  what  time  Colonel  Nichols  joined  the  others  does  not  appear. 
The  Court,  on  receipt  of  the  summons,  issued  a  Proclamation  (which 
would  have  very  well  suited  the  times  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence )  calling  upon  the  people  in  his  Majesty's  name  ( ! )  not  to  consent 
unto,  or  to  give  approbation  to,  the  proceedings  of  the  King's  Commis- 
sioners, nor  to  aid  or  abet  them.  This  Proclamation  they  ordered  to 
be  published  through  the  town  by  sound  of  trumpet,  and  oddly  enough 
added  thereto,  "  God  save  the  King."  (!) 

M  ^  The  same  day  the  Commissioners  sent  a  sort  of  threatening 
protest  to  the  Court,  in  which  they  said  they  thought  the  King 
and  his  Council  knew  what  was  granted  to  them  in  their  Charter  ;  but 
that,  since  they  would  misconstrue  everything,  they  (the  Commis- 
sioners) would  lose  no  more  of  their  labor  upon  them.  At  the  same 
time  assuring  them  that  their  denial  of  the  King's  authority,  as  vested 
in  his  Commissioners,  would  be  represented  to  his  Majesty  only  in  their 
own  words.  The  Court,  in  its  turn,  summoned  Mr.  Deane  before  them, 
and  notified  the  King's  Agents  that  they  might  appear,  "  that  justice 
might  be  done."  Here  all  intercourse  ceased  between  the  Government 
and  the  Commissioners  for  this  time. 

The  conduct  of  Colonel  Nichols,  at  Boston,  is  spoken  of  in  terms  of 
high  commendation  ;  but  Carr  and  Cartwright  are  represented  as  totally 
unfitted  for  the  business  they  came  upon.  After  all,  it  is  difficult  to  see 
how  any  Commissioners,  upon  such  an  errand,  could  have  given  satis- 
faction. For,  a  moment's  consideration  is  sufficient  to  convince  any  one 
that  the  difficulty  was  not  so  much  in  the  Commissioners,  as  in  the 
undertaking.  The  King,  of  course,  knew  nothing  about  New  England 
affairs,  except  from  interested  parties,  and  hence,  when  he  gave  these 
Commissioners  authority  to  come  here  and  take  the  Government  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  people,  he  acted  with  the  same  kind  of  inconsistency 
which  ruined  his  father.  His  advisers  ought  to  have  known  better. 
They  ought  to  have  known  that  before  they  could  succeed  in  assuming 
the  Government  at  Boston,  the  original  Charter  of  the  country  must  be 
somehow  disposed  of.  This  was  not  done  ;  and  thus  the  Commissioners 
came  lame  into  the  country,  and  went  out  of  it  in  disgrace. 

The  Fathers  of  Boston  had  cause  not  long  after  to  speak  of  "  a 
remarkable  providence,"  by  which  much  expected  mischief  was  averted 
from  their  heads.  The  Commissioners  had  collected  all  the  unfavorable 
circumstances  they  could  against  the  Country,  intending  on  their  return 


1665.]  COMMISSIONERS   IN     BOSTON.  373 

to  England  to  use  their  information  to  the  prejudice  of  New  England. 
All  the  papers  collected  for  this  purpose  were  in  the  keeping  of  Cart- 
wright,  who,  on  his  passage  to  England,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Dutch,  who  stripped  him  of  everything,  even  the  papers  in  question, 
and  he  never  could  recover  them.  Carr,  after  spending  some  time  at 
l'ascataqua  and  Delaware,  returned  to  England  in  1667,  but  died  at 
Bristol  the  next  day  after  he  landed,  which  was  the  first  day  of  June. 
Maverick  is  the  same  who  was  here  when  Boston  was  settled,  and  has 
been  often  mentioned  in  previous  pages.  * 

Before  dismissing  the  Commissioners  it  will  be  proper  to  notice  some 
of  the  difficulties  given  by  one  of  them  to  the  Authorities  of  Boston. 
This  was  Sir  Robert  Carr,  who  probably  spent  the  winter  of  1666-7  in 
Boston.  In  those  days  there  was  a  noted  tavern  or  ordinary,  called  the 
Ship  Tavern,  situated  on  the  "  opposite  corner  to  what  was  called 
Clark's  Shipyard,"  long  after;  and  more  recently  its  site  answered  to 
the  corner  of  Clark  and  Ann  streets,  -at  the  North  End.  Opposite  to 
this  tavern  lived  Mr.  Thomas  Kellond,  a  merchant,  of  whom  there  will 
be  occasion  to  speak  hereafter.  That  tavern  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the 
Commissioners,  and  as  there  was  a  law  forbidding  people  to  be  found  at 
taverns  on  a  Saturday  evening,  advantage  was  to  be  taken  of  this  law  to 
seize  Sir  Robert  Carr,  who  had  recently  committed  an  act  of  violence 
on  a  Constable  named  Richard  Bennet,  while  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty.  It  appears  that  Bennet  went  to  the  Ship  Tavern,  then  kept  by 
T  "  John  Vyals,"  and  there,  according  to  the  complaint  made  by 

Bennet  to  Mr.  Leverett,  Carr  assailed,  beat  and  w7ounded  him, 
in  an  atrocious  manner.  Mr.  Leverett,  instead  of  sending  a  force  suf- 
T  ficient  to  overcome  Carr,  wrote  him  a  letter,  which  was  con- 

veyed to  him  by  Capt.  William  Davis.  In  this  letter  Mr. 
Leverett  said  there  had  been  a  complaint  lodged  against  him  and  his 
servant  James  Deane,  for  their  "riotous  and  abusive  carriage  to  his 
Majesty's  officer,  Richard  Bennet,  one  of  the  Constables  of  the  Town," 
and  desiring  him  to  appear  the  next  day,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock, 
at  his  house,  to  answer.  Mr.  Leverett  said,  "from  some  considera- 
tiones  he  had  chosen  this  wTay  to  give  him  notice  thereof,  that  he  and 
his  man  might  be  present  to  give  answer  to  what  should  be  aleged 
against  them  ;  and  the  honor  and  avthority  of  his  Majesty  in  his  officers 
be  preserved,  with  the  greatest  respect  to  himselfe  the  case  would 
admit  of."  Carr  returned  a  written  answer,  the  next  day,  saying  he 
would  not  obey  the  summons,  f  "Whereupon  Mr.  Leverett  issued  sum- 
monses to  both  Carr  and  Deane  to  appear  before  him  the  same 
day ;  but  this  was  also  treated  with  contempt,  and  an  insulting 

*  Hutchinson  says  he  was  here  in  1667,  with  coniplyed  wth  yor  desyers,  bvt  as  I  am  wth 
a  message  from  Col.  Nichols,  "  which  is  the  ye  Kyng's  Commissio,  I  shal  not  grant  yor  re- 
last  account  given  of  him."  —  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  quests,  both  in  respect  of  his  Majestyes  honor 
250.  and  my  owne  duty,  and  rest  yours, 

t  The  answer  was  verbatim  as  follows  :  —  Robert  Carr. 

"  Sr  yors  I  receyved  last  night,  in  answer  to  Boston,  Jan.  23,  1666. 
w°\  as  I  am  Sr    Robert  Carr,  I  would  have        For  Major  General  John  Leverett,  these," 


374  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1655. 

reply  was  made  in  writing,  at  the  same  time  the  said  Carr  "  swore  divers 
oaths."*  Then  warrants  were  put  into  the  hands  of  Nathaniel  Renolds 
and  John  Button,  constables,  with  orders  to  apprehend  the  offenders. 
The  officers  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Edmund  Downes, 
where  Carr  then  had  his  lodgings,  but  were  denied  admittance. 
They  read  their  warrant,  however,  in  the  hearing  of  Carr,  who  "  said 
he  would  not  come  to  Authority."  The  Constables  then  "  commanded 
Mr.  Downes  to  open  the  doare,  and  he  said  he  could  not,  for  Sr.  Robert 
Carr  had  got  the  Key  when  he  was  gone  ovt  of  the  doares,  and  he  could 
not  get  it  agayne  ;  and  there  was  in  the  house  of  Edmvnd  Downes, 
Capt.  Tho.  Breedon,  and  tooke  the  names  of  those  that  weare  there  to 
assist"  them.  This  return  being  made  to  Governor  Bellingham  and 
Mr.  Leverett,  a  Council  was  called,  "  whoe  mett  at  Charelestown  so 
soon  as  the  weather  gaue  leaue."  It  is  supposed  that  when  the 
"weather  did  giue  leaue,"  another  attempt  was  made  to  arrest  Carr, 
and  by  an  officer  of  spirit  and  firmness,  whose  name  was  Arthur  Mason. 
Whether  he  succeeded  in  arresting  him,  however,  is  not  stated.  Mason 
found  Carr  with  some  companions  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Kellond.  Going 
in  among  them  with  his  staff  of  authority,  he  remarked,  that  "  it  was 
well  he  had  not  found  them  at  the  tavern  opposite,  for  if  he  had  he 
would  have  arrested  them  all ;"  and  that  "  he  wondered  that  they  had 
been  so  uncivil  as  to  beat  a  Constable  and  abuse  authority."  Carr  said 
"  it  was  he  that  beat  the  officer,  and  that  he  would  do  it  again."  Mason 
replied,  that  "  he  thought  his  Majesty's  Commissioners  would  not  have 
beaten  his  Majesty's  officers,  and  that  it  was  well  for  them  that  he  was 
not  the  Constable  who  found  them  there,  for  he  would  have  carried 
them  before  Authority."  Sir  Robert  asked  him  if  "he  dare  meddle 
with  the  King's  Commissioners  ? "  "Yes,"  said  Mason,  "  and  if  the 
King  himself  had  been  there  I  would  have  carried  him  away."  Upon 
this  Mr.  Maverick  cried  out  "  Treason !  Treason  !  Mason,  you  shall 
be  hanged  within  a  twelvemonth."  Sir  Thomas  Temple  being  of  the 
company,  Carr  spoke  to  him  and  others  to  take  notice  of  what  passed. 
The  next  day  Maverick  sent  a  note  to  the  Governor,  charging  Mason 
with  high  treason,  and  requiring  his  arrest.  It  does  not  appear  that, 
in  the  mean  time,  Mason  made  any  attempt  to  take  Carr  into  custody,  nor 
does  it  appear  how  the  affair  with  Carr  ended.  However,  the  Governor 
informed  Mr.  Maverick  that  he  was  ready  for  him  to  appear  and  prose- 
cute his  charge  against  Constable  Mason  for  treason.  Maverick,  how- 
ever, did  not  appear,  though  the  Governor  thought  proper  to  hold 
Mason  for  trial,  and  took  sureties  for  his  appearance  in  five  hundred 
pounds.      Maverick   soon   after  sent  another  note   to  the    Governor, 

*"Sr  I   receved  yor   menacing  warrant  by  name  to  take  care  that  myself  and  servant  be 

yor  Marshal  Richard  Wayte,  and  another  to  not  molested  or  affronted  by  any  in  this  juris- 

my  serv1,  and  for  the  same  shal  cal  you  to  diction  of  the  Massachusets,  as  you  wil  answer 

acompt  in  tyme  and  place  convenient,  as  I  am  it  at  yor   and  theyr  perils.     Dated  in  boston, 

his  Majestyes  Comissioner  for  New  Engld,  be-  the  23  of  ja  :  166f.  Robert  Carr. 

fore  whome  I  am  to  giue  an  acovnt  for  my        To  Mr.  John  Leverett." 
actiones,  and  doe  requyer  you  in  his  Majestye's  Original  paper  of  the  time* 


1666.]  OPPOSITION   TO    COMMISSIONERS.  375 

desiring  the  prosecution  might  stop  ;  "  being  satisfied,"  he  said,  "  that, 
although  the  words  were  rash  and  inconsideratej  yet  that  there  was  no 
premeditated  design  in  Mason  to  injure  the  King  or  his  government." 
This  was  characteristic  of  Mr.  Maverick.  lie  had  formerly  been  much 
injured  in  his  feelings  and  estate  by  the  Government  of  Boston,  and  the 
only  retaliation  that  was  ever  attempted  by  him  appears  to  be  in 
endeavors  to  bring  about  religious  liberty  in  the  place.  Governor  Bel- 
lingham  duly  appreciated  this  service,  and,  to  proceed  counter  to 
Maverick,  he  determined  not  to  overlook  Mason's  offence  of  Treason, 
and  the  prosecution  proceeded  ;  but,  at  the  trial,  the  jury  gave  a  verdict 
corresponding  exactly  with  Mr.  Maverick's  wishes ;  yet  the  Court 
sentenced  Mason  to  be  admonished  in  a  solemn  manner  by  the  Governor. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

Petitions -in  Favor  of  acknowledging  the  King's  Authority. — Hon.  Robert  Boyle's  Advice  to  Gov. 
Endicott.  —  Description  of  Boston  at  this  Period.  —  Cambridge.  —  The  College.  —  Small-Pox.  — 
Baptist  Movement.  —  Baptist  Church  formed.  —  Names  of  the  early  Members.  —  Date  of  the  Foun- 
dation of  their  Church.  —  They  are  Persecuted.  —  Fined  and  Imprisoned.  —  A  Petition  in  their 
Favor.  —  Case  of  Gould — of  Turner  and  others. —  Letter  of  Goodwin  and  others.  —  Brewster's 
Islands.  —  Rope-making  —  First  in  Boston.  —  Death  of  John  Wilson.  —  Old  South  Church  founded. 

t  MR.  Richard  Bellingham  was  chosen  Governor,  and 

Mr.  Francis  Willoughby,  Deputy  Governor.    The  lat- 
ter resided  in  Charlestown.     He  was  a  gentleman  of 
..J^^fj^         wealth,  and  highly  respectable,  and  yet  was  among 
t#V^f%|f      the  Magistrates  who  opposed  the  Commissioners.* 
H^Mv^Xj  ^e  °PPos^i°n  to  these  Commissioners  was  not  en- 

C^|yMy#       tirely  universal  or  unanimous  among  the  people.   They 
^CM^F        had,  however,  a  less  number  of  friends  in  Boston, 
^£W^  probably,  than  in  any  other  town  in  the  country,  ac- 

willoughby.  cording  to  its  population.  There  were  good  people, 
who  thought  it  both  unwise  as  well  as  unjust  to  oppose  the  King's 
Commissioners,  which  they  viewed  as  nothing  less  than  treason,  though 
they  had  too  much  good  sense  to  give  it  that  name  ;  and  there  were  so 
many  substantial  and  influential  men  in  the  other  principal  towns,  of  the 
same  way  of  thinking,  that  the  Government,  on  its  part,  was  obliged 

*  Mr.  Willoughby  was  son  of  Col.  William  proved  his  adopted  town  by  building  wharves, 
Willoughby,  of  Portsmouth,  in  Hampshire,  &c.  In  1641  he  built  a  ship  at  the  point  now 
England,  by  his  wife  Elizabeth ;  was  admitted  called  Warren  Bridge  avenue.  He  lived  near 
an  inhabitant  of  Charlestown,  22  Aug.,  1638,  the  Square,  between  Harvard  and  Bow  streets, 
and  from  1640  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  on  the  estate  on  which  the  house  stands  that 
was  almost  constantly  in  the  public  service.  wras,  a  few  years  since,  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward 
He  was  Deputy  Governor  till  his  death,  which  Everett,  now  of  the  U.  S.  Senate.  See  Froth- 
occurred  on  the  _4th  of  April,  1671.  He  was  ingham's  Hist.  Charlestown,  141-2,  and  Ear- 
largely  engaged  in  merchandise,  and  much  im-  mer's  Reg.,  321. 


376  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1666. 

to  receive  a  petition*  from  them  respectfully,!  while,  for  presenting  a 
much  less  obnoxious  one  a  few  years  before,  its  authors  were  impris- 
oned, fined,  and  otherwise  severely  dealt  with.  But  Winthrop  and 
Endicott  were  dead,  and  how  the  present  petitioners  would  have  fared, 
had  one  or  both  of  them  been  alive,  no  opinion  is  necessary  to  be  of- 
fered. These  petitioners  reminded  the  Court  that  the  "advice  of  the 
wiseman  was  to  keep  the  King's  commandment,"  that  "  this  place  was 
a  part  of  the  King's  dominions,  whence  it  is  evident  that  if  any  pro- 
ceedings of  this  Colony  have  given  occasion  to  his  Majesty  to  say  that 
we  believe  he  hath  no  jurisdiction  over  us,  what  effectual  course  had 
need  be  taken  to  free  ourselves  from  incurring  his  Majesty's  further  dis- 
pleasure, by  continuing  in  so  dangerous  an  offence  ?  Such  an  asser- 
tion would  be  no  less  destructive  to  our  welfare  than  derogatory  to  his 
Majesty's  honor.  The  doubtful  interpretation  of  the  words  of  a  patent, 
which  there  can  be  no  reason  to  believe  can  ever  be  construed  to  the 
divesting  of  a  sovereign  Prince  of  his  royal  power  over  his  natural  sub- 
jects, is  too  frail  a  foundation  to  build  such  a  transcendent  immunity 
and  privilege  upon."  They  at  the  same  time  intimated  a  separation 
from  the  party  opposed  to  the  King,  if  the  opposition  were  persisted  in  ; 
that  they  might  be  compelled  to  address  his  Majesty  "to  clear  them- 
selves from  the  least  imputation  of  so  scandalous  an  evil  as  the  appear^ 
ance  of  disaffection,  or  disloyalty  to  the  person  and  government  of  their 
lawful  Prince  and  Sovereign  would  be." 

The  Rulers  were  desirous  to  be  thought  loyal  in  England,  and  pro- 
fessed to  be  so  ;  while  a  determination  on  their  part  to  do  as  they 
pleased,  was  too  manifest  to  be  disguised.  But  the  proceeding  against 
Carr  is  sufficient  to  show  that  the  Government  had  begun  to  waver  in 
its  course.  It  saw  that  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  yield.  Even  that 
excellent  friend  of  the  country,  the  Honorable  Robert  Boyle,  wrote  a 
letter  to  Governor  Endicott  and  the  General  Court,  elated  two  days  after 
Mr.  Endicott's  death,  in  which  he  said,  in  answer  to  some  observations 
made  by  them,  "in  your  last  addresses  to  his  Majesty,  and  letters  to  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  there  were  passages  much  more  unexpected  than  wel- 
come ; "  "that  not  only  those  who  are  unconcerned  in  your  affairs,  but  the 
most  considerable  persons  that  favor  you  in  England,  have  expressed  to 

*  Printed  entire  in  Hutchinson's    Coll.   of  Petitions,  also,   of  the   same  import,  were 

Orig.  Papers,  511-13  ;  also  reprinted  in  8th,  handed  in  from  Salem,  Newbury  and  Ipswich. 

2d  Ser.  Mass.  Hist.  Colls.,  though  the  Editors  There  were  33  names  on  that  from  Salem  ;  39 

of  the  latter  forgot  to  give  the  date  to  it.     It  on  that  from  Newbury  ;  73  on  that  of  Ipswich. 

was  presented  to  the  Court  in  October,  1666.  At  the  head  of  the  Salem  petitioners  stood 

The  names  of  the  Boston  signers  were,  the  name  of  Zerubbabel  Endicott,  son  of  the 

John  Jolliffe,                       William  Taylor,  late   Governor  Endicott,  and  at  the  head  of 

?axb-  ?n^'                        o°hn  Woodmansey,  those  of  Ipswich  was  John  Appleton.  That  of 

Ihtmas  KeHond,                  KSbSK"*  Newbury  was  not  1-s  respectably  signed.  The 

Bernard  Trott,                       John  Conney,  Brownes,  Atkinsons,  Woodbridges,  Gernshes, 

Antipas  Boys,                        Thomas  Breeden,  Lowles,  Somerbies,  Coffins,  Noyses  and  Knights 

Thomas  Savage,  Sen.,            Thomas  Deane,  were  upon  it.    Yet  Hutchinson  says  these  Peti- 

Richard  Wharton,                  Nicholas  Page,  tioners  were  censured  for  intermeddling.     The 

John  Winslow,                      Thomas  Brattle,  censure  was  probably  rather  slight ;  as  the  par- 

tnJlltltt*,                  IpTraiK'ner,  ties  petitioningwere  quite  too  respectable  both  in 

James  Whitcomb,                 Richard  Patteshall,  character  and  numbers,  to  be  otherwise  treated. 

Richard  Price,                        Henry  Taylor.  t  Mather,  Magnolia,  li.  532,  new  ed. 


1CG6.]  DESCRIPTION    OF    BOSTON.  377 

me  their  being  unsatisfied  in  some  of  the  particulars  I  am  speaking  of;  and 
it  seems  generally  unreasonable,  that  when  the  King  had  so  graciously 
remitted  all  that  was  past,  and  upon  just  and  important  inducements, 
sent  Commissioners  to  promote  the  welfare  of  your  Colony,  you  should 
(in  expressions  not  over  warily  and  respectfully  worded),  be  importu- 
nate with  him  to  do  an  action  so  likely  to  blemish  his  wisdom  or  justice, 
or  both,  as  immediately  to  recall  public  ministers  from  so  remote  a  part 
of  the  world,  before  they,  or  any  of  them,  be  so  much  as  accused  of 
any  one  crime  or  miscarriage." 

Hence,  the  Government  were  given  to  understand  that  their  request 
to  the  King  to  recall  his  Commissioners  was  a  highly  offensive  proceed- 
ing. Indeed,  an  entirely  independent  State  could  not  have  made  a 
bolder  request.  It  was  as  much  as  to  say  to  the  King,  "  We  do  not 
wish  to  be  looked  after.     We  can  take  care  of  our  own  affairs." 

While  the  King's  Commissioners  were  in  New  England,  they  drew  up, 
or  caused  to  be  drawn  up,  an  account  of  the  country  and  its  concerns, 
which  is  a  document  of  great  value  and  interest.  In  this  it  is  said  of 
Boston,  that  "it  is  the  chief  Town  in  the  Country,  and  seated,  upon  a 
peninsula  in  the  bottom  of  a  bay,  which  is  a  good  harbor  and  full  of  fish. 
It  was  fortified,  this  year,*  with  two  block  houses.  They  had,  before,  a 
castle  upon  an  island  in  the  road  where  ships  must  pass,  about  five  or  six 
miles  from  the  Town.  Their  houses  are  generally  wooden,  their  streets 
crooked,  with  little  decency  and  no  uniformity ;  and  there,  neither 
months,  days,  seasons  of  the  year,  churches  nor  inns,  are  known  by  their 
English  names."  f  What  the  Commissioners  say  of  Cambridge  is  quite 
too  characteristic  of  the  times  as  well  as  of  themselves  to  be  omitted  in 
this  connection.  "At  Cambridge,"  they  say,  "  they  have  a  wooden 
Collidg,  and  in  the  yard  a  brick  pile  of  two  Cages  for  the  Indians,  where 
the  Commissioners  saw  but  one.  They  said  they  had  three  or  more  at 
scool.  It  may  be  feared  this  Collidg  may  afford  as  many  scismaticks  to 
the  Church,  and  the  Corporation  as  many  rebells  to  the  King,  as  for- 
merly they  have  done,  if  not  timely  prevented."!  These  inferences 
were  drawn  after  the  information  elicited  from  the  Government,  which 
was,  that  "they  might  say,  without  boasting,  that  more  than  an  hun- 
dred able  preachers,  physicians,  and  other  useful  persons,  had  issued  from 
the  small  college  at  Cambridge." 

About  forty  persons  died  of  the  small-pox  this  year  in  Boston,  and 
' c  divers  are  slain  by  lightning. ' '  § 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Commissioners,  the  silenced  Anabaptists, 
as  well  as  the  Quakers,  thinking  they  should  now  be  protected  in  their 
religious  opinions,  the  former  began  to  consolidate  themselves  into  a 

*  1665.     A  slight  mistake,  as  will  have  been  "  About  80  from  20  to  40  tons ;  about  40  from 

seen.     They  mistook  repairs  for  original  work.  40  to  100  ;  and  about  a  dozen  ships  above  100 

They  said  "  the  fort  or  keep  at  the  entrance  of  tons. "  —  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass. ,  i.  244. 

the  harbor  had  five  or  six  guns."  J  See  the  Narrative  in  Hutchinson's  Colls. 

f  In  certain  answers  to  the  Commissioners  last  Orig.  Papers,  421. 

year,  the  Government  stated  that  the  number  of  §  Sewall,  in  New.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg., 

their  ships  and  vessels  was  then  as  follows  :  —  vii.  208. 

48 


378 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1665-1671. 


May  28. 


Church  ;  some  of  whom  had  been  in  the  country  from  the  first  settle- 
ment at  Charlestown.*  But  they  found  it  necessary  "  to  reserve  their 
particular  opinions  to  themselves."! 

Notwithstanding  the  Commissioners  had  authority  to  give  liberty  to 
people  of  all  religious  denominations,  they  could  not  bring  the  Bostonians 
to  second  them,  and  the  Government  continued  their  prosecutions  against 
heretics  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the  year  1665,  William  Turner,  Thomas 
Gould,  Edward  Drinker,  J  John  George,  and  Thomas  Osborne,  were 
prosecuted  for  "  gathering  themselves  into  a  pretended  Church  estate." 
Before  this,  Gould,  Osborne,  and  Drinker,  had  been  baptized,  and 
joined  with  Eichard  Goodall,  William  Turner,  §  Robert  Lam- 
bert, Mary  Goodall,  and  Mary  Newell,  in  a  solemn  covenant.  Goodall 
came  recommended  from  Mr.  Kiffin's  Church,  in  London  ;  ||  Turner  and 
Lambert  came  from  Mr.  Stead's  Church,  in  Dartmouth  ;  "  having  been 
regular  walkers  in  the  Baptist  order  "  before  they  came  to  this  country. 
Gould  and  Osborne  separated  from  the  Church  in  Charlestown.  Drinker 
and  George  had  lived  here  many  years,  but  had  not  united  with  any 

Church.  About  this  time  they  began  to  hold  regular  meetings ; 

"  prophecyed,  one  by  one,  and  some  one  among  them  administered 
the  Lord's-supper,  after  he  was  regularly  excommunicated  by  the  Church 
at  Charlestown  ;  they  also  set  up  a  lecture  at  Drinker's  house,  once  a 
fortnight."  Before  1669,  Isaac  Hull,  John  Farnum,  Jacob  Barney, 
John  Russell,  Jun.,  John  Johnson,  George  Farlow,  Benjamin  Sweetser, 


Aug. 


*  "  Seth  Sweetser,  who  came  over  to  Charles- 
town in  1638,  from  Tring,  in  Hardfordshire, 
[Hertfordshire]  was  one  of  those  early  Baptists. 
I  find  by  the  records  that  he  was  received  a  free 
man  that  year.  His  son  Benjamin  was  long  a 
useful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Bos- 
ton, and  he  has  left  a  numerous  posterity  ;  one 
of  whom  has  been  Schoolmaster  and  Town- 
clerk  in  Chaidestown  for  sundry  years  past."  — 
Backus,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  i.  355.  It  should  be  re- 
membered that  Mr. Backus  printed  his  history  in 
1777-  In  the  first  Boston  Directory,  1789,  there 
was  a  Joseph  Sweetser,  "  retailer,  in  Prince 
St.;  "  John,  "  gentleman,  Ship  St.;  "  John,  Jr., 
"  shop-keeper,  80  Newbury  St."  But  four  of 
the  name  Sweetser  appeared  in  the  Directory, 
twenty  years  later,  1809.  The  last  year,  1853, 
there  were  eighteen. 

f  Mather,  Magnolia,  ii.  532,  new  ed.,  who 
extracts  an  observation  of  "  the  noble  martyr, 
Phillpot,"  expressing  his  opinion  of  the  early 
Anabaptists.  He  says  "  they  are  an  inordinate 
kind  of  men,  stirred  up  by  the  Devil  to  the 
destruction  of  the  gospel  ;  having  neither  scrip- 
ture nor  antiquity,  nor  anything  else  for  them, 
but  lies  and  new  imaginations,  feigning  the 
baptism  of  children  to  be  the  Pope's  command- 
ment." — lb.  In  an  examination  of  Mr.  Gould 
before  the  Church  at  Charlestown ,  it  was  de- 
manded why  he  now  disowned  infant  baptism, 
when  once  he  believed  in  it  I  He  answered, 
"  You  were  once  for  crossing  in  baptism  —  why 
do  you  now  disown  it  ?  "   The  interrogator  was 


silent. — Backus,  i.  365.  —  Gould  died  Oct. 
27th,  1675. — Winchell's  Jubilee  Sermons,  p.  16. 
Backus,  i.  414. 

J  For  curious  as  well  as  interesting  items  con- 
cerning the  family  of  Drinker,  see  N.  Eng. 
Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg. ,\ii.  169,  and  references. 
Edward  Drinker  was  a  son  of  Philip,  of 
Charlestown,  by  his  wife  Elizabeth.  Philip 
names  but  two  sons  in  his  will  (dated  21  :  4  : 
1647) ,  Edward  and  John.  He  died  23  :  4  :  1647. 
One  of  the  family  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  had  a  son  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware about  two  years  before  William  Penn 
arrived,  and  on  the  spot  afterwards  named 
Philadelphia.  That  son's  name  was  Edward. 
He  lived  to  be  102  years  .old,  dying  17  Nov. 
1782.  By  one  wife  he  had  18  children.  See 
Watson's  Annals  Phila.,  i.  513,  2d.  ed. 

§  The  same  who  was  afterwards  a  Captain  in 
Philip's  War,  and  was,  with  his  company,  the 
chief  instruments  in  saving  Northampton  from 
the  sword  of  the  Indians.  He  perished  after  the 
memorable  Fall  fight,  a  fight  in  which  the 
power  of  the  Indians  was  fatally  broken.  His 
grandson,  also  named  William,  lived  a  while 
in  Swanzey,  but  removed  to  Newport,  R.  I., 
where  he  died  in  1759.  He  had  a  daughter, 
who  married  a  Miller,  who,  with  a  son,  Wil- 
liam Turner  Miller,  was  living  in  Warren  in 
1774. 

||  Rev.  William  Kiffin's  Church,  no  doubt. 
The  same  Mr.  Kiffin  who  wrote  the  life  of  Han- 
serd  Knollys.     See  ante,  p.  255. 


1665-1G71.]  BAPTIST   MOVEMENT.  379 

Mrs.  Swcetscr  and  Ellis  Callender*  had  joined  the  Baptists.  Their 
meetings  in  Boston  were  not  held  until  about  three  years  later.  The 
date  of  the  first  Baptist  Church  in  Boston  is  reckoned  from  the  time  of 
Mr.  Gould's  removal  to  Noddle's  Island,  ascertained  to  be  in  the  year 
1668.  From  this  date  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
Church  was  celebrated  in  1818.  f 

Several  of  the  Baptists,  who  attempted  to  establish  their  sect  in  Bos- 
ton in  1665,  were  fined  for  not  attending  the  established  worship,  im- 
prisoned for  heresy,  and  banished.  In  July,  1GG8,  a  warrant  for  the 
commitment  of  some  of  them  to  jail,  was  signed  by  Mr.  Bellingham, 
Eleazer  Lusher  and  Edward  Tyng,  where  they  appear  to  have  laid  till 
the  fall  term  of  the  General  Court.  Then  a  petition  was  presented,  in 
the  mournful  and  supplicating  language  of  that  time,  by  which  it  is  seen 
that  Thomas  Gould,  William  Turner  and  John  Farnum  "  now  lie  in 
prison,  deprived  of  their  liberty,  taken  off  from  their  callings,  separated 
from  their  wives  and  children,  disabled  to  govern  or  to  provide  for  their 
families,  to  their  great  damage  and  hastening  ruin,  how  innocent  soever  ; 
besides  the  hazard  of  their  own  lives,  being  aged  and  weakly  men,  need- 
ing the  succor  a  prison  will  not  afford  ;  the  sense  of  this,  their  personal 
and  family  most  deplorable  and  afflicted  condition,  hath  sadly  affected 
the  hearts  of  many  sober  and  serious  Christians,  and  such  as  neither 
approve  of  their  judgment  or  practice."  Notwithstanding  this  petition 
expressed  the  feeling  of  some  of  the  best  men  in  Boston,  it  met  with  a 
fate  similar  to  that  presented  by  the  Churchmen  of  1646.  Its  chief 
promoters  were  fined,  and  obliged  to  ask  pardon  of  the  Court  for  the 
freedom  they  had  taken  with  it.  Among  the  signers  were  Capt.  Edward 
Hutchinson  J  and  Capt.  James  Oliver.  Mr.  Willoughby,  Mr.  Leverett 
and  Mr.  Symonds  were  also  known  to  have  been  against  the  persecu- 
tions. § 

It  seems  that  some  of  the  prisoners  were  liberated  in  the  following 
winter,  on  the  presumption  that  they  were  to  leave  the  Colony  ;  whereas 
they  only  went  to  Noddle's  Island,  and  there  established  themselves, || 

*  He  joined   the   Church,   9    Nov.,    1669.  trates  fined  him  £10,  for  "putting  in  a  vote 

"  The  next  members  who  joined  were  Joshua  on  the  day  of  election,  contrary  to  law,  thereby 

Turner,  Thomas  Foster,  JohnRussel,  Sen.  (af-  openly  contemning  the  authority  of  the  Court," 

terwards  their  pastor) ,  William  Hamlit,  James  and  ordered  him  to  be  disfranchised  ;  but  the 

Landon,    Thomas    Skinner,    John    Williams,  Deputies  would  not  consent  to  the  decision, 

Philip  Squire,  Mary  Gould,  Susanna  Jackson,  and    the  fine  only  was    exacted.  —  Original 

Mary  Greenleaf,  &c."  — Backus,  i.  414.  Paper. 

fWinchell's  Jubilee,  p.  33.  —  Speaking  of  §  Hutchinson,  i.  227,  269  —  Backus,  i.  380- 

the  persecutions  of  this  time,  the  same  author  382.  —  Winchell,  38-9. 

remarks.  "The  relation  of  these  facts  is  ||  "  We  keep  our  meeting  at  Noddle's  Island 
painful  in  the  extreme,  but  they  are  just  such  every  first  day,  and  the  Lord  is  adding  some 
facts  as  are  connected  with  a  history  of  this  souls  to  us  still,  and  is  enlighting  some  oth- 
Church,  which  included  nearly  the  whole  of  the  ers.  The  Priests  are  much  enraged."  "  Broth- 
Baptist  interest  in  Massachusetts  for  above  forty  er  Turner's  family  is  very  weakly,  and  him- 
years."  —  p.  13.  self  too.      I  fear  he   will  not  trouble   them 

%  Capt.  Hutchinson  always  belonged  to  the  long ;  only  this  is  our  comfort,  we  hear  if  he 

more   liberal  part   of    the    community,   and,  dies  in  prison  they  say  they  will  bury  him." — 

though  the  other  party  took  many  occasions  to  Drinker's  Letter   in   Backus,  i.  400.     "The 

injure  him,  he  was  always  prominent  in  the  Town  and  Country  are  very  much  troubled  at 

Government  of  the  Town,    In  1664,  the  Magis-  our  troubles,  and  especially  the  old  Church  in 


380  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1663. 

and  were  afterwards  taken  and  sent  to  prison  again.*  The  following 
year.  The  Court  of  Assistants  allowed  Gould  and  Turner,  by 
giving  sufficient  security,  to  visit  their  families  for  three  days. 

While  these  persecutions  against  the  Baptists  were  going  on,  a  letter, 
"  subscribed  by  no  less  persons  than  Dr.  Goodwyn,  Dr.  Owen,  Mr.  Nye, 
Mr.  Caryl,  and  nine  other  very  revered  ministers,"  and  Puritan  fathers 
in  England,  was  received  in  Boston,  strongly  discountenancing  the 
course  of  the  Government,  f 

The  same  arguments  had  been  made  use  of  for  putting  clown  Baptists 
as  for  banishing  Quakers  and  other  sectaries,  but  not  with  the  same  con- 
fidence in  their  infallibility ;  for  not  only  did  a  sect  increase  in  propor- 
tion to  the  severity  practised  towards  them,  but  the  community  became 
daily  more  equally  divided  upon  the  question  whether  persecution  could 
be  justified  upon  any  grounds.  Experience  had  begun  to  enlarge  the 
views  of  Rulers  and  the  Priesthood.  They  probably  now  heard  from 
some  of  their  best  friends  in  England,  that  "persecution  is  bad  in 
wicked  men,  but  is  most  abominable  in  good  men,  who  have  suffered 
and  pleaded  for  liberty  of  conscience  themselves." 

One  of  the  historians  of  the  Baptists,  though  he  acknowledges  himself 
sensible  that  "the  Divine  judgments  are  a  great  deep,  and  that  love 
or  hatred  is  not  to  be  known  by  such  outward  events,"  could  not  forbear 
bringing  before  his  readers  several  "striking  examples  of  judgments  J 
upon  the  Ministers  who  had  moved  the  Rulers  of  Massachusetts  to  exert 
such  force  against  the  Baptists,  though  they  saw  the  chief  procurers  of 
that  sentence  struck  dead  before  the  time  came  for  its  execution,  and 
many  more  of  them  about  that  time."§  Other  affairs  now  demand 
attention  ;   making  it  necessary  to  take  a  retrospective  step. 

Boston,  and  their  Elders  ;  both  Mr.  Oxonbridge  of  those  worthy  rulers,  Willoughby,  Symonds 

and  Mr.  Allen  have  labored  abundantly,  I  and  Leverett,  a  whole  house  of  Deputies,  and 

think,  as  if  it  had  been  for  their  best  friends  the   best   part  of  the  whole  community."  — 

in  the  world."—  Ibid.  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  i.  399. 

*  From  a  letter  written  by  Edward  Drinker  f  A  long  extract  from  that  excellent  letter 
to  Mr.  John  Clarke,  at  Newport,  dated  30  may  be  read  in  the  Magnolia,  ii.  534,  new  ed. ; 
Nov.  1670,  it  appears  that  William  Turner  also  in  Backus,  i.  395-397.  Its  date  is  25 
was  then  in  prison  in  Boston,  where  he  had  Mar.,  1669.  "  It  probably  did  not  reach  Bos- 
been  "  about  a  month  ;  "  that  warrants  at  the  ton  till  May  or  June." — Backus. 
same  time  "were  in  two  marshals'  hand  for  J  "Mr.  Henry  Flint,  of  Braintree,  and  Mr. 
brother  Gould  also,  but  that  he  had  not  been  Samuel  Shepard,  of  Rowley,  died  about  the 
taken,  because  he  lived  on  Noddles  Island,  and  time  of  their  dispute  with  the  Baptists  in  Bos- 
they  waited  to  take  liim  at  Town."  The  same  ton.  Mr.  Mitchel,  who  was  most  active  in 
letter  discloses  that  "there  were  six  Magis-  }:)rocuring  the  sentence  against  them,  died  July 
trates'  hands  to  the  warrant  to  take  them  up,  9,  aged  43  ;  and  Mr.  John  Eliot,  Jun.,  Oct.  13, 
viz.,  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Maj.  Denison,  Thos.  1668,  aged  35,  both  of  Cambridge  ;  Mr.  John 
Danforth,  Capt.  Gookin,  Maj.  Willard,  and  Reyner,  of  Dover,  and  Mr.  Richard  Mather,  of 
Mr.  Pinchon.  But  all  the  Deputies  of  the  Dorchester,  both  died  in  April,  and  Eleazer 
Court  voted  their  liberty,  except  one  or  two  at  Mather,  of  Northampton,  on  July  24,  1669, 
most,  but  the  Magistrates  carry  against  all;  aged  32.  Mr.  Sims,  who  had  treated  the  Bap- 
and  because  some  others  of  the  Magistrates  tists  so  ill,  and  Mr.  John  Allen,  of  Dedham, 
were  absent  and  some  that  were  there  were,  one  of  the  disputants  against  them,  both  died 
Gallio  like,  as  one  Mr.  R.  B.  G."  [Richd.  within  two  years  after,  as  well  as  many  others." 
Bellingham,  Gov.]     Upon  which  passages  Mr.  —  Backus. 

Backus  comments  :  —  "  Thus  a  few  men  at  the        §  The  regular  succession  of  the  ministers  of 

head  of  the  Government,  by  the  Clergy's  help,  the  First  Baptist  Church  is  thus  recorded  by 

carried  on  their  oppressions  against  the  minds  Mr.  Winchell  and  others  : —  Thomas  Gould, 


1663.]  ROPE-MAKING.  381 

A  difficulty  existed  at  this  time  about  the  ownership  of  Brews- 
Mav  27  ^er's  Islfm(ls-  Nathaniel  Bosworth  and  Thomas  Colier  petitioned 
the  General  Court,  "  by  the  order  and  in  the  names  of  ye  rest 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Hull,"  to  be  defended  against  the  claim  of  Capt. 
John  Leverett,  to  whom  about  1652,  "  with  reference  to  the  deserts 
of  his  father,"  "  some  conditional  and  indefinite  grants  of  Islands  "  had 
.    been  made.     A  committee,   consisting  of  Mr.  Richard  Russell, 

*}  Lino  \)  -w-« 

Mr.  Edward  Johnson  and  Mr.  Joseph  Hills,  reported  unfavorable 
to  the  Petitioners  ;  but,  as  it  now  appears  from  some  original  papers, 
with  very  questionable  justice. 

The  same  Committee,  at  the  same  Court,  reported  a  bill  allowing  two 
barrels  of  powder  per  annum  "for  saluting  of  ships"  at  the  Castle. 
But  one  barrel  had  been  allowed  hitherto.  The  report  was  upon  the 
petition  of  Capt.  James  Oliver,  of  Boston,  who  says,  that  "  now  by  the 
increas  of  shiping,  coming  and  going,  itt  proues  mch  to  litle  for  the 
honorable  efecting  of  the  worke."  Mr.  Hills,  who  drew  up  the  report, 
said  the  Committee  were  of  opinion,  that  one  barrel  was  "  to  litle,  con- 
sidering the  increase  of  shipping  beyond  what  hath  been  formerly,  and 
some  expense  at  the  time  of  eleccon  of  General  Officers." 

The  business  of  rope-making  appears  to  have  been  set  up  in  Boston 
about  1641,  by  one  John  Harrison,  who  came  from  "  Salisbury,"  on 
"  mocon  of  some  gentlemen  of  this  Town."  Here  "he  purchased  a 
habitation  and  ground  to  work  vpon,  sutable  to  his  calling."  He  had, 
by  his  business,  "  with  other  his  labours,  sometime  by  planting  at  the 
Islands  and  otherwise,"  maintained  "  his  wife  and  family  in  some  com- 
petent manner,"  which,  in  1663,  consisted  of  eleven  persons.  In  this 
latter  year  Mr.  John  Heyman,  of  Charlestown,  had  liberty  of  the 
Select-men  to  make  ropes  in  Boston,*  "during  the  pleasure  of  the 
Town."  But  "  on  further  consideration,  was  prohibited  making  ropes, 
and  had  libertie  onely  to  make  fishing  lines."  This,  however,  was  soon 
found  to  interfere  with  Mr.  Harrison's  income,  and  the  Select-men 
ordered  Mr.  Heyman  "  to  take  vp  his  posts  on  a  certain  penaltie,  in 
order  to  his  departure  out  of  the  Town,  which  posts  were,  shortly  after 
the  time  limited,  taken  vp,"  but  being  left  near  the  spot,  as  if  to  be 
set  up  again  ;  and  besides,  he  would  not  leave  the  Town,  but  continued 
to  collect  material  for  carrying  on  his  business.  This,  together  with  a 
scarcity  of  hemp,  caused  Mr.  Harrison  to  fear  his  ability  to  support  his 
family  would  fail  him,  for  he  was  now  aged,  "having  spent  the  best 
part  of  his  life  in  the  business  in  Boston,"  and  had  brought  up  some 
of  his  children  in  the  same  employment,  "  who  might  be  useful  in  that 
way  in  after  ages."     How  the  matter  was  finally  settled,  is  not  known, 

1665  to  1675;  John  Russell,  1675  to  1680;  Wayland,  Jr.,  1821  to  1826;  Cyras  P.  Gros- 

John   Miles,  1683,   went   to   Swanzey ;  John  venor,  1827  to  1830  ;  William  Hague,  1831  to 

Emblen,  1684  to  1699  ;  Ellis  Callender,  1708  1837  ;    Rollin  H.  Neale,   1837,   who   is  yet 

to  1718  ;  Elisha  Callender,  1718  to  1738  ;  Jere-  (1854)  officiating. 

miah  Condy,  1739  to  1764  ;  Samuel  Stillman,  *His  permission  bears  date  25  :  6  mo.  1662. 
1765  to  1807 ;  Joseph  Clay,  1807  to  1809  ;  He  was  ordered  to  desist  from  "  making  fish- 
James  M.  Winchell,  1813  to  1820  ;   Francis  ing  lines,"  27  :  2  mo.  1663. 


382  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1668. 

but  at  the  last  accounts  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Select-men.  The 
progress  of  the  manufacture  of  cordage  occupies  an  important  place  in 
the  history  of  manufactures  in  Boston.  It  may  hereafter  be  more  fully 
considered.  Its  beginning  is  thus  briefly  stated,  perhaps  for  the  first 
time  in  anything  now  extant.  In  this  early  day  a  Rope-Walk  was 
probably  as  little  thought  of  as  a  Dry  Dock  or  a  Marine  Railway.  Rope- 
making  was  performed  in  the  open  field.  Posts  were  set  in  the  ground 
firmly  enough  to  suspend  cords  and  ropes  of  no  inconsiderable  circum- 
ference and  length.  The  arrival  of  the  first  rope-maker  in  a  commercial 
place  is  indeed  an  era  in  its  history.  John  Harrison  was  the  first  in 
Boston,  if  not  in  New  England,  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained.  Before 
his  arrival  nearly  every  kind  of  rigging  and  tackle  for  vessels  was  brought 
from  England.  The  business  went  on  steadily  increasing  for  nearly  a 
century,  when  there  were  fourteen  extensive  rope-wTalks  in  operation. 
Then  a  disastrous  fire  consumed  seven  of  them  at  one  time.  Those  were 
in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Atkinson  street.  This  must  have  caused 
a  severe  check  to  the  business,  but  it  was  only  temporary.  The  most 
extensive  walks,  being  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  were  not  damaged 
by  the  calamity  which  fell  upon  the  others. 

This  year  was  rendered  memorable  by  the  death  of  the  venerable 
and  reverend  Mr.  John  Wilson.*  He  was  in  the  seventy-ninth 
year  of  his  age.  From  its  beginning  to  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years, 
he  had  witnessed  Boston's  progress  through  every  vicissitude.  He  was 
perhaps  one  of  the  most  rigid  of  the  Puritans,  and  while  he  was  one  of 
the  most  earnest  against  the  Baptists  and  Quakers,  their  historians  will 
hereafter,  perhaps,  think  that  he  was  honest  and  sincere  in  his  zeal 
against  their  early  fathers.  Time  corrects  the  judgments  of  men.  The 
Rev.  Richard  Mather,  of  Dorchester,  preached  the  sermon  at  Mr.  Wil- 
son's funeral. 

The  country  was  considered,  at  this  time,  in  a  lamentable  condition, 
judging  from  the  Preface  f  to  the  Election  sermon,  which,  however,  was 
not  printed  till  1671.  It  had  for  its  title,  "  Nehemiah  on  the  Wall  in 
Troublesome  Times,"  and  was  "  by  that  faithful  servant  of  Christ,  Mr. 
Jonathan  Mitchel,  late  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Cambridge." 
Mr.  Mitchel  died  the  next  year  (1668).  A  Fast  was  appointed  on 
account  of  the  small-pox  in  Boston  and  the  burning  of  London.  J  Per- 
secutions were  continued  against  Quakers ;  many  were  fined,  some 
imprisoned  and  some  whipped. 

1668.        Notwithstanding  the  distressed  state  of  the  country,  a  Thanks- 
Jan.  14.  giving  was  appointed  to  be  kept  for  the  peace  which  had  sometime 

*See  ante,  p.  93.  stands  for  the  Rev.  John  Sherman  of  Water- 
fit  commences: — "The  still  outstretched  town, 
hand  of  God's  powerful  wrath  over  this  poor  J  Hutchinson  very  appropriately  remarks 
Country,  in  smiting  down  our  pillars,  plucking  upon  this  period  :  —  "  The  Plague,  the  Fire  of 
up  our  stakes,  and  taking  from  us  the  breath  London,  the  discontents  among  the  people  of 
of  our  nostrils,  is  a  matter  so  doleful  and  England,  caused  by  their  jealousies  of  a  design 
solemnly  awful  and  tremendous,  that  we  may  to  subvert  the  Constitution  there,  may  well 
well  sigh  out  our  sorrows  in  the  words  of  enough  be  supposed  to  have  been  the  cause  of 
the  lamenting  Church,  Lam.  5  :  16,  17,"  &c.  a  respite  in  favor  of  the  people  here." — Hist. 
The  Preface  is   signed  J.  S.,  which  probably  Mass.,  i.269. 


1668.]  BAPTISTS    ORDERED    TO    LEAVE. OLD    SOUTH    CHURCH.  383 

before  been  concluded  between  England  and  Holland.  The  custom 
of  clergymen's  regularly  visiting  among  their  parishioners,  became 
this  year  more  regularly  practised  than  heretofore.  It  was  com- 
menced  at  the  recommendation  of  the  Governor  and  Council, 
who  urged  it  on  the  ground  of  its  being  practised  by  Ministers 
of  the  Congregational  faith  in  England.  The  practice  has  continued  to 
this  day,  and  among  most,  if  not  all  religious  sects.  The  General  Court 
at  the  same  time  made  an  order,  that  all  the  Baptists  should  leave  the 
Colony  by  a  given  day,  or  renounce  their  belief.  This  was  agreeable 
to  the  will  of  an  Assembly  of  the  Clergy  lately  convened  in  Boston,  and 
the  order  was  specially  intended  to  apply  to  the  society  of  Baptists 
within  the  bounds  of  Boston. 

T  Robert  Page,   of  Boston,  was  presented  for  "setting  saille 

from  Nahant,  in  his  boate,  being  loaden  with  wood,  thereby  pro- 
faining  the  Lord's  claye."*  The  "  profaning  the  Lord's  day"  had  of 
late  grown  more  prevalent  than  hitherto,  probably,  as  the  Court  of 
Assistants  thought  it  necessary  to  make  a  law  "  against  travel- 
ling to  improper  places  on  the  Sabbath." 
The  Old  South  Church  dates  from  this  year,  and  this  was  the  Third 
Congregational  Church.  Its  origin  is  traced  to  the  Synod  of  1662, 
before  spoken  of,  which  was  appointed  mainly  to  settle  the  question, 
"Who  are  the  subjects  of  baptism?"  It  has  also  been  stated,  that 
instead  of  settling  anything,  that  Synod  actually  unsettled  the  minds  of 
the  people,  as  well  as  the  minds  of  its  own  members  more  than  they 
were  before.  The  First  Church  of  Boston  was  deeply  agitated,  while 
the  members  of  the  Synod  set  about  writing  pamphlets,  one  against  the 
other.  Mr.  Wilson  was  now  dead,  and  a  pastor  was  to  be  chosen  in  his 
place.  The  members  of  the  First  Church,  or  many  of  them,  were 
decided  that  they  must  have  a  minister  educated  in  England,  and  not  a 
young  man.  Nobody  seemed  to  fill  their  minds  but  Mr.  John  Daven- 
port, of  New  Haven. f  He  had  written  against  the  majority  opinions 
of  the  late  Synod.  The  Church  were  divided  into  Synod  and  anti- 
Synod  parties.  A  division  took  place,  a  new  Church  was  formed,  and 
thus  originated  the  South  Church.  Over  this  Mr.  Thomas  Thatcher  was 
installed,  February  the  sixteenth,  1670  ;  the  same  person  so  remarkably 
preserved  from  shipwreck  when  Mr.  Avery  and  many  others  perished, 
as  has  been  before  mentioned. J  He  was  considered  an  eminent  and 
learned  divine,  learned  also  in  mechanics  and  medicine  ;  the  latter  of 
which  he  skilfully  practised.  Mr.  Thatcher  continued  the  minister  of 
the  South  Church  till  his  death  ;   nearly  nine  years.  § 

The  Third  Church,  like  the  First,  was  formed  at  Charlestown,  on  the 

*  Lewis,  Hist.  Lynn,  p.  153.  His  installation  took  place  9  Dec,  1668,  and 

f  The  party  in  the  First  Church,  which  was  he  died  15 Mar.  1670, aged  72. —  Seep.  76,  ante. 

at  first    a    minority,   soon    became    a   large  %  See  ante,  p.  186. 

majority,  and  voted  a  call  to  Mr.  Davenport,  §  The  following  is  a  complete  catalogue  of 

Sept.  24th,  1667.     He  accepted  it,  though  at  the  Ministers  of  the  Old  South  Church  : — 

the  age  of  about  70  years,  and  came  to  Boston. 

Thomas  Thatcher,  installed  16  Feb.,   1669-70,      deceased  15  Oct.    1678,    aged  58. 

"  Samuel  Willard,  "         10  April,  1678,  "       12  Sept.,  1707,       "     67. 


384 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1669. 


twelfth  and  sixteenth  of  the  third  month,  which  is  May,  1669.  Its 
original  members  were  William  Davis,  Hezekiah  Usher,  John  Hull, 
Edward  Raynsford,  Peter  Bracket,  Jacob  Eliot,  Peter  Oliver,  Thomas 
Brattle,  Edward  Rawson,  Joshua  Scottoe,  Benjamin  Gibbs,  Thomas 
Savage,  Joseph  Rocke,  Theodore  Atkinson,  John  Wing,  Richard  Trews- 
dale,  Theophilus  Frarye,  Robert  Walker,  John  Aldin,  Benjamin  Thurs- 
ton, William  Salter,  John  Morsse,  Josiah  Belcher,  Seth  Perry,  James 
Pemberton,  William  Dawes,  Joseph  Davis,  Thomas  Thatcher  (after- 
wards the  first  Pastor),  and  Joseph  Belknap.* 

The  ground  on  which  the  Old  South  stands  is  a  part  of  an  original 
grant  to  Governor  Winthrop,f  who,  in  1643,  conveyed  it  to  his  son 
Stephen.  After  the  death  of  Stephen  Winthrop,  his  widow,  Judith,  in 
1639,  then  "  of  the  cittie  of  Westminster,"  England,  by  her  executors, 
conveyed  it  to  Mr.  John  Norton,  late  Pastor  of  the  First  Church,  for 
two  hundred  pounds.J  Agreeably  to  a  provision  in  Mr.  Norton's  will, 
Mrs.  Norton,  in  1677,  gave  it  to  the  Old  South  Church,  with  the  house 
in  which  she  had  resided.  The  house  was  of  wood,  two  stories  high, 
and  stood  nearly  opposite  the  end  of  School  street,  fronting  south  ;  and, 
till  the  first  Meeting-house  was  erected,  there  was  upon  the  spot  no 
other  building  ;  and  the  premises  presented  an  appearance  correspond- 
ing with  the  name  by  which  it  was  before  known,  "The  Green." 
This  was  skirted  along  the  street  by  a  row  of  beautiful  buttonwood  trees, 
which  with  the  house  were  burned  for  fuel  by  the  soldiers  of  George  the 
Third  in  the  winter  of  1775  and  1776.  Long  before  this  (in  1710) 
another  parsonage  house  was  erected  on  Milk  street,  which  just  one 
hundred  years  after  (in  1810)  gave  place  to  two  ministerial  mansions.§ 


Ebenezer  Pemberton, 

ordained  28  Aug. 

1700, 

installed   13  Feb., 

1717, 

aged  45. 

Joseph  Sewall,  D.D., 

16  Sept., 

1713, 

"       27  June 

1769, 

a 

80. 

Thomas  Prince, 

"           1  Oct., 

1718, 

"        22  Oct., 

1758, 

a 

72. 

Alexander  Cumming, 

installed  25  Feb., 

1761, 

"        25  Aug. 

,1763, 

a 

36. 

Samuel  Blair, 

"         26  Nov., 

1766, 

dismissed  10  Oct., 

1769, 

John  Bacon, 

25  Sept., 

1771, 

"         8  Feb., 

1775, 

John  Hunt, 

ordained  25  Sept., 

1771, 

deceased   30  Dec, 

1775. 

a 

31. 

Joseph  Eckley,  D.D., 

"         27  Oct., 

1779, 

"        30  April 

,1811, 

a 

61. 

Joshua  Huntington, 

"         18  May, 

1808, 

"        11  Sept. 

1819, 

C( 

33. 

Benj.  B.  Wisner,  D.D 

,      »         21  Feb., 

1821, 

"         9  Feb., 

1835, 

cc 

40. 

Samuel  H.  Stearns, 

"         16  April 

1834, 

dismissed    8  Mar. 

1836, 

George  W.  Blagden,      installed  28  Sept.,  1836. 

*  These  names  are  given  as  they  were  pub-  position  to  erecting  the  First  Church  here  in 

lished  by  the  Church  in   1833.     Most  of  the  1639.  .  Mr.  Winthrop  being  the  owner  of  the 

members  probably  had  wives.     The  following  ground,  his  wishes  were  doubtless  consulted, 

names,  as  published  by  Mr.  Wisner  from  the  and  very  properly  too.  —  See  ante,  p.  243. 

book  of  "  Admissions,"  he  regards  as  among  J  It  is  described  in  the  deeds  as  "  one  acre, 

the  founders  of  the  Church  : —  Mrs.  Margaret  more  or  lesse,  now  in  the  tenor  of  John  Norton 

Thatcher;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gibs,  now  Cowin  ;  or  his  assigns  —  which  messuage  and  garden 

Mrs.  Mary  Norton  ;  Hanna  Frarye  ;  Mary  Sal-  platt  doe  abutt  on  the  high  way  leading  from 

ter  ;    Mrs.  Judith  Hull ;  Mrs.  Mary  Savage,  Boston  to  Roxbury  on  the  west,  on  the  ground 

now  Stoddard  ;  Ranis  Belcher  ;  Elizabeth  Rains-  of  Amos  Richardson  the  highway  there  leading 


ford ;  Sara  Pemberton  ;  Elizabeth  Thurston 
Sara  Walker ;  Mary  Tappan  ;  Elizabeth  Alden 
Elizabeth  Rocke  ;  Sara  Oliver  ;  Mary  Eliot 
Mary  Bracket ;  Susanna  Daws  ;  Joanna  Mason 
Alice  Harper  ;  Mrs.  Rachel  Rawson ;  Sara 
Bodman." — Hist.  Old  South,  S3. 

f  This  may  account  for  some  part  of  the  op- 


to  the  spring  and  the  ground  late  of  William 
Tilley  on  the  north  part,  upon  the  ground  late 
of  William  Hilliard,  Esq.  and  Robt.  Knight  on 
the  east,  on  the  highway  there  leading  to  the 
sea  side  on  the  South."  The. original  plat  was 
less  than  half  that  now  owned  by  the  Society. 
§  Wisner,  Hist.  Old  South,  53-4. 


T.n^d  hyTiV/'Smifh  from  a  Painting"  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the  St; 


OTMH3M 


1069.] 


THE    OLD    SOUTH. 


385 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


THACHER.* 


History  of  the  Old  South  concluded.  —  Opposition  from  tho  First  Church.  —  The  Contention 
made  a  political  one.  —  Separation  of  Church  and  State  the  Consequence.  —  Gov.  Bel- 
lingham  opposed  to  the  Old  South  Society.  — The  Selectmen  allow  them  to  huild.  — Recon- 
ciliation of  tho  two  Churches.  —  Deaths.  —  Josias  and  the  Mohawks.  —  Squaumaug  and 
Philip.  —  Philip  at  Boston.  —  Has  difficulty  with  Plymouth.  —  A  murder.  —  Philip  again 
at  Boston.  —  A  treaty  at  Plymouth.  —  Deaths. — Josselyn  in  Boston. — Account  of  his 
Visit.  —  Gov.  Stuyvessant.  —  Description  of  Boston,  1671. 

IN  glancing  at  the  history  of  the  Old  South,  or  Third 
Church  of  Boston,  in  the  last  chapter,  notice  was 
taken  of  its  having  originated  in  a  difficulty  among  the 
members  of  the  First  Church ;  that  the  nature  of  the 
difficulty  was  to  be  traced  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
Synod  of  1662.  The  course  of  the  party  which 
formed  the  Third  Church  was  censured  by  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  community,  and  on  the  other  hand, 
seventeen  ministers  f  made  a  public  testimony  against 
the  proceedings  of  the  three  EldersJ  of  the  First 
Church,  for  their  course  in  settling  Mr.  Davenport.  Thus  a  controversy 
was  commenced,  which  finally  led  to  the  separation  of  Church  and 
State.  It  was  carried  on  with  much  acrimony  for  several  years,  and 
ran  "so  high,  that  there  was  imprisoning  of  parties  and  great  disturb- 
ances." §  The  inhabitants  of  the  Town  were  generally  disposed  to 
favor  the  more  liberal  party,  while  the  Governor  and  most  of  the  Mag- 
istrates were  on  the  other  side.  In  this  manner  the  subject  was  carried 
into  politics,  and  elections  turned  on  the  point  as  to  whether  the  candi- 
date was  in  favor  of  the  Old  Church  or  the  New  Church.  "  The  House 
of  Deputies"  adopted  the  report  of  a  committee  of  its  members,  which 
censured  the  conduct  of  the  New  Church,  "as  irregular,  illegal  and 
disorderly."  But  the  people  reversed  their  decision  in  a  manner  which 
could  not  be  mistaken ;  for,  at  the  very  next  election  of  Deputies, 
nearly  all  those  who  censured  the  New  Church  proceedings  were  left 
out  of  office,  and  new  ones,  known  to  be  in  favor  of  that  Church,  elected 
in  their  stead. 

Notwithstanding  this  strong  indication  of  the  minds  of  the  people, 
Governor  Bellingham  was  for  proceeding  to  prevent  the  New  Society 
from  erecting  a  Meeting-house  ;  but  his  Council  had  begun  to  think  it 


*See  New  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  vol. 
viii.  p.  178. 

f  John  Allen,  John  Higginson,  John  Ward, 
John  Wilson,  Edmund  Browne,  Samuel  Whit- 
ing, Thomas  Cobbet,  John  Sherman,  Samuel 
Phillips,  Thomas  Shepard,  Increase  Mather, 
Samuel  Torry,  Zachery  Symmes,  John  Brocke, 

49 


Edward  Bulkley,  Samuel  Whiting,  Junior,  and 
John  Hale. 

J  John  Davenport,  James  Allen,  and  James 
Penn,  the  Ruling  Elders. 

§  "  About  baptisme  and  their  members  joyn- 
ing  in  full  communion  with  either  church." 
Randolph's  Letter,  Hutchinson's  Col. ,  532. 


386 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1669. 


1669. 
July  26 


was  impolitic,  at  least,  to  interfere  further,  and  advised  the  Governor  to 
let  them  go  on  ;  but  if  they  went  counter  to  any  law,  then  they  said 
would  be  the  time  to  proceed  against  them.  Affairs  standing  thus,  the 
New  Society  applied  to  the  Select-men  for  liberty  to  erect  a 
House.  And,  as  if  their  vote  was  not  sufficiently  expressive  of 
their  opinions,  they  added,  that,  "  there  was  need  of  another 
Meeting-house."  Therefore,  after  much  difficulty,  the  way  was  cleared 
for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  ;  and  one  of  wood  was  commenced 
immediately,  and  upon  the  spot  on  which  the  present  edifice  stands.  It 
was  built  of  cedar,  had  a  steeple,  galleries,  square  pews,  and  pulpit  on 
the  north  side.  From  its  location  in  respect  to  the  other  Meeting- 
houses, it  was  called  the  South  Meeting-house  ;  and  by  this  name  it 
continued  to  be  known  until  another  House  was  erected  in  Summer 
Street,  still  farther  south,  and  then,  to  distinguish  it  from  this,  it  was 
called  the  Old  South.     This  was  in  1717. 

Still  the  First  Church  held  out  against  the  "  seceders,"  as  the  mem- 
bers of  the  South  Church  were  called,  and  refused  to  have  any  church- 
fellowship  with  them.  This  temper  continued  for  almost  thirteen  years ; 
notwithstanding  the  South  Church  made  repeated  overtures  in  the  mean 
while  for  the  restoration  of  that  harmony  so  necessary  to  all  people,  and 
especially  to  those  calling  themselves  a  Christian  people.  At  length, 
in  1682,  at  a  meeting  of  the  First  Church,  it  was  agreed  that  propo- 
sals should  be  made  to  the  South  Church,  "  to  forgive  and  forget  all 
past  offences,"  and  to  live  "  in  peace  for  time  to  come."  This  the  lat- 
ter had  always  been  ready  to  do,  and  they  at  once  embraced  the 
proposal. 

The  first  house  stood  until  1729.  It  was 
then  taken  down,  and  in  the  following  year 
one  of  brick  was  erected  on  the  same  spot, 
which  has  stood  till  the  present  time.  It  is 
perhaps  the  most  noted  Meeting-house  in  the 
h  %  United  States.  In  it  discourses  have  been 
\  delivered  on  many  great  occasions  ;  in  it  the 
JL  fervid  eloquence  of  Warren  carried  all  before 
it.  There  his  denunciations  were  echoed 
against  that  power  under  the  countenance  of 
which  the  King  Street  tragedy  was  perpetrated. 
"  Here  were  repeatedly  held  the  meetings 
of  oppressed  "Freemen,  which  called  forth 
those  peals  of  patriotic  eloquence,  which  roused  this  whole  country, 
and  shook  the  British  Throne."  The  first  election  sermon  was  preached 
in  it — the  Old  House  —  in  1712. 

Coaches  are  at  this  time  mentioned  as  being  in  use  in  Boston. 
The  oldest  man  in  New  England  died  this  year.     His  name  was 
Boniface  Burton,  and  he  was  aged  one  hundred  and  thirteen  years.* 


*  Judge  Sewall  called  him  "  Old  Father    Almanac,  13:  4:  1669.     Little  appears  to  be 
Boniface  Burton,"  and  noted  his  death  in  an    known  of  him  excepting  this  bare  record  of 


10 70.]  NEIGHBORING   INDIANS.  387 

Early  this  year  died  also  the  venerable  Richard  Mather,  of 
p       '  Dorchester,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,     lie  was  taken  ill  in 
Boston,  at  the  house  of  his  son  Increase,  and,  being  conveyed  home, 
died  in  a  few  days  after. 

It  is  incidentally  noted  that  "this  year  were  many  Earthquakes ; "  but 
as  they  probably  did  no  damage  in  this  vicinity,  no  particulars  are  given.* 

The  Indians  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Boston  had  been  involved  in 
a  war  with  the  Mohawks  for  about  six  years.  It  was  now  terminated, 
and  its  end  was  very  disastrous  to  the  Massachusetts  Indians.  Chika- 
taubut,  called  by  the  English  Josias,  nephew  of  old  Kutchamokin,  was 
the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Indians.  Himself  and  about  fifty  of  his 
Captains  fell  in  their  retreat ;  "a  wise  and  stout  man  of  middle  age," 
says  Major  Gookin,  who  had  long  known  him.  This  was  a  severe  dis- 
appointment to  the  Massachusetts  Indians,  and  they  never  recovered 
from  the  mortification  which  it  brought  upon  them  ;  especially  as  they 
would  not  be  dissuaded  by  their  English  friends  from  going  out  upon  the 
expedition.! 

An  irruption  of  the  Mohawks  followed  that  of  Chikataubut,  which 
not  only  threw  the  Indians  in  these  parts  into  great  consternation,  but  it 
caused  the  English  considerable  alarm.  The  extent  of  their  depreda- 
tions is  unknown.  It  is  however  recorded  that  they  slew  or  carried 
into  captivity  several  of  the  tribe  of  the  Wamesits.  This  came  particu- 
larly to  the  knowledge  of  the  English,  because  they  were  Christian 
Indians. 

Some  difficulty  had  existed  for  several  years  between  Chika- 
taubut and  King  Philip,  in  respect  to  the  boundaries  between 
their  lands,  which  caused  the  English  some  trouble.     On  the  death  of 
the  former  he  was  succeeded  in  his  chieftainship  by  his  brother,  named 
Squaumaug.     Through  the  agency  of  the  English,  probably,   Philip 
met  Squaumaug  at  the  house  of  Mr.  William  Hudson,  at  Wading 
'  River,  J  and  there  they  agreed  that  the  "  Patent  line,"  dividing 
Plymouth  from  Massachusetts,  should  also  be  their  boundary,  and  thus 
the  matter  was  finally  settled.  § 

Sewall.  He  settled  early  at  Lynn,  where,  Mr.  time  there  happened  a  terrible  earthquake 
Lewis  tells  us,  he  was  a  farmer. — Hist.  Lynn,  63.  amongst  the  French  [in  Canada],  rending  a 
He  is  presumed  to  be  the  oldest  Englishman  then  huge  rock  asunder,  even  to  the  centre,  wherein 
in  New  England,  and  one  whose  birth  dates  was  a  vast  hollow,  of  an  immeasurable  depth, 
earlier  than  any  emigrant  yet  known.  He  out  of  which  came  many  infernal  spirits  "  ! 
probably  came  over  in  the  early  part  of  1635,  f  See  Book  of  the  Indians,  last  ed.,  p.  109. 
at  which  time  he  was  about  70  years  old.  J  A  branch  of  Taunton  Eiver. 

*  There  is  indeed  a  legend  to  be  met  with,        \  Original  paper,  signed  by  King  Philip,  but 
which  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  in  this  age   not  by  Squaumaug.      The  signature    of  the 
of  spiritual  manifestations.    A  cer- 
tain traveller  then  in  New  England  ^»  /J,/2?-  fl-    *.     yfyfj 'jQ-iCs-J  r>  svm#  A. 
says,  that  the   Indians  told   him           >&/P^^jf  Oft^^W^^C  OVU  fr 


"  of  a  river,  whose  course  was  not 


only  stopped  by  an  earthquake,  in        '  tviS        f£w€&'?df/&' 

1668  (as  near  as  he  could  remem-  11  ^*. 
ber) ,  but  the  whole  river  was  swal- 
lowed, up;"   and  that  he  had  heard  it  re-  latter  was  probably  considered  of  no   conse- 
por  ted  from  credible  persons,   "that  at  this  quence,  as  Philip  was  the  aggressor,  and  the 


388 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1670. 


Early  this  year  there  were  strong  indications  that  Pometacom,  now 
generally  called  King  Philip,  was  by  no  means  cautious  in  his  carriage 
towards  his  English  neighbors,  and  that  he  would  quite  as  soon  offend 
as  please  them.  His  example  extended  to  other  Indians  about  him,  and 
insults  and  murders  were  the  consequence.  The  people  of  Plymouth 
complained  of  Philip  at  Boston,  and,  by  the  articles  of  confederation  of 
the  United  Colonies,  Massachusetts  was  bound  to  stand  by  that  Colony, 
should  the  conduct  of  Philip  require  its  interference.  This  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  Philip,  irritated  him,  and  his  conduct  become  so 
overbearing,  that  the  English  resolved  to  put  a  stop  to  it.  In  the  mean 
time  Philip  came  to  Boston,  and  preferred  charges  against  Plymouth. 
However,  according  to  the  English  accounts,  he  could  not  substantiate 
his  allegations,  and  he  withdrew  dissatisfied. 

Philip  was  evidently  less  willing  to  incur 
the  displeasure  of  Boston  than  he   was 
that  of  Plymouth,    nor   did  he  perhaps 
well  understand  the  nature  of  the  league 
^  between  them.     However,  it  was  deter- 
mined by  the  Colonists  to  ascertain  what 
Philip's  real  intentions  were,  and  he  was 
invited  to  meet  delegates  at  Taunton,  and 
§|j|to  settle,  if  possible,  whatever  difficulties 
PC  there  might  be  found  to  exist.     Accord- 
ingly there  went  down  to  Taunton  from 
Boston,  Captain  William  Davis,* 
William   Hudson,!  and   Mr. 


Mr. 

„  Thomas  Brattle. J  These  gentlemen  were 
to  hear  and  decide  upon  the  points  at 
issue.  Judging  from  the  "  submission" 
which  Philip  and  his  Council  signed,  the 
Indians  had  seriously  aggrieved  the  Plym- 
outh people  ;  but  no  record  remains  of 
the    evidence    adduced   on    either   side, 

The  paper   to 


gj^  April  10. 


KING    PHILIP. § 

upon   which   the   umpires  made    up   their  judgment. 

which  Philip  set  his  hand,  makes  him  acknowledge,   that,  "  through 


settlement  was  considered  complete  as  soon  as 
his  hands  were  tied.  The  instrument  is  for- 
mally sealed,  and  the  following  individuals  said, 
by  their  signs  manual,  that  they  saw  Philip 
sign  and  seal  the  same: — William  Hudson, 
Daniel  Fisher,  John  Wussausmon,  William 
Hahatin,  Tom  Sompoin  teen,  and  Vmpatkis.  The 
two  Indians  first  named  wrote  their  names  very 
well.  The  two  last  made  their  marks.  The 
residence  of  the  Massachusetts  Chief  was,  at 
this  period,  at  Punkapog,  since  Stoughton. 
Hence  it  is  pretty  clear  that  Philip  was  not 
very  far  from  pushing  his  claims  to  Boston  it- 
self, and  thus  leaving  the  now  reduced  Massa- 
chusetts without  any  territory  at  all. 

*  His  Autograph,  ante,  p.  340. 

f  Ibid.,  p.  289. 

|  Afterwards  active  in  the  war.     His  Auto- 


graph is  copied  from  an  original  paper  of  1680. 

§  This  engraving  of  King  Philip  is  reduced 
from  one  published  with  "  The  Entertaining 
History  of  King  Philip's  War,"  in  1772,  by 
Thomas  Church,  Esq.,  at  Newport,  R.  I.  The 
costume  is  no  doubt  very  correctly  represented, 
as  the  belts  and  other  ornaments  worn  by  King 
Philip  were  then  to  be  seen.  The  Rev.  Ezra 
Stiles  is  believed  to  have  supervised  that  edi- 
tion of  Church's  work,  though  his  name  does 
not  appear  in  it.  His  agency  about  it  was 
probably  rendered  at  the  request  of  the  pub- 
lisher or  printer,  Mr.  Solomon  South  wick,  and 


1671.]  DIFFICULTIES    WITH   PHILIP.  389 

the  naughtiness  of  his  heart,  he  had  violated  and  broken  his  covenant 
with"  the  English,  "  by  taking  up  arms  with  evil  intent  against  them  ;" 
that  he  was  "deeply  sensible  of  his  unfaithfulness  and  folly;"  that 
"  the  English  had  always  been  kind  to  him  ;"  and  that,  to  prove  he  in- 
tended no  wrong  in  future,  he  agreed  "  to  give  up  all  his  English  arms 
to  the  government  of  Plymouth."  It  soon  appeared,  however,  that  if 
Philip  understood  what  he  had  set  his  name  to,  he  regarded  it  as  little 
as  other  treaties  have  been  regarded  at  a  much  later  day.  Plymouth  soon 
after  complained  at  Boston  that  he  had  not  delivered  up  his  arms,  and 
that  he  continued  his  insulting  carriage.  It  should  be  stated,  that,  at 
the  time  he  executed  the  treaty,  he  surrendered  all  the  arms  which  he 
then  had  with  him  at  Taunton. 

Misfortunes,  it  is  said,  seldom  come  alone  ;  and  with  equal  truth  it 
may  be  observed,  that  errors  and  crimes  are  not  far  from  their  compan- 
ions. At  the  very  time  that  the  attempt  was  made  to  conciliate  Philip 
at  Taunton,  two  Indians,  said  to  have  belonged  to  his  jurisdiction,  robbed 
and  murdered  one  Zachary  Smith  in  Dedham  woods.  The  perpetra- 
tors of  the  deed  were  discovered  not  long  after,  and  one  of  them  was 
hung  on  Boston  Common,  where  a  part  of  his  body  was  to  be  seen  upon 
a  gibbet  for  five  years  after.*  Philip,  however,  was  in  no  way  impli- 
cated in  this  matter. 

The  disturbance  between  Philip  and  Plymouth  continuing,  both  ap- 
pealed to  Boston  for  support.     A  council  of  war  was  appointed  at  Plym- 
outh, and  Philip  was  notified  to  be  present,  but,  instead  of  that,  he 
came  with  his  Counsellors  to  Boston,  and  gave  the  Governor  and 
'  Council  his  side  of  the  story.     Upon  this  they  wrote  to  Plym- 
outh, representing  Philip's  case  in  rather  a  favorable  light ;  where- 
upon the  Council  at  Plymouth  sent  a  messenger  to  Boston  to  invite  the 
Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  then  there,  to  come  to  Plymouth. 
Accordingly,  Governor  Winthrop  of  Connecticut,  Major  General 
Leveret,  Mr.  Thomas  Danforth,   Capt.  William  Davis,  "  with 
divers  others,  came  to  Plymouth."     Philip  likewise  came  ;   and  the 
complaints  against  him  being  investigated,  were  so  far  sustained,  in 
the  opinion  of  the  Commissioners,  that  they  condemned  his  conduct,  and 
recommended  him   to   alter   his   course  ;  to  "  humble  himself,"  and 
do  better  in  future  ;  or,  they  said,  "he  might  expect  to  smart  for  it." 
He  submitted  to  their  judgment,  in  appearance  at  least,  and  signed  an- 
Se     29    °^ner  treaty  or  submission,  by  which  he  agreed  to  pay  one  hun- 
dred pounds,  "  in  such  things  as  he  had,"  and  to  send  yearly  to 
the  Governor  of  Plymouth  five  wolves'  heads,  for  five  years,  —  "if  he 
could  get  them."     Such  was  the  relation  of  Philip  to  the  English  at 
this  period,  and  thus  it  remained  until  the  murder  of  John  Woosausamon, 
in  1674-5,  which  was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  war  which  ensued. 

his  name  may  have  been  withheld  from  an  un-  ticipation  in  Philip's  war.     He  was  the  first 

willingness  to  let  it  go  out  with  a  work  hold-  Indian  who  begun  the  war  in  Massachusetts 

ing  such  a  low  literary  rank  as  that  of  Church  Colony,  as  it  was  said,  by  killing  some  of  the 

does.  inhabitants  of  Mendon. —  See  Book  of  the  In- 

*He  was  a  son  of  Matoonas,  a  NipmuckSa-  dians,  263,  264,  698. —  See  also  Dr.  I.  Math- 

chem,  taken  and  hanged  in  1676,  for  his  par-  er's  Prevalence/  of  Prayer,  page  6. 


390  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1671. 

Among  the  eminent  men  who  died  this  year,  were  the  Hon. 
May  4.   pranck  Willoughby ,  already  mentioned ;  *  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Allen, 
pastor  of  the   Church  at  Dedham,  at  the   age  of  seventy-five. 
us'     '  He  wrote  in  defence  of  the    Synod  of  1662,  in  opposition   to 
the  views  of  Mr.  Chauncy.     The  venerable  Elder,  James  Penn,  was 
Q  also  among  those  whose  labors  were  closed  by  death.     He  had 

k'ep "  '  long  been  an  important  man  in  Boston  ;  was  chosen  beadle  of 
the  first  Church  in  1630  ;  having  probably  come  over  with  the  second 
Colony  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year.f 

The  visit  of  Mr.  John  Josselyn  to  Boston,  in  1638,  has  been  noticed 
in  its  appropriate  place.  J  In  1663  he  visited  it  again,  and  resided  in 
the  country  eight  years  and  some  months.  In  his  own  quaint  man- 
ner he  says,  "  Anno  1663,  May  the  three  and  twentieth,  I  went  down 
to  Gravesend,  it  being  Saturday ;  I  lay  ashore  till  Monday,  the  fifth  ; 
about  eleven  o'clock  at  night  I  went  aboard  the  Society  [a  ship],  be- 
longing to  Boston,  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony  of  English  in  New  Eng- 
land, of  200  and  20  tun,  carrying  16  iron  guns,  most  [of  them] 
unserviceable,  man'd  with  33  sailers,  and  77  passengers,  men,  women, 
and  children."  § 

Such  was  the  departure  of  the  voyager  for  these  shores.  His  voyage 
seems  to  have  been  quite  destitute  of  incidents  ;  and,  excepting  a 
shoal  of  turtles  of  some  forty  miles  in  extent ;  finding  a  shallop  which 
had  run  away  from  Jamaica,  with  ten  men  in  it  nearly  famished  ;  and 
meeting  with  "  a  Plimouth  man  come  from  St.  Malloes  in  France,  ten 
weeks  out,  laden  with  cloath,  fruit  and  honey,  bound  for  Boston  in  New 
England,"  there  is  little  of  interest.  Of  his  arrival  he  thus  speaks : 
"  The  six  and  twentieth  we  had  sight  of  land.  The  seven  and  twen- 
tieth we  anchored  at  Nantascot.  In  the  afternoon  I  went  aboard  of  a 
ketch,  with  some  other  of  our  passengers,  in  hope  to  get  to  Boston  that 
night,  but  the  Master  of  the  ketch  would  not  consent.  The  eight  and 
twentieth  being  Tuesday,  in  the  morning  about  five  of  the  clock  he  lent 
us  his  shallop  and  three  of  his  men,  who  brought  us  to  the  western  end 
of  the  town  where  we  landed,  and  having  gratified  [satisfied]  the  men, 
we  repaired  to  an  ordinary  (for  so  they  call  their  taverns  there),  where 
we  were  provided  with  a  liberal  cup  of  burnt  Madeira  wine,  and  store 
of  plum-cake.     About  ten  of  the  clock  I  went  about  my  affairs.  "  || 

Mr.  Josselyn  continued  in  and  about  Boston  until  September  follow- 
ing his  "arrivage,"  "about  the  twelfth  hour  of  the  eighth  day"  of 
which  month,  he  says,  "  I  shipt  myself  and  goods  in  a  bark  bound  for 
the  Eastward,  meeting  as  we  sailed  out,  the  Dutch  Governor  IT  of  New 

*  On  page  375,  ante.   The  date  of  Gov.  Wil-  erable  landed  estate  in  Boston,  which,  it  is  be- 

lougbby's  death  is  given  a  month  earlier,  which  lieved,  descended,  in  the  female  line,   to   the 

is  according  to  Farmer,  who  is  probably  Mr.  Townsends. 

Frothingham's  authority  ;  but  in  an  Almanac  J  Ante,  p.  238-40. 

printed  at  Cambridge  in   1673,  preserved  by  ^Account  of  Two  Voyages,  p.  35. 

Judge  Sewall,  it  is  stated  that  he  died  May  4.  ||  Ibid.,  p.  41. 

f  His  age  is  not   mentioned,  but  he   must  •[[This  was  Peter  Stuyvessant,  the  "  Director 

-                                    have    been   far   ad-  General"    of    New    Amsterdam.      Josselyn's 

— r&isr*nJi>    jQtVTX^    vanced  in  years.    A  meeting  him  coming  up  the  bay  on  the  8th  of 

^                                        copy    of    his   auto-  September,  shows  that  he  was  not  here  before 

graph  in  1661  is  here  given.    He  owned  consid-  that  date,  as  might  otherwise  be  inferred  from 


1G71.]  josselyn's  second  visit.  391 

Netherlands,  wlio  was  received  and  entertained  at  Boston  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Magistrates  with  great  solemnity."  * 

In  another  place  f  he  relates  that  ho  made  this  voyage  to  New  Eng- 
land "  upon  an  invitation  from  his  only  brother."  What  he  says  of 
Boston  is  referred  to  this  year,  as  his  description  necessarily  has 
reference  to  the  place  at  the  time  he  left  it,  which  is  as  follows  : 

"  Boston  is  built  on  the  south-west  side  of  a  bay  large  enough  for  the 
anchorage  of  500  sail  of  ships.  The  buildings  are  handsome,  joyning 
one  to  the  other  as  in  London,  with  many  large  streets  ;  most  of  them 
paved  with  pebble  stone.  In  the  high  street  towards  the  Common, 
there  are  fair  buildings  ;  some  of  stone  ;  and,  at  the  east  end  of  the 
Town,  one,  amongst  the  rest,  built  by  the  shore,  by  Mr.  Gibs  J  a  mer- 
chant, being  a  stately  edifice,  which,  it  is  thought,  will  stand  him  in 
little  less  than  3000  pounds  before  it  is  fully  finished.  The  Town  is  not 
divided  into  parishes,  yet  they  have  three  fair  meeting-houses  or 
churches,  which  hardly  suffice  to  receive  the  inhabitants  and  strangers 
that  come  in  from  all  parts.  §  Having  refreshed  myself  here  for  some 
time,  and  opportunely  lighting  upon  a  passage  in  a  bark  belonging  to  a 
friend  of  my  brother's,  and  bound  to  the  eastward,  I  put  to  sea  again  ; 
and  on  the  fifteenth  of  August  I  arrived  at  Black  Point,  otherwise 
called  Scarborow,  the  habitation  of  my  beloved  brother,  being  about  an 
hundred  leagues  to  the  eastward  of  Boston.  Here  I  resided  eight 
years,  and  made  it  my  business  to  discover  all  along  the  natural,  physi- 
cal and  chyrurgical  rarities  of  this  new-found  world."  || 

Josselyn  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  science,  according  to  the 
notions  of  that  day,  and  had  the  good  sense  to  follow  scientific  pursuits 
rather  than  to  disturb  the  country  by  opposing  any  of  the  existing 
prejudices  of  the  people.  However,  after  about  eight  years,  he  seems 
to  have  become  tired  of  it,  and  returned  to  England  towards  the  close 
of  1671.  Of  his  departure  he  says,  "  The  year  being  now  well  spent, 
and  the  Government  of  the  Province  [of  Maine]  turned  topsiturvy  ; 
being  heartily  weary,  and  expecting  the  approach  of  winter,  I  took  my 
leave  of  my  friends  at  Black  Point,  and  on  the  28th  of  August,  being 
Monday,  I  shipt  myself  and  goods  aboard  of  a  shallop  bound  for  Bos- 
ton," where  he  arrived  "about  three  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon." 
He  says  he  "  found  the  inhabitants  exceedingly  afflicted  with  several  dis- 
eases, as  fever  and  ague,  &c." 

Mr.  Brodhead's  Hist,   of  N.  Y.,p.  718.     He  the  Dutch   Governor  to  Boston  in  1663,  nor 

came  at  this  time  to  meet  the  Commissioners  does  Hutchinson  speak  of  it. 

of  the  U.  Colonies,  who  began  a  session  on  the  *  Ibid.,  197. 

3d  of  the  same  month,  to  assert  the  right  of  f  New  England' 's  Rarities  Discovered,  p.  1. 

his    Government    to   certain  territory  which  This  volume  he  printed  in  1672,  soon  after  he 

Connecticut  had  given  him  some  trouble  about,  returned  to  England. 

He  was  baffled  and  put  off  "  till  next  year  ;  "  |  Mr.  Benjamin  Gibbs,  probably. 

and,  as  we  have  seen,  the  next  year  he  was  §  "  The  passage    from    Boston  to  Charles 

obliged  to  submit  his  whole  country  to  the  Town  is  by  a  ferry,  worth  forty  or  fifty  pounds 

English    under    Col.   Nichols.      Dr.   Holmes  a  year."  —  Josselyn,  ib.,  163. 

makes  no  mention  of  this  important  visit  of  ||  Rarities,  p.  1-2. 


392  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1671. 

After  remaining  in  Boston  about  a  month,  he  sailed  for  England 

Oct    10 

in  a  ship  called  the  New  Supply.  She  was  190  tons  burthen, 
"  her  guns  being  small,  and  for  salutation  only,  the  master,  Captain 
Fairweather,  her  sailors,  sixteen,  and  as  many  passengers."  On  the 
twenty-seventh  of  November  he  landed  at  Woolwich,  where,  he  says, 
"  I  refreshed  myself  for  that  night.  Next  day  I  footed  it  four  or  five 
miles  to  Bexley  in  Kent,  to  visit  a  near  kinsman."  He  soon  after  re- 
turned to  the  ship  "  lying  before  Radcliff."  Then  he  says,  "  I  cleared 
my  goods,  shot  the  bridge  and  landed  at  the  Temple  about  seven 
of  the  clock  at  night,  which  makes  my  voyage  homeward 
seven  weeks  and  four  days  ;  and  from  my  first  setting  out  from 
London,  to  my  returning  to  London  again,  eight  years,  six  months  and 
odd  days." 

In  speaking  of  Boston  in  his  last  voyage,  Mr.  Josselyn  borrows  the 
most  of  what  he  says  from  Captain  Johnson's  work,  which  has  been 
extracted  in  this  history.*  To  that  account,  however,  he  has  added  the 
following,  which  is  of  sufficient  interest  to  require  notice.  "  The  houses 
are  for  the  most  part  raised  on  the  sea-banks,  and  wharfed  out  with 
great  industry  and  cost ;  many  of  them  standing  upon  piles,  close 
together  on  each  side  of  the  streets,  as  in  London,  and  furnished  with 
many  fair  shops.  Their  materials  are  brick,  stone,  lime,  handsomely 
contrived,  with  three  Meeting-houses  or  Churches,  and  a  Town-house, 
built  upon  pillars,  where  the  Merchants  may  confer.  In  the  chambers 
above  they  keep  their  monethly  Courts.  The  town  is  rich  and  populous. 
On  the  south  there  is  a  small  but  pleasant  Common,  where  the  Gallants, 
a  little  before  sunset,  walk  with  their  Marmalet-madams,  as  we  do  in 
Morefields,  till  the  nine-o'clock  bell  rings  them  home  to  their  respective 
habitations  ;  when  presently  the  Constables  walk  their  rounds  to  see 
good  order  kept,  and  to  take  up  loose  people."  f  He  speaks 
of  the  farms  owned  by  the  inhabitants  at  Muddy-river  ;  "  that  they 
keep  their  cattle  there  in  summer,  but  bring  them  to  Boston  in  the 
winter." 

*See  Ante,  p.  327-8.  f  Account  of  Two  Voyages,  162. 


1672.]  FEARS   FROM   THE   DUTCH.  393 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

Fears  from  the  Dutch.  —  The  Town  prosperous.  —  Death  of  President  Chauncy • —  of  Eleazer  Lusher— 
of  Gov.  Bellingham.  —  Extensive  Fortification.  ■ —  Statistics  of  Boston  and  of  New  England.  —  The 
Castle  burnt.  —  Fears  from  the  Indians.  ■ —  Their  Numbers  and  Condition.  —  The  Wampanoags  sus- 
pected.—  Position  of  King  Philip.. —  Murder  of  Sassamon.  —  Circumstances  of  the  Murder. — 
Philip  suspected  of  causing  it.  —  Three  Wampanoags  executed  at  Plymouth  as  the  Murderers.  — 
Philip  and  his  men  arm.  —  Benjamin  Church.  —  His  Proceedings  to  prevent  a  War.  —  Philip  sends 
to  all  the  bordering  Indians  to  enlist  them  in  his  Cause.  —  Plymouth  attempts  to  reconcile  Philip, 
without  Success.  —  Philip  prevents  his  Warriors  from  insulting  the  Messengers. 

AT  the  Election,  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard,  of  Charles- 
town,  preached  the  sermon.  It  was  not  pub- 
lished, however,  until  the  next  year.  Samuel 
Green,  of  Cambridge,  was  the  printer.  It  was  a 
quarto  of  fifty-two  pages,  and  John  Sherman  and 
Urian  Oakes  gave  it  their  "Imprimatur."  Mr. 
Thomas  Thacher  wrote  a  Preface  to  it. 

Boston  was  in  a  state  of  alarm,  owing  to  a 

war    between   the    mother-country    and    the 

chauncy.         Dutch.     Consequently  a   formal  declaration    of  war 

was  proclaimed  in  Boston.     Throughout  this  and  the  following  year  the 

people  were  under  much  apprehension  from  Dutch  ships  of  war,  which 

were  reported  from  time  to  time  to  be  hovering  on  the  coast.* 

It  is  a  good  indication  of  the  prosperity  of  Boston  at  this  period, 
that  in  a  contribution  made  by  the  Colony  for  the  rebuilding  of  Harvard 
College,  amounting  to  1890  pounds,  Boston  gave  800  of  it. 

The  venerable  Charles  Chauncy,  President  of  the  College,  died, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  ;  a  man  distinguished  for  his  learning  and 
piety.  He  had  been  President  of  the  College  since  1654  ;  came  origi- 
nally from  Hertfordshire,  England,  and  was  son  of  Mr.  George 
Chauncy,  of  Yardly  in  that  County.  He  arrived  at  Plymouth  in  New 
England  in  1638,  and  was  a  preacher  there  three  years.  After  that 
he  settled  at  Scituate,  where  he  preached  about  thirteen  years  ;  at  the 
end  of  that  period  he  came  to  Boston,  and  was  making  preparations  to 
return  to  his  native  country,  probably  in  conformity  to  the  wishes  of 
the  people  at  Ware,  in  Hertfordshire,  from  whom  he  had  been  driven 
during  the  Laudean  persecution.  By  the  influence  of  the  most  distin- 
guished gentlemen  of  Boston  he  was  induced  to  forego  his  return  to 
England,  and  to  accept  the  presidency  of  the  College  at  Cambridge,  as 
before  observed.  And  thus  were  the  services  of  the  most  learned  man 
in  America  secured  to  Boston  and  its  vicinity ;  the  good  effects  of 
which  are  continued,  even  to  this  day. 

*  See  JV.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Regr.,  vii.  213. 

50 


394  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1672. 

Another   man  of  note    died   this  year.      This    was   Eleazer 

' 8'   Lusher,  Esquire,  one  of  the  Assistants,  and  the  "Major  of  the 

Suffolk  regiment."     His  residence  was  in    Dedham.     And,  in    ahout 

one  month  after,  the  people  of  Boston  were  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of 

their  Governor,  Richard  Bellingham,  Esquire,  in  his  eighty-first 
^  '  year.  He  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the  most  rigid  of  his  time,  and 
the  Quaker  writers  have  pronounced  judgment  upon  his  charac- 
ter in  tones  of  much  harshness.  In  Mr.  Endicott's  time,  they  say 
he  was  an  "  active  instrument  in  whatever  laws  were  enacted  against 
them."  This  is  unquestionably  true  ;  and  likewise,  that  "his  power 
was  less  extensive  than  that  of  his  predecessor,"  although,  "  he  caused 
Solomon  Eccles,  and  Nicholas  Alexander  of  Jamaica,  who  was  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  there,"  to  be  banished  from  Boston  ;  and  that,  only 

a  few  months  before  his  death  "  he  imprisoned  James  Lancaster, 
ug"  '  John  Stubs,  John  Ranee,  Thomas  Eaton,  and  Robert  Hornden, 
five  strangers,  and  George  Heathcot."  They  add,  that  "he  died  dis- 
tracted." *  In  drawing  the  character  of  Governor  Bellingham  somef 
have  considered  him  as  inclining  to  democratic  principles,  and  at  the 
same  time  violently  opposed  to  all  innovations  in  religious  matters.  Of 
the  former  there  does  not  appear  to  be  much  evidence,  while  of  the 
latter  there  can  be  no  question.  He  was  a  devout  and  sincere  Chris- 
tian, as  well  as  a  strict  observer  of  external  forms.  At  times  he  was 
melancholy,  and  suffered  from  temporary  intellectual  aberration,  and  his 
last  moments  were  probably  passed  without  his  reason.  This  is  what 
the  Quaker  historian  above  cited  called  dying  distracted.  J 

At  this  annual  Election,  John  Leverett,  Esquire,  was  chosen 

Governor,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Symonds,  Deputy  Governor.  The 
deputies  in  the  General  Court  from  Boston  were  the  same  as  they  had 
been  since  1665  ;  namely,  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  Captain  Thomas 
Clarke  ;  except  that  Junior  is  added  to  that  of  the  latter.  Mr.  Urian 
Oakes,  of  Cambridge,  preached  the  Election  Sermon,  and  Mr.  John 
Sherman  and  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  prefaced  it.  It  is  without  any  "  Im- 
primatur." 

The  fears  of  an  invasion  from  the  Dutch  may  have  given  rise  to  a 
stupendous  project  for  fortifying  the  town.  A  circular  wall  was  ordered 
to  be  erected,  extending  from  one  extremity  of  the  Cove  to  the  other  ; 
or,  its  terminations  were  the  Sconce,  at  the  point  now  occupied  by  India 
Wharf  on  the  south,  and  Captain  Scarlett's  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Fleet 
street  on  the  north.     Its  length  was  considered  to  be  about  2200  feet. 

It  was  at  first  proposed  that  the  work  should  be  done  at  the 

expense  of  the  Town ;  but  at  a  Town  meeting  held  on  the  fifth 
of  September,  a  vote  could  not  be  obtained  to  authorize  it.  The  Town, 
however,  instructed  the  Selectmen,  that  if  they  could  dispose  of  the 
Flats  to  be  included  by  the  contemplated  wall  or  wharf,  so  as  to  meet 

*Heathcot's    offence  was    "delivering    the       f  Snow,  159. 
Governor  a  letter  and  not  putting  off  his  hat."       |A  few  other  facts  concerning  Gov.  Belling- 
—  Besse,  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  ii.  259.        ham  have  already  been  given.    See  p.  176,  ante. 


1673.]  EXTENSIVE   FORTIFICATION.  395 

the  expense  of  it,  they  had  liberty  to  proceed  with  the  work.  It  was 
to  be  twenty-two  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  and  twenty  at  the  top,  "  to 
be  convenient  for  a  breastwork  to  play  guns  on,"  and  was  to  be  about 
fifteen  feet  in  height.  The  circular  line  to  be  built  upon  was  to  touch 
the  channel  at  the  nearest  point  before  the  Town,  and  between  the  wall 
and  the  seaward  extremities  of  the  wharves  built,  and  to  be  built,  one 
hundred  feet  space  for  vessels  was  to  be  left. 

As  great  as  this  undertaking  was  in  its  day,  it  was  commenced  with 
spirit,  and  successfully  completed  in  due  time.  Forty-one  persons  under- 
took the  work,  which  was  let  out  into  lots  of  from  twenty  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet.  No  undertaker  allowed  to  engage  for  less  than  twenty 
feet.  In  1681,  the  proprietors  of  this  work  had  an  act  of  incorporation 
from  the  Council,  who  had  first  proposed  the  work  to  the  Town.  For- 
tunately it  was  never  used  "to  traverse  guns  on"  against  an  enemy; 
for,  while  it  had  an  existence,  no  enemy  ever  passed  the  Castle  ;  and 
it  may  now  be  said,  that  from  its  disappearance  to  the  present  time  its 
want  for  the  purpose  of  defence  has  never  been  felt. 

This  great  structure  fell  gradually  into  decay,  and  it  has  been  long 
since  any  vestiges  of  it  were  to  be  seen.  Its  exterior  was  probably  of 
wood.  It  went  by  the  name  of  the  Old  Wharf,  as  long  as  any  of  it 
remained.  * 

The  successful  accomplishment  of  so  vast  an  enterprise  as  this  was 
is  more  than  a  tolerable  certainty  that  Boston  was  at  that  period  in  a 
very  prosperous  condition  ;  of  which  the  Government  in  England,  as  it 
will  appear,  was  not  an  idle  observer.  This  is  evident  from  a  curious 
paper  f  believed  to  have  been  drawn  up  this  year,  which  is  probably 
still  to  be  seen  in  the  State  Paper  office  in  London.  The  well  known 
Edmund  Randolph  had  a  copy  of  it  afterwards,  to  assist  him  in  his 
statistical  knowledge  of  the  country.     In  that  paper,  New  England  was 

*From  an  ancient  paper  (among  a  large  ing  by  Woodmancy's,  70  ;  Woodmancy's,  120 ; 

number  of  others)  kindly  put  into  the  hands  Eliak.  &  E.  Hutchinson,  60  ;  Davis,  40 ;  Perry 

of  the  author  by  the  Hon.  Francis  Brinley,  &  Shippen,  30  ;  Alford,  100.     Proprietors  of 

the  following   facts  are   taken:  —  "The  Out  y«  Sconce  Division  of  wharfing  on  ye  flats  taken 

Wharfes  from  Scarlett's  wharfe  outward  to  out  of  Mr.  Kendall's  booke.     Elisha   Cooke, 

[the]   Middle   Opening,   measure,  —  the    first  Esqr.,  and   Old  Church,  180;  Ephr.  Nicolls, 

Outlet  or  Opening,  27  feet ;  John  Anderson,  40  25  ;  Gillam  &  Compy.,  83  ;  Joyleife  &  Compy., 

do. ;  John  Kine  for  Rob.  Cox,  30  ;  Anthony  89£  ;  Mr.  Hallowell,  34 ;   Mr.  Marshall,  3l£  ; 

Checkley  for  B.  Beale,  50  ;  John  Wensley,  30  ;  Mr.  Bromdon,  58£  ;  Oliver,  55|  ;  Henchman  & 

Maj.  Tho.  Clarke,  90  ;  Vacant,  or  2d  Opening,  Compy.,  164  ;  Brattle  &  Fairweather,  54  ;  M. 

66  ;  Ailce  [Alice]  Thomas,  30  ;  Maj'r.  Clarke  White,  30." 

he  filled  3£  ;  do.  for  Edwd.  Grant  [?]  20 ;  do.  There  are  some  variations  from  the  above, 

lie  built  50  ;  Daniel  Stone,  20  ;  Danl.  Turell,  as  entered  upon  the  Town  Records  ;  as, ('  Dan- 

Junr.,  22£  ;   Maj.  Clarke  for  Tho.  Bill,  22£.  ielTurine,  Jr.,  Humphrey  Warren,  Wm.  Davis, 

[against  these  two  is  a  brace,  and  '  Charnech'  Hon.  John  Leverett,  Capt.  Benjamin  Gillam, 

against  the  brace.]     Jno.  Scarlet  or  Dolbery,  Capt.  Thos.  Savage,  Joseph  Gillam,  Wm.  Hal- 

25  ;  Henry  Cooley,  40.     ['  Clark   &  Compy.'  owel,  John  Man,  Wm.   Alford,  Seth  Perry, 

against  these  two.]  Edmund  Muntforth  [Mount-  Edward  Sheppen,  John  Poole,  Danl.  Hinks- 

ford]  30  ;  Wm.  Greeno,  35  ;  Jos.  Cox,  34  ;  Jno.  man,  Theodore  Atkinson,  Senr.,  Thomas  Pecke, 

Sweet,  30  ;  Timo.  Prout,  30  ;  Jos.  Baster,  25  ;  John  Woodmansey,  Peter  Guy,  Obediah  Gill, 

Jno.  Phillips,  Danl.  Turell,  Senr.,  and  Adams,  Joseph  Prout,  Jr.,  Benj.  Bayle,  and  Theodore 

113  ;  [Capt.  Samuel]  Scarlet,  48  ;  Edwd.  Wan-  Atkinson,  Jr." 

ton,  30  ;  Edw.  Winslow,  56  ;  Benj.  Gibs,  54  ;  f  An  abstract  of  it,  though  not  a  very  intel- 

Jno.  Scarlet,  43  ;  Augustus  Clemens,  25  ;  Tho.  ligible  one,  is  printed  in  Chalmer's  Political 

Lake  and  Jno.  Winsley,  61  ;  the  Middle  Open-  Annals,  pages,  434-5. 


396  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1674. 

estimated  to  contain  120,000  souls  ;  fifteen  merchants  were  worth  5000 
pounds  each  ;  not  twenty  houses  in  Boston  which  contained  ten  rooms 
apiece  ;  its  number  of  families  were  1500.*  "  The  three  provinces  of 
Boston,  Main,  and  New  Hampshire,  were  three-fourths  of  the  whole  in 
wealth  and  strength"  of  New  England;  no  musicians  by  trade  ;  a 
dancing-school  had  been  set  up,  "  but  it  was  put  down  ;  "  a  free  man 
must  be  worth  about  200  pounds. 

The  Fort  on  Castle  Island,  built  chiefly  of  wood,  was  accident- 
ally consumed  by  fire.f  The  circumstances  attending  the  con- 
flagration are  not  mentioned.  When  Mr.  John  Josselyn  was  here,  in 
1671,  he  thus  remarked  upon  it :  —  "  There  is  an  island  on  the  south 
side  of  the  passage,  containing  eight  acres  of  ground.  Upon  a  rising 
hill  within  this  island,  is  mounted  a  castle  commanding  the  entrance  ; 
no  stately  edifice,  nor  strong  ;  built  with  brick  and  stone  ;  kept  by  a 
captain,  under  whom  is  a  master-gunner,  and  others."  J 

The  Governor  and  Deputy  are  reelected,  and  Boston  chose 
ay  '  the  same  Representatives  as  last  year.  Mr.  Samuel  Torrey,  of 
Weymouth,  preached  the  sermon.  On  the  same  day,  the  General  Court 
ordered  it  to  be  printed,  and  appointed  William  Houghton,  and  Thomas 
Clarke,  Esquires,  Capt.  Hugh  Mason,  Mr.  William  Parkes,  and  Mr. 
Peter  Bulkley,  to  give  the  thanks  of  the  Court  to  the  author.  It  was 
printed  at  Cambridge  by  Marmaduke  Johnson,  and  a  long  and  interest- 
ing preface  accompanies  it,  by  Mr.  Increase  Mather. 

Since  the  King's  Commissioners  left  the  country,  Boston  had  made 
rapid  strides  in  wealth  and  population.  But  a  sad  reverse  was  at  hand. 
Before  the  fears  from  Dutch  cruisers  had  subsided,  a  much  more  formida- 
ble calamity  threatened  the  country.  This  arose  from  the  hostile  attitude 
of  the  Indians.  Before  this  last  trouble  was  thought  to  be  serious,  how- 
ever, there  was  much  said  in  the  pulpit  about  "  Apostacies  in  these 
goings  down  of  the  sun  ;  "  that  "  divine  expectations  had  not  been 
answered"  by  the  people  here.  Yet  a  saving  clause  was  sometimes 
thrown  in,  that  "there  were  grounds  of  hope  that  the  Lord  was  not 
wholly  gone  from  them."  § 

The  Indians  had  been  so  effectually  frightened  by  the  issue  of  the 
Pequot  war,  that  for  many  years  after  they  looked  upon  the  English  as 
invincible,  and  it  had  become  the  fashion  throughout  the  country  to 

*  Yet  for  several  years  after  this  there  were  f  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.,  284,  mentions 
no  streets  paved,  excepting  a  few  sections  of  the  fact  in  a  note,  under  21  Mar.  1673,  but 
some  of  the  principal  ones,  and  those  of  a  few  without  stating  his  authority,  which  was  doubt- 
rods'  extent.  Two  years  later  (23  Aug.  1675)  less  Sherman's  Almanack  for  1676  ;  and,  not 
we  read  in  the  Eecords,  "  Whereas  Anthony  being  particular  in  noting  that  all  dates  were 
Chicklie  [Checkley]  hathe  erected  posts  before  then  Old  Style,  he  has  made  an  error  of  a  whole 
his  ware-house  adjoining  to  Robert  Cox,  vpon  year.  So  that,  instead  of  the  Castle's  being 
the  towne  land  or  highway,  without  the  consent  burnt  in  March,  1673,  it  was  burnt  in  March, 
of  the  Selectmen,  it  is  ordered  that  the  said  1674,  as  above  stated.  Snow  copied  the  error. 
Chicklie  forthwith  take  away  the  said  posts,  or  J  Two  Voyages  to  N.  England,  p.  159. 
pay  2s.  M.  in  money  pr.  an.  for  the  standing  §  Dr.  Increase  Mather's  Preface  to  the  Election 
of_  them  dureing  the  Towne's  pleasure.  And  Sermon  of  1674.  See  also  a  tract  by  the  same 
said  Chickley  and  Robt.  Cox  have  paved  the  author,  entitled  Ichabod :  or  The  Glory  De- 
streete  before  their  dore,"  &c.  parting  from  N.  England. 


1674.]  RISE   OP   THE   INDIAN   WAR.  397 

speak  contemptuously  upon  their  power.  And,  at  this  period,  the 
English  far  outnumbered  them,  and  though  scattered  thinly  over  a 
wide  extent  of  country,  the  Indians  were  much  more  thinly  scattered 
over  nearly  the  same  extent  of  territory  ;  for  while  the  latter  did  not 
probably  exceed  30,000  souls,  their  white  neighbors  exceeded  four 
times  that  number.  Besides,  much  had  been  done  to  christianize 
them,  and  not  an  inconsiderable  number  had  renounced  savage  life,  and, 
in  the  event  of  a  war,  these  could  be  counted  upon,  at  least,  as  neutral. 
Such  was  the  state  of  things  up  to  the  close  of  the  year  1674.  The 
natives  frequented  Boston  and  other  places  of  the  English  as  usual, 
except  Plymouth.  Between  that  place  and  the  Wampanoag  country 
there  was  less  intercourse,  and  an  increasing  jealousy. 

Early  in  1675,  there  began  to  be  suspicious  circumstances  that  the 
Wampanoag  Indians,  the  leader  of  whom  was  King  Philip,  were  pre- 
paring for  war.  There  was  a  special  reason  for  these  suspicions  on  the 
part  of  the  English,  because  they  had  lately  executed  three  of  Philip's 
men,  for  the  murder  of  a  Christian  Indian.  And,  although  this  was 
immediately  a  Plymouth  affair,  it  was  plain  enough  by  this  time,  to  the 
Indians,  that  all  the  English  were  leagued  together,  and  that,  if  an  open 
rupture  occurred,  they  had  got  to  contend  with  them  all.  It  is  improba- 
ble, however,  that  Philip  himself  intended  to  begin  a  war,  at  least,  at 
the  time  he  did  ;  but  circumstances  made  it  his  only  alternative.  He 
well  enough  knew  the  strength  of  the  white  people,  and  consequently 
knew  that  a  war  must  end  in  his  ruin.  It  was  not  so  with  the  young 
men  of  his  tribe  ;  they  thought  more  of  revenge  and  plunder  than  of 
the  consequences  of  war.  Three  of  their  brethren  had  been  executed, 
as  they  conceived,  in  a  barbarous  manner,  for  killing  a  vagabond  traitor, 
as  they  considered  the  Indian  to  be,  who  had  been  by  them  killed. 
Philip  was  by  no  means  an  old  man  at  this  time,  —  perhaps  not  above 
thirty-seven  years  of  age  ;  but  he  had  had  more  intercourse  with  the 
English  settlers  than  the  young  men  of  his  tribe,  and  was  far  better  able 
to  calculate  the  consequences  of  a  war. 

To  understand  the  nature  of  the  immediate  origin  of  the  war  which 
soon  after  followed,  it  will  be  necessary  to  be  a  little  more  particular. 
The  Indian  killed  by  Philip's  men,  is  usually,  in  the  accounts  extant, 
called  Sassamon,  but  his  real  name  was  Wussausmon,  as  is  shown  in  the 
margin.*  He  was  a  Massachusetts  Indian,  and  was  probably  born 
within  the  ancient  limits  of  Dorchester  ;  perhaps  at  Punkapog.  How- 
ever, his  father  and  mother  lived  in  Dorchester,  and  he  became  one  of 

"  Ahaton,   Momentaug,   and   John   Wosassa- 
/Jfi      0  i>     mon,"  are  mentioned  as  his  Council.     Ahaton, 

.  /li/U  Iffi&WpHCtr]  *  Nahaton,  and  Hahatun,  denote_  the  same  indi- 
ct" "  vidual.  He  was  a  noted  Christian  Indian,  and 
was  preacher  among  the  natives  till  his  death, 
*  In  a  previous  page  (388)  it  is  mentioned  which  happened  on  the  21st  of  July,  1717.  In 
that  with  others,  Sassamon  was  a  witness  to  an  1711  he  was  stationed  at  a  place  called  Pecu- 
instrument  signed  by  King  Philip,  July  13th,  net.  He  left  a  son  Amos,  and  perhaps  other 
1670.  The  27th  of  December  of  the  same  children.  —  MSS.  of  Judge  Sewall.  For  other 
year,  in  a  conveyance  executed  by  Squamaug,   facts,  see  Gookin's  Hist.  Praying  Indians. 


398  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1675. 

the  Christian  Indians,  and  was  educated  for  a  missionary  among  them, 
some  time  before  1662.  Not  liking  his  profession,  or  from  some  other 
cause,  he  apostatized,  and  went  off  with  Philip's  Indians.  As  he 
understood  English  and  could  write,  Philip  took  him  into  his  service  as  a 
kind  of  Secretary ;  and  there  are  several  letters  existing,  which  he  wrote, 
by  Philip's  direction  or  dictation,  to  his  English  neighbors.  At  length, 
becoming  tired  of  living  among  his  "  heathen  "  brethren,  he  abandoned 
them  and  returned  again  to  the  Christian  community  ;  and,  after  showing 
proper  contrition  for  his  apostasy,  he  was  admitted  into  fellowship.  Not 
long  after  this,  he  was  sent  among  some  of  Philip's  people  about  Assa- 
womset,  in  Middleborough,  to  preach  to  them.  While  there,  it  is 
supposed,  he  learned  that  the  Wampanoags  were  preparing  for  war  ; 
for  he  communicated  such  intelligence  to  the  authorities  of  Plymouth, 
about  the  close  of  1674.  A  little  time  after  this,  Sassamon  was  missing, 
and,  search  being  made,  his  body  was  found  in  Assawomset 

Jan  29  ,        .  . 

pond,  under  such  circumstances,  and  with  such  marks  upon  it, 
that  the  magistrates  of  Plymouth  were  satisfied  that  he  must  have  been 
murdered.  Thereupon  inquiry  was  made  for  the  perpetrators.  Three 
of  Philip's  men  were  soon  fixed  upon,  one  of  whom  was  his  Counsellor. 

These  were  brought  to  trial  at  Plymouth,  condemned  and  executed. 

One  of  them  confessed  he  saw  the  other  two  commit  the  murder, 
but  that  he  had  no  hand  in  it ;  and  the  other  two  died  protesting  their 
innocence. 

While  the  trial  of  the  accused  Indians  was  in  progress,  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  stir  among  the  natives  from  Narraganset  Bay  to  Massa- 
chusetts. Several  of  the  Christian  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston, 
reported  it  as  their  belief  that  the  other  Indians  intended  to  begin  a 

war.  Among  others,  Waban  went  to  Major  Gookin  and  told  him, 
^Pnl'     that  as  soon  as  the  trees  were  leaved  out,  he  feared  there  would 

be  trouble.  Soon  after,  it  was  reported  that  Philip's  warriors 
were  "  marching  up  and  down  the  country  armed  as  for  war,"  and  there 
was  much  reason  to  fear  that  Philip  had  enlisted  the  Narragansets  in  his 
designs.  This  suspicion  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  well  founded,  by 
advices  from  Mr.  Benjamin  Church,*  who  had  the  year  before  settled  at 
Sogkonate,  now  Little  Compton.  A  numerous  clan  of  Philip's  people 
inhabited  there,  and  Mr.  Church  was  much  beloved  and  respected  by  the 
chiefs  among  them.  They  were,  therefore,  unwilling  to  join  Philip  in 
a  war  against  the  English  without  first  consulting  so  good  a  friend  as  Mr. 
Church  was. 

The  principal  leader  of  the  Sogkonates  at  this  time,  was  a  female 
chief,  named  Awashonks.  To  her  Philip  sent  six  messengers,  who 
stated  to  her,  that  "  the  Umpames  (the  Plymouth  people)  were  gather- 

~  Col.  Benjamin  Church,  copied  from  an  original 

r\  '         f)  IP  J       paper  of  1672,  in  possession  of  the  author.    He 

C6  ttyi^M^rttA^-^/^iMnt'^tl     died  on  the  17th  of  Jan.  1718.     He  was  at 
<s^7  Boston  on  the  previous  June,  which  was  proba- 

bly his  last  visit  to  the  metropolis.  —  Judge 
*  The  autograph  of  this  distinguished  man,    SewalVs  MSS. 


1075.]  ATTEMPTS   TO    PREVENT   WAR.  399 

ing  a  great  army  to  invade  Philip's  country,"  and  requesting  her  to  arm 
with  him  against  them.  Believing  this  to  be  the  case,  she  made  a  great 
dance,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  Indians,  and  summoned  her 
people  far  and  near  to  attend  it.  But  her  confidence  in  the 
friendship  of  Mr.  Church,  caused  her  to  send  for  him,  though  the 
preparations  for  a  great  war-dance  went  on.  As  soon  as  he  received 
the  message,  Mr.  Church  mounted  his  horse,  and,  taking  with  him 
his  tenant's  son,  by  name  Charles  Ilazelton,  a  good  interpreter 
of  the  Indian  language,  proceeded  to  the  place  appointed.  There 
"  they  found  hundreds  of  Indians  gathered  together  ;  "  the  dance  was 
begun,  and  "  Awashonks  herself,  in  a  foaming  sweat,  leading  it."  But 
the  moment  Mr.  Church's  arrival  was  announced,  she  broke  off,  and 
entered  into  a  conference  with  him.  She  related  what  Philip's  men 
had  said  about  the  English  preparations  to  attack  him,  and  desired  to 
know  the  truth  of  it.  He  assured  her  that  it  was  untrue  ;  that  he  was 
at  Plymouth  but  a  few  days  before,  and  that  the  English  were  making 
no  preparations  for  war.  She  was  inclined  to  believe  him,  and  he 
promised  to  go  to  Plymouth  and  to  intercede  with  the  Government,  that 
in  the  event  of  a  war  she  should  not  be  disturbed,  provided  she  wTould  not 
take  part  with  Philip.  This  being  agreed  to,  Mr.  Church  began  to 
make  preparations  to  proceed  to  Plymouth  upon  the  proposed  embassy. 
Meanwhile,  the  execution  of  the  three  Indians  for  the  murder 
of  Sassamon  took  place,  as  already  related.  That  event  fanned 
the  already  glowing  embers  into  an  immediate  flame,  and  nothing  now 
could  stay  its  progress.  Philip,  it  was  said,  expected  to  be  called  to 
an  account  for  the  same  murder,  and  that  drove  him  to  desperation. 
However  that  may  be,  his  young  warriors  were  full  of  revenge  and  fury, 
and  beyond  all  control,  had  Philip  desired  to  control  them.  Some  of 
them,  had,  perhaps  with  his  consent,  visited  all  the  tribes  and  clans  from 
Marshpee  to  Wachusett,  and  from  Paugatuck  to  Chickopee,  and  dele- 
gates from  many  places  had  assembled  at  Mount  Hope,  while  the  three 
Indians  were  awaiting  their  trial  at  Plymouth,  and  war- dances  were 
commenced  and  kept  up  for  many  days  together. 

Having  good  grounds  to  suspect  what  was  going  forward  among  the 
Indians,  and  thinking  the  agitation  was  occasioned  by  Philip,  on  account 
of  his  fears  for  his  safety,  as  the  planner  of  Sassamon's  death,  the 
Government  of  Plymouth  hoped  to  calm  him  by  assurances  that  he  was 
not  to  be  questioned  or  troubled  about  it.  The  Council,  therefore,  drew 
up  an  amicable  letter,  and  Mr.  James  Browne,  of  Swanzey,  was 
charged  with  its  delivery  and  explanation.  Taking  with  him 
Mr.  Samuel  Gorton  as  interpreter,  when  he  arrived  at  Philip's  quarters 
he  found  him  surrounded  with  a  great  number  of  warriors,  all  armed 
and  painted,  who  behaved  insolently,  and  Philip  himself  "very  high 
and  not  persuadable  to  peace."  Some  of  the  warriors  proposed  to  kill 
Mr.  Browne  ;  but  Philip  prevented  them,  saying,  that  Massasoit,  his 
father,  had  charged  him  always  to  be  kind  to  that  gentleman.  This 
speaks  not  a  little  in  Philip's   favor,  and  is  a  testimony  against  the 


400  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1675. 

integrity  of  those  who  have  branded  him  as  lost  to  all  humanity.  Many 
instances  are  to  be  found  where  he  exercised  all  the  authority  he  pos- 
sessed to  prevent  the  injury  of  English  families  which  had  been  his  or 
his  father's  friends. 

Mr.  Church,  as  he  proceeded  to  Plymouth,  took  Pocasset  in 
his  way,  in  order  to  ascertain  how  the  Pocasset  Indians  were 
likely  to  incline  in  the  event  of  a  war.  This  clan  or  tribe  was  consider- 
ably numerous,  though  not  so  much  so  as  the  Sogkonates  ;  and  like  the 
latter  they  were  under  a  Squaw  Sachem,  whose  name  was  Weetamoo. 
She  had  been  the  wife  of  Alexander,  Philip's  brother,  but  now  had  a 
husband  named  Petananuit,  but  as  written  by  the  English,  Peter  Nun- 
nuit.  Mr.  Church,  falling  in  with  Peter,  was  by  him  conducted  to  Wee- 
tamoo, usually  denominated  Queen  of  Pocasset.  He  found  her  almost 
deserted  by  her  men,  who,  she  said,  were  "all  gone  to  the  dances." 
She  promised  Mr.  Church  that  she  would  go  to  Rhode  Island,  and  would 
not  join  Philip  in  a  war.  Mr.  Church  then  proceeded  directly  to  Plym- 
outh to  make  a  report  upon  the  situation  of  affairs  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mount  Hope. 

Arriving  at  Plymouth  early  on  Thursday  morning,  Mr.  Church 
immediately  had  an  interview  with  the  Governor  and  some  of  the 
Council  of  War.  His  intelligence  confirmed  other  accounts  they  had 
received  of  the  hostile  attitude  of  Philip,  and  they  hastened  their 
preparations  to  meet  the  exigency  with  the  utmost  despatch.  As  a 
further  proof  that  war  was  really  intended  on  the  part  of  the  Indians, 
certain  information  was  received  at  Plymouth,  that  those  about  Mount 
Hope  had  sent  their  wives  and  children  to  the  Narragansets  for  safety. 
This  also  showed  the  English  clearly  that  the  Narragansets  had  joined 
with  Philip  against  them. 

Philip's  warriors  had  now  become  so  clamorous  to  be  permitted  to 
begin  the  war,  that  they  would  listen  to  no  proposals  of  delay  ;  and  the 
only  plan  Philip  could  devise  to  prevent  an  immediate  outbreak,  was  to 
promise  them,  that  on  the  next  Sunday  they  might  rob  the  houses  of 
the  English  nearest  them,  while  the  occupants  were  at  meeting,  and  to 
kill  their  cattle  in  the  fields  ;  and  he  strictly  enjoined  it  upon  them  that 
they  should  not  be  the  first  to  shed  blood  ;  for,  there  was  a  superstitious 
whim  entertained  by  Philip,  and  perhaps  his  old  men,  that  the  party 
which  shed  the  first  blood  would  be  conquered.     This  probably  had  the 

effect  to  prevent  immediate  murders,  while  it  did  not  cause  a 
18*0^19    fu^  compliance  vvith  Philip's  orders,  for  some  of  his  men  went 

to  the  house  of  Job  Winslow,*  broke  into  and  rifled  it. 

*  Who  he  was,  or  whereabouts  he  lived,  the  ell's  statement,  that  he  was  son  of  Kenelm 

Records  of  the  U.  Colonies  do  not  state  ;  but  Winslow,  and  grandson  of  Gov.  Edward  Wins- 

Amos  Otis,  Esq.,  of  Yarmouth,  from  original  low,  and  that  he  settled  in  Freetown.     MS. 

papers  in  his  possession,  confirms  Judge  Mitch-  Letter  of  Mr.  Otis,  and  Mitchell's  Bridgewater. 


1675.] 


WAR   BREAKS    OUT. 


401 


CHAPTER     XLIII. 


War  begins  at  Swanzey. —  News  brought  to  Boston.  —  Capt.  Hutchinson  sent  to  the  Narra- 
gansets. —  The  English  shed  the  first  blood.  —  Men  raised  in  Boston  for  the  War.  — Proceed 
to  Swanzey. — Eclipse  of  the  Moon.  —  First  Skirmish.  —  Pursuit  of  the  Indians.  —  They 
escape.  —  Lieut.  Oake's  Exploit.  —  Scalps  brought  to  Boston.  —  Forces  march  into  Narra- 
ganset.  —  Treaty.  —  Capt.  Hutchinson  sent  to  treat  with  the  Nipmucks.  —  Is  ambushed  and 
mortally  wounded.  —  Siege  of  Brookfield.  —  Mohegan  Indians  engaged  with  the  English 
against  Philip.  —  Above  sixty  come  to  Boston.  —  A  House  attacked  in  Dorchester.  —  Capt 
Beers  attacked  and  suffers  considerable  loss. 


June  20. 


AGREEABLY  to  the  permission  of  Philip, 
his  warriors  sallied  forth  upon  Swanzey  ;  burnt 
two  houses  and  rifled  several  others,  but  killed  none 
of  the  people.     They  were  greatly  alarmed,  however, 
immediately  began  to  abandon  their  dwellings,  and 
were  soon  collected  into  three  garrisons.     Early  next 
morning,  or  in  the  preceding  night,  messengers  were 
despatched  to  Boston  and  Plymouth.      The 
savage.  -"    Council  at  Boston  met  in  the  afternoon  of  the 

same  day,  and  passed  an  order  concerning  the  Narragansets.  This  was 
embodied  into  a  sort  of  manifesto,  and  Capt.  Edward  Hutchinson,  of 
Boston,  was  forthwith  directed  to  repair  to  that  nation.  He  was  also 
directed  to  call  upon  Mr.  Roger  Williams,  for  whom  he  had  letters,  and 
to  obtain  his  counsel  and  advice  respecting  his  mission.  The  manifesto 
set  forth  that  "  Philip,  Sachem  of  Mount  Hope,  did  yesterday  make 
assault  upon  some  English  houses,  and  was  marching  on  upon  the  town 
of  Swanzey ;  "  that  some  of  the  Narragansets  were  already  with  him, 
and  that  he  "  speedily  expected  others  to  come  to  his  assistance."  The 
Narraganset  chiefs  were  therefore  ordered,  in  the  most  peremptory  man- 
ner, to  call  home  all  their  warriors,  and  to  break  off  all  correspondence 
with  Philip,  and  to  furnish  the  English  authorities  "  the  best  intelligence 
they  could  of  this  wicked  design."  Meantime,  the  Government  of 
Plymouth  ordered  its  forces  to  rendezvous  at  Taunton.  The  Governor 
invited  Mr.  Church  to  accompany  the  forces,  which  he  did,  at  the  head 
of  a  small  volunteer  corps  of  English  and  friendly  Indians.  "With  this 
force  he  marched  as  an  advance  guard.  What  time  they  arrived  at 
Swanzey  does  not  appear,  and  very  little  is  heard  of  their  operations 
until  the  arrival  of  the  Boston  troops,  several  days  after. 

While  the  Massachusetts  forces  were  being  concentrated  at 
Boston,  two  messengers  were  despatched  by  the  Council  for 
Mount  Hope,  with  instructions  to  try  to  divert  Philip  from  committing 
hostilities,  if  possible.     These  messengers,  arriving  the  next  day 
in  the  vicinity  of  Swanzey,  were   surprised  to  find  the  war 
51 


June  23. 


June  24. 


402  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1675. 

already  begun,  as  they  came  upon  dead  men  in  the  road,  recently 
shot  down  by  the  Indians.  They  therefore  retraced  their  steps  to  Boston, 
giving  the  alarm  wherever  they  came. 

As  the  Indians  intended,  the  first  blood  shed  in  this  war  was  shed  by 
the  English.       One  of  the  inhabitants  of  Swanzey  was  so  pro- 
voked by  an  Indian's  persisting  in  killing  his  cattle,  that  he 
fired  upon  and  wounded  him  ;   and,  though  not  mortally,  it  served  to 
remove  the  scruple,  which  the  Indians  were  under,  as  to  the  issue  of  the 
contest,  and  thus  was  begun  a  most  bloody  and  disastrous  war. 

On  the  return  of  the  before  mentioned  messengers  to  Boston,  "  drums 
beat  up  for  volunteers,  and  in  three  hours'  time  were  mustered  up  one 
hundred  and  ten  men."  Of  these,  Capt.  Samuel  Mosley,*  became  the 
leader,  who,  for  his  courage  and  conduct  on  some  former  occasions,  was 
very  popular.  There  was,  at  the  same  time,  a  Dutchman  lying  in  Bos- 
ton jail,  under  sentence  of  death  for  piracy  ;  and,  perhaps  others  with 
him.f  They  were  allowed,  on  certain  conditions,  to  march  under  Mosley 
against  the  Indians.  One  of  them,  a  Dutchman,  was  afterwards  par- 
doned for  his  services  in  the  war,  and  had  liberty  to  leave  the  country, 
and  nothing  further  is  known  of  him.  His  name  was  Cornelius  Consert. 
Agreeably  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Governor  of  Plym- 
outh, a  Fast  was  observed  in  that  Colony.  Taking  advantage 
of  this,  the  Indians  beset  the  people  at  Swanzey,  as  they  were  returning 
from  meeting,  killing  at  once  about  ten  or  twelve  persons. 

The  Government  at  Boston,  with  its  best  efforts,  could  not  get  the 
forces  intended  for  the  expedition  against  Philip  ready  till  two 
days  after  the  bloody  work  was  begun.  But  towards  evening, 
on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  a  company  of  foot  under  Capt.  Daniel 
Henchman,  and  another  of  horse  under  Capt.  Thomas  Prentice,|  marched 
out  of  Boston  for  the  scene  of  hostilities.  Captain  Mosley  was  not  ready 
to  march  with  them,  being  delayed,  probably,  by  arrangements  for  put- 
ting the  before  named  criminals  under  him.  Just  before  the  two 
companies  reached  Neponset  river,  the  moon  began  to  be  eclipsed. 
This,  some  of  the  men  construed  to  be  ominous  of  an  unfortunate  issue 

OS?                             -,  -          course  of  the  war.     Several  of  his  let- 
'&><??  c^t^7^ . y^^C^J?^^/^'    ters  are  extant>  written  while  in  this 

CS~^£    <2x      \^/^  service,  which  discover  something  of 

(^^  the  character  of  the  rough  and  sangui- 

*  One  of  the  most  conspicuous  officers  in  nary  soldier.    From  one  of  these  his  autograph 

Philip's  war  was  Capt.  Samuel  Mosley.     He  is  copied.     When  or  where  Capt.  Mosley  died 

was  by  trade  a  cooper,  which  he  probably  early  has  not  come  to  my  knowledge, 

relincpiished  and  became  a  skilful  mariner,  and  f  Hubbard,  in  his  history  of  the  war,  speaks 

"  was  allied  by  marriage  to  some  of  the  first  of  "  the  whole  body  of  the  Privateers  under 

families  in  Boston.     His  wife,  Anne,  was  the  Mosley."     Mosley,   himself,    is  said  to   have 

daughter  of  Thomasand  Anne  Leverett,  parents  "  been  an  old  Privateer  at  Jamaica."     He  had 

of  the  Governor."  —  Letter  of  T.  W.  Harris,  probably  been    privateering  during  the  war 

M.  D.,  to  the  author.     The  alliance  of  Capt.  between  England  and  the  Dutch. 

Mosley  to  Gov.  Leverett  and  other  distinguished  %  Three  Christian  Indians  only  were  employed 

persons  in  Boston  being  known,  it  is  not  diffi-  in  this  first   expedition  ;  two  of  the  name  of 

cult  to  account  for  the  easy  manner  in  which  Quannapohutt,  and  Zachary  Abram.      They 

he  was  allowed  to  pass  through  some  seemingly  were  attached  to  Capt.  Prentice's  command,  and 

arrogant  assumptions  of  responsibilities  in  the  did  excellent  service.  See  Gookin's  Pray.  lads. 


10)16.]  FIRST   EXPEDITION   AGAINST   TIIILIP.  403 

to  the  Avar,  and  they  moved  onward  with  faltering  steps.     However, 

when  "the  moon  had  waded  through  the  earth's  dark  shadow,"  they 

resumed  their  march,  and  arrived  at  Woodcock's  house,  about  thirty 

miles  from  Boston,  the  next  morning.     At  this  place  they  halted  to 

take  some  rest,  and  to  give  Captain  Mosley  time  to  join  them, 

which  he  did  with  his  company  in  the  afternoon.     Thence  they 

proceeded  to  Swanzey,  where  they  arrived  before  night.     They  now 

joined  the  Plymouth  forces,  who  had  been  in  garrison  there 

several  days,  and  "  under  whose  very  noses  the  Indians  had 

shot  down  two  sentinels." 

The  enemy  were  still  lurking  in  the  bushes,  in  all  directions  about  the 
camp,  and,  although  it  was  near  night,  several  of  Captain  Prentice's  troop 
volunteed  to  go  in  pursuit  of  them.  The  party  had  proceeded  but  a  short 
distance  when  they  were  fired  upon  by  about  a  dozen  Indians  in  ambush, 
who  killed  their  guide,  William  Hammond,  wounded  Corporal  Andrew 
Belcher,*  whose  horse  was  shot  down  under  him.  Quartermaster  John 
Gill,f  was  struck  in  the  side  by  a  ball ;  but  being  clad  in  a  buff  coat, 
with  several  thicknesses  of  paper  under  it,  his  life  was  preserved.  Mr. 
Church  was  in  this  unfortunate  skirmish,  and  through  his  efforts  the  body 
of  Mr.  Hammond  was  rescued  from  the  Indians  and  brought  off. 

The  next  day  the  enemy  showed  themselves,  and  were  immedi- 
ately pursued  by  Mosley's  company  and  some  of  the  others.  As 
they  were  proceeding  down  into  Mount  Hope  neck  some  confusion  oc- 
curred, and  one  party  of  the  English  fired  upon  another,  badly  wounding 
Ensign  Perez  Savage  in  the  thigh  ;  yet  "  he  boldly  held  up  his  colors  "  at 
the  head  of  his  company  .J  The  Indians  exposed  themselves  but  little  ; 
but  as  they  fled  from  one  shelter  to  another  several  shots  were  made  upon 
them,  and  some  five  or  six  were  killed,  as  the  English  heard  afterwards. 
The  expedition  into  Philip's  dominions,  however,  was  of  small  moment. 
Philip  and  his  followers  retreated  into  the  Swamps  of  Pocasset,  as  soon 
as  they  had  done  all  the  mischief  they  could  in  and  about  Swanzey  ;  a 
few  only  remaining  to  deceive  the  English.  The  weather  coming  on 
rainy,  the  forces  returned  to  the  garrisons.  In  the  evening,  about  six 
o'clock,  Major  Savage  arrived  from  Boston  with  supplies,  and  several 
other  gentlemen  with  him.  He  was  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts forces.  §     Major  Savage  and  Major  James  Cudworth,   Com- 

*  The  Christian  name  of  Belcher  is  not  given  Church,  who  was  on  the  spot,  says  he  was  "  a 
in  any  of  the  histories,  hut  I  suppose  he  is  the  noble,  heroic  youth."  He  was  at  the  Narra- 
same  who  was  of  Boston  in  1703,  and  father  ganset  Swamp  fight  afterwards,  and  was  again 
of  Gov.  Jonathan  Belcher.  If  this  supposition  wounded,  but  survived,  and  died  in  Barbary, 
be  correct,  he  was  son  of  Andrew  Belcher,  who  according  to  Farmer,  in  1694. 
was  of  Sudbury,  1640,  and  Cambridge,  y^j 

1646,  and  was  now  about  28  years  of  age,  ^*?/ls*  s\ 

f  Mentioned  only  by  Church,  and  with-     s^^//f£y7?i_/\sf       V  n/^r~n  sP  J?2     /") 
out  a  Christian  name,  which  I  have  con-     '^T^  ^         ^V^'J/''~£22^ 

jecturally  supplied.     That  author  says  C— ^     L-^^— ^ 

Gill  and  Belcher  were  Quartermasters.  §  Subjoined  is  the  autograph  of  Major  Savage 

J  He  was  of  Boston,  son  of  Hon,  Thomas  when  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies, 
Savage,  a  "  young  martial  spark,"  says  Hub-  1660.  He  was  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  a  large 
bard,   "  scarce  twenty  years  of   age;"    and   and  respectable  race  of  Savages.  —  See  Farmer. 


404  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1675. 

mander- in- Chief  of  the  Plymouth  forces,  determined  to  march  to  the 
vicinity  of  Mount  Hope,  hoping  to  surprise  Philip,  or  to  force  him  to  a 
battle  ;  but  they  had  not  then  learned  the  wiles  of  Indians  in  warfare, 
as  is  manifest  from  their  operations.     Philip,  as  before  mentioned,  had 
passed  the  river  to  Pocasset.     However,  the  weather  becoming  more 
favorable,  the   "whole   army "  *  marched   out   about  noon  for 
Mount   Hope.     About  a  mile  and  a  half  from   camp  "they 
passed  some   houses   newly  burned,"  and  "not   far  off  one  of  them 
they  found  a  Bible  newly  torn,  and  the  leaves  scattered  by  the  enemy 
in  hatred  of  our  religion."     Two  or  three  miles  more  brought  them  to 
Keekamuit,  since  Warren,  where  they  found  the  heads  of  eight  English- 
men, which  had  been  killed  at  Matapoiset  Neck,  set  upon  poles.  These 
they  took  down  and  buried.     After  marching   about  two  miles  further 
"they  found   divers  wigwams  of  the  enemy.     Half  a  mile  further,  as 
they  passed  through  many  fields  of  stately  corn,f  they  found  Philip's 
own  wigwam,"  but  no  Indians  in  all  their  march.     The  next  day  the 
army  returned  to  head-quarters  at  Swanzey,  except  the  troop  under 
Captain  Prentice,  who  went  to  Rehoboth  to  make  what  discov- 
u  y  "     eries  they  could,  and  to  encamp  there  for  the  night. 

As  Captain  Prentice  was  proceeding  to  head-quarters  the  next 
u  y  "  morning,  a  scout,  under  Lieut.  Edward  Oakes,  surprised  a  small 
company  of  the  enemy,  killed  a  Sachem  named  Thebe,  and  another 
chief,  one  of  Philip's  Counsellors,  and  two  or  three  others.  Oakes  lost 
John  Druce,  one  of  his  men.  The  Indians  killed  in  this  encounter  were 
beheaded  and  scalped,  and  both  heads  and  scalps  were  brought  to  Bos- 
ton and  exhibited,  which,  it  is  said,  were  the  first  scalps  ever  seen  in 
the  town. 

Major  Grookin  had  orders,  on  the  second  of  July,  to  raise  a  company 
of  Praying  Indians  to  serve  in  the  war.     He  at  once  despatched  mes- 
sengers to  all  the  Praying  Towns,  with  directions  to  the  Chiefs  to  send 
him  one  third  of  their  able  men.     They  obeyed  with  alacrity,  and  in 
four  days  after,  about  fifty-two  of  them  marched,  under  Capt. 
Isaac  Johnson  J  of  Eoxbury,  who  delivered  them  to  Major  Sav- 
age, the  commander  at  Mount  Hope.     These  Indians  acquitted  them- 
selves courageously  and  faithfully,  according  to  the  testimony  of  Major 
Savage,  Captain  Prentice,  and  Captain  Henchman. 
j  j  4        The  forces  being  concentrated  at  Swanzey,  while  the  officers 
were  deliberating  upon  what  next  should  be  done,  Capt.  Edward 
Hutchinson  arrived  from  Boston  with  instructions  to  proceed  into  the 
Narraganset  country,  to  prevent  the  tribes  in  that  region  from  partici- 

*The  number  of  men  composing  the  army,  whatever  the  Indians   had   "that  was  worth 

as  it  was  called,  is  nowhere  mentioned.  It  prob-  taking,  and  spoiled  the  rest ;  taking  all  Philip's 

ably  did  not  exceed  350  men.  cattel  and  hogs  that  they  could  find." 

fThe  writer  of  the  "  Present  State  of  New  J  The  same  who  fell  afterwards  in  the  Nar- 

England^  in  the  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  says  raganset  fight. 

there  were  at  Mount  Hope  "  a  thousand  acres        j~  # 

under  corn,"  which  the  English  afterwards  -j- ^ra,cOt^-    — -f       $<VhA 'olfi*. 

gathered  for  their  own  use  ;   that  they  took  <-^                       V "  O  ^/ 


1G75.]  THE   ARMY   IN   NARRAGANSET.  405 

pating  in  the  war  ;  while  Major  Cud  worth,  with  the  Plymouth  forces, 
proposed  to  maintain  the  ground  already  gained,  and  to  act  on  the 
offensive,  as  occasion  might  offer. 

It  was  the  fifteenth  of  July  before  an  understanding  could  be 

Julv  15 

"  effected  with  the  Narraganscts,  and  then  but  a  few  of  them  wore 
found  to  take  any  part  in  it,  and  those  appear  to  have  been  inferior 
chiefs  or  irresponsible  persons.  On  the  part  of  the  English  were  Major 
Thomas  Savage,  Capt.  Edward  Hutchinson,  his  brother-in-law,  and  Mr. 
Joseph  Dudley,  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts  ;  Major  Wait  Winthrop 
and  Mr.  Richard  Smith,  on  the  part  of  Connecticut.  A  treaty,  as  it 
was  called,  being  drawn  up  in  a  number  of  peremptory  articles,  and  the 
place  of  negotiation  surrounded  with  two  or  three  hundred  armed 
soldiers,  it  was  literally  executed  "  at  the  point  of  the  sword."  Such 
a  treaty  could  not  be  otherwise  than  worse  than  none,  for  coercion  must 
and  will  have  its  reaction,  and  it  proved  thus  in  this  case,  as  will  be 
seen  in  the  sequel.  Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  treaty  of  Petty- 
quamscot,  so  called  from  the  place  where  it  was  made. 

While  the  treaty  purports  to  have  been  made  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians  by  "Agamaug,  Wompsh  alias  Corman,  Taitson,  Tawageson, 
Counsellors  and  Attorneys  to  Canonicus,  Ninigret,  Matataog,  Old  Queen 
Quaiapen,  Quananshit  and  Pomham,"  the  names  only  of  "  Tawage- 
son, Taytson,  Agamaug  and  Corman,"  appear  as  its  signers.  The  wit- 
nesses were  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  Capt.  Thomas  Prentice,  Capt. 
Nicholas  Paige  of  the  dragoons,  Joseph  Stanton,  interpreter,  Henry 
Hawlaws,  Pecot  Bucow,  and  Job  Neff.  * 

Meantime  there  was  some  sharp  fighting  in  Pocasset,  but  the  Indians 

had  the  advantage.    This  elated  them,  and  they  committed  depredations 

in  every  direction.    News  also  was  received  at  Boston,  in  the  course  of 

July,  that  the  flame  of  war  was  breaking  forth  along  the  eastern  coast. 

The  Nipmucks  also  were  thought  to  be  uncertain  in  their  neutrality  or 

friendship.     It  was  therefore    determined   to  send    a  small  force  up 

into  their  country  to  ascertain  how  they  were   affected   by  the  war. 

Captain   Hutchinson,  who  had  just  returned  from  the  treaty  with  the 

Narragansets,  and  Captain  Thomas  Wheeler,  marched  from  Boston  upon 

that  service.     Unfortunately,  Philip's  emissaries  were  before  them,  and 

the  Nipmucks  had   enlisted  in  his  cause.     Captains   Hutchinson  and 

Wheeler  went  upon  this  expedition  with  about  twenty  dragoons, 

and  at  Brookfield  were  joined  with  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 

of  that   town.     A   meeting  was  appointed  with  the  Nipmucks  in  that 

neighborhood,  but  when  the  English  came  to  the  place  there  appeared 

none  of  the  other  party.     Not  suspecting  any  treachery,  they 

proceeded  four  or  five  miles  further,  in  the  direction  of  the  prin- 

*  It  was  at  this  time  probably,  that  Potok,  ble,  that  it  was  owing  to  the  refusal  of  the 

"  a  Narraganset  Chief  of  great  subtlety,"  in-  English  to  comply  with  that  request,  that  his 

sisted  that  an  article  should  be  inserted  in  the  name   does  not  appear  to   the   treaty.     Near 

Treaty,  "  that  the  English  should  not  send  any  the  close   of  the  war,   Potok   surrendered   to 

among  them  to  preach  the  Gospel,  or  call  upon  some   of  the  English  forces,  who  took  him  to 

them  to  pray  to  God."     It  is  likewise  proba-  Newport,  on  R.   Island.     There  he  was  im- 


406 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1675. 


cipal  town  of  the  Nipmucks  ;  but  this  proceeding  seems  to  have  been 
anticipated  by  the  Indians,  for  when  the  English  came  to  a  narrow  pass, 
lying  between  a  steep  hill  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  "  hideous"  swamp 
on  the  other,  they  were  fired  upon  by  "  two  or  three  hundred  Indians  " 
in  ambush.  Eight  men  were  in  a  moment  shot  down  ;  Captain  Hutch- 
inson was  mortally  wounded,  and  Captain  Wheeler  desperately  ;  *  yet 
both  commanders  succeeded  in  reaching  Brookfield.  In  all,  thirteen 
were  killed  and  died  of  their  wounds.  In  Captain  Hutchinson,  Boston 
lost  one  erf  its  most  worthy  inhabitants  ;  one  always  forward  in  that 
kind  of  public  service,  in  which  duty  to  his  country,  and  not  the 
emoluments  of  office,  guided  his  actions.  After  the  siege  of  Brookfield 
was  raised  by  a  force  under  Major  Simon  Willard,  Captain  Hutchinson 
was  removed  to  Marlborough,  where  he  died  on  the  nineteenth  of  the 
month,  seventeen  days  after  he  was  wounded,  f 

One  of  the  eight  men  who  were  killed  in  the  first  attack  was  Zech- 
ariah  Philips,  also  of  Boston.  That  any  escaped  from  that  perilous 
onset,  is  matter  of  surprise,  and  is  said  to  have  been  owing  to  the 
Indian  guides,  who  conducted  the  English  in  an  unaccustomed  path  to 
Brookfield.  There  were  three  of  those  guides,  one  of  whom  was  made 
prisoner  by  the  enemy.  J 

Before  the  enemy  were  driven  from  Brookfield  they  burned  all 
the  houses  except  one,  into  which  the  inhabitants  were  crowded. 
This,  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of  Major  Willard,  just  mentioned,  would 
also  have  fallen  into  their  hands  in  a  short  time. 


Aug.  4. 


prisoned  some  time  ;  but,  on  a  requisition  from 
Massachusetts,  he  was  brought  to  Boston  and 
shot.  Gookin  writes  his  name  Potucke.  In 
the  Old  Indian  Chronicle  it  is  written  Po- 
tucke and  Potuck,  and  by  Hubbard,  Potock. 
—  See  Postea. 

*  He  was  shot  through  his  body,  and  his 
horse  killed  under  him,  but  was  preserved  by 
the  extraordinary  bravery  of  his  son  Thomas  ; 
also  wounded,  his  arm  broken.  Yet,  seeing 
the  peril  of  his  father,  he  dismounted  and 
succeeded  in  mounting  his  father  upon  his 
own  horse,  and  both  escaped.  This  Capt. 
Wheeler  I  believe  to  be  the  same  once  the 
owner  of  the  Point  still  bearing  his  name.  He 
was  of  Concord  at  this  time,  having  gone  there 
recently.      The   annexed    fac   simile    is   from 


si?> 


°1  ftxJ./fZ-0&l 


an  original  paper  of  this  year.  Capt.  Wheeler 
published  a  Narrative  of  this  affair,  and  also 
of  the  siege  of  Brookfield,  the  same  year  of 
their  occurrence.  It  is  now  of  extreme  rarity, 
but  may  be  found  reprinted  in  the  Colls,  of 
the  N.  H.  Hist.  Soc,  vol.  ii. 

f  A  small  plain  stone  marks  the  place 
where  the  body  of  Capt.  Hutchinson  was 
buried  ;  on  which  is  the  following  inscription  : 


Captain  Edward  Hvtchinson, 
aged  62  years, 

WAS    SHOT   Br 

Treacherovs  Indians, 

Avgvst  2.  1675. 

Dyed  12  Avgvst, 

1675. 

It  will  be  observed  that,  by  the  inscription, 
Capt.  Hutchinson  died  seven  days  earlier  than 
he  did  according  to  the  published  accounts.  The 
date  on  the  stone  is  probably  wrong,  owing  per- 
haps, to  its  not  having  been  put  on  till  some  time 
after  his  interment.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  John 
H.  Dexter  of  Boston  for  the  copy  of  the  in- 
scription. 

,  %  This  disaster,  and  the  alarming  state 
"~l/  of  the  country,  occasioned  a  Fast,  which 
was  ordered  by  the  Old  Church  (of 
which  the  Governor  is  a  member) ,  being  lec- 
ture-day at  Boston,  and  at  the  contribution 
there  was  collected  £69,  which  was  for  the 
distressed  families'  relief."  And  on  the  follow- 
ing Wednesday,  August  11th,  another  Fast 
was  kept  by  Mr.  Mather's  Church,  and  a  con- 
tribution taken  on  the  same  account,  which 
amounted  to  £68.  —  Tract  of  the  time  in  the 
Old  Indian  Chronicle. 


1G75.]  capt.  beers'  engagement.  407 

Philip  nad  now  arrived  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  besiegers  met 
him  in  a  great  swamp  not  far  from  Brookfield.    There  he  distrib- 
uted a  quantity  of  wampum  to  the  principal  chiefs,  and  congratulated 
them  on  their  successes. 

Meanwhile,  messengers  were  sent  from  Boston  to  Uncas,  Chief  of 
the  Mohegans,  to  solicit  his  assistance  against  the  hostile  tribes.  He 
complied  readily  with  the  requisition,  and  in  a  few  days  the  messengers 
returned,  having  with  them  three  of  the  sons  of  Uncas,  and  about  sixty 
Mohegan  warriors.  These  were  soon  distributed  under  the  dif- 
ferent English  Captains,  and  rendered  effectual  service  against 
the  enemy. 

A  few  days  before  this  a  depredation  was  attempted  in  the  very 
neighborhood  of  Boston.  An  Indian  came  to  the  house  of  John  Minot,* 
in  Dorchester,  on  a  Sunday,  while  all  the  family  were  at  meeting,  ex- 
cept a  servant  girl,  and  two  small  children.  The  girl  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  bar  the  door,  and  when  the  Indian  found  he  could  not 
readily  enter  that  way,  he  shot  off  his  gun  several  times  into  the  house  ; 
but  the  girl  having  secured  the  children  under  two  brass  kettles,  ran  up 
into  the  chamber,  charged  a  gun  which  was  there,  fired  upon  the 
Indian,  and  wounded  him  in  the  shoulder.  He  then  broke  through  a 
window,  but  when  he  had  crawled  partly  into  the  house,  the  young 
heroine  met  him  with  a  shovel  of  burning  coals,  which  she  applied  to  his 
face,  and  this  decided  the  victory  in  her  favor.  The  Indian  es- 
caped, but  was  found  dead  in  the  woods  not  far  off  in  a  short  time 
after,  f 

Capt.  Thomas  Lothrop  and  Capt.  Richard  Beers,  with  about 
one  hundred  men,  met  a  large  body  of  Indians  near  Northfield, 
and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  twenty-six  of  the  former  and  ten 
of  the  latter  were  killed.  J 

*  In   the     Genealogical    Register,    i.,    172,  contribution  was  made,  which  resulted  in  a  col- 

the  Author  of  the  Minot    Genealogy  says  this  lection  of  £78. 

affair  took  place  at  the  house  of  a  John  Minot,  J  Capt.  Beers  had  been  in  New  England 

who  died  in  1669,  which   cannot  be  true.     If  forty-five  years  ;  "  an  inhabitant  of  this  juris- 

the   Minot's  name  were  John,  he   could  have  diction  ever  since  the  first  beginning  thereof." 

been   no   other   than   the  John  who   married  He  served  in  the  Pequot  war  ;  "  in  two  several 

Elizabeth  Breek,  as  he  lived  till  1690.  designs  ;  "  "  hath  many  children,  and  hitherto 

The  house  which  was  the  scene  of  this  trag-  not  any  land  of  the  country  and  of  the  Town 

edy    was    recently   standing,   and    has    been  but  one  acre  and  a  half  besides  that  he  hath 

pointed  out  to  the  writer.     It  is  about  five  purchased."  —  Petition  of 1664.  MS.     He  was 

miles  from  Boston,  on  the  turnpike  leading  of  Watertown.     There  is  an  account  of  the 

from  South  Boston  to  Milton.  Beers  family  in  Hinman's  Catalogue  of  Puritan 

f  Aug.  25th.     There  was  a  fast  at  Charles-  Settlers. 
town,  "  whereto  several  of  Boston  went."     A 


408  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1675. 


CHAPTER   XLIV. 

Philip's  War  continued.  — Relative  Condition  of  the  contending  Parties. —  Christian  or  Praying  In- 
dians.—  Destructive  Tempest.  . — Defeat  and  Death  of  Capt.  Beers. — Jury  for  tryiDg  Indian  Cap- 
tives. —  Deputation  of  Indians  from  Ninigret.  —  One  seized  and  hanged.  —  Others  shot  by  Capt 
Mosley's  order.  —  The  Mob  threaten  to  murder  Prisoners.  —  Spirited  Course  of  Capt.  Oliver.  — 
Quakers  punished  for  refusing  to  serve  in  the  War.  —  Defeat  and  Death  of  Capt.  Lothrop.  —  An 
Execution.  —  Capt.  Appleton's  Services.  —  Burning  of  Springfield.  —  Hatfield  attacked.  —  Maj 
Pynchon  recommends  Winter  Expeditions.  —  A  large  Force  ordered  to  be  raised.  —  Narraganset 
Chiefs  come  to  Boston  and  make  a  Treaty.  —  Expedition  against  Narraganset.  —  A  strong  Fort.  — 
It  is  attacked.  —  The  first  that  entered  it  discovered.  —  It  is  taken.  —  The  killed  and  "wounded. 

UPON  the  whole,  thus  far,  the  Indians  had  almost 
continued  success ;  but  the  summer,  so  favorable  to 
their  circumstances,  was  soon  to  be  ended,  and  the 
war  had  afforded  them  but  small  opportunities  to  pro- 
vide for  the  winter.  The  march  of  large  bodies  of  the 
English  from  place  to  place  during  the  summer  gave 
them  fine  chances  for  capital  exploits.  They  had  no 
baggage  trains  to  guard.  The  surrounding  wilderness 
during  half  the  year  afforded  them  all  the  provisions 
moslet  *  ^iey  re(luired  5  and5  as  though  that  season  never  could 
end,  they  laughed  and  mocked  at  the  snail-like  move- 
ments of  their  adversary.  By  their  spies  they  could  often  ascertain 
the  points  of  destination  of  a  body  of  troops,  and  with  celerity  would 
assemble  a  formidable  number  of  their  companions  in  some  favorable 
pass  among  the  hills  and  swamps,  and  fall  upon  their  pursuers  at  great 
advantage. 

The  Christian  Indians  had  not  yet  been  generally  taken  into  the  service 
of  the  English,  and  they  became  daily  more  and  more  exposed  to  the  worst 
afflictions  from  both  parties.  The  Indians  who  attacked  Lothrop  and 
Beers  were  considered  to  belong  to  the  Praying  Indians,  but  they  were 
far  removed  from  the  other  communities,  and  Philip  had  probably  pre- 
vailed with  them  to  enter  into  the  war  on  his  side.  To  prevent  other 
g0  Christian  Indians  from  a  like  proceeding,  the  Council  at  Boston 
sent  forth  a  proclamation  forbidding  them  to  go  more  than  a  mile 
from  their  villages  unless  accompanied  by  an  Englishman.     The  resi- 

*  Arms,  —  Quarterly,  first  and  fourth  sa.,  and   County    Palatine    of   Lancaster.      That 

a    cheveron    between    three    pick-axes,    ar.  ;  Capt.   Samuel  Mosley  was  a  branch   of  this 

second  and  third  or,  a  fess,  between  three  eaglets  family  there  is  not  much  question.     Branches 

displayed,  sa.  —  Crest, —  On  a  wreath  an  eagle  were  allied  with  the  Saltonstalls,  Davenports, 

displayed  ermine.  —  Such  was  the    arms  of  Whitmores,   and    other  names  equally  well 

Moseley  of  Hough's  End,  parish  of  Manchester,  known  in  New  England. 


1675.]  pniLip's  WAR  CONTINUED.  409 

dences  or  towns  of  these  Indians  at  that  time  were  "  Natick,  Punqua- 
paog,  Nashoba,  Wamesit,  and  Ilassanamesit."* 

Two  days  before  this,  there  was  witnessed  at  Boston  "  one  of  the 
most  violent  storms  of  wind  and  rain  hitherto  known."  The  Indians 
gave  out  that  it  was  caused  by  their  Powwows. f 

Lancaster,  Northampton,  Deerfield  and  Northfield,  had  already  suf- 
fered at  the  hands  of  the  enemy.    Captain  Beers,  with  a  small  company 

of  about  thirty-six  men,  was  cut  off  at  the  last  named  place  ; 

but  very  few  escaping.  Among  the  feeble  settlements  at  thp 
eastward  the  work  of  death  was  going  on  also.  In  the  mean  time, 
a   few   Praying    and    other   Indians  had  been  captured  and  were  in 

prison  in  Boston,  and  the  following  named  gentlemen  were  chosen 

by  the  Town  to  sit  as  jurors  at  their  trial;  namely,  "  Capt. 
James  Oliver,  Mr.  Thomas  Deane,  Mr.  James  Whittcombe,  Ens.  Richard 
Woody,  and  Mr.  John  Fairweather."J  The  day  following  an  embassy 
came  to  Boston  from  Ninigret,  consisting  of  eight  of  his  men. 
They  brought  a  letter  from  Capt.  Richard  Smith,  of  Narragan- 
set,  which  was  their  protection.  They  came,  it  appears,  to  offer  the 
services  of  the  Niantics  to  the  English  in  the  war.  Having  finished 
their  mission,  a  pass  was  given  them  by  the  Authorities,  and  they  were 
dismissed.  As  the  populace  were  much  enraged  against  all  Indians,  the 
ambassadors  of  Ninigret  fixed  their  pass  upon  a  staff,  that  it  might  be 
seen  at  a  distance.  In  proceeding  out  of  town  two  men  came  up  and 
seized  the  man  who  held  up  the  pass,  and  dragged  him  away  to  prison. 
The  two  men  were  brothers,  and,  at  the  trial  of  the  Indian  two  days 
after,  they  made  oath  that  he  had  been  fighting  under  Philip 
against  the  English,  and  that  they  knew  him  to  be  the  man 
who  had  killed  their  brother.  On  this  testimony  he  was  hanged.  In 
the  course  of  Captain  Mosley's  excursions  with  his  Boston  Company, 
he  took  prisoners  two  Praying  Indians,  who,  by  examinations,  he  found 
to  have  been  among  those  who  killed  Captain  Hutchinson  at  Wickabaug 
pond  ;  whereupon  they  were  both  shot.  This  was  "  towards  the  latter 
end  of  August."  About  the  same  time  Mosley  sent  into  Boston  eight 
other  Christian  Indians,  who  were  tried  for  their  lives.  Against  these 
nothing  seems  to  have  been  proved,  but  the  populace  were  greatly  en- 
raged when  they  learned  they  were  to  be  set  at  liberty,  and  a  mob  was 
collected  to  break  open  the  prison  and  murder  the  prisoners.     Captain 

*  Major  Gookin,  the  Governor  of  the  Pray-  bulged  one  another ;  some  up  towards  earn- 
ing Indians,  and  well  acquainted  with  most  of  bridge,  some  to  Muddy  river,  doing  much  hurt 
them  personally,  as  well  as  their  places  of  res-  to  very  many  ;  also  it  broke  down  many 
idence,  gives  the  names  ofjthe  latter  as  follow  :  wharffs,  and  blew  down  some  houses  thereup- 
—  "Wamesit  [formerly  in  Chelmsford,  now  on."  —  Tract  of  the  time  in  the  Old  Indian 
chiefly  included  in  Lowell]  ;    Okkokonimesit  Chronicle,  p.  30. 

S~  Iarlborough] ;      Hassanamesit,     [Grafton] ;       %  Mr.  David  Anderson  and  Mr.    Thomas 

akunkokoag  [Hopkinson] ;  Natick  [still  so  Tucker  were  chosen    by  Charlestown  ;  John 

named]  ;     and     Punkapog     alias     Pakomit  Bowles,  Senr.  and  Mr.  Thomas  Gore  by  Kox- 

[Stoughton]".     The  whole  number  of  Indians  bury  ;    William  Summer  and  Richard  Baker 

m  these  places  did  not  probably  exceed  450,  or  for  Dorchester ;  and  Joseph  Tantor  and  Cor. 

500  souls.  William  Bond    for   Watertown.  —  From    an 

f  "  It  blew  up  many  ships  together  that  they  original  paper  in  the  Mass.  Archives 
52 


410  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1675. 

Gookin  was  one  of  the  Judges.  Against  him  much  abuse  was  directed. 
Mr.  Eliot  came  in  for  a  share  also  ;  but  he  was  only  an  advocate  for  the 
accused,  and  consequently  was  less  offensive.  The  mob  mistaking  Cap- 
tain Oliver  to  be  on  their  side,  by  something  which  he  said,  or  was 
reported  to  have  said,  they  therefore  went  to  his  house  about 

ep '  '  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  evening,  and  requested  him  to  lead 
them  in  breaking  open  the  Jail.  Whereupon  the  Captain,  taking  his 
cane,  "  cudgelled  them  stoutly."  This  damped  their  ardor  for  prison- 
breaking  for  the  present,  but  such  was  the  clamor  and  rage  of  the 
people,  that,  to  quiet  them,  one  of  the  Indians  was  given  up  and  ex- 
ecuted, and  in  a  manner  so  revolting,  that,  were  the  truth  alone  related, 
the  reader's  belief  might  be  confounded. 

Early  in  September  another  company,  composed  chiefly  of  Boston 
men,  was  despatched  against  the  Indians,  under  Capt.  Daniel  Hench- 
man. For  some  cause  not  explained,  when  these  soldiers  arrived 
in  Koxbury  they  refused  to  proceed  under  that  officer,  and  the 
Council  sent  Capt.  Thomas  Lake  to  take  his  place.  Nothing  further 
appears  respecting  the  movements  of  this  Company.* 

Several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  "  some  whereof  were  Qua- 
kers," refusing  to  bear  arms  in  the  country's  service,  were  punished 
by  being  compelled  "  to  run  the  gauntlet."  Efforts  had  been  made  to 
keep  a  large  force  in  the  field,  and  complaints  were  loud  from  those  in 
actual  service,  and  their  families  and  friends  at  home,  against  the 
Quakers,  and  all  such  as  endeavored  to  avoid  military  duty,  whether 
from  scruples  of  conscience  or  any  other  cause.  This  may  have  led  to 
the  barbarous  and  ignominious  punishment  above  mentioned.  How- 
ever, there  were,  by  the  end  of  August,  probably  not  less  than  about 
six  hundred  horse  and  foot  of  Massachusetts  men  in  the  dangerous  ser- 
vice of  hunting  Indians  in  the  surrounding  wilderness. 

Notwithstanding  this  force  was  comparatively  large  for  that  time, 

yet  it  could  not  prevent  the  recurrence  of  many  fatal  disasters.    Captain 

Lothrop,  who  had  fought  with  Captain  Beers  at  Northfield,  was 

ep  '  "  ambushed,  and  attacked  in  the  furious  manner  of  the  Indians,  on 
his  march  at  Deerfield,  and  with  about  ninety  men,  "  the  flower  of 
Essex  county,"  slain,  with  almost  his  whole  company .f  The  next  day 
a  party  attacked  Deerfield,  but  with. small  success. 

Captain  Mosley  having  sent  to  Boston  five  Christian  Indians, 

ep '  '  prisoners,  under  the  charge  of  Cornelius  Consert,  they  were 
ordered  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Samuel  Shrimpton,  to  be  employed  on 

*  The  objection  to  Capt.  Henchman  at  this  ^, 

time  may  have  arisen  from  his  efforts  to  pre-  /TC^/7                 // 

vent  violence  to  the  Indian  prisoners.     He  was  L/n  /  t^y,  *  /7/^yj/L//)^ 

continued  in  the  service,  and  was  in  such  favor  J*joH\l/'^^ 

with  the  Council  and  other  members  of  the  ^ 
Government,  that,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  on 

hip  request  to  be  allowed  to  resign  his  com-  f  Capt.  Lothrop  belonged  to  Beverley,  and 

mission,  they  refused  to  receive  it.     This  re-  had  done  exploits  in  the  Pequot  war.  —  Letter 

quest  was  made  Sept.  6th,  1676,  from  which  from  Boston,  dated  28th  Dec,  1675.     Harleian 

the  accompanying  signature  is  copied.  Miscel.,  v.  p.  400,  4to  ed. 


1675.]  SPRINGFIELD    BURNT.  411 

Noddle's  Island ;   "  he  returning  them  to  the  order  of  the  Council." 
On  the  next  day,  an  Indian,  named  Little  John,  was  hanged  in 
Boston  for  shooting  one  Stoughton  at  Taunton. 
The  frontier  along  the  Connecticut  river  being  in  great  danger  and 
alarm,  since  the  defeat  of  Captain  Lothrop,  the  General  Court  commis- 
sioned Mr.  Samuel  Appleton,   one  of   its   members,  to  com- 
mand a  company  of  one  hundred  men,  and  to  lead  them  into 
that  remote  region.     He  proceeded  at  once  to  the  relief  of  the  dis- 
tressed settlements,  and  was  soon  after  appointed  Commander-in-Chief 
in  those  parts;*  Major  John  Pinchon  not  being  able  to  attend  to  the 
service. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  soldiers  from  Spring- 
field, a  numerous  body  of  the  enemy  fell  upon  and  burnt  the 
greater  part  of  that  town,  —  thirty  dwelling-houses  and  about  twenty- 
five  barns,  the  mills  and  other  buildings,  and  killed  several  people. 
Fearing  the  towns  below  would  next  be  attempted,  Major  Appleton 
fixed  his  he  ad- quarters  at  Hadley  ;  Captain  Mosley  and  Cap- 
tain Jonathan  Poolef  were  stationed  at  Hatfield,  and  Major 
Treat,  of  the  Connecticut  forces,  at  Northampton.  Suddenly,  in  the 
evening  of  the  nineteenth  of  October,  seven  or  eight  hundred  of  the 
enemy  made  an  attack  upon  the  former  place.  After  killing  several  of 
Captain  Mosley's  men  who  were  upon  an  outpost,  and  cutting  off  a 
scout,  they  entered  that  end  of  the  town  where  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  was,  who,  with  great  courage  and  resolution,  drove  them  out 
with  loss,  while  Captain  Poole  succeeded  in  forcing  them  to  retire  from 
the  other  end,  where  he  was  posted.  In  this  affair  Major  Appleton 
narrowly  escaped  with  his  life  ;  a  bullet  passed  through  the  hair  of  his 
head, J  and  one  of  his  sergeants,  Freegrace  Norton,  was  mortally 
wounded  by  his  side. 

From  this  time  till  the  next  spring  there  was  not  much  trouble  given 
to  the  western  settlements ;  the  enemy  thinking  it  time,  perhaps,  to 
provide  a  winter's  retreat  and  means  of  support.    However,  some  con- 
tinued about  Northampton,  waylaying  the  people  as  they  went 
into  their  fields,  killing  several,  and  burning  four  or  five  nouses. 
Two  days  before,  they  killed  three  of  the  inhabitants  of  Westfield. 

In  a  letter  of  Major  Pynchon  to  the  Council,  early  in  October,  he 
recommended  falling  upon  the  enemy  in  the  winter  ;  having  seen  that 

*  The  accompanying  Autograph  of  Major  name  of  "  Capt.  Jonathan  Poole  "  is  found 
Appleton  is  copied  from  a  letter  which  he  upon  the  Treasurer's  books  of  the  Colony,  as 
wrote  while  in  command  on  the  Connecticut.      having  served  in  Philip's  war. 

f  I  have  conjecturally  supplied  Capt.  Poole's  J  "  By   that    whisper  telling  him,"    says 

Christian  name.     The  General  Court,  8:4:  Hubbard,  "  that  Death  was  very  near,  but  did 

1671,  appointed    "Jonathan   Poole  Quarter-  him  no  other  harm."  —  Narrative,  43.    Ten  of 

master  to   the    troops   commanded   by   Capt.  the  English  were  killed,  while  the  loss  of  the 

Edward  Hutchinson."     I  have  supposed  Capt.  Indians  could  not  be  known,  as  they  carried  off 

Poole  of  1675  to  be  the  same  person.    The  their  killed  and  wounded. 


412  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1675. 

little  could  be  effected  against  them  in  the  summer,  and  that  they  must 
of  necessity  be  more  confined  to  certain  localities  in  the  time  of  frost  and 
snow.  Accordingly,  when  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies 
met  at  Boston,  it  was  agreed  that  one  thousand  men  should  be 
raised,  in  addition  to  those  already  in  the  service  ;  and  that 
they  should  be  in  readiness  to  march  "  att  one  houres  warning  "  ;  that 
as  the  Narragansets  had  not  delivered  up  the  Wampanoags,  according  to 
treaty,  an  army  should  march  into  their  country,  and  proceed  against 
them  as  enemies.  Over  this  force  Governor  Josiah  Winslow,  of  Plym- 
outh, was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief.  Of  the  thousand  men, 
Massachusetts  was  to  furnish  527,  Plymouth  158,  and  Connecticut  315. 

It  is  remarked  that  the  winter  came  on  much  earlier  this  year  than 
usual,  and  it  was  pretty  soon  ascertained  that  the  Indians  had  chosen 
for  their  retreat  a  dismal  swamp  in  the  Narraganset  country.  There 
they  had  laid  in  a  large  amount  of  provisions  of  various  kinds  for  the 
winter.  On  an  island  of  several  acres  they  had  erected  a  strong  forti- 
fication by  felled  trees.  Within  this  were  their  wigwams  and  pro- 
visions, and  there  were  collected,  as  was  judged,  two  or  three  thou- 
sand Indians  of  both  sexes,  old  and  young. 

Before  the  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  just  mentioned,  the  Au- 
thorities at  Boston  had  sent  messengers  to  Narraganset  to  ascertain 
how  the  Chiefs  appeared  disposed,  and  to  invite  them  to  Boston  to  con- 
fer with  them  upon  the  state  of  affairs.  Soon  after,  four  Chiefs  came 
to  Boston  accordingly,  and  executed  a  treaty.  By  this  they 
confirmed  that  of  Pettyquanscot,  made  in  the  beginning  of  the 
war  ;  they  agreed  also  that  in  ten  days  they  would  deliver  at  Boston 
all  those  Indians  who  were  fled  to  them,  and  who  had  been  in  hostility 
against  the  English.  The  signers  of  this  treaty  were  the  great  Chiefs 
Quanonchett,*  or  Canonchet,  Manatanoo,  Ahanmanpowet,  and  Corn- 
man,  on  the  behalf  of  Ninigret.  Richard  Smith,  James  Browne, 
Samuel  Gorton,  Junior,  and  John  Nowhenetts,  were  witnesses.  The 
two  last  were  interpreters.! 

As  might  have  been,  and  probably  was,  expected  by  the  English,  no 
part  of  the  treaty  was  observed.     Therefore,  on  the  tenth  of  December, 


*  Believed  to  have  been  the  greatest  Chief  indignantly  replied,  "  I  will  never  deliver  up  a 
then  living  among  the  Narragansets.  He  Wampanoag,  nor  the  paring  of  a  Wampa- 
was  son  of  the  unfortunate  Miantonimo,  noag's  nail  to  Englishmen."  And  when  told 
and  was  sometimes  called  Nanuntenoo.  that  then  he  should  be  put  to  death,  he  replied, 
Whether  he  and  his  companions  understood  "  I  like  it  well.  I  shall  die  before  my  heart  is 
the  nature  of  the  treaty  which  they  executed  soft,  or  have  said  anything  unworthy  of  my- 
at  this  time  may  admit  of  question.  For  it  self."  He  was  not  long  after  shot  at  Stoning- 
was  next  to  an  impossibility  for  them  to  have  ton,  and  his  body  shared  the  ignominious  fate 
surrendered    the  Wampanoags     if  they    had   of  that  of  King  Philip. 

really  been  disposed  to  do  so.  However,  they  f  Calls  for  help  from  the  inhabitants  upon 
were  accused  of  the  worst  kind  of  treachery  the  Pascataqua  were  at  this  time  very  ur- 
for  not  performing  their  engagements.  And  gent,  and  Governor  Leverett  issued  an  order, 
when,  in  the  following  April,  Nanuntenoo  that,  "  William  Walderne  hath  liberty  for  a 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Connecticut  army,  berrell  of  powder  and  eight  gones  to  carry  to 
his  captors  taunted  him  with  breaking  his  the  Eastward."  It  was  dated  28  Oct.,  1675. 
promise  to  deliver  up  the  Wampanoags,  he  —  Original  Paper. 


1G75.]  EXPEDITION   AGAINST   NARRAGANSET.  413 

seven  companies  of  foot  and  horse  marched  from  Boston  for  the 

Narraganset  country.      Over  these,  Major  Appleton  had  the 

chief  command.     The  general  rendezvous  was  at  Capt.  Richard  Smith's, 

and  here  the  forces  all  assembled  from  the  three  colonies,  and  on  the 

eighteenth  of  December  marched  for  the  Indian  fort,  intendiner 

T)of*    IS 

to  quarter  at  night  at  the  garrison  of  Mr.  Jerah  Bull  ;  but  that 
had  been  taken  by  the  enemy  two  days  before,  and  all  the  people  slain, 
seventeen  in  number.  So  "  there  was  no  shelter  left,  either  for  officer 
or  private  soldier,"  and  they  were  obliged  to  march  on  through  a  deep 
snow,  still  falling,  and  the  weather  was  extremely  cold  ;  "  finding  no 
other  defence  all  that  night,  save  the  open  air,  nor  other  covering  than 

a  cold,  moist  fleece  of  snow."     At  one  of  the  clock  the  next 

Dec   1'1 

day  they  came  to  the  fort,  and  after  three  or  four  hours  of  hard 
fighting,  succeeded  in  taking  it,  and  putting  the  Indians  to  flight. 
There  was  but  one  entrance  into  it,  and  that  was  on  a  long  tree,  so 
felled  as  to  reach  from  the  upland  outside  to  the  breastwork  ;  and  this 
entrance  was  defended  by  a  sort  of  block-house  in  front,  and  flankers 
on  each  side  of  it.  When  the  English  came  to  the  place,  the  men 
would  not  be  restrained,  but  rushed  on  without  waiting  for  the  word  of 
command,  and  a  soldier,  named  John  Raymond,  of  Middleborough,  was 
the  first  to  enter  the  fort.* 

The  army,  coming  suddenly  upon  the  enemy,  "  had  no  time  either  to 
draw  up  in  any  order  or  form  of  battle,  nor  yet  opportunity  to  consult 
where  or  how  to  assault."  However,  the  Boston  men  led  the  van,  and 
Mosley  was  the  first  captain  who  succeeded  in  scaling  the  Indian  breast- 
work. To  attack  even  Indians  under  such  circumstances,  was  to  rush 
into  the  very  jaws  of  death.  Of  the  seven  Massachusetts  captains, 
three  were  killed  ;  namely,  Captain  Isaac  Johnson  of  Roxbury,  Captain 
Joseph  Gardner  of  Salem,  and  Captain  Nathaniel  Davenport  of  Boston. 
The  first  named  was  shot  dead  upon  the  tree,  as  he  was  undauntedly 
leading  on  his  men  ;  and  the  last  was  mortally  wounded  after  he  had 
entered  the  fort ;  receiving  at  once  three  fatal  wounds,  f  Before  he 
expired,  he  called  Mr.  Edward  Tyng,  his  lieutenant,  to  him,  gave  him 
his  gun  in  charge,  and  committed  to  him  the  command  of  his  company, 
and  immediately  died.  Being  dressed  in  a  full  buff  suit,  it  was  sup- 
posed the  Indians  took  him  for  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  many 
aimed  at  him  at  once.  Tyng  was  wounded  in  the  course  of  the  fight, 
but  recovered.  Captain  Davenport's  men  were  extremely  grieved  at 
the  death  of  their  leader ;  he  having,  by  his  courteous  carriage  much 

*  This  John  Raymond,  or  Rayment,  survived       f  From  a  document  in  the  Mass.  Archives, 
the  fight.     A  son  of  his,  also  named  John,  re-   drawn    up  4    December    preceding,    the    ac- 
ceived  from  the  General  Court  a  grant  of  land    companying  copy  of  Capt.  Davenport's  Auto- 
in  consideration  of  his  father's  services  in  that   graph  is  obtained, 
desperate  enterprise.  The  fam- 
ily removed    from   Middlebo- 
rough, it  is  believed,  and  the 
name  was  not  for  many  years 
known  there,  and  perhaps  not 
since  the  removal  of  this  family. 


414 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


[1675. 


attached  them  to  himself,  although  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  most  of 
them  when  he  was  appointed  their  captain.  On  which  occasion  he 
made  "  a  very  civil  speech,"  and  allowed  them  to  choose  their  sergeants 
themselves.  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Swain,  of  Major  Appleton's  company,  was 
also  wounded,  as  was  also  Phineas  Upham,  lieutenant  to  Captain  John- 
son, mortally,  though  he  survived  several  months  ;  and  Lieut.  Perez 
Savage,  the  same  wounded  in  the  beginning  of  the  war. 

The  number  of  Indians  slain  in  this  sanguinary  battle  was  never 
accurately  known  ;  but,  according  to  the  best  Historian  of  the  time,* 
they  "  lost  seven  hundred  fighting  men,  besides  three  hundred  that  died 
of  their  wounds  :  the  number  of  old  men,  women  and  children,  that 
perished  either  by  fire,  or  that  were  starved  with  hunger  and  cold,  none 
of  them  could  tell."  This  was  "  confessed  by  Potock,  a  great  Coun- 
sellor amongst  them,  afterwards  taken  at  Rhode  Island  and  put  to  death 
at  Boston.  There  were  above  eighty  of  the  English  slain,  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  wounded  that  recovered  afterwards."  f 


*  The  Eev.  William  Hubbard,  in  his  Narra- 
tive, p.  54.  That  eminent  gentleman's  auto- 
graph, being  of  rare  occurrence,  is  copied  here. 


f  This  estimate  is  probably  too  low,  as  by 
papers  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives  it  appears 
that  93  were  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts forces.  As  a  complete  list  of  them  has 
never  been  printed,  one  here  follows  :  — 

"  Soldiers  killed  and  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Narraganset  Fort." 

Of  Major  Appleton's  company:  —  Samuel 
Taylor  of  Ipswich,  Isaac  lllery  [Ellery?], 
Gloucester  ;  Daniel  Kolfe,  Newbury  ;  Samuel 
Taylor,  Rowley  ;  slain,  four.  Lft.  Jeremiah 
Swain,  Reading;  Roger  Marks,  Andover;  Isaac 
Ilsley,  William  Standley,  Daniel  Somersby,  Jon- 
athan Emery,  John  Harvey,  Newbury  ;  John 
Denison,  George  Timson,  Thomas  Stone  of  Ips- 
wich ;  Symon  Gowen,  of  Rowley  ;  Benjamin 
Webster,  Salem  ;  Elijah  Thathan,  Woburn  ; 
Thomas  Abey,  Wenham  ;  Benjamin  Langdon, 
Boston  ;  Solomon  Watts,  Roxbury  ;  John  War- 
ner, Charlestown  ;  Samuel  Bouterick,  Cam- 
bridge ;  wounded,  eighteen,  and  left  at  Rhode 
Island,  except  Lieut.  Swain  and  Roger  Marks. 

Of  Capt.  Mosley's  company :  —  John  Farmer, 
Richard  Barnam,  Jerre  Stockes,  of  Boston ; 
William  Bourle,  Charlestown  ;  Edmund  Cham- 
berlaine,  Maiden  ;  Richard  Updick,  Narra- 
ganset ;  slain,  six.  Lieut.  Perez  Savage,  John 
Brandon,  Boston  ;  John  Sherman,  Watertown  ; 
James  Updick,  Boston;  James  Chadwick, Mai- 
den ;  John  Fuller,  Dedham  ;  John  Shepheard, 
Jacob  Coole,  Charlestown  ;  Richard  Addams, 
Sudbury  ;  wounded,  nine.  Five  left  at  Rhode 
Island  to  attend  the  wounded,  namely,  Samuel 
Fordich,  Thomas  Weales,  James  Dighenton, 
Joseph  Low,  and  Joshua  Silverwood  ;  to  whom 
no  residences  are  assigned. 


Of  Capt.  Oliver's  Company :  —  Thomas 
Broune  for  Paul  Bat,  Alexander  Forbes, 
Splende  Dreror,  servant  to  Daniel  Turner,  Jr., 
James  Thomas,  Henry  Hall  for  Mr.  [Peter?] 
Ligett,  of  Boston  ;  slain,  five,  except  Henry 
Hall,  who  is  set  down  as  lost.  Sergt.  Peter 
Bennet,  Sergt.  [Henry]  Timberley  [Timberlake 
in  the  Treasurer's  books],  James  Lendall,  Wil- 
liam Kemble,  servant  to  John  Cleer,  Ezekiel 
Gilman,  Mark  Rounds,  servant  to  Henry  Kem- 
ble, Alexander  Bogell,  Boston  ;  John  Casey, 
servant  to  Thomas  Gardner,  Muddy  River  ; 
wounded,  eight,  seven  of  whom  were  left  at 
R.  Island. 

Of  Capt.  Davenport's  Company  :  —  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Davenport,  Sergt.  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, Boston  ;  George  Howard,  Concord  ;  John 
Hagar,  Watertown  ;  killed,  four.  Samuel 
Swayn,  Samuel  Read,  Cambridge ;  Samuel 
Stocker,  Medford  ;  Nathaniel  Hely,  Isaac  Lear- 
ned, Watertown  ;  Thomas  Browne,  Abraham 
Temple,  Concord  ;  David  Batchelor,  Reading  ; 
Caleb  Symonds,  John  Barker,  Zachary  Snow, 
Woburn  ;  wounded,  eleven. 

Of  Capt.  Johnson's  Company  :  —  Capt.  Isaac 
Johnson,  Roxbury ;  Thomas  Danfort,  Dor- 
chester ;   Jonathan   Pitcher  , ;  Allen 

Duglen,  Weymouth  ;  killed,  four.  John  Wat- 
son, Wm.  Linckorn,  Roxbury ;  John  Spur, 
Dorchester  ;  Benjamin  Crane,  Milton  ;  John 
Langley,  John  Taxton  [Thaxter?],  John  Bull, 
Hingham ;  Isaac  King,  Weymouth  ;  Lieut. 
Phineas  Upham,  Maiden  ;  wounded,  eight,  and 
were  at  Rhode  Island,  6  Jan.  1675-6. 

Of  Capt.  Gardiner's  Company  :  —  Joseph 
Price  H],  Samuel  Pikeworth,  Salem  ;  Mark 
Batchder, Wenham;  killed,  three,  on  their  march 
before  they  arrived  at  the  fort ;  Capt.  Joseph 
Gardiner,  Salem  ;  Abra  Switchell,  Marblehead  ; 
Joseph  Soames,  Cape  Anne  ;  Robert  Andrews, 
Topsfield ;  killed,  four,  at  the  fort.  Charles 
Knight,  Thomas  Flint,  Joseph  Holeton,  Salem  ; 
Nicholas    Hakins,   John    Farrington,   Lynn ; 


1675.]  NARRAGANSET    TORT   FIGHT.  415 

This  was  the  first,  or  by  far  the  greatest  blow  they  had  received  since 
the  war  began.  Their  aged  and  wise  men,  and  Counsellors,  as  well  as 
a  vast  number  of  their  warriors,  were  in  this  encounter  cut  off.  Nor  did 
their  misfortunes  end  here.  Their  store-houses  and  their  stores  perished 
with  them.  Despair  and  desperation  were  depicted  in  their  countenances ; 
famine  and  the  severities  of  a  long  winter  stared  them  in  the  face. 

The  bravery  displayed  by  the  English  soldiers  at  the  Narraganset  fort 
fight  has  many  parallels,  but  none  superior  in  the  records  of  history. 
All  the  three  colonies  were  well  represented  in  it,  and  there  is  nothing 
to  the  discredit  of  either  to  be  met  with  in  the  often-written  story.  The 
soldiers  of  each  colony  seem  to  have  vied  with  the  others  in  sharing  its 
hazards  as  well  as  its  glories.  On  casting  an  eye  upon  the  lists  of  the 
officers,  it  will  be  seen  that  those  of  Connecticut  and  Plymouth  suffered 
about  equally  with  those  of  Massachusetts.  Of  the  former,  Capt.  John 
Gallop,  of  New  London,  Capt.  Samuel  Marshall,  of  Windsor,  and  Capt. 
Robert  Seely,  of  Stratford,  were  killed  in  the  engagement ;  Capt. 
William  Bradford,  of  Plymouth,  was  wounded  by  a  musket-ball,  which, 
he  carried  in  his  body  ever  after ;  Capt.  John  Gorham,  of  Barnstable, 
who,  though  he  escaped  the  arrows  of  the  enemy,  died  of  a  fever,  occa- 
sioned by  the  hardships  of  the  expedition  ;  and,  the  afterwards  cele- 
brated Captain  Church,  a  volunteer  in  the  staff  of  General  Winslow, 
was  severely  wounded 

Robert  Cocks,  Marblehead  ;  Eben  Baker,  Jo-  Of  Capt.  Prentice's  Troop  :  —  JohnWyman, 
seph  Abbot,  Andover  ;  Edward  Hardin,  Cape  [no  residence  given]  slain ;  Nathaniel  Richard- 
Anne  ;  Christopher  Read,  Beverly;  wounded,  son,  Nathaniel  Belins,  [Billings?]  Woburn  ; 
ten.  Samuel  Stone,  Cambridge  ;  wounded,  three. 


416  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1676. 


CHAPTER    XLV 

Winter  Excursions. —  Sudbury  attacked.  —  Lancaster  burnt.  —  Medfield  attacked.  —  Praying 
Indians  accused.  —  Fearful  Clamors.  —  Many  Houses  burnt  at  Groton.  —  Furious  Attack  on 
Northampton.  —  Praying  Indians  sent  to  the  Islands  in  the  Harbor.  —  Extensive  Burnings 
at  Marlborough,  Simsbury,  Kehoboth  and  Providence.  —  Praying  Indians  employed.  —  Defeat 
of  Capt.  Wadsworth. —  Capt.  William  Turner.  —  Marches  for  the  Connecticut  Valley. — 
Saves  Northampton.  —  Plans  an  Expedition  against  a  large  body  at  the  Falls  above  Deerfield. 

—  Surprises  them  with  great  Slaughter.  — Is  killed  in  his  Retreat.  —  Fall  of  King  Philip.  — 
Executions.  —  Peter  Jethro's  Perfidy.  —  Sagamore  John.  —  Execution  of  other  Chiefs. — 
James  the  Printer.  —  Fate  of  Capt.  Thomas  Lake.  —  Suffering  Condition  of  the  Inhabitants. 

—  Relief  from  Ireland  and  England. 

^Sl&lS?  EXCURSIONS   by  horse   and   foot  were  constantly 

^^3pgl**_^     made   in  various    directions  during   the  winter,  and 
(M^^^^^^\   many  small  clans  of  the  enemy  were  broken  up,  many 
^il^p^.x.';:,^    captives  taken,  and  many  killed.*     In  these  excur- 
/ttp  |^i     sions,  the  Christian  Indians  bore  a  conspicuous  part, 

(^ffp^^^ttj)    However,  there  were  enough  of  the  enemy  left  to  do 
*Q^  *W     much  mischief,  and  they  were  found  to  be  collecting 

~^W^  in  the  Nipmuck  country  ;  a  small  party  surprised 

TURNER-  '  '    Sudbury,  killing  and  carrying  off  ten  persons, 

and  on  the  tenth  of  February,  Lancaster  was  chiefly  laid  in  ashes, 
and  about  fifty  people  killed,  and  carried  into  captivity.  Five 
days  after,  Captain  Mosley  was  ordered  to  march  with  his  com- 
pany to  that  place.  A  few  days  later,  Philip  with  a  large 
company  attacked  Medfield,  within  about  twenty-two  miles  of 
Boston,  killing  near  twenty  of  its  inhabitants,  and  doing  mis- 
chief to  the  amount  of  about  2145  pounds,  exclusive  of  buildings. 

Complaints  continued  against  the  Praying  Indians,  and  clamors  ran 
so  high  against  them  in  Boston,  that  there  were  fears  of  serious  tumults. 
Thomas  Jay  was  held  for  trial  for  "  reproaching  General  Wins- 
low,  the  authorities  of  the  country,  and  other  misdemeanors." 
And  one  Richard  Scott  was  soon  after  imprisoned  for  threatening  the 
lives  of  Captain  Gookin  and  Mr.  Thomas  Danforth. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  March  about  forty  houses  were  consumed 
at  Groton,  and  the  next  day  Northampton  came  near  being  all 
destroyed  ;  being  attacked  at  three  points  at  once,  eleven  people 
killed  and  wounded,  and  eleven  buildings  were  set  on  fire.  As  the 
spring  advanced,  the  Indians  were  able  to  proceed  in  their  old  mode  of 
warfare  ;    scattering  themselves   in   small   numbers,  in  all  directions, 

*  Jan.  6th.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  "  It  the  others  to  have  each  of  them  a  figure  of 
is  ordered  that  the  Secretary  issue  forth  war-  white  in  them,  No.  from  1  to  6.  And  four 
rant  to  Colhissary  John  Fayreweather,  forth  small  drums,  to  be  sent  up  to  the  army  of  Nar- 
with  to  impress  and  provide  seven  Colours,  raganset,  for  the  use  of  the  severall  companies 
made  of  red  sarcenet,  each  to  be  a  yard  square,  there  belonging  to  this  Colony."  —  Original 
One  to  be  made  with  a  blaze  of  white  in  it,    Minutes. 


1676.]  MANY    PLACES    BURNT.  417 

shooting  down  the  unsuspecting,  killing  their  cattle  and  burning  their 
buildings.  Throughout  March,  April,  May  and  June,  a  continued 
record  of  mischiefs  is  found.  Many  of  the  Praying  Indians  are  taken 
from  their  residences  and  sent  to  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  as  no  other 
means  for  their  preservation  seemed  to  be  attainable. 

In  a  single  day  of  March,  several  people  are  killed  at  Spring- 
field, most  of  the  houses  burned  in  Marlborough,  and  Simsbury 
in  Connecticut  is  laid  in  ashes.  Two  days  after,  sixty-six  buildings 
arc  burnt  at  Rehoboth,  and  on  the  following  day,  fifty-four  houses  are 
burnt  in  Providence.  But  the  saddest  event  of  that  single  day 
of  March  remains  to  be  recorded.  Capt.  Michael  Peirse,  of 
Scituate,  Brother  of  Captain  Peirse,  of  London,  was  ambushed  at  Paw- 
tucket,  and  slain  with  almost  his  whole  force,  consisting  of  fifty  English 
and  about  twenty  friendly  Indians.  This  spread  a  cloud  of  the  darkest 
gloom  over  the  country.  Still,  the  Government  did  not  relax  its  exer- 
tions, while  its  soldiers  were  dearly  purchasing  wisdom,  and  learning  to 
proceed  with  more  caution  against  an  enemy  which  many  had  held  in 
too  much  contempt.  Captain  Gookin  and  others  had  all  along  urged  the 
Government  at  Boston  to  employ  and  send  out  bands  of  the  Pray- 
ing Indians  against  the  enemy,  under  discreet  English  officers  ;  but 
their  fidelity  was  so  strongly  suspected  by  the  multitude,  that  their 
services  were  at  this  time  nearly  neglected.  But  it  was,  at  this  crisis 
of  the  war,  decided  to  increase  the  opposing  force  by  employing  some 
of  those  Indians ;  and  finally  a  company  of  them  was  put  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hunting,*  and  others  under  officers  from 
among  themselves,  and  all  of  them  rendered  services  fully  equal  to  the 
expectations  of  their  friends,  and  to  the  corresponding  confusion  of  their 
enemies. 

In  the  mean  time,  through  the  good  offices  of  some  of  these  Indians, 
a  correspondence  was  opened  between  the  authorities  in  Boston  and  the 
hostile  party  in  the  Nipmuck  country,  which  eventually  led  to  the 
redemption  of  several  prisoners  out  of  their  hands  ;  among  whom  was 
Mrs.  Mary  Rowlandson  and  her  family,  taken  captive  when  Lancaster 
was  destroyed.  She  was  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Rowlandson,  the 
minister  of  that  town,  j 

Notwithstanding  the  severe  losses  in  men  which  the  country  had 
sustained,  great  numbers  were  still  ranging  the  woods  in  search  of  the 
enemy.  Capt.  Jonathan  Poole,  Capt.  John  Whipple,  Capt.  Samuel 
Hunting,  Capt.  John  Cutler,  Capt.  John  Jacob,  Capt.  Thomas  Brattle, 

*  He  was  at  this  time  of  Charlestown.  In  she  afterwards  published,  she  says,  "  The 
many  important  expeditions  the  Praying  In-  twenty  pounds,  the  price  of  my  redemption, 
dians  were  led  by  him.  Was  raised  by  some  Boston  gentlewomen,  and 

Mr.  Usher,  whose  bounty  and  charity  I 
would  not  forget  to  make  mention  of. ' ' —  Indian 
Captivities,'  56.  Mrs.  Kowlandson  was  a 
daughter  of  a  Mr.  John  White,  of  Lancaster, 
f  She  was  redeemed  after  a  captivity  of  eleven  —  Willard,  Hist.  Lancaster  in  Worcester  Mag- 
weeks  and  five  days.  On  the  3d  of  May  she  f*™-  Her  Narrative  was  very  popular,  and 
arrived  in  Boston,  and  in  the  narrative  which    has  Pagsed  through  many  editions. 

53 


418  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1676 

Capt.  Richard  Sutton,  Capt.  Joseph  Sill,  Capt.  William  Hathorne, 
Capt.  Thomas  Clarke,  Capt.  William  Turner  and  Capt.  Edward  Cowell, 
Capt.  Hugh  Mason,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Reynolds,  and  several  others,  were 
at  different  times  upon  expeditions  into  the  Indian  country.  In  defiance 
of  all  these,  however,  Philip  was  able  to  concentrate  a  body  of  about 
four  hundred  of  his  followers  near  Sudbury,  and  to  ambush 
pri  '  Capt.  Samuel  Wadsworth,  and  Capt.  Samuel  Brocklebank,  with 
about  seventy  men,  as  they  were  upon  a  march  from  Boston  to  relieve 
Marlborough.  A  desperate  fight  ensued,  in  which  both  the  commanders 
were  slain,  and  above  half  of  their  men ;  "as  brave  soldiers  as  any 
ever  employed  in  the  present  service."  A  party  of  the  same  Indians 
the  same  day  fell  in  with  Capt.  Cowell,  of  Boston,  with  about  eighteen 
men,  attacked  him,  and  killed  several  of  his  party. 

Capt.  William  Turner,  of  Boston,  an  old  soldier,  offered  his  services 
to  the  Government,  in  the  commencement  of  the  war,  but  they  were 
slighted  and  refused.  It  was  not  agreeable  to  the  feelings  of  some  in 
power,  to  take  into  their  service  one  whom  they  had  formerly  almost 
ruined,  because  he  could  not  conscientiously  renounce  his  religion. 
Affairs  were  now  in  some  degree  changed,  and  Captain  Turner  was 
requested  to  raise  a  company  and  to  take  the  field.  He  said  the  chances 
for  his  usefulness  in  the  war,  he  feared,  were  past ;  for  the  men,  who 
were  then  ready  to  follow  him,  were  many  of  them  gone  from  Boston, 
or  were  otherwise  employed.  Notwithstanding,  like  a  true  lover  of  his 
country,  he  consented  to  enter  upon  the  service  ;  and,  with  Mr.  Edward 
Drinker  for  his  lieutenant,  and  a  company  of  about  one  hundred  men,* 
he  was  soon  ready  to  march. 

*  "  A  list  of  Capt.  Wm.  Turner's  men,  as  "  This  is  a  true  list  of  such  as  came  out  of 

they  came  from  Boston,  taken  at  Medfield,  Boston  with  me,  as  witness  my  hand,  Feb.  the 

1675-6  ;  namely  :  —  22d.  1675-6. 

"  William  Turner,  Capt.;  Edward  Drinker,  f «   ?/?     ^___          a/_ 

Lieut.;   William  Parsons,  Ezekiel   Guilman,  /fAfl£r          J  ^^^ 


Sergeants;  Philip  Squire,  Thos.  Elliot,  Thos. 
Barnard,  James  Knott,  Corporals;  Jona. 
Orris,  Wm.  Turner,  Jr.,  Ephm.  Roper,  John  "  Received  these  men  whose  names  follow  at 
Sawey,  Richd.  Cheevers,  Josiah  Man,  Elias  Marlborough,  from  Captaine  Wadsworth  and 
Tyffe,  Robert  Seares,  Saml.  Rawlins,  Thos.  from  Capt.  Reynolds  : — Phillip  Mettoons,  for 
Brisantine,  Josiah  Tay,  Roger  Jones,  Jas.  vohom  I  took  in  exchange,  John  Thropp  at 
Verin,  Thos.  Chard,  Henry  Dawson,  Saml.  [North]  Hampton  ;  John  Newman  made  Corpl. 
Davis,  Mark  Wood,  Robt.  Miller,  John  Conne-  17  March,  75-6.  John  Samfdd,  John  Chap- 
ball,  Richd.  Staines,  Joseph  Gallop,  John  pie,  Henry  Beresford,  Thos.  Wells,  Jas.  Bur- 
Roberts,  Hee.  Steward,  James  Burges,  Mat-  rell,  John  Walker,  Joseph  Lamson,  Joseph 
thias  Smith,  Saml.  Gallop,  Barthol.  Whitwell,  Bickner,  Wm.  Clow,  Wm.  Twing,  Joseph  Lyon, 
Saml.  Judkins,  Richd.  Knight,  Joseph  Priest,  Richd.  Francis,  Wm.  Hartford,  Solomon  Lowd, 
Peaceful  Clarke,  Henry  Kerby,  Edward  Wm.  Bosway,  John  Glide,  Joshua  Lane,  James 
Wrignt,  Phillip  Jessop,  Thos.  Skinner,  Cler. ;  Hewes,  Jonathan  Duninge,  William  Jaques, 
John  Newton,  cleared  by  Council  at  Medfield;  Wm.  Manly,  George  Riply,  Phill.  Sandy,  Dig- 
Nathl.  Adams,  sick  at  Medfield;  Robert  Briant,  gory  Serg[ean]t,  John  Broughton,  John  Role- 
toounded  at  Dedham.  stone,  Wm.  Jemison,  Edwd.  Sampson,  John 
"  A  list  of  them  cleared  at  Marlborough  :  —  Avis,  Joseph  Griffin,  Henry  Finch,  Samll.  Chesy, 
Henry  Timberleggs  [Timberlake] ,  Ensign;  Joseph  Bateman,  James  Machrenell,  killed  at 
Wm.  Wade,  Clement  Hamblinge  [Hamblen],  [North]  Hampton,  Mar.  14.  These  men  [follow- 
Jacob  Hanson,  John  Brackenbury,  Nathl.  ing]  were  left  at  Quabaug  the  4th  of  March, 
Babcock,  John  Carthew,  Thos.  Condy,  John  1675-6  :  —  Henry  Pellington,  David  Crentch, 
Smith,  Joseph  Dindly,  Amos  [Indian],  Henry  John  Gromwell  [Cromwell'?],  Richd.  Sutton, 
Wright,  Saml.  Holmes,  James  Parker,  Fearnot  David  Jones,  Tho.  Brisanton,  Tho.  Stacy,  Thos. 
Shaw,  Wm.  Robbins,  James  Travis,  John  Jay.  Chapman,   Augustine    John,   James    Cullen 


1G76.]  THE   FALL   FIGHT.  419 

They  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  Connecticut  river  valley,  for  the 

relief  of  Northampton  and  the  other  towns  there,  under  the   command 

of    Major     Savage.      It    was    while     Capt.     Turner    was   at 

Northampton,  that  the   Indians   so   furiously  beset  that  place, 

and  it  was  owing  to  his  exertions,  and  those  in  his  company,  that  the 

town  was  saved  from  total  ruin,  and  the  Indians  forced  to  retire. 

Captain  Turner  continued  in  that  region  until  the  nineteenth  of  May 
following,  having  for  some  time  sustained  the  chief  command,  with 
which  Major  Savage  had  invested  him  on  his  returning  to  Boston  some 
time  before.  About  the  second  week  in  April  it  was  ascertained  that 
a  large  body  of  the  enemy  were  at  the  Great  Falls  in  the  Connecti- 
cut river,  above  Deerfield.  They  had  taken  up  their  quarters  there  to 
improve  the  fishing  season,  and  from  this  point  parties  set  out  against 
the  settlements  of  the  English.  Captain  Turner  determined  to 
surprise  them.  He,  therefore,  planned  a  secret  expedition,  taking  with 
him  Capt.  Samuel  Holioke,  of  Springfield,  and  about  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  men.  The  surprise  was  complete,  and  the 
destruction  of  the  enemy  was  very  great.  But  in  the  retreat  the  Eng- 
lish were  met  by  a  fresh  party  of  the  enemy,  who  attacked  them  at 
disadvantage,  as  they  were  crossing  Green  Elver,  killed  Captain  Turner, 
and  about  thirty  of  his  men.  Thus  perished  the  "brave  and  resolute 
Captain  Turner."  Captain  Holioke,  though  he  survived  the  fight,  died 
of  a  surfeit  brought  on  by  it,  ."  in  September  following  about  Boston." 
He  was  twenty-nine  years  old,  wanting  four  days. 

The  Fall  Fight,  as  it  was  for  a  long  time  called,  was  the  last  great 
battle  of  the  war  ;  and,  as  a  chronicler  of  the  time  said,  "  The  enemy 
now  went  down  the  wind  apace."  Their  great  haunts  and  hiding- 
places  were  broken  up.  Philip  retreated  out  of  the  Nipmuck  country, 
and  he  and  his  great  chiefs  were  hunted  from  place  to  place  until, 
one  after  another,  they  fell  into  the  hands  of  their  pursuers.  Philip 
had  many  narrow  escapes,  but,  on  the  twelfth  of  August,  he  was 
surprised  at  Mount  Hope,  near  the  very  place  where  he  had 
begun  the  war,  about  fourteen  months  before.  He  was  not  taken  alive, 
nor  did  an  Englishman  kill  him.  One  of  his  own  men  betrayed  his 
hiding-place  to  the  indefatigable  Captain  Church,  who  with  a  small 
number  of  trusty  followers  surrounded  him  at  dawn  of  day,  and  before 
he  was  aware  of  the  presence  of  his  enemies.  When  Church  had  done 
this,  the  alarm  was  given,  and  Philip,  in  attempting  to  escape  from  the 
swamp  in  which  he  had  taken  refuge,  came  upon  two  of  Church's  sen- 
tinels, an  Englishman  and  an  Indian.  The  gun  of  the  former  missed 
fire,  but  that  of  the  latter,  charged  with  two  bullets,  was  true  to  its 
mission;  sending  one  directly  through  his  heart,  and  the  "other  not 
above  two  inches  from  it."     The  chief  "  fell  upon  his  face  in  the  mud 

Chas.  Duckworth.  The  rest  continued  under  Major  Savage ;  some  by  order  staying  here 
my  command  till  y<=  7th  of  Aprill,  att  which   with  me.  William  Turner," 

time  4  were  left  in  Hadly  by  order  of  y<=  Then  follow  lists  of  Hadley,  Northampton 
Counsell,  and  part  of  the  companie  marched  and  Hatfield  soldiers,  who  served  under  Capt. 
vnder    the   conduct    of  Lieut.  Drinker,  with   Turner  ;  of  these,  in  all  about  130  men. 


420  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1676. 

and  water,  with  his  gun  under  him."  Church  ordered  one  of  his 
Indians  to  behead  and  quarter  him,  which  being  done,  his  head  was 
carried  to  Plymouth  and  set  upon  a  gibbet,  where  it  was  to  be  seen  for 
twenty  years.  His  hands  were  cut  off,  and  one  of  them  was  given  to 
the  Indian  who  shot  him,  and  the  other  was  carried  in  triumph  to  Bos- 
ton, where  it  was  for  some  time  exhibited. 

Such  was  the  joy  caused  by  the  news  of  Philip's  death,  that,  in 
ug'  "  five  days  after,  it  was  celebrated  by  a  Thanksgiving.  .The 
"  Grand  Rebel"  was  now  slain,  and  there  was  not  much  to  be  feared 
from  such  of  his  followers  as  remained.  The  horrors  of  war  may  now 
be  said  to  have  been  past ;  but  there  were  many  captives  in  prison  in 
Boston,  and  upon  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  and  at  Plymouth,  whose 
fate  was  to  be  decided.  While  the  war  was  raging,  sanguinary  and 
vindictive  measures  were  to  be  expected,  but  after  its  dangers  were 
ended,  it  would  have  been  well  had  the  shedding  of  blood  by  way  of 
retaliation  ceased.  A  pardon  had  been  offered  to  those  who  would  sur- 
render themselves  at  Boston  by  a  given  day,  but  in  the  proclamation 
holding  out  the  inducement  to  surrender,  exceptions  were  made,  and 
many  were  executed  in  cold  blood.  Yet  a  few  of  the  cunning  leaders 
had  the  address  to  escape  ;  but  they  purchased  their  own  lives  at  a 
cruel  price,  —  no  less  than  the  betrayal  of  their  own  relatives  into  the 
hands  of  their  enemies.  A  remarkable  instance  of  this  kind  took  place 
among  the  Mpmucks.  A  Chief,  called  by  the  English,  "  Old  Jethro," 
lived  near  Sudbury  when  the  war  begun.  His  own  family  consisted  of 
about  twelve  persons,  and  all  of  them  belonged  to  the  party  of  Praying 
Indians.  Fearing  Jethro  and  his  party  would  join  Philip,  an  attempt 
was  made  to  bring  him  to  Boston,  but  he  escaped,  and  was  afterwards 
suspected  of  being  engaged  in  the  war,  and  was  charged  with  com- 
mitting murders  and  depredations.  He  had  a  son  Peter,  who,  to  save 
his  own  life,  and  understanding  the  terms  of  the  proclamation  before 
spoken  of,  delivered  his  father  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  who 
hanged  him  in  Boston  in  September  of  this  year.  This  depravity 
caused  a  writer  of  the  time  to  exclaim,  "That  abominable  Indian, 
Peter  Jethro,  betrayed  his  own  father,  and  other  Indians  of  his  special 
acquaintance,  unto  death."  He  had  been  educated  by  the  English,  and 
had  been  employed  to  instruct  his  brethren. 

Another  of  the  Nipmuck  Sachems,  called  "  Sagamore  John," 
influenced  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  Indians  to  surrender  at 
Boston.  One  among  them,  old  Matoonas,  he  brought  in  by  force,  being 
"bound  with  cords."  He  was  immediately  condemned  to  death  ;  for, 
he  was  not  only  the  father  of  him  who  was  hung  in  Boston  several  years 
before,  but  he  was  charged  with  being  the  first  to  commit  murder  in 
Massachusetts  Colony  in  this  war.  His  betrayer,  "  Sagamore  John, 
was  desirous  that  he  and  his  men  might  be  the  executioners  ;  where- 
fore Matoonas  was  carried  out  into  the  Common,  and  being  tied  to  a 
tree,  they  then  shot  him  to  death." 

Another  of  those  Chiefs  was  John  Monoco.     He  was  the  leader  at 


1G76.]  JAMES    THE   PRINTER.  421 

the  burning  of  Groton  in  March  preceding,  but  Mr.  Willard's,  the  Min- 
ister's house,  and  Captain  Parker's  house,  being  strongly  garrisoned, 
he  could  not  destroy  them.  He  was  a  bold  and  insolent  Indian,  and  to 
show  his  contempt  of  the  English  religion,  after  he  had  burnt  the 
meeting-house,  he  called  to  Mr.  Willard,  saying,  "  What  will  you  do 
for  a  house  to  pray  to  God  in  now  V*  Yet,  at  the  same  time,  he  talked 
to  Captain  Parker  about  making  peace,  "  mixing  with  his  discourse 
bitter  sarcasms,  with  blasphemous  scoffs."  He  boasted  that  he  had 
burnt  Medfield  and  Lancaster  ;  that  now  he  would  burn  Groton,  and 
next  Chelmsford,  Concord,  Watertown,  Cambridge,  Charlestown,  Rox- 
bury  and  Boston  ;  adding,  that  he  had  four  hundred  and  eighty  men, 
and  said,  "  What  me  will,  me  do."  But,  "  within  a  few  months  after, 
and  only  with  a  few  more  bragadocios  like  himself,  Sagamore  Sam,* 
Old  Jethro,  and  the  Sagamore  of  Quabaog,  were  taken  by  the  English, 
and  was  seen  marching  towards  the  gallows,  through  Boston  streets, 
which  he  threatened  to  burn  at  his  pleasure,  with  an  halter  about  his 
neck,  with  which  he  was  hanged  at  the  town's  end,  September  twenty- 
six,  in  this  present  year,  1676." 

Another  notorious  Indian,  who  had  the  address  to  save  his  neck 
from  the  halter,  was  named  James  the  Printer.  He  had  rendered 
himself  exceedingly  obnoxious,  but  ventured  to  surrender,  and  came 
in  to  Boston  on  the  strength  of  the  proclamation.  He  had  professed 
Christianity,  could  read  and  write  well,  and  was  also  skilled  in  the  art 
of  printing.  Soon  after  the  war  broke  out  he  became  a  "notorious  apos- 
tate," and,  "  like  a  false  villain,  ran  away  from  his  master."  He  had 
been  the  chief  scribe  to  the  hostile  Indians,  wrote  the  insulting  procla- 
mation stuck  up  at  Medfield,!  and  several  of  their  letters  to  the 
Government  at  Boston.  J  Notwithstanding,  on  his  "  promising  for  the 
future  to  venture  personally  against  the  common  enemy,"  his  life  was 
spared.  It  was  doubtless  much  in  his  favor,  that  he  could  work  at 
printing  ;  for  Mr.  Eliot  said,  afterwards,  that  he  was  "  the  only  man 
able  to  compose  the  sheets  and  correct  the  press  of  the  Indian  Bible, 
with  understanding."  Hence,  to  that  "  notorious  apostate,"  the  world 
is  under  no  small  obligation  for  his  agency  in  bringing  into  existence 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  editions  of  the  Bible.  He  learned  his 
trade  of  Mr.  Samuel  Green,  of  Cambridge,  and  probably  followed  the 

*  He  was  Sagamore  of  Nashaway,  "  a  proud  the  time  of  the  war,  was  changed  to  Uskatuh- 

salvage,"  who,  but   little  while  before,   "  in-  gun.     He  was  nephew  to  Matthew,  who  was 

suited  over  the  English,  and  said  if  they  would  nephew   to   Sholan,  the   ancient   Sachem,  and 

first  begge  peace  of  him,  he  would  let  them  have  possessor  of  Lancaster.  —  Harrington,  Century 

peace,  but  he  would  never  ask  it  of  them."  Sermon,  p.  16. 

Tract  in  the  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  p.  130.  fit  may  be  seen  in  The  Book  of  Indians,  p. 

Sam  was  taken,  or  perhaps  surrendered,  at  Pas-  221.     In  one  yet  unpublished,  they  say  to  the 

cataqua   about   the   end  of  August,  and  with  Governor  and  Council,  "  All  you  fine  houses 

another  Indian,  was  put  on  board  Capt.  Nath.  you   lost,   and  you   squaws   and    you    child, 

Fox,  at  Portsmouth,  who  had  Major  Waldron's  — you  eyes  much  big  with  crying,  and  now 

warrant   to   deliver   them  at  Boston;  dated,  on  you  backside  stand."   According  to  his  own 

"  y"  2d  Sept.  1676."    Original  Warrant,  MS.  autograph,  Printer's  Indian  name  was  Wowaus. 

Sam's  Indian  name  was  Shoshanim,  which,  in  t  Ibid.,  267,  231. 


422  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1676. 

printing  business  until  1709.  From  Cambridge  he  came  to  Boston,  and 
was  for  some  time  in  partnership  with  Bartholomew  Green,  in  the  print- 
ing business.  He  was  employed  by  the  Society  for  propagating  the 
Gospel  among  the  Indians  as  early  as  1708,  and  resided  at  or  near 
Mendon  not  long  after.  He  died  about  1714,  but  his  widow  was  living 
in  the  end  of  the  year  1717.* 

The  Indians  were  so  successful,  at  first,  that  many  of  them  seemed 
confident  that  they  should  bring  the  English  to  their  own  terms.  They 
would  mock  their  deliberations,  by  holding  pretended  General  Courts, 
making  sham  prayers,  and  preaching  like  certain  Ministers  ;  and  on 
one  occasion  they  sent  word  to  Boston  that  they  were  coming  down  to 
dine  with  the  Governor  and  Council  on  the  Election  day,  and  tauntingly 
bid  them  "  make  good  cheer." 

In  view  of  this,    it    may  be,   that,    at  a   meeting   of  the 

pri       Council,  an   order  was  passed    "For  the   prevention   of  such 

mischiefs  as  may  be  designed  by  the  common  enemy,  the  securing  of 

the  several  Plantations  upon  the  day  of  public  Election,  now  drawing 

near." 

The  war  still  continued  to  the  eastward  of  the  Pascataqua  river  ;  and 
though  more  remote  from  Boston  than  it  had  hitherto  been,  yet  its  ca- 
lamities fell  heavily  upon  it.  The  town  was  constantly  entreated  for 
relief  in  men,  provisions  and  munitions,  and  several  of  its  active  officers 
were  in  continual  service  in  that  region.  Among  its  losses,  none  was 
perhaps  more  deeply  deplored  than  that  of  Capt.  Thomas  Lake.  He 
was  in  the  service  early  in  the  war,  but,  from  the  importunity  of  friends, 
probably,  and  having  large  possessions  in  Maine,  he  went  there  and 
kept  a  fort  on  Arowsick  island.  His  fort  was  surprised  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  fourteenth  of  August,  when,  with  several  others, 
us"  '  he  was  killed.  He  was  joint  owner  of  that  island  with  Captain 
Thomas  Clarke,  f  of  Boston  ;  and  there  was  an  arrangement  between 
them,  to  reside  there  at  alternate  seasons.  It  was  not  his  turn  to  be 
there  at  this  time,  but  he  was  persuaded  to  go,  probably  to  accommodate 
Captain  Clarke.  He  was  not  killed  in  the  fort,  but  with  several  others 
escaped  from  it,  and  passed  to  another  island.  Being  pursued  and 
overtaken  by  the  Indians,  he  was  shot  down,  and  it  was  for  many 
months  unknown  to  his  friends  whether  he  were  killed  or  carried  into 
captivity.  However,  after  a  cruel  and  agonizing  suspense  of  seven 
months,  his  body  was  discovered  and  brought  away.  It  was  interred 
at  Copp's  Hill,  where  a  monument  is  still  to  be  seen,  with  an  appro- 
priate inscription. 

*MSS.  of  Judge  Sewall.     For  many  other  of  lands  "  on  the  south  part  of  Mattachusetts 

facts  concerning  Printer,  consult  The  Book  of  Colony,  beyond  the  great  river  called  Kuttu- 

the    Indians.     The    copy  of   his  Autograph  tuk,  Nipmug  or  Providence."     These  Indians 

accompanying,  is  taken  from  a  deed  of  1682,  said  they  were  all  "natives  and  naturall  de- 
scendants of  the  ancient  proprietors  of  the  Nip- 

Q~<d*vL  ?-*>      'XD'tJ**  lrJ~Z  mug  Country." — Original  Deed  in  possession 

J~€,/^LcrJ     j  of  J.  W.  Thornton,  Esq. 

cCfcP      .  jej^LxAjuLA  t  Copies  of  the  Autographs  of  both  of  these 

/vJc  gentlemen  have  been  given  at  pages  340  and 

which  he  and  twenty-two  other  Indians  gave,  341,  ante. 


1076.]  CAPTAIN    THOMAS    LAKE.  423 

Such  was  the  end  of  the  discreet  and  worthy  Capt.  Thomas  Lake,  of 
Boston  ;  "  That  good  man,"  says  Mr.  Hubbard,  "  who  might  emphat- 
ically be  so  termed,  in  distinction  from  them  that  may  truly  be  called 
just  men,  and  no  more."  lie  left  a  family  residing  in  Boston,  and  Mr. 
John  Lake,*  also  of  Boston,  Avas  his  brother.  This  brother,  one  month 
after  the  capture  of  Arowsick,  thinking  that  possibly  the  Captain  was 
still  alive,  and  held  in  captivity  among  the  Indians,  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  favor  of  the  noted  Indian  chief,  Sagamore  Sam,  then 
in  jail  under  sentence  of  death.  He  requested  that,  instead  of  putting 
the  Sachem  to  death,  he  might  be  held  as  a  hostage  for  his  brother  ;  but 
the  Court  did  not  regard  his  prayer,  and  Sam  was  hanged  "  at  the 
town's  end,"  as  has  been  before  related. 

Captain  Lake  belonged  to  the  eminent  family  of  Lake,  of  Erby,  in 
the  County  of  Lincoln,  son  of  Richard  Lake,  Esquire,  a  younger 
brother  of  Sir  Edward  Lake,f  who  received  sixteen  wounds  in  sustain- 
ing the  desperate  cause  of  his  master,  under  Prince  Rupert,  at  Edge  Hill.  J 
Sir  Bibye  Lake,  whose  name  occurs  in  the  early  history  of  Maine, 
was  grandson  of  Capt.  Thomas  Lake,  which  accounts  for  his  claims  to 
lands  in  Maine.  He  was  son  of  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  Boston,  but 
finally  returned  to  England,  and  was  a  barrister  of  the  Middle  Temple, 
and  died  in  1734.  Anne,  sister  of  Thomas,  married,  first,  John  Cot- 
ton, of  Hampton,  and,  secondly,  the  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  of  Boston.  § 

After  the  loss  of  the  fort  at  Arowsick,  the  inhabitants  at  the  eastward 
sent  messengers  to  Boston,  imploring  assistance  ;  but  they  soon  returned 
and  informed  them  that  "  it  was  in  vain  to  expect  any."  About  fifty- 
three  people  had  been  killed  ;  their  crops  mostly  destroyed,  and  there 
was  no  alternative  for  those  who  had  escaped  the  fury  of  the  merciless 
enemy,  but  to  abandon  the  country,  which  they  did  soon  after.  Many 
came  to  Boston  among  their  friends ;  some  went  to  Pascataqua,  and 
some  to  Salem.     Many  never  returned  to  enjoy  their  lands.  || 

*  He  was  a  Selectman  several  years.     These  ceived  sixteen  wounds,  to  the  extreame  hazard 

elected  for  the  office,  15  Mar.  1674-5,  stand  in  of  his  life,  and  his  left  arm  being  then  disabled 

this  order  upon  the  Town  Records  :  —  "  Mr.  by  a  shot,  he  held  his  bridle  in  his  teeth."    Sir 

Thomas  Brattle,  John  Joylife,  Mr.  John  Lake,  Edward  died  1674. 

Capt.  Thomas  Lake,  Capt.  James  Olliuer,  Mr.  §  Manuscripts  in  possession  of  J.  ~W.  Thorn- 

Hezekiah  Vsher,  Capt.  William  Davis."    The  ton,  Esq.     Capt.  Lake  was  61  years  of  age  at 

Constables  were  "  Mr.  John  Scarlet,  Hopestill  his  death,  as  by  original  deposition  appears  in 

Foster,     Mr.    Richard   Medlecot,    Mr.    John  possession  of  the  author.     The  pedigree  of  the 

Pincheon,  Thos.  Walker,  Mr.  John  Noyse  ;  for  family  is  traced  to  John  Lake  of  Norman  ton, 

Muddy  River,  Robt.   Harris;  Rumneymarsh,  County  of  York,  1286. 

Jas.  Bill,  Jr.  ;  Recorder,  John  Joyliffe  ;  Treas-  ||  On  the  18th  of  October,  the  General  Court 

urer,  Thos.  Brattle."     The  Selectmen  were  the  voted,   "That  all  those  men  that  came  from 

same   the   two   following  years,  excepting   in  the  deserted  places  at  the  eastward,  fitt  for  the 

1676,  Lieut.  Daniel  Turine  stood  in  place  of  Countrye's  service,  be  impressed  and  imployed 

Capt.  Davis  ;  and  in  1677,  Deac.  Henry  Allen,  therein,  and  that  Major  Clarke  and  the  com- 

Deac.  Jacob  Elliott,  were  in  place  of  Captain  ittee    of  militia    in  Boston,  doe  accordingly 

Thomas  Lake  and  Hezekiah  Usher.  impresse  and  list  them  for  the  present   expedi- 

f  His   wife  was  Annie  Bybie.     Hence   the  tion."     [That  of  Hathorne  and  Sill  probably, 

name  of  Bybie  was  given  toagrandson  of  Capt.  as  seen  in  Hubbard,  Part  ii.,  p.  53.]     To  this 

Thomas  Lake,  who  also  inherited  the  title  of  the  Deputies  consented,  "Provided  that  other 

Sir  Edward  ;  Sir  Edward  leaving  no  heir.  Counties   as  well   as   Suffolk,   may   have  like 

X  So  stated  in  his  grant  of  Arms,  to  be  seen  powre  to  impresse  any  fitt  persons  of  those  who 

in  The  English  Baronets,  iii.  130-2. — Edition  have   deserted   their   habitations  at  the   East- 

1727,  4to.  —  "  Where  [at  Edge  Hill]   he  re-  ward." — Original  Paper. 


424  HISTORY    OP    BOSTON.  [1676. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  "  of  the  most  bloody  years  that  New  England 
had  ever  seen."  People  were  driven  from  their  lands,  and  obliged  to 
seek  safety  in  the  towns  on  the  coast ;  the  most  of  whom  were  without 
provisions,  and  also  without  the  means  of  procuring  them  ;  which  were 
so  scarce,  that  they  were  hardly  to  be  had  for  money.  Indeed,  famine 
had  followed  close  in  the  desolated  path  of  war,  and,  as  well  observes 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  it  was  "coming  in  like  an  armed  man."  In  this 
extremity,  Dr.  Increase  Mather  "  did,  by  his  letters,  procure  a  whole 
ship  load  of  provisions,  from  the  charity  of  his  friends  in  Dublin,  and 
a  considerable  sum  of  money,  and  much  clothing,  from  the  like  charity 
of  hi3  friends  in  London,"  greatly  to  the  relief  of  the  poor  people 
here. 

Of  the  charities  received  from  Ireland,  a  distribution  was  made  in 
March,  1677,  from  which  it  is  shown  that  Boston  suffered  nearly  five 
times  as  much  by  the  war  as  any  other  place.  One  hundred  and  sixteen 
families,  or  about  432  persons,  were  recipients  of  the  donation.  Many 
of  them,  however,  were  those  who  had  been  compelled  to  take  refuge 
here,  as  has  been  before  mentioned.* 

It  has  been  computed,  by  an  able  writer,  f  that  about  one  eleventh  of 
the  able  men  of  the  Colonies  were  killed  during  the  war,  or  were  other- 
wise lost  in  its  service  ;  and  by  another,  J  that,  "  every  person,  almost, 
in  the  two  Colonies  had  lost  a  relation  or  near  friend  ;  "  so  that  almost 
every  family  in  New  England  was  in  deep  mourning. 

A  printing  house  was  first  set  up  in  Boston  this  year.  It  was  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  John  Foster,  a  young  man,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College 
in  1667.  The  General  Court  granted  liberty  for  a  printing  establish- 
ment in  the  Town  in  May,  1674,  and  appointed  two  ministers,  Mr. 
Thomas  Thacher  and  Mr.  Increase  Mather,  to  be  licensers.  Mr.  Foster 
was  an  excellent  mathematician,  and  was  for  some  years  author  of  an 
almanac.  He  died  in  Dorchester  in  1681,  aged  but  thirty-three.  He 
printed,  besides  other  works,  Mr.  Hubbard's  and  Mr.  Mather's  histo- 
ries of  the  Indian  wars. 

Mr.  John  Winthrop,  of  Connecticut,  died  in  Boston,  "whither 

he  was  occasionally  called  the  last  winter,  to  sit  with  the  rest 

of  the   Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,"   in  the  seventy-third 

year  of  his   age.     He  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  Winthrop,  a  former 

Governor  of  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  John  Clarke  died  at  Newport.  He  was  one  of  those  who 
pi  '  had  been  driven  from  Boston  by  the  intolerance  of  the  times. 
For  purity  of  life  he  has  left  a  name  unsurpassed.  He  was  born  in 
1609,  and  was  a  physician  in  London ;  was  thrice  married,  but  left  no 
children.  The  numerous  posterity  of  the  name  of  Clarke  in  Rhode 
Island,  many  of  them,  are  descended  from  Mr.  Joseph  Clarke,  a  brother 
of  Dr.  John.  § 

*  See  N.  E.  Hist,  and   Gen.  Eegr.,  ii.  245-  J  Gov.  Hutchinson,  in  his   Hist.  Massachu- 

250.  setts,  i.  307. 

f  Dr.  Trumbull,  in  his  Hist,  of  Connecticut,  §  See  Backus,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  i.  442-3,  for 

i-  350.  much  of  interest  respecting  Dr.  Clarke. 


1G7C]  GREAT    FIRE.  425 

Major  Simon  Willard  died  at  Charlestown,  and  was  buried  on 

Anvil  2-1 

the  twenty-sixth  of  April,  with  military  honors,  performed  by  a 
company  under  Captain  Henchman,  who  went  over  from  Boston  for  that 
purpose.  He  had  rendered  important  service  in  the  present  war,  as 
well  as  on  former  occasions. 

At  the  General  Election,  Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Ipswich,  preached 
the   sermon.     It   was    dedicated    to    Governor    Leverett,  and 
printed  the  same  year,  by  the  above  mentioned  Mr.  John  Foster. 

The  greatest  fire  which  had  happened  in  Boston  occurred  this 
year,  which  is  thus  mentioned  by  a  writer  at  the  time.*  "  After 
all  the  forementioned  calamities  and  troubles,  it  pleased  God  to  alarm 
the  town  of  Boston,  and  in  them  the  whole  Country,  by  a  sad  fire,  acci- 
dentally kindled  by  the  carelessness  of  an  apprentice  that  sat  up  too 
late  over  night,f  as  was  conceived  ;  which  began  an  hour  before  day, 
continuing  three  or  four,  in  which  time  it  burned  down  to  the  ground 
forty-six  dwelling-houses,  besides  other  buildings,  together  with  a  meet- 
ing-house of  considerable  bigness.  Some  mercy  was  observed  mixt 
with  judgment ;  for  if  a  great  rain  had  not  continued  all  the  time 
(the  roofs  and  walls  of  their  ordinary  buildings  consisting  of  such  com- 
bustible matter),  that  whole  end  of  the  town  had  at  that  time  been 
consumed."  "It  began  about  five  in  the  morning,  at  one  Wakefield's 
house,  by  the  Red  Lion  "  [tavern].  "  The  wind  was  south-east  when  it 
begun,  and  blew  hard  ;  soon  after,  it  veered  south,  and  brought  so  much 
rain,  as  much  prevented  further  mischief.  Charlestown  was  endan- 
gered by  the  flakes  of  fire  which  were  carried  over  the  river."  J 

The  "  Meeting-house  of  considerable  bigness "  was  the  Second 
Church,  "  the  Church  of  the  Mathers,"  some  account  of  which  has 
before  been  given. §  The  Rev.  Increase  Mather  had  preached  in  it 
since  1664,  who,  according  to  his  biographer,  had,  "in the  year  1676, 
a  strange  impression  on  his  mind,  that  a  fire  was  coming,  which  would 
make  a  deplorable  desolation  ;  "  and,  that,  only  eight  days  before  the 
fire  happened,  he  preached  a  sort  of  warning  sermon,  which  he  "  con- 
cluded with  a  strange  prediction  that  a  fire  was  coming."  || 

By  this  fire  Mr.  Mather's  own  dwelling  was  burned,  "  but  not  an 
hundred  of  his  books  from  above  a  thousand  "  were  lost,  and  "  of  those 
also  he  had  an  immediate  recruit,  by  a  generous  offer  which  the  honor- 
able Mrs.  Bridget  Hoar  made  him,  to  take  what  he  pleased  from  the 
library  of  her  deceased  husband." 

There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  Fire  Engine  as  yet  in  the 
Town,  although  some  order   about  one  had  been  made.     Hence    the 

*  Hubbard,  in  his  Indian  Wars,  p.  115.  J  Hutchinson,  i.,  349,  out  of  an  Interleaved 

f  "  Through  the  carelessness  of  a  boy  called  Almanac. 

up   to  work   very  early   in  the  morning,  who  §  See  ante,  p.  310,  311. 

falling  asleep,  as  was  said,  the  candle  set   the  ||  Remarkables  in  the  Life  of  Dr.  I.  Mather, 

house  on  fire."  —  Hubbard,  Hist.  New  Eng-  25,78. 
land,  618-9. 

54 


426 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1676. 


progress  of  the  flames  was  not  staid  by  artificial  means,*  and  it  swept 
over  a  district  from  what  are  now  Richmond,  Hanover,  and  Clark  streets, 
to  the  water.  Many  of  the  old  wooden  buildings,  now  standing  in  and 
about  that  section,  have  every  appearance  of  having  been  built  imme- 
diately after  the  fire  of  1676  ;  which  fire,  for  a  considerable  time 
following,  was  referred  to  as  "  the  Great  Fire." 


CHAPTER    XLVI. 


Mather  urged  to  complete  a  History  of  New  England.  —  The  Tradesmen  of  Boston  petition 
for  Protection  against  Intruders.  —  Cages  ordered,  in  which  to  put  Sabbath-breakers.  —  Tith- 
ingmen. — New  Law  against  Quakers.  —  Case  of  Margaret  Brewster.  —  She  goes  into  the 
South  Church  with  Sackcloth  upon  her  Head,  &c.  —  Many  Quakers  whipped.  —  Extension  of 
the  Post  Office  Arrangement.  —  Money  raised  for  the  Ransom  of  Prisoners  in  Canada.  — 
Death  of  Gov.  Leverett.  —  Eirst  Engine  Company.  —  First  Almanac  printed  in  the  Town.  — 
An  extensive  Fire.  —  A  Building  yet  standing  erected  the  next  year.  —  A  Synod  called.  — 
First  Baptist  Meeting-house. 

AT  the  Election,  this  year,  Mr.  Increase  Mather 
preached  the  sermon.  It  contained  much  historical 
reflection,  which  doubtless  occasioned  Mr.  Whiting,  of 
Lynn,  to  urge  him  to  enter  upon  the  labor  of  compiling 
a  history  of  New  England  ;  "  The  rather,"  said  that 
excellent  man,  "let  me  entreat  this  favor  of  you, 
because  it  hath  not  been  hitherto  done  by  any  in  a 
polite  and  scholar-like  way."  Another  reason  may 
have  influenced  Mr.  Whiting  to  make  this  request. 
Mr.  Mather  had  just  issued  his  work,  called,  "  A  Rela- 
tion of  the  Troubles  which  have  happened  in  New  England,  by  reason 
of  the  Indians  there,"  which  was  among  the  earliest  books  printed  in 
Boston,  and  which  is,  at  this  day,  among  the  most  difficult  to  be  found. 
At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court,  the  "  Handycrafts- 
men,  a  very  considerable  part  of  the  Town  of  Boston,"  to  the 
number  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  f  put  in  a  petition, praying  for 
protection  in  their  several  callings,  "  whose  outward  subsistence,"  they 
say,  "  doth  depend  upon  God's  blessing,  and  many  of  us  not  having 


DAVENPORT. 


May  29. 


*  The  expedient  of  blowing  up  buildings 
with  powder  was  resorted  to,  but  with  what 
success  does  not  appear. 

j-  The  names  follow.  It  might  be  difficult  to 
find  attached  to  any  paper  of  that  day,  so  large 
a  number  of  names  so  well  and  plainly  written 
as  these  appear  in  the  original.  Out  of  the 
whole  number,  but  two  made  their  marks,  and 
those  marks  were  made  by  persons,  who,  in  an 


earlier  period  of  their  lives,  had,  no  doubt, 
learned  to  write  ;  as  the  appearance  of  their 
marks  very  clearly  indicates.  Yet  there  are  a 
few  of  them  of  so  singular  a  chirography,  that 
considerable  doubt  hangs  over  them,  and  I  may 
have  misinterpreted  such.  To  distinguish  them 
they  are  set  in  italics ;  and  when  very  doubtful, 
an  interrogation  point  is  added.  For  conven- 
ience of  examination,  I  have  arranged  them 


1077.] 


TIIADKSMKN    PETITION    AGAINST   INTRUDERS. 


427 


estates  any  other  way  to  advantage  ourselves  ;  "  that,  "  by  the  frequent 
intruding  of  strangers  from  all  parts,  especially  of  such  as  are  not  desir- 
ably qualified,  find  ourselves  under  great  disadvantages,  and  prejudicial  to 
the  Towne  ;  and  many  times  the  stranger  drawes  away  much  of  the  cus- 
tomc  from  his  neighbour,  which  hath  been  long  settled,  and  in  reality  is 
much  more  the  deserving  man  ;  whereby  it  has  already  come  to  pass  with 
many,  that  severall  inhabitants  that  have  lived  comfortably  upon  their 
trades,  and  been  able  to  bear  publick  charges  in  a  considerable  degree, 
now  cannot  subsist,  which  is  very  pernicious  and  prejudiciall  to  the 
Town  ;  and  some  that  never  served  any  time,  or  not  considerably  for 
the  learning  of  a  Trade,  yet  finding  wayes  to  force  themselves  into 
the  Town,  and  then  sometimes  by  hireing  or  buying  a  servant, 
they  doe  set  up  a  Trade,"  and  thus  draw  away  the  custom  of  the 
Petitioners  belonging  to  the  Town,  as  above  has  been  set  forth.  They, 
therefore,  "  concerning  that  the  foresaid  disadvantages  do  arise,  either  for 
want  of  power  to  make  orders,  or  due  execution  of  orders,"  ask  "  that 
power  might  be  granted  to  the  Selectmen,"  or  others,  "  for  a  regular  and 
effectuall  execution  of  all  such  orders  as  are,  or  may  be  made,  referring 
to  the  admission  of  inhabitants ;  that  Tradesmen  shall  fullfill  a  sufficient 
apprentiship,  and  be  proficients  before  they  set  up  Trades,"  &c. 

The  Court  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  matter  into  considera- 
tion, who  were  requested  to  report  upon  it  at  its  next  session,  in  October 

following.     The  Committee  consisted  of  "  Capt.  Mason,  Capt. 

Stilman,  and  Capt.  Fisher,"  on  the  part  of  the  Deputies,  to 


June  1. 


alphabetically.   On  the  original,  the  first  signer    ger.     Such  were  the  early  manufacturers  of 
is  lames  Euerett  [James  Everell],  the  second,    Boston. 
William  Inglish,  &c.     The  last  is  John  Mesin- 


Alden,  John 
Andrewes,  I  A  John 
Atwood,  John 
Baker,  John,  Junior 
Baker,  Joseph 
Baker,  William 
Ballintine,  John 
Barrell,  James 
Batt,  Paul 
Batt,  Timothy 
Benk,  Menasses 
Benit,  John 
Bodman,  Joseph 
Bradford,  Moses 
Bradford,  Robert 
Bram,  Beniaman 
Burrill,  George 
Burroughes,  James 
Callender,  Ellis 
Carter,  Ralph 
Carthew,  John 
Cheever,  Bartholomew 
Childe,  John 
Clesbe,  John 
Clough,  John 
Conney,  John 
Copp,  Dauid 
Cottay,  John 
Cricke,  Edward 
Davis,  John 
Deane,  [1]  John 
Dewer,  Samson 


Dewer,  Thomas 
Doux,  Prancis 
Earle,  Robert 
Elleott,  Thomas 
Elliott,  Asaph 
Ellis,  Edward 
Emons,  Samuell 
Euerell,  lames 
Fowle,  Jacob 
Frary,  Theophilus 
Gibson,  William 
Gilbert,  William 
Green,  James 
Grifeth,  William 
Grigs,  William 
Harden,  Richard 
Hill,  James 
Hill,  John 
Hill,  John 
Homes,  Joseph 
Howard,  James 
Hurd,  Joseph 
Indecott,  John 
Inglish,  William 
Ingraham,  William 
Jacklen,  Samuell 
Johnson,  Samvell 
Jones,  William 
Judd,  Roger 
Langdon,  Beniamin 
Lawson,  Ch  : 
Lowle,  John 


Lowle,  Joseph 
Marion,  John,  Senor 
Maryon,  John,  Junior 
Maryon,  Samvell 
Mason,  Ralph 
Mason,  Robard,  Senior 
Mason,  Robeart,  Junior 
Mason,  Samuell 
Mery  James 
Messinger,  Henry,  Senr 
Messinger,  Henry,  Junr 
Mesinger,  John 
Messinger,  Simeon 
Mrickm,  I  M  James 
Moores,  John 
Morse,  Ephraim 
Nash,  John 
Needham,  John 
Needom,  William 
Newton,  John 
Norden,  Samuell 
Odlin,  Elisha 
Odlin,  Peter 
Parsons,  William 
Peacocke,  Samuell 
Pearse,  Joseph 
Peek,  Joseph 
Peirse,  Moses 
Peirse,  Nathaniell 
Penney,  William 
Perry,  Seth 
Philips,  Nichols 


Plommer,  Samuell 
Pollard,  Samuell 
Powning,  Henry 
Pratt,  Timothy 
Raynall,  Nathanill 
Raynsford,  Sollomon 
Reade,  Esdras 
Ricks,  John 
Sale,  Ephraim 
Sargent,  Digory 
Scottow,  John 
Simson,  Alexander 
Shew,  Joseph 
Shearar,  Thomas 
Shove,  Samson,  Senr 
Shove,  Samson,  Jr 
Stanbridge,  John 
Tay,  Isaiah 
Tay,  John 
Temple,  John 
Travis,  Richard 
Turner,  William 
Wakfeld,  Obediah 
Walkar,  Isaac 
Walker,  Thomas 
Way,  Richard 
Weden,  Joseph 
Wheeler,  Joseph 
White,  John 
Whit  :  Jeams 
Winsor,  Joshua 
Woode,  Isaack 


428  ,         HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1677. 

whom  the  magistrates  added  "  Mr.  Edward  Tyng."     What  their  report 
was,  if  any,  does  not  appear. 

At  the  May  term  of  the  Court,  it  was  ordered  that  cages  should  be 
erected,  or  "set  up  "  in  the  Market-place  in  Boston,  and  in  such  other 
towns  as  the  County  Courts  judged  proper,  to  put  violators  of  the  Sab- 
bath in.  It  also  ordered  constables  to  search  out  Quakers  and  to  appre- 
hend them,  even  at  the  violence  of  breaking  open  doors,  and  removing 
other  obstructions.  The  Government  had  been  reproached  by  the 
malignant  part  of  the  community  for  its  too  much  lenity  to  that  sect ; 
and  even  charged  the  late  Indian  war  to  that  lenity.*  As  though  con- 
scious of  a  culpable  laxity  in  not  doing  its  duty,  the  Court  enacted  a 
new  law  against  Quakers.  Among  its  provisions,  one  was,  that  if  any 
were  found  holding  meetings,  they  were  to  be  sent  to  jail,  or  the  house 
of  correction,  be  compelled  to  labor,  and  be  kept  on  bread  and  water 
for  three  days,  or  pay  five  pounds  in  money.  Officers  neglecting  their 
duty  were  to  be  fined  five  pounds.  There  was,  at  the  same  time,  a 
law  made  requiring  all  persons,  as  well  inhabitants  as  strangers,  to  take 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  country.  As  Quakers  could  not  take  an  oath, 
they  could  not  be  protected  in  person  or  estate,  by  the  laws  ;  they  could 
not,  therefore,  recover  any  debts  which  might  be  due  to  them. 

At  the  same  term  of  the  General  Court,  an  order  was  issued  to  the 
Selectmen  of  "Towns  to  chuse  sundry  persons,  by  the  name  of  Tithing- 
men,  to  inspect  the  disorders  in  and  by  publick  and  private  houses  of 
entertainment,  and  prophanation  of  ye  Lord's  day,  and  by  the  County 
Courts  to  bee  impowered  to  prevent,  and  in  their  cappacity  to  reforme 
the  same."  Boston  was  divided  into  departments,  and  Tithingmen 
were  appointed  to  each,  and  the  houses  specified  which  were  to  be  under 
the  supervision  of  individual  Tithingmen.  Those  who  were  first 
appointed  appear  to  have  been  dissatisfied,  and  had  not  acted  when  the 
Court  came  together  at  the  October  term.  "  William  Bartholmew, 
Christopher  Clarke,  James  Euerell,  Bartholomew  Cheever,  John  Philips, 
John  Swete,  John  Search,  George  Healey,  William  Smith,  Edward 
Alleyn,  John  Moore,  and  Richard  Collacoatt,"  did,  "  in  the  name  and  by 
the  order  of  the  rest  yfc  are  chosen  for  Boston,"  petition  the  Court,  set- 
ting forth  the  reasons  "they  had  yett  acted  nothing  therein,"  and  request- 
ing several  alterations  in  their  organization,  and  asking  for  the  same 
powers  as  Constables  had,  and  for  all  to  have  a  general  inspection,  and 
that  particular  Tithingmen  should  not  be  confined  to  certain  streets  and 
houses,  f  What  action  the  Court  took  upon  the  petition,  does  not 
appear. 

About  this  time,  Margaret  Brewster,  with  the  consent  of  her  husband, 

*  About  November,  1675,  Thomas  Curwin  of  that  time,  by  reason  of  the  wars  with  the 

and  his  wife,  Alice,  were  taken  out  of  a  meet-  Indians,  and  other  calamities,  made  the  inhab- 

ing   in  Boston,  and   sent   to   prison.     On  the  itants  faint  for  fear,  and  weakened  the  hands 

third  day  after  they  were  whipped,  and  then  of  their  persecutors  from  practising  the  sever- 

liberated.     They  went  directly  from  the  whip-  ities  they  had  not  yet  repented  of."  —  Besse, 

ping-post  to  another  meeting.     This  time  they  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  ii.  259. 

were  not  disturbed  ;  "  for  the  great  tribulation  f  Original  paper. 


1G77.]  MANY    QUAKERS   WHIPPED.  429 

came  here  from  Barbadocs.  She  probably  had  claims  on  some  of  the 
inhabitants,  for  merchandise,  from  the  collection  of  which  she  was 
debarred  by  the  late  laws.  She  therefore  presented  a  "caution"  against 
them  ;  which  caution  she  styled  "  A  wTarning  from  the  great  God  of 
Heaven  and  Earth  to  the  Rulers  and  Magistrates  of  Boston,  that  they 
put  not  in  practice  that  cruel  law  that  they  have  made  concerning 
swearing."  She  at  the  same  time  warned  the  people  of  a  "grievous 
calamity"  which  was  shortly  to  come  upon  them,  "called  the  Black 
Pox."  *  She  performed  the  service  of  warning  the  Town,  in  a 
very  summary  manner,  on  the  eighth  of  July.  Taking  with  her 
Lydia  Wright,  of  Long  Island,  Sarah  Miles,  of  Black  Point,  Elizabeth 
Bowers,  Junior,  and  John  Easton,  Junior  (who  took  her  riding-clothes 
and  shoes),  she  went  into  the  South  Church  in  time  of  meeting,  "  in 
sackcloth,  with  ashes  upon  her  head,  barefoot,  and  her  face  blackened."! 
Margaret  and  her  attendants  were  pretty  soon  hurried  off  to  prison. 
In  his  warrant  for  their  apprehension,  Mr.  Bradstreet  said  their  offence 
was  "  For  making  an  horrible  disturbance  on  the  Lord's-day,  and 
affrighting  the  people  in  the  South  Church,  in  Boston,  in  the  time  of 
the  publick  dispensing  of  the  word,  whereby  several  women,  as  I  am 
informed,  are  in  great  danger  of  miscarrying."  When  Margaret  came 
before  the  Court,  the  constable  could  not  identify  her,  for,  says  he, 
"  She  was  then  in  the  shape  of  the  devil ;  "  but  she  owned  herself  to 
be  the  individual,  and  the  cause  proceeded.  She  was  sentenced  to  be 
whipped  "  at  a  cart's  tail,  up  and  down  the  Town,  with  twenty 
lashes,"  which  was  executed  upon  her  four  days  after. 
The  same  day  that  Margaret  Brewster  and  her  companions  were  appre- 
hended, the  following  named  persons  were  taken  up  at  the  Quaker  meet- 
ing :  namely,  Robert  Edmunds,  Edward  Sheppey,  John  Soames,  George 
Walker,  Jeremy  Deeble,  George  Dawson,  Miles  Foster,  Thomas  Scott, 
Humphry  Hodges,  William  Neale,  Bridget  Phillips,  Eliphal  Stratton, 
Elizabeth  Bowers,  Sen.,  and  Elizabeth  Bowers,  Jun.  These  were  all 
whipped  but  Miles  Foster  and  Thomas  Scott ;  some  persons  having  paid 
the  fines  of  these  two,  though  against  their  wishes.  At  the  next  meeting, 
these  following  were  arrested  and  whipped  also  ;  —  Robert  Edmunds, 
Edward  Sheppey,  John  Soames,  Miles  Foster,  William  Richardson, 
Humphry  Hodges,  Jeremy  Deeble,  Thomas  Hilbourn,  Robert  Levy, 
Josiah  Southick,  George  Danson,  William  Mumford,  Bridget  Phillips, 
Eliphal  Stratton,  and  Anne  Wilson.  Three  of  these  were  strangers  and 
masters  of  ships. 

Notwithstanding  these  scourgings,  the  Quakers  continued  their  meet- 

*  It  ia  as  true  as  it  is  remarkable,  that  soon  entirely  naked.     I  have  met  with  no  evidence 

after,  the  Small  Pox  was  very  mortal  in  the  to  support  the  allegation.     It  is  no  doubt  false. 

Town. — See  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  vii.  She  is  not  so  charged  in  the  warrant  for  her 

343  ;  by  which  it  appears  that  a  ship  arrived  apprehension,  nor  does  anything  appear  in  the 

at  Nantasket  with  the  infection,  and  that  800  minutes  of  her  trial,  by  which  such  an  inference 

people  were  carried  off  by  it.  can  be  drawn.    On  the  other  hand,  she  is  spoken 

fit  has  been  often  alleged  that  Margaret  of  as  having  on"  garments."     Her  "  Examin- 

Brewster   went  into  Mr.   Thacher's  meeting  ation  "  may  be  seen  in  Besse. 


430  HISTORY  OP  BOSTON.  [1677-8. 

ings  ;  and,  the  next  meeting  day  after  these  last  were  whipped,  there 
was  such  a  formidable  number  of  them  assembled,  that,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  one  of  their  writers,  "  fearfulness  surprised  the  hypo- 
crites," and  they  did  not  molest  them. 

Much  difficulty  had  been  experienced  by  delays  of  written  correspond- 
ence. Letters  were  forwarded  from  Boston  when  it  was  convenient  for 
the  Postmaster  to  do  so.  Consequently,  remote  towns  stood  a  poor 
chance  of  getting  letters  from  the  Capital,  under  the  existing  precarious 
circumstances.  It  appears  to  have  been  a  custom  to  deposit  letters  at 
the  Town-house,  or  Exchange,  in  a  public  room,  to  be  taken  and  for- 
warded at  the  pleasure  of  those  who  visited  the  place.  This  way  of 
sending  letters  out  of  the  town  being  very  uncertain,  the  Council 
appointed  John  Haywood  "  Postmaster  for  the  whole  Colony." 
The  immediate  cause  of  this  appointment  undoubtedly  was  the 
failure  of  people  to  send  in  their  subscriptions  for  Harvard  College. 
They  had  been  notified  to  do  so,  but,  upon  investigation,  it  was  found 
that  the  letters  containing  the  notices,  instead  of  having  been  taken 
from  their  place  of  deposit  "on  Exchange,"  and  forwarded  to  their 
proper  destination,  were  lost,  or  could  not  be  found.  * 

At  the  last  session  of  the  General  Court  of  last  year,  Agents  were 
appointed  to  go  to  Canada  to  ransom  certain  captives  taken  by  the 
Indians  at  Hatfield,  on  the  nineteenth  of  September,  1677.  At  the 
May  term  of  the  Court,  this  year,  the  Governor  and  Magistrates  reported 
that  the  Agents  were  arrived  at  Albany,  with  the  captives  ;  but  "  that 
great  charges  would  arise  for  their  redemption,"  and  they  therefore 
commended  their  case  to  the  people  of  all  the  towns,  and  invited  them 
to  contribute  for  their  relief.  They  at  the  same  time  appointed  Mr. 
Anthony  Stoddard,  Mr.  John  JoylifFe,  and  Capt.  John  Richards,  to  be 
trustees  to  receive  the  contributions.  There  were  raised  345  pounds, 
one  shilling  and  four  pence, f  of  which  Boston  gave  109  pounds,  and  a 
fraction.  The  next  largest  sum  was  given  by  Portsmouth,  which  was 
twenty  pounds.  Dover  gave  eleven,  Charlestown  fifteen,  Cambridge 
thirteen.  J 

*  Yet,  several  years  earlier  than  this,  there  uty  Post  Masters  in  England  and  Scotland.   In 

were  pretty  complete  postal  arrangements  in  Dublin,  there  was  a  General  Office  for  Ireland, 

England.       An    old    author  wrote   in  1672,  employing   18   persons,  and  45  Deputy  Post 

that  "  the  inhabitants  of  this  Nation  have  of  Masters  in  various  parts  of  the  Island.     There 

late  years,  by  a  general  Post  Office,  an  exceed-  was  also  an  arrangement  for  sending  letters  to 

ing  great  conveniency  in  the  conveyance  of  most  all  parts  of  Europe.     See  Chamberlayne's  An- 

letters  to  most  parts  of  the  Kingdom  ;  and  that  glia  Notitia ;  or  Present  State  of  England,  for 

at  such  easie  rates,  and  with  such  quick  dis-  1674,  i.  242-3. 

patch,  that  in  five  days  an  answer  may  be  f  There  were  a  few  inland  places  not  heard 

received  through  250  miles  ;  and  if  but  a  single  from  when  the  Trustees  handed  in  their  account 

letter  of  a  sheet  of  paper,  for  the  expense  of  in  August  of  this  year. 

3  pence,  but  if  of  a  greater  bulk,  then  after  J  The  Trustees  printed  their  Eeport  on  one 

the  rate  of  8  pence  per  ounce,  and  if  under  80  side  of  an  ordinary  sheet,  of  that  day,  but  one 

miles,  then  2  pence  for  a  single  letter.     If  to  copy  of  which  has  ever  been  heard  of  or  seen 

Scotland,  5  pence,  and  to  Ireland  6  pence,  for  by  me  ;  and,  whether  otherwise  and  elsewhere 

single  letters." — Blome's  Britannia,  preserved,   appears    to    me   quite    uncertain. 

In  1674,  The  General  Post  Office  in  London  There  were  46   towns   or  places   from  which 

employed  77  persons,  and  there  were  82  Dep-  donations  were    received.      It  is  worthy  of 


1G78-9.]  AN  EXTENSIVE  FIRE.  4ol 

The  Deputies  to  the  General  Court  for  1G78,  were  Oapt.  Thomas 
Savage,  and  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard,  the  same  as  last  year. 

John  Levcrctt,  Esquire,  Governor  of  the  Colony,  died  in  Bos- 
ton. He  was  buried  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  same  month,  and 
with  more  parade,  probably,  than  had  been  ever  before  witnessed  in  the 
town  upon  a  like  occasion.  There  were  appointed  to  march,  at  the  four 
corners  of  the  hearse,  Banner  Roll  bearers  ;  which  were  preceded  by 
a  helmet  bearer,  and  others.  He  was  universally  beloved  through  life, 
and  every  one  seemed  willing  to  bear  testimony  of  his  worth  at  his 
death. 

The  Representatives  or  Deputies  this  year  were  Capt.  John  Richards 
and  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard. 

Since  the  great  fire  of  1676,  an  engine  for  extinguishing  fires  had 
been  imported  into  the  town  ;  and  at  the  commencement  of  this  year, 
"  Thomas  Atkins,  carpenter,"  was  desired  to  take  charge  of  it.  His 
office  amounted  to  that  of  captain,  and  the  following  persons  were 
approved  to  be  his  assistants  ;  namely,  "  Obediah  Gill,  John  Raynsford, 
John  Barnard,  Thomas  Elbridge,  Arthur  Smith,  John  Mills,  Caleb 
Rawlins,  John  Wakefield,  Samuel  Greenwood,  Edward  Martin,  Thomas 
Barnard,  and  George  Robinson."  These  constituted  the  first  regular 
Engine  Company  of  the  town. 

An  Almanac  is  printed  this  year  in  Boston  by  Mr.  John  Foster,  who 
was  its  author. 

A  "  terrible  fire  "  broke  out  about  the  middle  of  the  night  of 

Au°"   7 

the  seventh  of  August,  and  continued  till  near  noon  of  the 
following  day.  "It  began  at  one  Gross'  house,  the  sign  of  the  Three 
Mariners,  near  the  Dock.  All  the  warehouses,  and  a  great  number  of 
dwelling-houses,  with  the  vessels  then  in  the  Dock,  were  consumed  ; 
the  most  woful  desolation  that  Boston  had  ever  seen."*  The  loss  was 
supposed  to  have  been  200,000  pounds.  About  eighty  dwelling-houses 
and  seventy  warehouses  were  consumed.  "Ah,  Boston!"  said  Dr. 
Cotton  Mather,  in  1698,  "thou  hast  seen  the  vanity  of  all  worldly 
possessions.  One  fatal  morning,  which  laid  fourscore  of  thy  dwelling- 
houses,  and  seventy  of  thy  warehouses  in  a  ruinous  heap,  not  nineteen 
years  ago,  gave  thee  to  read  it  in  firey  characters."  f 

This  fire  was  declared  to  be  the  work  of  incendiaries  ;  of  "  some 
wicked  and  malicious  wretches,  which  half  ruined  the  whole  Colony."  J 
So  fierce  were  its  ravages,  that  all  land-marks  were  obliterated  in  several 

remark,  that  the  Isles  of  Shoals  gave  more  than  1679.     Whereas,  the  persons  hereafter  named 

Salem,  Kittery  as  much  as  Lynn,  Ipswich  more  are  under  vehement  suspicion  of  attempting  to 

than  Charlestown,  Hull  as  much  as  Andover,  burn  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  some  of  their 

or  Gloucester,  or  Topsfield,  or  Salisbury.  endeavors  prevailed  to  the  burning  of  one  house, 

*  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  i.  349.  and  only  by  God's  providence  prevented  from 

f  Magnalia,  i.  104,  new  edition.      Bishop,  further  damage  :   the  Court  doth   order   that 

in  his  New  England  Judged,  p.  195,  taunts  Edward  Creeke,  and  Deborah,  his  wife,  Hepzi- 

Dr.  Mather,  by  citing   the   above,  and   other  bah  Codman,  John  Avis,  John  Easte,  Samuel 

passages  from  his  work,  as  fulfilments  of  Qua-  Doggett,  Win.  Penny,  Kichard  Heath,  Sypron 

ker  prophecies.  Jarman,  and  James  Dennis,  shall  depart  the 

{  Hubbard,  Hist.  New  Eng.,  649.  — In  the  Jurisdiction  and  never  return,  and  be  kept  in 

Colony  Records,  we  read,  p.  242,  "  Oct.  18,  prison  until  ready  for  their  departure." — Snow. 


432  A    SYNOD    CALLED.  [1679. 

places,  and  considerable  trouble  was  experienced  in  fixing  the  bounds 
of  estates.  But  rebuilding  the  burnt  district  went  on  with  such  rapidity, 
that  lumber  could  not  be  had  fast  enough  for  the  purpose,  and  an  attempt 
was  made  to  prohibit  its  exportation  for  a  period.  One  of  the  buildings 
erected  upon  the  ruins  is  standing  at  this  day,  at  the  corner  of  North  * 
Street  and  Dock  Square.  It  was  erected  in  1680,  a  view  of  which  will 
be  seen  a  few  pages  onward.  Like  most  other  buildings  erected  at  that 
time,  probably,  it  was  plastered  outside  with  a  cement  of  the  most 
durable  character,  said  to  have  been  composed  in  part  of  gravel,  sand, 
and  broken  glass  ;  two  stories  high,  with  very  steep  roof,  about  equal  in 
height  to  two  thirds  of  both  stories.  Although  it  is  viewed  at  this  day 
as  a  strange  piece  of  antiquity,  it  was,  in  its  day,  among  the  elegant 
structures  of  the  town.  The  timber  used  then,  for  sills,  posts,  and 
beams,  was  generally  oak.  In  the  gable  end  of  the  roof  fronting  the 
Square,  the  figures  marking  the  date  of  its  erection,  1680,  are  still  to 
be  seen  in  good  preservation  ;  nor  are  the  ornamental  crosses,  and  other 
figures  wrought  in  the  cement,  entirely  obliterated.  It  has  long  been  the 
property  of  the  Greenleaf  family.  It  was  once  the  residence  of  two 
respectable  families,  and  then,  as  now,  two  stores  occupied  the  lower 
story.  One  of  these  was  the  principal  apothecary  shop  of  the  town 
for  many  years. 

This  fire  and  other  evils  were  considered  to  have  been  a  dispensation 
of  Providence  for  the  sins  of  the  people. 

A  Synod  met  at  Boston,  agreeably  to  the  appointment  of  the 
General  Court.  It  was  called  "  upon  a  motion  of  Mr.  Increase 
Mather,  in  conjunction  with  others  excited  by  him  for  it,  to  consider, 
What  are  the  evils  that  have  provoked  the  Lord  to  bring  his  judgments 
on  New  England  1  And  what  is  to  be  done,  that  so  those  evils  may  be 
reformed  ?  "f 

The  same  Court  which  called  the  Synod,  kept  a  Fast  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  May,  for  the  sickness  in  many  towns,  which  was  very  mortal ; 
and  because  of  "  doubtful  expectation  as  to  great  concernments."  A 
law  was  passed  against  erecting  meeting-houses  without  leave  of  the 
County  Courts,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  house  and  land.  This 
was  specially  intended  as  a  warning  to  Baptists  and  Quakers.  But  the 
times  had  become  so  much  changed,  that  such  a  law  could  not  be  very 
well  enforced,  and  the  Baptists  proceeded  in  the  erection  of  their 
meeting-house,  though  they  had  to  do  so,  at  first,  under  pretences  that 
it  was  private  property,  and  for  other  purposes  than  to  preach  in.  J  But, 
owing  to  the  law  above  mentioned,  they  did  not  dare  to  meet  in  their 
house  but  a  few  times  for  several  months  after  it  was  finished.     How- 

*  Recently  Ann  Street.      When  will  this       {  "  Feb.  9th,  the  Church  met,  and  purchased 

changing  of  names  of  streets  cease?     It  causes  their  Meeting-house  with  the  land  it  was  built 

great  confusion,  and  should  not  be  done,  for  the  upon,  of  Philip  Squire,  and  Ellis  Callender,  for 

gratification  of  idle  innovation,  as  is  sometimes  £60,  and  they  met  in  it  for  worship  the  15th." 

evidently  the  case.  This  being  before  the  new  law  was  made,  was 

f  Remarkables  in  the  life  of  Dr.  I.  Mather,  one  cause  of  its  being  made.      See  Backus,  i. 

84,85.  481. 


dJ®^i^^iai  mwwiiMTo 


1079.] 


FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 


433 


ever,  Charles  Second  wrote  to  the  Authorities  of  Boston,  requiring  them 
not  to  molest  people  in  their  worship,  who  were  of  the  Protestant  faith, 

and  directing  that  liberty  of  conscience  should 
be  extended  to  all  such.  This  letter  was 
dated  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  July.  It  had 
|  some  effect  on  the  Rulers ;  but  they  had  become 
so  accustomed  to  what  they  called  interference 
f  from  England,  and  at  the  same  time  so  success- 
ful in  evading  it,  that  to  stop  now  seemed,  to 
the  majority  of  the  people,  as  well  as  Rulers, 
not  only  cowardly,  but  an  unworthy  relinquish- 
ment of  privileges  which  they  had  always  en- 
joyed, and  which  they  wTere  at  all  times  ready 
to  assert  were  guaranteed  to  them  in  their 
Charter.  To  assert  the  latter  was  a  very  easy 
thing,  while  it  was  a  very  hard  thing,  as  they  very  well  knew,  for 
those  opposed  to  their  assumptions  in  England  to  settle  any  matter 
to  be  contested  by  the  Charter,  as  all  former  experience  proved.  How- 
ever, there  was  a  point  beyond  which  even  Bostonians  could  not  go. 
Charles  II.  sat  quietly  on  the  English  throne,  and  doubtless  knew 
little  about  New  England,  and  cared  less,  until  moved  by  those  who 
could  gain  access  to  him. 
After  the  destructive  fire  of  1679,  the  Town  took  great  pains  to  prevent 


FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH.* 


*  This  view  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  rep- 
resents the  edifice  as  it  appeared  when  it  was 
used  by  that  Society  in  its  last  years.  Its  site, 
being  valuable  for  stores,  was  sold  in  1853, and 
the  old  building  is  now  (1854)  being  turned 
into  places  of  trade,  while  the  proceeds  of  its 
sale  have  enabled  the  Society  to  rear  the  most 
conspicuous  spire  in  the  city  upon  the  east 
point  of  Beacon  Hill,  where  it  affords  a  view 
of  the  city  and  surrounding  country,  not  sur- 
passed, if  equalled,  by  any  other.  To  such  an 
eminence  has  that  Church  attained,  whose  foun- 
dation was  obliged  to  be  clandestinely  laid  by  its 
original  founders.  The  present  grand  and  lofty 
steeple  will,  it  is  hoped,  long  stand,  not  only  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  but  as  a  beacon  for  the 
intolerant.  It  should  be  stated  that  the  first 
house  was  of  wood,  and  stood  very  near  where 
those  which  have  succeeded  it  stood,  now  the 
corner  of  Hanover  and  Union  streets.  In  1771 , 
the  Society  had  so  much  increased  that  a  larger 
house  became  necessary.  The  old  (first)  one 
was  taken  down,  and  a  new  one  erected,  57 
feet  long  by  53  feet  wide.  This  was  dedicated 
on  the  22d  of  December  of  that  year,  Dr.  Still- 
man  officiating.  In  1791,  the  house  was  en- 
larged, being  now  57  by  77  feet. 

Since  the  preceding  part  of  my  work  was 
printed,  I  have  had  access,  through  the  polite- 
ness of  Mr.  Haven,  Librarian  of  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society,  to  a  MS.  diary  kept  by 
Capt.  John  Hull.  In  that  I  find  a  few  facts 
relating  to  the  "  Anabaptists,"  not  elsewhere 

55 


noticed.  He  mentions  the  "  publique  disput 
[April  14,  15,  1668]  betweene  6  off  or  minis 
ters  and  a  company"  of  them  "in  Boston 
meetinghouse  "  ;  that  they  had  been  "  severall 
tymes  admonished  by  the  Cor'  not  to  permit 
the  administration  of  the  seals,  but  charged  to 
hear  the  word  in  some  of  the  publique  congre- 
gations ;  but  they  would  not  obey";  that, 
"  in  the  publique  dispute  they  behaved  them- 
selves exceeding  obstinately,  absurdly,  and  ig- 
norantly  "  ;  that  when,  on  May  4th,  "  Gould, 
Turner,  and  Farnham  "  were  called  before  the 
Court,  and  "  asked  whether,  affter  all  paines 
taken  to  convince  them  of  their  evills,  they 
would  lay  down  their  assemblings,  and  cease 
profaining  the  holy  ordenances,  the  supper  and 
baptisme ;  but  with  greate  obstinacy  they  pro- 
fessed themselves  bound  to  continue  in  their 
way,  and  were  ready  to  seal  to  it  with  their 
blood."  Under  date  1674,  Mr.  Hull  writes, 
"  This  sumer,  the  Anabaptists  yl  were  wont  to 
meet  at  Noddle's  Hand  met  at  Boston  on  ye 
Lord's  day.  One  Mr.  Symond  Lind  lettetb 
one  of  them  an  house  which  was  formerly  Mr. 
Buck's."  "  Some  of  the  Magistrates  will  not 
permit  any  punishment  to  be  inflicted  on  here- 
tiks  as  such."  In  another  place,  Mr.  Hull  de- 
plores this  lenity  in  the  Government.  He 
speaks  of  the  death  of  Mr.  "  John  Bussell 
(21  Dec,  1681),  a  preacher  to  the  Anabap- 
tists, after  a  pamphlet  of  his,  in  excuse  of 
ymselves,  accusing  ye  chs  heer  of  persecution." 
Of  this  pamphlet  I  have  seen  but  one  copy. 


434  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1679. 

fires  for  the  future.  At  a  Town-meeting,  ten  days  after  the  fire  of  the 
eighth  of  August,  Capt.  James  Oliver  was  chosen  Commis- 
us*  '  sioner,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Barnes,  Clerk  of  the  Writs.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  join  with  the  Select-men,  to  consider  what 
might  be  done  "  for  the  safety  of  the  Town  and  preventing  fire."  This 
committee  consisted  of  Capt.  John  Richards,  Dr.  Elisha  Cooke,  Capt. 
John  Walley,  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  Mr.  James  Whetcombe,  and 
Mr.  John  Usher.  Soon  after,  it  was  ordered  that  the  eight  foot  com- 
panies should  constitute  the  Watch  of  the  Town,  "  each  in 
their  own  quarters  or  wards."  The  number  of  men  to  be 
detailed  from  each  company  for  the  service  was  thus  stated  :  —  From 
Maj.  Thomas  Clarke's,  six ;  from  Maj.  Thomas  Savage's,  six ;  Capt. 
James  Oliver's,  five;  Capt.  William  Hudson's,  six,  "and  two  at  the 
powder  store  ;  "  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman's,  five  ;  Capt.  John  Rich- 
ards', six  ;  Capt.  John  Hull's,  five,  and  one  at  the  powder  store  ;  and 
of  Capt.  Humphrey  Davis',  five.  It  was  at  the  same  time  ordered 
that  the  Town  should  be  divided  into  four  quarters,  each  to  consist  of 
two  wards ;  that  in  each  quarter  four  barrels  of  powder  should  be 
lodged,  six  hand  engines,  and  two  crooks  in  each  ward.  The  care  of 
the  north  quarter,  containing  Maj.  Clarke's  and  Capt.  Richards'  com- 
panies, was  committed  to  Maj.  Clarke,  Capt.  Richards,  Capt.  Elisha 
Hutchinson,  and  Capt.  Henchman.  The  Conduit  quarter,  containing 
Maj.  Savage's  and  Capt.  Henchman's  company,  to  Mr.  William  Tay- 
lor, Lieut.  Daniel  Turill,  Mr.  Christopher  Clarke,  and  Lieut.  Anthony 
Checkley.  The  centre  quarter,  containing  Capt.  Oliver's  and  Capt. 
Davis'  companies,  to  Maj.  Thomas  Savage,  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard, 
Capt.  Thomas  Brattle,  and  Mr.  Elisha  Cooke.  The  south  quarter,  con- 
taining Capt.  Hudson's  and  Capt.  Hull's  companies,  Mr.  John  Joyliflfe, 
Capt.  John  Hull,  Capt.  John  Faireweather,  and  Capt.  John  Walley. 

In  case  of  fire,  these  persons,  or  any  two  of  them,  were  empowered 
to  blow  up  or  pull  down  houses.  "  Mr.  Isacke  Addington  and  Mr. 
John  Joyliffe  to  prvse  and  put  the  foregoing  in  a  right  methode  fit  for 
press,  together  with  all  former  orders  relating  to  fire." 
ge  _  It  was  further  ordered,  that  in  every  quarter  of  the  Town 
there  should  be  provided,  at  the  Town's  charge,  twenty  buckets, 
twenty  swabs,  two  scoops,  and  six  axes  ;  that  sixteen  men,  two  out  of 
each  company,  "  doe  ward  in  ye  Towne  euery  Sabbath  day,  one  of  wch 
is  to  be  on  ye  top  of  each  meetinghouse,  to  look  abroad  for  preuenting 
spreading  of  fire  yt  may  break  out." 

At  the  same  time  the  Town  took  measures  to  be  allowed  to  send 
Deputies  to  the  General  Court,  on  equal  terms  with  the  other  towns.  It 
justly  complained  that  it  was  denied  its  proper  representation.* 

*  Towns  then  having   "above  10  freemen  Government  as  "  our  greate  Towne,  yl  consists 

could  send  one  deputy,  and  if  20  freemen,  of  neere  20  times  20  freemen  "  ;  who,  though 

two,"  and  no  town  to  be  allowed  more.  Hence  not  represented,  bore  their  full  share  of  public 

it  was  argued  that  all  the  freemen  except  20  charges.     The  Town  succeeded  in  having  one 

had  no  representation  ;  and  that  a  town  with  representative  more,  in  1681.     This  continued 

but  20  freemen  had  as  much  weight  in  the  until  the  vacation  of  the  Charter. 


1679.] 


RENEWAL    OP    COMPLAINTS   IN   ENGLAND. 


435 


OLD  STORE,  DOCK  SQUARE. 


of  the 
north, 


Dock,  at  ten  shillings  a  year 
and  Edward  Ship  pen  on  the  south 


Boston  at  this  period  con- 
tained about  400  freemen, 
though  the  taxable  polls  the 
next  year  were  about  8G8. 
The  estates  were  valued  at 
about  £23,877;  each  pound 
was  rated  at  one  penny,  and 
the  polls  paid  twenty  pence 
each. 

Francis  Hudson  was  to 
pay  eight  pounds  rent  for 
the  Ferry  to  "  Wenese- 
met,"  and  to  transport  the 
Magistrates  free,  "  accord- 
ing to  former  custom." 

Eliakim  Hutchinson  to 
have  the  reversion  of  part 
Mr.  John  Woodmansey  on  the 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

Renewal  of  Complaints  in  England.  —  The  King  orders  Agents  to  be  sent  to  answer.  —  Agents  appoint- 
ed. —  Fires.  —  Ships  taken  by  the  Algerines.  —  Bakers.  —  Severe  Punishment.  —  Agents  return 
without  success.  —  Others  ordered  by  the  King.  — The  King's  Arms  set  up  in  the  Court  House.  — 
A  Synod.  —  Philosophical  Society  of  Boston.  —  Another  Synod.  —  Purchase  of  Maine.  —  A  Gov- 
ernment established  there.  — Agency  of  Randolph.  — A  Case  of  Witchcraft.  —  Trial  and  Condem- 
nation of  Elizabeth  Morse.  —  Arrival  of  Lord  Culpeper.  —  Death  of  Mr.  Rainsford.  —  Fire.  —  An- 
other. —  Curious  Punishments.  —  Randolph  leaves.  —  Charles  II.  —  His  want  of  Sagacity.  — 
Randolph  comes  again. — His  Authority  thwarted.  —  The  high  Threat  of  the  King  against  the 
Charter.  —  Town  Affairs. 


THOSE  who  had  considered  themselves  wronged  by 
the  proceedings  of  Massachusetts,  would  very  naturally 
take  the  first  opportunity  which  might  offer  to  regain 
their  rights.  Of  the  number  of  those  aggrieved,  were 
Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  Capt.  John  Mason.  The 
nature  of  their  complaints  has,  at  least  that  of  Gorges 
(and  that  of  Mason  was  similar),  been  explained  in 
the  previous  part  of  this  history.  The  time  had  now 
1676  arrived  for  something  more  than  a  hearing  of 
those  complaints.  The  King  sent  a  letter  "  To 
the  Governor  and  Magistrates  of  the  Town  of  Boston," 
dated  March  the  tenth,  1675-6,  "  commanding  that  Agents  should  be 

*  This  engraving  of  the  arms  of  Wheel-  Chapel  burying-ground.  This  John  Wheel- 
wright is  copied  from  the  tombstone  of  ' '  John  wright  I  take  to  be  the  same  mentioned  ante, 
Wheelwright,  1740,"  to  be  seen  in  the  King's   p.  339,  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  John  W.,  the 


WHEELWRIGHT.* 


436  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1676-79. 

sent  over  to  appear  before  him  in  six  months  after  the  receipt  of  his 
letter,"  to  answer  the  charges  against  the  Colony.  Edward  Ran- 
dolph, Esquire,  brought  the  King's  letter  to  Boston  about  three 
ug'  months  after  its  date.  The  Governor  summoned  a  Court, 
which  met  on  the  ninth  of  August  following,  at  which  meeting  it 
was  resolved  that  "  the  most  expedient  way  of  making  answer  unto 
the  complaints  of  Mr.  Gorges  and  Mr.  Mason,  about  the  extent  of  their 
Patent  line,"  was  by  Agents  ;  "  provided  they  were,  with  the  utmost 
care  and  caution,  qualified  as  to  their  instructions,  by  and  according  to 
which  they  may  negotiate  that  affair  with  safety  unto  the  Country,  and 
with  all  duty  and  loyalty  unto  his  Majesty,  in  the  preservation  of  our 
Patent  liberties." 

Agreeably  to  this  decision,  Mr.  William  Stoughton  and  Mr.  Peter 
Bulkley  were  appointed  to  proceed  to  England  as  Agents  of  the  Colo- 
ny, and  they  proceeded  accordingly,  in  the  end  of  the  following  Octo- 
ber.      Mr.    Stoughton   was    son    of  Capt.    Israel    Stoughton, 
mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  war  with  the  Pequots.     Mr. 
Bulkley  was  son  of  the  Rev.   Peter  Bulkley,   the  first  minister  of 
Concord,  and  was  this  year  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies.     It 
is  sufficient  here  to  observe,  that  the  Agents  were  unsuccessful  in 
opposing  the  claims  of  Gorges  and  Mason.     After  being  detained  in 
England  three   years,  they  arrived  in  Boston   near    the    end 
Dec.  23  °f  December,    1679,   bringing  with   them   a   letter   from   the 

King,  requiring  other  Agents  to  be  sent  over.* 

,      „         The  Town  was  often  infested  by  incendiaries.     A  fire  was 

discovered  under  Capt.  Benjamin  Gillum's  warehouse  in  time  to 

prevent  its  doing  much  mischief.     About  midnight  of  the  next  day 

,T     _     the  ale-house  of  Clement  Grose  was  set  on  fire.     This  was  also 

Mav  9. 

extinguished  before  it  did  material  damage.     The  great  fire  of 
the  eighth  of  August  of  this  year  has  before  been  noticed. f 

founder  of  Exeter.  Concerning  the  death  of  Mary  not  of  age." — The  Hon.  John  Wheel- 
the  latter,  I  observe  Mr.  Hull  in  his  Diary  dif-  wright  died  at  Wells,  Me.,  13  Aug.,  1745,  a.  81. 
fers  from  others,  recording  it  22  Nov.,  1679  ;  *  The  same  letter  required  "  That  freedom 
and  his  age  he  gives,  85.  —  John  Wheelwright,  and  liberty  of  conscience  be  given  to  such  per- 
merchant  of  Boston,  made  his  will  10  Aug.,  sons  as  desire  to  serve  God  in  the  way  of  the 
1751.  He  died,  as  before  noted,  in  1760,  a.  Church  of  England,  so  as  not  to  be  thereby 
71.  His  will  was  proved  31  Oct.,  1760. —  made  obnoxious,  or  discountenanced  from  their 
"To  son  Jeremiah,  land  near  Beacon  Hill,  sharing  in  the  government,  much  less  that  they, 
which  came  to  me  by  his  mother  ;  £700  to  be  or  any  other  of  his  Majesty's  subjects  (not  be- 
held in  trust  by  Joseph  Green  and  Nicholas  ing  Papists)  who  do  not  agree  in  the  congrega- 
Boylston,  both  of  Boston,  merchants,  the  inter-  tional  way,  be  by  law  subjected  to  fines  or  for- 
est of  which  at  6  per  cent,  to  be  paid  quarter-  feitures,  or  other  incapacities." — Hutchinson, 
ly  to  son  Jeremiah,  and  at  his  death  to  his  i.  326. 

children,  if  he  leaves  any,  if  not,  then  to  sons  f  Concerning  that  fire  Capt.  Hull  says, 
Nathaniel  and  Joseph,  and  my  grand-daughter,  "  About  midnight  began  a  fyre  in  an  alehouse, 
Mary  Wheelwright ;  to  the  poor  of  the  First  which  by  sunrise  consumed  the  body  of  the  trad- 
Church  of  which  I  am  a  member,  £14  ;  to  ing  part  of  the  Towne  ;  from  the  Mill-creek  to 
daughter-in-law  Elizabeth  Weeks,  £66, 13s.  4d.,  Mr.  Oliver's  dock,  not  one  house  nor  ware- 
with  a  handsome  suit  of  mourning,  in  full  sat-  house  left ;  and  vp  from  my  warehouse  to  Mrs. 
isfaction  of  certain  Articles  made  before  my  Leveret's,  thence  to  Mr.  Hez.  Usher's,  thence 
marriage  with  her  mother.  Residue  of  estate,  to  Mrs.  Thacher's,  thence  to  Thomas  Fitche's." 
half  to  son  Nathaniel,  the  other  half  to  son  Another  contemporary  MS.  account  adds  that 
Joseph  and  grand-daughter  Mary  ;  Joseph  and  the  number  of  houses  burnt  was  77,  and  of 


1679.] 


FIRES. 


ALGERINES. PUNISHMENTS. 


437 


About  a  month   .after  that  extensive   conflagration,  the  Town   was 

greatly   alarmed   by  the  cry  of  fire,  about  ten  o'clock  on  a 

p  "    '    Sabbath  morning,  while   most  of  the   people  were  at  meeting. 

It  took  in  the  garret  of  Lieut.  Edward  Creek's  house,  but  fortunately 

no  other  house  except  that  was  destroyed. 

Among  other  misfortunes  of  this  year,  news  was  received  in  Decem- 
ber, that  Mr.  William  Condy,  in  a  ship  bound  from  Boston  to  London, 
had  been  taken  by  the  Algerines.  Other  captures  of  Boston  ships 
by  the  corsairs  of  that  nation  are  from  time  to  time  mentioned,  the  crews 
of  which  were  carried  into  a  cruel  captivity.  Some  were  ransomed  at 
great  expense,  while  many  died  in  bondage. 

"The  loaf  bread  bakers  in  Boston,"  at  this  time,  were  John  Man, 

Thomas  Skinner,  William  Hoar,  and  George  Danson.      "  By  reason  of 

ye  deffect  of  ye  assize  given  in  ye  lawe,"  they  petitioned  the  General 

„„     Court  for  relief  from  an  "  intollerable  burden."     They  observe 

Oct   2i)  • 

that  their  calling  is  a  lawful  one,  to  learn  which  they  had 
"  serued  long  and  hard  apprenticeships,"  and  add,  "  wee  conceeue  we 
haue  a  just  right  to  Hue  of  it."  The  price  of  grain  was  regulated  by 
law,  and  the  price  and  weight  of  loaves  of  bread,  also.  If  in  times 
of  scarcity  the  price  of  grain  was  enhanced  without  a  corresponding 
rise  of  bread,  it  was  a  misfortune  to  bakers,  if  they  were  obliged  to 
keep  to  their  old  prices. 

Meanwhile  the  General  Court  took  some  measures  to  stand  better  in 
England  than  it  had  hitherto  stood.  Supplicating  and  submissive 
addresses  were  sent  to  the  King  ;  a  law  was  passed  making  treason  a 
capital  offence,  and  the  King's  arms  wTere  put  up  in  the  court  house. 
But  the  laws  of  England  regulating  trade  were  entirely  disregarded  ; 
alleging  as  a  reason,  "  that  the  acts  of  navigation  were  an  invasion  of 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  subjects  of  his  Majesty's  Colony,  they 
not  being  represented  in  Parliament."  This  doctrine  gained  strength 
through  the  next  hundred  years,  and  was  successfully  maintained  when 
hostilities  commenced  at  Lexington  and  Bunker's  Hill. 


warehouses,  35.  By  another  MS.  record,  it 
appears  that,  at  the  Court  of  Assistants,  held 
on  the  2d  Sept.  following,  one  Peter  Lorphelin, 
a  Frenchman,  was  accused  of  uttering  "  rash 
and  insulting  speeches  in  the  time  of  the  late 
conflagration,  thereby  rendering  himself  justly 
suspicious  of  having  a  hand  therein,  was  seized 
and  committed  to  the  Goale  in  Boston  ;  "  his 
chest  and  writings  were  examined.  In  his  chest 
were  found  two  or  three  "  crusables,  a  melting 
pan,  a  strong  pair  of  shears  to  clip  money,  and 
seuerall  clippings  of  the  Massachusets  money, 
and  some  other  instruments."  He  denied  hav- 
ing ever  made  any  use  of  these  things,  but  said 
they  were  given  him  by  a  privateer.  But,  on 
being  remanded  to  jail,  he  made  up  another 
story,  by  which  he  hoped  to  clear  himself.  All, 
however,  to  no  purpose.  He  was  "  sentenced  to 
stand  two  hours  in  the  Pillory,  have  both  ears  cut 


off.givebond  of£500 
(with  two  sureties) , 
pay  charges  of  pros- 
ecution, fees  of 
Court,  and  to  stand 
committed  till  the 
sentence  be  per- 
formed." 

The  annexed  en- 
graving represents 
an  ordinary  con- 
structed Pillory  of 
the  time.  Drawings 
of  such  implements 
were  rarely  made  in 
New  England  in 
those  days.  —  See 
Brand's  Popular 
Antiquities,  iii.,55. 


438  HISTORY  OF  BOSTON.  [1679 — 1G80. 

The  same  year,  on  a  recommendation  of  the  General  Court,  a 
ay'  Synod  of  all  the  churches  in  the  Colony  was  convened  in  Bos- 
ton, to  see  if,  by  its  direction,  the  Country  could  be  got  out  of  its 
present  difficulties.  Accordingly,  two  very  important  questions  were 
propounded  to  this  body: — "First.  What  are  the  reasons  that  have 
provoked  the  Lord  to  bring  his  judgements  upon  New  England  1  Sec- 
ond. What  is  to  be  done,  that  so  these  evils  may  be  removed  ? "  * 
This  was  called  "  the  Reforming  Synod,  whereof  Mr.  Increase  Mather," 
according  to  his  son,  "  was  esteemed  a  great  part."  f.  And,  in  this 
connection,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that,  about  this  time,  Mr.  Mather 
formed  a  Philosophical  Society  in  Boston,  which  consisted  "of  agree- 
able gentlemen,  who  met  once  a  fortnight  for  a  conference  upon  im- 
provements in  Philosophy  and  additions  to  the  stores  of  Natural  History. 
But  the  calamity  of  the  times  anon  gave  a  fatal  and  a  total  interrup- 
tion to  this  generous  undertaking."  J 

Another  Synod  was  convened  in  May  of  the  following  year 
Mot  12  ^S  0DJect  was5  doubtless,  for  effect  in  England.  Some  act  was 
thought  necessary,  probably,  by  which  an  impression  might  be 
received  there,  that  the  church  government  in  New  England  was  toler- 
ant, or  in  conformity  to  the  English  Church.  §  Dr.  Increase  Mather 
presided  at  this  Synod,  "  and  he  kept  them  so  close  to  their  business, 
that  in  two  days  they  dispatch' d  it."  A  Confession  of  Faith  was 
agreed  upon,  which  was  issued  with  a  preface  by  the  Chairman  of  the 
Synod.  ||  If  the  action  of  this  Synod  was  intended  to  produce  an  im- 
pression in  England  favorable  to  Boston,  the  movers  of  it  were  disap- 
pointed. 

During  these  passages  the  King  restored  the  Province  of  Maine  to 
Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  and  the  Government  of  Massachusetts  "slily  "H 
purchased  it  of  him  immediately  after,  and  continued  its  jurisdiction 
over  it.  This  very  much  displeased  the  king,  and  he  required  its  sur- 
render ;  tendering  the  price  paid  for  it,  which  was  twelve  hundred 
pounds.  The  king's  displeasure  was  farther  increased,  because  the 
General  Court  seemed  not  to  assent  to  or  even  notice  his  demand. 
Charles'  lawyers  had  told  him  that  the  Boston  people  had  no  right  to 
exercise  government  over  the  purchased  territory,  because  their  pur- 
chase gave  them  no  such  right,  in  the  first  place  ;  and,  in  the  second 

*  Hutchinson,  i.  324.  published  in  1691.     The  passage  is  in  these 

f  Remarkables  of  Dr.  I.  Mather,  81.  words  :  —  "  There  are  none  in  the  world  that 

%  "  One  that  had  a  share  in  that  combina-  do  more  fully  concur  with  the  doctrine  of  the 

tion,  and  is  now  a  Fellow  of  the  ROYAL  Church  of  England  contained  in  the  Thirty- 

SOCIETY  in  London,  and  afterwards  trans-  nine  Articles,  than  do  the  Churches  in  New 

mitted  communications  thither."     The  "one  England,  as  is  manifest  from  the  Confession  of 

that  had  a  share,"  was  doubtless  the  writer,  their  Faith,  published  in  the  year  1680." — ■ 

Dr.    Cotton  Mather.     This  ought  to  silence  Page  5. 

those  who  pretend  that  he  was  not  a  member       ||  Grindal  Rawson  afterwards  translated  it 

of  the  Royal  Society.  —  See  Remarkables,  86.  into  Indian,  and  published  it  for  the  use  of  the 

§  My  opinion  here  expressed  is  not  incon-  Natives  in  1699. 
6istent  with  a  passage  in  a  work  written  pur-        ^[  This  is  according  to  Chalmers,  Political 

posely  to  defend  the  conduct  of  the  Bostonians.  Annals,  397.     Thus  insinuating  that  a  question 

It  is  entitled  New  England  Justified,  and  was  as  to  honorable  dealing  might  arise. 


1680.]  RANDOLPH    AND    THE    AUTHORITIES.  -139 

place,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  could  not  sell  or  convey  any  right  of  gov- 
ernment. 

A  deep  game  was  to  be  played,  and  though  the  parties  to  it  were 
widely  separated,  it  was  managed  dexterously  and  with  great  skill  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  while  a  steady  determination  was  apparent  on 
the  other  side.  Fully  to  cover  its  pretensions,  the  Government  at  Bos- 
ton appointed  a  Governor  and  Deputy  Governor  for  Maine.  They  sailed 
from  Boston  for  Casco  Bay  in  August,  with  a  small  armament,  consist- 
ing of  a  ship  and  a  sloop,  with  sixty  soldiers,  "to  still  the  people  there, 
and  prevent  Governor  Andros'  usurpations."  *  Thus  a  government 
was  established  in  Maine,  which  was  kept  up  until  the  Charter  of  Mas- 
sachusetts was  finally  abrogated.  This  event  was  much  hastened  by 
the  agency  of  Edward  Randolph.  He  often  passed  from  New  England  f 
to  old  England,  in  the  employ  of  the  government  of  the  latter.  This 
individual  was  placed  in  no  enviable  position.  The  people  of  Boston 
viewed  him  as  a  spy  upon  their  actions,  and,  although  he  may  not  have 
gone  much  beyond  the  line  of  his  duty,  it  would  have  been  much  bet- 
ter for  his  reputation  had  he  possessed  wisdom  enough  to  have  avoided 
such  a  duty.  He  had  been  appointed  Collector,  Surveyor  and  Searcher 
in  New  England.  It  is  sufficient  to  observe  that  he  could  not  execute 
his  offices,  owing  to  obstructions  thrown  in  his  way  at  every  step  by 
the  people. 

At  the  very  time  of  the  agitation  occasioned  by  the  interference  of 
the  Government  in  England  with  the  affairs  in  Boston,  there  was  a  case 
of  Witchcraft  to  be  decided,  which  occupied  the  solemn  attention  of 
the  highest  tribunal. 

*  Hutchinson,  i.  329  ;  Chalmers,  397.     Mr.  Marshall  of  their  Court ;  there  being  6  of  the 

Thomas  Danforth  was  the  Governor  or  Presi-  Magistrates  and  their  Secretary  ;   and  there 

dent.      The    Deputy    President    belonged    to  being  a  chaire  placed  purposely  for  me,  I  was 

Maine.     The    first    was    Brian    Pendleton. —  desired  by  the  Governor  to  sitt."     On  opening 

Williamson,  Hist.  Maine,  i.  558.  the  King's  letter,  the  Governor  observed  to  the 

f"He  brought  over  a  commission  to  divers  Magistrates  that  it  was  from   his  Majesty; 

persons,  himself  at  the  head  of  them,  to  ad-  "  and  on  looking  to  the  bottom  of  the  letter, 

minister  an  oath  to  the  Governor,  faithfully  to  he   read,   '  by  his   Majesties   command.    Hen. 

execute  the  oath  required  by  the  act  of  trade."  Coventry.'     The  Governor  asked  me  'Who 

Mr.  Leverett,  then  Governor,  did  not  take  the  that  Mr.  Coventry  was  ? '     I  told  him  he  was 

oath.     The  Commissioners  were  Edward  Ran-  your  Majesties  principall  Secretary  of  State, 

dolph,  Thomas  Savage,  William  Taylor,  George  At  the  beginning  of  the  reading  of  his  Majes- 

Curwin  the  elder,   Thomas  Brattle,  Thomas  ties  letter  the  whole  Councill  being  uncovered, 

Deane,  James  Whetcomb,  Richard  Wharton,  I  put  off  my  hat ;   whereupon  three  of  the 

John  Richards,  Humphrey  Warren,  Thomas  Magistrates  tooke  off  their  hats,  but  the  Gov- 

Kellond,   John    Hubbard,   Humphrey    Davy,  ernor  with  the  rest  continued  to  keep  their 

and  Samuel  Mosely,  together  with  the  mem-  hats  on." — Report  to  the  King  in  Hutchinson's 

bers  of  the    Council  for  the  time  being. —  Coll.  O.  Papers,  503-4. 

Hutchinson.  Randolph  came  first  to  Boston  In  some  minutes  which  Randolph  kept,  he 
in  1676,  arriving  only  fourteen  days  before  the  says,  "  17  Dec.  1681, 1  arriued  againe  att  Bos- 
war  with  the  Indians  broke  out.  He  says  him-  ton,  with  his  Majesty's  Commission,  appoint- 
self  that  he  sailed  from  the  Downes  on  the  ing  me  Collector,  &c,  but  that  Commission  is 
30th  of  March,  and  landed  in  Boston  "  after  a  opposed,  being  looked  upon  as  an  incroachment 
tedious  passage  of  10  weeks."  On  landing,  he  on  their  Charter.  A  law  revived  by  the  As- 
says, "  I  went  immediately  to  the  Governor,  sembly  to  trye  me  for  my  life,  for  acting  by  his 
John  Leveret,  and  told  him  I  had  a  letter  from  Majesty's  Commission,  before  it  was  allowed  of 
the  King  to  the  Magistrates.  The  Governor  by  them.'"  —  Hist.  King's  Chapel,  p.  13. — 
said  there  would  be  a  meeting  of  the  Council  Something  to  the  same  purpose  may  be  seen  in 
in  the  afternoon  upon  other  business,  and  that  Hutchinson,  i.  336. 
then  I  should  be  sent  for  ;  as  I  was,  by  the 


440  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1680. 

The  person  complained  of  was  a  resident  of  Newbury,  named  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  Morse.*  She  and  her  husband  were  elderly  peo- 
ple,f  and,  for  anything  that  can  now  be  adduced  to  the  contrary,  had 
lead  irreproachable  lives,  and  were  remarkable  for  nothing  but  great 
simplicity  of  character.  Complaint  was  made  against  her  the  pre- 
ceding year,  and  she  underwent  a  tedious  examination  before  Mr.  John 
Woodbridge,  who  returned  his  proceeding  to  the  Court  at  Boston. 

The  Court,  having  considered  the  testimony,  issued  its  war- 
rant for  her  commitment  to  the  jail  in  Ipswich,  which  was  exe- 
cuted. |  The  time  for  her  trial  was  fixed  on  the  twentieth  of  May, 
and  Secretary  Rawson  ordered  the  Constable  of  Newbury,  "Joseph 
Pyke,"  to  summon  the  witnesses  to  appear  in  Boston,  at  the  time 
specified.  § 

The  prisoner  being  brought  to  the  bar,  the  Court  considered 
the  question,  "  Whether  seuerall  distinct  single  testimonyes  of 
preternatural  and  diabolicall  actions  by  the  prisoner  at  the  barr,  though 
not  any  two  concurring  to  prooue  the  same  individuall  act,  is  to  be 
accounted  legall  euidence  to  conuict  of  witchcraft.  This  was  resolued 
on  the  affirmative  by  ye  Court." 

The  question  being  thus  settled,  the  cause  proceeded.  She  was  con- 
victed by  a  jury,  ||  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  The  magistrates, 
however,  probably  through  the  influence  of  Governor  Bradstreet,  voted 
a  reprieve  till  the  fall  term  of  the  Court.  This  was  not  agreeable  to 
the  Deputies,  but  the  reprieve  was  granted.     Mrs.  Morse  H  remained  a 

*  Mr.  Coffin,  in  Ins  valuable  History  of  New-  Moody  (42),  Wm.   Chandler,  John  Glading, 

bury,  gave  all  he  could  discover  relative  to  this  James  Broune  (32),  Joanna  Broune,   Benja- 

case  of  Witchcraft.     What  I  am  about  to  de-  min    Richardson    (21) ,    Wm.    Card,    Joseph 

tail  are  chiefly  additional  facts.  Bayly,  Zackery  Dauis,  Jonathan  Hajnes,  John 

f  In  the  testimony  of  William  Morse  and  his  Mihil  (44) ,  Joshua  Richardson,  Susanna  Good- 
wife  about  the  "vehemently  dashing  of  potts  win,  John  Chase,  John  Ordeway,  Wm.  Fan- 
one  against  the  other,  hanging  over  the  lire,  ing  (36),  Jonathan  Woodman,  Benjamin 
the  andiron  leaping  into  the  pott,  dancing  Lowle,  Elisabeth  Titcomb  (50),  Peniel  Tyt- 
there,  and  then  leaping  out  again"  and  divers  come,  Lyddia  Tytcom,  Dauid  Wheeler  (55), 
other  things  equally  strange,  it  is  said,  that,  Wm.  Morse,  and  John  Styles." — In  the  Con- 
"  together  with  his  wife  aged  both  about  65  stable's  return,  endorsed  upon  the  back  of  the 
yeeres." — Coffin,  Hist.  Newbury,  131.  warrant,  several  of  the  above  names  are  dif- 

J  The  original  warrant,  now  before  me,  ferently  spelled  ;  as  Bayle,  Haynes,  Mighell, 
runs  thus  :  —  "  To  Joseph  Pyke,  Constable  of  Stilse,  and  a  few  others.  "  An  Ordway  "  was 
Newbery.  In  his  Maj1'5  name,  you  are  re-  returned  instead  of  John.  All  those  sum- 
quired  to  seaze  on  the  person  of  Elisabeth  moned  did  not  appear  to  testify,  probably,  and 
Morse,  the  wife  of  William  Morse,  and  hir  to  several  of  their  depositions  no  age  is  at- 
forthwith  safely  convey  and  deliuer  hir  to  the  tached.  The  following  appeared  and  testified, 
keeper  of  the  prison  at  Ipswich,  by  him  safely  for  whose  presence  I  find  no  summons  : — Mrs. 
to  be  kept  till  the  Court  of  Assistants,  on  its  Jane  Sewall  (54),  Margett  Mirack  (56),  Jno. 
adjournment  to  the  20lb  of  May  next,  who  will  March  (22),  Esther  Willson  (28),  Susan  Top- 
give  farther  order,  she  being  presented  and  an,  and  Robert  Earle  (45). 
left  by  the  Grand  Jury  for  tryall  as  to  witch-  ||  These  were  the  jurors:  — "  Mr.  Richard 
craft,  and  hereof  you  are  not  to  fail.  Dated  Midlecott,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Cushin,  Mr.  John 
in  Boston :  from  the  6th.  of  March,  1679  Wait,  Left.  Richd.  Waye,  and  Mr.  Thos.  Har- 
[1679-80.]  By  the  Court.  rod,  Boston.  —  John  Stone,  Richard  Child, 
Edward  Rawson,  Secret7."  Watertown.  — Mr.  Nathan  Heyman,  and  Mr. 

By  Pike's  endorsement  it  appears  that  he  John  Knite,  Charlestown.  —  Bro.  John  Green, 

delivered  his  prisoner  to  the  jailer  in  Ipswich,  and  Richd.  Robins,  Cambridge. —  Jacob  Hven 

April  2d.  and  John  Capen,  Dorchester." 

§  These  are  the  names  of  the  witnesses,  as       TT  Her  humble  station  in  life  allowed  only 

contained  in  the  original  warrant :  — "  Caleb  of  her  being  called  Gooddy,  or  Goodwife. 


1680.] 


WITCHCRAFT. 


441 


prisoner  in  a  wretched  jail  in  Boston,  through  the  heat  of  summer,  and 
perhaps  the  following  winter,  and  finally  escaped  being  put  to  death, 
as  appears  by  records  of  the  ensuing  year.* 

The  testimony  upon  which  Gooddy  Morse  was  convicted,  so  far  as 
appears  from  the  depositions  extant,  was  as  worthless  and  puerile  as 
can  possibly  be  conceived  of  by  the  most  fruitful  imagination. f  Such, 
in  these  days,  could  not  come  within  the  hearing  of  contempt,  nor  would 
similar  evidence  be  of  a  pin's  weight  in  an  action  for  the  recovery  of 
a  fraction  of  a  dollar. 

While  Mrs.  Morse  lay  in  prison,  in  Boston,  her  husband  petitioned 
several  times  in  her  favor  ;  chiefly  to  explain  away  some  of  the  charges 
upon  which  she  was  condemned,  and,  as  might  be  expected,  the  ex- 
planations were  about  equal,  in  depth  of  understanding,  to  the  charges. | 
There  was  one,  however,  of  a  different  character.  This 
prayed  for  an  alleviation  of  her  sufferings,  and  cannot  be  read 
without  exciting  emotions  of  pity,  mixed  with  indignation. § 

"  Thomas  Lord  Culpeper,  Baron  of  Thorsway,  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, arrived  in  Boston."  ||  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to 
state  here,  that,  although  that  gentleman  came  to  Boston  appa- 
rently by  accident,  yet  he  made  many  close  observations  relative  to  the 
condition  of  the  country,  both  regarding  its  government  and  wealth. 
Afterwards,  when  Mr.  Randolph  communicated  his  written  report  IT  of 


*  For  which  see  Hist,  of  Newbury. 

f  Thomas  Knolton,  the  jailer  at  Ipswich, 
testified  that  when  he  brought  the  prisoner 
down  to  Boston,  she  told  him  "  she  was  as 
clear  of  the  accusation  as  God  in  heaven." 
For  this  expression  she  was  threatened  with  an 
action  for  blasphemy  ;  and  it  may  have  influ- 
enced the  jury,  that  as  witchcraft  and  blas- 
phemy were  very  nearly  related,  the  latter 
was  as  bad  as  the  former,  and  hence  their 
verdict.  Knolton  further  testified  :  — "  As  I 
brought  goody  Morse  down,  she  owned  to  me 
that  she  stroakt  goodwife  Ordeway's  child  over 
the  head,  when  it  was  sick,  and  the  child 
dyed." 

t  For  which  see  Hist,  of  Newbury. 

\  As  it  is  not  contained  in  the  Hist,  of 
Newbury,  and  being  brief,  it  is  here  presented  : 
— "  To  the  Honorble  :  Govr.  and  Council  now 
sitting  in  Boston,  June  4th.  1680.  The  petition 
of  Wm.  Morse  Humbly  sheweth :  —  That 
whereas  his  deare  wife  was  by  one  jury  found 
guilty  of  witchcraft,  &  by  the  honorble  Court 
condemned  to  dye,  yett  since  God  hath  beene 
pleased  to  move  yor  honor3  harts  to  grant  her 
a  reprieve  untill  October  next,  yor  petition,, 
humbly  prays  that  yor  hono"  will  be  pleasd  to 
shew  her  so  much  pitty  as  to  grant  her  liberty 
in  the  day  time  to  walk  in  the  prison  yard, 
and  to  ye  prison  house  ;  and  that  in  the  night 
shee  may  haue  the  priviledge  of  a  chamber  in 
the  common  goale,  and  be  freed  from  the  dun- 
geon wch  is  extreame  close  and  hott  in  this  sea- 
son, and  also  liberty  on  the  Sabbath  to  goe  to 
meeting — he  and  his  children  giving  security 

56 


for  her  safe  imprisonment. —  So  shall  he  be 
ever  obliged  to  pray  as  in  duty  bound,  &c. 

Wm.  Mosse." 

This  petition  is  in  the  beautiful  chirography 
of  Mr.  Isaac  Addington,  and  the  signature  of 
the  petitioner  is  well  executed.  It  shows  how 
he  spelled  his  name,  at  least  at  that  time. 
Whether  the  requests  in  the  petition  were 
complied  with  or  not,  I  have  met  with  nothing 
to  show. 

||  Judge  Sewall,  Interl.  Almanack.  He  was 
probably  of  the  same  family  of  the  famous 
author  of  the  Herbal,  who  was  grandson  of  a 
Sir  Thomas  Culpeper.  The  Herbalist  died  in 
1654.  Our  Lord  Culpeper  married  Margaret, 
youngest  dau.  and  coheir  of  Seignr.  Jean  de 
Hesse,  of  the  noble  family  of  Hesse  of  Bergen. 
His  dau.  Catharine  married  Thomas,  fifth  Lord 
Fairfax.     She  heired  the  estates  in  Virginia. 

T[  Printed  in  Hutchinson's  Col.  of  Orig. 
Papers,  447-513.  Hutchinson  considers  it  full 
of  exaggerations,  but  he  does  not  doubt  its 
authenticity,  as  might  be  inferred  from  what 
Chalmers,  p.  438,  says.  The  meaning  of  the 
latter  unquestionably  is,  that  Hutchinson  only 
doubted  the  correctness  of  many  of  the  state- 
ments. The  Report,  or  "  Narrative,"  as  it  is 
termed,  states  that,  "  There  are  about  30  Mer- 
chants worth  from  £10  to  £20,000."  That 
"  there  are  no  servants  but  upon  hired  wages, 
except  some  few  who  serve  four  yeares  for  the 
charge  of  being  transported  thither  ;  and  not 
above  200  slaves  in  the  Colony,  and  those 
are  brought  from  Guinea  and  Madagascar." 
Hutchinson  remarks  nothing  against  the  cor- 


442  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1680. 

the  state  of  the  Country  to  the  "  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Colonies," 
they,  owing  to  its  extraordinary  developments,  were  led  to  doubt  its 
general  accuracy  ;  and,  knowing  that  Lord  Culpeper  had  visited  Bos- 
ton, they  applied  to  him  for  his  opinion  upon  the  correctness  of  its 

statements.  He  answered,  that  he  had  perused  Mr.  Randolph's 
A     "    writings,  and  that,  during  his  stay  in  Boston,  he  "  did  hear  most 

of  the  matters  of  fact  specified  therein."  He  also  added  that 
the  coinage  of  money  here  was  very  prejudicial  to  the  King's  subjects. 
Thus,  notwithstanding  Lord  Culpeper  was  treated  with  many  atten- 
tions and  much  respect,  he  finally  bore  witness  against  the  Country. 
Although  it  is  said  "  he  came  privately  into  Boston,"  yet  the  next  day 
he  had  a  public  dinner  given  him  in  the  Townhouse,  and  the  eight 
military  companies  were  in  attendance.*  After  a  stay  of  about  eight 
weeks,  he  sailed  for  England.  Sir  Edmund  Andros  came  to  town  soon 
after,  to  see  his  Lordship,  as  was  supposed,  and  was,  of  course,  dis- 
appointed. He  remained  about  a  week,  and,  on  leaving  for  New  York, 
was  escorted  by  the  military  of  the  town  as  far  as  Dedham. 

"Elder  Edward   Rainsford   dyed;    being   old   and   full  of 

"  dayes."  He  came  early  to  Boston,  was  admitted  a  freeman  in 
the  beginning  of  the  year  1637  ;  was  the  first  ruling  elder  of  the  Old 
South  Church,  f  The  noted  island  in  the  harbor  bearing  the  name  of 
Rainsford  perpetuates  his  memory.  He  was  always  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  Town,  and  is  often  mentioned  in  its  history.  He 
was  a  brother  of  Sir  Richard  Rainsford,  who  succeeded  Sir  Matthew 
Hale,  as  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench.  In  the  religious 
controversy  of  1637,  he  was  on  the  side  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  was 
one  of  those  at  that  time  disarmed. 

g   t  "  About  four  aclock  in  the  after  noon,  being  Sunday,  a  fyre 

Avas  discovered  in  the  top  of  the  old  Meetinghouse,  in  the  up- 
ermost  private  room  wher  the  clock  stood."  The  damage  sustained  is 
not  mentioned.  "About  half  an  hour  past  3  aclock  in  the 
morning  Mr.  Samson  ShealT's  house  fell  on  fyre,  by  some  neg- 
lect within.  Some  of  them  were  forced  to  leape  out  of  their  chamber 
window,  yet  all  their  liues  preserued.J  Two  other  houses  were  burned 
with  it,  and  one  blown  vp."  The  same  morning,  about  half  an  hour 
later,  "Mr.  Nicholas  Page,  his  ship  lieing  at  Capt.  Benjamin  Gillum's 
wharfe,  fell  on  firre,  and  was  not  mastered  without  much  damage  to 
the  ship  and  loading,  and  to  said  Gillum's  warehouse."     One  person 

rectness  of  this,  but  when  he  comes  to  the  fol-  1657,  he  hired  of  the  Town  a  piece  of  ground 

lowing  :  —  "  There  are  men  able  to  bear  armes,  "  behind  his  garden  by  ye  water  side,  adjoyn- 

between  30  and  40,000  ;  and  in  the  town  of  ing  his  new  dwelling  house,  being  36  foote  at 

Boston  is  computed  about  4000,"  he  notes,  ye  end  of  his  fence,  45  foote  by  Wm.  Lane's 

"  This  is  an  extravagant  computation."  fence,  and  towards  ye  Marsh  16  foote." — Town 

*  Capt.  John  Hull's  MS.  Diary.  Records. 

f  Hull's  Diary  and  Hutch.  Hist.  Mr.  Rains-       |  Nov.  28th,  1681,  Goodman  Dosset  was  al- 

ford  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cove,  which  loAved  £50,  "  in  rate  pay,  for  blowinge  vp  his 

bounded  him  on  the  south.     Garret  Bourne's  house  when  Mr.  Sheafe's  house  was  burnt." — 

land  joined  him  on  the  west,  David  Offley's  on  Town  Records.     Perhaps  the  same  John  Das- 

the  east.  —  Book  of  Possessions.     On  22  :  12  :  set,  who,  in  1640,  had  lands  "  at  the  Mount." 


1681.] 


AGENCY    OF    RANDOLPH. 


443 


"  Jerinni  [?]  Mather  was  bio  wen  into  a  cellar,  and  had  his  thigh  broken 
and  his  head  bruised." 

At  this  period  certain  crimes  were  punished  by  fines,  imprisonment, 
whipping,  and  standing  in  the  broad  aisle  of  the  meeting-house  upon  a 
high  stool,  on  a  lecture  day,  having  an  inscription  upon  their  heads, 
with  their  offence  written  upon  it  in  large  letters.* 

Mr.  Randolph  returned  to  England  in  the  beginning  of  the  year,  and 
reported  the  state  of  affairs  in  Boston.  He  saw  that  his  powers,  however 
ample  upon  paper,  availed  him  nothing,  while  physically  he  had  no  power 
at  all.  He  was  deprecated  and  stigmatized  as  one  of  the  worst  of  men,f 
while  his  offences  seem  to  have  been  only  to  perform  a  duty  which  he 
had  unluckily  undertaken.  The  people  of  Boston  were  determined  to 
have  things  their  own  way  as  long  as  they  could.  They  had  hitherto 
succeeded  in  baffling  the  authority  of  the  English  government,  some- 
times by  stratagem,  and  sometimes  by  the  aid  of  fortunate  accidents ; 
and  they  still  hoped  the  same  course  of  things  would  continue.^ 

It  may  seem  a  little  strange  that  an  armed  force  had  not  been  sent 
over  sufficient  to  put  down  opposition,  and  to  have  enabled  the  officers 
of  the  Crown  to  execute  the  laws.     But  this  precaution  was  neglected 


*  Mr.  Felt  records  a  case  of  this  kind  in  his 
Annals  of  Salem,  p.  270,  from  "  Q.  Ct.  R." 
Perhaps  there  is  nothing  in  those  Records  fur- 
ther explaining  the  case  than  he  has  given,  by 
which  the  crime  committed  appears  to  have 
been  incest  by  two  females ! 

f  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  is  very  bitter  against 
him,  —  accuses  him  of  forging  a  letter  and 
signing  his  father's  name  to  it,  which  letter 
wos  full  of  treasonable  expressions ;  and  that  it 
was  laid  before  the  King,  that  the  pretended 
author  might  suffer  for  it.  "But,"  says  the 
Doctor,  "  Randolph  missed  of  his  bloody  pur- 
pose. Wretch !  I  shall  have  further  occasion 
to  mention  thee." — Remarkables,  95. 

%  Mr.  Randolph  did  not  sail  for  England 
before  25  Dec,  1680,  though  Chalmers  and 
Hutchinson  state  that  he  left  towards  the  close 
of  that  year.  A  paper  in  his  autograph,  hand- 
ed into  Court,  endorsed  "  Mr.  Randolph's  mo- 
tion agt.  Mr.  Brock,"  is  dated  25  Dec,  1680. 
In  another  paper,  addressed  "  To  the  Honbl 
Govr  and  Company  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  Engd  ,  his  Ma11"  Leiftn'  and  Lord  Propri- 
etor of  the  Province  of  Maine,"  a  specimen  of 
his  vexations  is  fully  set  forth.  It  is  headed, 
"  The  Appeal  of  Edward  Randolph,  Esqr  , 
Collector,  Surveyer,  and  Searcher  of  his  Matiea 
Customs  in  New  Engd  ,  in  behalf  of  his  said 
Maij'ee,  said  Lord  Proprietor,  and  said  Edw1 
Randolph."  This  gives  abetter  idea  than  can 
be  otherwise  obtained,  of  the  authority  which 
Mr.  Randolph  had,  or  considered  he  had.     The 


following  paragraph  or  two  will  show  the  na- 
ture of  his  business.  They  are  from  the  same 
paper  [addressed  to  the  G'ovr  and  C°  ,  &c] :  — 
"  In  answer  to  a  letter  from  yr  Hond  Mr  Dan- 
forth,  President  of  yr  said  Province,  directed 
to  Major  Pendleton  and  Maj.  Davis,  a  Court 
was  held  at  York,  in  yr  said  Province,  vpon  ye 
4th  Novembr  ,  1680,  for  tryall  of  a  cause  arising 
vpon  seizure  of  ye  Bark  called  the  Guift  of  God, 
of  Jarsey  (as  pretended) ,  Eli  Nichols  [1],  master, 
made  by  the  said  appellant  whereat  ye  sd  tryall : 

1.  An  entry  with  Mr.  Hook,  of  Kittery  (not 
empowered  to  take  entrys) ,  was  allowed  valid  ; 

2.  A  testimony  of  two  saylers  belonging  to  ye 
sd  Bark  taken  before  the  said  Mr.  Hook  many 
days  after  said  pretended  entry  was  made,  was 
by  the  Court  allowed  and  equivalent  to  such 
Certificate  as  is  required  by  ye  act  made  in  ye 
15"1  year  of  the  King  for  encouragement  of 
trade  to  be  produced  by  all  masters  coming 
into  any  of  his  Maties  said  Plantations  from 
Engd  ;  3.  That  witnesses  and  evidence  for  his 
Maj'ie  were  not  permitted  to  be  examined  in 
open  Court,  but  privately  taken  and  con- 
veyed to  ye  jury  without  notice  of  said  Court, 
or  said  Apellant.  And  that  other  testimo- 
ny for  his  Majtie  was  rejected  because  the  de- 
ponent had  not  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance 
in  New  England,  but  affirmed  he  had  taken 
that  oath  in  England  ;  by  which  illegal  prac- 
tices the  said  Apellant  was  cast,"  &c.  He 
further  complains  that  "  when  he  appealed  to 
his  Majtie,  his  appeal  was  rejected."     A  copy 

of  Mr.  Randolph's 
signature  to  the 
above  paper  is  here 
subjoined. 


444  HISTORY   OP    BOSTON.  [1681. 

till  it  was  too  late.  The  great  sagacity  of  King  Charles  the  Second  is 
spoken  of  by  many  writers ;  but,  however  much  he  possessed  of  that 
important  ingredient  of  character,  it  cannot  be  pretended  that  he  dis- 
covered much  of  it  in  managing  the  affairs  of  New  England.  Year 
after  year  a  determined  opposition  to  his  government  was  apparent ; 
his  Commissioners,  one  after  another,  had  been  thwarted,  insulted,  and 
obliged  to  return  home  in  disgrace.  Still,  remonstrances  only  were  sent 
over. 

In  the  end  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Randolph  returned  again 
to  Boston.  What  encouragement  he  had  to  incline  him  to  sup- 
pose he  should  meet  with  better  success  than  before,  does  not  plainly 
appear.  However,  on  laying  his  Commission  before  the  General  Court, 
while  that  body  did  not  deny  its  validity,  their  manner  was  sufficiently 
indicative  of  a  contempt  for  its  bearer,  which  also  betrayed  their  own 
embarrassment.  He  requested  that  the  Government  would  second  him 
in  executing  his  Commission,  but  his  request  was  unheeded.  He  then 
posted  up  an  advertisement  in  the  Town  House  notifying  all  persons  of 
the  establishment  of  his  office.  This  was  soon  torn  down  by  the  Mar- 
shal, who  acted  under  the  direction  of  some  influential  members  of  the 
General  Court.  Well  might  the  historian  exclaim,  as  one  actually  did, 
on  reviewing  these  transactions,  "To  what  a  state  of  degradation  was 
a  King  of  England  reduced!"  And,  "How  weak  are  the  declara- 
tions of  positive  law  when  attempted  to  be  exercised  in  opposition  to 
the  spirit  of  the  people  !  " 

What  was  the  Country  to  expect  when  this  renewed  contempt  of 
authority  should  be  laid  before  the  King  ?  A  fleet  of  men  of  war  to 
bring  it  to  its  duty  ?  Perhaps  some  expected  this,  but  there  came 
nothing  but  a  letter  of  remonstrance,  —  a  sharp  one,  it  is  true.*  It 
embodied  a  long  catalogue  of  "crimes  and  misdemeanors"  of  which 
New  England  in  general,  and  Boston  in  particular,  had  been  guilty. 
In  his  letter,  the  King,  or  his  lawyers  for  him,  refers  to  the  treatment 
his  Commissioners  of  1665  received.  Speaking  in  the  first  person 
plural,  as  is  yet  the  custom  of  Kings,  and  addressing  himself  to  the 
Government  in  Boston,  he  says,  "  No  thing  could  prevail  with  you  to 
let  those  Commissioners  hear  and  determine  those  particular  causes 
which  we  had  commanded  them  to  take  care  of.  And  in  opposition  to 
our  authority,  it  was  then  proclaimed,  by  sound  of  trumpet,  within  our 
Town  of  Boston,  that  the  General  Court  was  the  supreme  judicature  in 
that  Province  ;  and  that  the  Commissioners  pretending  to  hear  appeals 
was  a  breach  of  your  Charter ;  and  a  paper  was  also  published  by  order 
of  Court,  to  deter  all  persons  from  making  any  complaints  and  appeals 
unto  them  ;  and  many  of  our  subjects  were  also  imprisoned  for  apply- 
ing to  our  Commissioners."  They  were  also  reminded  of  having  put 
people  to  death  for  conscience  sake  ;  that,  instead  of  sending  over 
Agents  to  give  satisfaction,  they  had  sent  letters  only,  containing  "some 
frivolous  excuses  "  for  not  complying  ;  that,  instead  of  aiding  Officers 

*  Dated  October  21st,  1681. 


1G8L]  THREAT   OF   THE   KINd    AGAINST   THE    CHARTER.  445 

of  the  Crown  in  doing  their  duty,  they  had  allowed  "  attachments  to 
be  issued  against  them  for  doing  their  duty,  thereby  giving  opportunity 
to  irregular  traders  of  compassing  their  frauds.  That  the  said  Officers, 
prosecuting  offenders,  have  been  forced  to  deposit  money  before  any 
trial  at  law  could  be  obtained,  and  have  been  obliged  to  pay  costs  after 
such  trials."  This  was  exactly  the  experience  of  Mr.  Randolph,  who, 
according  to  his  own  statement,  suffered  great  losses  by  the  obstructions 
thrown  in  his  way  by  the  people  of  Boston. 

For  "  these  and  many  other  irregularities,  crimes,  and  misdemean- 
ors," the  letter  proceeds,  "  we  are  fully  resolved,  in  Trinity  term  next 
ensuing,  to  direct  our  Attorney-general  to  bring  a  Quo  Warranto  in  our 
court  of  King's  bench,  whereby  our  Charter  granted  unto  you,  with 
all  the  powers  thereof,  may  be  legally  evicted  and  made  void.  And 
so  we  bid  you  farewell." 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  whole  country  was  for  opposing  the 
King.  There  were  two  parties  then,  similar  to  those  which  existed  just 
previous  to  the  Revolution  of  1775.  One  party  was  rather  violent, 
while  the  other  was  more  moderate,  and  deemed  it  unwise  to  conduct 
so  harshly  in  opposing  the  home  government,  and  thought  it  claimed 
more  under  the  Charter  than  that  instrument  authorized.  All,  how- 
ever, agreed  in  the  importance  of  their  privileges  under  that  instru- 
ment, while  they  differed  as  to  their  extent,  and  the  means  of  defend- 
ing them. 

Deputy  Governor  Danforth,  now  President  of  Maine,  was  at  the 
head  of  the  first  party,  and  the  aged  Governor  Bradstreet  was  the  leader 
of  the  more  moderate  party.* 

*  The  question  as  to  the  expediency  of  choos-  of  it,  if  he  could  not  acquit  himself  by  law." 
ing  nine  Select-men  was  considered  at  the  Whether  the  office  was  getting  into  disrepute, 
Town-meeting,  March  14th,  1680-1,  and  was  or  why  those  gentlemen  declined  the  service, 
postponed  to  the  next  meeting.  Nathaniel  does  not  appear.  However,  "  Mr.  John  Ha- 
Greenwood  and  John  Meriam,  Sen.,  were  wood,  Joseph  Homes,  and  Joseph  Pearce, 
among  the  Select-men  this  year.  Constables  taylr,"  were  elected  in  their  stead,  and  Joseph 
chosen  were  "  Thomas  Baker,  Jr.,  Mr.  Paul  White  for  Muddy  River,  John  Flood  for  Rum- 
Dudley,  Mr.  Steeph.  Burton,  Mr.  Edward  ney  Marsh.  "  John  Skarlet  and  Rowland  Sto- 
Raynsford,  Mr.  Addam  Winthrop,  Mr.  John  rey,  Water  Bayliffes.  —  March  16th,  Elisha 
Herbert,  Mr.  Giles  Dyer,  Mr.  Joseph  Pincheon."  Cooke,  Mr.  Isack  Addington,  and  Mr.  Sam11 
Mr.  Dudley  and  Mr.  "  Hobert  "  paid  a  fine  of  Seywell  "  [Sewall]  were  appointed  a  committee 
£10  each.  Mr.  Winthrop  refused  to  serve,  in  aid  of  a  certain  Petition  to  be  presented  to 
and  Mr.  Pincheon  "  desired  time  to  consider  the  General  Court  by  the  Freemen. 


446  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1681-2. 


CHAPTER   XLVIII. 

Agents  again  sent  to  England.  —  Do  not  succeed.  —  Quo  Warranto  threatened.  —  A  Custom-house.  — 
Cranfield  in  Boston.  —  Agents  return  in  Disgrace.  —  Quo  Warranto  brought  over.  —  Town  Meeting 
upon  it.  —  Speech  of  Mr.  I.  Mather.  —  Charter  vacated.  —  Great  Fire.  —  Death  of  Thomas  Brattle 

—  of  John  Hull.  —  Militia  divided  into  four  Companies.  —  Charles  Second  proclaimed.  —  Number 
of  Ships  arrive  in  a  year.  —  New  order  about  Freemen.  —  Serious  Accident.  —  Death  of  Mr.  Freake 
and  others.  —  Death  of  Thomas  Clarke.  —  Scotch  Charitable   Society.  —  Indian  Deed  of  Boston. 

—  Death  of  the  King.  —  James  Second  reluctantly  proclaimed.  —  Kirk  appointed  Governor. 

THE  threatening  letter  of  Charles  was  brought  to 
Boston  by  Mr.  Randolph  late  in  1681.  A  Court  was 
called,  and,  the  letter  being  read,  it  appeared 
to  the  members  generally,  that  they  had  gone 
quite  as  far  as  they  could  go  against  the  King's  com- 
mands. There  was  much  opposition  to  the  proposal, 
on  the  part  of  the  Deputies,  to  send  special  messen- 
gers to  England  to  endeavor  still  to  avert  the  royal 
vengeance,  but  it  was  finally  agreed  that  other  Agents 
bradstreet.*  should  be  sent,  and  Mr.  Stoughton  and  Mr.  Dudley 
were  chosen.  Mr.  Stoughton,  however,  would  not  accept  the  appoint- 
ment, and  Mr.  Richards,  a  wealthy  merchant  and  one  of  the  Assist- 
ants, was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  they  embarked  upon  their  unwelcome 
mission,  on  the  last  day  of  May. 

The  Agents  found  themselves  in  a  very  unpleasant  situation  on  their 
arrival  in  England.  They  had  been  instructed  not  to  do  anything  that 
might  violate  or  infringe  the  liberties  and  privileges  which  the  Charter 
granted,  or  that  the  Government  had  established  under  it.  It  soon 
became  apparent  to  them  that  this  standing  to  chartered  rights  would 
no  longer  avail  them,  for  they  would  soon  have  no  Charter  to  stand 
by,  inasmuch  as  Charles  was  determined  to  take  it  from  them.  Every 
step  in  the  proceeding  tended  to  confirm  them  that  such  would  be  the 
event.  Sir  Lionel  Jenkins,  Secretary  of  State,  examined  their  in- 
structions, and  they  were  informed,  through  Lord  Radnor,  that  the 
Council  had  agreed  to  report  to  the  King,  that  unless  they  speedily 
obtained   powers  sufficient  to  satisfy  in  all  points,  a  Quo  Warranto 

*  Taken  from  the  seal  at- 
tached to   the  will  of  Gov. 

Bradstreet,  on  file  in  the  Pro-  ?£k£r     ,                      /          /l 

bate  office,  Boston.     The  ac-  C- — — ")                   ^Z"?  ,      M-j^/  .  no/ 

companying  Autograph  of  the  ^^A^^^^lkl/e,  a^MA£8+' 

Governor  is   from  an  official      ^ 

paper  of  1681,  and  that  of  his  ^.^               . 

talented   lady   has  been   fur-  /I if) 'y <        I /•  ]r\r 6 f> d^ 

nished  me  by  Mr.  John  Dean,  JX-  Jj. / CLCLj  /"Z  C  £/"" 

of  Boston.  CP' 


1682.]  AGENCY    FAILS. RANDOLPH'S   TRIUMPH.  447 

should  proceed.     Randolph  gloried  in  the  Agents'   confusion,  and  said 
that  "  he  would  now  make  the  whole  faction  tremble."  * 

In  the  mean  time,  to  make  a  favorable  impression  upon  their 
opposers,  a  partial  compliance  with  some  of  the  King's  require- 
ments was  made  by  the  General  Court.  They  repealed  the  law  against 
the  observance  of  Christmas,  and  established  a  Custom-house,  or,  as  it 
was  then  called,  a  Naval  Office.  However,  circumstances  conspired 
against  the  Bostonians.  Randolph  had  been  able  to  defeat  the  inten- 
tions of  their  Agents  in  England,  whom  he  had  followed  there,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  wise  men  of  Boston  had  been  ensnared  in  a  plot  too 
shallow  almost  to  deserve  the  name.  Cranfield,  Governor  of  New 
..  Hampshire,  came   to   Boston,   and,  pretending   friendship,   was 

shown  the  letters  of  the  Agents  in  England,  which  disclosed 
their  embarrassed  situation.  With  feigned  kindness  he  advised  the 
Authorities  to  offer  the  King,  through  Lord  Hyde,  two  thousand 
guineas  for  his  Majesty's  private  use.  Thus  indirectly  to  bribe  the 
King  !  Strange  as  it  may  now  seem,  the  Authorities  were  caught  in 
this  transparent  net,  and  authorized  their  Agents  to  make  the  offer. 
Ridicule  was  now  added  to  their  confusion,  and  their  business  was  at  an 
end.  Cranfield,  then  in  England,  at  the  same  time  represented  the 
people  here  as  rogues  and  rebels. 

0  »  Chagrined  and  disgraced,  the  Agents  returned  to  New  Eng- 
land. In  the  course  of  the  same  week  arrived  also  the  evil 
genius  of  the  Colony,  Edward  Randolph,  bringing  with  him  the  dreaded 
Quo  Warranto.  His  consequence  and  importance  was  much  increased 
by  the  unbounded  success  which  had  attended  his  efforts  to  humble  the 
people  of  Boston ;  and,  to  give  his  consequence  more  weight,  a  frigate 
conveyed  him,  and  lay  before  the  town,  the  object  of  which  there  was 
no  mistaking. 

Randolph  brought  also  a  declaration  from  the  King,  purporting, 
"  that  if,  before  prosecution  of  the  Quo  Warranto,  the  Colony  would 
make  full  submission,  and  entire  resignation  to  his  pleasure,  he  would 
regulate  their  Charter  for  his  service  and  their  good." 

Hence,  the  Charter  was  to  be  surrendered,  or  certain  consequences 
suffered ;  which  consequences  were  not  at  all  doubtful.  It  was  now  for 
the  General  Court  to  decide  whether  the  country  should  be  crushed  with 
or  without  its  Charter.  Such  was  the  dilemma  to  which  it  was  reduced. 
The  General  Court  might  indeed  choose,  but  of  what  value  was  the 

*  This  he  wrote  in  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  elsewhere  gives  these  names  as  among  his  chief 
Clarendon,  14  July,  1682.  He  declared  that  opposers: — "Daniel  Gookin,  Nathaniel  Sal- 
the  Articles  he  had  now  exhibited  against  Mas-  tonstall,  Richards,  Davy,  Gedney,  Appleton, 
sachusetts,  for  "high  misdemeanors"  would  Brattle,  Stoddard,  Bathurst,  Hathorn,  Wait, 
"  make  the  whole  faction  tremble."  As  lead-  Johnson,  Hutchinson,  Sprague,  Oakes,  Hol- 
ers in  the  "  high  misdemeanors,"  he  designated  brook,  Cushing,  Hammond  and  Pike."  These 
"Thomas  Danforth,  Samuel  Nowell,  a  late  he  said  constituted  the  "  faction  of  the  Gen- 
fanatic  preacher,  and  now  a  Magistrate,  Daniel  eral  Court." 

Fisher,  and  Elisha  Cooke,  Deputies."     These,  _^^  *~^\ 

he  urged,  should  be  sent  for  to  answer  in  Eng-  Q/^.a~J?     X<    //  A^TJk — 

land. -See  Hutchinson,   i.   336.      Randolph  <?* "+*'•      "^^rt^^cUb 


448 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1682. 


choice  ?  The  people  of  Boston,  influenced  by  their  ministers,  were 
boiling  with  indignation,  and,  if  there  were  any  who  desired  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph's situation,  their  choice  was  not  to  be  envied. 

Seeing  that  affairs  were  desperate,  the  Governor  and  As- 
sistants voted  to  send  an  humble  Address  to  his  Majesty,  stating 
that  they  would  not  contend,  but  would  "  humbly  lay  themselves  at  his 
feet."  Notwithstanding  this  act  of  the  upper  House,  when  it  came 
before  the  Deputies  they  entered  their  dissent  upon  it,*  and  it  never 
became  a  law.  But,  as  affairs  turned,  it  made  no  difference  in  the 
end,  and  the  fact  is  now  useful  only  as  showing  how  inflexible  the 
majority  of  the  General  Court  was  upon  a  principle,  which  eventually 
achieved  American  Independence. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town,  with  great 
unanimity,  sustained  the  Deputies.  A  Town- 
meeting  was  called,  in  which  the  King's 
Declaration  was  discussed.  The 
Jaif^i  Rev*  Increase  Mather  was  present, 
and  made  a  speech  against  the  sur- 
render of  the  Charter,  and  his  arguments 
were  completely  conclusive  with  the  people, 
and  the  proposal  was  rejected,  nemine  con- 
tradicente,  as  expressed  upon  the  records  of 
that  day.  Among  other  things  Mr.  Mather 
said,  "  I  verily  believe,  we  shall  sin  against 
the  God  of  Heaven,  if  we  vote  an  affirma- 
tive unto  it.  The  Scripture  teacheth  us  otherwise.  '  That  which  the 
Lord  our  God  has  given  us,  shall  we  not  possess  it  1 '  If  we  make  a 
submission,  we  fall  into  the  hands  of  men  immediately ;  but  if  we  do 
not,  we  still  keep  ourselves  in  the  hands  of  God.  The  loyal  citizens 
of  London  would  not  surrender  their  Charter,  lest  their  posterity  should 
curse  them  for  it.  Shall  we  then  do  such  a  thing  ?  "  f  It  was  also 
said,  "  It  was  better  to  die  by  the  hands  of  others  than  by  their  own." 


INCREASE    MATHER. 


*  This  dissent  on  their  part,  could  the  sur- 
render have  been  tested  legally,  Hutchinson 
decides,  would  have  saved  the  Charter.  But 
when  any  instrument  has  been  declared  null 
and  void  in  the  proper  court  of  law,  it  is  not 
easy  to  see  how  such  instrument  can  be  of 
force.  As  long  as  judgment  was  not  entered, 
and  the  Charter  remained  in  the  hands  of  the 
Colony,  so  long  the  Charter  was  good.  Had 
it  been  voluntarily  surrendered,  the  case,  re- 
garding the  Colony,  would  have  been  the  same. 
Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  never  surren- 
dered their  Charters,  but  judgment  was  not 
entered  against  them ;  hence  their  Charters 
remained  good,  though  for  a  time  dormiens. 
The  whole  quarrel  was  with  Massachusetts,  or 
in  fact  Boston,  and  the  matter  of  a  judgment 
against  the  other  Charters  slumbered  also.  To 
be  sure,  Sir  Edmund  Andros  attempted  in 
person  to  take  away  that  of  Connecticut,  but 
failed,  owing  to  one  of  those  little  stratagems 
which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 


|  RemarJcables  of  Dr.  I.  Mather,  p.  90-2. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1681,  Mr.  Mather 
preached  a  sermon  at  the  "  Lecture  of  Bos- 
ton," which  he  soon  after  printed,  entitling 
it  Heaven's  Alarm  to  the  World,  &c.  This, 
although  it  apparently  had  reference  only  to 
comets  and  earthquakes,  had  a  political  bear- 
ing also.  Many  apt  Scripture  quotations  were 
brought  in,  ana  it  is  not  difficult  to  discover 
that  he  wished  the  people  to  understand  that 
God  would  overcome  and  thwart  the  designs 
of  their  enemies,  the  enemies  of  his  Church  in 
New  England  ;  that  he  had  thus  far  preserved 
them,  and  it  must  not  be  doubted  that  he 
would  still  continue  his  protection ;  and  in 
closing  he  said, "  When  troubles  come  let  them 
find  us  watching." 


1682.]  CHARTER    VACATED. GREAT    FIRE.  449 

An  attempt  was  made,  however,  to  prevent  judgment  being  rendered 
on  the  return  of  the  writ  of  Quo  Warranto,  by  the  employment  of  an 
Attorney  to  appear  in  England  and  answer  for  the  Country.  Ad- 
dresses, very  humble  ones,  were  forwarded  to  appease  the  royal  indig- 
nation; but  all  to  no  purpose.  "  Judgment  was  rendered  up,"  *  and 
thus  ended  the  first  Charter  of  Massachusetts.! 

The  next  day  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Randolph,  a  "terrible  fire 
happened  in  Boston,  in  the  richest  part  of  the  Town."  J  Its  ravages 
were  about  the  Dock,  to  the  south  of  Drawbridge  street.  §  There  were 
those  who  insinuated  that  Randolph  had  procured  the  fire  to  be  set ;  but 
this  is  extremely  improbable,  and  the  propagators  of  the  report  no 
doubt  fabricated  it  to  inflame  the  inhabitants  against  him. 
.    „  Capt.  Thomas  Brattle   died  this  year,  in  the  early  part  of 

April.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  Town-meeting  on  the  twelfth 
of  March,  to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  in  1681,  and  in  1682 
also  ;  he  had  served  many  years  as  a  Select-man,  and  was  an  active 
and  efficient  officer  in  the  late  Indian  war.  In  May,  1676,  he  sur- 
prised a  company  of  Indians  near  Rehoboth,  "busie  in  fishing  in  a 
river  therabouts,"  and  killed  eleven  or  twelve  of  them,  losing  but  one 
of  his  own  men.  He  commanded  a  party  of  horsemen,  and  not  long 
after,  with  Mosley's  company,  and  few  others,  he  captured  one  hun- 
and  fifty  more. 

At  a  Town-meeting,  only  eleven  days  after  his  decease,  Mr. 
Timothy  Prout  was  chosen  a  Select-man  in  his  place,  and 
Capt.  William  Gerrish  was  elected  Moderator.  He  was  interred  in  the 
Johnson  burying-ground,  now  called  King's  Chapel,  and  from  his  tomb- 
stone, yet  remaining,  it  appears  that  his  age  was  sixty.  He  is  styled 
Major  on  the  same  stone.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brattle,  died  on 
the  preceding  November,  at  the  age  of  forty-four.  His  name  is  at- 
tached to  many  public  documents  of  the  time.|| 

The   active,  enterprising  and  useful  Capt.  John  Hull  died, 

aged  fifty-nine  years,  wanting  one  month  and  about  eighteen 

days,  leaving  a  very  large  estate,  acquired  by  his  own  industry  and 

good  calculations.il     He  was  born,  as  himself  says,  "in  Market  Hare- 

*  Some  further  particulars  may  be  seen  in  a  day  is  easily  explained,  supposing  Mr.  Hull 

Hutchinson,  i.  340.     The  judgment  was  ren-  to  have  died  in  the  night  of  Sept.  30.     The 

dered  at  Trinity-term  [June  18th],  1684,  but  date  in  the  sermon  is,  doubtless,  right. 

an  official  copy  of  it  was  not  received  in  Bos-       Robert,  the  father  of  Capt.  John  Hull,  m. 

ton  till  July  2d,  1685.  1st,  Elizabeth  Storer,  widow.     She  d.  3  May 

f  See  Neal,  Hist.  N.  Eng.  (2d  Ed.)  ii.  42.  1646,    leaving    a    son    Richard    Storer    (the 

Chalmers,  415.  brother,   probably,   mentioned    by    Mr.    John 

%  Hutchinson,  i.  338.  —  Chalmers,  414.  Hull  who  assisted  him).     He  m.  2dly,  Judith 

5  Pemberton.  Paine,  wid.  of  Moses  Paine,  also  wid.  of  Edmund 

ft  A  copy  of  his  autograph  has  been  given  in  Quincy.     She  d.  5  Mar.,  1654,  having  had  by 

page  388,  and  the  family  Arms  on  page  369.  Edmund  Quincy,  Edmund,  b.  1627,  d.  7  Jan., 

Tf  The  date  of  Mr.  Hull's  death  is  derived  1698,  a.  70,  and  Judith.     This  Edmund  m. 

from  the  sermon  preached  upon  the  occasion  1st,  Joanna  Hoar,  who  d.  16  May,  1680  ;  2d, 

by  Mr.   Willard,    namely,    Oct.    1st,    1683.  Elizabeth,  wid.  of  Rev.  John  Eliot,  jr.,  and 

Judge  Sewall,  his  son-in-law,  who  procured  dau.  of  Hon.  Daniel   Gookin,  8   Dec.  1680. 

the  sermon  to  be  printed,  entered  the  death  in  She  d.  30  Nov.  1700.      He  had  by  the  first 

an  Almanack,  Sept.  30.     This  discrepance  of  wife,  Mary,  Daniel,  John,   Joanna,  Judith, 

57 


450  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1684. 

borough,"  in  the  County  of  Leicester,  on  the  eighteenth  of  December, 
1624.  When  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  his  father,  Robert  Hull, 
a  smith,  removed  with  his  family  to  New  England.  They  sailed  from 
Bristol  in  the  ship  George,  Nicholas  Shapley  master,  on  the  28th  of 
September,  1635,  and  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  seventh  of  the  follow- 
ing November.  Although  they  had  a  fair  passage,  they  came  very 
near  being  wrecked  on  Cape  Sable  sands.  The  ship  struck  thirty 
times,  "  to  the  amazement  of  Master  and  mariners,  and  hope  of  safety 
being  taken  away,  the  saylers  would  have  hoysed  out  the  long  boate, 
but  the  alknowing  God  would  not  suffer  them,  with  all  their  power 
(and  also  the  help  of  many  passingers)  to  get  out  the  boates,  but  it 
hung  by  the  fluke  of  the  anchor  ;  and  God  soe  ordered  it  that  after 
long  beating  there,  he  turned  the  shipp  off  againe  into  the  sea,"  with 
but  slight  damage. 

Mr.  Hull's  father  settled  in  Boston,  where,  says  the  son,  "  after  a 
little  keeping  at  scoole,  I  was  taken  to  help  my  father  plant  come, 
which  I  attended  for  seven  yeares  together.  I  then  fell  to  learning  by 
the  help  of  my  brother,  and  to  practising  the  trade  of  a  goldsmith,  and 
was  able  to  get  my  living  by  it." 

Elizabeth,  the  mother  of  Mr.  Hull,  died  in  1646.  The  fol- 
May  3  lowing  year  he  records  his  marriage  in  these  words  :  —  "  The 
eleventh  of  the  third  month,  Mr.  John  Winthrop  married  me 
and  my  wife  Judith,  in  my  own  house,  being  the  third  day  of  the 
weeke."  He  kept  a  diary,  in  which  these  facts  are  recorded,  but  at 
what  time  he  commenced  it  does  not  appear. 

Although  Mr.  Hull  was  one  of  the  true  Puritans,  he  thus  notices  the 
death  of  the  King  in  1648 :  — "  Great  Charles  the  first  was  beheaded  upon 
Tuesday  [January  thirtieth,  1649]  about  two  aclock.  A  very  solemn 
and  strange  act."  By  applying  the  word  great  to  the  king,  the  author 
probably  had  reference  to  his  station  only.  When  he  records  the  death 
of  Cromwell,  his  language  is  not  equivocal.  He  writes,  "  Wee 
Feb.  25.  received  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  the  Lord  Protector,  Oli- 
ver Cromwell,  a  man  of  excellent  worth,  who  died  September 
third,  1658.  The  Lord  give  sutable  affections  to  bewaile  the  loss  of 
such  choyce  ones.  He  was  one  that  sought  the  good  of  New  England, 
though  he  seemed  to  be  much  wanting  in  a  thorough  testimonie  against 
the  blasphemors  of  our  dayes."  * 

Elizabeth,  and  Edmund  who  d.  young ;  by  the  of  age,  is  a  living  monument  among  nature's 
Becond,  Edmund  and  Mary.  Edmund  Quincy's  noblemen  ;  and  may  he  long  live  to  elevate  the 
(first  named)  dau.  Judith,  m.  Mr.  John  Hull,  3  character  of  a  city  which  he  has  so  much  ad- 
Jan.  1646-7,  as  in  the  text.  Besides  John,  vanced  in  all  its  excellences. 
Robert  Hull  had  a  son  Edward,  who  m.  The  conjectural  and  closing  sentences  of  the 
Eleanor  Newman,  20  Jan.  1652-3.  All  of  note  on  page  329,  ante,  are  wrong.  When 
Capt.  John  Hull's  children  d.  young,  except  that  note  was  written  I  had  not  seen  Oapt. 
Hannah,  wife  of  Judge  Sewall,  as  elsewhere  Hull's  Diary. 

mentioned.     She  was  b.  14  Feb.  1657.     From  *  Cromwell  did  not  approve  of  the  severe 

the  Quincy  family  here  noticed,  are  descended  proceedings  of  the  people  here  against  those 

the  families  of  Boston  and  Quincy  (anciently  who  differed  from  them  in  matters  of  religious 

Brain  tree)  ;  the  venerable  patriarch  of  which,  belief.     This  occasioned  the  closing  remark  of 

the  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy,  now  above  80  years  Mr.  Hull. 


1684.] 


CHARLES    II.    PROCLAIMED. 


451 


Mr.  Hull's  intolerance  is  often  observable  in  his  diary.  He  records 
the  sentence  of  death  against  three  Quakers,  and  then  adds —  "  well 
they  deserved  it.  Most  of  the  Godly  have  cause  to  rejoyce  and  bless 
the  Lord  that  strengthens  our  Magistrates  and  Deputies  to  bear  wit- 
ness against  such  blasphemers." 

When,  in  1652,  the  militia  of  Boston  were  divided  into  four  compa- 
nies, Mr.  Hull  was  appointed  a  Sergeant.  In  regular  order  he  ad- 
vanced in  office  till  he  became  Captain  of  the  Artillery  Company  in 
1671.  He  was  largely  engaged  in  navigation,  and  although  his  losses 
by  captures,  wrecks  and  other  casualties,  were,  from  year  to  year, 
large,  yet  upon  the  whole  his  interest  was 
advanced.  In  1657  he  was  chosen  by  the 
Town  "to  be  one  of  the  seven  men  to 
looke  after  the  Townes  affaires." 

The  proclaiming  of  Charles  the  Second 
in  Boston  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Hull : — 
"  Eighth  of  the  sixth,  1661,  being  the  5th 
day  of  the  weeke,  after  our  ordinary  lec- 
ture, the  soldiers  being  all  in  armes,  viz. 
our  four  companies  and  the  country  troop, 
the  Magistrates  mounted  on  horseback,  the 
Ministers  being  present,  and  a  multitude 
of  people,  King  Charles  the  Second  was 
proclaimed  by  Mr.  Edward  Rawson,  Secretary  of  State,  all  standing 
bare,  and  ended  with,  God  save  the  King,  and  a  shout,  sundry  vollies 
of  shot  from  the  soldiery,  all  the  gunns  in  the  Castle,  Fort  and  Town 
and  ships.  All  the  chiefif  officers  feasted  that  night  at  the  charge  of 
the  Country." 

In  1660-1  Mr.  Hull  was  chosen  Town  Treasurer.  In  1662  he 
accompanied  the  Agents,  Mr.  Bradstreet  and  Mr.  Norton,  to  England. 
While  in  that  country  he  visited  the  native  place  of  his  wife,  and  took 
the  date  of  her  birth  out  of  the  register.*  After  about  a  month's  stay 
in  London,  he  "went  down  into  the  country,  and  visited  his  kindred 
and  towne,  and  went  as  farr  as  Hull  to  see  his  Cozzen  Hoar."  He 
brought  over  with  him  "several  children,  all  in  health,"  save  one, 
Sam.  Gaylor,  who,  having  been  placed  with  Mr.  Clark,  fell  overboard 
and  was  lost.f 

In  1666  Mr.  Hull's  father  died.J     When  the   Third   Church  was 


CUAKLE3   II. 


*  But  what  her  maiden  name  was,  or  the 
name  of  the  place  where  she  was  born,  he  does 
not  inform  us.  He  speaks  of  the  death  of  his 
wife's  mother,  29.  1.  1654,  but  mentions  not 
her  name. 

f  These  may  have  been  of  that  class  of  chil- 
dren previously  spoken  of  in  this  history.  He 
arrived  at  his  own  house  in  Boston,  Sept.  3d, 
1662,  on  his  wife's  birth-day,  1626.  He  sailed 
on  the  10th  of  Feb.  preceding. 

X  He  thus  records  his  death.  "  July  28. 
About  4  in  y»  after™  the  Lord  tryed  me,  by 
calling  for  my  honor11  father  Robert    Hull, 


home  to  himself ;  being  two  days  before  taken 
with  a  flux,  and  then  with  violent  cramp  in 
his  leggs,  and  burning  att  his  heart,  yet  bore  all 
with  sweet  patience  and  thankfulness."  He 
does  not  state  his  age,  nor  anything  else  con- 
cerning him.  He  is  even  more  brief  regarding 
his  mother's  death, — "  7.  3. 1646,  at  5  aclock 
in  the  afternoone,  being  the  5th  day  of  the 
weeke,  my  Mother,  Elizabeth  Hull,  was  taken 
away  by  death."  Her  maiden  name  has  not 
been  discovered.  She  was  a  widow  Storer,  aa 
before  mentioned. 


452 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1684. 


formed,  John  Hull  and  his  wife  Judith  were  among  those  that  formed 
it.*  In  1663  Mr.  Hull  notes,  —  "This  year  it  was  said  by  such  as 
took  account  of  the  number  of  shipps  that  came  in,  that  there  came 
into  Boston  harbor  sixty  shipps  and  barkes,  beside  ketches,  &c."  The 
next  year  he  says,  as  if  of  his  own  knowledge, —  "  Hear  hath  come 
near  one  hundred  sail  of  shipps  ;  our  own  and  strangers,  and  all  loaden 
home."  In  1668  he  was  left  out  of  the  list  of  Select-men,  but  the 
town  of  Wenham  chose  him  their  Deputy  to  the  General  Court ;  and 
in  1671,  1672,  and  1673,  he  was  chosen  to  the  same  office  by  the  town 
of  Westfield.  In  1675  he  was  appointed  by  the  Council  to  be  of  the 
"  Committee  of  War,"  and  also  "  Treasurer  for  the  War;"  f  and  after- 
wards, the  same  year,  he  was  chosen  "  Treasurer  of  the  Countrey." 
which  office  he  held  until  1680.  He  was  then  chosen  one  of  the  As- 
sistants, which  office  he  held  till  his  death. 

Mr.  Hull  had  an  uncle  living  in  London,  named  Pariss,  who  trans- 
acted much  business  for  him,  and  who  he  heard  had  died  of  the 
Plague.  J  He  was  much  rejoiced  to  learn,  in  1666,  that  he  was  living, 
and  with  his  family  was  well.     He  visited  him  in  1669-70,  "  and  was 


*  Mr.  Hull  in  hia  Diary  says  very  little 
about  the  difficulties  between  the  First  and 
Third  Churches.  (See  ante,  p.  383-6.)  He 
notes  the  attempt  to  procure  Dr.  Owen,  thus : 
"  15.  6.  1663.  The  Ch.  had  a  meeting,  and 
joyntly  agreed  to  write  letters  by  the  first  op- 
portunity vnto  England  for  Dr.  Jno.  Owen. 
21.  6.  The  letters  by  the  persons  deputed  to 
draw  them  were  read  to  the  Ch. ,  which  they 
accepted ;  only  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  and 
Mr.  Houchin  showed  dissent,  and  desired  the 
Ch.  might  at  that  tyme  express  their  intention, 
or  rather  resolution,  to  choose  Mr.  James  Al- 
len. Mr.  Thos.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Carill,  and  Mr. 
Greenhill  were  also  written  vnto  to  promote 
the  Chs  desire  ;  and  in  case  it  should  soe  fall 
out  yl  ye  Doctor  could  not  come,  to  think  of 
who  might  bee  meet  for  vs."  The  hope  of  ob- 
taining Dr.  Owen's  services  was  kept  up  more 
than  two  years.  In  Dec.  following  he  was 
written  to  again  by  the  Church,  and  also  in  its 
behalf  by  the  General  Court.  "  1664.  16.  3. 
Mr.  Pierce  arrived  from  London,  but  bro't  not 
Dr.  Owen,  nor  any  certain  enformation  of  his 
resolution  to  come."  Even  as  late  as  9  June, 
1666,  by  an  arrival  from  England,  it  was 
learned  "  off  his  likely  coming  hither."  Mr. 
Hull's  Autograph,  from  the  first  leaf  of  his 
Diary,  is  here 

tm 


<dA 


\  The  book  kept  by  the  Treasurer  during 
Philip's  war,  a  large  folio  in  vellum,  is  in  the 
library  of  the  N.  Eng.  Hist.  Genealogical  Soc, 
beautifully  indexed  by  Mr.  Isaac  Child,  a 
member  of  the  Society. 

%  The  plague  of  1665,  which  broke  out  in 
London  towards  the  close  of  April  of  that 


year.  The  General  Court  ordered  a  Fast  to  be 
kept  on  the  22  Nov.  of  the  same  year,  "  for 
our  dear  native  land,  in  respect  of  the  raging 
pestilence."  The  Plague,  and  the  Great  Fire 
which  succeeded  it  were  very  detrimental  to 
the  commerce  of  Boston  ;  but  in  June,  1666, 
the  Town  was  rejoiced  to  learn,  by  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Clarke's  ship,  that  the  Plague  had 
ceased.  The  news  of  a  war  with  France,  and 
the  progress  of  that  with  Holland,  was  very 
alarming.  Soon  after  (12  June),  200  poor 
people  arrived  in  Boston,  whom  the  French  had 
driven  from  St.  Christopher's,  which  had  fallen 
into  their  hands.  Many  of  them,  being  en- 
tirely destitute,  were  relieved  by  the  inhabit- 
ants, and  the  Government  made  provision  for 
such  of  them  as  desired  to  go  to  Barbadoes. 
At  the  same  time  French  and  Dutch  cruisers 
infested  the  coast.  The  people  here  were  not 
passive  sufferers,  however ;  Capt.  Goose  brought 
in  a  French  ship,  as  a  prize,  the  15th  of  Au- 

fust.  He  was  in  the  service  of  Sir  Thomas 
'emple.  And  on  Sept.  10th,  he  brought  in 
another.  Four  days  after,  Capt.  Benj.  Gil- 
lum  (a)  brought  in  two  others.  But  in  July 
the  Dutch  had  taken  four  vessels  on  the  coast. 
The  news  of  the  Great  Fire  in  London  was 
brought  to  Boston,  6  Mar.  1667,  "  in  Capt. 
Martin."  It  broke  out  Sept.  2d,  and  raged 
four  days ;  destroying  89  churches,  "  a  vast 
number  of  other  statlie  edifices,"  and  13,000 
dwelling-houses.  It  extended  over  a  space  of 
436  acres,  including  400  streets.  —  See  God's 
Terrible  Voice  in  the  City,  by  Kev.  T.  Vincent, 
in  Brayley's  London,  i.  413,  &c. 

(a)  22  :  12  :  57.  "  Ben.  Gillam  hath  5s.  abated 
of  his  fine  for  heating  a  pitoh  pott  on  ye  wharfe."  — 
Tovm  Records.  29.  1.  58.  "Mr.  Peter  Olliuer  hath 
liberty  to  make  a  cart  bridge  ouer  ye  Creeke  y' 
goes  to  Ben.  Gillams.5' —  ib. 


1084.] 


THOMAS    CLARKE. 


453 


received  and  entertained,  during  his  stay  in  London,  with  much  love 
and  courtesy."  He  made  this  voyage,  he  says,  "  to  settle  all  former 
accounts  with  my  unckle  and  all  psons."  During  his  stay  in  London 
he  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Owen,  heard  him  preach,  and  "found 
very  much  love  and  respect  from  him."* 

Early  this  year  the  Town  lost  Major  Thomas  Clarke,  who 
died  on  the  thirteenth  of  March.  He  was  made  a  freeman  of 
the  Colony  in  1G38.  In  1G51  he  was  chosen  Captain  of  the  Artillery 
Company  ;  was  also  Major  of  the  Suffolk  regiment ;  a  Deputy  to  the 
General  Court  for  eighteen  years  ;  Speaker  of  that  body  for  1GG2, 
1GG5,  1669,  1670  and  1672  ;  Assistant,  1673  to  1677.  Major  Clarke 
and  Maj.  John  Pynchon  were  appointed,  in  1664,  to  meet  the  King's 
Commissioners  before  New  York,  and  to  confer  with  them  relative  to 


*  Under  "  2.  3.  1668,"  Mr.  Hull  notes  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Davenport  to  take  charge  of  the 
First  Church  :  —  "At  3  or  4  in  the  afternoon 
came  Mr.  Jno.  Davinport  to  towne,  with  his 
wife,  sonn  and  sonn's  family  ;  was  mett  by 
many  of  the  Towne.  A  grea/t  shower  of  ex- 
traordinary dropps  of  raine  fell  as  they  entred 
the  end  of  the  Towne,  but  Mr.  Davinport  and 
his  wife  were  sheltered  in  a  coach  of  Mrs.  Searls, 
who  went  to  meet  them." 

Respecting  Gov.  Endicott,  he  says,  "  he  dyed 
poor,  as  most  of  or  Rulers  doe,  having  more 
attended  the  publique  than  his  own  private  in- 
terests. It  is  or  shame  ;  though  we  are  a  poor 
people,  yet  might  better  maintain  or  Rulers 
than  we  doe.  However,  they  have  a  good  God 
to  reward  them.  He  was  a  man  of  pious  and 
zealous  spirit,  who  had  very  faithfully  endeav- 
oured the  suppression  of  a  pestilent  generation  ; 
the  troublers  of  or  peace,  civill  and  ecclesias- 
tick,  called  Quakers." 

"23.  2.  1668.  The  Revd.  Mr.  Richard 
Mather,  Teacher  of  the  Church  of  Dorchester, 
'dyed.  The  Church  of  Boston  would  not  let 
him  into  their  doors,  when  he  with  sundry 
others  waited  with  a  letter  from  the  Council  to 
ym,  but  ye  Lord  soone  opened  his  way  into  the 
Church  tryumphant." 

"May  1st,  1665.  Coll.  Richard  Nicholls 
came  in  heer  from  New  York,  that  soe  all  the 
king's  Honord  Comisionrs  being  together,  might 
comunicate  their  instructions  fro  his  Majty 
vnto  or  Gen'1  Cort.  Third  of  May  being  elec- 
tion day,  they  were  pleased  to  be  a  while  pres- 
ent in  Cor1,  and  see  or  order  in  election  ;  show- 
ing civility  and  courtesy.  And  at  night  gave 
to  the  souldery  that  were  that  day  on  the 
ground,  five  20s  pe3  of  gold.  Theist  day  of 
the  Cor1  there  were  about  70  freemen  admit- 
ted, sundry  whereof  were  not  members  of  any 
pliculr  Church,  which  had  been  the  generall 
rule  of  admission  hitherto.  The  Honour"1 
Comis™  seem  to  be  elaborit  in  turning  every 
stone  to  find  the  faults  of  this  Collonie  and 
Government,  and  to  manage  them  to  or  disad- 
vantage." 

Frequent  fasts  were  kept  in  the  different 


churches  to  divert  the  mischiefs  which  seemed 
to  be  too  certainly  plotting  by  the  enemies  of 
the  Country.  In  connection  with  which  Mr. 
Hull  mentions  "  one  thing  remarkable  " ; 
which  was  the  fate  of  the  papers  which  had 
been  prepared  here  by  the  Commissioners,  de- 
signed, as  the  people  believed,  to  compass  their 
ruin.  —  See  ante,  p.  372-3.  Cartwright  went 
with  these  papers  in  a  mast  ship,  which  sailed 
from  Pascataqua  in  the  summer  of  1665,  one 
Mr.  Harrison,  master.  Their  loss  has  been 
noticed  in  the  page  just  indicated.  The  Gov- 
ernment intended  to  have  sent  their  counter 
statements  by  the  same  ship,  but  she  had  sailed 
before  the  messenger  arrived  at  her  place  of 
departure.  This  messenger  was  Capt.  Pierce. 
The  desired  ship  was  still  in  sight,  and  Capt. 
Pierce  used  his  utmost  efforts,  in  a  boat  with 
six  oars  to  overtake  her,  but  could  not  succeed. 
The  same  gentleman  afterwards  delivered  the 
same  papers  safely  in  England.  This  preserva- 
tion of  documents  which  were  considered  of 
the  greatest  consequence,  and  the  loss  of  the 
others  to  their  enemies,  was  viewed  as  a  re- 
markable providence  by  the  whole  Country. 

August  7th,  1666,  Mr.  Hull  notes  "  the  ar- 
rival of  Mr.  Peirce  with  severall  shipps  for 
masts  for  the  King."  That  "  Mr.  Maverick 
had  a  significavit  vnder  the  hand  of  Secy  Mor- 
ris (but  not  superscribed  nor  sealed) ,  that  his 
Maj'y3  comand  was,  that  4  or  5  off  cheeff  [men 
of  note]  should  be  sent  to  ansr  in  the  Countrey's 
behalf;  of  which  Gov.  Belingham  and  Maj. 
Hawthorn  were  to  be  two  vpon  their  allegi- 
ance." At  the  Gen.  Court  in  the  following 
September,  the  "  significavit  "  was  considered. 
"  They  concluded  to  write  and  send  a  present, 
two  brave  masts,  but  sent  no  persons  to  answr 
in  or  behalf." 

May  4th.  This  morning  a  ship  belonging  to 
Lynn,  anrived  from  Virginia,  when  a  very  seri- 
ous accident  occurred,  involving  the  loss  of  sev- 
eral valuable  lives.  The  "  great  cabin  was 
blown  up,  instantly  killing  Mr.  John  Frecke. 
Mr.  Smith  ye  merchant  dyed  the  same  day, 
Capt.  Samuel  Scarlet  the  next  day  ;  and  sun- 
dry wounded  sorely." 


454  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1684. 

the  forces*  ordered  to  be  raised  by  Massachusetts,  to  be  employed  in 
reducing  that  place,  f  They  proceeded  to  New  Haven,  and- there  met 
Governor  Winthrop,  who  was  upon  the  same  service  for  Con- 
Au66l5  ne°ticut.  The  capitulation  of  the  Dutch,  just  twelve  days  after 
'  this,  as  has  before  been  mentioned,  J  rendered  further  proceed- 
ings unnecessary.  From  New  Haven  they  wrote  §  home  that  they  could 
hear  nothing  of  the  Commissioners  ;  that  they  learned  by  a  person  who 
had  been  at  New  York  five  days  before,  that  nothing  was  known  about 
them  at  that  place.  They  supposed  Colonel  Nichols  was  at  Long 
Island,  and  proposed  to  proceed  there  immediately.  They  said  they 
could  not  "  understand  that  either  Conecticut  or  New  Haven  had  any 
orders  to  raise  souldiers  ;  "  and,  before  sealing  their  letter,  they  added 
a  postscript,  saying,  "A  report  here  is  of  many  greate  guns  were  heard 
to  goe  off  at  y9  westerne  end  of  Long  Island  yesterday,  but  ye  truth  is 
questionable." 

When  the  severe  laws  were  enacted  against  Quakers  in  1656,  Mr. 
Clarke  and  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  appear  to  have  been  the  only  mem- 
bers of  the  Court  who  opposed  them.  || 

He  was  associated  with  Capt.  Thomas  Lake  in  settling  lands  in  the 
Kennebeck  country,  and,  at  the  close  of  Philip's  war,  he  was  commis- 
sioned to  treat  with  the  eastern  Indians,  and  sailed  from  Boston  with 
an  armament  of  three  vessels  for  that  purpose.  If 

A  society  was  revived  at  this  time,  which  was  instituted  in  1657. 
It  was  called  the  Scots'  Charitable  Society,**  and,  although  it  had  had 
some  vitality  at  different  periods,  between  its  formation  and  1684,  it 
was  not  incorporated  until  1786.  Members  were  admitted  on  the  pay- 
ment of  twelve  pence.  That  was  the  smallest  sum  which  would  admit 
a  member,  and  they  were  to  pay  six  pence  quarterly  afterwards.  This 
regulation  was  adopted  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Society.  It 
Jan5 '6  was  agreed  at  the  same  time,  that,  "  for  the  relief  of  themselves 
and  others,  to  make  a  box,  into  which  every  one  might  deposits 
such  contribution,  as  God  should  move  their  hearts."  Nothing  was  to 
be  taken  out  of  the  box  for  seven  years  ;   "  the  box  being  yet  in  its 

*  The  200  soldiers  to  be  raised  by  Massa-  entirely  wrong,  that  Massachusetts  was  very 
chusetts  for  the  Dutch  expedition,  were  to  be  backward  in  raising  the  men  required  by  the 
under  Capt.  Hugh  Mason  and  Capt.  William  Commissioners,  as  has  been  noticed,  ante,  p. 
Hudson.  368. 

f  "  They  were  sent  with  speed  to  meet  the       J  Ante,  p.  369. 
Bang's  Comissioners  at  the  Manatos,  and  iff        §  Their    letter,   now  before    me,    is    dated 
they  desired  the  assistance  of  or  soldiery,  to    "  New    Haven,    August    15th,    1664,"    and 
send  speedy  notice."     This  record,   made  at    though  in  the  autograph  of  Major  Pinchon, 
the  time,  and  by  one  essentially  opposed  to  the   Major  Clarke's  name  was  signed  first. 
Commissioners,  fully  proved  the  inference  to  be       ||  See  p.  345,  ante. 

T[  He  sailed  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1677.  The  residence  of  a  Captain 
Thomas  Clark  was  in  what  is  now  bum- 
mer street,  in  1708.  — Town  R. 

**  The  facts  concerning   this  Society 
are  taken  from  its  publication,  printed 
'^?">£,       in  1844. 


1684.]  SCOTCH    CHARITABLE   SOCIETY.  455 

minority."  The  keeper  of  the  box  was  to  be  "  one  of  good  report, 
fearing  God  and  hating  covetousness  ;"  such  an  one  was  Robert  Por- 
teous  ;  he  being  the  first  box-keeper  of  the  society.  Exclusive  of  him, 
there  were  twenty-six  members  the  first  year.  *  The  next  year  but  one 
admission  is  recorded  ;|  in  1G59,  but  five,  J  and  then  none  till  1CC5, 
and  that  year  but  one.  From  this  year  to  1G84,  there  is  no  account  of 
any  meeting  of  the  Society  upon  its  records.  At  the  resuscitation  in  the 
latter  year,  forty  persons  appeared  and  subscribed  a  new  or  additional 
constitution.  Of  these,  thirteen  are  denominated  "  strangers."  § 
Among  those  forty  names,  several  were  of  considerable  note  afterwards. 
In  1684,  seventeen  new  members  were  admitted.  ||  Original  places  of 
residence,  or  places  whence  the  members  came,  are  given  in  but  very 
few  cases. H  From  1684  to  1700,  there  were  added  to  the  Society 
about  fifteen  members  a  year,  upon  an  average  ;  nor  is  the  average 
much  different  thence  to  1774.  Meetings  were  suspended  during  the 
Revolution,  and  most  of  the  resident  members  left  the  country  and  went 
to  Halifax,  carrying  off  the  records  of  the  Society. 

In  1696  the  Society  ordered  "  that  the  overseers  of  the  poor's  box 
be  annually  chosen,  the  first  Monday  in  May  ;  namely,  a  president  and 
an  assistant,  a  box-master  and  two  key-keepers."  Under  this  organiza- 
tion, James  Ingles  was  chosen  president,  John  Borland  assistant,  John 
Campbell,  treasurer,  and  Thomas  Hill,  key-keeper.** 

On  the  revival  of  the  Society  in  1786,  there  appear  to  have  been  but 
eleven  persons  interested,  ft 

*  Their  names  were  William  Cosser,  AleocT.  ||  They  were  Mungo  Crawford,  Adam  John- 
Simson,  Geo.  Thompson,  James  Moore,  James  ston,  James  Grant,  John  Melvin,  Robt.  Mel- 
Grant,  Thomas  Dewer,  Wm.  Gibson,  Alexr.  vin,  Peter  Barbour,  Widow  Neal,  Archibald 
Grant,  Andrew  Jameson,  Wm.  Ballantyre,  Asvin,  John  Anderson,  Wm.  Arbuckle,  Andrew 
Wm.  Speed,  James  Inglish,  John  Clark,  Peter  Wilson,  John  Smith,  Thos.  Moodie,  Alexr. 
Grant,  John  Kneeland,  Thos.  Palsous,  Wm.  Cole,  Robt.  Alexander,  Wm.  Stewart,  Sturgis 
Anderson,  James  Webster,  Thos.  Shearer,  John   McDowall. 

M°Donald,  Geo.  Trumble,  Alexr.  Boyle,  John       %  At  quite  a  late  period  they   are   often 
Bennet,  James  Adams,  Malcolm  Maktallome,   given. 
John  Mason.  **  From  1686  to  1736,  the  Presidents  of  the 

f  His  name  was  Alister  McDougall.  Society  were  as  follows  :  William  Brown,  1686 

|  Their  names  were  Hercules  Cosser,  Andrew  to  1695  ;  James  Ingles  to  1703  ;  John  Borland 
Neil,  John  Livingston,  Alexr.  Mackcowmes  to  1717 ;  John  Meinzies,  to  1724 ;  John  Bor- 
and  Alexr.  Ramsay.  But  one  person  admitted  land,  to  1727  ;  John  Campbell,  to  1728  ;  Capt. 
in  1665  ;  his  name  was  John  Johnson.  Thomas  Steele,  to  1736  ;  Dr.  Wm.  Douglass, 

§  They  were  Wm.  Brown,  Archibald  Fergu-  1736.  From  this  time  to  the  incorporation, 
son,  James  Maxwell,  James  Fowle,  Alexr.  Sim-  no  list  of  presidents  appear.  Under  the  charter 
son,  Wm.  Gibson,  James  Smith,  John  Borland,  they  are  John  Scollay,  1788  ;  John  Thompson, 
John  Melvin,  Alexr.  Logan,  Andrew  Cunning-  1798  ;  Maj.  Thos.  Melville,  1799  ;  Andrew 
ham,  Joseph  Simson,  James  Webster,  Duncan  Richie,  1800;  Andrew  Leach,  1801;  Andrew 
Campbell,  Hugh  Mulligan,  Wm.  Hailton,  Ritchie,  1802 ;  Wm.  Clouston,  1810 ;  James 
Francis  Borland,  David  Johnson,  David  Kim-  Kelt,  1829;  Alexr.  Meldrum,  1836  ;  Wm.  H. 
bead,  Wm.  Cochran,  John  Givan,  James  Stew-  Wilson,  1838  ;  John  L.  Miller,  1841 ;  Wm. 
art,  Arthur  Hoil,  Wm.  Jamieson,  Wm.  Doane,    H.  Wilson,  1843. 

John  Ballantyre,  James  Ingles.  The  13  ff  That  is,  there  are  but  eleven  named  in  the 
strangers  were  John  Crawford,  Donald  Goban,  Charter.  Those  were  John  Scollay,  James 
Wm.  Jairdon,  Patrick  Bryce,  John  Campbell,  Thompson,  James  Swan,  Wm.  McKeen,  Wm. 
John  Crawford,  Jr.,  John  Allardy,  John  Kennedy,  Capt.  John  Young,  James  Graham, 
Sprat,  Robt.  French,  John  Ballantyre,  1686  ;  Wm.  Dall,  David  Bruce,  Andrew  Drummond, 
Alexr.  McCulloch,  Thos.  McCulloch,  Andrew  John  Looring.  The  same  year  (1786)  Wm. 
Malcom.  The  four  italicized  names  show  the  Erving  and  Maj.  Thomas  Melville  wereadmit- 
same  names  in  1657.  ted  members.     A  few  admissions  of  a  late  date 


456  HISTORY  OF  BOSTON.  [1684-5. 

A  claim  to  some  part  of  Boston  by  the  Massachusetts  Indians  was 
renewed  this  year.  At  what  time  it  had  been  previously  urged,  does 
not  appear,  nor  does  it  seem  to  have  been  very  definite.  In  fact  it  is 
pretty  clear  that,  for  many  years  anterior  to  this,  they  had  thought 
nothing  about  any  ownership  in  the  Peninsula ;  and  what  had  in- 
fluenced them  to  pretend  one  at  this  time,  is  not  certain.  However, 
the  Town  Authorities  acted  magnanimously  towards  the  claimants,  and 
in  Town-meeting  instructed  Mr.  Symon  Linde  to  purchase 
whatever  claim  they  had,  either  "legal  or  pretended,"  to 
"Deare  Island,  the  Necke  of  Bostone  or  any  pte  thereof."* 

In  pursuance  of  his  instructions,  Mr.  Linde,  with  some  other 
Mar85i9  Prm°ipal  inhabitants  of  the  Town,  met  the  Chief  of  the  Indians, 
Wampatuck  by  name,  but  usually  called  Charles  Josias,  or 
Josias  Wampatuck,  and  his  Counsellors,  and  amicably  purchased  their 
interest,  taking  a  deed  of  the  same.  Wampatuck  was  the  grandson  of 
Chichataubut,  who,  "  upon  the  first  coming  of  the  English,  for  en- 
couragement thereof,  did  grant,  sell,  alienate  and  confirm  unto  them  and 
their  assigns  forever,  all  that  Neck  of  land,  in  order  to  their  settling 
and  building  a  Town  there,  now  known  by  the  name  of  Boston,  as  it  is 
environed  by  the  Sea,  and  by  the  line  of  Roxbury,  and  the  island  called 
Deer  Island,  about  two  leagues  easterly  from  Boston,  between  Pudding 
Point  Gut  and  the  Broad  Sound,  containing  160  or  200  acres  ;  which 
have  been  quietly  possessed  by  the  said  English  for  the  space  of  about 
fifty  and  five  years  last  past.  Wherefore,  I,  Charles  Josias,  alias 
Josias  Wampatuck,  Sachem,  and  William  Hahaton,f  Robert  Momen- 
tauge,  and  Ahawton,  Senior,  my  Counsellors,  by  and  with  the  advice 
of  William  Stoughton  and  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquires,  my  near  friends 
and  guardians, —  as  well  as  for  a  valuable  sum  of  money,  paid  by 
Elisha  Cook,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  Esquires ;  Samuel  Shrimpton,  John 
Joyliffe,  Simon  Lynde,  John  Saffin,   Edward  Willis,  Daniel   Turell, 

follow:  1829,  Gen.  John  P  Boyd;  1832,  W"m.  There  will    appear    hereafter,   during   the 

Creighton,  Alexr.  Roy,  Thos.  Jordon,  John  "  Usurpation  of  Andros,"  some  reason  for  the 

Copp  ;  1833,  Thos.  Leighton,  James  Ander-  statement,  that  this  purchase  of  the  Indians 

son,   James   Grant ;  1834,   Alexr.   McLellan,  was  made,  on  which  to  found  a  claim  ;  for 

Thos.  Pollock ;  1836,  James  Schooler,  Alexr.  when  Andros  asserted  that  the  country  had 

Wright;  1839,  G.  S.  Kelt,  Robert  Schooler,  reverted  to  the  King,  the  Indian  title  was  ad- 

Wm.  Schooler,  T.  C.   Grattan,  hon.  ;  1841,  duced,  as  above,  as  paramount  to  that  of  the 

Robert  Water ston,  life  member.  Crown.     To  this  Sir  Edmund  replied  sneer- 

*  It  was  said  by  some  that  this  purchase  was  ingly,  that,  "  the  signature  of  Indians  to  deeds 

"  got  up  "  to  give  the  owners  of  estates  a  better  of  land  was  of  no  more  consequence  than  the 

title  to  them  than  they  then  had  ;  or  that  such  scratch  of  a  bear's  paw." 

title  would  serve  them,  instead  of  that  they  f  Ahaton,  Ahawton,  and  Hahaton,  are  the 

held  under  the  Charter,  now  that  they  felt  same  surname,  as  likewise  that  of  Nahaton. 

sure  that  that  instrument  would  be  taken  from  William  Hahaton,  mentioned  in  the  text,  is 

them,  or  declared  void  by  the  proper  tribunal  the  same  met  with  in  a  note  to  page  387,  ante. 

in  England.  ~  I  do  not  contend  that  such  was  The    family   of   Hahatons    were    Christians, 

not  the  object  of  the  Indian  deed  of  Boston  at  Several  of  them  were  educated.     This  William 

this  time  ;  but  this  I  do  say,  that  if  the  Fathers  wrote  a  fair  signature  in  1710.     He  was  one 

of  Boston  supposed  an    Indian    deed  would  of  those  sent  to  Deer  Island  in  Philip's  war,  to 

weigh    anything    under   such    circumstances,  prevent  his  joining  the  enemy. —  Gookin.     He 

against  any  determination  of  the  King,  they  died  21  July,  1717.     Punkapog  was  their  seat, 

understood  very  little  of  a  policy,  of  which  Amos  Ahaton  was  living  therein  1733.   Judge 

they  might  be  expected  to  know  much.  Swall's  MSS.,  and  Gen.  Court  Journals. 


1G85.]  INDIAN    DEED    OF    BOSTON.  457 

Senior  ;  Henry  Allen,  John  Fairwcather,  Timothy  Prout,  Senior,  and 
Theophilus  Frarye  of  Boston,  in  behalf*  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of 
the  proprietated  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,"  do  warrant,  con- 
firm and  defend  the  above  said  lands  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever.* 

This  deed  Wampatuck  and  his  Counsellors  signed  by  their  marks  in 
presence  of  William  Williams  and  Edward  Lyde.  The  same  day  they 
acknowledged  it  before  James  Russell,  Assistant.  Wm.  Stoughton  and 
Joseph  Dudley  approved  the  same.  At  that  time,  an  Indian,  called 
David,  son  and  heir  of  Winncpoykin,  or  Sagamore  George,  as  he  was 
usually  called,  made  a  claim  to  Deer  Island.  This  was  also  extin- 
guished, David  acknowledging  a  "just  consideration." f  His  father 
was  Sachem  of  Chelsea  and  Lynn.  Hence  the  claim  of  David.  It  is 
not  probable  that  any  Indians  have  since  made  a  serious  claim  to  the 
peninsula  of  Mushauwomuk,  or  Shawmut.J 

Dr.  Increase  Mather  was  chosen  President  of  Harvard  College.  He 
had  had  much  to  do  with  the  College  since  1681,  making  weekly  visits 
there,  "  which  found  a  general  acceptance  ;  and  the  Commencements  he 
also  managed  as  became  a  decent  orator  and  a  learned  moderator.  His 
Church  refusing  to  relinquish  the  right  they  had  in  him,  he  declined  for 
a  while,  to  do  the  part  of  a  President,  and  got  another  chosen  ;  §  upon 
whose  death,  in  the  year  1684,  the  Overseers  with  the  Fellows 
June  ll.  °f  ^ne  College  again  devolved  his  former  care  upon  him."  He 
was  the  first  native-born  President,  and  the  College  flourished 
under  his  presidency  beyond  former  example.  It  was  through  his  ex- 
ertions that  valuable  donations  were  procured  for  it  in  England. 
Among  others,  he  enlisted  as  a  benefactor,  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis,  who, 
until  long  after  the  time  of  President  Mather,  "  was  the  greatest  bene- 
factor the  College  ever  had  in  the  world."  ||  Mr.  Mather  also  procured 
a  new  Charter  for  the  Institution,  with  new  powers  and  privileges. 
That  of  conferring  degrees  was  one. 

There  came  in  a  ship  from  Newcastle,  which  brought  the  news 

'  of  the  death  of  the  King,  and  also  that  James  the  Second  was 

proclaimed.  IT     Charles  the  Second  died  on  the  sixth  of  February,  of 

apoplexy,  with  which  he  was  seized  four  days  before.     He  was 

succeeded  by  James   Second,    only   surviving   son   of  Charles 

First,  by  Henrietta-Maria  of  France. 

*  A  copy  of  the  deed  of  Boston  is  upon  rec-  Indian  language  very  perfectly,  wrote  the  name 

ord  in  the  Suffolk  Registry,  under  date  1708.  of  this  place   Mushauwomuk.     In   1699,   he 

Vol.  xxiv.  p.  101.     It  is  printed  in  Appendix  printed  the  "  Confessions  of  Faith  "  of  1680, 

to  Snow's  Hist.  Boston,  but  modernized.  in  English  and  Indian,  and  in  the  imprint  of 

f  Samuel  Shrimpton  had  leased  Deer  Island  his  Indian  title-page,  it  stands  in  place  of  Bos- 

of  the  Town.     May  25th,  1685,  the  lease  was  ton.      Shawmut  is    merely  an  abbreviation, 

renewed  to  him  for  18  years,  from  1st  March,  The  meaning  of  the  name  is  probably  free 

1693-4,  at  £14  per  annum,  "  to  the  vse  of  the  country,  free  land,  or  land  unclaimed.     I  have 

Free  Schoole  ;  also  is  consideration  of  £19  paid  been  led  to  this  conclusion  by  a  comparison  of 

by  him  in  behalfe  of  the  Towne  vnto   Josiah  certain  Indian  phrases  with  their  correspond- 

Sachem  and  other  Indians  for  the  ratification  ing  English.     The  notion  that  the  name  signi- 

of  their  predecessors  grant  of  all  the  lands  fied  a  spring  of  fresh  water  appears  to  be  en- 

within  the  Necke  of  Bostone,  and  other  out  tirely  conjectural. 

lands  within  the  precincts  thereof."  —  Town  §  Mr.  John  Rogers.     He  died  2  July  1684. 

Records.  ||  Remarkables,  169-70. 

{  Mr.  Grindal  Rawson,  who  understood  the  "|[  Sewall,  in  Gen.  Regr.,  viii.  18. 

58 


458  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1686. 

As  soon  as  James  Second  was  settled  upon  his  throne,  he  issued 
proclamations  to  be  published  in  New  England.  These  were  brought 
to  Boston  by  a  London  ship,  which  also  brought  letters  to  several 
pn  '  gentlemen  of  distinction  from  those  high  in  authority,  but  none 
to  the  Governor  as  such.  In  one  to  him,  however,  from  Mr.  William 
Blathwait,  he  was  insultingly  told  that  he  was  not  written  to  as 
Governor,  forasmuch  as  that  he  now  had  no  Government,  its  Charter 
being  vacated. 

These  events  threw  the  people  of  Boston  into  considerable  uncer- 
tainty, as  to  what  they  were  in  future  to  expect  from  England.  Orders 
had  been  received  to  proclaim  the  new  King,  which  was  done 
pn  "  '  "  with  sorrowful  and  affected  pomp "  at  the  Townhouse.  '  The 
ceremony  was  performed  in  presence  of  the  eight  military  companies 
of  the  Town,  and  "  three  vollies  of  cannon  "  were  discharged. 

The  people  of  Boston  had,  indeed,  much  to  apprehend.  Their 
Charter  was  gone  forever,  and  what  kind  of  a  government  was  to  be  set 
over  them  they  could  not  tell,  but  they  seemed  to  be  quite  sure  it 
would  be  a  bad  one.  A  Governor  had  been  appointed,  —  one  Col. 
Percy  Kirke,* —  for  whom  the  utmost  abhorrence  prevailed.  He 
had  been  employed  to  quell  the  rebellion,  as  it  was  called,  under  the 
Duke  of  Monmouth,  in  which  he  proved  himself  a  monster,  possessing 
more  cruelty,  if  possible,  than  Jeffreys  himself. 

The  death  of  the  King  prevented  Kirk  from  taking  up  his  abode  in 
Boston.  This  was  a  great  relief  to  the  inhabitants,  though  their  fears 
of  future  ills  by  no  means  subsided,  f 

*  It  is  said,  in  the  history  of  those  times,  that  Kirk  married  the  Lady  Mary  Howard,  eldest 

after    Monmouth's   defeat,    "  he    caused    90  daughter  of  George,  fourth  Earl  of  Suffolk. — 

wounded  men  to  he  hanged  at  Taunton  ;  that,  Toulmin's    Hist.    Taunton,    548.      He    com- 
at  another  town  he  invited  his  officers  to  dinner   manded  a  regiment  of  foot  at  Tangier,  and 

near  the  place  where  some  of  the  condemned  had  been  a  captain  there  under  the  Earl  of 

rebels  were  to  be  executed,  and  ordered  ten  of  Middleton.     Middleton  was  dead  in  1674.     In 

them  to  be  turned  off  with  a  health  to  the  June,  1682,1  find  him  styled  "  His  Excellency, 

King,  ten  in  a  health  to  the  Queen,  and  ten  Colonel  Piercy    Kirke,"  who,   by  the   same 

more  in  a  health  to  Lord  Jeffreys."  —  Life  of  Patent  under  the  Great  Seal,  is  also  constituted 

James  II.  in  Kennet,  iii.  438.     He  was  after-  "  Vice  Admiral  of  the   Coasts   there."  —  See 

wards  a  Major  General  in  Ireland,  in  the  ser-  Chamberlaine's  Present  State  of  England  for 

vice  of  William  and  Mary.  — lb.  541.    He  was  1674  and  1682. 

living  in  1699,  in  June  of  which  year  he  killed  f  One  afterwards,  at  a  safe  distance  from  a 

a  son  of  Lord  Seymour  in  a  duel,  and  is  sup-  power  he  had  so  much  dreaded,  thus  charac- 

posed  to  have  died  soon  after.     Should  any  one  temes  it :     "To  execute  the  tragedies  which 

desire  to  read  the  details  of  the  most  wanton  were  intended  for  New  England,  that  cruel 

barbarities  which  can  be  conceived  of,  attrib-  and  horrid  and  hideous  Tiger,  whose  barbar- 

uted  to  this  governor  of   New   England,  he  ous  cruelties  have  rendered  him  famous  to  all 

may  be  satisfied  with  what  Hume,  in  his  Eng-  succeeding  ages,  had  a  commission  for  it,  and 

land,  has  published;  but  Hume's  authority —  was  coming  over  with  a  regiment  of  Myrmid- 

or  what  I  presume  to  be  his  authority — must  ons,  in  quality  of  Governor.     Had  this  Kirke 

more  than  suffice.     This  authority  is  entitled  arrived,  what  barbarities  must  this  people  have 

"  The  Western  Martyrology  ;  or,  Bloody  As-  expected  !  "  —  Remarkables  of  Dr.  I.  Mather, 

sizes  ;  "  collected,  if  I  do  not  misjudge,  by  the  97.   "  The  religion  of  the  Country  was  enough 

well-known  John  Dunton,  and  published  in  to  render  it  obnoxious  to  the  rage  of  such  a  gen- 

1705,  and  now  of  rare  occurrence.  eration  as  then  carried  all  before  them." — Ibid. 


1086.] 


JOHN    DUNTON. 


459 


CHAPTER    XLLX. 


John  Dunton's  Visit  to  Boston.  —  Notice  of  Him.  —  His  Notice  of  Others.  —  Mr.  Burroughs. — Mr. 
Wilkins.  —  Capt.  Hutchinson. — Mr.  I.  Mather.  —  Mr.  C.  Mather.  —  Mr.  Willard.  —  Mr.  Allen. — 
Mr.  Moody.  —  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  T.  Baily. —  Mr.  John  Usher.  —  Mr.  Philips.  —  Mr.  Brunning. 
—  Mr.  Campbell.  —  Mr.  Thorncomb.  —  Mr.  Willy.  —  Mr.  White. — Mr.  Green. — Mr.  Gerrish. — 
Geo.  Monk.  —  Capt.  Towusend.  —  Mr.  Jollyff.  —  Mr.  Mortimer.  —  Mr.  King.  —  Mr.  York.  —  Mr. 
Heath.  —  Mr.  Watson.  —  Mr.  Mason.  —  Mr.  Malinson.  —  Dr.  Oakes.  —  Dr.  Bullivant.  —  Mr. 
Gouge.' — Mr.  Tryon. — Mrs.  Breck. — Describes  a  Training. — Harvard  College.. —  Visit  to  Mr. 
Elliot. —  Natick. — Mr.  Morton.  —  Dr.  Morton. — Mrs.  Hicks. — Visit  to  Ipswich.  —  Mr.  Hub- 
bard.—  Episcopalians.  —  They  take  possession  of  the  South  Meeting-house.  —  Build  a  Chapel. — 
Rebuild  it.  —  The  Society  broken  up  by  the  Revolution  of  177G. 

JOHN  DUNTON  was  about  a  year  a  bookseller  in 
Boston.  He  was  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Dunton,  minis- 
ter at  one  period  at  Little  Missinden,  Buckinghamshire, 
where  his  grandfather  and  great  grandfather,  also 
named  John,  had  been  ministers.  John  the  bookseller 
became  very  eminent  in  his  business,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  found  time  to  compose  a  great  number  of 
works,  most  of  which  he  printed,  and  they  were  very 
popular  in  their  time.  *  He  was  born  in  1659,  and 
was  intended  by  his  father f  for  the  Church  ;  but  he 
was  altogether  too  wild  a  youth  to  assume  a  gravity  that  would  be  a 
constant  lie  on  his  countenance,  and  he  was  at  length  apprenticed  to 
the  since  well-known  bookseller,  Mr.   Thomas  Parkhurst,  of  London. 


CHECKLEY.  J 


*  That  by  which  he  is  best  known,  is  entitled 
his  "  Life  and  Errors,"  first  printed  in  1705, 
12mo,  again  in  1818,  in  2  vols.  8vo. 

f  John  Dunton's  father  was  twice  married, 
1st  to  Lydia  Carter,  who  was  the  mother  of 
our  John,  and  died  the  same  year  he  was  born. 
His  2d  wife  was  Mary  Lake,  by  whom  he  had  4 
children.  John  was  an  only  child  by  the 
first  wife.  He  was  likewise  twice  married,  but 
died,  without  issue,  at  the  age  of  73. 

J  This  engraving  of  the  Arms  of  Checkley  is 
copied  from  that  engraved  upon  the  tomb- 
stone of  Robert  Checkley,  in  the  Granary 
burying-ground.  The  Checkleys  of  Boston 
were  immediately  from  Preston  Capes  in  North- 
amptonshire. John  and  William  were  broth- 
ers. John  came  to  Boston  in  or  before  1648  ; 
was  a  merchant,  and  agent  for  Robert  Taynter 
of  London,  1659.     He  married  Anne,  daughter 


of  Simon  Eyres,  or  Eires,  a  surgeon,  5  Mar., 
1652,  and  died  1  Jan.,  1684-5,  a.  76,  leaving 
issue.  She  died  14  Nov.,  1714,  and  was  buried 
in  Scituate.     William  was  living  at  Preston 

Capes  in  1636.     By  Elizabeth he  was 

the  father  of  Anthony,  bapt.  at  Preston  C, 
31  July,  1636.  Anthony  came  to  Boston  in 
or  before  1659,  was  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle, 
John  Checkley,  before  named,  and  was  the 
first  Attorney  General  of  Massachusetts,  under 
the  new  Charter.  He  died  18  Oct.,  1708,  a. 
72.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rev. 
John  Wheelwright,  by  whom  he  had  several 
children.  His  daughter  Hannah  married 
Capt.  John  Adams  of  Boston,  grandson  of 
Henry  A.,  of  Braintree.  Samuel  Checkley, 
bapt.  at  Preston  Capes,  18  Nov.,  1653,  was 
half  brother  to  Anthony,  being  son  of  William 

by  a  2d  wife,  Rebecca  .     This  Samuel 

was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  C, 
of  the  New  South  Church,  Boston. — 
From  English  Records  procured  by  my 
friend,  Samuel  Ames,  Esq.,  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  1.,  and  other  sources.  See 
also  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  ii.  349. 
The  name  Checkley,  as  a  surname,  is 
believed  to  be  estinet  in  New  England. 


460  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1686. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  married  a  most  amiable  lady,  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Annesley,*  daughter  of  the  well-known  dissenting  Divine,  Dr. 
Samuel  Annesley. 

His  book-selling  establishment  in  London  was  for  a  long  time  at  the 
Black  Raven,  in  Princes-street,  and  here  on  his  marriage  he  commenced 
housekeeping.  In  1685,  Mr.  Dunton  determined  on  a  voyage  to  New 
England,  his  reasons  for  which  will  be  best  expressed  in  his  own  words. 
He  says :  — 

"  When  I  was  thus  seated  to  the  best  advantage  at  the  Black  Raven, 
and  as  happy  in  my  marriage  as  I  could  wish,  there  came  an  universal 
damp  upon  trade,  occasioned  by  the  defeat  of  Monmouth  in  the  West ; 
and  at  this  time,  having  <£500  owing  me  in  New  England,  I  began  to 
think  it  worth  my  while  to  make  a  voyage  of  it  thither,  "f 

At  Gravesend  he  found  "  a  fleet  bound  for  New  England,"  in  which 
many  had  taken  passage  who  had  been  engaged  in  Monmouth's  cause.J 
Mr.  Dunton  had  shipped  a  large  amount  of  books  for  Boston,  and  that 
he  might  divide  his  risk,  or,  as  he  expresses  it,  "  that  Neptune  might 
have  two  throws  at  him,"  he  put  his  "venture"  into  two  ships.  He 
was  then  "  in  great  suspense,"  he  says,  in  which  ship  to  trust  himself. 
However,  he  went  in  the  Susannah  and  Thomas,  Thomas  Jenner,  mas- 
ter^ with  thirty  passengers  and  sixteen  sailors.  They  had  been  at  sea 
but  a  short  time,  when  "the  heavens  grew  black  and  louring, 
Qct  23  and  every  minute  one  would  have  thought  the  very  Alps  had 
driven  over"  their  heads.  In  that  storm,  one  of  the  ships,  con- 
taining part  of  his  goods,  of  <£500  value,  was  cast  away  and  lost.  The 
master's  name  was  Moulton. 

2  They  sailed  from  the  Downes  on  the  second  of  November, 
and  had  a  tedious  passage  to  New  England  of  about  four  months. 
The  narrative  continues:  "When  we  came  within  ken  of  Boston,  we 
were  all  overjoyed,  being  just  upon  the  point  of  starving ;  we  put  off 
to  land  in  the  long-boat,  and  came  ashore  near  the  Castle,  which  stands 
about  a  mile  from  Boston.  The  country  appeared,  at  first,  like  a  bar- 
ren waste  ;  but  we  found  humanity  enough  when  we  came  amongst  the 
inhabitants.  We  lodged,  the  first  night,  at  the  Castle,  and  next  morn- 
ing we  found  the  way  to  Boston  lay  over  the  ice,  which  was  but  cold 
comfort.  The  first  person  that  welcomed  me  to  Boston  was  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs, ||  formerly  a  hearer  of  my  Reverend  Father-in-law,  Dr.  Annes- 
ley.    He  heaped  more  civilities  upon  me  than  I  can  reckon  up, — 

*  Mr.  Samuel  Wesley  married  another  daugh-  understood  his  business  well  enough,  and  had 

ter,   and   was    father    of   the   eminently   dis-  some  smatterings  of  Divinity  in  his  head.     He 

tinguished  John,  and  the  well-known  Charles  went  to  prayers  very  constantly,  and  took  upon 

Wesley.  him  to  expound  the  Scriptures,  which  gave  of- 

f  Life  and  Errors,  i.  79-80.  fence  to  several  of  the  passengers.     The  Mate 

j  Doubtless  there  are  many  at  this  day  in  and  the  Boatswain  were  good  sailors,  and  made 

New  England  who  need  not  look  to  an  earlier  it  their  only  study  to  dispute  with  tempests." 

period  than  1685  for  the  emigration  of  their  — Life  and  Errors,  i.  88. 

ancestors.  ||  Mr.   Francis  Burroughs. — Life,  Sfc,  i. 

§  "A  rough,  covetous  Tarpaulin;   but  he  135. 


1686.]  mr.  dunton's  visit  to  boston.  461 

offered  to  lend  me  moneys,  and  made  me  his  bed-fellow  till  I  had  pro- 
vided lodgings. 

"As  I  was  rambling  through  Boston,  I  met  with  lodgings  and  a 
warehouse  at  Mr.  Richard  Wilkins',*  whose  family  deserves  as  well  of 
me  as  any  in  New  England.f  Being  thus  fixed,  I  delivered  the  letters 
of  recommendation  I  had  brought  with  me  from  England.  I  had  one 
from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Richard  Stretton,  to  Mr.  Staughton,  the  Deputy 
Governor ;  and  Mr.  Morton,  of  Newington  Green,  sent  another  to 
Major  Dudley,  afterwards  President,  which,  with  other  letters  to  the 
Magistrates,  had  the  good  effect  that  I  was  made  Freeman  of  Boston,J 
though  very  much  obliged  for  it  to  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Burroughs. 
Immediately  upon  this,  Captain  Hutchinson  gave  me  an  invitation  to 
dine  with  the  Governor  and  the  Magistrates  in  the  Town-hall.  The 
entertainment  was  very  rich  and  noble,  and  the  Governor,  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor, Major  Dudley,  and  the  other  Magistrates,  gave  me  a  very  friendly 
welcome  to  Boston,  and  kindly  wished  me  success  in  my  undertaking."  § 

He  visited  Mr.  Increase  Mather,  to  promote  the  sale  of  his  books, 
and  speaks  of  him  as  the  "great  metropolitan  Clergyman  of  the  Coun- 
try, and  a  master  of  a  great  stock  of  learning,  and  a  very  eminent 
Divine."  Of  his  son,  Mr.  Cotton  Mather,  Mr.  Dunton  says,  "he  was 
then  upon  finishing  his  Magnalia  Christi  Americana.  There  is  abund- 
ance of  freedom  and  familiarity  in  the  humor  of  this  gentleman.  His 
conversation  and  his  writings  are  living  evidences  that  he  has  read 
much ;  but  there  are  many  that  will  not  allow  him  the  prudence  to 
make  a  seasonable  use  of  it.  His  library  is  very  large  and  numerous  ; 
but  had  his  books  been  fewer  when  he  wrote  his  '  History,'  it  would 
have  pleased  us  better." 

He  next  waited  on  Mr.  Willard,  "  of  the  South  Meeting,"  who,  he 
remarks,  "  is  well  furnished  with  learning  and  solid  notions,  —  has  a 
natural  fluency  of  speech,  and  can  say  what  he  pleases." 

"  Afterwards  I  went  to  visit  the  Rev.  Mr.  Allen.  He  is  very  humble 
and  very  rich,  and  can  be  generous  enough  when  the  humor  is  upon 
him.  His  son  was  an  eminent  minister  in  England,  and  deceased  at 
Northampton.  Mr.  Moody  was  assistant  to  Mr.  Allen,  and  well  known 
by  his  practical  writings. 

"  Leaving  Mr.  Allen's  house,  I  went  next  to  visit  Mr.  John  and  Mr. 

*  "  His  person  is  tall,  his  aspect  sweet  and  J  I  do  not  find  his  name  recorded  among  the 

smiling,  and,  though  but  fifty  years  old,  his  Freemen  of  that  year  ;  the  regular  mode  of 

hair  is  white  as   snow.     He  was  formerly  a  admitting  them  being  then  suspended.     How 

bookseller  in  Limerick,  and  fled  hither  on  ac-  he  was  qualified  does  not  appear.     In  1691,  a 

count  of  conscience.     He  is  a  member  of  Mr.  John  Dunton  was  made  a  Freeman.  —  See  N. 

Willard's  church."— Ifo'J.,  i.  136.  E.  H.  and  Gen.  Reg.,  iii.  352.    It  is  not  prob- 

f  The  Author  has  an  amusing  story  of  some  able  that  he  was  the  bookseller, 

"mischief"  in  which  he  was  engaged,  into  §  Dunton  says  a  few  words  about  the  laws  ; 

which  he  was  led  by  Mr.  Wilkins'  daughter,  mentions  "  an  English  woman,  who,  admitting 

Comfort,  at  whose  suggestion,  John  says,  "  I  some  unlawful  freedoms  from  an  Indian,  was 

turned  fortune-teller,"  for  the  benefit  o£  "  Mad-  forced  twelve  months  to  wear  upon  her  right 

am  Whitemore,  a  young  lady  almost  run  dis-  arm  an  Indian  cut  in  red  cloth." — Life  and 

tracted  with  love."  —  Life  and  Errors,  i.  113.  Errors,  i.  94. 


462  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  [1686. 

Thomas  Bailey.*  These  two  are  popular  preachers,  and  very  generous 
to  strangers.  I  heard  Mr.  John  upon  these  words,  ?  Looking  unto 
Jesus ' ;  and  I  thought  he  spake  like  an  Angel.  They  express  a  more 
than  ordinary  kindness  for  Mr.  Wilkins,  my  landlord,  and  (being  perse- 
cuted in  Limerick  for  their  Nonconformity)  came  over  with  him  from  Ire- 
land. Reader,  I  might  be  large  in  their  character ;  but  when  I  tell  you 
they  are  true  pictures  of  Dr.  Annesley  (whom  they  count  a  second  St. 
Paul),  it  is  as  high  as  I  need  go." 

Mr.  Dunton  next  turned  his  attention  to  the  booksellers.  Mr.  John 
Usher  was  at  the  head  of  the  book  trade,  or,  according  to  his  visitant, 
"  he  made  the  best  figure  in  Boston  ;  was  very  rich,  adventured  much 
at  sea  ;  had  got  his  estate  by  book-selling."  He  proposed  to  buy  Mr. 
Dunton's  stock,  but  they  could  not  agree  upon  terms. 

"  Sam  Philips,"  as  Dunton  familiarly  writes,  "  was  the  most  beauti- 
ful man  in  Boston,  —  was  young  and  witty  ;  very  thriving ;  and,  if  I 
may  trust  my  eyes,  is  blest  with  a  pretty,  obliging  wife."  He  called 
him,  his  "old  correspondent";  and  says,  "  I  will  say  that  for  Sam, 
he  is  very  just." 

Brunning,  a  Dutch  bookseller,  next  received  a  visit  from  Dunton,  who 
calls  him  "Minheer  from  Holland,"  and  says,  "he  is  scrupulously 
just,  plain  in  his  clothes,  versed  in  the  knowledge  of  all  sorts  of  books, 
and  may  well  be  stiled  a  complete  bookseller.  I  found  him  a  man  of 
that  great  interest,  that  I  made  him  my  partner  in  printing  '  Mr.  Math- 
er's Sermon,  preached  at  the  Execution  of  Morgan,'  who  was  the  only 
person  executed  in  that  country  for  near  seven  years." 

Duncan  Campbel,  a  Scotchman,  was  the  next  in  order  in  the  trade, 
of  Mr.  Dunton's  calls,  whom  he  found  very  industrious  ;  "  dresses  a' -la- 
mode,  and  I  am  told  a  young  lady  of  a  great  fortune  is  fallen  in  love 
with  him."  These,  he  remarks,  were  all  the  booksellers  ;  but  in  his  next 
page  he  mentions  "Andrew  Thorncomb,  bookseller  from  London." 
This  person's  company  he  says  "  was  coveted  by  the  best  gentlemen  in 
Boston  ;  nor  is  he  less  acceptable  to  the  fair  sex,  for  he  has  something 
in  him  so  extremely  charming,  as  makes  them  very  fond  of  his  com- 
pany.    However,  he  is  a  very  virtuous  person." 

After  thus  summarily  dispatching  the  booksellers,  he  says,  "I  will 
next  give  an  account  of  what  acquaintance  I  had  in  Boston."  He 
begins  with  "Mr.  Willy,  brother-in-law  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baily."  Mr. 
Willy  "  fled  thither  on  account  of  conscience  ;  a  man  of  a  large  heart. 
This,  Monmouth's  forlorn  fugitives  experienced  often." 

Of  "  Mr.  White  "  he  says,  he  is  "  a  merchant,  who,  by  trading,  has 
clasped  islands  to  the  continent,  and  tacked  one  country  to  another. 
His  knowledge  of  men  and  things  is  universal." 

He  then  proceeds  to  "  Mr.  Green,  the  printer.     I  contracted  a  great 

*  These    brothers  were  born  near  Black-  about  1675.     Having  been  imprisoned  in  Eng- 

bourn,  in  Lancashire ;  Thomas,  on  Feb.  24th,  land  for  their  religion,  they  went  over  to  Ire- 

1643,  who  died  in  Boston,  Jan.   21st,  1689.  land,  and  thence  to  Boston  ;  not,  however,  until 

John  was  one  year  younger.     He  died  on  the  they  had  suffered  a  long  imprisonment  in  that 

12th  of  Dec,  1697.     They  came  to  Boston  country  also. —  Funeral  Sermons,  by  I.  Mather. 


1G86.]  mr.  dunton's  visit  to  boston.  463 

friendship  with  this  man.  To  name  his  trade  will  convince  the  world 
he  was  a  man  of  good  sense  and  understanding.  He  was  so  facetious 
and  obliging  in  his  conversation,  that  I  took  a  great  delight  in  his  com- 
pany, and  made  use  of  his  house  to  while  away  my  melancholy  hours.* 

"Another  of  my  acquaintances  was  Captain  Gery,f  a  man  as  emi- 
nent for  his  love  to  his  country  as  Junius  Brutus,  and  the  famous 
Scaevola  among  the  Romans. 

"Another  of  them  was  George  Monk,  a  person  so  remarkable,  that, 
had  I  not  been  acquainted  with  him,  it  would  be  a  hard  matter  to  make 
any  New  England  man  believe  that  I  had  been  in  Boston.  There  was 
no  house  in  Boston  more  noted  than  George  Monk's,  or  where  a  man 
might  meet  with  better  entertainment.J 

"Another  was  Captain  Townsend,  a  gentleman  very  courteous  and 
affable  in  his  conversation.  I  might  here  ramble  to  Mr.  JollyfF,  Justice 
Lines,  Macarty,  and  some  others,  but  will  take  such  of  my  countrymen 
that  have  rambled  into  this  country  as  well  as  myself,  as  I  have  come 
acquainted  with. 

"And  first,  Mr.  Mortimer,§  who  came  from  Ireland.  He  was  an 
accomplished  Merchant,  a  person  of  great  modesty,  and  could  answer 
the  most  abstruse  points  in  algebra,  navigation,  dialling,  &c. 

"  The  next  to  these  was  Mr.  King.  Love  was  the  cause  of  this 
gentleman's  long  ramble  hither.  Sure  his  mistress  was  made  of  stone, 
for  King  had  a  voice  that  would  have  charmed  the  spheres.  He  sang 
'All  Hail  to  the  Myrtle  Shade  '  with  a  matchless  grace,  and  might  be 
called  an  accomplished  person. 

"Another  was  Mr.  York.  He  was  very  industrious,  but  when  he 
unbent  the  bow,  he  treated  the  fair  sex  with  so  much  courtship  and 
address,  as  if  loving  had  been  all  his  trade. 

"Another  was  Mr.  Heath.  Were  I  to  write  the  character  of  a  pious 
merchant,  I  would  as  soon  take  Heath  for  an  exemplar  as  any  man  I 
know.  He  never  warrants  any  ware  for  good  but  what  is  so  indeed, 
and  makes  no  advantage  of  his  chapman's  ignorance.  This  person  was 
my  daily  visitor,  and  brought  me  acquainted  with  one  Gove,  of  New 
York,  with  whom  I  traded  considerable. 

*  A  tribute  of  unbounded  admiration  is  paid  f  This  name  should  be  Gerrish,  no  doubt, 
to  Mrs.  Green  by  our  Traveller.  "  She  well  A  stranger  might  easily  mistake  it  for  Gery,  as 
knew  that  the  great  duty  of  a  wife  is  Love,  it  might  have  been  thus  pronounced  in  com- 
Love  was  the  reason  she  married  Mr.  Green  ;  mon  discourse.  The  author  mentions  the 
for  she  knew,  where  love  is  wanting,  it  is  but  name  in  another  part  of  his  work,  where  he 
the  carcase  of  a  marriage.  She  very  well  knew  says  he  visited  "Mr.  Gery,"  the  minister  of 
how  fatal  Jealousy  had  been  to  many ;  and  Wenham.  Now  we  know  Mr.  Joseph  Gerrish 
therefore,  as  she  took  care  never  to  harbor  it  was  then  minister  at  that  place, 
in  her  own  breast,  so  she  was  nicely  careful  J  There  was  a  Mr.  James  Monk,  merchant, 
never  to  give  her  husband  the  least  umbrage  whose  warehouse  was  "on  the  Town  Dock" 
for  it." — Life  and  Errors,  i.  104.  "I  one  in  1743.  Monk's  Corner  was  a  noted  place  in 
day  told  her  that  '  I  believed  she  was  an  ex-  those  days.  "  Jolliff's  Lane  "  was  the  S.  part 
traordinary  wife  ;  but  Mr.  Green  was  so  good  of  Pudding  Lane.  "  Maccarty's  Corner  "  was 
a  man,  she  could  not  well  be  otherwise.'  She  the  corner  of  King  street  and  Leverett's  lane, 
replied, '  had  her  husband  been  a  bad  man,  her  §  Christian  name  probably  Edward.  Ed- 
duty  would  have  been  the  same.'" — Ibid.,  ward  Mortimer  is  found  among  the  tax-payers 
106.  of  1695. 


464  HISTORY   OP   BOSTON.  [1686. 

"Mr.  Watson  shall  be  the  next;  formerly  a  merchant  in  London, 
but  not  thriving  there,  he  left  the  Exchange  for  Westminster-hall ; 
and  in  Boston  is  become  as  dextrous  at  splitting  causes  as  if  he  had 
been  bred  to  it.  He  is  full  of  fancy,  and  knows  the  quirks  of  the  law; 
but,  to  do  him  justice,  he  proves  as  honest  as  the  best  lawyer  of  them 

all."     Of  a  Mr,  C k,  "a  young  beau,"  he  says,  "he  boasts  of 

more  villainy  than  ever  he  committed."* 

' '  Another  acquaintance  is  Mr.  Mason,f  a  blunt,  honest  Christian  ; 
will  speak  his  mind,  take  it  how  you  please." — "Mr.  Malinson  is  a 
stiff  Independent,  —  was  one  of  those  unfortunate  gentlemen  that 
engaged  with  Monmouth,"  against  James  Second  ;  "  and  I  am  told 
this  day,  at  the  Royal  Exchange,  he  now  teaches  young  gentlemen  to 
fence  in  Boston."  "  I  now  descend  to  my  particular  friends  ;  "  "  yet 
a  pair  of  true  friends  are  seldomer  to  be  found  than  a  club  of  knaves." 
"  I  will  begin  with 

"  Dr.  Oakes,  a  religious  man,  and  an  eminent  Physician.  He  was  a 
great  Dissenter  whilst  he  lived  in  London,  and  in  New  England  retains 
the  piety  of  the  first  Planters.  I  was  recommended  to  him  by  Mr. 
Gillon,  as  also  by  a  relation  of  his  in  Ratcliff ;  and  I  must  own  the 
Doctor  gave  me  a  generous  welcome  to  Boston. 

"  I  pass  to  my  good  friend,  Dr.  Bullivant,  formerly  my  fellow-citizen 
in  London.  I  must  consider  him  both  as  a  gentleman  and  a  physician. 
As  a  gentleman,  he  came  of  a  noble  family ;  but  his  good  qualities 
exceeded  his  birth.  He  is  a  great  master  of  the  English  tongue,  and 
the  Northampton  people  find  him  a  universal  scholar.  His  knowledge 
of  the  laws  fitted  him  for  the  office  of  Attorney- General,  which  was 
conferred  upon  him  on  the  Revolution  in  Boston.  It  is  true  he  sought 
it  not ;  but  New  England  knew  his  worth,  and  even  forced  him  to 
accept  of  it.  While  he  held  the  office,  he  was  so  far  from  pushing 
things  to  that  extremity  as  some  hot  spirits  would  have  had  him,  that 
he  was  for  accommodating  things,  and  making  peace.  His  eloquence 
is  admirable  ;  he  never  speaks  but  it  is  a  sentence  ;  and  no  man  ever 
clothed  his  thoughts  in  better  words.  His  skill  in  pharmacy  was  such 
as  had  no  equal  in  Boston.J 

"Mr.  Gouge,  a  linen  draper  from  London,  was  a  son  to  the  charita- 
ble Divine  of  that  name.§     He  is  owner  of  a  deal  of  wit ;  his  brain 

*  The  black    mark    set  upon  this  almost  and  he  did  not  wish  to  offend  his  modesty !  — 

nameless  individual  may  have  served  as  a  cau-  Life  and  Errors,  i.  106.     He  was  one  of  those 

tion  to  many  young  men  who  take  great  pleas-  imprisoned  with  Andros,  as  will  be  seen, 
ure  in  boasting  of  their  depravity,  by  relating       \  The   Rev.  Thomas   Gouge,  who  died  in 

their  criminal  amorous  successes.     The  Author  1681.     Dr.  Tillotson  preached  the  sermon  at 

doubtless  introduces  C k  into  his  book  for  his  funeral,  and    the  Rev.  Timothy  Rogers 

two  reasons  :  one,  to  let  him  know  his  stories  wrote    a    Preface    which    accompanied     his 

were  not  credited;  and  the  other,  because  he  "Works,"  printed  in  1706.  —  Edward  Gouge, 

was  a  large  purchaser  of  his  books.  one  of  the  Wardens  of  King's  Chapel,  was 

f  Arthur  Mason,   I  conclude.      See  Ante,  probably  the  son  referred  to  by  Mr.  Dunton. 

p-  374.  Dr.  I.  Mather  says  Mr.  Thomas  Gouge  was  a 

%  Upon  this,  and  considerable  more  upon  son  of  "  famous  Dr.  Gouge,  and  in  exemplary 

Dr.  Bullivant,  the  author  says  he  could  en-  piety  was  not  inferior  to  his  father."  —  Fun. 

large,  but  forbore  because  the  Dr.  was  his  friend,  Ser.  on  John  Baily,  p.  36. 


1686.]  mil  dunton's  visit  to  boston.  465 

is  a  quiver  of  smart  jests.  He  pretends  to  live  a  bachelor,  but  is  no 
enemy  to  a  pretty  woman.  lie  is  High  Church,  yet  so  great  a  lover 
of  his  father's  '  Christian  Directions,'  that  he  bought  two  hundred  of 
me  to  give  away,  that  he  might,  as  he  used  to  say,  '  make  the  Bosto- 
nians  godly.' 

"  I  must  not  forget  Mr.  Tryon,  a  man  of  a  sweet  temper,  an  excel- 
lent husband,  and  very  sincere  in  his  dealings;"  nor  "Mr.  Barnes, 
who  was  a  clerk  to  the  Government,  a  matchless  accomptant,  a  great 
musician,  bookish  to  a  proverb,  and  very  generous  to  strangers." 

Mr.  Dunton  next  speaks  of  his  female  friends  in  Boston  :  —  "  Mrs. 
Green,  a  wife  ;  Madam  Brick  [Breck] ,  a  widow ;  and  Mrs.  Foy,  party 
per  pale,  as  the  Heralds  say,  half  wife,  and  half  widow,  her  husband, 
a  captain,  being  now  at  sea." 

Among  others,  mention  is  made  of  a  "Mrs.  Brick,*  a  widow,  the 
very  flower  of  Boston  ;  but  can  I  forget  Mrs.  Foy  ?  She  is  another  of 
my  friends,  and  one  that  I  am  proud  of  having  so.  She  has  the  bash- 
fulness  and  modesty  of  the  damsel,  the  love  and  fidelity  of  Mrs.  Green, 
the  wife,  and  the  piety  and  sweetness  of  the  widow  Brick."f 

From  the  Ladies,  the  author  turns  to  Arms,  to  give  an  account  of  a 
military  muster  in  Boston.  Being  a  Freeman,  he  was  of  course  liable 
to  do  military  duty  ;  "  for,"  he  says,  "it  is  their  custom  here  for  all 
that  can  bear  arms  to  go  out  on  a  Training  day.  I  thought  a  pike  was 
best  for  a  young  soldier,  and  so  I  carried  a  pike.  This  was  the  first 
time  I  ever  was  in  arms,  and  I  knew  not  how  to  shoot  off  a  gun,  and 
was  as  unacquainted  with  the  terms  of  military  discipline  as  a  wild 
Irishman.  Being  come  into  the  field,  the  Captain  called  us  all  into 
close  order,  in  order  to  go  to  prayer,  and  then  prayed  himself.  And 
when  our  exercise  [training]  was  done,  the  Captain  likewise  concluded 
with  prayer.  Solemn  prayer  in  the  field,  upon  a  Training,  I  never 
knew  but  in  New  England." 

Some  time  after,  he  visited  Harvard  College  ;  mentions  some  of  its 
endowments,  and  Sir  Kenelm  Digby,  Sir  John  Maynerd,  Mr.  Baxter, 
Mr.  Joseph  Hill,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Theophilus  Gale,  as  its  benefactors. 

*  Perhaps  Joannah,  -widow  of  Mr.  Robert  her  person,  the  sweetness  and  affability  of  her 
Breck.  If  so,  her  husband  had  been  dead  temper,  the  gravity  of  her  carriage,  and  her 
about  two  years.  Concerning  this  lady  our  exalted  piety,  gave  me  so  just  a  value  for  her, 
Traveller  has  some  attempts  at  wit  in  rather  bad  that  Mrs.  Green  would  often  say,  '  Should  Iris 
taste.  "  I  have  chosen,"  he  says,  "  my  friend  die,'  [the  name  he  gave  his  wife] '  which  Heaven 
the  widow  Brick"  [this  spelling  is  in  accord-  forbid,  there  is  none  fit  to  succeed  her  but 
ance  with  the  then  pronunciation,  which  is  the  Madam  Brick.'"  —  Ibid.,  108.  In  another 
same  with  many  at  this  day]  "  as  an  exemplar,  place  he  gives  an  account  of  a  journey  to 
to  show  you  what  a  widow  is.  The  widow  Natick,  to  the  annual  Indian  Lecture.  "When 
Brick  is  a  gentlewoman  whose  head  (i.  e.,  her  we  were  setting  forth,"  he  says,  "  I  was  forced, 
husband)  has  been  cut  off,  and  yet  she  lives  out  of  civility  and  gratitude,  to  take  Madam 
and  walks.  But  do  not  be  frighted ;  for  she  is  Brick  behind  me  on  horseback.  It  is  true  she 
flesh  and  blood  still,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  was  the  Flower  of  Boston,  but,  in  this  case, 
finest  that  you  ever  saw." — Errors,  i.  107.  —  proved  no  more  than  a  beautiful  sort  of  luggage 
"  To  conclude  her  character:  the  beauty  of  to  me."  —  Ibid.,  115. 
f  "  Is  she  a  maid?  "    "  What  man  can  answer  that  ?  " 

"Or  widow?"    "No."    "What  then?"    "  I  know  not  what." 

Saint-like  she  looks ;  a  Syren,  if  she  sing  : 

Her  eyes  are  stars  ;  her  mind  is  everything Ibid.,  108. 

59 


466  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1686. 

"  My  next  ramble,"  he  continues,  "  was  to  Roxbury,  in  order  to 
visit  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elliot,  the  great  apostle  of  the  Indians.  He  was 
pleased  to  receive  me  with  abundance  of  respect ;  and  inquired  very 
kindly  after  Dr.  Annesley,  my  Father-in-law  ;  and  then  broke  out  with 
a  word  of  seeming  satisfaction,  '  Is  my  brother  Annesley  yet  alive  ? 
Blessed  be  God  for  this  information  before  I  die  !  '  He  presented  me 
with  twelve  Indian  Bibles,  and  desired  me  to  bring  one  of  them  over  to 
Dr.  Annesley  ;  as  also  with  twelve  '  speeches  of  converted  Indians,' 
which  himself  had  published." 

Mr.  Dunton  next  relates  his  journey  to  Natick,  where  he  heard  "  Mr. 
Gookins  preach,"  and  mentions  two  of  his  companions,  "  Mr.  Cook, 
with  Madam  Middleton  [Middlecot  ?]  behind  him  ;  "  also  some  adven- 
tures in  their  return  to  Boston,  in  the  account  of  which  he  does  not  for- 
get Mrs.  Breck,  "  who  had  more  charms  than  ever  Calypso  wore,  when 
she  kept  Ulysses  prisoner  in  the  chains  of  love."  "  Upon  my  coming 
to  Boston,"  he  continues,  "I  heard  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morton,  so  much 
celebrated  in  England  for  his  piety  and  learning,  was  just  arrived  from 
England,  and  with  him  his  kinsman,  Dr.  Morton,  the  physician.  Mr. 
Morton  did  me  the  honor  to  declare  he  was  very  glad  to  see  me  ;  and  I 
am  sure  I  was  glad  to  see  him  ;  not  only  as  be  brought  me  letters  from 
Iris,  but  for  his  own  personal  worth."* 

"  In  the  same  ship  with  Mr.  Morton  came  over  one  Mrs.  Hicks,  with 
the  valuable  venture  of  her  beautiful  person,  which  went  off  at  an  ex- 
traordinary rate  ;  she  marrying  a  merchant  in  Salem  worth  thirty 
thousand  pounds.     She  was  truly  virtuous,  and  a  perfect  beauty." f 

After  this,  Mr.  Dunton  visited  Haverhill,  Wenham  and  Ipswich.  He 
journeyed  on  horseback.  "  Mrs.  Comfort,  his  landlord's  daughter, 
accompanying  him,"  who,  it  seems  had  an  Uncle  Steward  residing  at 
the  latter  place.  They  both  rode  on  the  same  horse,  in  the  usual  style 
of  that  time.  The  next  day,  after  his  arrival,  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  His- 
torian, called  upon  him,  "  hearing  he  had  brought  to  Boston  a  great 
venture  of  learning,  and  afterwards  took  Mr.  Dunton  and  Miss  Wil- 
kins  to  his  house,  and  gave  them  a  very  handsome  entertainment."  J 

*  The  author  gives  Mr.  Morton  a  splendid  on  foot,"  he  says,  "  like  a  mere  Coryat."  By 
character,  which  he  says  everybody  will  allow  ;  which  comparison  he  refers  to  Thomas  Cory- 
"  but  Sam  Wesley,"  he  says,  "  has  fowled  his  ate,  who  published  his  Travels  under  the  sin- 
nest  in  hopes  of  a  Bishoprick."  He  also  adds,  gular  title  of"  Crudities  hastily  gobbled  up," 
"Mr.  Charles  Morton  (late  of  Newington  Green)  &c.  He  stopped  at  Capt.  Marshal's,  about 
was  that  pious  and  learned  man,  by  whose  half  way  to  Salem.  "The  Captain,  a  hearty 
instructions  my  Reverend  and  worthy  Uncle,  old  gentleman,  formerly  one  of  Oliver's  sol- 
Mr.  Obediah  Marriat,  was  so  well  qualified  for  diers,  upon  which  he  very  much  valued  him- 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  To  this  instance  I  self." — Life,  &c,  i.  126.  Dunton  had  a 
might  add,  that  Mr.  John  Shower  and  other  "servant,"  or  "  apprentice,"  who  did  most  of 
eminent  preachers  owe  that  fame  they  have  in  his  business  for  him  in  Boston.  His  name 
the  world  to  his  great  skill,  in  their  educa-  was  Samuel  Palmer.  He  had  been  one  of  the 
tion." — Life  and  Errors,  i.  124.  "SamWes-  "Monmouth  boys,"  and  remained  in  Boston 
ley  "was  Dunton's  brother-in-law,  before  men-  when  his  master  returned  to  England,  not  dar- 
tioned,  between  whom  there  existed  a  feud.  ing  then  to  venture  himself  there.  But  he 
_  f  The  Traveller  visited  Salem  at  the  sugges-  finally  did  return,  got  a  place  in  the  army,  and 
tion  of  "  Mr.  Sewal,  one  of  the  Magistrates,"  was  drowned,  before  1705. 
who  kindly  offered  to  assist  him  in  the  sale  of  {  Mr.  Dunton  at  once  appreciated  the 
his  books."     So,  deciding  to  go,  "  I  trudged    character  of  Mr.  Hubbard.     "  He  freely  com- 


1G8G.]  EPISCOPALIANS.  407 

Mr.  Dunton  was  now  winding  up  his  affairs,  and,  after  a  variety  of 
tributes  to  his  friends,  expressed  in  all  the  warmth  of  real  affection,  he 
says,  "  Having  taken  a  final  leave  of  my  American  friends,  my  stay 
from  Iris  and  my  native  country  grew  now  very  tedious  to  me  ;  so,  put- 
ting three  hundred  pounds  (that  was  yet  unpaid  me)  in  Mr.  Wilkins' 
hands,  I  committed  myself  once  more  to  the  mercy  of  the  ocean  ;  and, 
to  make  short  of  it,  I  agreed  with  Mr.  Samuel  Leg  for  my  passage  to 
England.  The  ship  was  burthen  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons.  There 
were  only  two  passengers  (Mr.  Mortimer  and  Mr.  King)  besides 
myself.  When  the  ship  was  ready  to  sail,  I  was  attended  on  board  by 
Dr.  Bullcvant,  Mr.  Wilkins,  Mr.  York,  Mr.  Gouge,  Mr.  Heath,  Mr. 
Tryon,  Mr.  Green,  and  some  other  of  my  Boston  friends.  The  captain 
entertained  them  with  wine,  beer,  cyder,  and  neats-tongues.  So  soon 
as  ever  our  friends  were  gone  off  to  shore,  our  Captain  ordered  all  his 
guns  to  fire,  which  were  accompanied  with  Huzza's  and  shouts,  and  shak- 
ing of  hats,  till  we  had  lost  all  sight  of  our  friends."* 

The  Episcopalians  became  permanently  established  in  Boston  in 
1686.  There  were  indeed  Episcopalians,  or  persons  supposed  to  be 
such,  seated  in  Mushauwomuk,  and  in  its  neighborhood,  earlier  than 
any  other  sects,  as  will  have  been  already  seen  by  the  reader  of  this 
History.  They  had  been  more  than  once  forced  out  of  the  country, 
and  it  was  not  until  1664  that  the  Church  Service  was  performed  in 
Boston  without  molestation.  Even  then,  though  protected  by  the 
King's  Commissioners,  who  had  a  Chaplain  of  that  faith  with  them,  no 
permanent  footing  was  established,  nor  was  there  any  Church  edifice 
for  persons  of  that  sect  in  the  Town.  Hence,  that  the  novelty  of  the 
services  should  excite  great  curiosity,  especially  among  the  younger 
portion  of  the  community,  who  had  never  before  witnessed  anything  of 
the  kind,  is  very  natural.  A  conspicuous  example  of  that  curiosity  will 
be  found  noticed  in  the  relation  of  the  interment  of  the  Lady  Anne 
Andros. 

On  the  return  of  Mr.  Randolph  to  Boston,  as  is  elsewhere 
'  mentioned,  there  came  with  him  Mr.  Robert  RatclifFe,  an  Epis- 
copalian clergyman.  The  old  Government  being  the  next  day  super- 
ceded, all  persons  residing  in  Boston,  friendly  to  the  English  Church, 
came  forward,  and  thus  a  society  of  Episcopalians  had  its  beginning  in 
the  place.  | 

municates    his    learning   to   all    who   have   the    "  Kind  Boston,  adieu;  part  we  must,  though 'tis  a  pity; 
i  •  ,       i  •      l  v  T  -,  But  I  'm  made  for  mankind,  and  all  the  world  is  m v  city. 

happiness  to  share  in  his  converse.    In  a  word,      Look  hovT  on  the  shore  the;  hoop  and  they  hollo^     y 

he  is   learned  without   Ostentation   and  vanity,        Not  for  joy  I  am  gone,  but  for  grief  they  can't  follow." 

and  gives  all  his  productions  such  a  delicate  Life  and  Errors,  i.  137. 

turn  and  grace  (as  is  seen  in  his  printed  Ser-  f  Most  writers    place  the    arrival  of   the 

mons  and  '  History  of  the  Indian  Wars'),  that  frigate  Kingfisher,  which   brought   over   Mr. 

the  features  and  lineaments  of  the  child  make  Ratcliffe,  on  the  day  that  the  new  Government 

a  clear  discovery  and  distinction  of  the  father  ;  went    into    operation.       Mr.    Greenwood    ia 

yet  he  is  a  man  of  singular  modesty,  of  strict  among  them. — See  Hist.  King's  Chapel,  13. 

morals,  and  has  done  as  much  for  the  conver-  The  error  is  small,  but  is  easily  avoided, 

sion  of  the  Indians,  as  most  men  in  New  Eng-  J  According  to  a  statement  of  Eandolph, 

land." — Ibid.,  i.  134.  there  were  now  near  400  Episcopalians  in  Bos- 

*  To  this  parting  from  Boston,  he  adds  :  ton.     Perhaps  he  included  some  of  those  whose 


468  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  [1686. 

At  first  their  meetings  were  in  private  bouses.  At  length 
ug'  '  application  was  made  to  the  officers  of  the  South  Church  to  be 
allowed  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the  Meeting-house  of  that  Society  ; 
proposing  to  accommodate  their  times  of  worship  to  the  other  society. 
This  was  anything  but  agreeable  to  the  South  Society.  In  the  mean  time, 
Mr.  William  Harrison  died,  and  was  "  buried  with  the  Common  Prayer 
Book,"  which  is  the  first  time  any  one  had  been  so  interred  in  the 
place.*  The  deceased  was  "  a  boddice  maker,"  and  was  a  friend  of 
Mr.  Randolph,  whose  landlord  he  had  been  when  Randolph  formerly 
resided  in  the  Town. 

Finding  he  was  not  likely  to  be  allowed  a  privilege  in  one  of  the 
Meeting-houses,  Randolph  next  proposed  that  contributions  might  be 
raised  among  the  Churches  to  enable  the  Episcopalians  to  erect  a 
House  for  themselves.  With  his  friend,  Mr.  Benjamin  Bullivant,  the 
apothecary,  Mr.  Randolph  waited  upon  Mr.  Samuel  Sewall,  one  of  the 
principal  members  of  the  South  Church,  and  introduced  his  proposal  for 
a  contribution  in  that  society ;  but,  as  Judge  Sewall  relates,  the 
gentlemen  "seemed  to  goe  away  displeased,  because  he  spake  not  up 
toit."t 

19  20  Such  were  the  affairs  of  the  Episcopalians  on  the  arrival  of 
'  the  frigate  Kingfisher,  which  brought  over  Sir  Edmund  Andros, 
who,  the  next  day  after  his  arrival,  applied  for  one  of  the  Meeting-houses,  in 
which  to  perform  religious  services.  A  Society  had,  in  the  mean  while, 
,  ](.  been  regularly  organized,  as  its  records  show,  by  the  following 
'  persons  who  were  present:  "Mr.  Ratcliffe,  the  minister,  Ed- 
ward Randolph,  Esq.,  Captain  Lydgett,  Mr.  Luscomb,  Mr.  White,  Mr. 
Maccartie,  Mr.  Ravenscroft,  Doctor  Clerke,  Mr.  Turfery,  Mr.  Bankes 
and  Doctor  Bullivant."  These  agreed  that  "  a  publique  collection" 
should  be  made  every  Sunday,  "and  to  be  continued  untill  some  pub- 
lique and  settled  provision  be  made  for  the  Minister."  Dr.  Bullivant  and 
Mr.  Richard  Bankes  were  elected  Churchwardens,  and  Mr.  Randolph, 
Capt.  Lidgett,  Mr.  Luscomb  and  Dr.  Bullivant  with  Mr.  Ratcliffe,  were 
appointed  "  to  wayte  on  the  President  and  Councell  to  treat  about  the 
Church  affaires."|  -"-n  pursuance  of  this  the  Committee  waited  upon 
Ma  20  "^  C°ullcil-  Mr-  Mason  and  Mr.  Randolph  propose  y*  he 
[Mr.  Ratcliffe]  may  have  one  of  ye  three  Houses  to  preach  in. 
That  is  denyed ;  and  he  is  granted  the  east  end  of  ye  Town-house, 
where  ye  Deputies  used  to  meet,  until  those  who  desire  his  ministry 
shall  provide  a  fitter  place."  §     This  room  contained  a  library. 

Hence  it  appears  that  the  first  regular  meeting-place  of  the  Episco- 

curiosity  was  strongly  enough  excited  to  cause  shall  be  paid  4.9.  8J."     Also  to  pay  him  "  20s. 

their  attendance  at  the  meetings  several  times,  quarterlie  for  cleaneing,  placeing  and  remove- 

*  Sewall's  Diary  in  Holmes,  i.  421.  ing  ye  Pulpit,  Formes,  Table,  &c,  and  dooing 

t  Ibid.  all  other  things  which  shall  be  convenient  and 

%  At  the  same  time,   "Agreed  that    Mr.  necessary  in  our  place  of  publique  assembling." 

Smith  the  joyner  do  make  12  formes  for  the  — Greenwood,  24. 

service  of  the  Church,  for  each  of  which  he  §  Sewall  in  Wisner,  93. 


1687.]  EPISCOPALIANS    OCCUPY   THE   SOUTH    CHURCH.  4G9 

pal  Society  was  in  the  Town-house.  Their  second  meeting  was 
u  y  *  on  the  since  memorable  Fourth  of  July,  when  it  was  agreed  to 
pay  Mr.  RatclifFe  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  salary,  besides  what  the 
Council  might  think  fit  to  settle  on  him.  It  was  also  agreed  that,  if 
Mr.  Buckley,  the  Chaplain  of  the  Rose  Frigate,  was  disposed  to  assist 
him,  *  he  should  have  twenty  shillings  a  week.f 

From  the  manner  of  Gov.  Andros,  on  being  waited  upon  and  re- 
monstrated with,  it  was  hoped,  and  perhaps  expected,  that  he  would 
not  press  the  demand  to  occupy  one  of  the  Churches.  But  in  this  they 
were  disappointed.  |  Randolph,  in  the  mean  time,  had  no 
Mar  23  sma^  share,  it  is  presumed,  in  the  Governor's  determination  ; 
for  in  the  following  March  he  sent  this  very  obnoxious  individual 
to  demand  the  key  of  the  South  Church,  "  that  they  may  say  prayers 
there."  Before  a  compliance  with  the  demand,  however,  a  committee 
waited  on  his  Excellency  to  remonstrate,  consisting  of  "  Mr.  Elliot, 
Frarye,  Oliver,  Savage,  Davis  and  Sewall."  They  stated  to  him  that 
they  could  not  "part  with  their  house  for  any  such  use  ;  "  that  the 
House  and  the  land  were  theirs,  producing  extracts  from  Mrs.  Norton's 
deed,  showing,  "how  'twas  built  by  particular  persons,  as  Hull, 
Oliver,  one  hundred  pounds  apiece,  &c." 

This  remonstrance  availed  nothing,  and  two  days  after  the  Episco- 
palians performed  their  services  in  the  South  Church.  §     They 
'  continued  to  occupy  it  from  this  time   till  the  Revolution  in 
1689,  as  often  as  they  had  occasion.     It  may  be,  that  the  reason  the 
people  surrendered  their  House  so   quietly,  was  an  implied  condition 
that  they  should  not  be  disturbed  in  their  own  religious  privileges.  || 

*  At  the  same  time  he  had  an  assistant  dolph  to  make  use  of  one  of  the  three  Meeting- 
named  Clark,  or  Clarke,  about  whose  Christian  houses,  Judge  Sewall  entered  as  follows  in  his 
name  there  is  some  uncertainty.  Mr.  Green-  Journal :  "  Tuesday,  Dec.  21.  There  is  a 
wood  thinks  it  was  Josiah,  which  is  probably  meeting  at  Mr.  Allen's  of  ye  Ministers  and  four 
correct.  Judge  Sewall  speaks  of  one  of  Mr.  of  each  Congregation,  to  consider  what  answer 
Clarke's  long  sermons  thus:  "  March  27,  to  give  to  ye  Governor;  and  'twas  agreed 
Govr  and  his  retinue  met  in  our  meeting  at  y'  could  not  with  a  good  conscience  consent  yl 
11 ;  broke  off  past  2,  because  of  ye  Sacrament  our  Meeting-houses  should  be  made  use  of  for 
and  Mr.  Clarke's  long  sermon,  though  we  ye  Common  prayer  worship.  Dec.  22.  In  ya 
were  apointed  to  come  half  hour  past  one  ;  so  evening  Mr.  Mather  and  Mr.  Willard  thorough- 
't  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  how  full  ye  street  was  ly  discoursed  his  Excellency  about  ye  Meeting- 
with  people  gazing  and  moving  to  and  fro,  bee.  houses,  in  great  plainness,  shewing  they  could 
had  not  entranc  into  ye  house."  —  Diary  in  not  consent.  This  was  at  his  lodging,  at  Mad- 
Wisner,  94.  ame  Taylor's." 

f  Records  of  King^s  Chapel  in  Greenwood.  §  "  Friday,  March  25  [New-year's  day  then], 
These  persons  are  named  as  being  present  at  the  Govr.  has  service  in  ye  South  Meeting- 
the  second  meeting,  besides  those  who  attended  house.  Goodman  Needham,  tho'  had  resolved 
the  first :  "  Mr.  Proctour,  Mr.  Stephen  Wes-  to  the  contrary,  was  prevailed  upon  to  ring  ye 
sendunke,  Mr.  Thomas  Brindley,  and  Mr.  bell  and  open  ye  door  at  ye  Governor's  com- 
Mallett."  —  Ibid.  25.  At  this  meeting  it  was  mand  ;  one  Smith  and  Hill,  joiner  and  shoe- 
"  Agreed  that  the  prayers  of  the  Church  be  maker,  being  very  busy  about  it.  Mr.  Jno. 
said  every  Wednesday  and  Friday  in  the  yeare  Usher  was  there,  whether  at  ye  very  begining 
(for  the  present,  in  the  Library  chamber  in  the  or  no  I  can't  tell."  —  Seioall. 
Town-house  in  Boston),  and  in  the  summer  ||  Upon  the  proceedings  of  Andros,  in  thus 
season  to  beginne  at  7  of  the  clock  in  the  infringing  the  rights  of  the  people  of  the  South 
morning,  and  in  the  winter  at  nine  of  the  Church,  Mr.  Greenwood  remarks:  "In  look- 
clock  in  the  forenoon."  —  Ibid.  26.  ing  back  on  this  event,  we  are  obliged  to  con- 

\  After  the  application  or  proposal  of  Kan-  sider  it,  though  not  of  itself  of  great  politica 


no 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


[1689. 


The  Episcopalians  kept  constantly  in  view  the  erection  of  a  Church 
for  themselves.  Judge  Sewall  was  several  times  applied  to  to  sell  a 
piece  of  land  at  Cotton  Hill,*  to  be  improved  for  that  purpose  ;  but 
his  consent  could  not  be  obtained;  because,  he  said,  "he  would  not 
set  up  that  which  the  people  came  from  England  to  avoid  ;  and,  besides, 
the  land  was  entailed."  However,  a  site  was  obtained,  and  a  Church 
erected  before  the  forcible  ejectment  of  Andros  and  his  satellites  from 
Boston,  f 

The  first  Church  was  built  by  contributions  throughout  the  country  ; 
the  Government  being  first  applied  to  for  "  liberty  and  authority,"  for 
persons  authorized  to  receive  donations,  "to  pass  through  the  whole 
territory  of  his  Majesty  in  New  England."  J  The  business  of  raising 
money  being  thus  approbated,  it  was  no  doubt  prosecuted  with  energy, 
though  almost  two  years  elapsed  before  a  house  was  so  far  finished  as 
to  accommodate  the  Society.  Then  it  was  recorded,  that  ,£256  had 
been  contributed  by  ninety-six  individuals.  The  house  had  then 
July  4.  been  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  £284.  Whether  this  account  in- 
cluded thirty-five  shillings,  paid  to  Mr.  William  Smith  for 
"benching  "  of  it,  it  is  not  clearly  stated.  How  the  Society  obtained 
the  land  on  which  the  Church  stood,  has  not  been  discovered,  but  it  is 

not  at  all  improbable  that  it  was  taken  by 
order  of  Governor  Andros  out  of  the  com- 
mon burial-place,  which  was  given  to  the 
Town  by  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson.     It  was  of 
wood,  and  stood  upon  part  of  the  ground 
jnow  occupied  by  the  present  edifice,  at  the 
(north-east  corner  of  Tremont  and  School 
streets.      The  Revolution  was   a  sensible 
check  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  Society, 
and  their  House  had  no  pews  up  to  1693  ; 
in   that  year  the  officers   of  Sir   Francis 
Wheler's  fleet  which  put  into  Boston  to 
first  episcopal  church.^        recruit,  made  up  a  donation  for  the  Church 


importance,  as  one  of  the  most  arbitrary  acts 
ever  perpetrated  in  this  country,  while  it  re- 
mained under  the  English  government.  No 
excuse  is  to  be  rendered  for  it.  It  was  such  a 
deliberate  outrage  on  the  common  rights  of 
property,  to  say  nothing  of  conscience  and 
liberty,  that  we  may  only  wonder  that  Andros 
and  his  abettors  suffered  no  personal  violence 
from  the  people."  — Hist.  King^s  Chapel,  39. 

*  Cotton  Hill  was  an  eminence  near  the 
southerly  termination  of  Pemberton  Square,  and 
nearly  opposite  the  gate  of  King's  Chapel 
Burying-ground.  The  Rev.  John  Cotton  re- 
sided near  it,  and  hence  its  name. 

j-  Francis  Nicholson,  Lieut.  Governor  of  N. 


York,  in  a  letter  to  Andros,  dated  New  York, 
Nov.  15th,  1688,  says,  "  My  humble  service  to 
all  our  friends  and  acquaintance,  and  I  hope 
the  little  Church  and  its  Parson  are  both  well. 
You  have  taken  away  all  the  old  Acts,  bookes 
of  Council,  and  bookes  of  Pattens ;  soe  people 
comeing  to  have  coppies  from  these  bookes, 
they  not  being  here,  you  loose  by  it." — W.  B. 
Trask  from  Mass.  Archives. 

%  Greenwood,  25.  The  application  to  the 
Government  was  ordered  at  the  second  organ- 
ized meeting,  July  4th,  1686. 

§  From  an  old  view  of  Boston,  published  in 
1720 ;  giving  also  a  good  view  of  Beacon  Hill, 
then  very  nearly  in  its  primitive  state. 


1G89.]  king's  chapel.  471 

of  fifty-six  pounds.     The  next  year  pews  were  built  at  an  expense  of 
eighty-five  pounds.* 

Between  1710  and  1713,  the  old  Church  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged 
to  twice  its  original  size.  Mr.  Thomas  Brattle  gave  an  organ  f  when 
it  was  finished.     A  clock  was  given  in  1714. 

No  account  of  the  dedication  of  the  first  Church  has  been  found,  but 
1687.  the  first  meeting  in  it  is  fixed  upon  the  last  day  of  June,  which 
Juno  30.  was  sunciay.  The  second  building  stood  until  1753,  when,  on 
the  second  day  of  April,  it  was  begun  to  be  taken  down.  Another  was 
completed  on  the  same  site,  and  opened  for  divine  service  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  August,  1754.  The  amount  expended  in  its  erection  and  em- 
bellishment, up  to  June,  1758,  was  .£7405,  sterling.  It  has  not  since 
undergone  any  essential  alteration  in  its  exterior  appearance.  J 

Upon  the  great  American  Revolution  in  1776,  the  Episcopal  Society 
was  broken  up.  Many  of  its  most  important  supporters  were  royalists, 
who  fled  from  Boston,  and  with  them  their  minister,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Caner,  and  their  house  was  shut  up.  Here  was  a  period  in  the  history 
of  this  Society  of  singular  interest.  It  commenced  its  career  by  forci- 
bly taking  possession  of  the  South  Meeting-house ;  and  it  was  now 
compelled  to  abandon  its  own.  The  King's  troops  had  desecrated  and 
spoiled  that  house,  as  has  been  related  heretofore ;  that  Society  were 
now  accommodated  in  the  King's  Chapel,  and  continued  to  be  for  near 
five  years.  Its  name  was  changed  to  Stone  Chapel,  in  conformity  with 
other  changes,  which  grew  out  of  a  hatred  to  kingly  authority. 
It  has  continued  to  be  so  called  to  this  day,  by  a  majority  of  the 
old  inhabitants  and  their  immediate  descendants.  The  name  of 
King's  Chapel  is,  however,  applied  to  it  by  many.  On  the  accession 
of  Queen  Ann,  some  called  it  Queen's  Chapel.     If  it  is  to  be  named 

*  The  first  house  was  provided  with  a  bell  f  This  was,  no  doubt,  the  first  organ  in  Bos- 

in  1689,  as  appears  by  the  following  entry  in  ton.     A  Mr.  Price  was  the  first  Organist,  and 

the  Records  :  "  July  23.     By  cash  paid  for  our  a  Mr.  Edward  Enstone  was  the  second.     He 

Church  Bell  to  Mr.  John  Butler,  by  Mr.  Fox-  came  from  London  in  1714,  at  which  time  he 

croft,  £13,  5s."  was  "living  next  door  to  Mr.   Masters'   on 

The  wardens  for  the  first  few  years  were  Tower  Hill."     His  salary  was  small,  but  £30  ; 

■n    .     .    t,  „.  ,  t>.  ,      ■■  t.    i     inon  t        Yet)   "with    dancing,    music,  &c."    it    was 

Benjamin  Bullivant  and  Richard  Banks,  1686-7.         J,    '    ,.  .,  ,-,        °'  „■' .    r/.      ,     -,, 

Francis  Foxcroft  and  Samuel  Ravenscrolt,  1689.  tJ°1!??h*  xt  WOuld  answer-— Hist-  Kin9  s  Chap- 

Benjamin  Mountfort  and  Giles  Dyer,  1690.  eh  74-5. 

Savill  Simpson  and  Harry  Clark,  1691.  %  A  list  of  the  Rectors  or  Ministers  from  the 

Nicholas  Tippet  and  Edward  Gouge,  1692.  beginning  to  the  time  of  Mr.  Greenwood  :  — 
William  Hobby  and  George  Turfrey,  1693. 

Thaddeus  Maccarty  and  Thomas  Foxcroft,  1694-5.  Robert  Ratcliffe.  Rector,  1686,  left,  1689. 

Giles  Dyer  and  Benjamin  Mountfort,  1696.  Robert  H]  Clarke,  Assistant,    1686. 

Giles  Dyer  and  Shubal  Simpson,  1697.  Samuel  Myles,  Rector,  1689,  died,         1728. 

George  Turfrey  and  John  Indjcott,  1698.  George  Hatton,  Assistant,         1693,  left,  1696. 

John  Indicott  and  William  Hobby,  1699.  Christopher  Bridge,  "  1699,  remd.       1706. 

William  Hobby  and  East  Apthorp,  1700.  Henry  Harris,  "  1709,  died,         1729. 

East  Apthorp  and  Edward  Lyde,  1701.  R°ger  Price,  Rector,  1729,  resigned,  1746. 

Edward  Lyde  and  Samuel  Checkley,  1702-3.  Charles  Harwood,  Assistant,     1731,  died,         1736. 

Addington  Davenport,  "  1737,  left,  1740. 

The  officers  of  the  Society  were  increased,  in  Stephen  Roe,  "  1741,  removed,  1744. 

1699,  by  the  appointment  of  Vestry  men.    The  Henry  Caner,  Rector,  1747,  left,         1776. 

first  were  "  Francis  Foxcroft,  Thaddeus  Mac-  ^rl^s  Brookwell,  Assistant,  1747,  died,        1755. 

karty    Thomas   Newton     Giles   Dyer,   Benj.  JS^SSSft  ^  }?£  J&,       Jgfc 

Mountfort,  John   Cooke,  Savill  Simpson,  Ed-  Samuel  Cary,  Associ.  Minister,  1809,  died,        1815. 

ward  Lyde  and  Edward  Turfrey."  E.  W.  P.  Greenwood,        "        1824,  resigned,  1842. 


472 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


[1686. 


THE   STONE   CHAPEL.* 


according  to  the  prevailing  Government  over 
the  country,  it  should  now  be  called  the  United 
States  Chapel. 

Overseers  of  corders  of  wood,  Jeremiah  Fitch, 
John  Goffe,  John  More,  John  Lowell,  John  Bull 
and  Thomas  Shepcoll.  Fined  for  not  serving  as 
Constables,  "Mr.  Joseph  Parsons,  Mr.  Edward 
Brumfield,  Mr.  Benj.  Alford  and  Mr.  Humphry 
Luscombe." 


CHAPTER  L. 


Death  of  Joseph  Redknap.  —  Joseph  Dudley  President.  —  Colonial  Seal.  —  Edmund  Andros  Gov- 
ernor. —  Town  Affairs. . —  Muddy  River  taken  from  Boston.  —  Number  of  persons  taxed.  —  New 
Order  about  Marriages.  —  People  excessively  taxed.  —  Their  Lands  declared  forfeited  to  the  King.  — 
Town  Meetings  forbid  by  Andros.  —  The  King  grants  Toleration.  —  Andros  forbids  Thanksgiving. 
—  Mather's  Embassy  to  the  King.  —  Andros  attempts  to  hinder  it.  —  He  goes  against  the  Eastern 
Indians.  —  Indian  Hostages.  —  Andros  continues  his  Oppressions.  • —  Death  of  his  Lady.  —  Wins- 
low  imprisoned.  —  The  People  take  up  Arms.  —  The  Governor  and  others  seized  and  imprisoned.  — 
The  old  Government  restored.  —  News  of  the  Revolution  in  England.  —  Joyously  celebrated.  —  An- 
dros and  others  sent  prisoners  to  England. 

JOSEPH  REDKNAP  died  this  year,  aged,  as  was 
supposed,  one  hundred  and  ten  years.  He  had 
been  a  wine  cooper  in  London,  and  came  over 
here  in  or  before  1634,  as  in  that  year  he  was 
made  a  freeman.f 

The  Rose  frigate  arrived  from  England, 


May  J  14. 


bringing  a  Commission  appointing  Joseph 


Dudley,  Esq.,  President  of  New  England,  §  and 


COLONY  SEAL. 


*  Being  now  more 
generally  known 
by  this  name  than 
by  that  of  King's  Chapel,  I  have  so  designated 
the  engraving  which  represents  it  at  the  pres- 
ent day.  To  avoid  confusion  and  prevent  mis- 
takes, a  single  name  is  desirable  to  the  same 
object.  It  matters  but  little  what  the  name  is, 
so  long  as  uniformity  is  attained.  The  Phila- 
delphians  are  remarkable  for  having  double 
names  to  some  of  their  streets,  to  the  no  little 
annoyance  of  strangers. 

■j-  Hutchinson,  i.  341  ;  Gen.  Reg.,  iii.  93.  In 
the  list  of  freemen  his  name  is  spelled  Red- 
nape.  A  Benjamin  Rednap  was  a  freeman  of 
Lynn,  1691.  He  was,  perhaps,  a  son  of  Jo- 
seph, whose  death  is  recorded  in  the  text,  and 
who,  according  to  Mr.  Lewis,  had  40  acres  of 
land  granted  to  him  in  Lynn  in  1638.  The 
latter  author  records  his  death  from  Sewall's 
Diary,  "23  Jan.  1686,"  which  should  proba- 


bly be  1686-7.  If  he  were  the  Joseph  Redknap 
who  testified  concerning  affairs  of  Lynn  in  1657, 
he  was  then  only  "  about  60." 

J  At  a  Town-meeting  the  same  day  Capt. 
Pen  Townsend  was  chosen  Deputy  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  in  place  of  Mr.  Isaack  Addington, 
who  was  elected  a  Magistrate.  At  the  regular 
meeting  on  the  9  March  preceding,  Mr.  Ad- 
dington, Mr.  John  Saffin,  and  Capt.  Timothy 
Prout,  had  been  chosen  Deputies. 

§  John  Dunton  was  at  this  time  selling  books 
in  Boston,  and  in  his  Life  and  Errors  (ii.  Ill) 
thus  notices  this  arrival :  —  "  About  this  time 
[he  has  no  date]  arrived  the  Rose  frigate  from 
England,  with  a  new  Charter,  procured  by  one 
Randal  [Randolph]  which  gave  Major  Dudley 
the  title  of  President,   and    the    Magistrates 


1080.] 


Dudley's  presidency. 


473 


certain  gentlemen  to  be  of  the  Council.  *  Mr.  Dudley  was  not  popular, 
inasmuch  as  he  had  recommended  an  early  compliance  with  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph's requirements,  and  had  been  in  correspondence  with  him,  and 
now,  no  doubt,  was  chiefly  indebted  to  him  for  this  mark  of  the 
King's  favor.  The  people,  however,  submitted  more  quietly  to  him 
as  a  Royal  Governor,  having  lately  had  so  near  a  prospect  of  one, 
though  not  an  African,  quite  as  much  to  be  dreaded  as  any  native  mon- 
ster from  the  deserts  of  that  barbarous  country.f 

Ma  Q5  "The  President  and  Council  being  assembled,  the  exem- 
plification of  the  Judgment  against  the  Charter  of  the  late 
Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  together  with  his 
Majesty's  Commission  of  Government  were  publicly  read,"  J  and  re- 
ceived with  a  sort  of  feigned  satisfaction. 

A  new  order  of  things  was,  of  course,  expected  to  take  place.  The 
old  Colonial  Seal,  which  had  been  in  use  from  an  early  date,  was  no 
longer  to  be  attached  to  documents.  It  was  made  of  silver,  and  pre- 
pared in  England  by  the  Massachusetts  Company,  and  sent  over  to 
Governor  Endicott  in  1629,  and  was  used  by  him  before  Boston  was 
settled  by  the  Second  Colony  under  Mr.  Winthrop. § 

Mr.  Dudley's  Presidency  was  a  very  brief  one,  and  it  does  not  ap- 
pear that  there  was  any  good  reason  for  his  being  found  fault  with. 
Civil  affairs  went  on  in  a  channel  as  near  the  former  one  as  the  nature 
of  the  new  arrangement  in  the  government  allowed ;  and,  as  to  reli- 
gious concerns,  they  were  not  at  all  disturbed. 

Sir  Edmund  Anclros  assumed  the  government  on  his  arrival.  || 
He  lodged  on  his  first  coming  into  town,  probably,  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Gibbs,  at   Fort  Hill.f     The  people   of  Boston  had  had  some 


Dec.  20. 


were  changed  into  Counsellors.  Parson  Rat- 
cliffe  came  over  with  the  Charter,  and  on 
Lord's-day  read  the  Common  Prayer  in  his  sur- 
plice, and  preached  in  the  Town-house.  He 
was  an  eminent  preacher,  and  his  sermons 
were  useful  and  well  dressed.  I  was  once  or 
twice  to  hear  him  ;  and  it  was  noised  about 
that  Dr.  Annesley's  son-in-law  was  turned 
apostate.  But  I  could  easily  forgive  them,  in 
regard  the  Common  Prayer  and  the  Surplice 
were  religious  novelties  in  New  England." 

*  Mr.  Dudley's  commission  made  him  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council  for  Massachusetts  Bay,  N. 
Hampshire  and  Maine,  and  the  Naraganset 
country,  or  King's  Province.  Wm.  Stoughton 
was  named  Deputy  President ;  Simon  Brad- 
street,  Robt.  Mason,  John  Fitz  Winthrop, 
John  Pynchon,  Peter  Bulkley,  Edward  Ran- 
dolph, Wait  Winthrop,  Richard  Wharton, 
John  Usher,  Nathl.  Saltonstall,  Barthol.  Ged- 
ney,  Jona.  Tyng,  Dudley  Bradstreet,  John 
Hinks,  and  Edward  Tyng  were  named  as  Coun- 
cillors. Mr.  Brad-  ,-py  rv  >0 
street  and  his  son  '/j  /\  ^\-£S 
Dudley  Bradstreet, 
declined.  —  Hutch- 
inson, i.  351. 

60 


uMk 


f  See  a  Note  in  Hutchinson,  i.  341. 

%  See  Tully's  Almanack  for  1687.  But  in 
the  Almanack  it  is  said  that  the  reading  of  the 
Commission,  &c,  was  "  received  by  persons  of 
all  conditions,  with  general  acceptance." 

fy  The  accompanying  engraving  at  the  head  of 
the  Chapter  accurately  represents  it,  though  of 
but  half  the  size  of  the  original.  It  is  supposed 
to  have  been  destroyed  in  the  time  of  Andros. 

||  He  came  in  the  Kingfisher,  a  fifty  gun 
frigate.  Judge  Sewall  wrote  in  his  Diary, 
"  Dec.  24.  About  60  red  coats  are  brought  to 
town,  landed  at  Pool's  wharf,  where  drew  up, 
and  so  marched  to  Mr.  Gibbs'  house  at  Fort 
Hill."  —  Holmes'  Annals,  i.  419. 

T[  Mr.  Robert  Gibbs.  His  house  was  of 
stone,  and  one  of  the  best  in  the  Town.  He 
was  the  father,  of  Mr.  Henry  Gibbs,  who  re- 
moved to  Providence,  and  of  Mary,  wife  of  the 
Rev.  John  Cotton  of  Newton.  Robert  Gibbs 
was  dead  in  1686.  Soldiers  were  quartered  in 
his  house  for  a  year  and  a  half,  for  which  his 
heirs  claimed  £87,  10s.  rent  and  damages,  in 
1739. —  Original  Docmts.  The  street  or  alley 
on  which  his  house  was  situated,  was  called 
Gibbs'  Lane.  This  lane  extended  easterly  from 
the  east  end  of  Cow  Lane  (High  street)  to  the 
water,  terminating  not  far  from  a  wharf,  long 
known  as  Gibbs'  wharf. 


474  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1687. 

knowledge  of  Andros.  He  had  been  here  before,  and  they  had,  per- 
haps, as  much  respect  for  him  as  for  Mr.  Dudley.  His  proceedings  at 
first  gave  some  confidence  that  his  government  would  not  be  altogether 
unsatisfactory. 

The  "  standinge  charge"  of  Boston  in  1686,  was  "about  <£400 
per  annum  ;  above  <£200  of  which  is  in  maintaining  three  Free  Schools, 
mending  the  high  waves,"  in  the  Town,  at  Rumneymarsh  and  Muddy 
River.  The  rest  is  expended  in  paying  for  various  services,  "to  the 
poore  people  that  are  not  like  to  get  their  liueings  as  long  as  they  doe 
Hue ;  besides  clothinge,  burying  ye  poore,  and  giueinge  to  peoples  neces- 
sities transientlie,  repaire  the  Townehouse  and  schoole  houses,  main- 
taininge  poor  people  when  they  are  sicke,  blowing  vp  of  houses,  &c."* 

In  the  beginning  of  the  last  year  the  inhabitants  of  Muddy  River 
moved  in  Townmeeting  that  they  might  be  freed  from  taxes,  for  that 
they  desired  to  apply  their  amount  of  tax  to  the  maintenance  of  a 
writing  school.  In  January  of  this  year,  the  new  Government 
of  the  Colony,  in  answer  to  a  petition  from  Muddy  River, 
"  ordered,  that,  hence  forth  the  said  Hamlet  of  Muddie  River,  be  free 
from  town  rates  to  ye  Towne  of  Bostone  ;  they  maintaing  their  own 
high  ways  and  poore,  and  other  publique  charges,  amongst  themselues ; 
and  that  within  one  yeare  they  raise  a  schoole-house,  and  also  main- 
taine  on  able  readinge  and  writinge  master  ;  and  that  the  inhabitants 
annuallie  meete  to  choose  three  men  to  manage  their  affairs."  f 

The  taxable  polls  of  the  Town,  from  sixteen  years  of  age 
'        and  upwards,  were  1447.  J 

Meanwhile  the  new  Governor  began  to  give  evidence  that  he  in- 
tended to  effect  a  complete  change  in  affairs.  One  of  his  first  acts 
was  to  put  the  Press  under  restraint,  over  which  he  appointed  his 
Secretary,  Randolph,  Licenser.  This,  however,  was  no  new  grievance, 
but  to  put  it  into  the  hands  of  a  man  whom  the  people  believed  to  be 
their  enemy  in  everything,  was  sufficient  to  cause  a  general  rankling 
among  feelings  already  much  irritated.  §  He  proceeded  to  make  a  new 
order  concerning  marriages,  and  intended  to  bring  about  a  law  making 
no  marriage  valid,  not  solemnized  by  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. Fees  of  office  were  enhanced  to  an  insufferable  rate.  For  the 
probate  of  a  will,  fifty  shillings  were  exacted.  With  four  or  five  of  his 
Council,  the  Governor  assessed  such  taxes  as  he  thought  proper.  Poor 
people,  women  and  children,  were  obliged  to  come  to  Boston  from  re- 

*  "  There  is  appointed  by  Authority,  a  Mar-  §  Three  weeks  before  the  arrival  of  Andros, 

ket  to  be  kept  in  Boston,  and  a  Committee  is  his  secretary,  Eandolph,  ordered  Mr.  Samuel 

ordered  to  meet  and  state  the  place  and  days,  Green  the  printer,  to  print  nothing  without  his 

and  other  circumstances  relating  to  the  good  approbation.     The  order  was  signed  by  "  Ben. 

settling    thereof."  —  Tully's    Almanack    for  Bullivant,"   in   which  it   was   said   he   must 

1687.  not  print  "any  Almanack  whatever."  —  See 

t  This  order  was  signed  "  Edward  Eandolph  Holmes  'Annals,  i.  420.     But  Mr.  Green  did 

Sect."     "Benjamin  Bullivant,  late  Clerke  of  print  an  Almanack  for  the  year  1686,  and  I 

ye  Councell "  witnessed  it.  have  seen  and  used  one  of  them. 

%  A  list  of  them  "  on  ten  sheets  of  paper  "  1686-7.     The  Selectmen  to  appoint  chimney 

is  spoken  of  in  the  Town  Records.     That  list  sweepers,  and  none  else  to  be  allowed  to  sweep 

is  not,  probably,  preserved.  them. 


1G87-]  ADMINISTRATION    OP    ANDROS.  475 

moto  places  upon  all  the  business  connected  with  the  settlement  of 
estates. 

A  plan  was  hit  upon  by  Andros  and  his  ill  advisers,  to  extort  money 
from  the  people,  which,  could  he  have  succeeded  in  it,  would  have  grati- 
fied his  avarice,  which  seems  to  have  been  as  much  his  ruling  passion 
as  cruelty  was  that  of  Colonel  Kirke.  But  happily  any  passion  car- 
ried to  excess  defeats  its  own  objects.  Andros  mistook  the  character 
of  the  people  here.  They  were  not  to  be  insulted  with  impunity. 
They  had  not  grown  up  believing  that  all  power  emanated  from  the 
King,  or  that  his  vicegerent  could  not  be  called  in  question  for  acts 
clearly  against  all  reason,  even  though  he  'might  construe  the  law  to 
suit  his  purposes.  Andros'  plan  of  aggrandizement  was  no  other  than 
this.  It  was  to  declare  all  the  landholders  tenants  at  will.  His  argu- 
ment backed  up  by  the  King  would  have  answered  his  designs.  But 
his  King,  not  being  able  to  back  up  his  title  to  his  Crown,  his  claim  to 
it  and  the  arguments  of  Andros  shared  the  fate  of  all  tyrannical  iniqui- 
ties. The  sum  of  Andros'  argument  was,  that  as  the  people  held 
their  lands  by  a  Charter  from  the  Crown,  and  as  they  had  forfeited 
that  Charter,  they  had  forfeited  their  possessions  under  it.*  This  was, 
indeed,  an  alarming  conclusion,  and  what  would  have  been  the  result, 
had  James  the  Second  continued  on  the  throne  of  England,  it  is  not 
difficult  to  decide.  Such  a  King,  witK  such  a  General  as  Kirke  had 
proved  himself  to  be,  submission  first,  and  the  gallows  next,  were 
about  alike  certain. 

Under  such  prospects  a  free  people  would  be  very  likely  to  be  in  a 
state  of  desperation.  They  were  even  so  at  that  time,  but  their  nerves 
were  steady,  as  in  the  sequel  will  appear. 

Meanwhile  James  Second  was  making  rapid  strides  in  arbitrary 
power,  then  perfectly  consistent  with  Popery,  with  which  he  was  thor- 
oughly imbued.  Andros  and  Kirke  were  reputed  to  be  of  the  same 
faith,  but  neither  of  them,  probably,  cared  a  straw's  worth  about  any 
religion  further  than  was  necessary  to  keep  upon  terms  with  their 
master. 

The  immediate  affairs  of  the  Town,  during  the  administration  of 
Dudley  and  Andros,  seem  to  have  been  almost  neglected,  as  it  appears 
from  the  records. f  Some  were  discouraged,  and  others  knew  not  what 
to  do.     A  despotism  was  staring  them  full  in  the  face.     They  knew 

*  Andros'  object  was  to  grant  new  titles  to  charges   of  patenting  the  lands  at  the  hands 

estates  himself,  for  which  he  was  to  receive  of  these  crocodiles ;    besides  the  considerable 

such  fees  as  he  chose  to  demand.     "  Accord-  quit-rents  for  the  King.     Indeed,  the  bruitish 

ingly  Writs    of   Intrusion    were    issued    out  things  done  by  these  ivild  beasts  of  the  earth, 

against  the  chief  gentlemen  in  the  Territory  ;  are  too  many  to  be  related."  —  Mather's  Re- 

by  the  terror  whereof  many  were  driven  to  pe-  markables,  101. 

tition  for  patents,  that  they  might  enjoy  their  f  "  Sir  Edmund  Androsse,  with  a  few  of  his 
lands,  which  had  been  50  or  60  years  in  their  Council,  made  a  law  prohibiting  any  Town- 
possession.  But  for  these  patents  there  were  meeting,  except  once  a  year,  viz.:  on  the  third 
such  exorbitant-  prices  demanded,  that  £50  Monday  in  May."  —  The  Revolution  in  N. 
could  not  purchase  for  its  owner  an  estate  not  Eng.  Justified,  p.  12.  The  Town  Records 
worth  £200:  nor  could  all  the  money  and  show  this  to  be  true,  or  rather  their  absence 
moveables  in  the  Territory  have  defrayed  the  shows  it. 


476  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1687. 

not  what  would  be  law  to-morrow,  or  whether  there  would  be  any  law 
save  the  will  of  an  unprincipled  despot.  The  General  Court  had  been 
abolished,  and  hence  the  people  had  no  voice  in  any  public  measures.  * 

In  the  midst  of  this  state  of  things  Andros  received  an  additional 
Commission,  adding  New  York  to  his  government.  This  Commission 
he  caused  to  be  published  from  the  balcony  of  the  Town-house.  Not 
long  after  he  received  the  news  of  the  birth  of  a  Prince,  and  thereupon 
ordered  a  general  Thanksgiving,  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  first 
of  September.  A  special  order  was  sent  to  "  Mr.  Cotton  Mather  "  to 
read  the  Proclamation  to  his  congregation,  f 

The  only  good  act  for  which  James  Second  has  credit  in  New  Eng- 
land, was  his  "Declaration  of  Indulgence,"  or  an  order  for  universal 
toleration  in  matters  of  religion.  J  This  displeased  Andros  in  proportion 
as  it  pleased  the  people ;  and  he  was  bitter  against  Mr.  Increase  Mather 
for  his  agency  in  causing  an  address  of  thanks  to  be  sent  to  the  King 
for  his  Declaration.  His  hatred  of  Mr.  Mather  did  not  begin  at  this 
time.  That  Minister  had  boen  looked  upon  all  along  as  the  cause  of 
opposition  to  his  measures,  and  not  only  to  his,  but  to  those  of  all  the 
King's  officers  hitherto.  Now,  his  wrath  was  at  its  height,  and  he 
seemed  determined  to  be  revenged  on  him  whom  he  considered  the 
leader  of  the  people.  § 

Soon  after  the  King's  "Declaration"  was  received,  the  Churches 
of  Boston  agreed  to  keep  a  Day  of  Thanksgiving  on  the  account  of 
that  event.  This  so  irritated  Governor  Andros,  that  he  forbid  such  a 
demonstration,  and  threatened  to  set  guards  of  soldiers  at  the  doors  of 
the  Churches  if  it  should  be  attempted. || 

Encouraged  by  what  James  had  lately  done  for  religious  liberty, 
many  of  the  "superior  people"  thought  there  was  a  prospect  of  ob- 
taining from  him  some  special  favor  for  New  England,  if  they  were  to 
send  over  a  suitable  person  to  intercede  with  him.  This  it  was  con- 
cluded should  be  done,  and  Mr.  Mather  was  at  once  pitched  upon  as 
the  messenger.  In  the  mean  time  Randolph  had  succeeded  in  bring- 
ing Mr.  Mather  into    difficulty,  which  happened  in  this  wise.     Mr. 

*  Randolph,  writing  to  some  friend,  said  they  eternal  farewell  of  him,  with  relating  that  he 
were  now  become  as  arbitrary  as  the  great  proved  a  Blasted  Wretch,  followed  with  a  sen- 
Turk.  —  Hutchinson.  sible  curse  of  God  wherever  he  came  ;  despised, 

f  The  Proclamation  and  Order  are  inserted  abhorred,  unprosperous ;  anon  he  died  in  Vir- 

in  Hutchinson,  i.  372.  ginia,   and  in   such  miserable  circumstances, 

%  "  By  this  general  indulgence  Popery  was  that  (as  it  is  said) ,  he  had  only  two  or  three 

craftily  to  be  introduced.    Mr.  Mather  and  his  Negro's  to  carry  him  unto  his  grave."  —  Re- 

constituents  were  not  Politicians  sufficient  to  markables,  107.   This  perhaps  refers  to  Andros. 

penetrate  into  the  wicked  and  pernicious  con-  It  will  be  well  to  observe,  in  connection  with 

trivance  of  that  toleration."  —  Douglass,  Sum.  this,  that  Andros  did  not  die  in  Virginia.     He 

*•  440.  was  appointed  Governor  of  that  Province  in 

§  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  speaks  with  great  bit-  1692,  in  which  office  he  continued  six  years  ; 

terness  of  Andros.     But  against  Eandolph  he  and  that  he  appears  to  have  met  with  no  diffi- 

is  more  than  bitter.     His  denunciations  are  culty  there  ;  having,  no  doubt,  learned,  by  his 

highly  characteristic  of  their  author  :  — "  0,  experience  in  Boston,  that  Colonists  could  not 

Randolph!  I  said  a  good  while  ago,  that  I  easily  be  made  slaves  of.     He. died  in  London, 

should  have  a  farther  occasion  to  mention  him.  in    February,    1714.  —  Hutchinson,   ii.    208. 

I  have  now  done  it ;  and,  that  I  may  never  Allen,  Biog.  Diet. 

mention  him  any  more,  I  will  here  take  my  ||  See  Rcmarlables ,  103.  111. 


1G87.] 


MATHER  R    EMBASSY    TO    THE    KINO. 


477 


Mather  had  been  very  active  in  all  measures  against  the  surrender  of 
the  Charter,  and  had  published  reasons  against  it ;  but  he  managed  his 
opposition  with  so  much  prudence  that  his  enemies  could  not  get  any- 
legal  hold  upon  him.  At  length  a  letter  was  forged  under  his  name, 
and  being  directed  to  some  person  in  Amsterdam,  was  pretended  to  be 
intercepted  in  its  passage  thither.  And,  as  it  reflected  on  Sir  Lionel 
Jenkins,  and  contained  passages  calculated  to  incense  the  King  and  his 
ministers  against  the  Country,  it  was  used  by  Randolph  for  that  pur- 
pose.* The  forgery  was  believed  to  be  the  work  of  Randolph  and  a 
brother  of  his,f  and  Mr.  Mather  so  expressed  himself  in  a  letter  to  a 
correspondent.  This  charge  of  Mr.  Mather  coming  to  Randolph's  ears, 
he  at  once  brought  an  action  of  slander  against  the  Author  of  it ;  lay- 
ing his  damages  at  five  hundred  pounds.  It  came  to  trial;  Randolph 
lost  his  case,  and  had  to  pay  the  costs  of  court.  Notwithstanding,  by 
some  means  not  stated,  he  commenced  the  action  anew,  and  a  writ  was 
out  for  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Mather,  as  he  was  just  ready  to  sail  on  his 
mission ;  J  but  he  was  secreted  by  his  friends,  and  at  length  went  on 
board  the  ship  prepared  to  convey  him,  in  the  night,  disguised, 
and  thus  thwarted  the  design  of  his  implacable  enemy. § 
Mr.  Mather  took  with  him  his  youngest  son,  Nathaniel,  then  about 
eighteen  years  of  age.  As  their  ship  approached  the  English  coast, 
"  they  narrowly  escaped  perishing  among  the  rocks  of  Scilly."  And 
soon  after  they  were  near  being  wrecked  by  following  the  false  infor- 
mation of  some  fishermen.  ||     However,  he  soon  after  landed  safely  at 


*  "  There  were  many  passages  in  favor  of 
Ferguson,  Lord  Shaftsbury,  Oates,  &e.  Sir 
Lionel  Jenkins  either  suspected  the  forgery,  or 
treated  the  thing  with  contempt,  asking  whether 
it  was  that  Star-gazer  wrote  it.  (Referring  to 
Mr.  Mather's  then  late  treatise  on  comets.)"  — 
Hutchinson,  i.  366.  Sir  Leoline  Jenkins  died 
1  Oct.,  1685. —  Granger. 

f  I  have  made  no  researches  respecting  the 
family  of  Andros.  There  was  a  Captain  Elisha 
Andros  in  the  Indian  wars  of  1690,  &c.  Far- 
mer does  not  mention  him.  Sir  Edmund's  Au- 
tograph is  subjoined. 


%  It  appears  from  Mr.  Mather's  biographer 
that  the  new  action  was  brought  purposely  to 
prevent  his  mission  to  England,  and  that  Mr. 
Mather  himself  had  communicated  his  design 
to  Andros.  It  is  related  as  follows  :  —  "  He 
waited  on  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  the  Governor 
and  Oppressor  of  New  England,  and  acquainted 
him  that  he  designed  a  voyage  to  London.  He 
also  gave  the  Country  notice  of  his  voyage,  in 
a  sermon  at  the  Great  Lecture,  on  Exod.  xxxiii. 
15.  If  thy  presence  go  not  with  us,  carry  us 
not  upfront  hence.   Hereupon  Randolph  again, 


assisted  by  one  'pothecary  Bullivant,  a  memo- 
rable Justice  (and  something  else  !)  privately 
sent  an  officer  to  arrest  him  once  more  upon 
the  former  action  of  defamation.  But  it  fell 
out  that  he  was  just  then  under  the  operation  of 
a  more  wholesome  physic  than  what  that  'pothe- 
cary had  sent  him  ;  and  so  the  officer  was  igno- 
rantly  denied  admittance.  The  'pothecary  as 
ignorantly  reported  that  Mr.  Mather  was  ar- 
rested ;  and  the  report  flying  like  lightning 
about  the  solicitous  Town,  it  soon  reached  Mr. 
Mather's  ears  ;  who  then  kept  upon  his 
guard."  —  Remarkables ,  106-7. 

§  "  Mr.  Mather  withdrew  privately  from 
his  house,  in  a  changed  habit,  unto  the  house 
of  Col.  Philips  in  Charlstown  ;  in  which 
withdraw,  it  is  remarkable,  that  a  wicked  fel- 
low, whose  name  was  Thurton,  and  who  was 
placed  as  an  undersheriff,  to  watch  him,  and 
seize  him,  if  he  stir'd  abroad,  now  saw  him 
and  knew  him,  and  yet  found  himself  struck 
with  such  an  enfeebling  terror,  that  he  had  no 
power  to  meddle  with  him.  From  thence  he 
was,  by  certain  well  disposed  young  men  of  his 
flock,  transported  unto  Winnesimmet ;  and 
from  thence  he  went  aboard  a  ketch,  which 
lay  ready  to  assist  his  voyage  ;  from  which  he 
was,  on  April  7th,  1688,  gladly  received  aboard 
the  ship,  called  the  Prsesident,  on  which  he 
had  at  first  shipped  himself,  and  so  bore  away 
for  England."  —  Remarkables,  107-8. 

||  "  Some  very  wicked  fishermen  of  St.  Ives, 


478  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1687. 

Weymouth,  "  which  was  the  last  town  he  lodged  in  when  he 
ay  *    left  England  seven  and  twenty  years  before." 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  May  he  arrived  in  London,  and  five 
ay"  '  days  after  had  an  audience  with  the  King,  "in  the  Long  Gal- 
lery at  "Whitehall."  And  not  long  after,  two  or  three  other  confer- 
ences, in  all  of  which,  according  to  the  report  given  of  them,  "his 
Majesty"  was  full  of  good  words,  and  appeared  kindly  disposed  to- 
wards New  England,  while  at  the  same  time  his  sincerity  was  doubted. 
And,  as  will  be  observed,  his  fair  speeches  amounted  to  nothing  ;  not- 
withstanding Mr.  Mather  had  the  advice  and  help  of  persons  of  influ- 
ence in  England,  as  well  as  the  counsel  and  aid  of  several  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Among  the  latter  were  Mr.  Samuel  Nowel  and  Mr.  Elisha 
Hutchinson,  who  had  been  Assistants  under  the  Charter  government. 
.  Meanwhile  the  Eastern  Indians  were  in  open  war  with  the 

settlers  in  that  part  of  the  Country.  Sir  Edmund,  with  a  con- 
siderable armament,  sailed  from  Boston  to  chastise  them,  but  it  was 
productive  of  far  more  mischief  than  advantage.  The  war  thus  begun 
continued  near  ten  years.*'  Late  in  the  season  of  the  same  year  Gov- 
ernor  Andros  marched  with  a  force  of  about  700  men  against 
the  Eastern  Indians  by  lancl.f  In  this,  likewise,  he  accomplished 
nothing  against  them,  and  his  men  suffered  extremely,  and  many  of 
them  died  from  exposure  to  the  rigors  of  the  season  ;  more,  it  is 
affirmed  by  some,  than  the  whole  number  of  Indians  in  hostility.  But 
Andros  led  his  men  in  person,  and  shared  their  hardships  with  them. 

After  the  return  of  Governor  Andros  from  his  first  expedition  against 
the  Indians,  some  of  the  officers  in  authority  in  the  eastern  country, 
took  a  number  of  Indians  prisoners  and  sent  them  to  Boston.  Here 
they  were  held  as  hostages,  and  for  safe-keeping  imprisoned.  This  was 
in  the  summer,  and  Sir  Edmund  was  at  the  time  absent  from  Town. 
On  his  return  he  was  greatly  displeased  that  the  Indians  had  been  im- 

al,?o  after  that,  gave  them  false  advice,  on  pur-  Governor  that  he  could  not  go.   Hence,  it  may 

pose   to   have   shipwrecked    'em,   which  they  be  fair  to  infer  that  there  were  many  in  Bos- 

again  escaped  by  Mr.  Mather's  taking  one  of  ton  who  did  what  they  could  to  render  Sir  Ed- 

the   sharks   aside,  and   hiring  him  with   four  mund's    expedition    abortive. —  See    Church's 

half  crowns  to  tell  the  truth."  —  Remarkables,  Hist.,  &c,  150. 

108.     If  this  is  a  fair  picture  of  the  liabilities  f  "  And  tho'   'tis  judged  that  our  Indian 

of  mariners  on  civilized  coasts  in  those  days,  enemies  are  not  above  100  in  number,  yet  an 

the  situation  of  those  thrown  upon  tm-civilized  army  of  1000  English  hath  been  raised  for  the 

ones  was  lamentable  indeed.     I  have  no  doubt  conquering  of  them  ;   which   army   our  poor 

of  the  facts  in  the  above  extract.  friends  and  brethren  now  under  Popish  com- 

*  Sir  Edmund  had  calculated  upon  the  as-  manders   (for  in  the  army  as  in  the  Council, 

sistance  of   the  experienced  and  brave   Col.  Papists  are  in  commission),  has  been  under 

Benjamin  Church,  and  sent  for  him  to  come  to  such  a  conduct,  that  not  one  Indian  hath  been 

Boston.     Ever  ready  to  fight  Indians  when  his  killed,  but  more  English  are  supposed  to  have 

Country  required  it,  he  came  immediately  to  died  through  sickness  and  hardship,  than  we 

Town.     The  Governor  offered  him  the  second  have  adversaries  there  alive  ;  and  the  whole 

place   in   command,  and   Church  was  at  first  war  hath  been   so  managed,  that  we  cannot 

disposed  to  accept ;  but   taking  time  to  con-  but  suspect  in  it  a  branch  of  the  plot  to  bring 

sider  of  it  before  giving  a  final  answer,  and  in  us  low ;  which  we  leave  to  be  further  enquir'd 

the    interim    consulting    with    many   of   his  into."  —  Declaration  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Bos- 

acquaintances   in  the   Town,  "  who   made   it  ton,  &c,  in  "An  Account  of  the  Late  Revolu- 

their   business,  some  to  encourage  and  others  tinnby  Nathaniel  Byfield,"  p.  17.     "  Thus  we 

to  discourage  him,"  he  returned  answer  to  the  are  briar'd  into  another  Indian  war."  —  lb. 


1089.] 


ANDUOS      Oi'l'llESSlONS. 


479 


prisoned,  and  ordered  them  set  at  liberty.*  Some  of  Iris  own  Council 
opposed  the  liberation  of  one  of  the  Chiefs,  long  noted  for  his  barbari- 
ties. The  name  of  that  chief  was  Ilopehood.f  It  is  said  that  Andros 
spent  two  or  three  hours  in  private  with  Ilopehood  before  he  was  set 
at  liberty,  and  hence  the  depredations  which  that  Chief  committed  not 
long  after,  caused  Andros  to  be  charged  with  inciting  the  Indians  to  war 
against  the  English.  However,  it  is  certain  that  Ilopehood  was  a  prin- 
cipal leader  in  the  butcheries  at  Salmon  Falls  in  the  following  March, 
and  at  Fox  Point  in  the  following  May,  to  go  no  further. 

The  occurrence  of  these  things,  and  the  constant  issue  of  Writs  of 
Intrusion  J  against  people  of  wealth,  caused  the  poorer  class  to  inquire, 
"  What  was  to  become  of  them,  when  their  turn  should  come  ?  "  Peo- 
ple were  brought  to  Boston  from  Ipswich,  and  other  places  even  more 
remote,  and  put  into  prison,  because  they  dared  to  question  the  legality 
of  being  compelled  to  raise  money  without  the  authority  of  a  General 
Court.  Cases  of  individual  oppression  cannot  be  enumerated,  §  but 
that  of  Mr.  Joseph  Lynde  of  Charlestown,  and  that  of  Mr.  Ichabod 
Wiswall  of  Duxbury,  were  peculiarly  aggravating. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  news  of  the  birth  of  a  Prince  was  re- 
ceived at  Boston,  suspicions  accompanied  it,  that  it  had  no  foundation 
in  truth.  The  people  were  better  prepared  to  entertain  the  suspicions 
than  to  believe  that  they  were  provided  with  a  successor  thus  early  to 


*  "  Upon  his  return,  finding  the  Indians  in 
prison,  fell  into  a  great  rage  against  those  gen- 
tlemen that  had  acted  therein."  —  Thos.  Dan- 
forth  in  N.  Eng.  Justified,  34. 

f  Hutchinson  says  it  was  Madokawando, 
and  does  not  mention  Hopehood  at  all.  Mad- 
okawando may  have  heen  one  of  the  captives 
who  accompanied  Hopehood,  as  there  were 
"  about  a  dozen  "  of  them.  —  For  the  exploits 
of  both  of  these  Chiefs  See  The  Book  of  In- 
dians. Dr.  C.  Mather  says  Hopehood  was  a 
"  bloody  Devil." 

%  The  nature  of  those  writs  will  be  best  un- 
derstood by  a  Deposition  which  I  take  out  of 
New  England  Justified,  page  26,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows :  —  "  The  deposition  of  Capt.  Daniel  Turel 
and  Lieut.  Edward  Willis,  sworn,  say,  That 
upon  a  Writ  of  Intrusion  being  served  on  Deer 
Island,  belonging  to  the  town  of  Boston,  and 
let  unto  Col.  Samuel  Shrimpton  by  the  Select- 
men of  the  said  Town,  the  rent  whereof  being 
of  long  time  appropriated  towards  the  main- 
tainance  of  a  Free  School  in  the  Town,  we, 
the  Deponents,  two  of  the  Selectmen  of  the 
said  Town,  do  testify,  that  meeting  with  Mr. 
James  Graham  upon  the  Town-house,  and  tell- 
ing him,  that  if  Col.  Shrimpton  did  decline  to 
personate  the  case  of  the  said  Island,  we  the 
Select-men  would.  The  said  Graham  said,  Are 
you  the  men  that  will  stand  suit  against  the 
King  ?  We  the  Deponents  told  him  we  would 
answer  in  behalf  of  the  Town.  The  said  Gra- 
ham replied,  There  was  no  Town  of  Boston, 
nor  was  there  any  Town  in  the  Country.  We 
made  answer  we  were  a  Town,  and  owned  so 


to  be  by  Sir  Edmund  Androsse,  Governor,  in 
the  warrant  sent  us  for  the  making  a  rate. 
Then  the  said  Graham  told  us,  We  might  stand 
the  trial  if  we  would,  but  bid  us  have  a  care 
of  what  we  did,  saying  It  might  cost  us  all  we 
were  worth,  and  something  else  too,  for  aught 
he  knew ;  and  further  these  deponents  say  not. 
Sworn  before  William  Johnson,  Assistant,  Jan. 
30,  1689."  — Mr.  Graham  was  Andros' At- 
torney General.  Mrs.  Mary  Hooke,  wife  of 
Francis  Hooke,  Esq.,  of  Kittery,  Me.,  pre- 
suming, it  may  be,  that  Noddle's  Island  would 
be  wrested,  from  Col.  Shrimpton,  petitioned 
Andros  for  "  consideration  and  relief,"  she 
being  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  former 
owner  of  said  island.  She  urged  that  "  her 
father,  in  1648,  was  fined  £250  for  attempting 
to  petition  the  King,  and  that  when  a  commis- 
sioner with  Nichols,  Carr  and  Cartwright,  he 
was  interrupted  by  sound  of  trumpet."  — 
Mass.  Archives,  Vol.  128,  p.  45.  I  may  not 
have  noted,  elsewhere,  that  Noddle's  Island 
(now  East  Boston)  is  supposed  to  have  been 
so  named  from  one  William  Noddle,  who  was 
a  Freeman  of  the  Colony,  18  May,  1631 ;  the 
same,  perhaps,  resident  in  Salem  in  1632,  and 
who  was  drowned  in  the  "  South  River," 
while  "  carrying  wood  in  a  canoe,"  in  June 
of  that  year.  Winthrop,  Jour.  i.  80,  calls 
him  an  honest  man.  —  See  Prince,  Annals,  ii. 
29. 

§  "  Writs  were  issued  out  against  Col. 
Shrimpton,  Mr.  Samuel  Seawall  [afterwards 
Judge  Sewall]  and  we  know  not  how  many 
more  besides." — N.  Eng.  Justified,  p.  22. 


480  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  [1689. 

a  monarch  not  at  all  agreeable  to  them  ;   and  they  were  anxiously 
hoping,  if  not  expecting,  some  favorable  turn  in  public  affairs.* 

Notwithstanding  the  death  of  Lady  Andros  occurred  about  this  time, 
no  notice  appears  to  have  been  taken  of  it  in  published  accounts  of 
that  day,  nor  did  it  have  any  perceivable  influence  on  her  husband  the 

Governor,  as  respects  the  oppressive  measures  he  was  pursuing. 

She  was  buried  with  all  the  Church  of  England  ceremonies, 
hitherto  an  unaccustomed  sight  in  Boston,  f  The  day  was  cloudy  and 
dark,  well  agreeing  with  the  gloomy  prospects  of  the  people. 

Early  in  the  year  1689  there  was  a  rumor  that  the  Prince  of  Orange} 
was  about  to  assert  his  claim  to  the  English  throne ;  and  while  the 
people  of  Boston  were  in  much  suspense  regarding  it,  Mr.  John  Wins- 
low  arrived  in  a  ship  from  Nevis.  While  at  that  Island,  in  the  month 
of  February  preceding,  he  learned,  by  an  arrival  from  England,  that 
the  Prince  had  landed,  and  was  actually  declared  King.§  The  ship 
which  brought  that  news  to  Nevis,  brought  the  "  Prince's  Declara- 
tion," which  Mr.  Winslow  procured  to  be  copied,  at  an  expense  of 
four  shillings  and  sixpence,  because  he  would  bring  it  to  Boston  ;  for, 
he  said,  "  It  was  very  welcome  news  to  me,  and  I  knew  it  would  be  so 
to  the  rest  of  the  people  of  New  England  ;  being  bound  thither,  and 
very  willing  to  carry  such  news." 

On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Winslow,  Governor  Andros,  suspecting 

he  had  brought  news  from  England,  sent  James  Sherlock,  his 
sheriff,  to  Mr.  Winslow's  house  in  Joyliff's  lane,||  to  demand  his  pa- 
pers, and  he  accompanied  the  said  Sherlock  to  the  Governor's  house. 
The  Governor  insolently  demanded  why  he  had  not  brought  him  the 
news  ?  To  which  Mr.  Winslow  replied,  that  he  was  not  aware  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  do  so,  nor  was  it  customary  for  passengers  to  go  with 
news  to  the  Governor  on  their  arrival.  He  was  then  asked  to  produce 
the  Declaration  of  the  Prince  of  Orange ;  but  he  declined  to  comply. 
At  this  Andros  was  much  out  of  temper,  and  told  Mr.  Winslow  he  was 

*  James-Francis-Edward,  son  of  James  II.,  and  torches.  Therewas  a  great  noise  and  clamor 

"was  born  June   18th,  1688.     He  was  after-  to  keep  people  out  of  the  house,  that  they  might 

wards    styled    "The    Pretender."  —  Salmon,  not  rush  in  too  soon.  I  went  home." — Sewall, 

Hence  the  suspicions  of  the  Bostonians  turned  in  Hist.   King's    Chapel,  40-1.      The    Lady 

out  to  be  suspicions  only.  Anne  Andros  appears  to  have  been  a  relative 

f  Judge  Sewall  attended  the  funeral,  con-  of  the  family  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Church  of  Bos- 

ceming  which  he  made  these  brief  notes  :  —  ton,  a  descendant  of  which,  many  years  ago, 

"  Between  4  and  5  I  went  to  the  funeral  of  found  and  repaired  the  tomb,  upon  a  slab,  in 

Lady  Andros,  having  been  invited  by  the  Clark  the  bottom  of  which  the  name  of  the  tenant 

of  the  South  Company  [Society].     Between  7  was  inscribed,  and  by  this  it  was  identified.  — 

and  8  (lychns  [Lychnites,  a  sort  of  white  mar-  Letter  of  Amos  Lawrence  in  Bridgman's  King's 

ble  ;  also  a  gem  that  shines  best  by  candle-  C.  Inscriptions,  p.  317-18. 

light.  Philips  and  Kersey. —  Used  by  Sewall  as  J  He  was  son  of  William  II.,  Prince  of  Or- 

torch  or  lamp]  illuminating  the  cloudy  air),  ange,  by    Mary,   eldest    dau.   of   Charles  I. 

the  corpse  was  carried  into  the  herse  drawn  by  Hence  he  was  nephew  of  James  n. ,  whom  he 

six  horses,  the  soldiers  making  a  guard  from  dethroned.    His  wife  was  Mary,  dau.  of  James 

the  Governor's  house  down  the  Prison  Lane  to  n. ,  and  therefore  his  own  cousin, 

the  South  Meetinghouse  ;  there  taken  out  and  §  He  landed  at  Torbay,  in  Devonshire,  Nov. 

carried  in  at  the  western  door,  and  set  in  the  5th,  1688. 

alley  before   the   pulpit,  with   six  mourning  ||  At  the  foot  of  Spring-lane.     His  place  of 

women  by  it.     House  made  light  with  candles  residence  is  inferred  from  circumstances. 


WSMcSMsM    ©TOWS-IiE^Com 


1680.] 


RISING    OF    THE   PEOPLE. 


CASE    OF    WINSLOW. 


481 


a  saucy  fellow,  and  ordered  the  Sheriff  to  take  him  before  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace.  Mr.  Winslow  asked  the  Sheriff  to  allow  him  to  choose 
his  Justice,  but  he  was  told  that  he  must  go  before  "Doctor  Bulli- 
vant." When  he  came  there,  Bullivant  was  joined  by  Charles  Lidgct 
and  Francis  Foxcroft.  They  demanded  his  papers,  but  were  refused 
them.  They  then  imprisoned  him  "  for  bringing  into  the  country  a 
traitorous  and  treasonable  libel,"  notwithstanding  he  offered  2000 
pounds  bail.* 

Without  such  occurrences  as  this,  it  may  very  reasonably  be  said 
that  the  people  had  suffered  enough  to  justify  a  rebellion  ;  and  although 
they  were  now  ripe  for  it,  it  does  not  appear  that  there  was  any 
plan  to  seize  upon  the  Government,  or  to  rise  up  in  arms,  as  they 
immediately  proceeded  to  do,  which  is  thus  related  by  an  eye-wit- 
ness :  —  f 

"  I  knew  not  anything  of  what  was  intended  until  it  was 
begun,J  yet  being  at  the  north  end  of  the  town,  where  I  saw 
boys  running  along  the  streets  with  clubs  in  their  hands,  encouraging 
one  another  to  fight,  I  began  to  mistrust  what  was  intended ;  and, 
hasting  towards  the  Town  Dock,  I  soon  saw  men  running  for  their 
arms,  but  before  I  got  to  the  Red  Lion,§  I  was  told  that  Captain 
George  ||  and  the  Master  of  the  frigate  were  seized  and  secured  in  Mr. 
Colman's  H  house,  at  the  North  End ;  and  when  I  came  to  the  Town 
Dock,  I  understood  that  Bullivant  and  some  others  of  them  were  laid 
hold  of,  and  then  immediately  the  drums  began  to  beat,  and  the  people 
hastened  and  ran,  some  with  and  some  for  arms.  Young  Dudley  and 
Colonel  Lidget  with  some  difficulty  attained  to  the  Fort.**     The  Gov- 


April  18. 


*  New  England  Justified,  11,  12. 

f  The  account  which  follows  in  the  text  is 
from  Hutchinson,  who  did  not  know  the  author. 
It  is  from  a  letter,  dated  "  Boston,  April  22, 
'89  "  The  writer  withheld  his  name  for  ob- 
vious reasons.  It  was,  in  Hutchinson's  time, 
the  most  circumstantial  account  that  had  ap- 
peared. 

%  The  commotion  began  "  about  8  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  It  was  reported  at  the  South 
End  of  the  Town  that  at  the  North  End  they 
were  all  in  arms  ;  and  the  like  report  was  at 
the  North  End,  respecting  the  South  End. 
About  9  of  the  clock  the  drums  beat  through 
the  Town,  and  an  ensign  was  set  upon  the 
Beacon."  —  Byfield,  Account  of  the  Revolution, 
3  and  4. 


v^£d 


§  Mention  is  made  of  this  Tavern  in  1676. 
It  was  "  at  the  North  End,"  and  long  a  noted 
Inn.     Joseph  Hiller,  bookseller  from  London, 

61 


was  here  in  1709  ;  and  is  mentioned  as  situated 
near  the  Bed  Lion  in  1744.  In  1766  John 
Harris  kept  a  vendue  nest  door  to  it. 

||  Captain  John  George. — Byfield.   George's 
account  is  printed  in  Chalmer's  Annals,  469. 

Tf  Same  perhaps,  father  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Col- 
man  of  Brattle-street  Church  afterwards. 

**  This  fort  had  been  put  into  excellent  con- 
dition in  the  time  of  the  war  with  the  Dutch. 
A  Committee  of  the  General  Court  reported,  in 
1666,  that  it  was  "  apprehended  to  be  the  com- 
pletest  work  of  the  kind  which  hitherto  had 
been  ordered  in  this  country. ' '  Maj .  Gen .  John 
Leverett,  "  with  the  advice  of  the  Committee 
of  the  militia  of  Boston,"  superintended  the 
work.  The  Committee  of  the  Gen.  Court  said, 
that,  "  under  the  conduct  of  the  Maj.  General, 
they  entered  a  well  contrived  fort,  called  Bos- 
ton Sconce,  the  artillery  whereof  was  of 
good  force  and  well  mounted,  the  gunner 
attending  the  same  ;  that  the  form  thereof 
was  suitable  to  the  place,  so  as  to  scour  the 
harbor  to  the  full  length  of  their  shot  every 
way ;  the  foundation  of  stone,  and  well 
banked  with  earth."  They  found  nine  guns 
mounted,  with  arrangements  for  four  more 
"  without."  The  same  Committee  examined, 
at  the    same  time,    the    North    Battery,  at 


482  REVOLUTION    OF    WILLIAM   AND    MARY.  [1689. 

ernor  immediately  sent  Dudley  on  an  errand,  to  request  the  four 
ministers,  Mr.  Joyliffe,  and  one  or  two  more,  to  come  to  him  at  the 
Fort,  pretending  that,  by  them,  he  might  still  the  people,  not  thinking 
it  safe  for  him  to  go  to  them.  They  returned  for  answer,  that  they 
did  not  think  it  safe  for  them  to  go  to  him.  Now,  by  this  time,  all  the 
persons  whom  they  concluded  not  to  be  for  their  side  were  seized  and 
secured,  except  some  few  who  had  hid  themselves,  who  afterwards 
were  found,  and  dealt  by  as  the  rest.  The  Governor,  with  Palmer, 
Randolph,  Lidget,  West,  and  one  or  two  more,  were  in  the  Fort.  All 
the  companies  were  soon  rallied  together  at  the  Town  House,  where 
assembled  Captain  Winthrop,  Shrimpton,  Page,*  and  many  other  sub- 
stantial men,  to  consult  matters  ;  in  which  time  the  old  Governor  came 
among  them,  at  whose  appearance  there  was  a  great  shout  by  the 
soldiers.  Soon  after  the  Jack  was  set  up  at  the  Fort,  and  a  pair  of 
colors  at  Beacon  Hill,  which  gave  notice  to  some  thousand  soldiers  on 
Charlestown  side  that  the  controversy  was  now  to  be  ended,  and  multi- 
tudes would  have  been  there,  but  that  there  was  no  need.  The  frigate, 
upon  the  news,  put  out  all  her  flags  and  pendants,  and  opened  all  her 
ports,  and  with  all  speed  made  ready  for  fight,  under  the  command  of 
the  Lieutenant ;  he  swearing  that  he  would  die  before  he  should  be 
taken,  although  the  Captain  sent  to  him  that  if  he  fired  one  shot,  or 
did  any  hurt,  they  would  kill  him,  whom  they  had  seized  already  ; 
but  the  Lieutenant,  not  regarding,  kept  those  resolutions  all  that  day. 
Now,  about  four  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  orders  were  given  to 
go  and  demand  the  Fort,  which  hour  the  soldiers  longed  for  ;  f  and 
had  it  not  been  just  at  the  nick,  the  Governor  and  all  the  crew  had 
made  their  escape  on  board  the  frigate,  a  barge  being  sent  for  them, 
but  the  soldiers,  being  so  near,  got  the  barge.J  The  army  divided, 
and  part  came  up  on  the  back  side  of  the  Fort,  part  went  underneath 
the  hill  to  the  lower  battery  or  sconce,  where  the  red  coats  were,  who 
immediately  upon  their  approach  retired  up  to  the  Fort  to  their  master, 

Merry's    Point.      In    that    there  were    seven   clared  the  same  to  be  pte  of  the  streete,  and 
guns.     For  his  special  service  about  the  Forts,    warned  him  not  to  take  it  into  his  house." 
Gen.  Leverett  received  a  vote  of  thanks  and       f  The  bearers  of  the  order  were  "  Mr.  Oliver 
£100.  and  Mr.  Eyres. ' '  —  By  field. 

*  Captain  Nicholas  Page,  or  Paige,  I  sup-  %  "  There  then  came  information  to  the 
pose,  who,  though  a  churchman,  did  not  go  soldiers  [in  the  Town]  that  a  boat  was  come 
with  Andros  in  his  ultra  course.  He  was  a  from  the  Frigate  that  made  towards  the  Fort, 
Commissioner  in  Philip's  war,  and  has  been  which  made  them  haste  thither,  and  come  to 
several  times  noticed  in  this  work.  On  the  the  Sconce  soon  after  the  boat  got  thither  ; 
Town  Records  I  find  this:  —  "April  10th,  and  'tis  said  that  Gov.  Andros,  and  about  a 
1688.  Information  being  given,  that  Nicholas  half  score  gentlemen,  were  coming  down  out 
Paige,  Esq.,  was  inclosing  the  Town  ground  of  the  Fort;  but  the  boat  being  seized,  where- 
on y'  pte  of  ye  streete  vnder  the  Jettie  of  his  in  were  small  arms,  hand  grenadoes,  and  a 
dwelling-house,  3  foot  and  4  inches  from  the  quantity  of  match,  the  Governor  and  the  rest 
house  on  each  side  of  the  corner,  and  into  the  went  in  again  ;  whereupon  Mr.  John  Nelson, 
streetes  on  both  sides,  the  selectmen  went  to  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  soldiers,  did  de- 
the  place  and  there  found  John  Temple  and  mand  the  Fort  and  Governor,  who  was  loath 
John  Cimball  [Kimball?],  carpenters,  about  to  submit  to  them,  but  did  at  length  come 
the  worke,  whome  sd  selectmen  warned  not  to  down,"  &c.  —  Byfield.  In  Hutchinson  there 
take  in  sd  ground  vnder  sd  Jettie.  Lt.  Coll.  is  a  most  interesting  account  of  the  courageous 
Paige  alsoe  coming  to  the  sd  place,  they  de-   Nelson. 


1C89.]  REVOLUTION. THE    PEOPLE    TAKE    UP    ARMS.  483 

who  rebuked  them  for  not  firing  on  our  soldiers,  and,  as  I  am  informed, 
beat  some  of  them.  When  the  soldiers  came  to  the  battery  or  sconce, 
they  presently  turned  the  great  guns  about  and  pointed  them  against 
the  Fort,  which  did  much  daunt  those  within  ;  and  the  soldiers  were 
so  void  of  fear  that,  I  presume,  had  those  within  the  Fort  been  resolute 
to  have  lost  their  lives  in  fight,  they  might  have  killed  an  hundred  of 
us  at  once,  being  so  thick  together  before  the  mouths  of  the  cannon  of 
the  Fort,  all  laden  with  small  shot,  but  God  prevented  it.  Then  they 
demanded  a  surrender,  which  was  denied  until  Mr.  West  and  another 
should  first  go  to  the  Council,  and,  after  their  return,  we  would  have 
an  answer,  whether  to  fight  or  no.  Upon  their  return,  they  came  forth 
from  the  Fort,  and  went  disarmed  to  the  Town  House,  and  from  thence 
some  to  the  close  Jail,  and  the  Governor,  under  a  guard,  to  Mr.  Usher's 
house.  The  next  day  they  sent  the  two  Colonels  to  demand  of  him 
the  surrender  of  the  Castle,  which  he  resolved  not  to  give  ;  but  they 
told  him  if  he  would  not  give  it  presently,  under  his  hand  and  seal,  he 
would  be  exposed  to  the  rage  of  the  people,  and  so  left  him  ;  but  he 
sent  and  told  them  that  he  would,  and  did  so  ;  *  and  they  went  down, 
and  it  was  surrendered  to  them  with  cursings,  and  they  brought  the 
men  away,  and  made  Captain  Fairweather  commander  in  it.f  Now, 
by  the  time  the  men  came  back  from  the  Castle,  all  the  guns,  both  in 
ships  and  batteries,  were  brought  to  bear  against  the  frigate,  which 
were  enough  to  have  shattered  her  in  pieces  at  once,  resolving  to  have 
her.  It  is  incident  to  corrupt  nature  to  lay  the  blame  of  our  evil  deeds 
anywhere  rather  than  on  ourselves,  so  Captain  George  cast  all  the 
blame  now  upon  that  devil  Randolph  ;  for  had  it  not  been  for  him,  he 
had  never  troubled  this  good  people  ;   earnestly  soliciting  that  he  might 

*  The  paper  drawn  up  and  sent  to  the  Gov-  this  country  from  the  iminent  dangers  they 
ernor  has  been  before  referred  to,  but  it  is  too  many  ways  lie  open  and  exposed  to,  and  tender- 
important  to  be  omitted  in  any  account  of  ing  your  own  safety,  we  judge  it  necessary  you 
Boston  at  this  period.  It  runs  thus  :  —  "At  forthwith  surrender  and  deliver  up  the  Govern- 
the  Town-house  in  Boston,  April  18,  1689.  ment  and  Fortifications,  to  be  preserved  and 
To  Sir  Edmund  Andros.  Sir  :  Ourselves  and  disposed  according  to  order  and  direction  from 
many  others,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  and  the  Crown  of  England,  which  suddenly  is  ex- 
the  places  adjacent,  being  surprised  with  the  pected  may  arrive  ;  promising  all  security  from 
people's  sudden  taking  up  arms  ;  in  the  first  violence  to  yourself  or  any  of  your  gentlemen 
motion  whereof  we  were  wholly  ignorant,  being  or  souldiers  in  person  and  estate;  otherwise 
driven  by  the  present  accident,  are  necessitated  we  are  assured  they  will  endeavor  the  taking 
to  acquaint  your  Excellency,  that  for  the  quiet-  of  the  Fortification  by  storm,  if  any  opposition 
ing  and  securing  of  the  people  inhabiting  in  be  made  :  — 

"  Simon  Bradstreet  Peter  Sergeant  "William  Stoughton 

John  Richards  David  Waterhouse  Thomas  Danforth 

Elisha  Cooke  Adam  Winthrop  Samuel  Shrimpton 

Js.  Addington  J.  Nelson  Wm.  Browne 

John  Foster  Wait  Winthrop  Bartholo.  Gedney." 

Byfield,  Acct.  Revolution,  p.  20.     Neal,  Hist.  N.  E.,  ii.  60.     Hutchinson,  i.  377-8. 

f  Capt.   John  Fairweather.      Capt.   Roger  died  here,  2  Feb.,  1691-2.     "  The  military  of- 

Clap  had  held  the  office  of  Captain  of  the  Castle  ficers  pay'd  their  last  respects  by  walking  be- 

from  the  death  of  Capt.  Davenport,  1665  to  fore  the  Corps  at  his  funeral,  and  the  Governor 

1686.     He  resigned  in  the  latter  year,  because  and    whole    General    Assembly    by    walking 

he  could  not  serve  under  the  new  Government,  after." — Prince,  Christian  Hist.,i.  71.   His  pos-r 

He  removed  to  Boston  at  that  time,  and  be-  terity  are  numerous  and  respectable  at  this  day, 

came  associated  with  the  South  Church,  and  Capt.  John  Pipon  had  held  it  under  Andros, 


484  REVOLUTION. CAPT.    FISHER.  [1689. 

not  be  constrained  to  surrender  the  ship,  for  by  so  doing  both  himself 
and  all  his  men  would  lose  their  wages,  which  otherwise  would  be 
recovered  in  England,  giving  leave  to  go  on  board  and  strike  the  top- 
masts, and  bring  the  sails  on  shore,  and  so  he  did.  The  country  people 
came  armed  into  the  town,  in  the  afternoon,  in  such  rage  and  heat  that 
it  made  us  all  tremble  to  think  what  would  follow,  for  nothing  would 
satisfy  them  but  that  the  Governor  must  be  bound  in  chains  or  cords, 
and  put  in  a  more  secure  place  ;  and  that  they  would  see  done  before 
they  went  away,  and,  to  satisfy  them,  he  was  guarded  by  them  to  the 
Fort."* 

Thus,  in  less  than  two  days,  was  the  Revolution  achieved,  and  with- 
out bloodshed,!  or  without  the  loss  of  a  single  life. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  Revolution  commenced,  the  venerable 
Bradstreet,  then  near  ninety  years  of  age,  with  several  of  the  Magis- 
trates chosen  in  1686,  and  some  of  the  principal  merchants  and  other 
prominent  gentlemen  of  Boston,  assembled  at  the  Town-house.  These 
were  looked  upon  by  all  classes  as  the  only  proper  persons  to  assume 
the  Government.J  It  was  owing  to  their  prudence  at  the  critical 
moment  which  prevented  bloodshed,  by  calming  a  populace  who,  at 
first,  were  ready  to  pour  a  terrible  torrent  of  vengeance  upon  those 
who  had  so  lately  and  wickedly  oppressed  them. 
.    ..  Being  convened  in  the  Town-house  on  the  same  day,  a 

paper  was  drawn  up  and  sent  to  the  Governor,  requiring  him 
to  surrender  the  Government  and  Fortifications,  which  he  at  first  refused 
to  do,  but  with  which  he  complied  on  a  little  reflection. 

At  the  same  time,  that  is,  on  the  same  day,  "  about  noon,"  an  elab- 

*  Capt.  Daniel  Fisher,  of  Dedham,  was  came  in,  headed  by  one  Shepperd,  teacher  of 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies  in  1682,  Lynn,  who  were  like  so  many  wild  bears  ;  and 
when  Mr.  Randolph  said  something  about  the  leader,  mad  with  passion,  more  savage 
sending  some  of  the  principal  men  to  England  than  any  of  his  followers.  All  the  cry  was  for 
to  answer  for  certain  alleged  misdemeanors,  the  Governor  and  Mr.  Randolph." 
The  Captain  died  Oct.  8th,  1683,  but  his  son,  f  In  a  letter  of  Randolph,  dated  25  Nov., 
of  the  same  name,  was  living.  This  son  had  1689,  in  the  "Common  Goal,"  he  speaks  of 
not  forgotten  the  proscription  of  his  father.  "  the  poor  wounded  man,  who  had  lain  16 
He  was  a  stout,  athletic  man,  of  a  resolute  days  rotting  in  his  own  excrement,"  and  begs 
spirit.  When  the  news  of  the  tumult  of  the  that  he  might  be  removed  from  the  room  where 
18th  of  April  reached  Dedham,  Capt.  Fisher  himself  and  "  the  other  gentlemen  were  con- 
"  instantly  set  out  for  Boston,  and  came  rush-  fined."  — Hutchinson,  Col.  Orig.  Papers,  574. 
ing  in  with  the  country  people,  who  were  in  %  "  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Mr.  Danforth,  Major 
such  a  rage  and  heat  as  made  all  tremble  Richards,  Dr.  Cook,  and  Mr.  Addington,  &c, 
again.  Nothing  would  satisfy  the  country  were  brought  to  the  Council-house  by  a  corn- 
party  but  binding  the  Governor  with  cords,  pany  of  soldiers  under  Capt.  Hill.  Meanwhile 
and  carrying  him  to  a  more  safe  place.  Soon  the  people  in  arms  did  take  up  and  put  into 
was  Capt.  Fisher  seen  among  the  crowd,  lead-  goal  Justice  Bullivant,  Justice  Foxcroft,  Mr. 
ing  the  pale  and  trembling  Sir  Edmund  by  the  Randolph,  Sheriff  Sherlock,  Capt.  Ravenscroft, 
collar  of  his  coat  from  the  house  of  Mr.  Usher  Capt.  White,  Farewel,  Broadbent,  Crafford, 
back  to  Fort  Hill."  —  Relation  of  the  lateHon.  Larkin,  Smith,  andmanymore  ;  as  also  Mercey, 
Ebenezer  Fisher,  of  Dedham,  to  Francis  Worth-  the  then  goal-keeper,  and  put  Scates,  the  brick- 
ington,  who  printed  it  in  his  History  of  that  layer,  in  his  place."  —  By  field,  p.  4. 
Town,  p.  51.  Mr.  Lewis  found  and  printed 
the  following  in  his  Hist,  of  Lynn,  supposed 
to  have  been  written  by  Randolph  :  — 

"  April  19th,  about  11  o'clock  the  Country 


1689.] 


OLD    GOVERNMENT    RESTORED. 


485 


April  20. 


orate  "Declaration  of  the  Gentlemen,  Merchants,  and  Inhabitants  of 
Boston  and  the  Country  adjacent,"  much  of  the  nature  of  that  of  1776, 
was  read  from  the  balcony  of  the  Town-house.*  Above  twenty  com- 
panies of  soldiers  had  inarched  into  town,  and  there  were  above  a 
thousand  men  in  arms  in  Charlestown,  who  could  not  get  over  the 
ferry,  f 

The  next  day  the  new  Council  took  into  consideration  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  country,  and  after  some  deliberation,  ad- 
dressed the  Government  under  the  title  of  "  A  Council  for  the  safety 
of  the  people,  and  Conservation  of  the  Peace." 

At  the  time  of  the  rising  of  the  people  of  Boston  on  the  eighteenth 
instant,  Judge  Dudley  was  holding  a  Court  at  Southold,  on  Long  Island. 
On  his  arrival  at  Newport,  he  heard  the  news  of  what  had 
befallen  the  Government  under  which  he  acted.     The  day  fol- 
lowing he  received  letters  advising  him  not  to  return  to  Boston,  and  he 
thereupon  fled  into  the  Narraganset  country,  and  lay  concealed  at  Maj. 
Richard  Smith's  about  a  week.    At  the  end  of  that  time  "  about 
a  dozen  young  men,  went  thither,  of  their  own  heads,"  took 
him  and  proceeded  with  him  to  Boston,  where  he  lay  a  long  time  in 
prison,  and  suffered  much.    He  was  not  alone  a  sufferer,  for  Sir  Edmund 
and  his  abettors  also  tenanted  a  prison. 

Meantime  fifty-four  towns  had  chosen  Deputies  to  form  a  Gen- 
eral Court,  who  now  met,  and  were  for  resuming  the  old  vacated 
Charter  ;  but  the  Council  thought  it  not  prudent  to  do  so,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  not  certain  that  it  would  not  injure  their  cause  in  the  eyes  of  the 
present  powers  in  England.  It  was  finally  concluded  that  the  old  officers 
of  Government  of  1686  should  assume  a  sort  of  conservative  control,  un- 
til news  should  be  received  from  England. 
The  day  following  the  arrange- 
ment for  settling  the  Govern- 
ment, a  ship  arrived  from  England, 
bringing  advice  that  William  and  Mary 
had  been  proclaimed  King  and  Queen 
of  England.  This  has  been  said  by 
writers  of  the  time  to  have  been  the 
most  joyful  news  ever  before  received 
in  Boston. 

Three  days  after,  the  Procla- 
mation was  published  with  great- 
er ceremony  than  had  been  knowm  on 
any  occasion  in  the  town  ;  "  Civil  and 
military  officers,  merchants  and  principal  gentlemen  of  the  Town  and 


May  26. 


WILLIAM   AND   MART. 


*  It  occupies  thirteen  small  quarto  pages  in 
Mr  Byfield's  Narrative.  —  It  is  also  in  Neal. 
Hutchinson  says  it  might  be  supposed  that  this 
declaration  was  a  work  of  time,  and  must  have 
been  prepared  beforehand ;  but  he  gives  his 
reason  for  believing  it  to  be  the  work  of  the 


day  in  which  it  was  required,  and  to  have  been 
the  performance  of  one  of  the  Ministers  of 
the  Town,  Mr.  [Cotton]  Mather,  who  had  a 
remarkable  talent  for  very  quick  and  sudden 
composures." — Mass.  Hist.,i.  381. 
f  Neal,  Hist.  N.  Eng.,  ii.  61-2. 


486  ANDROS  AND  OTHERS  IMPRISONED.  [1689. 

Country,  being  on  horseback,  the  regiment  of  the  Town,  and  many  com- 
panies of  horse  and  foot  from  the  Country,  appearing  in  arms  ;  a  grand 
entertainment  was  prepared  in  the  Town-house,  and  wine  was  served  out 
to  the  soldiers."* 

Fears  of  being  called  to  account  by  the  Government  in  England  were 
now  at  an  end,  and  the  Council  proposed  to  the  Deputies  to  exhibit  Ar- 
ticles against  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  and  the   other  prisoners,  or 
to  set  them  at  liberty  upon  security.     This  was  not  agreed  to. 
Soon  after  Andros  was  encouraged  to  demand  his  release  and  the  release 
of  those  concerned  with  him,  then  in  prison.      But  the  Deputies  "  re- 
solved that  Mr.  Joseph  Dudley,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Randolph,  Mr.  John  Palmer,  Mr.  John  West,  Mr.  James 
Graham,  Mr.  George  Farwell,  and  Mr.  James  Sherlock,  were  not  bail- 
able, and  sent  up  several  heads  of  charges  against  them." 

The  summer  and  autumn  passed  away,  and  Sir  Edmund  and  his 
companions  were  still  prisoners  to  the  Bostonians.  Meanwhile  some 
attempts  at  escape  were  made.  At  one  time  Andros  succeeded, 
°  '  and  got  as  far  as  Rhode  Island,  but  was  there  taken  by  one  of 
Captain  Church's  old  companions  in  the  Indian  war,  Major  Peleg  San- 
ford,  and  sent  back  again.  He  had  made  one  attempt  before,  imme- 
diately after  his  first  imprisonment,  by  disguising  himself  in  woman's 
apparel.  In  this  he  passed  two  guards,  but  was  stopped  by  a  third, 
being  detected  by  his  shoes,  which  he  had  not  taken  the  precaution  to 
change. 

Some  time  in  the  winter  following  an  order  was  received  from 
their  Majesties  to  send  the  prisoners  over  thence  ;  and  they  were 
accordingly  sent  in  the  first  ship  bound  for  that  country. 
Mr,  Mather  still  remained  in  England,  and  rendered  excellent  ser- 
vice to  his  country.     There  was  an  artful  and  cunning  attempt  made 
to  have  the  deposed  Governor  reinstated,  which  coming  to  Mr.  Mather's 
knowledge,  he  prevented  it ;  yet,  by  a  manoeuvre  of  a  different  nature, 
Andros  and  his  companions  in  iniquity  escaped  being  called  to  account, 
and  during  this  reign  Andros  succeeded  in  procuring  the  appointment 
of  Governor  of  Virginia,  as  has  before  been  incidentally  mentioned. 

The  business  of  the  Town  now  returned  to  its  former  course. f  It 
was  voted  in  Town-meeting,  "that  the  former  custom  and  practice  in 
managing  the  affairs  of  the  Free-schools  be  restored  and  continued." 

*  June  3.  —  The  town  chose  "  Dr.  Thomas  neglected."     Those  for  this  year  were  Darnell 

Oakes,  Capt.  Penn  Townsend,  Capt.  Timothy  Turill,  jr.,  ¥m.  Towers,  Joseph  Cowell,  Wm, 

Prout,  and  Mr.  Addam  Winthrop,"  for  repre-  Colman,  John  Cony,  sen.  and  Giles  Dyer.     To 

sentatives.  audit  the  Selectmen's  account,  Mr.  Peter  Ser^ 

/~\                    "~3  geant,  Mr.  Benj.  Alford,  Mr.  Samson  Sheafe. 

(_//               /~s                        «*■ \  This  was  at  a  meeting  June  24th.     "  To  set 

^J  (?/yTp-  ry  CFLtPTk^GZ-fyd  ye  price   of  corne   to   ye  white-bread   bakers, 

Nathl.  Olliver,  Arthur  Mason,  Tym.  Thornton, 
f  Among  the  proceedings  of  a  Town-Meeting  Treasurer,  Mr.  Edward  Willis.  Recorder, 
of  Sept.  16th,  1689,  were  the  following  : —  John  Joyliffe.  Measurers  of  corne,  John  Mar- 
"  Ordered,  that  ye  Select-men  send  for  and  shall,  John  Tucker.  Of  boards,  Thomas  Bar- 
quicken  the  Hogg  Reeves  to  the  faithful  dis-  nard,  Caleb  Rawlins,  Jabesh  Negus,  Ebenezer 
charge  of  theire  offices,  which  is  of  late  much  Messenger."      Overseers  of  woodcorders  were 


1G8G-1748.]  frencii  huguenots  487 


CHAPTER   LI. 

Huguenots  settle  in  Boston.  —  Found  a  Church. —  Pierre  Daille. —  Andrew  Le  Mercier.  —  The  Society 
Dissolved.  — Succeeded  by  another,  under  Rev.  A.  Croswell.  — That  succeeded  by  a  Roman  Catholic. 
—  Pirates.  —  Thomas  Hawkins.  —  Thomas  Pound.  —  Expedition  against  Canada.  —  Its  Failure.  — 
Small  Pox.  —  Major  Walley.  —  First  Issue  of  Paper  Money.  —  Josiah  Franklin.  —  Birthplace  of 
Dr.  Franklin.  —  Earthquake.  —  Witchcraft.  ■ —  First  Case  in  this  Period.  —  Case  of  Philip  English. 

ON  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  in  1685, 

many  thousands  of  French  Protestants  were  obliged  to 

I^^k-x    fly  from  their  native  land.      As  this   Edict  was  not 

a  J  passed  till  towards  the  end  of  the  year,  few  or  none  of 

s  those  against  whom  it  was  directed  arrived  in  Boston 

until  the   following  year.     The  fugitives  were  called 

Huguenots.  Among  those  who  came  to  this  place  were 

Mr.  Laurie  and  Pierre  Daille,  Ministers.     Those  who 

reached  Boston  in  1686  were  joined  by  others  in  the 

jtoxcroft.*        ensuing  year  ;  among  whom  was  Pierre  Baudouin.  He 

took  refuge  at  first  in  Ireland,  but  soon  after  resolved  to  come  to  New 

England,  and  arrived  at  Casco,  in  Maine,  in  1687,  and  in  Boston  not 

long  after.     Mr.  Baudouin  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Bowdoin  family. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  first  Huguenots  in  Boston,  probably  as 
early  as  1687,  one  of  their  Ministers  preached  regularly  to  them,  and 
they  entered  into  a  "  Church  estate."  This  was  the  origin  of  the 
French  Church  in  the  Town.  So  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  the  Soci- 
ety was  first  organized  in  the  Town's  School-house  in  School-street,  and 
that,  in  the  same  place,  or  one  of  the  other  public  School-houses,  meet- 
ings continued  to  be  held  until  after  1704.  About  twelve  years  after 
this  date,  a  small  brick  Church  was  erected  in  School-street  on  land 
purchased  in  the  year  last  named,  f  Whether  the  Rev.  Pierre  Daille 
were  the  first  minister  does  not  appear,  while  the  first  notice  of  him  as 
the  Minister  of  the  French  Church  is  found  in  1696.  He  had  been 
then  officiating  in  that  capacity  many  years,  probably,  and  continued  in 

Henry  Dawson,  John  Butler,  Jeremiah  Fitch,  of  the  Foxcrofts.     In  the  page  last  designated, 

Lt.    Ephm.    Sale,  Joseph   Peirce,   John   Bull,  their  pedigree  is  traced  in  England  for  several 

The  corders  wei-e  Samll.  Davis,  Thomas  Nara-  generations. 

more,  Danll.  Fairefield,  Jno.  Fairefield,  Davis  f  There  is  an  "  original  deed  from  Jas.  Mears, 
Cumins,  Fearenot  Shaw,  John  Tuckerman,  hatter,  to  John  Tartarien,  Frans.  Bredon,  and 
Sen.,  Jno.  Tuckerman,  Jun.,  Jno.  Alliset,  John  Dupuis,  Elders  of  the  French  Church, 
Mathew  Grosse.  At  the  Town-meeting  in  who,  for  £110  current  silver  money  of  N.  E., 
September  it  was  ordered,  "That  the  Town  sells  all  that  land  bounded  northerly  by  School- 
take  into  consideration  against  the  next  Towne  house  land  so  called,  where  it  measures  in  front 
meeting,  the  inconvenience  and  damage  that  43£  feet,  easterly,  &c.  36  feet,  westerly  88£ 
shod  cart  wheeles  doe  to  the  paveinge  of  the  feet,  southerly  35£  feet,  to  erect  and  build  a 
streetes. ' '  Church  upon  for  the  use  of  the  French  Congre- 
*  In  the  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Regr.,  vol.  gation  in  Boston,  according  to  the  Reformed 
viii.,  pages  174, 260,  and  364,  are  good  accounts  Churches  in  France."     Dated  4  Jan.  1704. 


488  A   FRENCH    CHURCH    FOUNDED.  [1686-1748. 

the  office  till  his  death  in  1715.*  What  became  of  Mr.  Laurie  is  not 
ascertained. 

After  the  Elders  of  the  French  Church  had  purchased  a  lot  in  School- 
street,  in  1704,  they  petitioned  the  Selectmen  for  liberty  to  erect  a 
Meeting-house  of  wood  upon  it,  thirty-five  by  thirty  feet,  but  it  was 
refused  them  on  the  plea  that  the  New  School-house  would  well  accom- 
modate them,  as  the  old  one  had  done  "  for  some  years  past,"  and  that 
it  would  accommodate,  for  the  time  to  come,  "  a  far  greater  number 
of  persons  than  then  belonged  to  their  congregation."  The  Society 
continued  thus  until  about  1716,  when  a  brick  Church  was  erected. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Daille,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier  suc- 
ceeded to  his  place,  as  Minister  of  the  French  Church.  He  continued 
its  Minister  for  many  years,  until  the  Society  had  become  too  much 
diminished  to  bear  the  expense,  when  it  was  dissolved.!  Their  Church 
ceased  to  be  used  by  them  several  years  before  1748.  J  Mr.  Le  Mer- 
cier was  a  gentleman  of  great  benevolence,  and  highly  respected.  The 
distressing  shipwrecks  which  had  happened  upon  "Island  Sables,"  in- 
duced him,  in  the  year  1738,  to  petition  the  Governor  and  Council  of 
Nova  Scotia  "for  the  property"  of  that  Island,  that  he  might  erect 
buildings  thereon,  and  stock  it  with  such  domestic  animals  as  would  be 
useful  in  preserving  the  lives  of  any  mariners  who  might  escape  from 
wrecks.  His  petition  was  complied  with,  and  proclamations  were 
issued  by  that  Government  and  also  by  this  of  Massachusetts,  warning 
all  persons  against  removing  or  destroying  whatever  the  Proprietor, 
should,  in  his  humane  endeavors,  place  upon  the  Island.  It  should  be 
remembered  that,  through  the  efforts  and  perseverance  of  this  gentle- 
man, many  lives  were  saved ;  notwithstanding  repeated  depredations 
were  committed  upon  the  goods  and  effects  placed  there  for  such  a  be- 
nevolent end.  § 

*  In  his  will  Mr.  Daille  prohibited  the  use  day  of   May,   same  year.      Mr.    Daille  was 

of  wine  at  his  funeral,  and  directed  that  gloves  buried  very  near  the  centre  of  the  Granary 

only  should  be  given  to  his  wife's  relatives.  To  Burying  Ground,  and  upon  the  headstone  of  his 

the  Ministers  of  the  Town  he  gave  gloves  and  grave  is  this  inscription  :  — 

scarves,  and  to  Mr.  Walter  of  Roxbury.     His  "  Here  lies  ye  Body  of  ye 

French  and  Latin  books  he  gave  to  form  a  Reverend  Mr.  Peter  Daille, 

library  for  the  Church  ;  for  the  benefit  of  the        Minister  of  the  French  Church  in  Boston, 

Minister,  the  interest  of  £100,  and  £10  to  be  Died  ye  21st  of  May,  1715, 

put  at  interest  till  a  Meeting-house  should  be  In  the  67th  year  of  his  age.'" 

erected,  and  then  that  sum  was  to  so  towards       x?        t-      ■    ±i.  c       ?  t 

;+„  „      I-  m     n  t  t.     t>  °  ,.         ;,  Near  him  is  the  grave  of  a  former  wife, 

t-^T^n  l        ,    "K  J+°  !n  ?awll.ngs' the  "  Seyre  Daille,  wife  toy*  Reverend  Mr.  Peter 

f^T^^-p;^ 'm  5;tolo™S™feMar:  Daille,  aged  about  60"     She  died  30  Aug. 

tha  Daille  £250,  my  Negro  man  Kifly,  and  17i2.  '  This  was  probably  his  second  wife.  His 

also  all  my  plate,  clothes,  ^mture  &c      The  firgt  Egther  LatonPice  di/d  14  Dec.  16%. 
residue  of  estate  to  "loving  brother  Paul  Daille       f  >ti  That  gociet    jjissolvi      „  the  Rev>  An_ 

Vaugelade  m  Amsfort,  m  Holland."     Good  dJw  Crosweirs  Syociet     purSc'haSed  it  of  the 

mend  Mr.  James  Bowdoin,  Lxecu tor.  -n        •  i.  n  i,,  V       .,•  no 

a  ^^i™i")     ^vnuux.  Proprietors.  —  Crosweirs  Narrative,  p.  18. 

J  Mr.  Le  Mercier  styled  himself,  "  Pastor  of 
/  the  French  Church  "  as  late  as  1753.     See  his 

Description  of  the  Island  Sables,  published  in 
the  News  Letter  of  that  year. 

§  In  an  advertisement  which  Mr.  Le  Mer- 
cier published  in  the   Boston   newspapers   in 
It  was  dated  20th  April,  1715  ;  proved,  last    1744,  he  says,  "  Notwithstanding  these  two 


e/ 


1C8G-1748.]  a  catholic  church.  489 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Le  Mcrcier  had  resided  in  Nova  Scotia,  and 
that  he  came  to  Boston  by  way  of  that  Province.  His  residence  in  this 
Town  wa$  in  Winter-street.  Ilis  son,  Andrew  Le  Mcrcier,  Jr.,  resided 
there  also,  in  the  house  with  his  father,  as  late  as  1744.  Previous  to 
his  death,  which  was  in  17G4,*  Mr.  Le  Mcrcier  the  elder  resided  in  Dor- 
chester. 

During  the  great  religious  excitement  produced  by  the  visit  of  Mr. 
Whitefield  to  New  England,  a  considerable  number  of  persons,  belong- 
ing to  Churches  in  Boston  which  opposed  that  gentleman's  course,  sepa- 
rated from  those  Churches  ;  and  that  they  might  not  only  have  "  better 
edification,"  but  that,  "  being  professed  friends  of  the  present  Refor- 
mation, they  might  have  a  pulpit  open  to  receive  Mr.  Whitefield,"  pur- 
chased the  French  Church  of  its  proprietors,!  and  soon  after  installed 
the  Rev.  Andrew  Croswell,  of  Groton,  in  Connecticut,  as  their  Pastor.  J 

Mr.  Croswell  having  died  in  1785,  the  house  was  next  used  as  a 
Roman  Catholic  Chapel,  and  Mass  was  performed  in  it  for  the  first  time 
on  the  second  of  Nov.  1788.  Such  are  the  outlines  of  the  history  of 
the  French  Protestant  Church  from  its  rise  to  its  final  dispersion.  Few 
of  those  who  established  it  could  have  thought  that  a  branch  of  that 
power,  from  which  they  had  fled  their  native  land  upon  pain  of  death, 
would  so  soon  flourish  on  a  spot  which  they  had  chosen  for  a  place  of 
refuge.  § 

At  the  time  the  late  Revolution  was  in  progress,  and  immediately  after 
it,  pirates  were  committing  depredations  upon  the  coast  of  New  England. 

Proclamations,  '  the  love  of  money,  which  is  Wm.  Bowdoin  and  Andrew  Sigourney,  propri- 

the  root  of  all  evil,'  is  so  deeply  rooted  in  the  etors  of  said  Church,   made  over  their  right 

hearts  of  some  fishermen,  that  they  have  sun-  and  interest  in  it  to  Thos.  Fillebrown,  James 

dry  times  stole  our  cattle  and  our  goods  ;  re-  Davenport,  Wm.    Hickling,  Nathl.    Proctor, 

garding  neither  the  laws  of  God  nor  man,"  &c.  and   Thos.  Handyside   Peck,  trustees  for  the 

In  this  advertisement  he  offered  a  reward  of  New  Congregational  Church,  whereof  Mr.  An- 

£40  for  the  discovery  of  the  wretches,  "  but  to  drew  Croswell  is  Pastor,  for  the  sum  of  £3000 

forgive  the  offenders  if  they  make  known  their  old  tenor,   for  the  sole  use  of  a  Protestant 

accomplices  to  Capt.  John  Gorham  of  Casco  Church,  from  henceforth  and  forever."  —  Dr. 

Bay,  or  to  me."  A.  Holmes, in2  Colls.  Mass.  H.  Soc. ,ii.  63.  The 

*  "  Saturday  last,  departed  this  life  in  the  house  stood  on  the  lot  next  east  of  the  Univer- 

72  year  of  his  age,  Mr.  Andrew  Le  Mercier,  sal  Meeting-house.  —  Snow,  201. 
formerly  Pastor    of   the    French    Protestant       J  Mr.  Croswell  was  installed  6  Oct.  1748. 

Church  in  this  Town .  His  Remains  are  to  be  in-  He  had  been  a  preacher  at   Groton  in  Con. 

terred  from  Deacon  Wait's  in  Queen  Street,  to-  The  day  previous  had  been  set  for  the  purpose, 

morrow  afternoon." — Boston  Gazette,  2  April,  but  a  sort  of  remonstrative  injunction  from  the 

1764.    He  had  a  wife  Margaret.  The  births  of  Old  South  Church  occasioned  a  delay  of  one 

five  of  his  children  are  found  on  the  Boston  Rec-  day.  —  Rev.  Mr.  Croswell's  Narrative,  p.  7,9. 

ords  —  James,  17  June  1720;    Margaret,  10  — The  Church  was  formed  on  the   17   Feb. 

Dec.  1721;    Peter,  7  Aug.  1723;    Zechariah  1747-8.  —  Ibid.  p.  3. 

Andrew,  24th  Oct.  1724  ;  Jane,  6  May,  1726  ;        §  The  Records  of  the  French   Church  are 

Stephen  Bartholomew,  4  Dec.  1727. —  The  will  supposed  to  be  in  existence,  but  their  possessor 

of  Mr.  Le  Mercier  was  dated,  Dorchester,  7  is  unknown.     The   Great  Bible  used   in  the 

Nov.  1761,  proved   15  June,  1764.  —  Memo-  Church,   is,   or  was  recently,  in  the  hands  of 

randa  furnished  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Trask.  George  Livermore,  Esq.  It  was  a  present  from 

f  The  deed  of  the  purchase  is  dated  7  May,  Queen  Anne.     Many  curious  facts  were  col- 

1748.  "  Stephen  Botineau,  the  only  surviving  lected  by  L.  M.  Sargent,  Esq.,  about  members 

Elder  of  the  said  French  Church,  Andrew  Le  of  the  French  Society,  and  published  in   the 

Mercier,    Clerk,    Minister    of   said    Church,  Daily  Transcript,  Jan.  28,  Feb.  22,  March    1, 

Zechariah    Johonnot,    John    Arnault,    John  and  March  8th,  1851.     These   facts  may  be 

Brown,   Andrew    Johonnot,  Jas.   Packenett,  interesting  to  descendants  of  the  Huguenots. 

62 


490  CAPTURE    OF   PIRATES.  [1689. 

They  were  perhaps  encouraged  to  pursue  that  kind  of  lawless  adven- 
ture, considering,  probably,  that  the  Governments  both  in  Old  and  New 
England  were  in  too  distracted  a  state  to  be  able  to  call  thein  to 
account.  One  Thomas  Hawkins,  of  Boston,  with  a  small  crew 
of  desperate  young  men,  boarded  the  ketch  Mary,  of  Salem,  of 
which  Hellen  Chard  was  master,  and  forcibly  robbed  it  of  goods  to  the 
amount  of  sixty  pounds.  The  ketch  was  loaded  principally  with  fish, 
and  the  place  of  the  robbery  was  about  three  leagues  from  Halfway 
Rock,  in  the  Massachusetts'  Bay.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  violence 
was  offered  to  the  crew,  further  than  was  necessary  to  effect  the  object 
of  plunder.  Hawkins  was  indicted  of  piracy  by  the  Grand  Jury,  and 
the  Trial  Jury  brought  him  in  guilty  accordingly.  He  was  sentenced 
to  be  hanged  on  Monday,  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  following.* 
At  the  same  term,  nine  others  were  convicted  of  piracy  and 
murder,  and  were  all  executed  with  Hawkins.  The  principal 
of  these  was  Thomas  Ponnd. j  The  armed  sloop  Mary,  of  Boston,  sailed 
in  quest  of  Hawkins  and  Ponnd,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Samuel 
Pease,  of  Salem.  J  He  discovered  the  latter  at  Tarpaulin  Cove,  in  a 
small  vessel  well  manned  and  armed.  On  coming  up  to  him,  Captain 
Pease  ordered  him  to  strike,  but  Ponnd,  with  his  sword  drawn,  and 
standing  upon  the  quarter  deck,  flourished  it  in  defiance,  and  ordered 
his  men  to  fire  upon  the  Mary.  They  did  so,  and  a  smart  skirmish 
ensued,  in  which  Captain  Pease  was  mortally  wounded.  Ponnd  and 
his  party  were  at  length  overpowered  and  taken.  In  his  indictment  it 
was  set  forth  that  he,  "  being  under  a  red  flag  at  the  head  of  the  mast, 
purposely,  and  in  defiance  of  their  Majesties'  authority,  had  wilfully, 
and  with  malice  aforethought,  committed  murder  and  piracy  upon  the 
high  seas,  being  instigated  thereunto  by  the  Devil."  § 

One  Edward  Browne  was  found  in  Ponnd' s  company,  and  was  ar- 
raigned with  the  rest,  but  it  was  proved  by  the  pirates  themselves  that 
he  had  been  forced  into  their  service,  and  was  detained  among  them 
against  his  will,  and  was  therefore  acquitted. 

Soon  after  the  depredations  above  detailed,  another  piratical  crew 

*  The  Court  was  thus  constituted  :  —  Thorn-  Downe.     All  the  above  names  are  spelled  as 

as  Danforth,  Esq.,  Deputy  Governor,  presided  they  stand  upon  the  records  made  at  the  time, 

as  Chief  Justice,  and  James  Russell,  Samuel  f  The  evidence  against  Ponnd    is  printed 

Appleton,    John    Hathorne,   Samuel    Sewall,  from  the  original  minutes  in  the  Gen.  Reg., 

John  Smith,  John  Richards,  William  Johnson,  ii.  393. 

Elisha  Hutchinson,  John  Phillips,  and  Jere-  J  What  number  of  men  he  had  is  not  stated, 

miah  Swayne,  Esquires,  as  Judges.    The  Grand  Only  four  testified  at  the  trial,  who  said  they 

Jury  was  composed  of  Mr.  Bernard  Trott,  fore-  were  "  of  the  company  late  belonging  to  the 

man,  Moses  Paine,  Thomas  Harwood,  Arthur  sloop  Mary,  Capt.  Samuel  Pease  commander." 

Mason,  John  Marion,  Sen.,  John  Capen,  Isaac  Their    names  were,  Benj.    Gallop,   Abraham 

Jones,  Robert  Pierpont,  William  Garey,  Rich-  Adams,  Colbnrn  Turell,  and  Daniel  Langley. 

ard  Louden,  Henry  Spring,  John  Alden,  Sen.,  §  Records  in  the  Clerk's   Office,  S.  J.  Court. 

Richard  Buckley,  Samuel  Lynde,  Ephraim  Sale.  Those   concerned  with   Ponnd,   and   executed 

The  Trial   Jury  consisted  of  Elizur   Holyoke,.  with  him,  were  Thomas  Johnson,  Eleazer  Buck, 

foreman,   Jacob    Melyne,    Isaia   Tay,   Joseph  John  Sicklerdam,  William  Dun,  Richard  Grif- 

Griggs,   Samuel   Craft,  James   Bird,   Samuell  fin  of  Boston,  gunsmith,  Daniel  Lander,  Wm. 

Hasting,   Joseph  Weekes,   Edward  Winchip,  Warren,  and   Samuel  Watts.     The  place  of 

Wm.  Welsteed,  Sen.,  Benjamin  Garfield,  Tho.  residence  of  Griffin  only  is  given. 


1G90.]  FAILURE    OF    CANADA    EXPEDITION. PAPER    MONEY.  401 

took  the  ketch  Elinor,  of  Boston,  William  Shortriggs  master. 
They  were   charged   only  with  piracy,   but   piracy,   however 
small,  was  visited  with  death,  and  four  individuals  were  hanged  as  the 
perpetrators. 

The  year  1G90  is  remarkable  for  Sir  William  Phips'  ex- 
pedition against  Canada.  Forces  were  collected  at  Boston, 
whence  they  sailed  upon  that  design,  to  the  number  of  about  2000 
men,  in  "  between  thirty  and  forty"  transports  and  small  men-of-war. 
The  largest  vessel  was  a  frigate  of  forty-four  guns.  The  design  utterly 
„  r  ,„  failed,  and  Sir  William  returned  to  Boston  in  November, 
having  lost  by  the  enemy  and  sickness  near  300  men.  The 
fleet,  upon  its  return  voyage,  was  dispersed  in  storms ;  two  or  three  of  the 
vessels  were  never  heard  of  after  ;  one  was  lost  on  Anticosti,  and  some 
were  blown  off  to  the  West  Indies.  The  small-pox,*  which  prevailed 
in  the  Town  before  the  forces  sailed,  spread  into  the  fleet,  and  on  the 
return  of  the  fleet  many  died  of  the  camp  disease,  and  spread  the 
infection  among  the  inhabitants.! 

These  were  not  all  the  calamities  brought  about  by  the  failure  of  the 
Canadian  expedition  of  this  year.  No  preparation  was  made  by  the 
Government  for  paying  the  soldiers,  most  culpably  relying  upon  the 
plunder  to  be  taken  from  the  enemy  for  that  purpose.  There  being  no 
money  in  the  treasury,  and  no  time  to  raise  it  by  a  levy  upon  the 
Country,  a  mutiny  was  feared  among  the  suffering  troops.  To  avert 
this,  resort  was  had  to  Paper  Money,  then  called  Bills  of  Credit.  This 
was  the  first  introduction  of  a  paper  currency  into  New  England.  It 
was  an  experiment,  a  new  expedient,  and  of  course  the  people  were 
slow  in  giving  it  currency.  It  turned  out  like  other  issues  of  Bills  of 
Credit  of  a  later  period ;  the  holders  eventually  lost  large  sums  by  their 
depreciation.  J 

*  In  a  private  letter,  dated  Aug.  5th,  1690,  sole  executor,  and  to  have  his  present  dwelling- 

to  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  of  Plymouth,  from  house,   with   the   land   and   wharf   belonging 

his  son,  he  says,  "  The  small-pox  is  as  bad  as  thereto,  the  garden  and  land  on  the  southerly 

ever;  printer  Green  died  of  it  in  three  days,  side  thereof  to  be  laid  out  thence  to  Milk  Street ; 

his  wife  also  is  dead  of  it."     This  was  the  end  also  £3000.     To  dau.  Sarah  Chancey,  widow, 

of  Mr.  Samuel  Green,  so  favorably  spoken  of  the  land  and  tenement  in   the  occupation  of 

by  Mr.  John   Dunton,  and  before  detailed ;  Capt.  Nathl.  Oliver,  and  £200.     To  his  two 

and  of  his  wife,  of  surpassing  excellence,  ac-  other  daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Lydia  Walley, 

cording  to  the  same  author.  —  See  Thomas,  £1500  each,  when  of  lawful  age.     These  were 

Hist.  Printing,  i.  280-2.  all   his   children.     Major  Walley's    residence 

f  Major  John  Walley,  of  Boston,  commanded  was  in  Water  Street.     In  1755,  John  Walley, 

the  land  forces  in  that  expedition,  and  bore  Esq.,  the  only  son  of  the  Major,  was  dead,  and 

his  share  of  the  blame  for  its  miscarriage.     He  the  spacious  mansion,  "  containing  upwards  of 

was  a  member  of  the  Artillery  Company,  and  20   rooms,"  was   advertised   for   sale.     Major 

its  Captain  in  1679  ;  one  of  Sir  Edmund  An-  Walley's   brother,  Thomas,  died   before  him. 

dros'   Council,  a  Councillor   under   the   New  Several  MS.  letters,  written  by  early  members 

Charter,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  of  Major  Walley's  family,  are  in  possession  of 

His  Journal  of  the  Canada  campaign  may  be  the  Author. 

seen  in  the  first  volume  of  Gov.  Hutchinson's  J  A  Bill  of  the  issue  of  1690,  a  specimen  of 

Hist.  Mass.     He  was  among  the  founders  of  which  is  now  before  me,  reads  :  —  "  N°.  (916) 

Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  died  in  Boston,   11  Jan.,  20s.   This  indented  Bill  of  Twenty  Shillings  due 

1712,  aged  68.     His  will  is  dated  4  Jan.,  1711  from  the  Massachusets   Colony  to  the  Possessor 

[1711-12] ;  the  inventory  of  his  estate,  14  Mar.,  shall  be  in  value  ecpial  to  money,  and  shall  be 

1712-13  ;  amount,  £9061  lis.  5d.     Son  John  accordingly  accepted  by  the  Treasurer  and  Re^ 


492  BIRTH-PLA.CE    OF    FRANKLIN.  [1691. 

Besides  the  disasters  to  Boston  this  year,  already  mentioned, 
s"  '  there  was  a  very  extensive  fire.  It  broke  out  on  Saturday 
evening,  "consuming  about  fourteen  houses,  besides  warehouses  and 
brue  houses  ;  from  the  Mill  Bridgh  down  half  way  to  the  Draw 
Bridgh."  * 
„     ,„        In  Town-meeting;  it  was  voted  that  the  eleven  o'clock  bell, 

Mar   10 

which  had  formerly  been  rung  at  the  charge  of  the  Town, 
should  now  be  discontinued  ;  voted  also  "  that  Muddy  River  inhabitants 
are  not  discharged  from  Bostone  to  be  a  hamlett  by  themselves,  but  to 
stand  related  to  it  as  they  were  before  the  year  1686."  f 

At   a   Town-meeting,    Mr.  Theophilus   Frarie   was   chosen 

Moderator.  The  Selectmen  were,  Mr.  Thomas  Walker,  Mr. 
John  Joyliffe,  Capt,  Bezoone  Allen,  Mr.  John  Foster,  Capt.  Timothy 
Prout,  Mr.  Obediah  Grill,  Capt.  Penn  Townsend,  Capt.  Jeremiah  Dum- 
mer,  and  Mr.  John  Mirrian.     Mr.  James  Taylor  was  Treasurer,  and 

Mr.  Joyliffe  Recorder.     Deputies  to  the  General  Court  chosen 

were  Capt.  Penn  Townsend,  Capt.  Theophilus  Frarie,  Capt. 
Timothy  Prout,  and  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop. 

From  the  large  number  of  officers  appointed  to  oversee  and 

regulate  the  cording  of  wood,  the  business  must  have  been 
very  extensive  at  this  period.  This  year  they  were  Lawrence  White, 
Henry  Adams,  Samuel  Davis,  Percie  Clarke,  Daniel  Fairefield,  Wm. 
Ridghill,  Fearnot  Shaw,  John  Tuckerman,  Sen.,  Stephen  Swazie,  John 
Alisett,  Robt.  Noakes,  Wm.  Kine,  Goodman  Honywell,  John  Tucker- 
man, Jun.,  James  Mericke,  and  Wm.  Dyer. 
.  The  Town   granted  liberty  to  Josiah   Franklin  to  erect  a 

building  of  eight  foot  square  upon  the  land  belonging  to  Lieut. 
Nathaniel  Reynolds,  near  the  south  meeting-house.  This  was  the 
father  of  Doctor  Benjamin  Franklin,|  and  on  this  spot  the  world- 
renowned  philosopher  is  said  to  have  been  born. 

ceivers  subordinate  to  him  in  all  Publick  pay-  his  goeinge  about  the  Towne  at  least  once  a 

mts  ;   and  for  any  Stock  at  any  time  in  the  month  or  oftner,  as  may  be  occasion,  to  inquire 

Treasury.     Boston  in  New-England,  February  after  the  New  Comers  into  the  Towne,  and  in- 

the  third,  1690.   By  order  of  the  General  Court,  form  the  Select-men  at  theire  monthlie  meet- 

Elisha  Hutchinson,  John  Walley,  Tim  Thorn-  inges  ;  for  which  he  is  to  be  paid  12  lb.  for  one 

ton,   CofSitee."     The  "  Coinitee "   were  the  year." 

signers  of  the  Bills.  They  were  struck  from  Deputies  to  the  General  Court  were,  Capt. 
an  engraved  plate,  upon  pieces  of  paper  nearly  Penn  Townsend,  Dr.  John  Clarke,  Capt.  Tim- 
square,  about  5|  inches  from  top  to  bottom,  othy  Prout,  Capt.  Theophilus  Frarie.  Chosen, 
and  about  five  inches  wide.  In  the  left  hand  April  2d.  July  18,  the  General  Court  order 
corner,  at  the  foot,  was  the  Colony  seal,  a  trifle  the  Selectmen  "  to  take  care  that  the  house  in 
smaller  than  that  given  on  page  472.  the  Fort  on  the  hill  be  provided  for  entertain- 

*  Original   Letter,   cited   in  Thomas'  Hist,  ing  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  and  seamen." 

Printing,  i.  282.  J  On  the  spot  now  covered  by  Messrs.  Mason 

f  Mar.  11th,  Mr.  Eichd.  Midlecot  is  chosen  &  Lawrence's  mercantile  house.     But  Franklin 

Treasurer,  and   Mr.  John   Joyliffe,  Recorder,  himself  told  Mrs.  Hannah  M.  Crocker,  as  she 

Mar.  17th.  —  "  Agreed  that  Robert  Williams  told  me  in  1828,  that  he  was  born  at  the  sign 

shall  continue  as  formerlie  to  warne  the  Towne-  of  the  Blue  Ball,  on  the  corner  of  Union  and 

meetings  vpon  occasion,  to  ringe   the  bell   at  Hanover  streets,  where  his  father  then  lived 

Five  of  the  clock  in  ye  morning,  Exchange  bell  and  carried  on  his  business.  —  MS.  minutes  of 

at  eleaven  and  at  nine  in  the  night ;  and  car-  a  conversation  with  Mrs.  H.  M.  Crocker.     It  is 

fullie  looke  after  and  keepe  the  Towne-clocke  only  necessary  to  show  that  Josiah  Franklin 

in  the  Old  Meeting-house.     To  which  is  added  removed  from  Milk  street  before  the  date  of 


1092.]  WITCHCRAFT.  493 

Mr.  Francis  Hudson,  having  held  for  some  time  a  lease  of  the  ferry 
to  Wincsemet,  relinquished  it,  and  it  was  let  to  Samuel  Hudson  and 
John  Scolly  for  one  year. 

The  Deputies  to  the  General  Court  were  the  same  from  Boston  this 

year  as  last.     The  Overseers  of  the  poor,  "  chosen  by  paper  votes," 

were  Mr.  Samuel  Lynd,  Lieut.  Samuel  Chcckley,  Mr.  Edmond  Browne, 

and  Mr.  William  Robie.     The  Selectmen  chose  Joseph  Bridg- 

ham,  Recorder.*     Major  Elisha  Hutchinson  was  chosen  Com- 

Jgpy        missioner,  but  he  "  being  called  to  the  Eastward,"  Mr.  James 

'     '      Tayler  was  chosen  in  his  stead. f 

About  this  time  a  deep  melancholy  pervaded  the  whole  community, 
some  gentlemen  having  returned  to  Boston  from  the  West  Indies, 
where  they  had  escaped  being  swallowed  up  by  one  of  the  most  stupen- 
dous earthquakes  upon  record.  They  were  at  Port  Royal,  in  Jamaica, 
and  witnessed  the  dreadful  ruin  which  came  upon  that  city.  Nine- 
tenths  of  it  was  buried  beneath  the  sea,  in  which  above  2000  people 
perished,  and  a  much  greater  number  upon  the  island  fell  victims  to 
the  pestilence  which  followed  it.  The  gentlemen  who  brought  the 
intelligence  were  William  Harris,  Esq.,  William  Welsteed,  Esq.,  Thomas 
Steel,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  William  Turner.  J 

The  witchcraft  delusion  of  former  ages  has  become  a  by-word,  since 
superstition  has  been  so  far  subdued  that  laws  among  enlightened 
people  recognize  no  such  crime  ;  and  a  belief  in  its  existence  has 
become  an  object  of  ridicule  among  many.  And  yet  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  there  was  something  manifested  in  those  times  never 
fathomed  by  the  keenest  intellectual  powers  which  have  ever  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  it.  Among  a  great  amount  of  deceptions  and 
falsehoods,  there  wTas,  nevertheless,  an  unexplained,  and  perhaps  unex- 
plainable,  mystery,  as  far  beyond  human  comprehension  as  the  mystery 
of  life  itself.  That  such  mystery  is  near  akin  to  the  "spiritual  mani- 
festations" of  the  present  day  may  be  very  possible,  and  a  time  may 
come  when  to  ridicule  these  may  be  as  strong  an  indication  of  ignorance 
as  a  belief  in  them  in  other  days. 

The  testimonies  which  are  adduced  for  many  things,  and  by  a  multi- 
tude of  witnesses,  against  whose  integrity  none  ever  whispered  aught, 
have  confounded  many  unbelievers,  and  overwhelmed  others  of  strong 
and  clear  minds.  § 

Benjamin's  birth.     Mr.  Sparks  appears  to  have        §  In  the  case  of  Margaret  Rule,  the  witnesses 

satisfied  himself  that  he  did  not  remove  until  testified  that  she  was  "  lifted  up  from  her  bed, 

after  Jan.  6th,  1706,  the  date  of  the  Doctor's  wholly  by   an   invisible    force,   a  great   way 

birth.     Mrs.  Crocker  may  have  misunderstood  towards  the  top  of  the  room  where  she  lay, 

Franklin,  or  may  have  misremembered.  having  no  assistance  even  from  her  own  arms 

*  He  fell  much  short  of  Mr.  JoylifFe  in  spell-  or  hands  ;  and  that,  when  so  lifted  up,  a  strong 

ing.  person  could  not  pull  her  down,  nor  could  the 

f  The  Commissioner  was  chosen  "  to  joyne  weight  of  others  upon  her  prevent  her  from 

with   the   Select-men  in  order  to  mackeing  a  ascending  up."     The  following  named  persons 

valluation  of  each  man's  estate  and  the  number  were  witnesses  of  the  facts  stated,  viz.  Samuel 

of  the  heads."  Aves,   Robert   Earle,   John   Wilkins,    Daniel 

J  Sewall,  N.  Heaven,  &c,  38-9.     Holmes,  "Williams,    Thomas    Thornton,    and  William 

Annals,  i.  445.  Hudson. 


494  WITCHCRAFT.  [1689. 

No  period  in  the  history  of  New  England  possesses  such  an  extraor- 
dinary interest  as  that  of  the  prosecutions  for  witchcraft.  Nor  are 
there  any  events,  the  details  of  which  cause  such  sorrows,  such  regrets, 
and  such  humiliating  reflections,  as  the  sufferings  of  that  period  must 
call  forth  in  every  mind,  however  indifferent  they  may  be  to  other 
distressing  details.  Nor  can  the  consideration  essentially  alleviate  the 
anguish,  that  witchcraft  did  not  originate  in  New  England,  —  that  a 
belief  in  its  existence  was  coeval  with  the  remotest  records  of  the 
world,  —  that  the  most  wise  and  learned  of  the  Judges  of  England 
fully  believed  in  it,  and  up  to  the  time  of  its  appearance  in  New  Eng- 
land were  sentencing  those  accused  of  it  to  be  put  to  death,  in  great 
numbers.  At  the  period  now  under  consideration,  few  could  be  found 
who  had  the  hardihood  to  deny  the  existence  of  witchcraft.  Such 
were  infidels,  in  the  most  objectionable  sense  of  the  term,  and  were  in 
danger  of  personal  violence  in  their  own  society.  To  deny  its  existence 
was  to  deny  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible  ;  for  nothing  was  more  plainly 
set  forth  in  that  volume,  than  that  witchcraft  existed  among  mankind. 

It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  with  the  belief  in  such  a  supernatural 
agency,  and  the  law  of  God  before  them,  —  "  Thou  shalt  not  suffer  a 
witch  to  live,"  —  that  prosecutions  for  such  a  crime  should  take  place. 
Laws  were  made  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  and  a 
law  once  made  must  be  enforced,  or  all  laws  would  soon  be  disregarded. 
Then,  however,  as  now,  there  were  a  few  minds  in  advance  of  their 
age,  who,  although  they  did  not  deny  that  there  was  such  a  thing  as 
witchcraft,  had  the  prudence  to  counteract  the  prosecutions  against  it 
as  much  as  was  consistent  with  their  own  personal  safety.* 

Among  the  many  remarkable  things  connected  with  the  trials  for 
witchcraft,  it  is  necessary  to  consider  the  following  :  the  proceedings 
of  the  Court  with  regard  to  the  evidence  ;  that  is,  the  inconsistency 
practised  in  receiving  the  evidence  of  certain  witnesses.  The  persons 
complaining  of  being  afflicted  by  witches,  being  brought  into  Court, 
testified  as  to  who  tormented  them.  Then  the  evidence  of  those  pro- 
fessing themselves  to  be  witches  was  taken  against  the  accused.     This 

*  A  case  of  witchcraft  was  tried  before  the  woman  was  brought  before  him,  charged  with 

founder   of    Pennsylvania.     It   is    not    stated  being  a  witch.     The  principal  evidence  went 

whether  he  believed  in  the  capability  of  mor-  to  prove  that  she  had  ridden  through  the  air 

tals  to  commit  such  a  crime  or  not,  but  certain  upon   a  broomstick.     She  was   asked   by  the 

it  is  he  got  over  the  case  in  the  following  in-  Judge  if  what  was  alleged  against  her  were 

genious  way.     The  evidence  having  been  gone  true.     The   poor   woman,   thinking,  perhaps, 

through  with,  Gov.  Penn  so  charged  the  jury  that  she  had  unconsciously  so  ridden,  because 

that   they   found    they   were   to   decide   only  the  testimony  was  so  strong  to  the  point,  con- 

whether  the  accused  was  suspected  of  witchcraft  fessed  that  she  had  done- so.    The  Judge  seemed 

or  not!     Their  verdict  was  in  accordance  with  to  have  been  prepared  for  the  confession,  and 

the  charging ;  namely,  that  the  accused  was  delivered  his  judgment  to  this  effect :  —  That 

"guilty  of  having  the  common  fame  of  a  witch,  the  prisoner  was  free  to  go  where  she  pleased, 

but   not  guilty  in  the  manner  and  form  she  and  to  ride  broomsticks  as  often  as  she  pleased, 

stands  indicted."  —  Watson,  Annals  Phila.,  i.  for  he  knew  of  no  law  against  it!     This,  was 

265.  probably   at   a   much  later   period  than  that 

It  is  related  of  a  certain  English  Judge,  that  now  treated  of.     Few  Judges  would  have   so 

on  one  occasion  a  poor,  old,   superannuated  decided  before  1700. 


1GS7-8.] 


WITCHCRAFT. 


495 


led  a  worthy  gentleman*  of  the  time  to  observe,  that  such  proceeding 
was  "  a  thing  never  heard  of  in  this  world  ;  that  such  as  confess  them- 
selves to  be  witches,  to  have  renounced  God  and  all  that  is  sacred, 
should  yet  be  allowed  and  ordered  to  swear  in  the  name  of  the  great 
God !  "  f  And  though  this  glaring  absurdity  was  seen  and  detected  by 
some  in  that  age,  one  equally  glaring  and  absurd  is  practised  in  the 
courts  of  law  at  this  day.  J 


CHAPTER    LII. 

Witchcraft  of  1692  continued.  —  Case  of  the  Goodwin  Family.  —  Of  Mr.  Parris.  ■ —  Sir  William  Phips, 
Governor.  —  Joins  the  Crusade  against  Witchcraft.  —  Case  of  Capt.  John  Alden.  —  Other  Cases.  — 
Names  of  those  executed.  —  Persons  of  high  consideration  accused.  —  Mary  Watkins.  —  Prosecu- 
tions cease.  —  Town  Affairs.  —  Slaughter-houses  regulated.  — ■  Thomas  Chalkley  in  Boston.  —  Society 
of  Quakers.  —  Build  the  first  brick  Meeting-house. — Another  Canada  Expedition  disastrous. — 
Fleet  of  Sir  Francis  Wheeler.  —  Troubles  of  Sir  William  Phips.  — Returns  to  England.  —  His  Death. 
—  Death  of  the  Queen.  —  Order  to  collect  the  Town  Records.  — About  Trees  at  Wheeler's  Point.  — 
Agitation  about  Marriage  of  Relatives. 


THE  witchcraft  of  1692  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as 
belonging  exclusively  to  Salem.  That  is  far  from  the 
truth.  Boston  has  a  share  in  the  history  of  that  unfor- 
tunate delusion ;  and  not  only  Boston,  but  the  country  in 
„  general.  About  four  years  before  its  appearance 
'  in  Salem,  there  were  several  cases  in  Boston. 
"  Four  of  the  children  of  John  Goodwin,  a  grave  man 
and  a  good  liver,  at  the  north  part  of  the  Town,  were 
generally  believed  to  be  bewitched."  ||  Fifty  years 
after  these  cases,  Mr.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  the  historian,  says  he  often 
heard  persons  of  the  neighborhood  speak  of  the  great  consternation  they 
occasioned.  The  children  supposed  to  be  bewitched  "  were  all  remark- 
able for  ingenuity  of  temper,  had  been  religiously  educated,  and  were 


QTTINCY 


*  Mr.  Thomas  Brattle,  who  left  a  paper  up- 
on the  witch  delusion  of  1692,  full  of  good 
sense  and  instruction.  It  has  been  printed  in 
Mass.  Hist.  Colls.,  v.  61-80. 

f  Brattle,  lb., -p.  67. 

j  Persons  of  strict  integrity,  honor  and  hon- 
esty have  been  denied  the  right  to  testify  in 
causes,  from  the  very  fact  of  their  being  truly 
honest  and  truthful  !  That  is  to  say,  persons 
who  do  not  believe  in  certain  received  opin- 
ions, cannot  be  allowed  to  testify  because 
they  so  believe ;  and  being  questioned,  honestly 
confess  that  such  is  their  belief!  While  an- 
other, full  of  deceit  and  guile,  swears  to  a  lie, 
and  his  oath  is  taken  ! 

§  These  Arms  of  Quincy  are  taken,  so  far  as 
the  Shield  is  concerned,  from  a  very  curious 


publication,  entitled  "  Memoranda  respecting 
the  Families  of  Quincy  and  Adams,"  printed 
at  Havana  in  1841.  But  it  should  be  stated 
that  the  Author  of  the  Memoranda  does  not 
claim  that  the  Arms  given  actually  belonged  to 
the  branch  of  the  Quincy  family  in  New  Eng- 
land. I  alone  am  responsible  for  the  Crest.  It 
explains  itself  to  every  Bostonian  of  the  present 
day.  But,  in  coming  ages,  when  Quincy  Mar- 
ket shall  have  given  way  to  improvements,  or 
been  so  elevated  and  enlarged  as  to  lose  its 
identity,  this  Crest  may  tend  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  its  origin  and  its  Originator. 

||  "  These  were,  in  the  year  1688,  arrested  by 
a  very  stupendous  witchcraft." — Magnalia, 
B.  vi.  71.  See  Rev.  Mr.  Upham's  interesting 
Lectures  on  Witchcraft. 


496  WITCHCRAFT.  [1692. 

thought  to  be  without  guile.  The  eldest  was  a  girl  of  thirteen  or  four- 
teen years.  She  had  charged  a  laundress  with  taking  away  some  of  the 
family  linen.  The  mother  of  the  laundress  was  one  of  the  wild  Irish, 
of  bad  character,  and  gave  the  girl  harsh  language  ;  soon  after  which 
she  fell  into  fits,  which  were  said  to  have  something  diabolical  in  them. 
One  of  her  sisters  and  two  brothers  followed  her  example."  It  ap- 
peared that  these  children  were  afflicted  in  the  same  parts  of  their 
bodies,  at  the  same  time,  though  the  case  of  each  was  unknown  to  the 
others,  who  were  kept  in  separate  apartments,  and  knew  not  the  com- 
plaints of  the  others.  At  least,  such  was  the  report  and  belief  at  the 
time.  Another  remarkable  circumstance  was,  that  all  their  pains  and 
afflictions  happened  in  the  day-time,  and  that  in  the  night  they  were 
not  disturbed.  Another  circumstance  quite  as  remarkable  was  that 
they  were  struck  dumb  at  the  sight  of  certain  good  books,  as  the 
"Assembly's  Catechism,"  "Cotton's  Milk  for  Babes,"  and  others  of 
the  like  kind  ;  while  at  the  appearance  of  the  Common  Prayer,  Popish 
and  Quaker  books,  they  were  pleased,  and  could  read  in  them  without 
difficulty.  Sometimes  they  appeared  deaf,  sometimes  blind,  and  then 
dumb  ;  and  again  they  would  have  all  these  afflictions  together.  Their 
tongues  would  disappear  from  their  mouths,  and  at  another  time  would 
hang  out  of  them  to  an  unnatural  length.  Then  their  joints  would  be 
dislocated,  and  they  would  make  mournful  complaints  of  being  burnt 
and  cut  in  pieces  ;  and  wounds  were  said  to  have  been  apparent  after- 
wards. At  length  the  Ministers  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  kept  a  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  ;  whereupon  the  youngest  child  was  relieved,  but 
the  others  continued  in  their  afflictions.  The  magistrates  interposed, 
the  old  mother  of  the  laundress  was  apprehended,  and,  perhaps  from 
consternation,  would  neither  confess  nor  deny  the  charges  brought 
against  her.  Physicians  pronounced  her  to  be  of  sane  mind,  and  she 
was  condemned  and  executed,  declaring  she  could  not  relieve  those 
afflicted.* 

*  I  am  aware  that  Hutchinson  says  that  vine,  in  writing  afterwards  to  Mr.  Increase 

"  the  old  woman  would  neither  confess  nor  Mather  respecting  the  transactions  of  1692, 

deny,"  and  that  "  she  was  executed,  declaring  says,  "  All  that  I  speak  with  much  wonder  that 

the  children  should  not  be  relieved."    He  adds,  any  man,  much  less  a  man  of  such  abilities, 

"  some  things  are  mentioned  as  extraordinary,  learning  and  experience  as  Mr.   Stoughton, 

which  tumblers  [jugglers]  are  every  day  taught  should  take  up  a  persuasion ,  that   the  devil 

to  perform ;  others  seem  more  than  natural,  cannot  assume  the  likeness  of  an  innocent  to 

But  it  was  a  time  of  great  credulity.     The  afflict  another  person.     In  my  opinion,  it  is  a 

children  returned  to  their  ordinary  behavior,  persuasion  utterly  destitute  of  any  solid  reason 

lived  to  adult  age,  made  profession  of  religion,  to  render  it  so  much  as  possible  ;  and,  besides, 

and  the   affliction  they  had  been  under  they  contradictory  to  many  instances  of  facts  in  his- 

publicly  declared  to  be  one  motive  for  it.     One  tory.     If  you  think  good  you  may  acquaint 

of  them  I  knew  many  years  after,  who  had  the  Mr.  Stoughton  and  the  other  Judges  with  what 

character  of  a  very  sober,  virtuous  woman,  and  I  write." 

never  made  any  acknowledgment  of  fraud  in  Calef  refers  to  this  case  of  witchcraft,  in  the 

this  transaction."     The  famous  Richard  Bax-  following  brief  passage  :  "  In  the  times  of  Sir 

ter  published -an  account  of  the  affair,  with  a  Ed.  Andros  his  government,  Goody  Glover,  a 

preface  by  himself,  in  which  he  has  this  re-  despised,  crazy,  ill-conditioned  old  woman,  an 

mark  :  "  The  evidence  is  so  convincing,  that  Irish  Roman  Catholic,  was  tried  for  afflicting 

he  must  be  a  very  obdurate  Sadducee  who  will  Goodwin's  children  ;  by  the  account  of  which 

not  believe  it."     And  yet  the  same  great  Di-  trial,  taken  in  short-hand,  for  the  use  of  the 


161)2.] 


WITCHCRAFT. 


497 


The  case  of  William  English  has  never  been  circumstantially  pub- 
lished, lie  was  a  merchant,  and,  though  not  an  inhabitant  of*  Boston, 
was  nevertheless  imprisoned  here.* 

From  the  execution  of  "  Goody  Glover"  for  bewitching  the  Goodwin 
children,  to  the  great  commotion  which  broke  out  early  this  year  in 
what  was  then  called  Salem  Village,  now  Danvers,  the  country  cannot 
be  said  to  have  been  entirely  quiet  in  respect  to  witchcraft.  But  to- 
wards the  end  of  February  the  tragedy  was  revived  anew.  It 
1691-2.  begun  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Samuel  Parris,  the  minister  of  Salem 
Village,  and  in  a  few  months  spread  itself  to  the  adjacent  towns, 
implicating  great  numbers  of  persons,  many  of  whom  were  before  pat- 
terns of  virtue  in  all  the  walks  of  life.     And  yet  it  had  its  rise  at  this 


Jury,  it  may  appear  that  the  generality  of  her 
answers  were  nonsense,  and  her  behavior  like 
that  of  one  distracted." — More  Wonders,  &c. 
151,  ed.  4to. 

*  "  Augt.  ye  2cond,  1692.  William  Beale 
of  Marblehead,  aged  upward  of  60  yeares, 
testifieth  and  saith,  that  last  March  past  was 
12  moenth,  towards  the  latter  end  of  the 
moenth,  then  my  self  being  in  the  house  of 
George  Bonfeilds  of  Marblehead,"  &c,  whither 
he  had  gone,  as  he  says,  "  that  I  might  have 
helpe  to  nurse  or  looke  after  mee  because  of  a 
very  greate  and  wracking  paine  had  seized  upp 
on  my  body."  In  this  condition  of  body,  a 
mind  necessarily  sympathizing  therewith,  and 
deeply  imbued  with  the  superstitions  of  the 
age,  it  is  by  no  means  unaccountable  that  Wil- 
liam Beale  should  imagine  that  he  really  saw, 
"  being  broade  awake,  upon  the  iaume  [jamb] 
of  the  chimney,  a  darke  shade  woh  covred  the 
iaume  aforesayed ;  "  and  that  "in  the  mid- 
dllee  of  the  darkness  vppon  the  iaume  "  he 
should  "behold  somethinge  of  the  forme  or 
shape  of  a  man."  Then  he  says,  "I  turned 
my  head  uppon  the  pillow,  and  in  ye  darkness 
aforesayed,  saw  the  plaine  shape  or  else  the 
person  of  Phillip  English  of  Salem,  the  w°h  re- 
ports say  married  with  William  Hollingworth's 
daughter  of  Salem,  according  to  my  best  iudge- 
ment,  knoledge  and  understandinge."  But 
why  Phillip  English  appeared  and  not  some 
old  female,  may  possibly  be  found  in  some  un- 
pleasant occurrence  between  them  at  an  earlier 
day.  The  case  of  English  is  here  cited  chiefly 
to  show  what  kind  of  evidence  was  received  at 
that  time  to  make  out  a  case  of  witchcraft. 
Beale  further  says,  "  As  I  had  formerly  knolege 
and  ackquaintance  with  him  [English]  my 
coniecktures  of  him  and  these  passages  afore- 
sayed were  as  followeth  :  —  What  is  this  man's 
business  heere  now,  or  wch  way  came  hee  hither 
so  soone  this  morneing  ?  By  land  or  water  ? 
Then  laboreing  to  correkt  my  [thoughts]  not  to 
thinke  that  hee  was  a  wich,  and  flyinge  to  our 
omnipotent  Iehovah  for  his  blessing  and  pro- 
tection by  secret  eiaculations,  instantly  the 
roome  aforesayed  became  cleare,  and  y°  shape, 
shade,   or  person  vanished.      And    this  was 

63 


about  the  time  that  news  brought  to  mee  in  y° 
morning  that  my  son  lames  was  very  like  to 
recover  of  the  small  pox  wch  I  left  at  home 
sick ;  and  ye  same  day  in  y°  afternoon  came 
news  that  hee  was  suddenly  strooke  with  a  paine 
on  his  side  and  did  not  expect  to  live  three 
houres.  And  ack  Cording  to  my  Iudgment 
before  three  houres  weere  ended,  newes  came 
that  he  was  departed  this  life ;  at  wch  docktor 
Iackson  wch  was  his  docktor,  and  William 
Dagget  wch  was  his  nurse,  both  of  Marblle 
head  told  me  y*  they  admired  and  wondred. 
And  it  was  not  many  moenths  before  that,  my 
son  George  Beale  departed  this  life  in  ye  same 
house  after  he  was  recovered  of  the  small  pox. 
Hee  deceased  ianuary  ye  23,  before  my  son 
lames  death  aforesayed."  A  modern  Jurist 
would  probably  find  it  difficult  to  see  what 
such  testimony  could  have  to  do  with  Phillip 
English.  However,  he  and  his  wife  Mary 
were,  in  May  following,  imprisoned  in  Boston, 
but  they  escaped  to  N.  York.  They  after- 
wards returned  to  Salem,  where,  as  late  as 
1709,  he  was  endeavoring  to  recover  his  confis- 
cated estate.  —  Original  Deposition,  MSS.  — 
See  also  Felt,  Annals  of  Salem. 

One  of  the  indictments  against  English  runs 
thus  :  ' '  The  Jurors  for  or  Soure  Lord  and  Lady 
the  King  and  Queen  doe  present  that  Phillip 
English  of  Salem,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  mer- 
chant, vpon  the  31st  day  of  May,  in  the  year 
aforesaid,  1692,  and  divers  other  dayes  and 
times  as  well  before  as  fafter,  certaine  detesta- 
ble arts  called  witchcraft,  and  sorceries,  wick- 
edly, mallistiously  and  felloniously  hath  vsed, 
practiced  and  exercised,  at  and  in  the  towne 
of  Salem  in  the  county  of  Essex  aforesaid,  in, 
vpon  and  against  one  Mary  Wallcott  of  Salem 
aforesaid,  single  woman.  By  said  acts  the  said 
Mary  Wallcott  ya  day  and  year  aforesaid  and 
divers  other  dayes  and  times  both  before  and 
after,  was  and  is  tortured,  afflicted,  consumed, 
pined,  wasted  and  tormented;  against  the 
peace  and  of  or  Sour  Lord  and  Lady  the  King 
and  Queen,  their  Crowne  and  dignity,  and  the 
lawes  in  that  case  made  and  provided."  En- 
dorsed, "  Ignoramus.  Robert  Payne,  foreman." 
^Orig.  MS. 


498 


WITCHCRAFT. 


[1692. 


time  among  some  of  the  most  ignorant  persons  in  the  village,  who  hap- 
pened to  belong  to  the  family  of  Mr.  Parris.* 

Early  in  the  following  month,  Mr.  Parris  invited  several  of 
the  neighboring  ministers  to  join  with  him  in  keeping  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  at  his  house,  and  soon  after  Mr.  Deodat  Lawson 
preached  a  sermon  at  Salem  Village,  "being  Lecture  day  there, 
and  a  time  of  public  examination  of  some  suspected  for  witch- 
craft, "f     Thus  prayers  and  sermons  were  resorted  to,  with  the  hope 
that  they  might  succeed  "  against  the  malicious  and  accursed  opera- 
tions of  Satan  and  his  instruments."     But  all  to  no  purpose.     The 
delusion  spread  like  the  flames  among  the  dry  leaves  of  autumn.     In  a 
short  time  the  jails  in  Boston  and  Salem  were  filled  with  the  accused. 
At  length  it  wTas  foreseen,  by  many,  that  their  own  safety  depended  upon 
their  becoming  accusers  themselves.     And  thus  the  number  of  afflicted 
persons  wonderfully  increased ;   and  it  was  apparent  that  there  would 
soon  be  no  witches,  except  those  who  had  not  joined  in  the   cry  against 
somebody  in  sufficient  season  to  escape  by  that  wile. 

Meantime  Sir  William  Phips  arrived  in  Boston  J  from  Eng- 
"  ay  '  land,  bringing  with  him  the  new  Charter  of  the  Province, 
granted  by  William  and  Mary,  and  a  Commission  constituting  him  Gov- 
ernor of  the  same.     Unfortunately  the  new  Governor  fell  in  with  the 


*  An  Indian  man  and  an  Indian  woman, 
concerning  whom  particulars  will  be  found  in 
Calef  s  and  other  accounts.  Their  names  were 
John  and  Tituba  or  Tittube.  The  latter  was 
accused  of  afflicting,  by  witchcraft,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  Parris,  and  two  other  girls.  Her  ex- 
amination before  Justice  Corwin  is  extant  in 
his  own  autograph,  now  before  me.  At  first 
her  answers  were  direct  and  simple,  plainly  de- 
nying all  knowledge  of  what  she  was  accused ; 
but  the  examination  was  pressed  in  an  unwar- 
rantable manner,  by  repetition  upon  repeti- 
tion, until,  through  fear,  or  a  thoroughly  be- 
wildered understanding,  Tittube  was  brought 
to  confess  whatever  she  thought  would  satisfy 
her  accusers.  The  first  question  was,-"  Why 
doe  you  hurt  these  poor  children?  What 
harm  have  they  done  unto  you?"  She  re- 
plied, "  They  doe  noe  harme  to  mee.  I  noe 
hurt  ym  at  all."  Magistrate — "Why  have 
you  done  it?"  Accused  —  "I  have  done 
nothing."  Magistrate  —  "  What,  doth  y°  Dev- 
ill  tell  you  that  he  hurts  ym?"  Accused  — 
"No.  He  tells  me  nothing."  Magistrate  — 
"Doe  you  never  see  something  appeare  in  some 
shape?"  Accused  —  "Noe,  never  see  any- 
thing." Notwithstanding  this  plain  denial  of 
all  knowledge  of  anything  wrong  on  her  part, 
yet  four  closely-written  pages  of  foolscap  pa- 
per were  completely  covered  with  the  examina- 
tion of  the  simple  Indian  woman  ;  after  this 
was  over  she  was  committed  to  jail  in  Boston. 

f  It  was  considered  a  famous  sermon,  and 
was  soon  after  printed,  with  a  dedication  "  To 
the  Worshepful  and  Worthily  Honored  Bar- 


tholomew Gidney,  John  Hathorne,  Jonathan 
Corwin,  Esqs.  ;  together  with  the  Reverend 
Mr.  John  Higginson,  Pastor,  and  Mr.  Nicho- 
las Noyes,  Teacher  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at 
Salem."  Mr.  Lawson  was  under  the  same  de- 
lusion with  the  majority  of  persons  of  that  day, 
and  his  sermon  was  attested  by  I.  Mather, 
Charles  Morton,  James  Allen,  Samuel  Willard, 
John  Bailey  and  Cotton  Mather.  He  had 
been  settled  over  the  same  society  where  Mr. 
Parris  preaehed,  and  there,  in  1689,  his  wife 
and  a  daughter  Ann  had  died.  In  1696  he 
returned  to  England,  and  reprinted  his  sermon, 
to  which  he  added  an  appendix,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  witchcraft ;  dedicating  it  "To  the 
Right  Worshipful  and  truly  Honourable  Sir 
Henry  Ashhurst,  Barr!  and  his  truly  Honour- 
able and  religious  Consort,  Lady  Diana  Ash- 
hurst." Lawson  was  living  in  London  several 
years  after  this. 

J  His  residence  was  at  the  corner  of  Charter 
and  Salem  streets,  which  was  long  known  as 
Phip's  Corner.  Charter  street  was  probably 
so  named  at  this  time,  to  honor  Sir  William, 
who  brought  over  the  Charter.  Fifty  years 
ago  Shaw  said,  "  an  upright  third  story  had 
changed  the  original  appearance  ' '  of  the  house 
in  which  he  dwelt.  —  Descript.  of  Boston,  291. 
His  first  exercise  of  power  on  his  arrival  in 
Boston,  "was  said  to  be  his  giving  orders  that 
irons  should  be  put  upon  those  in  prison." — 
Calef,  95.  Dr.  Increase  Mather  came  over 
with  the  Governor,  thus  terminating  a  most 
active  agency  of  five  years.  He  was  received 
with  warm  demonstrations  of  love  and  esteem. 


1092.] 


WITCHCRAFT. 


499 


May  31. 


judges  in  their  delusion  respecting  witchcraft,  and  condemnations  and 
executions  followed. 

In  the  same  month  Captain  John  Alden,  of  Boston,  was 
accused  of  witchcraft,  taken  to  Salem  for  examination,  and  cast 
into  prison.  He  offered  bail,  but  no  bail  would  be  taken.  After  re- 
maining in  jail  in  Boston  near  three  months,  he  effected  his  escape.* 
How  long  he  kept  out  of  the  reach  of  his  accusers  is  not  stated,  but  he 
returned,  and  "  wTas  bound  over  to  answer  at  the  Superior  Court  in 
Boston,  in  April  following."  Before  the  time  of  trial,  however,  the 
'■  spell  was  broken,"  and  Captain  Alden,  with  near  a  hundred  others, 
were  cleared  by  proclamation.  During  his  examination  he  behaved 
himself  manfully. f  He  was  a  well-known  naval  commander,  had  had 
charge  of  the  province  galley  for  many  years,  and  had  been  in  service  in 
the  Indian  and  French  wars,  both  before  and  after  these  trials.  In 
1690  he  was  appointed  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  at  Sagadahock,  which 
service  he  performed  acceptably.  In  1696  he  commanded  a  brigan- 
tine  called  the  Endeavor,  in  an  expedition  on  the  eastern  coast.  J  He 
was  a  son  of  the  first  Mr.  John  Alden,  who  came  to  Plymouth,  in  1620. 
As  early  as  December,  1659,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Boston,  and 
died  here  on  the  fourteenth  of  March,  1702,  at  the  age  of.  eighty  years, 
leaving  a  handsome  estate  of  upwards  of  2000  pounds.      He  lived 


*  In  the  History  of  Duxbury  it  is  said  that 
he  fled  to  that  town  and  was  there  concealed 
in  the  house  of  a  relative.  When  he  arrived 
it  was  late  at  night,  and  his  friends  were  sur- 
prised to  see  him,  and  to  some  anxious  inquiry 
as  to  his  strange  arrival,  he  assured  them  that 
though  he  had  fled  from  the  Devil,  the  Devil 
was  after  him. —  Winsor. 

f  He  was  examined  before  Gedney,  Hathorn 
and  Corwin.     When  brought  into  the  presence 


the  accusers  with  it.  After  a  considerable 
space  he  was  taken  to  the  meeting-house, 
where  his  examination  was  more  formal.  Here 
the  accusers  cried  out  "  that  Aldin  did  pinch 
them."  The  Magistrates  made  him  stand  up 
in  a  chair,  and  ordered  the  Marshal  to  hold  his 
hands  open  to  prevent  his  pinching  "  those 
poor  creatures."  Capt.  Alden  demanded  why 
they  should  think  he  came  there  to  afflict  those 
persons  whom  he  had  never  seen  before?  "  Mr. 


afflicted,   they  "plaid   their  lugling dl—-^ 


of  the  afflicted,  they  "plaid  their  jugling 
tricks,  falling  down,  crying  out,  and  staring 
in  people's  faces.  The  Magistrates  demanded 
of  them  several  times,  who  it  was  of  all  the 
people  in  the  room  that  hurt  them  ?  One  of 
the  accusers  pointed  several  times  at  one  Capt. 
Hall,  but  spake  nothing.  The  same  accuser 
had  a  man  standing  at  her  back  to  hold  her 
up  ;  he  stooped  down  to  her  ear,  then  she  cried 
out  Aldin,  Aldin.  One  of  the  Magistrates 
asked  her  if  she  had  ever  seen  Aldin?  She 
answered,  No.  He  asked  how  she  knew  it  was 
Aldin  1  She  said  the  man  told  her  so.  Then 
all  were  ordered  to  go  down  into  the  street, 
where  a  ring  was  made,  and  the  same  accuser 
cried  out,  There  stands  Aldin,  a  bold  fellow, 
with  his  hat  on  before  the  Judges.  He  sells 
powder  and  shot  to  the  Indians  and  French, 
and  lies  with  the  Indian  squaws,  and  has  In- 
dian papooses."  He  was  then  ordered  into 
the  custody  of  the  marshal,  and  his  sword  was 
taken  from  him,  because  it  was  said  he  afflicted 


Gedney  bid  him  confess  and  give  glory  to 
God."  Alden  made  an  appropriate  reply,  and 
appealed  to  all  who  had  ever  known  him  to 
bring  aught  against  him.  Gedney  replied  that 
he  had  known  him  many  years,  and  had  been 
at  sea  with  him,  and  always  looked  upon  him 
to  be  an  honest  man,  but  now  he  had  changed 
his  opinion.  Alden  was  then  bid  to  look  upon 
the  afflicted,  which  when  he  did  they  would 
fall  down.  Then  he  inquired  of  Mr.  Gedney 
what  reason  could  be  given  that  his  looking 
upon  him,  did  not  cause  him  to  fall  down  also  ; 
but  Gedney  could  give  none. 

%  Mr,  Winsor,  in  his  Hist,  of  Duxbury,  says 
that  it  was  John  Alden,  son  of  Capt.  John, 
named  in  the  text,  who  was  implicated  in  the 
witchcraft  accusations.  But  that  worthy 
young  Author  was  clearly  wrong  in  that,  for 
he  was  at  the  time  called  ' (  John  Aldin  Senior 
of  Boston,  mariner."  Calef  and  Hutchinson 
are  both  explicit  in  regard  to  it, 


500 


WITCHCRAFT. 


[1692. 


on  an  alley  leading  from  Cambridge  to  Sud- 
bury-street,  from  him  called  Alden's  lane, 
which  it  bore  till  1846,  when  it  was  dignified 
by  the  name  of  Alden  street. 

After  the  settlement  of  the  new  Government, 
a  special  Commission  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  was 
appointed  for  the  trial  of  persons  suspected  of 
witchcraft.     The  appointed  Judges,  or  a 
quorum  of  them,  commenced  a  session  at 
Salem,  on  the  second  of  June  following,*  the 
day  of  the   date  of  their  Commission.!     The 
Court   consisted   of   William   Stoughton,    now 
sewall.  Lieutenant   Governor,    Chief  Justice  ;     Major 

Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  who,  refusing  from  conscientious  scruples  to  act 
at  such  trials,  was  superseded  by  Mr.  Jonathan  Corwin ;  Major  John 
Kichards,  Major  Bartholomew  Gedney,  Mr.  Wait  Winthrop,  Captain 
Samuel  Sewall  and  Mr.  Peter  Sergeant.  Captain  Anthony  Checkley 
had  been  appointed  Attorney  General,  but  refusing  to  serve  in  these 
prosecutions,  Mr.  Thomas  Newton  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  The 
melancholy  records  of  their  proceedings  are  extant,  and  will  ever  re- 
main an  unfading  scene  to  succeeding  generations  of  the  frailties  of  the 
human  mind. 

The  first  person  executed  this  year  was  "  a  poor,  friendless 
old  woman,"  named  Bridget  Bishop.  She  confessed  nothing. 
And  in  little  more  than  a  month  after,  five  others  suffered.  On 
the  fifth  of  August  six  others  were  sentenced  to  death,  and 
were  all  executed  except  one,  a  female,  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
George  Procter,  whose  peculiar  situation  saved  her.  On  the 
ninth  of  September,  six  others  were  tried  and  received  sentence  of 
death.  And  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  same  month,  Giles  Cory  was 
pressed  to  death  ;  the  circumstances  attending  which  are  too  revolting 
to  be  detailed  here.  On  the  following  day  nine  others  were  condemned, 
g  and  five  days  after  suffered  death,  save  one,  Abigail  Falkner, 

of  Andover,  whose   situation  reprieved  her,  as  in  the  case  of 
Elizabeth  Procter. 

"And   now,"  says  an  unimpeached  historian  of  the  time, 
nineteen  persons  having  been  hanged,  and  one  prest  to  death,J 


June  10. 


July  19. 


Aug.  19. 


October. 


*  Calef,  100. 

f  Chandler,  Crim.  Trials,  i.  93. 

j  These  are  the  names  of  those  executed ; 
Bridget  Bishop  ;  July  19th,  Sarah  Good,  Re- 
becca Nurse,  of  Salem  Village  ;  Susanna  Mar- 
tin,  of  Amesbury;    Elizabeth    How,   of  Ips- 


Village  ;  Mary  Easty,  of  Topsfield  ;  Alice  Par- 
ker and  Ann  Pucleater,  of  Salem  ;  Margaret 
Scot,  Willmet  Redd,  of  Marblehead ;  Samuel 
Wardwell  and  Mary  Parker,  of  Andover. 

In  the  case  of  Giles  Cory,  Roman  Inquisitors 
could  not  have  done  more.     He  pleaded  "  Not 


wich  ;  and  Sarah  Wildes,  of  Topsfield.   August   guilty"  to  the  indictment,  but  could  not  put 
19th,  Mr.  George  Burroughs,  sometime  Minis-    himself  upon  trial  by  a  jury  which  he  believed 
ter  of  Wells  ;  John  Procter,  John  Willard,  of    was  sure  to  condemn  him,  for  they  had  con- 
Salem  Village  ;  George  Jacobs,  Sen1., 
of  Salem,   and   Martha   Currier,  of 
Andover.     Sept.   16th,  Giles   Cory. 
Sept.  22d,  Martha  Cory,  of  Salem 


1G92.]  witchcraft.  501 

and  eight  more  condemned,  in  all  twenty-eight,  of  which  above  a  third 
part  were  members  of  some  of  the  churches  in  New  England,  and  more 
than  half  of  them  of  a  good  conversation  in  general,  and  not  one 
cleared  ;  "  while  of  about  fifty  who  had  confessed  themselves  witches, 
not  one  was  executed.  At  the  same  time  above  150  lay  in  prison,  and 
above  200  more  accused.  But  now,  fortunately,  "the  special  Commis- 
sion of  Oyer  and  Terminer  comes  to  a  period,"  and  there  was  to  be  no 
Court  to  try  those  held  for  trial,  until  the  Superior  Court  came  together, 
which  was  not  till  the  following  January.  This  delay  gave  opportunity 
to  all  for  reflection  upon  what  had  been  done,  and  for  those  in  author- 
ity to  determine  whether  they  should  again  deluge  the  land  in  the  blood 
of  their  friends  and  neighbors,  without  the  fearful  prospect  of  carrying 
that  deluge  into  their  own  households,  and  perchance  to  their  own  wives 
and  children.  Governor  Phips  looked  to  the  Ministers  for  direction  in 
future  ;  *  the  chief  of  whom  was  now  cautiously  composing  "  Cases  of 
Conscience  concerning  Witchcraft;  "  a  work,  while  it  showed  its  author 
to  be  a  firm  believer  in  its  reality,  at  the  same  time  condemned  all,  or 
nearly  all,  the  evidence  which  had  been  relied  upon  in  the  late  trials, 
as  entirely  insufficient  to  take  away  the  life  of  any  one  accused,  f  In 
brief,  a  change  was  coming  over  the  community.  Several  of  those  who 
had  composed  the  Juries  at  the  late  trials,  afterwards  signed  a  recanta- 

deumed  every  one  brought  before  them,  and  he  duce  to  promote  thankfulness  to  God  for  such 

had  made  up  his  mind  "  to  undergo  what  executions." 

death  they  would  put  him  to."     He  was  the  s\ 

first,  and  so  far  as  I  can  learn  the  last,  ever  (~)   /"Tyv     &£-,             i\  >-  ^yi 

pressed  to  death  for  imputed  crime  in  New  j/i/            j\X)'\X/yA\\0  r*- 

England.     Mr.  George  Corwin  was  the  sheriff.  U 

The  case  of  Mr.  Burroughs,  a  man  of  unex-  s>                               . 

ceptionable  character,  was  excruciating  to  the  ^>  <^i^Tj^<^JxL  %JfZ_yi}^(j^^ 
multitude  that  were  assembled  to  witness  his 

execution.  On  the  ladder  he  made  a  speech,  f  Notwithstanding  Dr.  C.  Mather  was  corn- 
declaring  in  firm  simplicity  his  innocence  ;  and  pletely  carried  away  by  the  delusion,  and 
his  last  prayer  was  so  fervent  and  sincere,  that  would,  if  he  had  had  the  power,  in  all  proba- 
it  drew  tears  from  many ;  and  it  began  to  be  bility,  have  executed  all  that  happened  to  be 
feared  that  the  people  would  hinder  the  execu-  accused;  yet,  in  the  "Advice  of  the  Minis- 
tion.  He  was,  however,  "  turned  off."  Dr.  ters  "  to  the  Government  relative  to  proceed- 
Cotton  Mather  was  there  present,  and,  "  being  ings  in  the  trials  of  the  accused,  which  he  pub- 
mounted  upon  a  horse,"  exerted  his  great  in-  lished,  he  claimed  to  have  been  the  mover  of 
fluence  to  appease  the  spectators.  He  said,  the  Governor's  clemency  which  he  exercised,  as 
among  other  things,  "  that  the  Devil  was  wont  related  in  the  text.  Upon  this  conduct  of  the 
to  transform  himself  into  an  Angel  of  light,"  Doctor,  Mr.  Calef  severely  animadverts,  and  in 
and  the  executions  went  on. —  Calef,  103-4.  conclusion  says  :  "  But  tho'  the  Minister's  Ad- 

*  He  was  one  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  soci-  vice,  or  rather  Dr.  C.  Mather's  was  perfectly 

ety,  and  ordered  and  sanctioned  the  publication  ambidexter,  giving  as  great  or  greater  encour- 

of  the  account  of  the  witchcraft,  since  so  well  agement   to   proceed  in  those  dark  methods, 

known  by  the  title  of"  Wonders  of  the  Invis-  then  cautious  against  them,  yet  many  eminent 

ible  World,"  &c.     It  is  accompanied  also  with  persons  being  accused,  there  was  a  necessity  of 

the  certificates  of  two  of  the  Judges,  dated  a  stop  to  be  put  to  it." — More  Wonders,  &c, 

Boston,  October  11th,  1692;  in  which  certifi-  153-4.     Certainly  there  was  something  rather 

cate  they  say,  "  Vpon  perusal  thereof,  we  find  ambidexter,  in  that  the  doctor  should  counte- 

the  matters  of  fact  and  evidence  truly  reported,  nance  every  severity  towards  those  accused  of 

and  a  prospect  given  of  the  methods  of  convic-  witchcraft,  and  at  the  same  time  applaud  the 

tion,  used  in  these  proceedings  of  the  Court  at  Governor  for  pardoning  the  prisoners  ;  calling 

Salem.     [Signed]  William  Stoughton,  Samuel  it  "  a  vanquishing  the  Devil,  adding  this  con- 

Sewall."  And  the  misguided  author  exclaimed,  quest  to  the  rest  of  his  noble  atchievements." 

that  "  he  should  rejoice  if  his  book  might  con-  —  Ibid. 


502  WITCHCRAFT.  [1692. 

tion,*  and  the  conscientious  and  honest  Judge  Sewall  openly  confessed 
that  he  had  committed  a  great  error,  while  some  others  were  apparently 
confirmed  in  the  course  they  had  pursued.f 

Agreeable  to  an  Act  of  the  General  Court  the  first  Superior 
'  Court  was  held  at  Salem,  and  the  Judges  appointed  were  William 
"  Stoughton,  Thomas  Danforth,  John  Richards,  Wait  Winthrop,  and 
Samuel  Sewall.  Of  fifty-six  indictments,  twenty-six  were  declared  true 
bills,  and  of  all  the  persons  against  whom  these  were  returned,  but  three 
were  adjudged  guilty  by  the  Jury.  The  reason  so  few  were  condemned 
has  been  already  stated.  {  Besides,  the  Jurors  now  inquired,  "What 
account  they  ought  to  make  of  the  spectre  evidence  ?  "and  were  answered, 
"  None  whatever." 

While  the  three  persons  above  named  awaited  sentence  in  prison, 
the  Court  commenced  its  session  at  Charlestown.  Here  the 
Judges  received  word  that  those  they  had  lately  condemned  were 
reprieved  by  the  Governor.  This  so  shocked  the  Chief  Justice,  that  he 
left  the  Bench,  went  out  of  Court  and  did  not  appear  there  again  dur- 
ing the  session  ;  exclaiming  as  he  went,  "  We  were  in  a  way  to  have 
cleared  the  land  of  these,  &c.  Who  it  is  obstructs  the  course  of  Justice 
I  know  not.     The  Lord  be  merciful  to  the  Country  ! " 

It  cannot  be  disguised,  that  the  tendency  among  the  accusers  to  im- 
plicate persons  in  the  higher  walks  of  life,  had  much  to  do  in  bringing 
all  accusations  to  be  viewed  as  the  grounds  of  the  iniquity  instead  of 
the  object  of  them.  And  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  the  discovery  was 
not  made  before  the  crime  of  taking  the  lives  of  innocent  persons  had 
been  ignorantly  perpetrated  ;  for  which  no  atonement  can  ever  be 
made.§  While  the  case  of  the  wife  of  Mr.  Hale  wrought  a  change  in 
Essex,  the  case  of  the  wife  of  Governor  Phips  had  the  same  effect  in 
Boston,  where  the  mischief  was  already  deeply  rooted.  || 

*  "  We  do  heartily  ask  forgiveness  of  you  all,  vinced  that  the  Devil  might  so  afflict ;  which 

whom  we  have  justly  offended,  and  do  declare  same  reason  did  afterwards  prevail  with  many 

according  to  our  present  minds,  we  would  none  others,  and  much  influenced  to  the  succeeding 

of  us  do  such  things  again  on  such  grounds,  change  at  trials." — Calef,  108. 

for  the  whole  world,"  &c.  [Signed]  —  "Thomas  §  An  agreeable  writer  has  said,  that  Mr. 

Fisk,  foreman,  William  Fisk,  John  Batcheler,  Stoughton  "made  atonement  for  his  bigotry  by 

Thos.  Fisk,  Jr.,  John   Dane,  Joseph   Evelith,  contributing,  in  his  lifetime,  to  the  cause  of 

Thos.  Perly,  Sen.,  John  Pebody,  Thos.  Per-  education.    He  erected,  for  the  use  of  Harvard 

kins,  Samuel  Sawyer,  Andrew  Elliot,  Henry  College,   the   building    known   as    Stoughton 

Herrick,  Sen."  Hall."—  Chandler,  Crim.  Trials,  135.    Truly 

f  The  Chief  Justice,  Mr.    Stoughton,  who  I  cannot  see  what  erecting  a  Hall  for  Harvard 

died  in  1702,  was  never  convinced  of  his  error,  College  had  to  do  with  atoning  for  Mr.  Stough- 

as  charity  is  inclined  to  suppose,  for  he  never  ton's  errors  while  a  judge.    Did  he  intend  that 

acknowledged  it.  edifice  for  that  purpose?     As  well  might  any 

J  In  October,  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  Hale,  good  act  of  his  life,  however  small,  have  bal- 

the  minister  of  Beverly  was  accused  of  being  a  anced  the  same  errors. 

witch  by  a   person  in  Wenham.      Mr.  Hale  ||  "  If  it  be  true  what  was  said  at  the  Coun- 

had  been  one  of  the  most  forward  to  bring  ac-  cil  Board,  in  answer  to  the  commendations  of 

cused  persons  to  punishment,  but  now,  being  Sir  William,  for  his  stopping  the  proceedings 

fully  convinced  that  his  wife  was  unjustly  ac-  about  witchcraft,   namely,   that   it  was  high 

cused,  he  soon  altered  his  judgment ;  "  tor  it  time  for  him  to  stop  it,  his  own  lady  being  ac- 

was     come  to   a   stated    controversie    among  cused.     If  that  assertion  were   a   truth,  then 

the  New  England  Divines,  whether  the  Devill  New  England  may  seem  to  be  more  beholden  to 

could  afflict  in  a  good  man's  shape  ;  yet  when  the  accusers  for  accusing  her,  than  to  Sir  Wil- 

it  came  so  near  to  himself,  he  was  soon   con-  liam." — •  Calef,    154.  —  Hutchinson    extracts 


1C93.]  TOWN    AFFAIRS.  503 

The  last  Court  held  in  these  tragedies  was  at  Boston  ;   over 

Aril  25  which  Mr'  Danfortn>  Mr-  Richards  and  Mr.  So  wall  presided.  It 
was  at  this  Court  that  the  aged  Captain  Alden  "  was  acquitted 
by  proclamation,"  but  "Mary  Watkins,  who  had  been  a  servant,  and 
lived  about  seven  miles  from  the  Town,"  was  tried  and  condemned  ; 
not  by  the  jury.  Their  repeated  verdict  was,  Ignoramus  ;  but  the 
Court  imprisoned  her  for  some  time,  and  she  was  finally  sold  into  bon- 
dage in  Virginia. 

Notwithstanding  the  tide  had  been  some  time  at  flood,  trials  would 
not  probably  have  ceased  yet,  but  for  the  course  of  the  miscreant  accu- 
sers themselves,  in  implicating  those  above  all  suspicion ;  which  had 
now  become  too  apparent,  even  to  the  most  credulous  to  be  farther 
suffered,  and  prosecutions  in  consequence  ceased. 

At  the  June  term  of  the  General  Court  the  last  year,  was  passed 
"An  Act  for  building  with  stone  or  brick  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and 
preventing  fire."  This  Act  recites  that  "hence  forth  no  dwelling- 
house,  shop,  warehouse,  barn,  stable,  or  any  other  housing  of  more 
than  eight  feet  in  length  or  breadth,  and  seven  feet  in  height,  shall  be 
erected  and  set  up  in  Boston,  but  of  stone  or  brick,  and  covered  with 
slate  or  tyle,"  except  in  particular  cases  ;  and  then  not  without  license 
from  the  proper  authorities.  By  another  Act,  passed  six  years  after, 
this  of  1692  does  not  seem  to  have  answered  the  end  of  its  enactment, 
and  the  Legislature  was  obliged  to  legalize  what  it  could  not  or  did  not 
prevent,  "forasmuch  as  the  demolishing  of  such  houses  and  buildings 
(being  now  finished)"  erected  contrary  to  the  Statute  of  1692,  "  and  pro- 
ceeding according  to  the  directions  of  the  said  law,  would  probably  be 
thought  overgreat  severity.  Yet  that  such  bold  and  open  contempt 
may  not  pass  wholly  unpunished ;  and  to  the  intent  that  others  may 
be  deterred  from  doing  the  like  in  future.     Be  it  enacted,"  &c. 

The  affairs  of  the  Town  seem  to  have  gone  on  for  the  past  year  much 
as  though  there  had  been  no  great  commotions  in  the  Country. 

At  the  March  meeting,  Capt.  Theophilus  Frary  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  Thomas  Walker,  Bozoun  Allen,  Obediah  Gill, 
Samuel  Checkley,  Timothy  Thornton,  John  Meryon,  sen.,  Ephraim  Sav- 
age, Nathaniel  Williams,  and  Capt.  James  Hill,  were  chosen  Selectmen. 
Treasurer  and  Commissioner,  Mr.  James  Taylor.     At  the  May  Meeting, 
Mr.  James  Taylor,   Capt.  Penn  Townsend,  John  Eyers,  Esq., 
and  Capt.  Theophilus  Frary  were  chosen  "Representatives."* 

from  a  "  MS.  letter,"  a  curious  circumstance  the  keeper  [Mr.  John  Arnold]  was  discharged 
about  the  Lady  of  the  Governor,  whose  name  from  his  trust  and  put  out  of  his  employment, 
being  Mary  (the  same  with  the  Queen),  who  as  he  himself  told  me."  —  Hist.  Mass.,  ii.  61. 
was  applied  to  in  her  husband's  absence  for  her  *  March  13. —  Constables  chosen  were  "  Tim- 
interposition  in  the  case  of  a  woman  imprisoned  othy  Clarke,  Tho.  Cooper,  Joseph  Russell, 
for  witchcraft.  The  good  Lady  took  the  re-  Richard  Cheuers,  Jacob  Maline,  Enocke  Green- 
sponsibility  to  sign  a  discharge,  which  the  leafe,  Wm.  Parkman  and  Hezekiah  Hinchman  ; 
Jailer  obeyed.  "  And  truly,"  says  the  writer  for  Rumny  Marsh,  Wm.  Bordman  ;  for  Muddy 
of  the  letter,  "  I  did  not  believe  this  story  till  River,  Danall  Harris.  Clerks  of  the  Market, 
I  saw  a  copy  of  the  mittimus  and  discharge  Nicholas  Cocke,  Isaac  Meryon,  John  Benet  and 
under  the   keeper's  hand;  for  which  delivery  John  Curtheue."     Samuel  Bridge  agreed  to 


504  SOCIETY    OF    QUAKERS.  [1693. 

„     nn        The   slaughtering  of  animals  about  the  Town  having  been 

Mar  30 

complained  of  as  a  nuisance,  "  the  Selectmen,  with  three  of  the 
Justices  of  the  Peace,"  ordered  that  "slaughter-houses  for  the  killing 
of  meat"  should  be  set  up  in  these  places  only;  namely,  "on  Mr. 
Timothy  Thornton's  wharf,  the  wharves  near  the  Salutation  Tavern.* 
In  the  middle  of  the  Town  near  and  over  the  Mill-stream.  At  the  South 
end,  at  or  near  Bendall's  wharfe." 

The  Town  chose  Maj.  Penn  Townsend,   Edward  Bromfield, 
Esq.,  Capt.  Theophilus  Frary,  Mr.  Timothy  Thornton,  for  Rep- 
resentatives "  to   serv    in   the    General  Assembly   to  be  held  eighth 
November." 

In  the  course  of  the  year,  Thomas  Chalkley,  an  eminent  Quaker, 
visited  Boston,  and  afterwards  printed  an  account  of  his  travels.  In 
his  work  he  says  :  "  I  being  a  stranger  and  traveller,  could  not  but  ob- 
serve the  barbarous  and  unchristian-like  welcome  I  had  into  Boston. 
'  0 !  what  a  pity  it  was,'  said  one,  '  that  all  of  your  society  were  not 
hanged  with  the  other  four.'  This  shows  that  the  spirit  of  persecution 
was  alive  in  some  of  that  people,  long  after  the  power  of  it  was  re- 
strained."! 

Some  laws  had  been  passed  the  preceding  year  exempting  the  Quakers 
from  taxation,  which  may  account  for  the  vindictive  attitude  assumed  by 
some  towards  Thomas  Chalkley.  The  exact  time  when  a  house  was 
set  apart  for  public  worship  by  the  Denomination  in  Boston  is  not  stated, 
but  it  was  not  far  from  and  perhaps  as  early  as  1665. J  However, 
there  had  been,  ever  since  the  persecutions  of  1677  an  inconsiderable 
number  of  Quakers  in  and  about  Boston.  §  In  that  year  "  their  ordinary 
place  of  meeting  "  is  spoken  of.     In  1694  they  possessed  a  lot  of  land 

collect  the  Country  rate  for  3d  the  pound,  for  praying  at  the  meeting,  a  warrant  came  from 

which  Mr.  Simeon  Stoddard  stood  his  security  Edward  Rawson  for  the  apprehension  of  the 

in  £1000.     Fourteen  Tythingmen  were  chosen  Preacher.     This  meeting  was  at  the  house   of 

out  of  the  seven  military  companies  :  —  "  Tho.  Edward   Wanton.       The   warrant   sets  forth 

Banester,  John  Meryon,  out  of  Capt.  Sewall's  ;  that  a  stranger  was  there  preaching,  "  public- 

Samll.   Bridges,    John   Adams,   out   of  Capt.  ly  among  many,  and  endeavoring  to  seduce  his 

Hills  ;    John   Cunny  [Coney],   Win.    Adams,  Majesty's   good   subjects   and   people    to    his 

glover,  out  of  Capt.  Penn  Townsends ;  James  cursed  opinions."  When  the  Constable  reached 

Barnes,   John    Kilbe,  out  of  Capt.   Allen's  ;  the  place  of  meeting,  the  meeting  was  ended. 

Tho.  Messenger,  James  Smith,  out  of  Maj.  But  he  found  Wharton  at  Nicholas  Upsall's 

Savages ;  Tho.  Cushing,  Joshua  Gee,  out  of  house,  and  arrested  him,  and  the  next  day  he 

Capt.    John  Wings;    John    Farnum,    John  was  whipped,  and  then  sent  to  the  Constable  of 

Niccols,    out  of   Maj.   Hutchinsons  ;     Joseph  Lynn,  who  was  ordered  to  whip  him,  and  then 

Grant,  Wm.  Huffe,  out  of  Capt.  Greenoughs."  to  send  him  to  Salem.  —  Details  and  copy  of 

*  It  was  in  Ship  Street,  at  the  corner  of  Sal-  warrants  may  be  seen  in  Besse,  ii.  233. 
utation  Alley.  It  was  standing  long  after  this.  §  A  law  was  made  in  1675,  subjecting  every 
June  26th,  the  following  named  persons  were  person  found  at  a  Quaker-Meeting  to  be  corn- 
appointed  Innholders  :  —  "  John  Bishop,  John  mitted  to  jail,  "  to  have  the  discipline  of  the 
Prat,  Joanna  Hunlock,  Joshua  Hewes,  Eliza-  house,  and  to  be  kept  to  work  with  bread  and 
beth  Watkins,  Hannah  Kent,  Enoch  Hubbard,  water,  or  else  pay  £5."  Constables  were  em- 
Mary  Wright  and  Capt.  Wright."  powered  to  apprehend  ex  officio.  See  Besse,  ii. 
f  Chalkley  in  Besse,  Sufferings,  &c,  ii.  220.  259.  In  consequence  of  this  law  some  Friends 
j  May  4th,  1664,  Edward  Wharton  of  Sa-  received  the  barbarous  usage  referred  to  in  the 
lem,  being  at  Boston,  assembled  with  "  George  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  cited  ante,  p.  410.  By 
Preston,  Wenlock  Christison  and  others  of  misinformation,  Snow,  i?zs£.I?osZ<m,  199, placed 
their  friends  to  worship  God,"  &c.  While  they  the  important  events  of  Quaker  affairs  of  1677 
were  exercised  in  the  duties  of  preaching  and  under  1675. 


1G93-]  ANOTHER    CANADA    EXPEDITION.  505 

in  Brattle  street,  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  deep  by  twenty-five  and  a 
quarter  in  width,  for  a  Meeting-house  and  Burying-ground,  and  built  a 
brick  house*  on  it  twenty-four  by  twenty  feet,  which  was  secured  to  the 
Society  by  William  Mumford,  Edward  Sheppen,f  John  Soames,  Edward 
Wanton, |  Walter  Clark  of  Newport,  and  William  Chamberlain  of  Hull. 
In  1708  the  Society  desired  to  sell  their  house,  and  to  erect  a  new  one, 
of  wood,  but  on  application  to  the  Town  Authorities,  their  request  was 
denied,  and  in  the  following  year  Walter  Newberry,  John  Wing  and 
Thomas  Richardson,  the  committee  of  Friends  having  charge  of  the 
business,  so  reported  to  the  Society. §  "  It  was  therefore  concluded  to 
build,  of  brick,  a  house  twenty-five  by  thirty  feet.  This  was  the  build- 
ing lately  standing  in  Congress  Street.  It  was  burnt  in  the  great  fire 
of  1760,  and  in  the  same  year  it  was  concluded  by  the  Yearly  Meeting 
to  repair  it,  which  was  done.  This  building  stood  till  April  2nd,  1825, 
when  it  was  sold  for  160  dollars,  and  immediately  after  demolished. "|| 

During  and  after  the  Revolution  of  1776,  the  Quakers  became  so 
much  diminished,  that  it  was  said,  in  1826,  that  their  Meeting-house  in 
Congress  street  had  been  wholly  unoccupied  by  them  for  nearly  twenty 
years. IT  "  Their  meetings  were  discontinued  by  a  vote  of  the  Society 
in  1808.  The  Burying-ground  had  been  undisturbed  for  eleven  years, 
when  the  remains  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  bodies  were  removed 
thence  to  Lynn  for  re-interment,  in  July,  1826."  The  land  was  sold 
in  1827,  and  the  stone  building  opposite  the  west  end  of  Lindall  Street 
occupies  the  site  of  the  old  Church.  The  Society  has  since  erected  a 
neat  stone  edifice  in  Milton  Place,  but  meetings  are  held  in  it  only 
occasionally,  as  resident  members  are  very  few. 

Notwithstanding  the  disastrous  issue  of  the  Canada  expedition  of 
1690,  the  Government  in  England  soon  after  determined  upon  another, 
but  it  was  more  ill-judged  then  the  former.  The  first  notice  here  that  such 
a  design  was  on  foot,  was  brought  by  the  fleet  which  was  to  undertake  it. 
This  was,  enough  to  have  caused  a  fatal  delay,  yet  it  was  but  a  slight 
error  in  comparison  with  another,  which  originated  with  it.  The  same 
force  destined  to  conquer  Canada  was  ordered  to  reduce  Martinico  in 
the  West  Indies,  then  to  rendezvous  at  Boston,  and  after  recruiting  to 
proceed  into  the  St.   Lawrence.     Before  anything  could  be  effected 

*  The  first  Meeting-house  built  of  brick  in       J  Ancestor  of  the  four  Governors  of  Rhode 

the  Town. — Bowen,  Picture  Boston,  128.     Its  Island,  of  the  name  of  Wanton.  Edward,  above 

site  is  believed  to  have  been  "  somewhere  in  the  named,  died  in  Scituate  in  1716,  se.  85.  —  See 

neighborhood "    of   that    on   which    Brattle-  Deane's  Hist.  Scituate,  372. 
street    Church    now  stands.  —  See    Lothrop,       §  The  above  facts  are  from  Snow,  who  had 

Hist.  Brattle-st.  Church,  6.  them,   and    other   items,   "  from  a  venerable 

f  He  afterwards  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  professor    of  the    denomination."      But    as 

was  the  first  Mayor  of  that  city,  and  filled  other  Snow's  informant  misled  him  in  some  of  them, 

important  places.     His  descendants  have  also  and  others  are  loosely  stated,  it  is   proper  that 

been  distinguished,  among  whom  was  Edward  my  readers  should  be  able  to  make  the  neces- 

Shippen,  LL.  D.,  Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylva-  sary  allowance  by  this  notice, 
nia,  and  William  Shippin,  M.  D.,  first  Profes-       ||  Snow,  200. 

sor  of  Anatomy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylva-       "[[Boston   Courier,  30  June,  1826.     Their 

nia.  —  See  Miller's  Retrospect,  ii.  340. —  Amer-  lands  in  the  Commonwealth  were  in  the  hands 

ican  Portrait  Gallery,  and  Allen,  Amer.  Biog.  of  Trustees  till  1823. 

64 


506  SIR    WILLIAM   PHIPS.  [1694. 

against  Martinico,  a  most  fatal  sickness  broke  out  in  the  fleet,  and  be- 
fore it  reached  Boston  3000  men  had  died,  being  three-fifths  of 
une     '  the  whole  force.     Sir  Francis  Wheeler  the  commander  of  the 
fleet,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Government  at  Boston,  relinquished 
all  ideas  of  effecting  anything  against  Canada  this  year.* 

At  a  Town-meeting  it  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips 

may  have  the  ground  where  the  Cage  and  Watch-house  stand, 

on  a  lease  of  twenty-one  years,  to  build  a  shop  on  ;    he  building  a 

cellar  under  it ;   and  after  one  and  a  half  years,  to  pay  three  pounds  a 

year  for  it.f 

Sir  William  Phips  has,  not  unjustly  perhaps,  been  denominated  "  a 
weak  Governor,"  and  that  he  was  much  better  calculated  to  command 
a  ship  of  war  than  to  be  Governor  of  a  Colony.  Certain  it  is,  he  very 
much  disgraced  himself  by  brutally  assaulting  Mr.  Brenton,  the  Col- 
lector of  the  Port  of  Boston,  and  for  caning  Captain  Short  of  the  Non- 
such frigate,  whom  he  met  in  the  street.  These  assaults  were 
occasioned  by  a  misunderstanding  in  respect  to  admiralty  jurisdiction  ; 
the  Governor  assuming  an  authority  which  the  Collector  and  the  Cap- 
tain thought  did  not  belong  to  him.  He  was  a  man  of  great  physical 
strength,  and  seems  to  have  been  rather  prone  to  employ  that  for  want 
of  other  kind  of  argument.  Meanwhile  representations  were  being 
made  to  his  prejudice  in  England,  as  the  private  letters  from  influential 
men  in  Boston  were  generally  against  him.  He  had,  at  the  same  time, 
quite  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  keep  a  majority  of  the  General  Court 
on  his  side,  as  appears  by  a  motion  in  that  body  to  address  the  King 
in  favor  of  his  being  kept  in  his  place  of  Governor  ;  out  of  fifty 
members,  there  was  but  one  majority  for  it.  Many  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  country  towns  then  resided  in  Boston,  and  they  went  against 
the  Address.  Out  of  this  arose  the  Non-resident  Act,  an  act  requiring 
that  a  representative  should  reside  in  the  town  which  he  represented. 
This  was  carried,  like  the  Address  in  favor  of  Sir  William,  by  one  ma- 
jority. On  this  occasion,  it  is  said  that  the  Governor  rushed  into  the 
House,  drove  out  the  Non-residents,  and,  says  this  authority,  "lam 
mistaken  if,  either  for  estates  or  loyalty,  they  left  any  of  their  equals  in 
that  House."  J 

N     ^        Finally,  Governor  Phips  was  ordered  to  appear  in  England, 
'  to  answer  to  the  complaints  against  him,  and  he  left  Boston  in 

*  Dr.  C.  Mather,  then  writing  his  Magnalia,  tions  for  the  Select-men,  —  Doct.  Elisha  Cook, 

says  Sir  Francis  Wheeler  gave  him  the  account  Isaac  Addington,  Esq.,  Coll.  Sam11.  Shrimpton, 

of  the  mortality  of  his  men  himself.  —  Magnalia,  Lt.    Col.   Elisha   Hutchinson,   and  Maj.    Pen 

ii.  71.     Hutchinson,  ii.  72.     Sir  Francis  was  Townsend.  —  July  16,  seven  Assessors  chosen, 

cast  away  the  year  before  near  Gibralter.  Capt.  Bozoone  Allen,  Capt.  Samuel  Checkley, 

f  "  May  9th,  leave  given  to  Joseph  Maylam  Ephm.   Savage,   Mr.  Timothy  Thornton,  Mr. 

to  go  forward   in   building  a  brick  building  Obediah  Gill,  Mr.  Thomas  Walker,  Mr.  John 

neere  the  west  end  of  the  Town-house,  consider-  Marion,  Sen.     Mr.  Checkley  and  Mr.  Walker 

ing  the  great  benefit  that  thereby  may  accrew  refusing  to  serve,  Mr.  Joseph  Bridgham  and 

to  the  Town,  being  judged  at  least  £8  p.  year  Mr.  Sam11.   Lynd  were  chosen  in   their  room, 

at  present  coming  in  ;  and  the  benefit  of  a  brick  Mr.  Bridgham  refusing,  Capt.  Nath11.  Green 

watch-house  and  security  from  fire,  &c."  was  chosen." 

"  May  14th.  CoiSittee  to  draw  up  Instruc-  {  Letter  to  London,  in  Hutchinson,  ii.  80. 


1095.] 


TOWN    RECORDS. 


PLANTING    TREES. 


507 


November,  Lieut.  Governor  Stoughton  assuming  the  Government.  On 
his  arrival  in  England  he  was  much  harassed  by  actions  at  law  for  his 
conduct  at  Boston.  Damages  were  laid  at  20,000  pounds,  and  Sir  Henry 
Ashurst,  the  friend  of  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  became  his  bail.  These 
suits  were  thought  to  have  brought  on  or  aggravated  the  disease  of 
which  he  died.  His  death  took  place  in  London,  in  February  fol- 
lowing.* 

Doc  *>8  Queen  Mary  died  near  the  end  of  the  year,  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-three,  and  the  next  day  William  was  recognized  King 
of  England,  as  William  the  Third.  What  time  the  news  of  these 
events  reached  Boston,  and  what  notice  was  taken  of  them,  if  any,  are 
not  ascertained,  and  it  is  probable  that  they  were  quietly  passed  over. 

What  called  forth  the  following  action  of  the  Town  does  not 
appear  from  the  Records:  "Voted,  that  the  bookes  of  the 
Register  of  birthes  and  deathes  in  the  town  of  Boston  shall  be  de- 
manded by  the  Select-men  in  whose  hands  soever  they  be,  and  that  all 
bookes  or  other  things  belonging  to  the  Library,  and  all  the  goods  or 
estate  belonging  to  the  Town,  be  demanded,  and  taken  possession  of  by 
the  Selectmen.""}" 

It  was  ordered  by  the  Town,  that  as  Capt.  Samuel  Sewall 

had  been  at  charge  "in  severall  essays  to  plant  trees  at  the 

south  end  of  the  Town  for  the  shading  of  Wheeler's  Point,"  he  and  his 

heirs,  "  and  none  else,"  should  have  liberty  to  lop  the  trees  so  planted, 


Mar.  11. 


*  He  was  buried  at  the  east  end  of  the  church, 
St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  London,  over  whose  re- 
mains his  wife  caused  the  following  inscription 
to  be  placed  :  — 

"  Near  this  place  is  interred  the  hody  ofiSir  Wil- 
liam Phipps,  Knight,  who,  in  the  year  1687,  by  his 
great  Industry,  discovered  among  the  rocks  near 
the  Banks  of  Bahama,  on  the  north  side  of  His- 
paniola,  a  Spanish  plate  ship  which  had  been  under 
water  forty-four  years  ;  out  of  which  he  took,  in 
gold  and  silver,  to  the  value  of  three  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  sterling  ;  and,  with  a  fidelity  equal  to 
his  conduct,  brought  it  all  to  London,  where  it  was 
divided  between  himself  and  the  rest  of  the  adven- 
turers :  For  which  great  service  he  was  knighted 
by  his  then  Majesty,  King  James  II.,  and  after- 
wards by  the  command  of  his  present  Majesty;  and 
at  the  request  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  of  New 
England,  he  accepted  the  Government  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  which  he  continued  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  discharged  his  trust  with  that  zeal  for 
the  interest  of  his  country,  and  so  little  regard  to 
his  own  private  advantage,  that  he  justly  gained 
the  good  esteem  and  affections  of  the  greatest  and 
best  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  Colony.  He 
died  the  18th  of  February,  1694  [1694-5]  ;  and  his 
Lady,  to  perpetuate  his  memory,  hath  caused  this 
Monument  to  be  erected."  —  Maitland,  Hist.  Lon- 
don, vol.  ii.  p.  1145.  See  also  Gen.  and  Hist.  Reg., 
iv.  290. 

Though  this  inscription  is  long,  even  the  age 
of  the  deceased  is  not  mentioned,  his  parent- 
age, nor  place  of  birth.  Something  of  these 
may  be  found  in  the  Magnalia  of  his  intimate 
friend,  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  The  reader  of  Sir 
William's  life,  as  given  by  that  author,  how- 
ever, should  read  in  connection  with  it  Calef  's 
notice  of  it  in  his  "  More  Wonders  of  the  In- 


visible World."  Sir  William  Phips'  father, 
James  Phips,  came  from  Bristol,  England,  and 
settled  at  Pemaquid.  He  had  26  children,  of 
whom  21  were  sons,  of  whom  Sir  William  was 
one;  born  2  Feb.,  1650.  Hence  he  was  but 
45  at  his  decease.  His  wife  was  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Roger  Spencer,  and  widow  of  John 
Hull,  merchant  of  Boston.  She  had  no  chil- 
dren by  Phips.  Spencer  Bennett,  son  of  her 
sister  Margaret,  took  the  name  of  Phips,  and 
was  Lieut.  Governor  of  Massachusetts.  He 
grad.  H.  C.  1703,  died  4  April,  1757,  ae.  73. 
His  son  William  grad.  H.  C.  1728.  The  wife 
of  Lt.  Gov.  Phips  died  at  Cambridge,  7  May, 
1764.  In  1739,  "  John  Phipps  of  Wrentham  " 
petitioned  the  Gen.  Court  for  a  "  Canada 
grant,"  in  right  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Wm.  Phips, 
and  for  another  in  right  of  his  brother  James. 
This  John  Phips  was  probably  son  of  John, 
both  of  whom  are  remembered  by  Sir  William 
in  his  will,  which  he  made  18  Dec.  1693,  and 
which  was  proved  13  June,  1695.  Sir  Wil- 
liam's widow  died  in  1704,  leaving  to  her 
adopted  son,  Spencer  Phips,  the  bulk  of  her 
estate.  She  was  then  the  wife  of  Peter  Ser- 
geant. 

f  Mar.  11.  Maj.  John  Walley  chosen  Mod- 
erator. Constables  chosen  were  Daniel  Oliver, 
John  George,  Edward  Thomas,  Epaphras 
Shrimpton,  Thomas  Palmer,  Thomas  Graford, 
Benj.  Mountfort,  Eleazar  Moody.  Graford 
was  excused,  Palmer  and  Moody  paid  fines. 
David  Norton,  Geo.  Robinson,  and  Wm,  Tu™ef 
were  chosen  in  their  room, 


508  MARRIAGE    OP    RELATIVES.  [1695. 

and  to  cut  them  down  and  dispose  of  them,  he  or  they  planting  others 
and  causing  them  to  grow. 

Winnesimmet    ferry   was    let    to   John   Scolly   for    seven 

April  Ad *  jf. 

r  years.* 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  agitation  in  the  Churches  of  Boston  upon 
the  subject  of  marriage,  particularly  in  respect  to  the  lawfulness  or 
unlawfulness  of  intermarriages  among  relatives.  It  is  probable  that 
some  case  had  occurred  in  one  of  the  Churches  which  gave  rise  to  that 
agitation.  However  this  may  have  been,  "  several  of  the  Ministers  in 
and  near  Boston"  felt  themselves  called  upon  to  settle  a  question 
which  they  thus  stated  :  —  "  Whether  it  is  lawful  for  a  man  to  marry 
his  wife's  own  sister?"  The  Ministers  who  took  it  upon  themselves 
to  decide  upon  the  matter  were  Increase  Mather,  of  the  Second  Church, 
Charles  Morton,  of  Charlestown  Church,  James  Allen,  of  the  First 
Church,  Samuel  Willard,  of  the  Third  Church,  Cotton  Mather,  of  the 
Second,  John  Danforth,  of  Dorchester,  and  James  Sherman.  They 
published  their  judgment  in  a  tract  of  eight  pages,  unqualifiedly  assert- 
ing, "  We  answer  in  the  negative,  that  it  is  utterly  unlawful,  inces- 
tuous, and  an  hainous  sin  in  the  sight  of  God."  The  answer  occupies 
but  two  lines,  the  arguments  and  authorities  making  up  the  rest  of  the 
work. 

This  treatise  of  the  Ministers,  perhaps,  influenced  the  General  Court, 
at  its  May  session,  to  pass  a  law  "to  prevent  incestuous  marriages." 
It  provides  that  no  persons  shall  be  allowed  to  marry  where  there  is  an 
affinity  between  them,  as  declared  in  the  Scriptures.  Whoever  offended 
or  broke  this  law,  "  such  man  and  woman  shall  be  set  upon  the  gallows 
by  the  space  of  an  hour,  with  a  rope  about  their  neck,  and  the  other 
end  cast  over  the  gallows  ;  and,  in  the  way  from  thence  to  the  Common 
Gaol,  shall  be  severely  whipped,  not  exceeding  forty  stripes  each. 
Also,  every  person  so  offending  shall  forever  after  wear  a  capital  I,  of 
two  inches  long  and  proportionable  bigness,  cut  out  in  cloth  of  a  con- 
trary color  to  their  cloaths,  and  sewed  upon  their  upper  garments,  on 
the  outside  of  their  arm,  or  on  their  back,  in  open  view."  f  If  at  any 
time  such  criminals  were  found  without  the  letter,  they  were  to  be 
whipped,  not  exceeding  fifteen  stripes.  { 

*  Sept.  30.  The  following  is  a  list  of  persons  "Col.   Nicholas    Paig,   John  Wing,    Richd. 

ordered  to  appear  before  the  Selectmen,  to  an-  Basin,  and  Tho.  Peck,  Sen.,  for  their  trespas 

swer  for  "  breach  of  Town  Orders  or  Bylaws  neer  their  own  houses."     All  were  given  to 

in  building  to  the  inconvenience  of  the  Streets  the  1st  of  October  "  to  remove  the  nusances,  or 

with   timber,  stones,  &c,  being   thereof  con-  pay  5s.  for  the  use  of  the  poor." 

victed;  viz.,  James  Barton,  Richd.  Cheever,  John  "Thomas  Harris  paid  one  penny  as  an  ac- 

Orris,    Joseph    Ryall,    John    Coombs,    John  knowledgement  that  part  of  his  shop  stood  on 

Soames,  Ralph  Carter,  John  Gerish,  Tho.  Hitch-  the  Town  land." 

born,  Gypon  Fawer,  Tho.  Peabody,  Sam11.  Mat-  f  Colony  Laws,  edition  1714,  p.  68.     The 

tock,  Wm.  Wilson,  John  Lawson,  John  Nicols,  same  is  upon  the  statute  book   published  in 

Richd.  Middlecot,  Saml.  Burrell,  David  Adams,  1768.     This  law  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Scarlet 

Joseph  Adams,  Daniel  Collins,  John  Bayley,  Letter." 

Christ  Sleg.     For  their  trespassing  on  the  south  J  Justices  were  to  consummate    marriages 

side  of  the  high  way,  on  the  eastward  side  of  only  within  their  own  counties,  and  ministers 

the  Draw  Bridge. "     These  persons  were  prob-  only  within   their   towns.     The  marriage  fee 

ably  erecting  buildings  on  the  spot  burnt  over  was  fixed  at  3s.,  and  for  publishment  and  cer- 

by  the  great  fire  of  5  Aug.  1690,  before  noticed,  tificate,  Is.  —  Laws,  p.  16. 


1694.] 


FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR. 


509 


CHAPTER   LTII. 


French  and  Indian  War.  —  The  Chief  Bomazecn  imprisoned  in  Boston. — Mission  of  Shcepscot  John. 

—  Hopes  and  Prospects  of  the  contending  Parties. — The  French  plan  the  Capture  of  Boston. — 
Severity  of  Winter.  —  Harbor  frozen  beyond  former  Experience.  —  Defences  of  the  Town  renewed.  — ■ 
Order  concerning  the  Market.  —  Concerning  further  Defences. — Writing-school. — Death  of  Gov. 
Bradstreet.  —Jews.  —  Peace  with  France.  —  Order  concerning  the  Records.  —  Number  of  Houses. 

—  Widows.  —  Ezekiel  Cheever.  —  Edward  Ward. — His  description  of  Boston.. —  Slanderers. — 
Earl  Bellamont  Governor. . —  First  Nobleman  Governor.  —  His  Popularity.  —  Arrests  the  Pirate 
Kid.  i —  Case  of  Maj.  Mayhew.  —  Death  of  Gov.  Bellamont.  —  Church  in  Brattle  street  founded.  — 
Its  History.  —  Muddy  River  petitions  to  be  set  off.  —  Schools.  —  Rumney  Marsh. 

A  distressing  Indian  war  was  now  laying  waste  the 
exposed  frontiers  of  New  England.  Hundreds  of  the 
inhabitants  were  killed  or  carried  prisoners  to  Canada, 
and  a  vast  amount  of  property  was  destroyed.  A  few 
Indians  were  from  time  to  time  taken  and  killed,  but 
their  number  bore  no  proportion  to  the  mischief  done 
by  them  to  the  English.*  The  French,  in  Canada, 
aided  the  Indians  in  fitting  out  their  expeditions,  and 
afforded  them  a  retreat  after  they  had  performed  them, 
joYLiFFE.f  and  often  sent  some  of  their  own  people  to  lead  and 
support  them.     Thus  a  most  devastating  warfare  was 

kept  up  for  ten  years  together.  J 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1694,  there  was  "  bloody  fishing 

July  18.   at  Oyster  River,"  in  New  Hampshire,  as  a  Reverend  Historian 


*  It  is  said  that  for  every  Indian  killed  it 
had  cost  the  country  £1000  each. 

f  A  name  written  with  great  variation.  Mr. 
John  Joyliffe  of  Boston  was  a  gentleman  of 
wealth  and  consideration  from  1663  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  happened  23  Nov.  1701. 
He  lived  in  what  is  now  Devonshire  St.,  in  that 
part  between  Water  and  Milk  st.  It  was  one 
of  the  few  streets  or  lanes  which  retained  its 
former  name,  when,  in  1708,  the  Selectmen 
gave  names  to  all  the  streets.  It  had  been 
known  by  the  name  of  Joyliffe's  Lane  for  many 
years  before  this  confirmation.  John  Joyliffe 
left  a  will,  dated  17  Feb.  1699-1700,  witnessed 
by  Anthony  Checkley,  Saml.  Lynde,  Edward 
Creeke,  and  Benj.  Stone.  "  To  friends  in  Eng- 
land, viz.  to  Katharine  Bowles,  dau.  of  mybro. 
Dr.  Geo.  Joyliffe,  20s.  ;  to  Katharine  Coope 
and  Alice  Moxley,  daus.,  to  my  sister  Dorothy 
Cane,  20s.  each  ;  to  John  Cooke  of  London, 
merchant,  son  of  my  sister  Martha,  20s.  ;  to 
sister  Spicer,  dau.  of  my  sister  Rebecca  Wol- 
cott,  20s.  ;  to  John  Drake,  son  of  my  sister 
Margaret  Drake,  20s.  ;  to  Margaret  and  Kath- 
arine Drake,  daus.  of  my  sister  Margaret,  20s. 
each  ;  to  Esther,  dau.  of  my  sister  Mary  Biss, 
sometime  wife  of  James  Biss  of  Shepton  Mallett, 


in  the  C°.  of  Somerset,  20s. ;  to  Rev.  Saml.  Wil- 
lard  of  Boston,  £5  :  to  Mr.  Simon  W.,  son  of 
said  Samuel  W.,  £5  ;  to  the  poor  of  the  Town, 
£10  ;  to  Martha  Ballard,  dau.  of  my  late  wife, 
and  now  wife  of  Mr.  Jarvis  Ballard  of  Boston, 
house  and  land  in  Boston,  now  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Capt.  Nathl.  Byfield,  sold  to  me  by 
mortgage  of  Richd.  Price,  late  of  Boston,  mer- 
chant, deceased,  for  £300  ;  all  else  to  go  to 
said  dau. -in-law,  Martha  Ballard,  who,  with 
her  husband,  to  be  exrs." 

"  Argent,  on  a  Pile,  Az.  three  dexter  Gaunt- 
lets of  the  field,  is  the  coat  Armor  of  John  Jol- 
liffe  of  the  city  of  London,  Esq.,  Governor  of 
the  Muscovy  Company,  descended  from  the 
Jolliffs  of  Botham  in  Staffordshire.  Borne  also 
by  William  Jolliffe  of  Carswall  Castle  in  the 
same  Shire,  Esq."  —  Guillim,  Heraldry,  ed. 
1679. 

J  Some  spoil  was  occasionally  done  upon  the 
commerce  of  the  French  by  daring  and  enter- 
prising Boston  seamen.  In  July,  1695,  Capt. 
Robert  Glover  ranged  the  eastern  coast  in  a 
privateer  sloop  called  the  Dragon.  In  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  he  captured  a 
French  ship,  named  the  St.  Joseph,  with  a 
cargo  valued  at  about  £15,000, 


510  INDIANS    IMPRISONED. BOMAZEEN.  SHEEPSCOT   JOHN.  [1694. 

of  the  time   expressed  himself.*     Ninety-four  people  were   killed  and 
carried    into    captivity,    and   thirteen    dwelling-houses     were 
u  7     '    burned.     And   only  nine  days  after,  thirty-five  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Groton  met  a  like  fate.     A  noted  Indian  Chief,  residing  upon 
the  Kennebec  river,  was  supposed  to  have  led  the  parties  which  com- 
„„    mitted  these  enormities.   The  name  of  this  Chief  was  Bomazeen  : 
and,  within  about  four  months  after,  he  was,  by  some  stratagem, 
taken  by  the  English  at  Pemaquid,  and  shortly  after  brought  to  Bos- 
ton, and   closely  confined  in  the  common  jail,  with  several  others  of 
his  countrymen.f     Here  he  remained  until  December,  1698,  at  which 
time  he  was  liberated  by  an  exchange  of  prisoners.     While  these  pris- 
oners were  lying  in  jail,  Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton  issued 
Jan.  21.    ft  Proclamation,  |    copies   of   which  he    sent  to  Canada, §  and 
to    the   Indians  on  the  "  Amarascogin."     In  that  proclama- 
tion the  Governor  called  upon  all  the  Indians  who  held   any  of  the 
English  captives,  to  give  immediate  proof  of  their  fidelity  by  a  compli- 
ance with  a  treaty  they  had  recently  entered  into  to  deliver  them  up, 
and  to  seize  and  deliver  up  to  the  English  the   Chiefs  who  had  been 
concerned  "  in  this  last  and  bloody  tragedy;"    otherwise  they  might 
expect  to  be  visited  with  the  utmost  rigors  of  the  law.     To   this  the 
Indians  replied  by  a   counter  proclamation  ;    in  which  they  were   not 
behind  the  Lieutenant  Governor  in  threats  and  denunciations.      "  That 
which  thou  sayest  to  us,  the  same  will  we  say  to  thee,"  is  a  fair  speci- 
men of  their  reply.     However,   through  the  mediation  of  Sheepscot 
John,  several  captives  were  not  long  after  restored,  and  a  truce   agreed 
upon,  but  the  war  continued.  || 

*  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,    Magnolia,   ii.    626,  makes  Gov.  Stoughton  say,  in  speaking  of  dep- 

new  edition.  redations,   "  Commit  a   l'endroit   de  plusieurs 

f  The  French  historians  charge  the  English  bon  sujets  de  saMajestes  de  la  riviere  d'Huitre- 
with  great  perfidy  in  that  seizure  of  the  In-  Egroton,"  &c.  Now,  unless  one  were  familiar 
dians.  Against  his  account  of  the  affair,  with  all  the  transactions,  he  would  not  sup- 
Char  levoix  sets  in  his  margin,  "  Trahison  faite  pose  that  "  Oyster  River  and  Groton  "  was 
par  les  Anglois  aux  Abenaquis."  The  English,  meant  by  the  words  I  have  italicized.  Nor  did 
he  says,  had  turned  all  their  attention  to  de-  Mons.  de  la  Potherie  make  much  better  work 
bauch  the  people  about  Acadie.  That  seven  in  printing  the  counter  proclamation  of  the  In- 
Abenaquis  being  sent  to  Pemaquid  under  a  dians,  in  which  document  he  makes  them  say, 
flag  of  truce,  they  were  seized  ;  three  of  them  "  J'envoye  les  presentes  paries  mains  de  Sheep- 
were  carried  prisoners  to  Boston,  and  the  other  scot,  Jean  Alt,  Bagataouaroongan  un  de  leurs 
four  were  massacred  in  the  way.  "  Sept  Abe-  otages,"  &c.  Now  who  would  suppose  that 
naquis  etant  alles  a  Pemkuit  avec  un  drapeau  the  words  in  Italic  here  meant  "  Sheepscot 
parlementaire,  y  furent  arretis  ;  trois  furent  John,  als.  Bagataouaroongan  ?"  &c. — lb.  41. 
menes  prisonniers  a  Boston,  et  les  quatre  autres  Potherie  was  licensed  to  print  in  1702,  but 
furent  massacres  en  chemin."  —  Histoire  et  his  work  did  not  appear  till  1722. 
Desc.  Gen.  de  la  Nouvelle  France,  ii.  159. —  §  Sheepscot  John  was  the  bearer  of  the 
Hutchinson  says  the  Indians  were  no  other-  Proclamation.  He  was  one  of  the  Hostages 
wise  maltreated  than  by  being  kept  in  prison  imprisoned  with  Bomazeen  in  Boston,  and  was 
in  Boston,  "  which,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  a  party  to  the  Treaty  of  Pemaquid  of  11  Aug. 
was  a  very  bad  one."  —  Hist.  Mass.,  ii.  87.  1693,  made  with  Sir  William  Phips.     To  that 

J  I   have  not  met  with   this  proclamation  instrument   his   name   stands,    "  John   Baga- 

except  in  French,  as  rendered  by  Potherie,  in  tawawongo,   alias    Sheepscot   John."  —  Book 

his  Histoire  de  L'Amerigue  Septent.,  i v.  40-2.  of  the  Indians,  305.  —  Hutchinson,  ii.  88. — 

As  is  commonly  the  case,  the  author  of  that  Magnolia,  vii.  85. 
book  has  made  wretched  work  in  translating        ||  See  note  on  p.  509. 
the  names   of  persons  and   places.     Thus  he 


1C96.]  FORTIFICATIONS    REPAIRED.  511 

England  and  Franco  continued  at  war.  Each  nation  hoped  to  suc- 
ceed on  this  continent  against  the  other,  and  to  effect  a  complete  con- 
quest of  it.  Affairs  on  the  whole,  since  the  expedition  of  1690,  had 
been  in  favor  of  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies.  The  Canadians 
believed  that  the  English  government  would  send  out  a  strong  naval 
force  against  them  in  the  spring  of  1GUG  ;  to  counteract  which  they 
applied  to  the  King  of  France  to  send  over  a  fleet  of  sufficient  force  to 
overpower  any  the  English  might  employ.  It  was  planned  that  the 
French  fleet  should  fall  in  with  the  English  fleet  on  the  coast,  and, 
having  destroyed  it,  to  proceed  immediately  to  capture  Boston,  which 
they  believed  to  be  a  place  of  great  trade.  Yet  the  high  hopes  of  the 
French  were  blasted  in  respect  to  their  great  object. 

The  fortifications  of  the  Town  were  examined  early  this 
year,  and  were  reported  "  very  much  out  of  repair,  and 
unfit  for  service  in  this  time  of  Avar."  And  although  the  Province 
was  accountable  for  their  efficiency,  it  was  determined  in  Town-meet- 
ing, that  "  forasmuch  as  our  own  safety  doth  necessarily  depend  upon 
the  speedy  setting  of  the  platform  and  carriages  for  the  great  artillery 
in  repair,  so  as  they  may  be  of  service  incase  of  invasion,"  to  have 
them  prepared  at  once  for  service.  At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  that 
Col.  Samuel  Shrimpton,  Lieut.  Col.  Hutchinson,  and  Maj.  Penn  Town- 
send,  with  the  Selectmen,  should  make  application  to  the  Commander 
in  Chief  for  his  orders  and  direction,  and  to  provide  for  whatever  ex- 
penditure the  Town  should  incur  in  rendering  the  forts  serviceable.* 

It  was  voted  that  Joseph  Belknap's  lease  might  be  renewed,  but  for 
a  term  not  exceeding  ninety-nine  years. f     It  was   "  agreed  that  the 
Market  appointed  by  law  should  be  kept  at  one  place  at  pres- 
ent ;   namely,  in  and  about  the  Town-house,  and  that  it  be 
opened  on  the  eleventh  day  of  August  next." 

It  was  voted  in  Town-meeting,  that  the  Town  Rate  should 
'  not  exceed  500  pounds  ;  that  more  money  should  be  raised  and 
employed  about  the  fortifications,  and  to  buy  powder  for  necessary  de- 
fence, but  not  to  exceed  500  pounds.  Lieut.  Col.  Hutchinson,  Peter 
Sergeant,  Esq.,  and  Henry  Deering,  were  to  examine  the  Treasurer's 
accounts,  and  Col.  Shrimpton,  Col.  Hutchinson  and  Maj.  Townsend, 

*The  next  year  (22  Mar.  1697),  "Col.  had  not  £20  ratable  estate"  besides  the  poll." 
Hutchinson,  Mr.  Samson  Stoddard,  and  Mr.  No  person  to  keep  more  than  one  dog.  "  Noe 
Tim.  Clark,  to  be  a  committee  to  see  all  the  person  shall  ride  too  and  fro  aboute  the  Corn- 
great  ordnance  belonging  to  the  Town  of  Bos-  mon  on  the  Sabbath-day,  to  water  horses,  on 
ton  well  mounted  on  sufficient  carriages  ;  all  the  penalty  of  5s.,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Fairfield  is 
platforms  repaired,  and  new  ones  erected  as  impowered  to  look  after  the  transgressors." 
they  shall  judge  needful ;  stores  for  powder  in  ^ 
time  of  Service,  with  all  other  materials  neces-  I  -^  /7 /7 
sary  for  our  defence,  and  to  draw  upon  the  fl  &  ^Tz^  "*  •/ 
Treasurer  of  the  Town,  which  he  is  to  answer,  ^  €LTf/24Ld^0/^I-.  *s  &&Wj^B^fffii 
not  exceeding  £500."  The  Gunner  was  al-  /  ^ 
lowed  £20  per  annum.  Mr.  Cole,  Master  of  f 
the  Free  Writing-school,  to  have  £10  added  to  -f-  It  was  of  a  piece  of  ground  leased  to  him 
his  salary  for  the  coming  year.  It  was  before  in  1657.  See  ante,  p.  350. 
£30.     No  person  allowed  to  keep  a  dog  who 


512  DEATH    OF    GOV.    BRADSTREET.  [1697. 

were  "  a  committee  to  examine  after  the  Town's  powder  that  is  lost, 
and  also  to  appoint  the  wages  of  William  Tilly,  Gunner  for  this 
present  year,  and  what  is  past."  It  was  also  "  voted  that  part  of  the 
money  given  by  the  late  Major  John  Richards,  to  be  improved  for  the 
poor  of  the  Town,  should  be  laid  out  in  building  a  chamber  over  Mr. 
Phillips  his  shop,  and  the  Watch-house,  and  it  is  to  be  left  with  the 
Select-men  to  order  the  building  of  it,  and  to  lease  it  out."  A  house 
for  a  Writing-school,  adjoining  to  the  old  School-house,  was  voted  to 
be  built,  and  referred  to  the  Selectmen  also.* 

The  venerable  and  respected  Governor  Bradstreet  died  at 
Salem,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four.  He  was  a  son  of  Simon 
Bradstreet,f  and  was  born  at  Horbling,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  in 
March,  1603.  The  father  of  Governor  Bradstreet  was  "the  son  of  a 
Suffolk  gentleman  of  fine  estate,"  became  a  Nonconformist,  preached 
for  a  time  in  Lincolnshire,  and  afterwards  at  Middleburgh,  in  Holland. 
He  was  at  one  time  "  one  of  the  first  Fellows  of  Immanuel  College, 
under  Doctor  Chadderton,  and  one  afterwards  highly  esteemed  by  Mr. 
Cotton  and  Mr.  Preston."  He  died  about  1617.  Governor  Bradstreet 
had  witnessed  the  events  of  near  a  century,  the  entire  existence  of 
Boston,  and  in  short  New  England.  He  was  living  when  Capt.  Josh- 
ua Scottow  wrote  his  "  Narrative  of  the  Planting  of  the  Massachusetts 
Colony,"  which  was  dedicated  to  him,  and  published  three  years 
before  his  death.J  In  this  his  old  friend  saluted  him  as  New  Eng- 
land's Nestor,  to  which  Hutchinson  subscribed,  and  says,  "He  was  the 
youngest  of  all  the  Assistants  who  came  over  with  the  first  Charter," 
and  he  is  said  to  have  been  the  last  survivor  of  all  those  who  came  to 
New  England  with  him  in  1630. § 

Governor  Bradstreet  married  Anne,  a  daughter  of  Governor  Thomas 
Dudley,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  and  their  posterity  is  widely 

*  The  next  year  (Dec.  20th,  1698),  at  the  longing  to  John  Mears  deceased  is  11  pole  and 
request  of  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  Joseph  Prout  one  foot;    from  said  north  corner    cross   the 
measured  certain  distances,   an    account    of  high-way  to  Capt.  Bozoon  Allen's  land  is  25^ 
which  was  entered  on  the  Records.     From  this  foote." 
it  appears  that  the  New  School-house  had  been  A                          /] 
built  at  Cotton  Hill.  — "  From  the  southerly  SCP}     ff                  Js       '                          a 
corner  of  the  New  School-house  at  Cotton  Hill,  If  pf^C^-3^  "^  cJf-&&'fW' 
to  the  northerly  corner  of  Capt.  Legg's  land  is  c~>=>-                                     // 
55  foot ;  from  said  north  corner  of  said  School-  ^S 
house  to  the  southerly  post  of  Capt.  Sewall's  Jan-    30tn>  1698-9.      "  Ordered,   that  the 
gate,  being  the  breadth  cross  the  high-way  is  School-house  lately  built  in  the  Prison-lane  on 
53  foot  4  inches  ;  from  said  gate-post  to   the  the  side  of  tne  Hil1  over  against  the  land  of 
south-easterly  end  of  the  School-house  fence  is  C^P*-  Samll.  Sewall  remain  as  it  is  now  fenced 
41£;  the  breadth  upon  the  high-way  between  in,  and  that  no  more  ofsaid  Hill  be  improved  by 
Mr.  Coney  and  Belknap  on  the  one  side  of  building  or  otherways  taken  in,  but  left  for 
Capt.  Sewall's  land  on  the  other  side  is  17  accommodation  of  the  street  or  high-way." 
foot ;  from  the  easterly  corner  of  the  School-  f  Rev-  Samuel  Sewall,  out  of  ancient  (Brad- 
house  cross  the 'high-way  to  the  N.  W.  gate  street)  family  MSS. 
post  of  the  house  late  of  Mr.  Perkins  is  36  X  See  °nte,  p.  106. 

foot ;  from  the  east  corner  of  said  School-house  §  This  is  true>  no  doubt,  as  it  respects  the 

to  the  northe  corner  of  the  land  formerly  be-  fathers  of  the  Colony,  or  prominent  men. 


1G97.]  JUWS.  —  INDIAN    WAR. SEVERE   WINTER.  513 

spread  over  New  England  at  this  day  ;    including  many  families  and 
individuals  of  the  highest  respectability.* 

Among  all  the  sects  which  had  given  concern  to  the  early  Founders 
of  Boston,  that  of  the  Jews  was  among  the  least.  At  this  time,  there 
were  but  two  of  that  faith  in  the  Town.  These  were  brothers,  of  the 
name  of  Frazon,  Joseph  and  Samuel.  The  former  was  some  time  a 
scholar  to  the  learned  Da  Sylva  in  London.  Their  father  and  grand- 
father had  lived  in  the  Dutch  Colony  in  Brazil. f 

The  Indian  war  continued  to  cause  deep  distress  throughout  almost 
the  entire  inland  borders  of  New  England,  and  temporary  relief  only 
could  be  expected  during  the  wiuter  now  close  at  hand. 

Nor  did  the  joyful  news  of  the  Peace   of  Ryswick  entirely 

allay  the  fears  of  further  miseries  from  Indian  depredations. 

However,  Peace  was  proclaimed  in  Boston  on  the  tenth  of  December, 

and  celebrated  with  an  earnestness  which  the  prospect  of  relief  from  the 

horrors  of  war  only  could  give. 

The  winter  which  had  now  commenced  "  was  the  severest  that  ever 
was  in  the  memory  of  man."  J  "  From  the  middle  of  January  to  the 
first  or  second  of  March  it  held  cold,  with  very  little  or  no  intermission. 
All  the  Bay  was  frozen  over  quite  out  to  Sea  ;  so  as  it  was  com- 
mon to  go  horse  and  man  over  all  the  ferries  for  two  months  to- 
gether. The  main  channel  in  Boston  harbor  did  not  open  till  the 
first  of  March.  It  snowed  that  year  between  twenty  and  thirty 
times. "§  "  Slays  and  loaded  sleds  passed  a  great  part  of  the  time 
upon  the  ice  from  Boston  as  far  as  Nantasket."  There  was  also  a 
great  scarcity  of  provisions.  Grain  was  never  at  a  higher  price,  nor 
could  it  be  readily  had  for  money.  Trade  also  suffered  more  than 
at  any  former  period. || 

At  the  Town-meeting,  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  was  Moderator. 
Mar  14.  Samson  Stoddard,  Thomas  Walker,  Bozoon  Allen,  Obediah  Gill, 
Thomas  Hunt,  John  Marion,  Jr.,  and  Isaiah  Tay,  were  Selectmen ; 
William  Griggs  was  Town  Clerk,  and  James  Taylor,  Treasurer.  The 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  were  Benjamin  Walker,  Henry  Dering,  Rich- 
ard Draper  and  Samuel  Lind.     At  the  same  Meeting,  it  was  voted, 

*  I  may  well  be  excused  from  any  enlarge-  evidently  made  some  errors  in  Lis  transcript, 

ment  upon  the  posterity  of  Gov.  Bradstreet,  it  The  most  accurate  copy  is  probably  that  to  be 

having  been  so  lately  and  so  ably  done  in  the  found  in  Alden,s  Epitaphs,  i.  p.  71 ;  or  No.  85. 

JV.  E.  Hist,  and   Gen.  Register,  by  two  gen-  j-  Sewall ;   who    says,   "  There   are   several 

tlemen  who  take  a  deep  interest  in  such  eluci-  families  of  Jews  at  New  York,  and  New  Eng- 

dations  of  New  England's  History.     See  that  land  is  seldom  wholly  without  them." 

work,  vol.  viii.  312—25.  J  Mather,  Magnolia,  vii.  93,  or  ii.  693,  new 

The  tomb-stone  of  Governor  Bradstreet  is  edition.  It  is  not  easy  to  understand  by  the 
still  to  be  seen  in  the  Charter-street  Burying-  Magnalia  the  precise  year  of  this  severe  win- 
ground  in  Salem,  but  the  Inscription  upon  it  ter.  Hutchinson  is  a  year  out  of  the  way. 
has  long  been  illegible;  and  yet,  from  copies  See  Hist.  Mass.>  ii.  101.  He  does  not  give 
often  reprinted  in  this  age,  there  is  nothing  to  his  authority,  and  it  is  not  known,  therefore, 
indicate  the  fact  that  they  are  copied  from  who  misled  him. 
copies.  Nearly  one  hundred  years  ago,  a  Cor-  §  Clough's  Almanack  for  1701. 
respondent  of  the  "  Boston  Chronicle  "  made  ||  Clough's  Almanack  for  1701,  and  Hutch;- 
out  the  original  with  difficulty,  and  even  then  inson,  ii.  101. 

65 


514 


LATIN    SCHOOL   ASSISTANT. 


[1698. 


"That  all  choice  of  officers,  on  the  day  of  a  Public  Town-meeting  for 
that  work,  should  be  entered  in  a  book,  and  not  on  loose  paper,  and  so 
all  other  things  voted  by  the  Town,  least  they  should  be  lost."* 

Boston  at  this  time  contained  above  1000  houses,  and  more  than 
7000  inhabitants.!  "  It  was  no  sooner  come  to  some  consistence  three- 
score years  ago,  but  the  people  found  themselves  plunged  into  a  sad 
non-plus  what  way  to  take  for  a  subsistence.  God  then  immediately 
put  them  in  a  way.  The  Town  is  at  this  day  full  of  widows  and 
orphans,  and  a  multitude  of  them  are  very  helpless  creatures.  I  am 
astonished  how  they  live  !  In  that  Church  whereof  I  am  a  Servant,  I 
have  counted  the  widows  make  about  a  sixth  part  of  our  Communi- 
cants, and  no  doubt  in  the  whole  Town  the  proportion  differs  not  very 
much."  J 

1699.  It  was  decided  by  the  Town  that  an  Assistant  in  the  Latin 

Mar.  13.  gchool  should  be  provided  for  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever.  It  being 
committed  to  the  Selectmen,  Mr.  Ezekiel  Lewes,  his  grandson,  was 
M  selected  to  fill  the  station,  and  to  have  a  Salary  of  not  exceed- 

ing forty  pounds  a  year.     He  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the 
Aug.  28.  following  August. § 

Boston  was  this  year  visited  by  a  remarkable  character ;    remark- 


*  At  the  same  meeting,  "  Col.  Hutchinson, 
Mr.  Samuel  Lind,  Mr.  Timo.  Clark,  and  Mr. 
David  Copp,  senr.,  chosen  a  Conlte  to  join  with 
the  Select-men  to  renew  the  antiant  bounds  of 
the  high-way  leading  from  the  Black-horse  lane 
to  the  Mill,  by  Centry  Haven,  and  to  propose 
how  it  may  be  better  laid  out,  if  need  be." 

May  9th.  "  John  Eyer,  Esq.,  Capt.  Sam'l 
Legg,  Capt.  Nath.  Byfield,  and  Penn  Town- 
send,"  were  chosen  Representatives.  On  the 
30th,  Capt.  Andrew  Belcher  was  chosen  in- 
stead of  Capt.  Townsend,  who  had  been  chosen 
a  Counsellor.  July  11th,  a  rate  of  £800  was 
ordered  to  be  raised. 

Oct.  11th.  "  Ordered  that  the  natural  and 
antient  water  course  at  the  south  end  of  the 
Town,  between  the  wharf  lately  set  up  by  Mr. 
Barrichia  Arnold  and  the  wharf  of  Peter  Wel- 
comb,  deceased,  in  breadth  9  feet,  shall  for  ever 
remaine  for  that  vse,  and  shall  be  kept  open 
as  a  common  priviledge." 

Nov.  14.  It  was  voted  "  that  a  rate  of  £60 
be  raised  by  the  Select-men,  for  the  repairing 
of  the  Town-house,  and  no  other  use." 

I  Sermon  at  the  Boston  Lecture,  7:2:  1698, 
by  Doctor  Cotton  Mather.  "  The  Small-pox 
has  four  times  been  a  great  plague  upon  us. 
In  one  twelvemonth,  about  1000  of  our  neigh- 
bors have  one  way  or  other  been  carried  unto 
their  long  home ;  and  yet  we  are,  after  all, 
many  more  than  7000  souls  of  us  at  this  hour 
living  on  the  spot.  Ten  times  has  the  fire 
made  notable  ruins  among  us,  and  our  good 
servant  been  almost  our  master  ;  but  the  ruins 
have  mostly  and  quickly  been  rebuilt.  I  sup- 
pose that  many  more  than  a  thousand  houses 


are  to  be  seen  on  this  little  piece  of  ground,  all 
filled  with  the  undeserved  favors  of  God."  — 
Magnalia,  i.  33  ;  or  new  edition,  i.  92. 

%  Ibid.  B.  i.  34.  The  Author  calls  earnestly 
upon  the  Town  Authorities  to  suppress  vice 
of  every  kind,  and  relates  many  examples  of 
judgments  which  had  fallen  upon  other  places 
for  the  sins  of  their  inhabitants.  "  Port  Roy- 
al in  Jamaica,"  he  says,  "  you  know  was 
swallowed  up  the  other  day  in  a  stupendous 
Earthquake  ;  that  just  before  the  Earthquake 
the  people  were  violently  and  scandalously  set 
upon  going  to  Fortune-tellers  upon  all  occa- 
sions. But  none  of  these  wretched  Fortune- 
tellers could  foresee  or  forestall  the  direful 
catastrophe."  He  had  heard  there  were  some 
in  Boston  "  consulted  by  the  sinful  inhabit- 
ants ;  "  and  adds,  "  I  wish  the  Town  could 
be  made  too  hot  for  these  dangerous  trans- 
gressors. And  O  !  that  the  drinking-houses 
in  the  Town  might  once  come  under  a  laud- 
able regulation.  The  Town  has  an  enormous 
number  of  them." 

§  July  7.  "  Ordered  that  the  Draw  Bridge 
over  the  Mill  Creek  be  placed  3  foot  7  in. 
from  the  range  of  the  corner  of  Mr.  Giles 
Dyer's  house,  as  now  it  is,  and  to  extend  in 
breadth  10  ft.  11  in.  from  outside  to  outside 
of  the  Joyce  of  said  bridge,  and  10  ft.  more  or 
less,  being  the  remainder  of  the  breadth  of  said 
way,  over  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Christopher 
Goffe,  late  of  Boston,  deceased." 

Nov.  6.  Mr.  James  Russell,  of  Charles- 
town,  and  Mr.  John  Ballentine,  of  Boston,  or 
"  whoever  else  may  be  concerned,"  or  owners 
of  the  bridge  over  the  Mill  Creek,  are  ordered 


1699.]  VISIT   OF   EDWARD    WARD.  515 

able  for  nothing,  however,  entitling  him  to  very  respectful  considera- 
tion.    His  name  was  Edward  Ward.* 

Mr.  Ward  sailed  from  Gravesend  in  the  ship  Prudent  Sarah,  but  at 
what  time  in  the  year,  or  the  date  of  his  arrival  in  Boston,  does  not 
appear  from  his  Journal.  He  commences  by  saying  that  "  Bishops, 
Bailiffs,  and  Bastards,  were  the  three  terrible  persecutions  which  chiefly 
drove  our  unhappy  brethren  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  our  foreign  Col- 
onies ;  "  and  frankly  acknowledges  that  "one  of  these  bugbears" 
(doubtless  the  latter,  though  he  says  otherwise),  forced  him  "  to  leave 
his  own  dear  native  country,  for  religious  Boston."  After  a  humorous 
and  ludicrous  description  of  his  voyage,  being  tossed  by  the  waves 
"  like  a  dog  in  a  blanket,"  as  he  expresses  it,  he  "  got  sight  of  the 
promised  land  of  Boston,"  of  which  he  promises  to  give  an  account, 
"  free  from  prejudice  or  partiality  ;"  proceeding  as  follows  :  — 

"  On  the  south-west  side  of  Massachusetts  Bay  is  Boston,  whose 
name  is  taken  from  a  town  in  Lincolnshire,  and  is  the  metropolis  of  all 
New  England.  The  houses  in  some  parts  join,  as  in  London.  The 
buildings,  like  their  women,  being  neat  and  handsome  ;  and  their 
streets,  like  the  hearts  of  the  male  inhabitants,  are  paved  with  peb- 
bles." 

At  the  "  stately  edifices  in  the  chief  or  High-street,"  and  their  pro- 
prietors, he  sneers  in  a  manner  practised  only  by  the  envious  or  igno- 
rant. Some  of  these  edifices,  he  remarks,  "have  cost  their  owners 
two  or  three  thousand  pounds ;  which  I  think  plainly  proves  two  old 
adages  true,  namely,  '  that  a  fool  and  his  money  are  soon  parted  ; ' 
and  '  set  a  beggar  on  horseback,  he  '11  ride  to  the  devil ;  '  the  fathers 
of  these  men  were  tinkers  and  pedlars." 

The  Meeting-houses  and  Ministers  escape  some  better  in  the  follow- 
ing passage  :  —  "  To  the  glory  of  Religion  and  the  credit  of  the  Town, 
there  are  four  Churches,  built  with  clapboards  and  shingles,  after  the 
fashion  of  our  Meeting-houses  ;   which  are  supplied  by  four  Ministers  ; 

forthwith  to  repair  the  pavement  on  each  side  From  another  passage  it  seems  our  author 

of  the  bridge,  and  to  move  the  gutters  beside  had,  some  time  or  other,  honored  the  Pillory, 

it,  that  it  might  be  passable  for  horse  and  cart,  or  the  Pillory  him  :  — 

according  to  the  grant  of  the  Town,  or  pay 

20s.  a  week  till  it  should  be  done.  "  As  tMck  as  bees  °'er  vernal  blossoms  fly, 

*  In  Jacob's  Lives  and  Characters  of  the  Eng-  As  thick  as  eSSs  at  Ward  in  Pill^y." 

lish  Poets,  i.  225,  printed  in  1723,  "  Mr.  Ed-  Nor  does  Mr.  Ward's  biographer  fare  much 

ward   Ward"    is  thus  noticed  :  — "  A   very  better    th       h  he  was  the  Author  of  several 

voluminous  Poet,  and  an  imitator  of  the  famous    jaw  D00ks  of  reputation  : 

Butler.     Of  late  years,  he  has  kept  a  public 

house  in  the  City  [of  London] ,  but  in  a  gen-  "  Jacob,  the  scourge  of  grammar,  mark  with  awe, 

teel  way  ;  and  with  his  wit,  humor,  and  good  Nor  less  revere  him,  blunderbuss  of  law." 

liquor,  has  afforded  his   guests  a  pleasurable  ~          ,             ,             .   ..         c          ,  ,        , 

entertainment;    especially*  the   High    Church  ,  1Th°u?.f  Tul!f  re*a^r   of  scandal  and 

party,  which  is  composed  of  men  of  his  prin-  falsehood,  it  was  thought   best   to   notice  Ed- 

ciples,  and  to  whom  he  is  very  much  obliged  ward  ,Ward  ™  thlS  WOr^'  a8+  manj  °   a™  ^a 

for  their  constant  resort."     Pope  gives  him  a  and  S>nes   ha\e   passed  into  by-words,    and 

very  low  seat  among  the  -  Dunces  "  :  -  fe,stl11  remembered  ;    that  their  origin  may 

J                          °  be  known,  or  the  vehicle  through  which  they 

"  Nor  sail  with  Ward,  to  ape-and-monkey  climes,  ^ave  found  their  way  to  this  age. 

Where  vile  Mundungus  trucks  for  viler  rhymes,"- 


516  ward's  description  of  boston.  [1699. 

to  whom  some,  very  justly,  applied  these  epithets  ;  —  one  a  scholar,  the 
second  a  gentleman,  the  third  a  dunce,  and  the  fourth  a  clown." 

"  Every  stranger  is  unavoidably  forced  to  take  this  notice,  —  that  in 
Boston  there  are  more  religious  zealots  than  honest  men  ;  more  Parsons 
than  Churches,  and  more  Churches  than  Parishes.  The  inhabitants 
seem  very  religious,  showing  many  outward  and  visible  signs  of  an 
inward  and  spiritual  grace.  But  though  they  wear  in  their  faces  the 
innocence  of  doves,  you  will  find  them  in  their  dealings  as  subtle  as 
serpents.  Interest  is  their  faith,  money  their  God,  and  large  posses- 
sions the  only  heaven  they  covet.  Election,  Commencement,  and 
Training  days  are  their  only  Holy-days.  They  keep  no  saints'  days, 
nor  will  they  allow  the  Apostles  to  be  saints  ;  yet  they  assume  that 
sacred  dignity  to  themselves,  and  say,  in  the  title-page  of  their  Psalm- 
book,  '  Printed  for  the  edification  of  the  Saints  in  Old  and  New  Eng- 
land.'" 

This  Traveller  has  a  few  remarks  upon  certain  laws  then  in  force, 
especially  that  upon  kissing  in  public,  which,  he  says,  is  "at  the  same 
price  as  fornication."  *  The  women  afford  a  constant  theme  for  the 
Author's  erratic  pen.  "  They  are  not  at  all  inferior,"  he  says,  "  in 
beauty  to  the  ladies  of  London,  having  rather  the  advantage  of  a  better 
complexion  ;  but,  for  the  men,  they  are  generally  meagre,  and  have 
got  the  hypocritical  knack,  like  our  English  Jews,  of  screwing  their 
faces  into  such  puritanical  postures  that  you  would  think  they  were 
always  praying  to  themselves,  or  running  melancholy  mad  about  some 
mystery  in  the  Revelations.  So  that  'tis  rare  to  see  a  handsome  man 
in  the  country,  for  they  have  all  one  cast,  but  of  what  tribe  I  know 
not."f 

The  extracts  here  given  are  more  favorable  to  their  Author  than  the 
parts  omitted  ;  and,  although  there  is  some  truth  in  his  account,  his 
work,  on  the  whole,  is  grossly  slanderous,  or  was  intended  to  be  so, 
but  its  extravagance  in  that  respect  defeats  the  object  he  had  most  in 
view.  Such  is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  ultimate  fate  of  dealers  in  slan- 
der and  detraction. 

The  Earl  of  Bellamont,  J  a  new  Royal  Governor,  who  had  been 

*  In  this  connection  Ward  relates  this  anec-  Kichard,  was  the  third  son  of  Sir  Charles 
dote  :  —  "A  Captain  of  a  ship,  who  had  been  Coote,  Bart.,  and  was  born  in  1620  ;  and  for 
a  long  voyage,  happened  to  meet  his  wife,  and  whose  hearty  concurrence  with  his  brother, 
kissed  her  in  the  street,  for  which  he  was  fined  Sir  Charles  Coote,  in  restoring  Charles  II.,  he 
10s.  What  a  happiness,  thought  I,  do  we  was  raised  to  the  Peerage,  being,  the  same  day 
enjoy  in  Old  England,  that  can  not  only  kiss  his  brother  was  made  an  Earl,  created  Baron 
oar  own  wives,  but  other  men's  too,  without  Coote  of  Coloony.  Of  the  three  sons  of  Baron 
the  danger  of  such  a  penalty."  Bellamont,   our  Governor,   Richard,  was   the 

f  "  The  gravity  of  their  looks  is  of  great  ser-  first.  In  1688,  he  was  returned  Member  of 
vice  to  these  (  American  Christians.'  It  makes  Parliament  for  Droitwich  in  Worcestershire, 
Strangers  that  come  amongst  them  give  credit  and  served  in  several  succeeding  Parliaments  ; 
to  their  words.  And  it  is  a  proverb  with  those  but  in  that  held  by  James  II.  at  Dublin,  in 
that  know  them,  'Whosoever  believes  a  New  1689,  he  was  attainted,  having  been,  27  th 
England  Saint  shall  be  sure  to  be  cheated.  He  March  preceding,  made  Treasurer  to  King  Wil- 
that  knows  how  to  deal  with  their  traders,  may  liam's  Queen,  being  one  of  the  first  who  went 
deal  with  the  Devil  and  fear  no  craft.'" — Ibid,    over  to  the   Prince  of  Orange.     He   married 

J  His  family  name  was  Coote,,     His  father,    Catharine   Nanfan   of   Bridgemorton,   in   the 


1G09.]  EARL    OF    BELLAMONT.  517 

some  time  looked  for,  arrived  in  Boston,  and  the  people  vied 
with  each  other  in  rendering  him  respect  and  homage.  lie  was 
appointed  by  the  King  to  the  government  of  New  Hampshire,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  New  York,  as  far  back  as  1G95,*  but  his  affairs  detained 
him  a  long  time  in  England,  and  he  had  a  very  protracted  passage 
thence  to  New  York,  having  embarked  in  one  of  his  Majesty's  ships 
early  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1G98,  was  blown  off  tho^Vmerican  coast, 
and  obliged  to  winter  in  Barbadoes.  On  his  arrival  at  New  York,  a 
government  deputation  was  despatched  to  that  Province  from  Boston 
with  congratulations,  and  to  consult  him  upon  matters  of  government. 

Bellamont  was  the  first  Nobleman  who  had  been  sent  over  to  govern 
the  Colony,  and  the  novelty  of  such  a  presence  among  the  people  of 
Boston  caused  a  general  feeling  of  respect,  similar  to  that  for  Royalty, 
even  at  a  later  day.  The  new  Governor  evidently  understood  more  of 
human  nature  than  many  of  his  predecessors  ;  sparing  no  pains  to  gain 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  classes,  by  an  affability  and  condescending 
courtesy,  which  seldom  fails  of  success.  Though  an  Episcopalian,  he 
was  not  a  High  Churchman  ;  pursuing  as  well  as  professing  the  most 
moderate  course  both  in  Eeligion  and  Government.  He  regularly  at- 
tended the  Boston  Weekly  Lecture,  and  treated  the  Ministers  of  the 
Town  with  marked  attention  and  regard. f  In  administering  the  Govern- 
ment, he  avoided  all  controversies  with  the  Legislature,  and  thus 
became  universally  popular.  This  will  account  for  his  receiving  a 
larger  salary  than  any  Governor  of  the  Province  before  him,  which  was 
also  larger  than  that  of  many  which  succeeded  him,  even  though  the 
Province  was  far  better  able  than  it  was  at  this  time. J 

One  object  in  the  appointment  of  Lord  Bellamont  as  Governor,  is 
said  to  have  been  that  he  might  suppress  piracy,  which  had  long  been 
an  appalling  scourge  on  the  whole  American  coast.  What  his  abilities 
were  for  this  work,  above  others,  does  not  appear,  but  certain  it  is  he 
effected  something  in  this  branch  of  duty.     He  caused  Capt.  William 

County  of  Worcester,  and  had  two  sons,  Nan-  The  Doctor,  standing  at  his  door,  was  accosted 
fan  and  Richard,  successively  Earls  of  Bella-  by  His  Lordship  as  he  passed,  in  these  words  : 
niont.  —  Lodge's  Peerage  of  Ireland,  i.  386-93,  —  "  Ah,  Doctor,  you  have  lost  a  precious  ser- 
ed.  1754.  The  well-known  Sir  Eyre  Coote,  mon  to-day  !  "  Bullivant  observed,  in  an  under 
Governor-General  of  India,  was  of  the  same  tone,  to  a  person  standing  by,  "  If  I  could  have 
family.  John  Nanfan,  "a  kinsman  of  the  got  as  much  by  being  there  as  His  Lordship 
Earl  of  Bellamont,"  came  over  with  the  Eari,  will,  I  would  have  been  there  too."  —  Hutch- 
"  in  quality  of  our  Lieut.  Governor."  —  Smith,  inson. 
jV.  Y.,  150,  ed.  1814.  J  "  For   though  he  remained  but   fourteen 

*  "  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1695,  his  months  in  the  Province,  the  grants  made  by 
Lordship  was  named  by  the  King  Governor  of  the  General  Court  amounted  to  £2500,  lawful 
New  York,  a  place  then  remarkably  infected  money,  or  £1875  sterling." — Hutchinson. 
with  the  two  dangerous  diseases  of  an  unlawful  There  was  at  this  time  no  house  built  for  a 
trade  and  the  practice  of  piracy."  —  Lodge,  Governor,  and  it  cost  Lord  Bellamont  £100  a 
Ibid.,  390.  year  for  one,  besides  his  stable  exjienses.     He 

f  The  General  Court  in  those  days  always  earnestly  recommended  that  a  house  should  be 
adjourned  to  attend  the  Lecture.  On  one  oc-  built  for  the  Governor,  and  designated  a  spot 
casion  the  following  pleasant  occurrence  took  "  in  the  best  part  of  the  Town,  where  Sir  Ed- 
place.  In  returning  from  Lecture,  the  Gov-  mund  Andros  lived."  —  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg., 
ernor  passed  by  the  apothecary  shop  of  the  vi.  83.  On  or  near  the  site  where  the  Old 
well-known  Dr.  Benjamin  Bullivant,  his  friend.    Province  House  stood. 


518  DEATH    OF    GOV.    BELLAMONT.  [1699. 

Kidd  to  be  arrested,  who  was  brought  to  Boston  and  imprisoned, 

and  subsequently  hanged  in  England.*  About  the  same  time 
Kidd  was  taken,  one  Bradish,  a  more  noted  pirate,  and  another, 
escaped  out  of  the  jail,  with  the  connivance,  as  was  said,  of  the  jailer; 
but  Bradish  was  afterwards  retaken.  He  was  also  sent  to  England, 
and  suffered  with  Kidd.f 

There*  were    occasional   disturbances   of   another   character. 

One  month  after  the  arrival  of  Governor  Bellamont,  Major  Mat- 
thew Mayhe^,  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  was  committed  to  jail  in  Boston, 
charged,  as  by  a  copy  of  his  mittimus  appears,  "  for  publickly  declaring 
sundry  atheistical,  seditious,  scandalous  and  reproachful  words  and 
speeches,  to  the  great  dishonor  of  Almighty  God  and  the  reproach  of 
his  holy  Religion  ;  maliciously  and  wickedly  scandalizing  and  villi- 
fying  of  his  Majesty's  Governor  and  Government."  Whether  the 
charges  were  substantiated  at  his  trial,  if  one  took  place,  does  not 
appear.  J 

Soon  after  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court,  Lord  Bella- 
i7q|>'      mont  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  remained  in  the  exercise 

of  his  office  until  the  following  March,  on  the  fifth  day  of  which 
1700-1'    month  he  died.     As  soon  as  the  news  of  his  Lordship's  death 

reached  Boston,  a  Proclamation  was  issued  by  the  Deputy 
Governor  and  the  Council  for  the  observance  of  a  Fast  throughout  the 
Province.  In  June,  after  his  arrival  in  Boston,  several  "merchants 
and  traders  "  petitioned  him  for  a  bankrupt  law,  "as  in  England."  § 

The   founding  of  Brattle-street  Church  was  in  the  year  1699,  al- 
though steps  had  been  taken  earlier.  ||     The  reasons  for  establishing  this 

*  The   Governor   declared  the  laws  of  the  David  Jeffries,  Joseph  Parson,  Jos.  and  Samll. 

province  insufficient  to  execute  criminals  guilty  Frazon,  Samll.  Phillips,  Jos.  Coysgarne,  John 

of  piracy.     Hence  Kidd  was  sent  to  England,  Ballantine,  Tho.  Hubbart,  and  A.  Eoberts.  — 

and  there  tried,  condemned,  and  executed.  W.  B.  Tv&sk  from  Mass.  Archives. 

f  See  Smith's  Hist.  New   York,   150-2,  ed.        ||  "  The  first  movements  towards  the  form- 

1814.     Hutchinson,  ii.  119.  ation  of  this  Society  seem  to  have  been  made 

J  I  have  not  examined  the  Court  Records  for  as  early  as  1697." — Lothrop's  Hist.  Brattle- 

further  facts,  not  deeming  the  circumstance  of  St.  Church,  4.     The  deed  from  Thomas  Brattle, 

sufficient  interest  at  this    time.     It  appears  conveying  the   land  for  a  Meeting-house,  is 

from  a   deposition  dated  March  20th,    1700,  dated  10  Jan.  1698.     The  number  of  persons 

that  his  trial  had  not  then  taken  place.  interested  in  the  conveyance  was  twenty,  and 

§  What  action  was  taken  upon  the  Petition,  the  lot  conveyed  was  called  Brattle's  Close, 

if  any,  does  not  appear  from  the  original,  and  The  consideration  was  £150,  "  and  for  other 

I  have  not  looked  farther.     The  names  of  the  good  causes."     The  dimensions  of  the  purchase 

Petitioners  were  :  —  Penn  Townsend,  Fra.  Bur-  were  107  feet  on  the  south  and  west  sides,  97 

roughs,   John  George  and  Co.,  Wm.  Clarke,  on  the  north,  and  120  on  the  east,  extending 

Elias  Heath,  Simo.  Stoddard,  Samll.  Keeling,  to  within  17  feet  of  the  present  south  line  of 

Charles  Chauncy,  John  Borland,  William  Clark  Brattle-street,  and  on  the  east  and  north  sides 

of  North  Boston,  P.  Chardon,B.  Walker,  Samll.  from  3  to  13  feet  beyond  the  walls  of  the  pres- 

Legg,  John  Marshall,  Jno.  Cambbell,  L.Bouch-  ent   Church.     The   original   dimensions   have 

er,  Daniel  Oliver,  Wm.  Welsteed,  Jun.,  Tho.  since  been  extended  on  two  sides  by  purchase, 

Fitch,   Danll.   Zachary,   John   Colman,   Jno.  but  some  abridgment  has  also  taken  place  for 

Maxwell,    Fra.  Foxcroft,  Timo.  Clarke,  Zee.  the   convenience  of  the  Town.     The  original 

Tuthill,  Ease  Apthorp,  William  Tailer,  George  grantees  were  Thomas  Clark,  John  Mico,  Tho- 

Whitehorn,  Thaddeus  Macarty,  Robert  How-  mas    Bannister,    Thomas    Cooper,    Benjamin 

ard,  Joseph  Sparrow,  Ed.  Martyn,  John  Fayr-  Walker,  Benjamin  Davis,  Timothy  Clark,  Ste- 

weather,   Thos.    Cooper,   John    Pitts,    David  phen  Minot,  William  Keen,  Richard  Draper, 

Jenner,  for  self  and  Partner,  Roger  Kilcup,  William  Harris,  Abraham   Blush,  Zechariah 


1699.] 


B RATTLE- STRE ET    CHURCH. 


519 


Church  do  not  appear  to  have  been  the  same  as 

for  some  of  the  others.*     Mr.  Benjamin  Colman, 

a  native  of  Boston,  but  then  residing  in  England, 

was  invited  to  become  its  Pastor.     He  accepted 

I  the  invitation,  and  arrived  here  on  the  first  of 

fe-   November,   1699.     About  this  time  an  Edifice 

^had  been  completed,  and  on  the  twenty-fourth 

„7      of  December  following  he  preached  the  first  ser- 

BRATTLE-STREET   CHURCH.  ...  O  Jt 

mon  in  it.  f 
Having,  in  some  particulars,  departed  from  the  Cambridge  Platform, 
and  hence  broken  in  upon  "  the  Order  of  the  Churches,"  the  Brattle- 
street  Church  could  not  be  tolerated  by  some  of  the  old  Fathers  of  the 
Churches  of  New  England.     A  Protest  was  therefore  publicly  made  by 
,„   them  against  it.     This  drew  from  the  Brattle -street  Church  a 

Nov   17  • 

'  defence  of  its  course,  which  was  denominated  a  "  Manifesto  or 
Declaration."  This  gave  the  Church  the  name  of  the  "  Manifesto 
Church,"  which  it  bore  among  many  opposed  to  it  for  several  years.  J 
However,  a  reconciliation  was  brought  about  in  a  few  years,  and  no 
Church  in  the  City,  perhaps,  has  had  less  of  trouble  and  difficulty,  in- 
ternal and  external,  than  this  of  Brattle-street,  in  the  same  period.  It 
has  had  a  succession  of  talented  preachers,  not  surpassed,  if  paralleled, 
in  any  Church  in  any  country.  §  Of  these  to  speak  separately  would  be 
a  most  pleasing  and  agreeable  task,  but  it  cannot  be  indulged  in  in 
these  pages.  Concerning  nearly  all  of  them  truthful  and  elegant  me- 
morials are  to  be  found.  ||  That  by  Doctor  Colman  upon  his  colleague 
Pastor,  "  Mr.  William  Cooper,"  is  of  surpassing  excellence  ;  that  of 
the  Rev.  John  Clarke  upon  Dr.  Samuel  Cooper,  it  is  enough  to  say,  is. 
one  of  that  excellent  minister's  best  efforts  :  that  of  the  Rev.  William 


Tuthill,  Thomas  Palmer,  John  Colman,  James 
Meers,  Joseph  Allen,  Elkanah  Pembroke,  John 
Kilby,  and  Addington  Davenport.  These  were 
called  Undertakers.  Brattle-street,  and  "  a 
way  leading  to  the  Town  Dock"  to  it,  are 
mentioned  in  the  Deed.  On  17  Oct.,  1700,  a 
new  avenue  to  the  Church  was  secured,  10  feet 
wide,  through  land  of  John  Dassett,  since 
called  Dassett's  Alley,  "  where  a  post,  with  a 
lock  to  secure  it  for  foot  passengers,  is  still 
maintained."  —  Palfrey's  Sermon,  7,  31. 

*  This  appears  from  the  letter  of  invitation 
to  Mr.  Colman,  in  the  following  passage  :  — 
After  stating  "  that  they  had  chosen  him  to  be 
their  Minister,  and  urging  him  to  make  what 
haste  he  could  to  them,"  they  add,  "  We  only 
propose  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  may  be  pub- 
licly read  every  Sabbath  in  the  worship  of  God, 
which  is  not  practised  in  other  Churches  of  New 
England  at  this  time  ;  and  that  we  may  lay 
aside  the  relation  of  Experiences,  which  are  im- 
posed in  other  Churches,  in  order  to  the  ad- 
mission of  persons  to  the  Lord's  table."  —  Tu- 
rell's  Life  of  Dr.  Colman,  43. 

f  Ibid.,  47. 


{  It  is  printed  in  Mr.  Palfrey's  Sermon,  32-4. 

§  They  succeeded  in  the  following  order  :  — 

Benjamin  Colman,  D.D.,from4 Aug.,  1699, 
to  his  death,  29  Aug.,  1747,  se.  73. 

William  Cooper,  from  23  May,  1716,  to  13 
Dec,  1743,  the  time  of  his  decease,  se.  50. 

Samuel  Cooper,  D.  D.,  from  22  May,  1746, 
to  20  Dec,  1783,  the  time  of  his  decease,  se.  58. 

Peter  Thacher,  D.  D.,  from  12  Jan.,  1785, 
to  16  Dec,  1802,  the  time  of  his  decease,  as.  50. 

Joseph  Stevens  Buckminster,  from  30  Jan., 
1805,  to  9  June,  1812,  the  time  of  his  decease, 

33.28. 

Edward  Everett,  from  8  Feb.,  1814,  to  5 
Mar.,  1815,  when  he  resigned. 

John  Gorham  Palfrey,  from  17  June,  1818, 
to  22  May,  1830,  when  he  resigned. 

Samuel  Kirkland  Lothrop,  installed  17  June, 
1834. 

||  The  reader  hardly  need  be  referred  to  the 
N.  Eng.  Biographical  Dictionary  of  Dr.  Eliot, 
to  Dr.  Allen's  American  Biographical  and  His- 
torical Dictionary,  to  Dr.  Palfrey's  Sermon, 
and  to  Dr.  Lothrop's  History  of  the  Church. 


520  BRATTLE- STREET    CHURCH.  [1699 

Emerson  upon  Doctor  Thacher  is  not  only  valuable  as  a  funeral  sermon, 
but  for  the  genealogical  and  historical  notes  which  accompany  it  also.* 

The  Old  or  First  Brattle-street  Church  was  built  of  wood,  and 
"  never  painted  within  or  without.  The  tower  and  bell  were  on  the 
west  side,  and  a  door  on  the  south,  opposite  to  the  pulpit.  The  window- 
frames  were  of  iron."  It  stood  until  1772,  when,  having  "  fallen  into 
a  ruinous  and  decayed  state,"  it  was  agreed  that  a  new  one  should  be 
built.  Accordingly,  on  the  twenty-third  of  June  of  that  year,  the 
corner-stone  of  a  new  house  was  laid  by  Major  Thomas  Dawes,  the 
architect.!  This  is  the  house  now  standing.  J  It  was  opened  for  public 
worship  July  the  twenty-fifth,  1773.  "  In  part  of  the  years  1775  and 
1776,  a  regiment  or  two  of  British  troops  were  quartered  in  the  Church, 
a  Sugar-house  which  stood  north  of  it,  and  other  houses  in  the  neigh- 
borhood." They  kept  possession  of  it  till  the  town  was  evacuated  in 
March,  1776.  The  Society  had  been  compelled  to  abandon  it  in  April 
the  preceding  year.  "  Gen.  Gage  had  his  head-quarters  in  the  house 
opposite  the  Church.  He  told  Mr.  Turell  he  had  no  fear  of  the  shot 
from  Cambridge  while  his  men  were  within  such  walls."  The  Ameri- 
cans were  cannonading  some  points  in  the  Town,  and  a  heavy  cannon- 
ball  struck  the  house  the  night  before  the  evacuation,  knocking  a  hole 
in  the  wall.  The  shot  was  picked  up  by  Mr.  Turell,  who  preserved  it, 
and  when  the  house  was  afterwards  repaired,  it  was  placed  in  the 
breach  which  it  made,  facing  Brattle  Square,  where  it  is  to  be  seen 
projecting  from  the  surface  at  this  day.  § 

The  Brattle-street  Society  early  favored  reforms,  considered  by  it  as 
such.  In  1699,  it  was  voted  to  dispense  with  the  custom  of  reading 
and  singing  the  Psalms  line  by  line  alternately  ;  and  the  first  Singing 
Society  in  the  Town  was  established  by  its  members.  This  was  between 
1717  and  1724.  Singing  by  note  was  first  practised  in  Boston,  also, 
by  this  Church.  || 

At  the  Town-meeting  in  March,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Byfield  was  chosen 

*  These  Funeral  Sermons  are  in  the  Author's   ter  was  done  by  John  Stetson  and  Nathl.  Call ; 
Collection.     Dr.  Coknan  resided  at  one  time   the  two  latter  companies  were  to  admit  Wm. 
in  State-street.     In  1715  he  removed  thence   Flagg,  James   Bobbins,   Benj.    Sumner,   Jos. 
to  a  house  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Dassett's   Eustis,  and  —  Appleton  to  participate  with 
Alley.     This  situation  was  bought  in  1769  of    them.     Capt.  John  Gore  and  Mr.  Daniel  Boe 
Stephen  Deblois  for  a  Parsonage  to  the  Society,   were  the  painters.  — Palfrey,  64-5. 
for  about  £566.     Dr.  Samuel  Cooper  lived  in       %  It  has,  however,  undergone  much  change, 
various  places  ;  at  one  time  in  Brattle  Square,        §  As  represented  in  the  above  engraving, 
where  the  Quincy  House  now  is  ;  then  in  the        ||  Palfrey's  Sermon  and  Snow's  Hist.     The 
Parsonage  house  in  Court-street,  now  occupied    following  is  a  list  of  the  Deacons  :  —  Thomas 
by  Mr.  Lothrop,  in  which  James  Otis  had   Brattle,  chosen    1699  ;    Benj.    Davis,    1699 ; 
lived.  —  Palfrey,  56-7.  Bichard  Draper,  1699;    John  Kilby,   1701; 

f  A  liberal  subscription  was  obtained  among  Benj.  Gibson,  1717  ;  Jacob  Parker,  1722  ; 
the  opulent  people,  £3200  in  one  week.  The  John  Phillips,  1729  ;  Daniel  Bell,  Timothy 
house  cost  £8000.  Gov.  Hancock  gave  £1000,  Newell,  Isaac  Smith,  Ebenezer  Storer  [no  date 
besides  a  bell ;  and  Gov.  Bowdoin,  £200.  Ma-  set  against  these]  ;  John  Gore,  1788  ;  Saml. 
jor  Dawes  did  half  the  mason-work  ;  William  Barrett,  1788  ;  James  Lanman,  1788  ;  Nathl. 
Homer,  Benj.  Bichardson,  and  David  Bell,  the  Hall,  1793  ;  Moses  Grant,  1793  ;  Peter  O. 
other  half.  Benj.  Eustis  and  Wm.  Crafts  did  Thacher,  1804  ;  Wm.  Andrews,  1808  ;  Alden 
half  the  carpenter's  work;  Benj.  Sumner,  Jun.,  Bradford,  1814;  Moses  Grant,  1818.  —  Pal- 
and  James  Sumner,  a  quarter  ;  the  other  quar-   frey's  Sermon. 


1700.]  FREE   SCHOOLS.  521 

Moderator.     The  Selectmen  were  Daniel  Oliver,  Isaiah  Tay, 

Joseph  Prout,  John  Marion,  Jr.,  Timothy  Clark,  Elizer  Holioke, 

and  Obcdiah  Gill.     Town  Clerk,  William  Griggs ;   Treasurer,  James 

Taylor.*     Constables  Bcnj.  Fitch,  Henry  Hill,  Wm.  Man,  Win.  Wel- 

sted,  Wm.  Clark,  Joseph  Billings,  James  Gooch,  and  Joseph  Dowden.f 

At  the  same  meeting  a  Petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  Muddy  River 
was  presented,  asking  to  be  set  off  from  Boston,  because  their  children 
could  not  have  the  benefit  of  the  Public  Schools,  and  some  other  consid- 
erations. It  was  voted  that  they  should  not  be  set  off,  but  it  was  or- 
dered that  the  Selectmen  should  provide  a  School- master  for  them,  "to 
teach  their  children  to  read,  write  and  cypher." 

Then  "  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  north  end  of  the  Town  stood 
up  and  requested  that  they  might  have  the  libertie  of  a  Free  School  for 
the  teaching  to  write  and  cypher ;  "  whereupon  a  vote  passed  in  their 
favor. J  "  The  inhabitants  of  Rumney  Marsh  standing  by,  and  seeing 
the  Town  in  so  good  a  frame,  also  put  in  their  request "  for  a  Free 
School  among  them.  The  vote  being  put  resulted  favorable  to  them 
also;  but  the  Selectmen  were  instructed,  "  that  if  there  were  a  suit- 
able number  of  children  to  come  to  the  School,"  then  they  might  pro- 
ceed to  provide  a  School-master.  § 

It  was  also  voted  that  all  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Way  between 
the  Oak  and  Walnut,  and  the  Fortification  should  be  given  to  persons  who 
would  undertake  to  maintain  the  highway  forever,  not  less  than  fifty 
feet  wide.     Those  accepting  the  offer  were  to  have  an  "  unquestionable 

*  After  voting  that  there  should  be  but  seven  in  Love  Lane,  now  Tileston-street.     In  1792 

Selectmen,   and  "  That  the  Town  be   at  no  the  old  house  was  taken  down,  and  a  new  one 

charge  to  the  maintaining  the  Water-ways  over  erected.  In  1838  the  present  house  was  finished, 

at  Winnicimet  ferry,"  the  services  of  Mr.  Tay-  fronting  on  N.  Bennet-st.  at  a  cost  of  $24,072. 

lor  as  Treasurer  were  considered.     He  having  This  is  the  "  Eliot  School  "  so  named  after  the 

served  the  Town  in  that  capacity  for   eight  Rev.  Doctors  Eliot,  Andrew  and  John,  father 

years,  "  never  charging  but  £5  per  year  for  and  son. 

the  same,"  which  "  being  far  less  than  really  the  §  A  writer,  describing  Boston  about  40  years 
service  is  worth,"  it  was  voted  that  the  Select-  later,  said  there  were  then  five  Printing- 
men  "  cause  a  piece  of  plate  to  be  made  to  houses,  and  that  the  presses  were  generally  full 
the  value  of  £20,  and  to  present  the  same  to  of  work,  "  which  is  in  a  great  measure  owing 
the  said  Mr.  James  Taylor,  as  a  small  retal-  to  the  Colleges  and  Schools  for  useful  learning 
uation."  It  was  also  voted  that  for  the  past  in  New  England  :  whereas  at  New  York  there 
year's  service  £10  be  paid  him.  is  but  one  little  Bookseller's  shop,  and  none  at 

f  Constables  for  Rumney  Marsh  and  Muddy  all  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Carolina,  Barbadoes 
River,  Jesse  Winthrop  and  Joseph  Davis.  Tyth-  and  the  sugar  Islands."  That  "the  Town- 
ing  men,  Wm.  Everton,  Joseph  Williams,  Tho.  house  or  Exchange  was  surrounded  with  Book- 
Jackson,  Samll.  Turell,  John  Jepson,  Joseph  sellers' shops."  —  Oldmixon.  "  The  best  fur- 
Hillier,  Samll.  Jacklin,  Geo.  Eliston,  Tho.  nisht  Printing  House  with  Press  and  Let- 
Clark,  John  Edwards,  Richard  Christopher,  ters  in  the  Country,"  was  consumed  by  fire, 
John  Gerrish,  Benj.  Hallowell,  John  Borland,  16  Oct.  1690.  The  fire  was  very  near  the 
Wm.  Gibbins,  Samll.  Bridge,  Samll.  Townsend  South  Meeting-house,  which  hardly  escaped, 
and  James  Bell.  Hogreaves,  Anthony  Green-  Several  houses  were  burned,  and  a  lad  was 
hill,  Samll.  Burnell,  Samll.  Bridge,  Henry  burned  to  death  in  the  house  where  it  begun." 
Ernes,  and  Samll.  Earle.  — Almanack,  for  1701.  The  "  Printing  House" 

|  Some  temporary  house  was  probably  at  first  was  that  of  Bartholomew  Green.  He  had  corn- 
provided,  but  about  1712,  one  adapted  to  the  menced  business  in  Boston  the  same  year 
use  of  a  School  was  built  on  the  spot  ever  (1690) .  He  was  Deacon  of  the  Old  South 
since  improved  for  a  Public  School.     It  stood  Church,  and  died  28  Dec,  1733. 

66 


522 


BY-LAWS. 


ALMANACKS. 


[1700. 


title  "  to  the  land  given  them.     Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.  and  Capt.  Bozoon 
Allen  were  appointed  to  attend  to  the  order. 

At  this  Town-meeting,  Capt.  Timothy  Clark,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
ay  '  Oliver,  Mr.  Isaiah  Tay,  and  Mr.  James  Barnes,  were  chosen 
Representatives.  Mr.  Oliver  refusing  to  serve,  Capt.  Bozoon  Allen 
was  chosen.  Major  John  Wally,  Col.  Benjamin  Townsend,  Capt.  By- 
field,  Mr.  Nathl.  Oliver,  Capt.  Samuel  Checkley,  and  Capt.  Thos.  Frary, 
were  chosen  a  Committee  to  instruct  the  Representatives. 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

By-laws.  —  Almanacks.  —  A  House  built  for  Master  Cheever.  — Windmill.  — Watchmen's  Orders.  — 
Bills  of  Credit.  —  Persons  licensed  to  build.  —  Decline  of  the  Churches.  —  Death  of  Lieut.  Gov. 
Stoughton.  —  Death  of  the  King.  —  Queen  Ann  Proclaimed.  —  Great  Fire.  —  Order  about  Streets. 
—  Privateering.  —  Great  Sickness.  —  Preparations  for  War.  — Indian  Hostilities.  —  Appropriations 
for  Defence.  —  For  Pavements.  —  New  School-House  —  The  first  Newspaper.  —  Its  Name,  Rise, 
Progress,  and  Termination. — Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel. — Execution  of  Pirates. — Ex- 
pedition against  the  French. — Muddy  River  set  off. — Weights  and  Measures. — The  Forts  En- 
larged. —  A  Powder  House  on  the  Common.  —  Death  of  President  Willard. 


^^ 


1701. 


MOUNTFORT.  f 


THE  Town  ordered  a  regular  compilation  of  its 
scattered  By-laws,  which  had  not  hitherto  been 
done,  and  they  were  printed  the  next  year.* 

The  popular  Almanack  of  this  period  was  by  John 
Tulley,  who,  to  his  "Friendly  Readers"  says,  "I 
have  now  served  you  with  an  Almanack  twice  seven 
years,  and  as  often  given  you  the  liberty  to  toss  my 
name  about  by  censure  and  applause."  That  for  this 
year  he  says  was  more  than  he  intended,  because 
"another  ingenious  person  hath  undertaken  the  work." 


*  They  are  embodied  upon  the  records,  and 
occupy  about  18  pages,  and  are  entitled,  "  A 
Body  of  Town  Orders  for  one  year."  At  the 
end  is,  "  Ordered,  That  the  Town  Orders  be 
put  in  print." 

f  The  family  of  Mountfort  claims  descent 
from  an  ancient  Norman  family,  which  came  to 
England  with  William  the  Conqueror.  One  of 
the  seats  occupied  by  the  early  Mountforts  is  or 
was  very  recently  in  possession  of  Henry  Mount- 
fort,  Esq.  This  seat  is  known  by  the  name 
of  Beamhurst  Hall,  and  is  near  Uttoxeter  in 
Staffordshire.  "  In  Dugdale's  Hist.  Warwick- 
shire is  given  an  elaborate  and  authentic  pedi- 
gree of  the  family,  from  Turstain  de  Montfort, 
1030,  to  Simon  Mountfort,  1633  ;  which 
Simon  was  father  of  Edmund,  who,  with  his 
brother  Henry,  arrived  at  Boston  from  London, 
in  the  ship  Providence,  in  1656.  Benjamin, 
also  of  Boston,  was  another  brother."  These 
were  called  "  educated  merchants."  The 
Mountforts  of  Portland  are   descended  from 


Edmund.  See  Willis'  Smith  and  Deane 's  Jour- 
nal, p.  8.  On  the  tomb-stone  of  the  first  Ed- 
mund, in  the  Granary  Burying-ground,  is  this 
inscription  :  —  "  Here  lyeth  buried  Edmund 
Mountfort,  senior,  brother  to  Henry  and  Ben- 
jamin Mountfort.  Left  issue  six  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Deceased  in  ye  61  year  of  his  age, 
upon  the  14th  day  of  August,  1690."  The 
late  Col.  John  Mountfort,  formerly  of  the  U. 
S.  A.,  Hon.  Judge  N.  B,  Mountfort  of  N.  Y., 
and  George  Mountfort,  Esq.,  now  Consul  to  a 
Port  in  the  Mediterranean,  are  his  descendants. 
— Family  Papers. 

The  arms,  as  given  above,  are  copied  from  the 
tomb  of  Jonathan  Mountfort,  in  Copp's  Hill 
Burying-ground,  erected  1724.  Upon  which  is 
inscribed,  "  Mr.  John  Mountfort,  iEtatis  LIV. 
Obt.  Jan.  VI.  MDCCXXIV.  —  Benjamin 
Mountfort,  son  of  John  Mountfort  and  Mary 
Mountfort,  yEtatis  XXV.  Obit.  March  X. 
MDCCXXI."  —  See  Epitaphs  from  Copp's 
Hill,  81. 


1701.]  WINDMILL. — PERSONS   LICENSED    TO    BUILD.  523 

The  "  ingenious  person"  was  probably  "  Samuel  Clough,"  who  pub- 
lished the  "  New  England  Almanack,"  also,  for  this  year.  They  were 
both  printed  by  "  B.  Green  and  J.  Allen,"  but  the  latter  was  for  "Sam- 
uel Phillips  at  the  Brick  Shop,"  and  the  former  was  sold  as  well  as 
"  printed  by  B.  Green  and  J.  Allen,  at  the  Printing-House  at  the  South 
End  of  the  Town."  They  were  both  very  neat  specimens  of  printing 
for  that  day.* 

At  the  regular  Town-meeting,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Byfield  was 
chosen  Moderator,  and  Joseph  Prout,  Town  Clerk.  A  vote  was 
passed  to  build  a  house  for  "  Old  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever,  the  Latin 
School-master."  Mr.  John  Arnold  requested  liberty  to  set  up  a  Wind- 
mill on  Fort-Hill,  which  was  referred  to  the  next  meeting.  It  was  then 
voted  that  he  might  erect  one  there,  "  on  the  Town's  land,"  paying 
such  quit  rent  therefor  as  the  Selectmen  should  agree  to. 

The  Town  now  chose  for  Representatives,  Mr.  John  White, 

Capt.  Samuel  Legg,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Oliver,  and  Capt.  Andrew 

Belcher.     Watchmen  were  "  enjoyned  to  be  upon  duty  from  ten  o'clock 

till  broad  day-light  "f     At  an  adjourned  meeting,  two  days  after,  a 

vote  passed  to  raise  1050  pounds  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses 

of  the  Town.     The  following  year  but  1000  pounds  were  raised, 

and  the  Treasurer  was  ordered   to  receive   the    "Province    Bills  of 

Credit  "  in  payment  of  rates. 

Persons  intending  to  build  were  required  to  apply  to  the  Selectmen 
for  liberty.^  The  only  applicants  this  year  were  William  Griggs,  Wil- 
liam Burroughs,  Richard  Henchman,  Jonathan  Loring,  and  Mr.  Stephen 
Minot.     Their  licenses  were  all  for  structures  of  wood  or  timber. 

The  Town,  judging  from  its  records,  appears  to  have  been  steadily 
advancing  in  wealth  and  importance  at  the  commencement  of  the  cen- 
tury now  begun.  Nevertheless,  was  there  no  other  record  to  which  to 
refer  but  some  publications  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Town,  a  very  different 

*  A  transcript  of  Sulleg's   title-page  may  New  England.     By  JOHN  TULLEY.     3L(= 

be  curious  as  well  as  interesting  to  readers.  —  censeti  fi|>  ^utjjoritjj." 

"  Tulley  1701.     An  Almanack  for  the  Year  of        The  title  of  Clough's  is  similar,  but  he  has 

our  Lord  1701.     Being  first  after  Leap-year,  in  the  calendar  pages  "  Brief  Observations  of 

and  from  the  Creation,  5650.     And   from  the  the  most  noted  things  hapning  in  Boston  since 

Discovery  of  America  by  Chr.  Columbus,  209.  its  first  settlement." 

And  the  reign  of  our  Gracious   Sovereign  K.        f  From  10.  Mar.  to  10  Sept.,  and  from  9  to 

WILLIAM  the  Third  (which  began  Febr.  the  8  the   other   half  of  the  year.     They  were   to 

13^/i,  1688,  9.)  the  Vith  year.    Wherein  is  con-  go  about  the  Town  "  silently  with  watch  bills, 

tained   the  Lunations,   Courts,  Spring    Tides,  forbearing  to  use  any  bell,  and  no  watchman 

Planets,  Aspects,  and  Weather,  the  Rising  and  to  smoke  tobacco  while  walking  their  rounds ; 

Setting  of  the  SVN,  together  with  the  Sun  and  and  where  they  see  occasion,  they  are  to  call 

Moon's  place  and  time  of  Full  Sea,  or  High  to  persons  to  take  care  of  their  lights." 
Water,  with  an  account  of  the  Eclipses,  and        %  The  Selectmen  were  also  charged  with  the 

other  matters  useful  and  necessary.     The  Vuh  admission  of  residents.     I  find  a  record  of  but 

gar  Notes  of  this  Year  are,  (ffiolBen  Wumftec  four  for  this  year,  viz. :  Edwd.  Croslet,  and 

il,  2Tfje  ISpact  1,  (Ejcle  of  tjje  Sun  2>  JBo==  Bichard  Christophers  gave  his  obligation  that 

tuinftal  Setter  E.     Calculated  for  and  Fitted  he  should  not  become  chargeable  to  the  Town, 

to  the  Meridian  of  3Sostoit  in  Ttfeta)  SfiitfllanD,  For   Adam    Bosquain,   Peter    Daille    [Pierre 

where  the  North  Pole  is  Elevated  42  gr.  30  Daille]  was   security  ;  for   Noah  Guile,  Wm. 

min.     But  may  indifferently  serve  any  part  of  Bouse  ;  for  Daniel  Bernardo,  James  Mountor, 


524 


DEATH    OF    LIEUT.    GOVERNOR    STOUGHTON. 


[1702. 


conclusion  would  be  inevitable.*  It  is  true  that  some  parts  of  the  pic- 
ture of  the  period  have  a  very  gloomy  aspect.  The  Indian  and  French 
war  had  caused  great  desolation  ;  the  crops  for  several  years  together 
had  been  not  only  short,  but  in  some  parts  had  almost  entirely  failed  ; 
and  the  very  long  and  severe  winters  of  late  had  a  tendency  to  make 
the  inhabitants  distrust  the  future. 

Lieut.  Governor  Stoughton  died  at  his  residence  in  Dorches- 
u  y    '  ter,f  and  the  duties  of  Governor  devolved,  for  the   first  time, 
upon  the  Council.     The  Government  did  not  continue  in  their  hands 
long.     Joseph  Dudley,  Esq.,  having  arrived  from  England  with 
"  a  Commission  of  Governor,  asumed  the  Government.     He  had 
been  in  England  since  1693.     In  the  winter  of  that  year  King  Wil- 
liam appointed  him  Governor  of  the   Isle  of  Wight,  where  he  con- 
tinued eight  years.     During  his  residence  there  he  was  elected  to  Par- 
liament from  the  Borough  of  Newton  in  that  Island.^ 

Dudley  had  long  hoped  for  the  power  which  he  now  possessed.  He 
had  not  forgotten  the  twenty  weeks'  imprisonment  he  had  suffered  at 
the  hands  of  the  Bostonians  when  Andros  fell ;  and  one  of  his  first 
steps  was  to  reject  all  those  members  of  the  Council  who  were  members 
at  the  time  of  his  imprisonment. § 


*  Towards  the  close  of  this  year  Dr.  Increase 
Mather  published  two  Sermons,  which  he  enti- 
tled "Ichabod,  or  the  Glory  departing  from  New 
England."  Although  this  had  special  reference 
to  the  declining  state  of  the  Churches,  a  great 
decline  in  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  Country 
is  often  referred  to.  The  following  brief  ex- 
tracts will  show  the  desponding  tone  of  one  of 
the  greatest  preachers  in  the  Town.  "  0  NEW 
ENGLAND  !  NEW  ENGLAND  !  Look  to  it 
that  the  Glory  be  not  removed  from  thee.  It 
has  come  to  the  threshold  of  the  house,  if  not 
to  the  East  Gate."  —  "And  if  the  fountain 
should  fail ;  I  mean  the  COLLEGE,  which  has 
been  one  of  the  Glories  of  New  England  ;  and 
if  that  should  fail,  or  (which  is  worse)  be- 
come a  Nursery  not  of  Plants  of  renown,  but 
of  degenerate  plants,  who  will  forsake  those 
holy  principles  of  truth,  which  their  Eathers 
came  unto  this  Land  with  respect  thereunto, 
the  Glory  is  like  to  be  gone  from  these  Church- 
es in  less  than  one  Generation  :  So  that  little 
or  nothing  of  New  England  will  be  found  in 
New  England." — Ichabod,  &c.  44. 

f  His  age  was  70.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Wil- 
lard,  of  the  Old  South,  preached  his  funeral  Ser- 
mon, to  which  he  gave  this  title  :  —  "  Prognos- 
ticks  of  Impending  Calamities.  Delivered  in  a 
Sermon  Preached  on  the  Lecture  at  Boston, 
July  17,  1701.  Occasioned  by  the  DEATH  of 
the  Truly  Honorable  William  Stoughton, 
Esq.,"  &c.  Gov.  Stoughton  lived  and  died  a 
bachelor.  The  family  arms  are  given  ante,  p. 
210.  He  was  son  of  Capt.  Israel  Stoughton, 
often  mentioned  in  previous  pages.  There  is  a 
pedigree  of  the  ancestors  of  Gov.  Stoughton,  in 
the  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  v.  350. 

\  He   came  over  in  the  Centurion  frigate, 


Capt.  Heme,  whose  passage  was  six  weeks  and 
one  day.  The  Lieut.  Gov.,  Col.  Thomas  Povy, 
came  with  him.  At  the  same  time  came  "  the 
Rev.  Geo.  Keith,  A.  M.,"  Mr.  John  Talbot, 
Mr.  Patrick  Gordon,  Missionary  for  Long 
Island,  and  "  Mr.  Morris."  The  Governor 
and  his  company  treated  them  with  great  kind- 
ness and  generosity,  at  whose  desire,  says  Keith, 
"  we  did  eat  at  their  table  all  the  voyage  on 
free  cost."  Keith  was  an  Episcopal  Missionary. 
He  seceded  from  the  Quakers  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1692.  Talbot,  who  had  been  Chaplain  to 
the  Centurion,  was  associated  with  Keith  in 
his  Mission.  The  latter  preached  in  "  the 
Queen's  Chapel"  the  first  Sunday  after  his 
arrival,  and  his  Associate  the  following  Sunday. 
Keith  printed  his  Sermon,  which  occasioned  a 
hot  controversy  with  Dr.  I.  Mather. 

§  They  were,  according  to  Hutchinson, 
"  TVinthrop,  Cooke,  Hutchinson,  Foster,  Ad- 
dington,  Russell,  Phillips,  Browne,  Sargent, 
and  others."  His  reminiscences  of  some  of 
them  are  of  much  interest.  "  Elisha  Cooke  had 
been  of  the  Council  nine  or  ten  years,  had 
been  an  Assistant  before  the  Revolution,  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Gov.  Leverett,  and  was  allied 
to  the  best  families  in  the  Province  ;  had  a  better 
estate  than  the  Governor  himself.  Peter  Sar- 
gent had  married  the  relict  of  Sir  William  Phips, 
Thomas  Oakes  had  been  one  of  the  Agents  in 
England  with  Cooke.  Col.  Ephraim  Hutchin- 
son was  discharged  from  the  command  of  the 
Castle.  He  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  Gov.  Po- 
vey,  who  came  over  with  Dudley.  The  Legis- 
lature granted  Povey  £200  a  year,  but  he  com- 
plained of  its  insufficiency,  and  returned  to 
England  in  1705,  and  never  came  to  New  Eng- 
land again. 


1702.]  SEVENTH    GREAT    FIRE.  525 

The  Representatives  were  "  desired  to  promote  the  encouraging  the 
bringing  of  White  Servants  and  to  put  a  period  to  Negroes  being 
Slaves." 

"  Thirty  hundred  weight  of  bullets,  and  five  thousand  flints  were  or- 
dered to  be  forthwith  provided  for  a  Town  Stock  ;  and  Mr.  Gyles  Dyer, 
Mr.  Richard  Draper  and  Mr.  Robert  Gibbs  were  deputed  to  provide 
them." 

The  great  number  of  licenses  granted  this  year  for  the  sale  of 
liquors  indicate  an  alarming  increase  of  tippling  shops.  They  were 
generally  for  selling  "  out  of  doors."  * 

Notifications  of  Town  business  were  usually  written  documents,  posted 
up  in  three  or  four  places.     This  year  some  were  printed. f 

A  lire,  which  was  for  many  years  known  as  the  "seventh 
'  great  fire,"  broke  out  near  the  Dock,  destroying  a  large  amount 
of  property.  Three  warehouses  were  blown  up  to  hinder  its  spreading.! 
Two  days  before,  it  was  voted  in  Town-meeting  "  that  the  Select-men 
should  procure  two  water-engines  §  suitable  for  the  extinguishing  of 
fire,  either  by  sending  for  them  to  England,  or  otherwise  to  provide 
them."  || 

"It  being  reported  that  as  yet  there  hath  been  no  sufficient 

ay     '  record  made  of  the  breadth  of  the  several  streets  and  highways 

belonging  to  the  Town,  it  is  voted  that  the  Select-men  cause  the  same 

to  be  measured,  and  report  to  the  next  Town-meeting."  IT     This  vote 

does  not  appear  to  have  been  fully  carried  into  effect  till  the  year  1708. 

*  The  Kocords  of  some  of  them  are  thus  ex-  to  get  the  Water-Engine  for  the  quenching  of 

pressed  :  —  John  Carthew  may  sell  wine  and  fire  repaired,  as  also  the  house  for  keeping  the 

liquors;   John  Lane  may  keep   an  Ordinary,  same  in."     Pember  ton  ventured  the  conjecture 

and  sell  all  sorts  of  drink ;   Jane  Davis  may  that  there  were  no  fire-engines  in  the  Town  as 

sell  beer  and  cider  out  of  doors,  by  retail ;  Ex-  late  as  1711,  and  Shaw  says  the  same,  probably 

ercise  Conant,  all  sorts  of  drink,  out  of  doors  ;  on  Pemberton's  authority.    Conjectures  in  such 

David  Gwin,  both  within  and  without  doors  ;  matters  are  never  safe. 

Capt.  Grigory  Shugers,  out  of  doors  ;  Thos.  ||  This  order  was  made  at  the  Town-meeting 
Phillips,  same  ;  Mehitabell  Pumery  may  keep  on  the  9th  of  March.  At  the  same  meeting 
a  victualing  house  and  sell  liquor  ;  John  Pas-  an  other  was  made  respecting  the  choice  of 
tree  may  keep  an  Ordnary  or  Public  House  ;  Jurymen,  directing  that  they  should  be  chosen 
Peter  Townsend,  to  sell  liquor  out  of  doors  ;  from  a  list  to  be  made  out  by  the  Selectmen, 
Mrs.  Ann  Checkley,  same ;  Mr.  Wm.  Turner,  which  should  contain  the  names  of  all  the  in- 
same  ;  John  Verrin,  same.  Many  of  these  habitants  who,  in  their  judgment,  "  were  proper 
were,  doubtless,  respectable  inhabitants.  to  serve  on  juries." 

Frequent  warnings  to  people  to  leave  the  ^[  At  the  same  meeting,  three  Overseers  of 
Town  are  recorded.  Such  warnings,  however,  the  Poor  were  added  to  the  former  numbef. 
were  not  an  indication  that  the  persons  "  warn-  These  were,  "  Mr.  Simion  Stoddard,  Mr.  Fran- 
ed  out  "  were  not  good  and  respectable  people,  cis  Thrasher,  and  Mr.  Robert  Oalef."  At  the 
All  new  comers  who  neglected  to  give  security  meeting  June  3d,  Mr.  Samuel  Sewall  was  Mod- 
that  they  would  not  be  chargeable  to  the  Town,  erator.  Dr.  Thomas  Oaks  was  chosen  a  Rep- 
were  liable  to  be  ordered  to  depart.  Thus,  resentative  in  place  of  Capt.  Andrew  Belcher. 
"  Sept.  30th,  1701,  John  Strong  to  depart  the  From  the  Selectmen's  Minutes,  it  appears 
Town  with  his  wife  and  4  children,  unless  he  that  the  following  named  persons  were  allowed 
give  security  ;  Henry  Hed  to  forbear  opening  to  reside  in  the  Town.  May  25,  John  Biles, 
shop  and  to  depart  the  Town,  or  give  security,"  Josiah  Biles  being  security.  July  27,  John 
&c.  Nichols,    Thomas     Gold    security ;    Anthony 

f  Oct.  2d.  "  Bartholomew  Green  is  allowed  Blount,  Florence  Maccarty  security.     July  28, 

8s.  for  printing  notifications  for  warning  the  Thomas    Harvey,    William    Hough    security. 

Town-meeting  last  May."  Aug.  21,    Gosprit  Teams,   Henry   Franckling 

J-Snow,  Hist.  Boston,  204.  secu.  ;  Evan  Floyd,  same  secu.     Aug.  29,  John 

§  March  9th.     "  The  Select-men  are  desired  Danford,  Henry  Emmes  security. 


526 


QUEEN   ANNE. GREAT   SICKNESS. 


[1702-3. 


The  news  of  the  death  of  the  King  having  reached  Boston, 
ay    '  and,  at  the  same  time,  that  Anne  was  proclaimed  Queen,*  the 
Council  ordered  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns  to  be  fired.f 

1703.  At  the  first  Town-meeting  this  year,  Mr.  Henry  Deering  was 
Jan.  18.  Moderator.  The  Selectmen  were  instructed  "  Humbly  to  ad- 
dress His  Excellency  the  Governor  that  he  will  please  to  prevent  men's 
going  out  of  the  Province  on  privateering  designs."  War  had  been 
declared  against  France  the  preceding  year,  J  which  was  the  occasion 
of  this  action  of  the  Town.  Every  man  was  wanted  at  home,  as  the 
Indians  and  Canadian  French  were  expected  to  ravage  the  frontiers  of 
New  England  in  every  direction. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  year  and  the  beginning  of  this,  the  Town 
suffered  greatly  from  sickness.  The  Small-pox  carried  off  above  three 
hundred  persons.  §  It  is  said  not  to  have  visited  Boston  for  thirteen 
years  previous.  ||  Thus,  at  this  period,  with  pestilence  upon  them,  and 
the  horrors  of  war  at  their  very  doors,  it  must  be  supposed  that  these 
were  days  of  despondency  to  great  numbers  of  the  inhabitants.  And 
yet  the  Kecords  show  a  spirit  and  determination  worthy  of  the  founders 


*  King  William  III.  died  March  8th,  1701- 
2,  in  the  52d  year  of  his  age.  Queen  Anne 
was  the  only  surviving  child  of  King  James  II., 
by  the  Lady  Anne  Hyde,  eldest  daughter  of 
Edward  Earl  of  Clarendon. 

f  The  order  for  the  Salute  is  now  before  me, 
with  the  autographs  of  the  Counsellors.  It  is 
here  copied  :  —  "  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  By  the  Council.  Having,  upon 
the  Intelligence  arrived  here  of  the  death  of 
his  late  Maj'y  King  William  the  Third,  of  glo- 
rious memory,  ordered  that  the  Proclamation 
of  the  high  and  mighty  Princess  Anne  of  Den- 
mark to  be  Queen  of  England,  Scotland,  France, 
and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c,  be 
published  to-morrow  in  Boston.  We  order, 
that  upon  the  publication  thereof  you  cause 
Twenty-one  pieces  of  Ordnance  to  be  dis- 
charged from  the  Fort  under  your  command. 
Given  under  our  hands,  at  the  Council  Chamber 
in  Boston,  the  28th  day  of  May,  1702.  To 
Capt.  Timothy  Clarke. 

"  John  Pynchon,  Ja.  Russell,  Elisha  Cooke, 
John  Hathorne,  Wm.  Browne,  Sam.  Sewall, 
Jonathan  Corwin,  John  Foster,  Peter  Sergeant, 
Joseph  Ljmde,  Nathaniel  Thomas,  John  Apple- 
ton,  Penn  Townsend,  Natha1.  Byfield,  Era. 
Hutchinson." 


"  Capt.  Timothy  Clark  "  had  been  chosen 
"  Cannoneer"  by  the  Town  on  the  9th  of 
March  preceding. 

J  May  4th,  1702.  At  what  time  the  newa 
of  the  Declaration  was  received  in  Boston  I 
have  met  with  no  statement. 

§  "  It  being  proposed  to  the  Town,  for  the 
regulating  of  Funeralls  and  lessening  the  charge 
thereof,  that  during  the  present  sickness,  and 
untill  larder  order,  that  there  be  only  a  first 
and  second  bell  tolld  at  each  Funerall,  each 
bell  not  to  exceed  the  space  of  half  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  ;  and  that  there  be  a  moderation  in 
the  prices  of  Coffins,  digging  of  graves,  and 
wages  of  porters  for  carrying  the  corps,  and 
also  that  there  be  two  or  three  black  cloathes 
provided  at  the  Town  charge  to  lay  over  the 
corps." 

At  the  same  time,  the  Selectmen  were  di- 
rected to  place  a  pump  in  the  "  Condit "  by 
the  Dock,  nigh  Wing's  Lane,  for  the  public 
use  in  case  of  fire. 

March  8,  Mr.  Joseph  Prout  was  chosen  Town 
Treasurer,  Mr.  James  Taylor  having  declined 
serving.  Constables  at  Muddy  River,  Daniel 
Harris,  Wm.  Sharp,  and  Peter  Bileston.  Voted, 
that  an  inventory  of  the  Town's  land  be  taken, 
and  to  raise  £700  to  defray  the  expenses  for 
the  year. 

April  12,  Mr.  Daniel  Oliver  chosen  to 
assist  about  the  valuation  of  estates  in  the 
room  of  Mr.  Robert  Gibbs,  deceased. 

June  1,  Mr.  John  Love  chosen  Con- 
stable, in  the  room  of  Mr.  John  Ruck. 

June  25,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Williams  to  have 
£80  for  the  year  ensuing,  as  an  Assistant  to 
Ezekiel  Cheever  in  governing  and  instructing 
the  youth  at  the  Latin  School. 

II  Holmes'  Annals  and  his  Authorities.     . 


1703-4.]        EXPECTED  ATTACK  FROM  THE  FRENCH.  527 

of  an  Empire.  Every  precaution  was  made  to  prevent  the  Enemy  from 
coming  upon  them  unprepared.  An  attempt  was  made  to  conciliate 
the  Eastern  Indians,  and  to  prevent  them  from  joining  the  French.  In 
June,  Governor  Dudley  left  Boston  with  some  of  the  principal  inhabit- 
ants,  to  bring  about  so  desirable  an  object.  A  grand  Council 
'  of  the  principal  Tribes  being  assembled  in  the  Fort  at  New 
Casco,  a  Treaty  was  made  with  them,  which  they  protested  should 
remain  as  "  immovable  as  the  mountains  ;  "  and  that,  "  as  high  as  the 
Sun  was  above  the  Earth,  so  far  distant  should  their  designs  be  of 
making  the  least  breach  between  the  English  and  themselves."  * 

This  Treaty  had  no  other  effect  but  to  put  off  hostilities  on 

ug'  '  the  part  of  the  Indians,  who,  early  in  August  following,  "  at 
nine  in  the  morning,  began  their  bloody  tragedy ;  making  a  descent 
on  the  inhabitants  from  Casco  to  Wells>  at  one  and  the  same  time, 
sparing  none  of  every  age  or  sex."  f  This  was  the  commencement  of 
another  ten  years'  war. 

The  people  of  Boston  had  learned  that  the  French  were  making 
gigantic  preparations  to  crush  the  power  of  the  Heretic  English  in 
America.  This  being  the  most  important  place  in  New  England, 
against  this  Town,  therefore,  it  was  with  good  reason  believed  a  for- 

1704.  midable  force  would  be  directed.  Whereupon,  at  the  first 
Mar- 13,  Town-meeting,  J  a  Committee  §  was  appointed  "to  view  the 
Fortifications  of  this  Town,  and  advise  about  the  repairs  thereof;  " 
and  fifty  pounds  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Selectmen  to  enable 
them  to  proceed  in  any  necessary  steps. 

.  ..  1Q  At  the  same  time,  one  hundred  pounds  were  voted  for  paving 
certain  sections  of  streets.  ||  At  the  meeting  in  April,  a  Com- 
mittee was  chosen  "  to  inquire  into  the  best  expedient  for  the  asserting 
and  maintaining  the  Town's  interest  in  the  Flats  abutting  on  the 
Streets,  Lanes,  and  Highways."  At  the  previous  meeting,  the  Town 
voted  "  to  build  a  new  School-house,  instead  of  the  old  one  in  wch  Mr. 
Ezekiell  Chever  teacheth."  The  tax  to  be  raised  this  year  was  fixed 
at  1200  pounds.  IF 

*  Penhallow's  Indian  Wars,  p.  2.     Willis'  Hutchinson,  Coll.  Pen  Townsend,  Coll.  Tho. 

Portland,  i.  6.  Savage,  and  Capt.  Timothy  Clark"  composed 

f  Penhalloiv,  p.  5.  the  Committee. 

j  At  the  same  meeting  the  "  Overseers  of  the  ||  "  Such  places  of  the  Streets  as  the  Select- 
Poor  "  had  liberty  to  "  procure  some  meet  per-  men  shall  judge  most  needful,  and  therein  to 
son  "  to  preach  to  the  people  in  the  Almshouse,  have  particular  regard  to  the  Highway  nigh 
once  on  each  Sabbath,  "when  there  was  a  old  Mrs.  Stoddard's  house."  Two  years  after, 
competent  number  of  persons  there."  For  29  Mar.,  1706,  another  £100  was  appropriated 
such  service  the  Preacher  was  to  have  10s.  a  for  pavements  ;  namely,  "  for  paving  the  mayn 
day.  Andrew  Faneuil,  Joseph  Marriner,  and  street  towards  the  Landing  to  the  South  End 
Wm.  Brown,  "  accepting  "  to  pay  their  fines,  of  the  Town,  and  £50  for  paving  at  the  lower 
were  excused  from  serving  as  Constables.  Capt.  end  of  the  Town-house." 
Roger  Lawson  to  Saml.  Baker's  place,  in  the  %  The  thanks  of  the  Town  were  voted  to  Mr. 
same  office ;  and  Thomas  Foster  and  Nicholas  Francis  Thresher  for  his  service  in  overseeing 
Buttolph  took  the  places  of  Thomas  Hood  and  the  repairing  the  Almshouse  and  yard,  and 
Thomas  Newton.  fencing  the  Burying-place  and  the  Pound,  and 

§  "  Elisha    Cook,    Esq.,    Collonell    Elisha  his  managing  the  paving  at  the  Neck,  and 


528 


FIRST   NEWSPAPER. 


[1704. 


A  ril  24  "^ve  ^a^s  a^er  ^*s  Town-meeting,  was  issued  in  Boston  the 
pn  '  first  Newspaper  published  in  North  America.  This  was  the  Bos- 
ton News-Letter.  *  The  Proprietor  and  Publisher  was  John  Campbell, 
of  whom  mention  has  been  made  in  a  previous  page.f  He  was  Post- 
master of  Boston,  and  this  office  gave  him  superior  facilities  for  the  cir- 
culation of  a  Newspaper.     Nicholas  Boone  was  associated  as  Publisher. 

Boone  published  but  a  few  numbers  of  the  News-Letter.  J  Green 
printed  it  until  near  the  close  of  the  year  1707.  John  Allen  then 
printed  it  until  the  Great  Fire  of  1711,  which  destroyed  his  printing- 
office.  §  Then  Green  printed  it  again  for  Campbell,  without  his  own 
name.  It  was  thus  continued  till  1715,  when  Green's  name  appeared 
in  the  imprint  as  the  printer.  ||  Up  to  1717,  the  old  method  of  begin- 
ning the  year  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  was  observed  in  the  News- 
Letter  ;   after  that  it  was  recorded  from  the  first  of  January. 

Notwithstanding  the  News-Letter  was  got  out  in  the  cheapest  style, 
at  an  expense  hardly  half  of  that  of  a  common  play-bill  of  the  present 
day,  it  is  evident  the  Publisher  found  great  difficulty  in  sustaining  it. 
And  it  was  fifteen  years  before  he  thought  seriously  of  permanently 
enlarging  his  publication.     It  was,  however,  enlarged  from  time  to 


his  service  as  Overseer  of  the  Poor.  Mr.  Rob- 
ert Calef  was  included  in  the  vote  for  his  ser- 
vice as  Overseer  of  the  Poor  also. 

*  It  was  printed  on  a  half  sheet,  or  single 
leaf,  small  folio.  In  the  centre  of  the  first 
page,  at  the  top,  is  W,  35.,  and  at  the  right 
hand  margin,  in  a  line  with  N.  E.,  is  Numb. 
1.  Then  immediately  below  (the  N.  E.)  is 
the  title,  "  The  Boston  News-Letter. "  In  the 
next  line  (separated  from  the  title  by  a  rule) , 
"Published  by  Authority."  That  is,  with 
the  approbation  of  the  Colonial  Government. 
Then  another  rule ;  then,  "  From  Monday, 
April  17,  to  Monday,  April  24,  1704."  The 
imprint  is  at  the  foot  of  the  2d  page  :  —  "  Bos- 
ton, Printed  by  B.  Green,  sold  by  Nicholas 
Boone,  at  his  shop  near  the  Old  Meeting 
House." 

The  following  is  the  substance  of  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  first  News-Letter:  —  "Boston, 
April  18.  Arrived  Capt.  Sill  from  Jamaica, 
about  4  weeks  passage,  says  they  continue  very 
sickly.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Oliver,  a  principal  Mer- 
chant of  this  place,  dyed  April  15,  and  was 
decently  inter'd,  April  18th,  iEtatis  53.  The 
Honourable  Col.  Nathanael  By  field  is  commis- 
sioned Judge  of  the  Admiralty  for  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Rhode  Island.  And  Thomas  Newton,  Esq., 
Judge  Deputy  for  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts 
Bay. 

"  The  20th,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pemberton  Preach'd 
an  excellent  Sermon  on  Thes.  4  :  11,  And  do 
your  own  business,  which  his  Excellency  has 
ordered  to  be  printed. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Lockyer  dyed  on  Thursday 
last." 

This  first  number  contained  a  Prospectus, 


which  is  thus  expressed  :  —  "  This  News-Letter 
is  to  be  continued  Weekly ;  and  all  Persons 
who  have  any  Houses,  Lands,  Tenements, 
Farmes,  Ships,  Vessels,  Goods,  Wares,  or  Mer- 
chandizes, &c,  to  be  Sold  or  Lett ;  or  Servants 
Runaway ;  or  Goods  Stoll  or  Lost,  may  have 
the  same  Inserted  at  a  reasonable  Rate  ;  from 
Twelve  Pence  to  Five  Shillings,  and  not  to  ex- 
ceed ;  Who  may  agree  with  Nicholas  Boone 
for  the  same  at  his  shop,  next  door  to  Major 
Davis's  Apothecary,  in  Boston,  near  the  Old 
Meetinghouse. 

"  All  persons  in  Town  and  Country  may  have 
said  News-Letter  Weekly,  upon  reasonable 
tearms,  agreeing  with  John  Campbell,  Post- 
master, for  the  Same."  This  was  the  only 
advertisement  in  the  first  paper. 

f  Ante,  p.  455.     He  was  a  bookseller. 

j  His  name  was  left  off  of  No.  5,  and  in  the 
imprint  "  Sold  at  the  Post  Office  "  was  in- 
serted. 

§  It  was  in  Pudding  Lane.  Allen  had  been 
a  London  printer,  and  is  supposed  by  Thomas 
to  have  come  over  to  Boston  by  the  invitation 
or  encouragement  of  the  Mathers.  — Hist.  Print- 
ing, i.  287,  ii.  194. 

||  Bartholomew  Green's  printing-office  stood 
on  the  easterly  side  of  Newbury-st.,  on  which 
site  a  block  of  stone  buildings  was  erected  in 
1825.  A  part  of  the  old  building  in  which 
the  News-Letter  was  last  printed  was  standing 
when  Dr.  Thomas  wrote  his  History  of  Print- 
ing, which  was  published  in  1810.  It  stood 
back  of  No.  56  Newbury-st.,  which  corre- 
sponds nearly  to  264  Washington-st.  at  the 
present  time.  "  At  this  place  began  and  ended 
the  printing  of  the  Boston  News-Letter."  — 
Thomas,  i.  485. 


€©W<TW  MATMEIffi.,!).! 

Bami2  Ieb:i665:aiedi3jFelj:i72g.AE.  65.- 


1704.]  EXPEDITION   AGAINST   TIIE  FRENCH.  529 

time,  and  was  continued  till  1776,  when  the  British  troops  evacuated 
Boston.* 

The  Society,  or  "  Company  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in 
New  England  and  the  parts  adjacent,"  resident  in  England, 
empowered  several  gentlemen,  chiefly  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  to  manage 
the  affairs  of  the  Company,  in  carrying  out  the  objects  for  which  it  was 
incorporated.  The  following  are  the  names  of  those  commissioned : 
Waitstill  Winthrop,  Esq.,  Doctor  Increase  Mather,  Gabriel  Bernon, 
Esq.,  Mr.  Nehemiah  Walter,  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  Peter  Sergeant, 
Esq.,  John  Foster,  Esq.,  Thomas  Banister,  Esq.,  Col.  John  Higginson, 
Mr.  Edward  Bromfield,  Mr.  Eliakim  Hutchinson,  Mr.  Penn  Townsend, 
Mr.  Jeremiah  Dummer,  and  Mr.  Simeon  Stoddard.f 
g  .  At  the  Town-meeting  in  September  there  was  little  business 
'of  moment  transacted.     Deacon  John  Marrion  was  Moderator.! 

Acts  of  piracy  had  not  ceased.  "  John  Quelch,  who  had  been 
Master  of  the  brigantine  Charles,  and  had  committed  many  piratical 
acts  in  India,  came  with  several  of  his  crew  and  landed  in  various 
parts  of  New  England.  Quelch  and  six  more  were  condemned  at 
Boston  and  executed."§ 

Early  in  the  year  a  large  armament,  for  the  country  then,  sailed  from 
Boston  against  the  Eastern  Indians  and  French.  The  well-known  Col. 
Benjamin  Church  was  the  Commander  in  Chief,  ||  who  carried  out  his 
instructions  of  ravaging  the  coast  and  distressing  the  enemy  as  well  as 
the  circumstances  allowed  ;  but,  as  in  most  expeditions  of  the  kind, 
those  guilty  of  murders  and  depredations  upon  the  English,  generally 
escaped  punishment,  while  the  poor  French  inhabitants  suffered  lament- 
ably. Many  were  killed,  their  houses  and  means  of  subsistence 
destroyed,  and  women  and  little  children  were  forced  to  fly  into  the 

*  The  same  day  the  first  News-Letter  was  For  an  account  of  the  origin  of  the  Company 
printed,  Judge  Sewall  notes,  in  his  Diary,  that  in  England,  see  ante,  p.  316.  The  present 
he  went  over  to  Cambridge,  and  gave  Mr.  Commission  closes  thus :  —  "By  order  of  a 
Willard  [the  President  of  the  College]  "  the  Court  held  the  third  day  of  August,  Anno 
first  News-Letter  that  ever  was  carried  over  Domini,  1704,  at  Sir  William  Ashhurst's  the 
the  river."  Sewall  was  one  of  the  most  curi-  Governor's  House  in  London.  [Signed] 
ous  literary  men  of  his  time.  He  made  a  vast  John  Bellamy,  Sec.y  to  the  said  Company." 
collection  of  everything  of  the  kind  for  his  J  "  Capt.  Nathaniel  Green,  Jr.,  was  chosen 
private  gratification  ;  as  Almanacks,  Pam-  Constable  in  room  of  Mr.  John  Burnaby,  who 
phlets,  Books,  and  Manuscripts,  which,  were  is  gone  on  a  voyage  to  sea."  The  Selectmen 
they  now  together  and  accessible,  would  be  of  admitted  these  as  inhabitants  :  —  "  Mehitabell 
infinite  value  to  a  Historian  of  Boston ;  yea,  Medcalfe,  John  Savel,  security ;  John  Croad, 
to  all  New  England.  But,  unfortunately,  his  Thomas  Platts,  sec;  Peter  Patey,  Andrew 
collection  has  been  scattered  in  every  direction,  Garney  and  Edwd.  Webb,  securities." 
and  there  is  hardly  an  Antiquary  in  the  coun-  §  Hutchinson,  ii.  147. 
try  who  has  a  library,  and  has  not  some  book,  ||  Church's  instructions  were  dated  at  Bos- 
paper  or  tract,  which  once  belonged  to  him,  ton,  4  May,  1704.  He  had  under  him  550 
and  has  his  autograph  upon  it.  His  residence  soldiers  in  14  small  transports ;  the  Jersey,  a 
was  in  Newbury-street.  He  had  a  good  deal  frigate  of  48  guns,  Capt.  Thomas  Smith ;  the 
to  do  with  printing,  and  was  at  one  period  a  Gosport,  of  32,  Capt.  George  Kogers ;  the 
'Bookseller.  I  am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Anne  S.  Province  Snow  of  14,  Capt.  Cyprian  South- 
Gilbert,  of  Boston,  for  an  opportunity  to  ex-  ack.  Church  embarked  in  Capt.  Southack, 
amine  important  MSS.  of  Judge  Sewall.  whom  he  met  at  Piscataqua,  having  accom- 

f  From  a  copy  of  the  Commission  among  panied  the  Governor  there  by  land,  to  raise 

Judge  Sewall's  MSS.,  Sewall  was  Treasurer,  forces  by  the  way. 

67 


530  DEATH    OP   MR.    HUBBARD    AND    PEREGRINE    WHITE.  [1704. 

wilderness  to  escape  the  swords  of  the  English.  But  the  Indians,  the 
principal  cause  of  the  war,  could  not  be  found.  They  were  ready, 
however,  to  retaliate,  and  they  continued  to  lay  waste  the  frontiers. 

The  year  1704  was  remarkable  on  several  accounts,  and  marks  an 
era  in  the  History  of  New  England  of  great  interest.  The  age  of 
Newspapers  in  America  commenced  ;  a  circumstance  of  immense  mo- 
ment. Newspapers  were  then  considered  of  doubtful  expediency,  and 
their  continuation  very  precarious  and  uncertain.  Contrasted  with  these 
considerations,  their  omnipotence  at,  this  day  is  wonderful  and  sur- 
prising. At  first  but  a  solitary  individual  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
News-Letter,  to  forward  his  business,  and  that  solitary  individual  was 
the  owner  of  the  same  News-Letter.  To  look  at  one  of  those  News- 
Letters  now,  it  does  not  seem  so  strange  that  its  aid  was  not  sought  by 
the  public  ;  for  the  little  fragile  single  leaf  on  which  it  was  printed 
looked  much  more  like  supplicating  aid  for  itself  than  being  able  to  afford 
it  to  others.  It  was,  indeed,  like  the  new-born  infant ;  helpless,  and 
without  friends  to  nourish  and  strengthen,  it  must  soon  perish.  The 
first  Newspaper  survived,  and  has  brought  forth  a  progeny  to  whom  a 
race  of  Hercules  would  be  insignificant  pigmies. 

The  year  1704  is  marked  also  by  the  death  of  that  excellent 
man  and  elegant  Historian,  the  Rev.  William  Hubbard ;   and 
also  by  the  death  of  the  first  white  man  born  in  New  England  —  Pere- 
grine White. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  note  the  great  age  to  which 
many  of  the  early  settlers  arrived.  The  former  of  the  persons  above- 
named  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three,  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  And  numerous  instances  might  be  given  of  persons 
attaining  even  more  years  than  those.  In  1684,  John  Odlin,  Robert 
Walker,  Francis  Hudson  and  William  Lytherland,  said  they  were  "an- 
cient dwellers  and  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,"  and  that  their 
ages  were,  82,  78,  68,  and  76,  or  thereabouts,  respectively.  Some  of 
these  were  living  many  years  after  that  date.  Odlin  died  the  next 
year.  Hudson  "was  one  of  the  first  who  set  foot  on  the  peninsula 
of  Boston."  He  died  in  1700,  aged  82.  He  was  son  of 
William  Hudson,  who  was  of  Chatham,  in  the  County  of  Kent, 
England.    To  what  age  the  other  two  lived  has  not  been  ascertained.* 

*  It  may  be  here  noted,  that  the  four  men  They  say  they  had  "  dwelt  in  Boston  from  the 
named  in  the  test  appear  to  have  been  called  first  planting  thereof,  and  continuing  so  at 
upon,  by  the  Authorities  of  the  Province,  to  this  day  (June  10th,  1684)  ;  that  in  or  about 
testify  in  relation  to  the  purchase  of  Boston  1634,  the  said  inhabitants  of  Boston  (of  whom 
by  the  inhabitants,  of  Mr.  William  Black-  the  Hon.  John  Winthrop,  Esq.,  Governor  of 
stone.  Their  depositions  were  taken,  to  be  the  Colony,  was  chief)  did  agree  with  Mr.  Wil- 
used,  if  necessary,  to  show  that  they  had  pur-  liam  Blackstone  for  the  purchase  of  his  estate 
chased  their  land  of  its  rightful  owner  ;  as  and  right  in  any  lands  lying  within  the  said 
the  Charter  under  which  they  held  was  ex-  Neck  called  Boston;  and  for  said  purchase 
pected  to  be  taken  from  them.  (See  ante,  p.  agreed  that  every  householder  should  pay  6s., 
449.)  They  also  resorted  to  a  purchase  of  the  none  paying  less,  some  considerably  more, 
Indians  (as  noted  ante,  p.  456),  with  the  same  which  was  collected  and  paid  to  Mr.  Black- 
view.  As  a  valuable  historical  document,  the  stone  to  his  full  satisfaction  for  his  whole 
substance  of  the  depositions  is  here  given,  right,  reserving  only  about  six  acres  or.  the 


1705.]  BROOKLINE. WEIGHTS   AND    MEASURES.  531 

The  inhabitants  of  Muddy  River  having  petitioned  the 
General  Court  to  be  set  off  from  Boston,  it  was  voted  to  raise 
a  Committee  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  oppose  the  separation. 
In  the  time  of  Andros  an  application  to  him  was  successful ;  but 
after  he  was  deposed  the  Town  held  jurisdiction  there  again,  as  has 
been  noticed  in  the  order  in  which  the  affairs  took  place.  This  year 
the  people  were  successful  again,  and  they  were  incorporated  into  a 
town  by  the  name  of  Brookline.* 

At  this  meeting  it  was  proposed  to  purchase  land  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  North  Burying-place.f 

Capt.  Timothy  Clark,  "  Commander  of  the  [south]  Battery  in  Bos- 
ton," was  ordered  by  the  Governor  to  furnish  an  account  of  the 
"  ordnance,  ammunition,  and  other  stores  of  Avar  belonging  to  his  Fort, 
in  due  form,  meet  to  be  offered  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,! 
Great  Master  of  her  Majtys  Ordnance."  § 

Castle  William,  on  Castle  Island  in  the  harbor,  was  so  named  this 
year  ;   probably  in  honor  of  the  late  King.  || 

A  law  was  made  by  the  General  Court  regulating  weights  and 
ay'  measures.  Every  Town  in  the  Colony  was  ordered  to  provide 
"  a  nest  of  Troy  weights,  of  a  different  form  from  Avoirdupois,  the 
biggest  not  to  be  less  than  eight  ounces.  As  also  pennyweights  and 
grains."  The  standard  was  to  be  provided  for  the  Province,  "  a  good 
beam  and  scales,  and  a  nest  of  Troy  weights  from  128  ounces,  down- 
ward to  the  least  denomination,  marked  with  the  mark  or  stamp  used  in 
her  Majesty's  Exchequer."  IF 

point  commonly  called  Blackstone's  point,  on  f  Tax  this  year  was  £1000.     The  amount 

part  whereof  his  then  dwelling-house  stood,  voted  the  next  year  was  £1150.     Voted  that 

After  which  purchase  the  Town  laid  out  a  interest  be  not  charged  on  the  £120  in  the 

place  for  a  training-field  [the  Common]  which  hands  of  Robt.  Calef  and  Fra  Thrasher, 

ever  since  and  now  is  used  for  that  purpose,  J  The  ancient  Marlboro '-street  was  named 

and  for  the  feeding  of  cattle.     Walker  and  in  honor  of  the  Duke,  though  not  so  named 

Lytherland  further  testify  that  Mr.  Blackstone  till  1708.   The  streets  afterwards  known  as  Or- 

bought  a  stock  of  cows  with  the  money  he  re-  ange,  Newbury,  Marlborough  and  Cornhill, 

ceived  as  above,  and  removed  and  dwelt  near  are  now  Washington-street. 

Providence,  where  he  lived  till  the  day  of  his  §  Original  Warrant,  dated  25  Oct.   1705. 

death."  The  Account  was  to  be  dated  29th  Sept.,  and 

The  amount  paid  for  Boston,  excepting  six  a  similar  statement  to  be  made  out  every  six 

acres,  was  £30  ;  the  raising  of  which  is  thus  months  and  forwarded  to  England, 

alluded  to  on  the  first  page  of  the  records  of  ||  "  The  fortifications  of  this   Castle  were 

the  Town  :  —  "  Ye  10th  day  of  ye  9th  month,  very  irregular  till  King  William's  reign,  when 

1634.     Item:    yl  Edmund   Quinsey,  Samuell  Col.  Romer,  a  famous  engineer,  was  sent  thither 

Wilbore,   Willm   Boston    [Balston],   Edward  to  repair  them  :  the  Colonel  demolished  all  the 

Hutchinson  the  elder,  and  Willm  Cheesbrough  old  works,  and  raised  an  entirely  new  fortifi- 

the  Constable,  shall  make  and  assesse  all  these  cation,  now  called   Fort  William."  —  NeaVs 

rates,  vizt.,  a  rater  for  £30  to  Mr.  Blackston,  New  Eng.,  ii.  223. 

a  rater  for  the  cowes  keeping,  a  rater  for  the  *ff  In  1692  there  was  an  act  passed  "  for  the 

goates  keeping  and  other  charges  in  [torn  and  due  regulation   of  Weights  and  Measures," 

worn]  and  for  losse  in  cowes,  and  a  rater  for  requiring  "  that  the  brass  and  copper  weights 

the  [young  ?]  cattle  [and  horse  ?]  keeping  [at]  and  measures  formerly  sent  out  of  England, 

Muddy  River."  with  certificate  out  of  their  Majesties'  Excheq- 

*  As  brooks  form  two  of  the  boundary  lines  uer  to  be  approved  Winchester  measure  ac- 

of  the  Town,  it  is   supposed   that  the  name  cording  to  the  standard  in  the  Exchequer,  be 

Brook-line  originated  from  that  circumstance,  the  public  allowed  standard  throughout  this 

It  was  incorporated  November  13th.  their  Majesties'  Province." 


532  A   POWDER-HOUSE.  —  FORTIFICATIONS.  [1706. 

A  petition  from  the  people  of  Rumney  Marsh  was  read  in 
'  Town-meeting,  requesting  that  they  might  have  a  Meeting-house 
built  for  them.  * 

An  act  was  passed  for  erecting  a  Powder-House  in  the  Town, 
ay'      and  one  was  soon  after  built  "  on  the  Common  or  Training-field." 
It  stood  on  the  hill  near  the  Frog-pond,  where  a  fortification  was  thrown 
up  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution.     It  was  to  keep  the  pow- 
der in  belonging  to  the  colony. 

At  a  Town-meeting  now  held  it  was  "voted,  that  the  Com- 
'mittee  appointed  to  consider  about  the  suppressing  of  fire  are 
continued  till  March  next."     Also,  to  raise  another  Committee  "  to 
consider  what  was  to  be  done  about  fortyfieing  the  Town  for  its  defence 
against  the  enemy,"  and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting,  which  was 
two  days  after.     The  meetings  had  been  held  in  the  Town-house  hith- 
erto,  but  at  this  time  it  was  in  the   "  Old   South."     At  this 
"  meeting  the  Committee  on  the  fortifications  reported  "  a  projec- 
tion "  for  carrying  out  the  North  Battery  120  feet  in  length,  and  forty 
in  breadth,  and  eighteen  to  high-water  mark.     The  cost  was  estimated 
at  450  pounds.     The  proposed  alterations  on  the  South  Battery  were 
stated  at  800  pounds.     The  matter  being  debated,  1000  pounds  were 
voted  for  both. 

At  the  October  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  the  Fortifications 
'  of  the  Town  were  again  a  primary  object,  and  1000  pounds  were 
Voted  "  for  securing  and  finishing  the  wharffs  already  begun  and  placed 
att  Merry's  Point,  and  for  the  Fortification  to  be  placed  there  ;  and  also 
for  some  additional  wharf  to  face  the  Old  Wharfe  where  the  guns  form- 
erly stood,  in  order  to  improve  the  same  for  an  income  to  the  Town."  f 
At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise  100  pounds,  to  be  added 
Mar.  lb.  ^°  ^ne  same  amount  raised  last  year  ;  and  that  it  be  "  laid  out 
in  paving  the  Main  street  towards  and  leading  to  the  South  end 
of  this  Town."  | 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  Minister  of  the 

'  South  or  Third  Church,  and  Vice-President  of  Harvard  College, 

occurred  this  year.     He  was  among  the  most  eminent  of  New  England 

Divines,  and  was  very  universally  respected  and  admired,  as  well  for 

*At  this  meeting,  "  Robt.  Gutridge,  Sen.,  Oct.,  Capt.  Thomas  Fitch.    "  Capt.  Winsor's  " 

John  Brick  [Breck],  John  Cotta,  Jun.,Ichabod  was  in  Swing-bridge  lane  in  1708.     "Capt. 

Williston,  Robt.  Calef,  Jun.,  and  Daniel  Lor-  Fitch's  Corner  "  was  in  King-st.,  and  another 

ing,  were  chosen  Clerks  of  the  Market."  in  Union-st.,  corner  of  Marshal's  lane. 

Mar.  29.     Samuel  Bridge  was  chosen  Col-       f  In  1708  it  was  entered  upon  the  Town 

lector   "  to  collect  the  Province  Tax."     An  Records,  that  "  over  and  above  the  £50,  or- 

attempt  to  choose  a  Collector  the  last  year  dered  to  be  laid  out  in  Fortification  in  1704, 

failed.     "Samuel   Jackling  and   Josua  Win-  there  was  expended  thereon  £12,  8s.  4d.  more, 

sor  alleging    infirmity  of   body,   and  Lieut,  including  £11,  lis.  due  to  Mr.  Nathl.  Oliver 

Samuel  Johnson  and  Robert  Butcher  aledging  for  bread  and  beer." 

their  being  under  oath  in  other  offices  in  the       J  May   12.     Representatives  for  this  year 

Town,  requested  to  be  excused  as  Tythingmen ;  "  were  Col.  Samuel  Checkley,  Mr.  Elizur  Hol- 

but  they  were  not  excused.  yoke,  Dr.  Thomas  Oakes,  and  Capt.  Ephraim 

Capt.  Ephraim  Savage  was  Moderator  of  the  Savage.     Regular  tax  £1300.     Joseph  Prout 

meeting  on  the  10  June.    At  the  meeting,  21  to  have  £15  for  his  services  as  Treasurer. 


1707.1 


EXPEDITION   AGAINST   POUT   ROYAL. 


533 


SAMUEL   WILLARD. 


his  abilities  as  for  the  good  qualities  of  his 
mind.  He  was  son  of  Major  Simon  Willard, 
who  had  been  a  man  of  high  standing,  and 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Country  during  the 
most  trying  periods  of  its  history.*  He  was 
the  Minister  of  Groton,  but  was  driven  thence 
by  the  Indian  war  of  1675-6,  and  soon  after 
settled  in  Boston  as  a  colleague  with  Mr. 
Thacher,  over  the  Old  South  Church.  Mr. 
Pemberton  became  his  assistant  in  1700.  He 
took  charge  of  Harvard  College  in  1701,  on 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Mather. 


CHAPTER    LV. 


Admissions  of  Inhabitants.  —  Streets  named.  —  Death,  of  Ezekiel  Cheever  —  Of  Anthony  Checkley.  — 
Destruction  of  Haverhill.  —  Proposal  to  make  the  Town  a  City.  —  Rejected.  —  Chimney-sweep- 
ing. —  Long  Wharf  built.  —  Uring's  visit  to  Boston.  —  Post  Office  established  by  Parliament.  — 
Death  of  James  Allen  —  of  John  Foster.  —  Expedition  against  Canada.  —  Sir  Hovenden  Walker 
arrives.  —  The  Expedition  fails.  —  Great  Fire.  —  Fire  Wards.  —  Ferry  Regulations. 

THERE  appears  this  year  to  be  recorded  upon  the 
Selectmen's  Records  but  one  admission  of  one  inhab- 
itant, f 

An  expedition  against  Port  Royal,  consisting  of 
about  1500  men,  which  sailed  from  Boston  on 
the  thirteenth  of  May,  was  an  entire  failure.  It 
was  over  by  the  seventh  of  the  following  month. 
Many  in  Boston  were  disposed  to  censure  the  com- 
manders, and  as  usual,  probably,  for  their  inability  to 
surmount  impossibilities.     In  compliance  with  pre- 


*  The  age  of  President  Willard  was  about  67. 
He  was  the  Author  of  a  large  number  of  works, 
but  that  by  which  he  is  the  most  extensively 
known,  is  "  A  Com  pleat  Body  of  Divinity," 
&c,  published  by  subscription  eighteen  years 
after  his  death.  The  list  of  Subscribers  for  the 
work  is  printed  in  it,  and  is  a  truly  noble  list, 
and  is  ample  evidence  of  the  great  popularity 
of  the  Author  ;  whose  successors,  Mr.  Sewall 
and  Mr.  Prince,  accompanied  it  with  an  elab- 
orate and  learned  preface,  in  which  occurs  the 
following  passage  :  "  These  larger  Lectures 
soon  sent  forth  their  fame,  and  drew  many  of 
the  most  knowing  and  judicious  persons  both 
from  Town  and  College,  who  heard  them  with 
so  great  a  relish,  that  they  have  ever  since  the 
Author's  death  been  earnestly  desirous  of 
their  publication,  and  given  such  a  character 
of  them  as  has  continually  rais'd  the  same  de- 


sire in  others.  And  this  has,  very  strangely, 
rather  increased  than  declined  for  these  eight- 
een years  among  us  ;  so  as  hardly  any  book  has 
been  more  passionately  wished  for,  till  this 
growing  Country's  become  now  capable  of 
taking  off  the  impression  of  so  great  a  work. 
The  largest  that  was  ever  printed  here,  and  the 
first  of  Divinity  in  a  folio  volume." 

The  work  contains  914  pages,  double  col- 
umns, and  has  this  imprint :  "  Boston  in  New 
England :  Printed  by  B.  Green  and  S.  Knee- 
land  for  B.  Eliot  &  D.  Henchman,  and  sold 
at  their  Shops.     MDCCXX  vX ' ' 

Other  works  had  been  printed  here  in  folio, 
but  they  were  much  smaller.  The  Laws  and 
General  Court  Journals  were  always  in  folio. 

f  This  was  James  Batterson ;  John  Smith 
and  Thomas  Thornton  being  his  security.  In 
1705,  there  were  seven  admissions  : — Elizabeth 


534  FKENCH     AND    INDIAN   EXPEDITIONS.  [1708. 

vious  votes  of  the  Town,  the  Selectmen  furnished  a  list  of  all 
1  ay  '  the  Streets,  Lanes  and  Alleys,  and  it  was  "  ordered  that  they 
should  be  recorded  in  the  Town  Booke,  as  they  are  now  hounded  and 
named."     The  whole  number  of  them  was  one  hundred  and  ten.* 

The  present  year  is  rendered  memorable  by  the  death  of  the 
'  venerable  Schoolmaster,  Ezekiel  Chever.  He  was  born  in  Lon- 
don on  the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  1614,  came  to  New  England  in 
1637.  From  Boston  he  went  j;o  New  Haven,  where  he  was  an  instructor 
of  youth  for  twelve  years.  In  1650  he  went  to  Ipswich,  where  he  con- 
tinued eleven  years  ;  thence  to  Charlestown,  where  he  was  employed  nine 
years ;  thence  to  Boston,  in  1670,  where  he  finished  his  useful  labors 
at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years  and  seven  months,  f 

Another  gentleman  of  distinction  died  also  this  year.    This  was 

Anthony  Checkley,  Esquire,  an  eminent  merchant,  though  bred 

to  the  law,  and  was  for  some  time  Attorney  General  of  the  Province. 

He  was  member  of  the  Artillery  Company  in  1662,  its  Ensign  in  1680, 

and  its  Lieutenant  in  1683.  J 

The  ill-success  of  the  English  against  the  French  and  Indians  the 
preceding  year  emboldened  the  latter  to  set  forth  expeditions  against 
the  frontiers.  Fear  and  consternation  fell  upon  the  whole  country  on 
learning  the  result  of  one  of  these,  the  news  of  which  was  brought  to 
Boston  upon  the  twenty-ninth  of  August ;  on  the  morning  of  which  day 
Haverhill  was  surprised,  and  near  100  persons  killed,  and  many  were 
carried  away  captive.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  Minister  of  the  town, 
was  killed,  while  two  of  his  daughters,  then  little  children,  were 
remarkably  preserved  from  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  One  of  these, 
Elizabeth,  was  afterwards  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Checkley,  of 
Boston,  and  was  living  here  when  Governor  Hutchinson  wrote  his 
history.  § 

Brigdon,  Francis  Holmes,  sec;  John  Brown,  never  appeared  in  print  an  accurate  list  of 

Nicholas    Cook    and    John    Mountfort,  sec;  them. 

Hannah  Eades,  John  Fosdick,  sec;  George  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  £200 
Ingerson,  Timo.  Thornton,  sec;  Geo.  Webber,  be  laid  out  in  paving  "  at  the  South  End  in 
John  Goff,  Jr.,  sec;  Geo.  Shore,  Thos.  Plats,  addition  to  the  pavement  there."  Also  £50 
sec;  The  Trot,  Tho.  Money  and  Ebenr.  New-  for  improving  at  the  North  End,  "partly 
ell,  sec.  In  1706  there  are  but  two  entries  : —  towards  paving  the  Street  leading  from  Scar- 
John  Obison,  Wm.  Obison,  sec;  John  Ballard,  let's  wharfe  to  Mr.  Jonas  Clark's,  and  the  rest 
John  Ballard,  Jr.,  and  Wm.  Wormwell,  sec.  in  such  place  as  the  Select-men  may  direct." 
In  1708  but  four:  —  James  Whippo,  James  Also  £300  to  support  the  Watch,  and  £900  for 
Green  and  John   Greenough,  sec;  Isaac  Tay-  other  expenses. 

lor,  Saml.  Kenney,  sec;  Tho.  Hudson,  Thos.  f  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  Funeral  Sermon. 

Powell,     sec;    Thankfull    Trobridg,    Francis  %  Some  account  of  his  family  has  been  given, 

Thresher,  sec     In  1709,  John  Raynor,  Elizur  ante,  p.  459. 

Phillips,  sec;  Laurence  Hood,  Danl.  Johonot,  §  This  was  the  mother  of  the  wife  of  Gov. 
sec;  Mary  Harris,  Eliza.  Holmes,  sec;  James  Samuel  Adams,  the  patriot.  The  name  of  Mrs. 
Buck,  Ambrose  Vincent,  sec;  Tho.  Selbey,  Mr.  Adams  was  also  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  15 
John  Belcher,  sec.  These  entries  end  in  1710,  Mar.  1725,  married  17  Oct.  1749,  died  6  July, 
in  which  year  there  were  but  two  admissions  :  1757.  The  preservation  of  Mrs.  Checkley  from 
Oliver  Atwood  and  Edward  Tillet ;  for  the  the  tomahawks  of  the  Indians  was  most  re- 
former David  Robinson  was  security,  and  for  markable.  Her  father's  maid-servant  hearing 
the  latter  Ellis  Callender.  that  the  Indians  were  upon  them,  jumped  from 
*  It  is  proposed  to  give  an  alphabetical  her  bed,  and  with  wonderful  presence  of  mind, 
account  of  them  in  the  Appendix.     There  has  took  two  of  the  little  daughters,  who  probably 


1708.]  PROPOSAL   TO   MAKE   TIIE   TOWN   A    CITY.  535 

At  a  meeting  in  December,  the  Selectmen  recommended  that, 
"  inasmuch  as  the  By-laws  of  the  Town  had  not  answered  the  end 
for  which  they  were  made,  owing  to  the  inability  of  the  present  Gov- 
ernment to  execute  them,  an  Act  of  Incorporation  should  be  obtained  ; 
and  that,  "as  the  Town  grows  more  populous,  it  will  stand  in  need 
of  a  more  strict  regulation."  They  therefore  proposed  that  a  Commit- 
tee should  be  raised  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  subject  at  the 
Town-meeting  in  March  next.  Accordingly  one  was  appointed,  which 
consisted  of  thirty-one  members,  including  the  Selectmen.  But  when 
the  people  came  together,  although  the  thanks  of  the  Town  were 
1709.  voted  to  the  gentlemen  who  had  with  much  labor  prepared  a 
Mar.  14.  draft  of  an  Act,  yet  it  was  rejected  by  a  large  majority.*  And 
thus  this  early  attempt  to  make  Boston  an  Incorporated  Borough  or 
City  proved  abortive,  notwithstanding  many  of  the  principal  inhabi- 
tants were  in  favor  of  it. 

A  general  murmur  continued.  Town  officers  were  censured  ;  some 
for  their  inefficiency,  some  for  their  cupidity,  and  others  for  their  want 
of  integrity.  And  yet  the  offices  were  filled  with  the  most  respectable 
men  in  the  Town.  Offices  now  considered  menial  were  then  held  by 
men  of  note  and  high  standing.  In  this  state  of  things,  the  Eev. 
Thomas  Bridge,  of  the  First  Church,  just  before  the  Town-meeting  in 
March  of  the  next  year,  preached  an  elaborate  sermon  "  for  Town  Offi- 
cers," in  which  covetousness  is  treated  of  in  a  manner,  doubtless  quite 
significant  if  not  suggestive  to  many  of  that  day.  What  effect  it  had 
to  correct  abuses  is  not  now  apparent.  It  is  believed,  however,  to  have 
been  popular  at  the  time,  and  a  new  edition  was  issued  some  twenty 
years  after  ;  probably  called  for  by  similar  abuses,  f 

slept  in  the  room  with  her,  one  13  and  the  21 :  [9th.  1st  Month    1709-10.1    By  Thomas 

other  9,  named  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  and  fled  Bridge,  Pastor  of  a  Church  in  Boston.     The 

with  them  into  the  cellar.     There,  under  two  Second  Edition.    Luke  12  :  15, — Take  heed  and 

large  tubs,  she  concealed  them,  and  then  sue-  beware  of  Covetousness.    1733."     Among  the 

cessfully  concealed  herself.     And  although  the  many  pointed  passages  in  the  discourse  which 

Indians  came  into  the  cellar  and  rummaged  it,  might  be  useful  in  this  age,  the  following  only 

yet  the  empty  tubs  were  not  thought  worthy  can  be  copied:  "  The  covetous  office-holders  are 

of  their  notice.     The  other  child  became   the  intent  on  getting  gain.    They  have  many  subtle 

wife  of  Col.  Estes  Hatch. —  N.  E.  H.  <Sf   Gen.  artifices  and  devices   to   manage.     Sometimes 

Reg.,  ii.  353  ;  iii.  151. —  Myrick's  Hist.  Hav-  they   are   contriving   to  remove   obstructions. 

erhill.  —  Hutchinson.  —  Adams'  Family  Bible.  Sometimes  to  prevent  discovery,  that  they  may 

*  When  the  vote  was  about  to  be  taken,  a  act  with  secrecy,  that  they  may  not  be  mis- 
circumstance  occurred  ;  though  unimportant  in  trusted.  Sometimes  in  supplanting  their 
itself,  it  had  much  to  do,  it  is  said,  in  the  re-  rivals.  Sometimes  in  finding  out  and  shaping 
suit.  An  individual,  forward  in  opposing  the  tools  to  be  used  in  their  service.  And  when 
acceptance  of  the  proposed  Act,  concluded  all  things  are  ready,  to  know  the  best  methods, 
some  observations,  in  which  he  compared  a  and  fittest  seasons  for  accomplishment.  They 
corporation  to  a  lion,  saying,  "  It  is  but  a  spend  many  waking  hours  in  imagining  mis- 
whelp   now.     It  will  be  a  Lion  by  and  by.  chief  upon  their  beds." 

Mr.   Moderator  !    Put   the   Question  ;  "     This  By  the   ensuing   passage  may  be  seen  what 

determined  the  wavering,  and  the  matter  was  was  expected   of   public  officers  :  "  There  are 

immediately  settled.     Had  that  Prophet  lived  indeed  divers  offices  in  the  Town,  which  quali- 

in  our  time,  it  may  be,  he  would  have  seen  the  fied  men  ought  to  attend  out  of  pure  regard  to 

Lion  in  his  full  strength.  the   Public  Good  ;  as  members   of  the   Body 

fThis  sermon  is  thus  entitled:  "  Jethro's  Politic,  without  expecting  a  salary.  Men  hating 

Advice  recommended  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Bos-  covetousness  will  serve  the  Town  in  such  capac- 

ton,   in  New  England,  viz.:  To  Chuse   well-  ities,  readily,  cheerfully  and  impartially,  and 

qualified  Men,  and  Haters  of  Covetousness,  for  ought  to  be  treated  with  respect,  loved  and 

Town  Offices.     In  a  Lecture  on  Exodus  xviii.  valued  for  their  fidelity."  " 


536  ORIGIN   OF   LONG   WHARF.  [1709-10. 

There  was  complaint  that  the  business  of  chimney-sweeping,  being 
"  performed  by  unfaithful  slaves,"  was'  badly  done,  and  consequently 
there  was  much  danger  from  chimneys  being  often  on  fire.  Therefore, 
a  fine  of  ten  shillings  was  to  be  collected  of  those  who  allowed  "  their 
chimneys  to  take  fire  so  as  to  blaze  out."  And,  there  being  no  persons 
competent  to  teach  "  the  mystery  or  trade  "  of  sweeping  chimneys  in 
the  Town,  the  matter  of  employing  suitable  persons  to  sweep  them  was 
committed  to  the  Selectmen. 

At  the  Town-meeting  in  March,  Mr.  Henry  Dering  was 
Moderator.  It  was  voted  to  choose  no  Assessors,  but  to  have 
nine  Selectmen,  and  that  they  should  perform  the  duty.  It  was  also 
voted  to  excuse  Mr.  Timothy  Lindall  from  serving  as  Constable,  who 
pleaded  that  he  had  paid  a  fine  of  ten  pounds  about  five  years  before 
to  be  excused  from  the  same  office  in  Salem. 

A  proposition  to  build  a  wharf,  where  Long  Wharf  now  is,  made 
by  Oliver  Noyes,*  Daniel  Oliver,  James  Barnes,  John  George,  John 
Gerrish  and  Anthony  Stoddard,  was  accepted  by  the  Town.  They  were 
to  build  it  at  their  own  charge,  with  a  sufficient  Common  Sewer.  It  was 
to  run  from  the  end  of  King-street  to  the  Circular  Line,  and  to  low 
water  mark.  To  be  of  the  width  of  King-street  between  Mr.  East 
Apthorp's  and  Mr.  Andrew  FaneuiTs.  f  The  wharf  was  to  have  a  pub- 
lic way  "  on  one  of  its  sides,"  thirty  feet  wide,  "  for  the  use  of  the 
inhabitants  and  others  forever."  And  about  the  middle  of  said  wharf 
there  was  to  be  "a  gap  of  sixteen  feet  wide,  covered  over,  for  boats 
and  lighters  to  pass  and  repass."  Also  a  passage-way  on  the  new 
wharves,  on  each  side,  for  carts,  leaving  the  end  free  for  the  Town  to 
plant  guns  on  for  defence,  if  occasion  should  require.  Such  was  the 
origin  of  Long  Wharf.  J 

*  Dr.  Noyes  died  16  Mar.  1720-1,  being  an  English  maid  ;  Francis  Legare  [goldsmith] 
taken  very  suddenly  and  awfully."  —  Snow's  and  two  sons;  James  Montier,  his  wife  and 
MS.  note.  He  had  "  a  house  and  land  near  an  English  maid;  Isaac Biscon,  his  wife  ;  Ben- 
Fort  Hill."  Wife  Katharine,  sons  Belcher  and  jamin,  John  and  Andrew  Funell;  Docter  Bas- 
Oliver ;  daus.  Anna,  wf.  of  Mather  Byles,  and   set  ;  Gabriel  Bernon  ;  William  Barbut ;  Louis 

Sarah,  wid.  of Pulcepher.  —  Record  of    Allare ;   Moses  Secq ;   Peter  Vrigne,  to  give 

1738.  security  next  meeting." 

f  The  Faneuils  came  to  Boston  in  1691,  or,  The  Faneuils  came  from  Rochelle,  in  France, 
it  may  be,  in  the  previous  year.  For  I  find  a  and  were  brothers.  Benjamin  was  the  father 
"  List  of  persons  of  the  ffrench  nation  admit-  of  Peter,  a  name  indelibly  associated  with 
ted  into  the  Colony  by  the  Governor  and  Fanetjil  Hall.  For  some  genealogical  facts 
Councill,"  dated,  "  Boston,  Feb.  1,  1691."  I  can  only  refer  my  readers  to  Mr.  Sargent's 
There  is  nothing  upon  the  Record  to  show  interesting  Dealings  with  the  Dead,  Evening 
whether  the  1691  should  be  so  taken,  or  Transcript,  22  Feb.,  1851,  for  a  satisfactory 
whether  it  should  be  1691-2.  These  are  the  account  of  the  Faneuil  family.  The  death 
names  of  those  then  admitted,  and  their  order  of  Mrs.  Mary  Catharine,  wife  of  Mr.  An- 
upon  the  Record  :  —  drew  Faneuil,  is  recorded  in  the  Boston   Ga- 

"  Peter  Devaux,  his  wife,  daughter,  and   zette,   No.   243.     She  died    16    July,   1724. 

A  high  character  is  given  of 
her  :  —  "A  gentlewoman  of 
extraordinary  perfections,  both 
of  mind  and  body." 

J  The  stores  on  Long  wharf 
were  early  numbered.  At  what 
time  buildings  on  the  streets  or 
wharves    were  first    numbered 


1710.]  urincTs  VISIT  TO  BOSTON.  537 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Uring  visited  Boston  in  1709,*  and  gives  a  very  in- 
teresting account  of  the  place,  in  his  "  Voyages  and  Travels,"  which 
he  printed  in  172G.  He  says  he  sailed  from  London  in  April  of  that 
^yjear,  but  does  not  mention  the  time  of  his  arrival.  He  observes, 
)  "  The  Town  is  near  two  miles  in  length,  and  in  some  places  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mile  broad,  in  which  are  reckoned  4000  houses  ;  most  of  them 
are  built  with  brick,  and  have  about  18,000  inhabitants.  It  is  much 
the  largest  of  any  in  America  under  the  British  government ;  they  have 
built  several  wharfs  ;  one  of  which  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Long 
Wharf,  and  may  well  be  called  so,  it  running  about  800  foot  into  the 
harbour,  where  large  ships,  with  great  ease,  may  both  lade  and  unlade : 
on  one  side  of  which  are  warehouses,  almost  the  whole  length  of  the 
wharf.  The  Town  is  very  populous,  and  has  in  it  eight  or  nine 
large  Meeting-houses,  and  a  French  Church,  and  but  one  English  [Epis- 
copal] and  that  built  of  wood  ;  but  I  am  informed,  since  I  was  in  that 
country,  they  have  another  building  with  brick.  I  need  say  nothing 
of  the  religion  of  this  Country,  by  reason  it  is  so  well  knownj' 

Captain  Uring  sailed  from  Boston  "  in  the  beginning  of  August," 
and  about  the  middle  of  that  month  was  captured  by  three  French  pri- 
vateers. He  was  not  long  a  captive.  In  1722  he  went  out  as  Deputy 
Governor  for  the  Duke  of  Montagu,  to  the  Islands  of  St.  Lucia  and 
St.  Vincent.  The  Duke's  establishment  there  proving  a  failure,  Cap- 
tain Uring  returned  to  England  in  1724.  Two  years  after,  he  published 
the  account  of  his  Expeditions,  which  is  the  last  notice  of  him.  He 
appears  now  to  have  left  the  seas,  after  having  followed  them  about 
thirty  years.  He  was  in  the  "  Grand  Fleet  under  Sir  George  Rook," 
in  his  expedition  to  the  Bay  of  Cadiz,  in  1702. f 

There  was  a  vote  to  erect  a  line  of  defence  across  the  Neck  between 
Boston  and  Roxbury.  Accordingly,  Fortifications  were  built  upon 
the  site  of  the  old  ones,  constructed  of  brick  and  stone,  having  a  para- 
pet of  earth.  On  this  great  guns  were  placed.  There  were  two  gates, 
one  for  carriages  and  the  other  for  foot  passengers.  Through  these  was 
the  passage  to  and  from  the  Town  over  the  Neck.   Here  was  the  southern 

cannot,  perhaps,  be  determined.    There  was  no  *  He  visited  it  again  in  1717  and  1720,  and 

order  of  the  Town  about  it  up  to  this  time,  that  the  reader  should  bear  in  mind,  that  though 

I  have  met  with.  Tenants  of  small  blocks  began  Capt.  Uring's  description  is  apparently  for 

the  practice,  most  likely,  very  soon  after  blocks  1709,  it  was  evidently  drawn  up  after  1723. 

were  erected.     In  some    early  instances  the  Many  years  ago  I  communicated  Uring's  ac- 

shops  were  designated  by  the  letters  of  the  count  of  "Boston  and  New  England"  to  the 

alphabet.     In  1724,  Benjamin  Foster  adver-  New  Hampshire    Hist.   Society,  and    it  was 

tised  "  choice  good  Cables  from  5  to  6  inches,  printed  in  the  third  volume  of  the  Collections 

of  120  fathoms,"  at  "  No.  11  upon  the  Long  of  that  Society.     His  work,  though  replete  in 

Wharffe."     At  the  same  time  Adam  Leyland's  interesting  incidents,  is  now  rare,  and  seldom 

warehouse  was  "  No.  E,  in  Dr.  Cook's  new  to  be  found  on  sale. 

buildings  at  the  head  of  Long  Wharfe."    Ar-  f  He  was  born  in  Walsingham,  Co.  of  Nor- 

thur  Savage  sold  W.  I.  Goods  at  No.  6  Long  folk,  about   1683.     His  father  had  followed 

wharf  in  1727-8 ;  Cornelius  Waldo  was  No.  17.  the  sea,  but,  at  about  25  years  of  age,  married, 

On  Bonner's  plan  (elsewhere  described)  of  settled  in  Walsingham,  also  his  native  place, 

1714,  Long  wharf  is  represented  almost  entirely  and  followed  the  business  of  "  Shop  Keeper," 

covered  with  warehouses.  —  Voyages  and  Travels  of  the  Son. 

68 


538 


POST   OFFICE. JAMES   ALLEN   DIES. 


[1710. 


termination  of  Orange-street,  corresponding  now  to  the  intersection  of 
Washington  and  Dover  streets. 

Until  this  year  postal  affairs  were  under  colonial  regulations.  Par- 
liament now  took  the  matter  in  hand  and  established  a  General  Post 
Office  in  North  America.  This  was  its  first  enactment  for  the  purpose, 
and  it  had  in  view  a  revenue  "for  the  service  of  the  war,  and  other 
her  Majesty's  occasions."  *  John  Campbell  was  the  first  Post  Master 
under  this  Act.  He  was  now  an  elderly  man,  and  had  kept  the  Post 
Office  in  Boston  for  several  years,  as  before  noticed,  f 

From  March,  1709,  to  March,  1710,  there  were  377  deaths  in  the 
Town.  Of  these  295  were  "Whites,"  eighty  Negroes,  and  two  In- 
dians. The  increase  over  the  previous  year  was  fifty  of  the  former, 
and  thirty-six  of  the  two  latter.  Among  these  was  the  Eev.  James 
Allen,  of  the  First  Church,  who  emigrated  to  this  Country  in 
1662,  was  an  Assistant  to  Mr.  Davenport  six  years,  and 
ordained  Teacher  in  1668.  J 

1711.  In  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  the  Town  was  deprived  of 
Feb.  9.  another  eminent  man  by  death.  This  was  the  Honorable  John 
Mar.  5.  Foster,  who  was  followed  in  about  a  month  after  by  his  wife, 
a  lady  highly  esteemed.  These  were  the  grandparents  of  Governor 
Hutchinson.  § 

Boston  felt  more  the  effects  of  war,  and  more  of  the  blessings  of 


*  The  rate  of  letters  from  England  to  this 
country  was  about  the  same  as  at  present 
(1855),  Is.  for  single  letters,  2s.  for  double 
ones,  and  so  on. 

f  Mr.  Campbell  lived  eight  years  after  this. 
His  death  is  recorded  thus  in  the  N.  Eng. 
Weekly  Journal  of  11  Mar.  1728:— "On 
Monday  night  died  here,  John  Campbell,  Esq., 
aged  75  years.  He  was  many  years  Post  Mas- 
ter of  Boston,  and  publisher  of  the  Boston 
News-Letter ;  and  for  several  years  last  past 
one  of  his  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for 
the  County  of  Suffolk  ;  and  on  Saturday  last 
was  decently  interred." 

J  He  hived  in  what  is  since  Beacon-st., 
at  the  corner  of  Somerset,  in  a  stone 
house  which  he  built,  supposed  to  have 
been  the  oldest  (of  stone)  in  the  Town, 
and  occupied  by  his  descendants  till  about 
1806.  When  the  first  Boston  Directory 
was  made,  that  house  was  occupied  by 
"  James  Allen,  gentleman,  and  Jeremiah 
Allen,  gentleman."  The  latter  was  the 
"Old  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk,"  who  re- 
sided there  until  1806,  or  later.  The  present 
splendid  granite  pile,  recently  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  the  late  Benjamin  W.  Crowninshield  and 
John  L.  Gardner,  was  built  by  David  Hinck- 
ley, merchant,  who  resided  there  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  since.  It  is  now  called  the 
Somerset  Club  House. 

§  In  his  History  the  Governor  says,  "  Col. 
Foster  was  a  wealthy  merchant,  of  a  most  fair 
and  unblemished  character."  —  ii.  190.     See 


ante,  p.  227.  Two  Sermons  were  preached  on 
the  death  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster,  by  the  two 
Doctor  Mathers,  father  and  son,  which  were 
printed  in  a  volume  together  ;  but,  like  most 
Funeral  Sermons,  they  are  almost  barren  of 
facts  respecting  the  deceased.  The  latter  says 
Mr.  Foster  "  was  a  faithful  Magistrate ;  a 
Counsellor  continued  by  annual  elections  with 
the  esteem  of  the  people  at  the  Board,  for 
more  than  thrice  six  years  that  have  ran  since 
his  name  was  inserted  in  the  Royal  Charter  of 
the  Province  ;  a  Judge  of  inviolable  integrity ; 
just  in  his  dealings ;  charitable  to  the  Poor ; 


'Ttrkr 


an  exact  and  well-bred  merchant ;  one  who 
loved  both  our  liberties  as  an  Englishman, 
and  our  principles  as  a  New  English-man." 
Of  Mrs.  Foster  the  same  Author  says,  "  She 
was  courteous,  affable,  obliging.  One  of  a 
peaceable  temper ;  a  hater  of  differences,  and 
a  healer  of  them.  One  who  dispensed  her 
alms  with  an  uncommon  generosity  ;  one  full 
of  humble  condescensions,"  etc.  Col.  Fos- 
ter died  intestate,  and  his  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  was  appointed  Admin- 
istrator on  his  estate. 


1711.]  ARRIVAL   OP   ADMIRAL  WALKER'S   FLEET.  539 

peace,  than  any  other  large  town  in  the  colonics,  during  the  contests 
between  England  and  France.  When  war  existed  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton entered  heartily  into  it,  for  they  felt  fully  confident  that  so  long  as 
the  French  retained  Canada,  so  long  would  the  Indians  disturb  the 
frontiers,  and  French  cruisers  destroy  their  commerce.  Hence,  every 
expedition  undertaken  in  England  against  Canada  met  a  ready  response 
in  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town.  But  they  were  alternately  elated  and 
disappointed.  Two  years  previous  to  this,  high  hopes  were  entertained 
that  a  force  was  already  on  its  way  from  England,  which  would  sweep 
the  French  from  Canada,  or  reduce  them  to  submission.  Captain  Uring 
was  charged  with  dispatches  to  the  Authorities  here,  which  warranted 
these  expectations  ;  but  the  expedition  was  diverted  that  year,  owing 
to  the  defeat  of  the  confederate  troops  in  Portugal ;  the  fleet  being 
ordered  to  proceed  to  that  country  for  their  relief. 

But  now  a  more  stupendous  undertaking  was  on  foot.  Admiral  Sir 
Hovenden  Walker,  Knt.,  arrived  at  Boston  with  far  the  largest  fleet 
T  which  at  one  time  had  ever  floated  upon  the  bosom  of  its 

waters.  He  had  fifteen  men  of  war  and  forty  transports,  with 
upwards  of  5000  men.*  Here  they  were  joined  by  two  regiments 
raised  in  New  England. 

The  next  day  after  the  fleet  arrived  arrangements  were  made  for 
landing  the  men  on  Noddle's  Island.f  They  were  therefore  landed  and 
encamped  at  that  place.  Meantime  the  Admiral  commenced  negotia- 
tions for  a  supply  of  provisions,  of  which  his  forces  stood  much  in 
need,  and  took  up  his  lodgings  with  Captain  Southack,  in  Tremont- 
street.  The  Captain,  in  the  Province  Galley,  was  to  lead  the  van  in 
the  present  expedition  ;  or  "  to  go  ahead  of  the  fleet  in  Canada  river." 
But  the  Admiral  met  with  difficulties  henceforward  in  almost  every 
step,  to  detail  all  of  which  would  occupy  a  moderate-sized  volume. 
They  began  with  his  attempts  to  victual  his  fleet.  "  One  Captain  Bel- 
cher," |  he  says,  "a  very  rich  and  leading  man"  in  the  Town,  was 

*  A  list  of  the  ships,  names  of  their  Com-  Council  to  the  Town-house,  and  congratulated 
manders,  their  number  of  men  and  guns,  are  on  their  safe  arrival  to  New  England."  On 
given  in  the  Boston  News-Letter  of  23  July,  the  29th,  the  Admiral,  General,  Colonels,  and 
1711,  No.  379.  The  following  extract  from  several  of  the  Sea  Captains,  proceeded  to  the 
that  paper  will  give  a  tolerable  idea  of  Governor's  house  in  Roxbury,  and  dined  there, 
the  stir  which  this  arrival  occasioned  in  the  — Admiral  "Walker's  Jour.,  75. 
Town:  —  "On  Monday,  the  25th  of  June  f  At  the  same  time  the  sick  were  provided 
last,  the  Castle  gave  the  usual  signal  of  several  for  by  the  erection  of  booths  "  on  one  of  the 
ships  seen  in  the  Bay,  and  about  noon  the  Islands  near  Nan tasket  Road."  —  Journal,  69. 
alarm  begun;-  and  in  one  hour's  time  the  In  the  army  which  arrived  in  the  fleet  "  were 
Troop  of  Guards  and  Regiment  of  Foot  were  seven  veteran  regiments  from  the  Army  of  the 
underarms.  And  in  his  Excellency's  absence  Duke  of  Marlborough."  The  generation  then 
at  the  Congress  in  New  London,  the  Gentle-  inhabiting  Boston  had  never  before  seen  so 
men  of  her  Majesty's  Council  received  his  Ex-  grand  a  military  display  as  these  veteran 
cellency  Brigadier  Hill,  Commander  in  Chief  troops  made  as  they  performed  their  evolutions 
of  her  Majesty's  forces  in  North  America,  and  on  the  fields  of  Noddle's  Island, 
the  Honourable  Sir  Hovenden  Walker,  Knt.,  J  Andrew  Belcher,  who  so  efficiently  re- 
Admiral  of  her  Majesty's  fleet  in  the  present  lieved  the  army  by  his  timely  arrival  in  Nar- 
expedition.  The  Troop  and  Regiment  being  raganset  Bay  with  provisions  after  the  great 
still  under  arms,  the  General  and  Admiral  Swamp  fight  of  Dec.  19th,  1675.  He  was  the 
were  conducted  and  attended  by  her  Majesty's  father  of  Gov.  Jonathan  Belcher,  and  died  31 


540  EXPEDITION   AGAINST    CANADA.  [1711. 

applied  to,  as  being  the  only  man  able  to  undertake  it ;  but  lie  would 
have  nothing  to  do  in  the  matter,  which  the  Admiral  construed  quite 
to  Mr.  Belcher's  discredit.  He  next  applied  to  "  one  Mr.  [Andrew] 
Faneuil,"  and  he  undertook  to  furnish  the  supplies.  Provisions,  how- 
ever, were  scarce,  and  there  was  doubtless  a  disposition  among  such  as 
possessed  them  to  make  the  most  they  could  out  of  the  necessities  of 
their  present  customers.  Such  being  the  state  of  things,  a  competent 
supply  could  not  easily  be  had ;  and,  finally,  the  Governor  was 
obliged  to  issue  an  "  Order  for  searching  for  provisions."  In 
the  order,  Mr.  William  Clarke  and  Mr.  Francis  Clarke  were  named  as 
searchers,  to  be  joined  with  such  others  as  the  Admiral  and  Gen.  Hill 
of  the  fleet  might  appoint.  In  the  same  order  Capt.  Samuel  Gookin 
and  Capt.  Samuel  Phips  were  appointed  "  to  attend  constantly  at  the 
camp  on  Noddle's  Island  in  the  day-time,  to  see  there  be  no  extortion 
or  oppression  in  the  sale  of  victuals  or  exchange  of  money." 

Among  the  troubles  which  surrounded  the  expedition,  that  of  deser- 
tion of  its  men  was  not  the  least.  To  prevent  this  alarming  mischief 
the  General  Court  passed  an  Act  subjecting  all  persons  to  a  penalty  of 
fifty  pounds,  or  twelve  months'  imprisonment,  if  they  harbored  any  sol- 
dier, marine  or  sailor,  who  should  desert  from  the  fleet.  Notwithstand- 
ing this  enactment,  and  an  order  previously  issued  to  the  various  towns 
to  call  out  the  military  to  guard  the  roads,  a  formidable  number  of  men 
succeeded  in  deserting,  and  could  not  be  found  when  the  fleet  sailed 
upon  its  intended  design  in  the  end  of  July ;  "  and  thus," 
says  the  Admiral,  "  we  left  Boston,  having  struggled  with 
many  difficulties  to  get  dispatched  from  thence."* 

The  land  forces  were  under  the  command  of  Brigadier  Gen.  John 
Hill.  The  other  commanders  of  note  were  Col.  Charles  Churchill,! 
Col.  William  Windresse,  Col.  M.  Kempenfelt,  Col.  Jasper  Clayton, 
Col.  Percy  Kirk,  J  Col.  Henry  Disney,  Col.  Richard  Kane.  Col.  Samuel 
Vetch  and  Col.  Shadrack  Walton  commanded  the  New  England  forces. 

Oct.  1728.  —  See  Church,  Hist.  Philip 's  War,  cellent  summary  of  this  Canada  expedition,  for 
62.  the  failure  of  which  he  honorably  acquits  the 
*  The  Admiral  experienced  great  difficulty  Commanders ;  and  there  were  few  better  judges 
in  procuring  pilots  for  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  of  the  nature  of  such  undertakings  than  that 
and  probably  sailed  without  being  properly  candid  author.  His  work  can  often  be  con- 
supplied  ;  though  during  his  stay  in  Boston  he  suited  with  advantage  by  American  authors, 
seems  to  have  spared  no  pains  to  procure  suit-  f  He  was  the  Commander  of  the  Marines, 
able  men.  As  soon  as  he  arrived  here  he  sent  The  Duke  of  Marlborough  had  a  brother,  son 
for  Mr.  John  Nelson,  who  then  lived  on  Long  and  nephew  of  the  name  of  Charles.  This 
Island,  and  con-  gentleman  was  neither  of  them,  though  the 
ferred  with  him  contrary  has  been  sometimes  inferred, 
upon  the  subject,  J  He  was  a  son  of  that  "  Col.  Kirk  "  whose 
he  being  "a  person  history  has  been  touched  upon  in  a  previous 
of  good  sense,  and  note  (p.  458),  and  survived  this  unfortunate 
well  acquainted  expedition,  to  find  a  resting-place  in  Westmin- 
with  the  interest  ster  Abbey.  He  was  now  about  27  years  of 
and  affairs  of  those  age,  and  lived  to  be  57  ;  dying  Jan.  1st,  1757. 
parts."  The  same  person,  I  suppose,  who  acted  His  mother  was  "  the  Lady  Mary,  daughter  to 
eo  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  Revolution  of  George  Howard,  Earl  of  Suffolk.  Diana  Dor- 
1689,  and  had  lately  been  a  prisoner  in  Canada  mer,  his  niece  and  sole  heiress,  died  Feb.  22d, 
and  in  France.  1743,  aged  32."  —  Hist.  Descript.  Westmin- 
Mr.  Lediard,  in  his  Naval  History,  has  an  ex-  ster  Abbey,  164.  Edition  1764. 


1711.]  GREAT  FIRE.  541 

Of  the  melancholy  fate  of  this  great  armament,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  add,  that  it  utterly  failed,  owing  to  adverse  circumstances,  beyond 
the  control  of  human  power.  A  terrific  storm  wrecked  nine  of  the 
ships,  in  which  were  lost  near  900  men.  Another  ship,  the  Edgar, 
was  blown  up  after  reaching  the  coast  of  England,  and  with  it  400 
men  more  were  lost.*  As  in  all  such  cases,  the  Commanders  were 
blamed  for  the  miscarriage,  and  retired  from  the  service  in  disgrace,  f 
Censures  did  not  stop  here.  There  were  those  in  England  who  attrib- 
uted the  failure  of  the  expedition  "  to  the  barbarous  treatment  of  New 
England."  The  falsity  of  this  charge  was  at  the  time  ably  met  by 
Mr.  Agent  Dummer,J  then  in  England. 

In  the  month  of  October  a  considerable  part  of  the  business  portion 
of  the  Town  was  consumed  by  fire.  It  broke  out  about  seven  of  the 
_  clock,  and  by  two  the  next  morning  "  it  reduced  Cornhill  into 
miserable  ruins,  and  it  made  its  impression  into  King-street 
and  Queen-street,  and  a  great  part  of  Pudding-lane  was  also  lost, 
before  the  violence  of  it  could  be  conquered.  Among  these  ruins  there 
were  two  spacious  Edifices,  which,  until  now,  made  a  most  considerable 
figure,  because  of  the  public  relation  to  our  greatest  solemnities  in 
which  they  had  stood  from  the  days  of  our  Fathers.  The  one  was  the 
Town-house ;  the  other  the  Old  Meeting-house.  The  number  of  houses, 
and  some  of  them  very  capacious  buildings,  which  went  into  the  fire 
with  these,  is  computed  near  about  an  hundred."  It  was  found  that 
about  (one  hundred  and  ten  families  were  turned  out  of  doorsZ]  This 
part  of  the  Town  was  then  filled  with  dwellings,  as  well  as  stores  and 
shops,  and  these  were  stocked  with  valuable  goods.  "  But  that  which 
very  much  added  unto  the  horror  of  the  dismal  night  was  the  tragical 
death  of  many  poor  men,  who  were  killed  by  the  blowing  up  of  houses, 
or  by  venturing  too  far  into  the  fire.  Of  these  the  bones  of  seven  or 
eight  were  supposed  to  be  found."  Others,  strangers  belonging  to 
vessels,  were  thought  to  have  increased  the  number  of  those  who  per- 
ished, and  several  received  wounds  from  the  effects  of  which  they 
afterwards  died. 

"  Thus  the  Town  of  Boston,  just  going  to  get  beyond  fourscore  years 
of  age,  and  conflicting  with  much  labor  and  sorrow,  is,  a  very  vital  and 
valuable  part  of  it,  soon  cut  off  and  flown  away  !  "  § 

"  The  occasion  of  which  is  said  to  have  been  by  the  careless  sottish- 
ness  of  a  woman,  who  suffered  a  flame  which  took  the  okum,  the  pick- 
ing whereof  was  her  business,  to  gain  too  far  before  it  could  be 
mastered."  || 

*  But  one  of  the  New  England  transports  J  Letter  to  a  Noble  Lord,  published  in  1712. 

•was  cast  away,  and  from  that  all  the  men  \  Account  appended  to  Janeway's  Dreadful 

were  saved.     This  is  remarkable.     The  New  Fire  of  London,  p.  41-3. 

England  men  doubtless  better  understood  the  ||  Ibid.  —  "  It  broke  out  in  an  old  Tenement 

coast,  or  how  to  provide  themselves  with  pilots  within  a  back  Yard  in  Cornhill,  near  the  First 

than  their  Ally,  who,  it  is  said,  affected  to  look  Meeting-house,  occasioned  by  the  carelessness 

with  contempt  upon  them.  of  a  poor  Scottish  Woman,  by  using  Fire  near 

f  Admiral  Walker  resided  in  Dublin,  Ire-  a  parcel  of  Ocum,  Chips  and  other  combustible 

land,  and  died  there  in  January,  1726.  Rubbish."  —  News-Letter,   8    Oct.   1711.     A 


542  FIRE-WARDS.  [1711. 

Thus,  from  School-street  to  Dock  Square,  including  both  sides  of 
Cornhill,  all  the  buildings  were  swept  away.*  It  was  soon  found  that 
the  First  Church  must  go,  and  several  sailors  were  prevailed  upon  to 
ascend  into  the  cupola  to  attempt  to  save  the  bell ;  but  so  rapid  were 
the  flames,  and  so  intent  were  they  to  effect  their  object,  that  their 
retreat  was  cut  off  before  they  were  aware  of  it,  and  they  fell  in  with 
the  roof  and  perished  in  the  flames. 

In  consequence  of  the  fire,  "  with  special  reference  to  the 
frustrating  of  a  great  expedition,  by  the  loss  of  part  of  our 
fleet  in  Canada  River,"  a  General  Fast  was  kept      At  this  time  a  con- 
tribution was  taken  up  in  the  Churches  for  the  sufferers  by  the  fire, 
which  amounted  to  about  700  pounds.f 

The  occurrence  of  this  extensive  conflagration,  happening  about  two 
weeks  before  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Court,  probably  occasioned 
that  body  to  pass  "  An  Act,  providing,  in  case  of  fire,  for  the  more 
speedy  extinguishment  thereof;  and  for  the  preserving  of  goods 
endangered  thereby."  The  Act  provided  also  for  the  appointment  of 
Fire- wards  in  Boston,  "  not  exceeding  ten,  in  the  several  parts  of  the 
Town  ;  and  to  have  a  proper  badge  assigned  to  distinguish  them  in  their 
office,  namely,  a  staff  of  five  feet  in  length,  coloured  red,  and  headed 
with  a  bright  brass  spire  of  six  inches  long."  They  had  full  power  to 
command  all  persons  at  fires,  to  pull  down  or  blow  up  houses,  protect 
goods,  "by  direction  of  two  or  three  of  the  chief  Civil  or  Military 
Officers  of  the  Town."  J 

The  first  Town-meeting  after  the  fire  was  held  in  Dr.  Col- 
'  man's  Meeting-house  ;  at  which  meeting,  a  concurrence  was  voted 
"  with  the  proposals  made  by  the  General  Assembly,  about  building  a 
House  in  or  near  the  place  where  the  old  Town  house  stood."  Thomas 
Brattle,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  William  Payn,  were  appointed  on  the  part  of 
the  Town  to  make  an  arrangement  with  a  Committee  of  the  General 

number  of  this  paper  was  printed  only  the  stone  of  Capt.  Scottow  was    placed    in  the 

day  before  the  fire.    The  office  in  which  it  was  tower  of  the  Old  South  Church, 

printed  being  in  Pudding-lane,  was,  of  course,  The  old  brick  building  on  the  corner  of 

consumed ;  but  that  calamity  did  not  prevent  Washington  and  School  streets,  now  and  for 

the  issue  of  the  paper  the  next  week  in  New-  several  years  occupied  by  W.  D.   Ticknor  & 

bury-street.  —  See  ante,  p.  528.  Co.  as  a  Book-store,  was  the  first  built  on  that 

The  out-house  in  which  the  fire  took  is  said  spot  after  this  fire, 
to  have  belonged  to  Capt.  Ephraim  Savage,  *  "  From  School-street  to  what  is  called  the 
who  then  lived  in  Williams  Court,  and  that  the  stone  shop  in  Dock  Square."  —  Hutchinson, 
"poor  woman's  name  was  Mary  Morse." —  ii.  200.  The  "  Stone  shop,"  noticed  by  Hutch- 
See  Snow,  210.  The  houses  er^utetr~nT  Corn-  inson,  was  the  same  probably  called  "  Colson's 
hill  after  this  fire  were  of  brick,  three  stories  Stone  House  "  about  1732,  and  stood  at  the 
high,  with  a  garret,  flat  roof,  and  balustrade.  "  north-easterly  termination  of  Cornhill."  On 
—  Holmes,  i.  505.  About  four  of  them  are  an  ancient  MS.  plan  in  my  possession,  "  Col- 
yet  standing  on  the  east  side,  and  one,  No.  31,  son's  "  is  marked  at  the  intersection  of  what  is 
on  the  west  side.  One  of  them,  being  No.  38,  now  called  Cornhill  and  Brattle-street. 
Washington-street,  bearing  the  date  of  its  erec-  f  Preface  to  Rev.  Mr.  Wadsworth's  Sermons, 
tion,  1712  ;  and  also  the  letters  S.  L.,  and  a  1713.  In  this  preface  the  author  gives  some- 
coat  of  Arms  belonging  to  the  Lynde  family,  what  of  a  circumstantial  account  of  the  fire,  to 
which  was  transferred  from  the  ancient  Lynde  whom  Snow  and  others  have  been  indebted, 
mansion  on  Lynde-street  to  its  present  locality,  J  Acts  and  Laws  of  the  Prov.  of  Mass.  Bay, 
with  about  as  much  propriety  as  the  grave-  $c.  1714,  p.  218. 


1711.] 


FERRY    REGULATIONS. 


543 


Court,  for  jointly  constructing  a  House  to 
accommodate  both  the  Town  and  Colony.  An 
arrangement  was  entered  into,  and  in  March 
1714,  the  Town  voted  "235  pounds,  fourteen 
shillings,  and  eight  pence,"  to  pay  its  part  of 
the  expense  of  the  building. 

At  this  session  an  Act  was  also  passed, 
"  further  regulating  of  the  Ferry  betwixt  Boston 
and  Winisimmit."  "  A  third  sufficient  and 
suitable  boat "  was  ordered  to  be  provided, 
"  with  able,  sober  persons  to  row  in  her  ;"  and 
"  one  of  the  three  boats  in  turn  to  be  always 
colman.  passing  on  the  water,"  unless  prevented  by  ice 

or  "extraordinary  stormy  weather  (except  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  then 
to  pass  no  oftener  than  necessity  shall  require) ;  from  sunrise  until  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  from  the  first  of  April  to  the  first  of  October  ;  and  until 
eight  at  night  from  the  first  of  October  to  the  first  of  April."  "  Posts," 
however  had  some  special  consideration.  Mail  routes  had  been  estab- 
lished to  the  east  and  west  of  Boston  this  year.  A  Post  went  to  Maine 
once  a  week,  to  Plymouth  also  ;  and  for  Connecticut  and  New  York 
once  in  two  weeks.  This  arrangement  was  not  changed  for  many 
years. 

The  Election  Sermon,  which  hitherto  had  been  preached  in  the 
First  Church,  was  this  year  preached  in  the  "  South  Meeting- 
house, by  Mr.  Samuel  Cheever,  of  Marblehead."  Mr.  Peter  Thacher 
of  Weymouth,  preached  the  Sermon  before  the  Artillery  Company.* 

At  the  Town-meeting  in  March,  "the  land  that  was  lately 
"  John  Mathew's  in  School-street,"  was  ordered  to  be  let  out  for 
a  term  of  years  ;  also  "  to  make  the  Draw-bridge  (so  called)  in  Ann- 
street,  a  fast,  firm  bridge,  the  width  of  the  street.  And  in  case  Capt. 
Ballentine,  or  any  other  person,  sue  or  bring  an  action  in  the  Law,"  the 
Selectmen  to  defend  the  same.  A  Committee  of  five  was  raised  to 
inquire  into  the  damage,  if  any,  to  be  sustained  by  anybody  in  making 
the  bridge  in  question  "  a  fast  bridge. "  John  Clark,  Esc[.,  Captain 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Major  Thomas  Fitch,_Mr.  Grove  Hirst,  and  Capt. 
Edward  Martyn,  were  the  Committee. 

At  the  next  meeting,  which  was  held  in  the  "  South  Meet- 
ay  '  ing-house,"  Isaac  Addington,  Esq.,  was  moderator.  A  Com- 
mittee, which  had  been  raised  to  see  if  land  could  be  purchased  on  which 
to  erect  a  School-house  at  the  North  End,  reported  that  a  piece  belong- 
ing to  Mrs.  Susanna  Love,  on  Bennet  and  Love  streets,  100  feet  long 
and  about  51  wide,  could  be  had  for  153  pounds,  and  they  were 
instructed  to  purchase  it. 


1712. 


*  Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton  preached  the  Election  Sermon  last  year,  and  Dr.  Increase  Mather 
the  Sermon  to  the  Artillery. 


544  NEW  NORTH    CHURCH.  [1712. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

New  North  Church.  —  Church  Discipline.  —  First  Church  Rebuilt.  —  Gunning  on  the  Neck  Prohib- 
ited. —  Bad  state  of  Prisons.  — Death  of  David  Copp.  —  Copp's  Hill.  — First  Meeting  in  the  New 
Town  House.  —  Counterfeiters.  —  Post-Office  Regulation.  —  George  I.  Proclaimed.  —  Gov.  Burgess. 

—  Gov.  Shute.  —  New  South  Church.  —  Lighthouse.  —  Death  of  Isaac  Addington  —  of  Elisha  Cook 

—  of  Grindal  Rawson.  —  Tragical  Fate  of  his  sister  Rebecca. 

Erp^k  ANOTHER  Church  was  founded  at  the  north  part  of 

IiSF  the  Town.     This,  in  due  time,  received  the  name  of 

^<saJ&®^^   the  New  North.*      Its  original  founders  were  "sub- 
r^p^p^  stantial    mechanics,"    whose    names    were    Solomon 
SpL-J—KJp  Townsend,    Erasmus    Stevens,    Moses   Pierce,    Caleb 
lj  V    Lyman,    John   Pecker,    Alexander    Sears,    Ebenezer 

(Iff  rJ   Clough,  John  Goldthwait,   Samuel  Gardner,  William 

^fe_^     <^M    Parkman,  John  Barrett,  Isaac  Pierce,  Joshua  Cheever, 
=:=:,3c>i!r^        Matthew  Butler,  Elias  Townsend,   John  Goff,  James 
lynde.  Barnard. f     Their  first  meeting  was   previous  to  the 

month  of  March,  and  at  the  house  of  Matthew  Butler,  who  was  consid- 
ered the  father  of  the  Society  ;  and,  though  accidental,  the  pulpit  of  the 
present  edifice  very  appropriately  stands  over  the  spot  on  which  his 
pew  was  situated.  In  March  following  their  organization,  the  project- 
ors, having  been  joined  by  others,  obtained  liberty  to  erect  a  wooden 
house  for  their  worship.  A  piece  of  land  was  purchased  of  Col. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  at  the  corner  of  North  and  Clark  streets,  for  about 
455  pounds.  Here  a  house  of  small  dimensions  was  built,  "  without 
the  assistance  of  the  more  wealthy  part  of  the  community,  excepting 
what  they  derived  from  their  prayers  and  good  wishes."  It  appears  to 
have  been  some  time  in  building,  as  it  was  not  dedicated  until 
ay  '  1714.  Three  members  of  the  Old  North  Church  were  elected 
Deacons  ;  namely,  Robert  Comby,  Edward  Proctor  and  James  Clark. 
This  may  have  given  rise  to  a  jealousy  said  to  have  existed  against  the 
New  Church ;  for  when  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  was  applied  to  to  procure 
their  dismission  from  his  Church,  he  gave  a  decided  refusal  to  commu- 
nicate the  request,  and  Caleb  Lyman,  John  Barrett  and  Solomon 
Townsend,  were  made  choice  of.  Mr.  Townsend  declined  the  office, 
and  it  remained  vacant  till  1717,  when  it  was  filled  by  the  election  of 
John  Dixwell,  who  was  son  of  the  well-known  Colonel  Dixwell,  one  of 
the  regicide  Judges.J 

*  On  the  27th  Nov.  1814,  the  Rev.  Francis  f  The  first  thirteen,  together  with  Mr.  Webb, 

Parkman  delivered  "  A  Sermon  on  the  Com-  the  Minister,  Benj.  Gerrish,  Nathaniel  Kenny 

pletion  of  a  Century  since  the  Settlement  of  the  and  Lately  Gee,  were  the  original  signers  of 

New  North  Church."     Why  the  date  27  Nov.  the  Church  Contract.      Mr.  Gee  was  blind. 

1714  should  be  assigned  for  the  "  Settlement"  Mr.  Lyman  died  in  1742. 

of  this  Church,  is  not  clear  ;  for  a  Minister  was  {Mr.    Dixwell  died  24  April,  1725.     He 

ordained  over  it  above  a  month  before  that  date,  was  highly  respected  and  much  lamented.   Hia 


1712.]  NEW   NORTH   CHURCH.  545 

When  a  Minister  was  to  bo  chosen,  two  only  were  thought  of.  These 
were  Mr.  John  Barnard,  —  afterward  of  Marblehead, —  and  Mr.  John 
Webb,  who  was  then  Chaplain  at  Castle  William.  Mr.  Barnard  was  a 
member  of  the  Old  North  Church,  and  highly  in  favor  with  Dr.  Increase 
Mather.  This  was  supposed  to  have  excited  the  jealousy  of  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather,  and  through  his  influence  Mr.  Webb  was  brought  forward,  and 

succeeded  in  being  elected  at  a  second  trial ;  unanimously,  as 
A      fr     it  was  recorded.*     The  house  had  been  dedicated  on  the  fifth 

of  the  preceding  May.  The  two  Doctors  Mather  officiated  at 
the  ordination  of  Mr.  Webb,  and  Mr.  Barnard  preached  the  Sermon. 
The  principles  and  practice  of  this  Church  were  to  be  the  same  as  those 
established  by  the  Synod  of  Cambridge  in  1648,  as  far  as  that  went ; 
and  as  to  the  subject  of  baptism,  it  was  agreed  to  follow  the  example 
of  their  mother  Church,  the  Old  North  ;  wThich  was  in  accordance  with 
the  Synod  of  1662.  In  1719,  Mr.  John  Frizell,  a  merchant  of  Bos- 
ton, presented  the  Church  with  a  bell,  which,  though  of  small  size  and 
disagreeable  sound,  was  used  till  1802,  when  the  old  house  was  taken 
down.  It  was  then  sold  to  the  town  of  Charlton,  in  the  county  of 
Worcester,  where  it  is  probably  still  in  use.f 

When,  in  1719,  it  became  advisable  to  settle  a  Colleague  with  Mr. 
Webb,  a  fierce  contest  ensued  between  the  majority  and  minority  mem- 
bers of  the  Society.     The  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  an  ordained  Minister  at 

Weymouth,  was  made  choice  of,  and  was  installed  with  Mr. 
Jan.  27.    Webb,  as  Pastor  ;  being  of  an  older  standing  at  college  than 

Mr.  Webb.  The  minority  was  quite  small,  but  they  were  very 
determined  in  their  opposition  to  Mr.  Thacher,  and  at  his  installation,  a 
tumultuous  and  disgraceful   scene  was  presented.  J     Pamphlets  were 

place  was  supplied  by  Deacon  Samuel  Barrett,  f  Mr.  John  Frissell,  presumed  to  be  the  same 

8  Dec.  following.     Mr.  Ephraim   Hunt   sue-  who  gave  the  bell,  died  in  Roxbury,  previous 

ceeded  him  as  Deacon,  8  March,  1726.     They  to  4  January,  1752.   Mr.  Joseph  Williams,  of 

were  ordained  18  August  of  the  same  year,  that  town,  administered  on  his  estate.  —  News- 

The  last  ordination  of  Deacons  in  this  Church,  Letter. 

and  perhaps  in  this  town,  was  7  Aug.  1737,  {  The  Council  for  the  installation  of  Mr. 
when  Deacon  Joshua  Cheever  and  Josiah  Thacher  met  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Webb's  house  on 
Langdon  were  ordained.  Mr.  William  Park-  the  corner  of  North  Bennet  and  Salem  streets. 
man  was  the  last  Ruling  Elder.  He  was  The  opposition  or  "  aggrieved  brethren  "  were 
elected  in  1743,  and  died  in  the  country  in  assembled  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Lee,  Esq., 
1775  or  1776,  very  aged.  Mr.  Samuel  Hoi-  in  Bennet-st.,  next  the  since  Universal  Meeting- 
land  was  chosen  Deacon  in  1752.  He  lived  house,  and  must  be  passed,  if  the  ordaining 
to  be  the  oldest  man  in  Boston ;  dying  about  Council  had  travelled  the  common  streets  to 
1793.  get  to  the  New  North  Chuch.     A  deputation 

*  The  succession  of  Ministers  in  the  New  from  the  aggrieved  members,  consisting  of  Alex- 
North  Church  is  as  follows  :  —  ander  Sears,   Solomon  Townsend  and   Owen 

John  Webb,  ord.  20   Oct.    1714,  died   16  Harris,  of  the  Church,  and  Thomas  Lee,  Ed- 
April,  1750.  ward  Pell  and  William  Pell,  of  the  congrega- 

Peter  Thacher,  inst.  27  Jan.  1723,  died  26  tion,  waited  upon  the  Council  with  a  remon- 

Eeb.  1738  [1738-9?]  strance  against   their  proceeding  to  business. 

Andrew  Eliot,  ord.  14  April,  1742,  died  13  The  purport  of  the  remonstrance  was,  that  the 

Sept.  1778.  ordination  must  not  take  place,  and  must  be 

John  Eliot,  ord.  3  Nov.  1779,  died  14  Feb.  prevented ;  peaceably  if  possible,  but  at  all 

1813.  events  stopped  it   should   be.     Mean   time,  a 

Francis  Parkman,  ord.  8  Dec.  1813,  died  11  crowd  having  gathered  about,  which  rendered 

Nov.  1852.  the  quiet  movement  of  the  Council  from  Mr. 

Arthur  B.  Fuller,                       1853.  Webb's  house  to  the  Church  somewhat  dubi- 

69 


546 


NEW   NORTH   CHURCH. 


[1712. 


afterwards  issued  upon  the  occasion,  discovering  a  temper  not  very 
creditable  to  some  of  their  authors.  * 

This  division  in  the  New  North  Church  was  the  cause  of  the  with- 
drawal of  several  of  its  members,  and  another  Church  at  the  North  End 
was  the  consequence,  which  eventually  received  the  name  of  the  New 
Brick,  f  As  in  the  case  of  the  First  and  South  Churches,  animosity 
continued  between  them  for  many  years,  sometimes  exhibiting  itself  in 
a  ridiculous  and  ludicrous  manner. 

In  April,  1721,  the  New  North  Church  publicly  ordained  Ruling 
Elders,  and  in  the  following  month  Deacons  were  ordained  likewise. 
In  1730,  the  House  was  enlarged.  Up  to  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  Church  Discipline  was  far  from  being  a  slight  matter-of-course 
affair.  After  this  it  was  gradually  much  relaxed.  Before  that  period, 
unfortunates,  male  or  female,  who  had  committed  errors,  were  obliged 
to  confess  them  before  the  whole  congregation,  however  peculiar  those 
errors  might  be.  Females,  under  certain  accusations,  were  obliged  to 
stand  up  with  a  white  robe  or  sheet  over  them,  while  the  Minister  read 
aloud  their  confession.  After  about  1750,  such  "brethren  and  sisters 
who  should  fall  into  scandal,"  were  allowed  to  confess  to  the  Church- 
members  only,  after  the  other  part  of  the  congregation  had  retired. 

The  "  New  England  version  of  the  Psalmes  "  was  continued  in  use  in 
this  Church  until  1755.     It  was  then  changed  for  "  Tate  and  Brady's 


cms,  Mr.  Webb  led  them  out  at  a  back  gate 
into  Love-lane,  and  through  an  alley  which 
opened  directly  opposite  the  Meeting-house ; 
and  thus  quiet  possession  of  the  pulpit  was 
obtained.  Whereupon  a  promiscuous  multi- 
tude immediately  nearly  filled  the  house.  The 
opposing  party  in  council  at  Mr.  Lee's  appear 
to  have  been  taken  by  surprise.  They  however 
soon  came,  and,  forcing  their  way  into  the 
Meeting-house,  forbid  the  proceedings  of  the 
ordination,  and  for  a  time  the  uproar  was  so 
great  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  proceed. 
Yet  they  did  proceed,  and  Mr.  Thacher  was 
declared  duly  qualified. 

*  The  titles  of  some  of  those  tracts  follow  : 
—  "A  Brief  Declaration  of  Mr.  Peter  Thacher 
and  Mr.  John  Webb,  Pastors  of  the  New 
North  Church  in  Boston,  in  behalf  of  them- 
selves and  said  Church ;  relating  to  some  of 
their  late  Ecclesiastical  Proceedings."  1720. 
This  was  followed  by 

"  An  Account  of  the  Reasons  why  a  Consid- 
erable Number  (about  50,  whereof  Ten  are 
Members  in  full  Communion)  Belonging  to  the 
New  North  Congregation  in  Boston,  could  not 
consent  to  Mr.  Peter  Thacher's  Ordination 
there.  Who  has  left  his  Flock  at  Weymouth, 
and  Accepted  a  Call  in  Boston,  without  the 
Approbation,  and  contrary  to  the  Advice,  of 
the  Ministers  in  this  Town.  With  a  Declara- 
tion of  the  Dissatisfied  Brethren  of  the  Church, 
&c."     1720, 

This  was  the  production  of  the  "  aggrieved  " 
party,  and  occupies  near  60  pages.     Among 


that  party  the  names  most  conspicuous  are 
James  Tyleston,  Thomas  Lee,  Jonathan  Mount- 
fort,  Ephraim  Mower,  James  Halsey,  Edward 
Pell,  Alexander  Seares,  John  Waldo,  Owen 
Harris,  Francis  Parnell,  Solomon  Townsend, 
William  Pell,  and  Pelatiah  Kinsman. 

In  justice  to  the  opposing  party  it  should  be 
said  that  they  produced  certificates  from  Nich- 
olas Philips  and  Thomas  White,  "  members  in 
full  communion  of  the  Church  of  Weymouth," 
that  Mr.  Thacher  had  broken  his  promise  in 
leaving  them.  Abiah  Whitman,  Sen.,  and 
Abiah  Whitman,  Jr.,  also  of  Weymouth,  made 
a  similar  statement.  And  when  the  Remon- 
strants laid  their  case  before  the  "  Ministers  of 
Religion  in  Boston,"  desiring  their  opinion,  as 
to  the  propriety  of  Mr.  Thacher's  leaving  his 
people,  those  Ministers  in  reply  said  "  he  had 
not  given  or  declared  to  them  those  Reasons 
which  they  judged  sufficient  or  satisfactory." 
Those  Ministers  were  Increase  Mather,  Cotton 
Mather,  Benj.  Wadsworth,  Benj.  Colman,  Jo- 
seph Sewall,  Thos.  Prince  and  William  Cooper. 

Upon  the  issue  of  the  last-named  Tract, 
another  followed,  entitled  "  A  Vindication  of 
the  New  North  Church  from  several  Falsehoods 
spread  in  a  Pamphlet  lately  published,  tending 
to  their  defamation,  entituled,"  as  above.  This 
I  have  not  seen  ;  not  considering  it  important 
to  an  understanding  of  the  history  of  the  diffi- 
culty, I  have  not  sought  for  it.  The  "  Vindica- 
tion" was  followed  by  "  An  Answer  to  a  Scan- 
dalous and  Lying  Pamphlet,"  &c. 

f  See  ante,  p.  311. 


1712.] 


NEW    NORTH    CHURCH. 


547 


version."     Not  long  after  this  the  practice  of  reading  and  singing  the 
psalms,  line  by  line,  alternately,  was  abolished,  or  discontinued. 

During  the  Siege  of  Boston,  or  during  its 
occupancy  by  the  British  in  1775— G,  public 
worship  was  not  suspended  in  this  Church. 
By  the  close  of  that  century  the  House  had 
become  old,  out  of  repair  and  out  of  fash- 
ion. It  was  large,  and,  being  of  wood,  in 
case  of  fire  would  much  endanger  that  part 
of  the  Town.  This  latter  consideration, 
doubtless,  much  influenced  its  owners  to 
propose  its  removal,  and  the  erection  of 
one  of  brick ;  especially  as  attempts  to  set 
it,  and  buildings  about  it,  on  fire  had  sev- 
eral times  been  made.  Accordingly  the  old 
new  north  church.  House   was   taken   down  in  August,   1802, 

and  the   corner-stone  of  the  present  House  was  laid  in   Sep- 
Sept  23     tember  of  the  same  year.*     It  was  dedicated  on  the  second 
of  May,  1804.f     In  1805  a  bell,  weighing  upwards  of  1300 
pounds,  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  above  800  dollars.     It  was  from  the 
foundery  of  Paul  Revere. 

Until  1749,  the  Ministers  of  this  Church,  as  was  probably  the  case 
in  most  other  Churches  in  the  country,  were  supported  by  voluntary 
contributions.  These  contributions  were  made  in  this  manner.  At  a 
stated  time  the  Deacons  stood  up  in  their  seats  with  boxes  to  receive 
the  money,  and  the  congregation,  or  such  of  them  as  had  anything  to 
give,  came  out  of  their  pews,  passed  around  in  an  established  order 
before  the  Deacons,  and  made  their  deposits  for  the  Ministers.  This 
mode  of  maintaining  them  was  abolished  in  the  end  of  this  year,  and 
that  of  assessments  on.  pews  adopted  in  its  stead. 

About  this  time  portions  of  the  Scriptures  were  begun  to  be  read 
"  between  the  first  prayer  and  the  singing  before  the  Sermon."  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Holmes  had  lately  presented  the  Church  with  an  elegant  folio 
Bible.  | 

1713  The  First  Church,  which  was  burnt,  as  already  detailed,  in 

May  3.     1711,  having  been  rebuilt,  was  dedicated  this  year,  on  the  third 


*  A  silver  plate  and  some  American  coins 
were  deposited  under  the  S.  W.  corner-stone  of 
the  foundation.  On  the  plate  was  inscribed  : 
"  The  New  North  Church  was  built,  A.D.  1714. 

Enlarged  and  Repaired,  1730  : 
A  new  Tower  and  Steeple  built,  A.  D.  1764  : 
August,  1802,  taken  down  by  a  vote  of  the 

Society,  pro  bono  publico. 
In  September  following,  the  Corner  Stone  of 

the  New  Edifice  was  laid,  (Laus  Deo,) 
By    the   Ret.   John    Eliot,    Pastor    of   the 
Church." 
f  A  subscription  towards  rebuilding  was  ob- 
tained, but  it  was  very  small  —  only  $396.25. 
The  donors  were,  Ebenezer  Parsons,  $136.25  ; 


Wm.  Callender,  $110  ;  Sarah,  widow  of  Capt. 
John  White,  and  James  Williams,  each  $50  ; 
John  Fleet,  $20  ;  Saml.  Watts,  John  Richard- 
son, and  Thomas  Barker,  each  $10.  The  House 
cost  $27,288.44. 

|  For  much  of  his  account  of  the  New 
North,  the  Author  is  indebted  to  the  exceed- 
ingly valuable  tract  upon  it  by  Mr.  Ephraim 
Eliot,  published  in  1822.  In  his  "  Advertise- 
ment," that  gentleman  observes,  that  he  was 
one  of  three  male  proprietors  of  the  New 
North.  Mr.  Charles  Hammatt  [deceased]  de- 
scended from  Elder  Barrett,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Lash,  descended  from  Elder  Baker,  were  the 
others.     "  His  [Mr.  Eliot's]  maternal  grand- 


548 


FIRST    CHURCH   REBUILT. 


[1712. 


of  May.     It  was  the  second  house  on  the 
same  site,  and  stood  until  1808,  when  it 
was   taken    down.     A   new   house   had 
been   made   ready   for    the    Society    in 
Chauncy   Place,   and  was  dedicated  on 
the  twenty-first  of  July,    of  the    same 
year.      The  accompanying  view   repre- 
sents   the    old    house    as    it    stood    in 
|  Cornhill;*  a  durable  relic  of  which  was 
deposited  in  the  vestry  of  its  successor. 
,„„  ...Jh  It   consisted  of  a  thick  piece  of  Slate- 
iiSiSsgM)  stone,   about  two  feet  long,  which  was 
taken  from  under  a  window  in  the  sec- 
ond story  on  the  south  side.     On  that  is 
inscribed  this  brief  record :  —  "  Burned  to  ashes  Octobr.  3,  1711. 
Rebuilding  June  25th,  1712.     July  20,  1713."  f 

Among  the  deaths  this  year  occurred  that  of  Mr.  John  Good- 
win, an  inhabitant  of  the  North  part  of  the  Town  since  1682. 
He  owned  a  wharf  and  warehouses,  and  also  several  houses  in  Lynn- 
street.  By  trade  he  was  a  mason,  and  was  engaged  in  rebuilding  the 
South   Battery   or  Sconce,  in  1697. J     Mr.   Thomas  Atkins,    house- 


FIRST   CHURCH. 


Jan.  21. 


father,  Josiah  Langdon,  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee which  superintended  the  first  building, 
in  1713  and  1714.  His  father  and  his  brother 
for  70  years  stood  in  pastoral  relation  to  it. 
From  May,  1794,  to  May,  1817,  he  was  himself 
Treasurer  of  the  Society,  and  has  been  one  of 
the  Standing  Committee  for  more  than  twenty- 
six  years."  Mr.  Eliot  died  in  September, 
1827,  aged  66.  A  Robert  Lash  was  allowed  to 
build  with  timber,  1701  ;  perhaps  the  same 
here  named.  The  name  is  not  common,  but 
still  exists  in  the  city. 

*  The  regular  succession  of  the  Ministers  of 
the  First  Church,  not  having  before  been 
given,  may  appropriately  follow  in  this  place  : 

John  Wilson,  inst.  23  Nov.  1632,  d.  7  Aug. 
1667,  a.  78. 

John  Cotton,  inst.  17  Oct.  1633,  d.  23  Dec. 
1652,  a.  67. 

John  Devenport,  inst.  9  Dec.  1668,  d.  15 
Mar.  1670,  a.  72. 

James  Allen,  inst.  9  Dec.  1668,  d.  22  Sept. 
1710,  a.  78. 

John  Oxenbridge,  inst.  10  April,  1670,  d. 
28  Dec.  1674,  a.  65. 

Joshua  Moody,  Asst.  3  May,  1684,  to  1692, 
d.  4  July,  1697,  a.  65. 

John  Bailey,  Asst.  17  July,  1693,  d.  12 
Dec.  1697,  a.  53. 

Benj.  Wadsworth,  ord.  8  Sept.  1696,  d.  12 
Mar.  1737,  a.  67. 

Thos.  W.  Bridge,  inst.  10  May,  1705,  d.  26 
Sept.  1715,  a  58. 

Thomas  Foxcroft,  ord.  20  Nov.  1717,  d.  18 
June,  1769,  a.  72. 


Charles  Chauncy,  ord.  25  Oct.  1727,  d.  10 
Feb.  1787,  a.  82. 

John  Clarke,  ord.  8  July,  1778,  d.  1  April, 
1798,  a.  42. 

William  Emmerson,  inst.  16  Oct.,  1799,  d. 
12  May,  1811,  a.  42. 

John  Lovejoy  Abbott,  ord.  14  July,  1813,  d. 
17  Oct.  1814,  a.  31. 

Nathl.  Langdon  Frothingham,  ord.  15  Mar. 
1815,  resigned  Mar.  1850. 

Rufus  Ellis,  ord.  4  May,  1853.  Mr.  Ellis  is 
the  present  minister. 

f  Buckingham's  Polyanthos,  ii.  168  ;  from/ 
which  work  our  engraving  of  the  First  Church' 
is  also  copied. 

J  Mr.  Goodwin  married  Martha,  daughter  of 
Benj.  and  Martha  Lauthrop,  of  Charlestown,  2 
Dec.  1669,  where  he  then  resided.  The  Rev. 
John  Lauthrop,  or  Lothrop,  of  Scituate  and 
Barnstable,  was  her  grandfather.  Mr.  Good- 
win was  65  years  old  at  his  death,  and  he  was 
buried  at  Copp's  Hill.  After  her  husband's 
death,  Mrs.  Goodwin  married  John  Pearson 
(of  Lynn ?) ,  1714,  died  26  Sept.  1728,  aged  76, 
and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 
They  had  ten  or  more  children.  Nathaniel, 
born  1672,  finally  settled  in  Middleton,  Ct. 
Martha,  born  1674,  married  Ebenezer  Clough, 
and  their  daughter  Martha  married  Elias  Park- 
man.  John,  born  1681,  married  Mary  Hop- 
kins. Benj.,  born  1683,  married  Frances  White, 
who  after  married  Maj.  John  Bowles,  of  Rox- 
bury.  Hannah,  b.  1687,  married  Wm.  Park- 
man.  Elizabeth,  born  1694,  married  Joseph 
White.  —  Memoranda  of  J.  G.  Locke,  Esq. 


1713.]  PRISONS.  —  copp's  HILL.  549 

wright,  was  employed  on  the  wood-work  of  the  same  fort.  In  1701 
he  did  the  mason-work  of  a  house  built  by  the  Town  for  the  School- 
master, "  on  the  land  where  Mr.  Ezekicl  Chever  lately  dwelt." 

The  establishment  of  Charity  Schools  was  ably  advocated  by  Dr. 
Benjamin  Colman,  who  drew  up  regulations  for  their  government  ;  but 
the  public  mind  was  not  fully  prepared  for  them. 

The  practice  of  shooting  game  on  the  Neck,  between  Boston  and 
Roxbury,  had  been  probably  attended  with  serious  accidents  ;  for  this 
year  the  General  Court  passed  "  An  Act  to  Prohibit  shooting  or  Firing 
off  Guns,  near  the  Road  or  High- way,  on  Boston  Neck."  In  the  pre- 
amble of  the  Act  it  is  said  that  "  the  Limbs  and  Lives  of  several  per- 
sons had  been  greatly  endangered  in  Riding  over  Boston  Neck,  by 
their  Horses  throwing  of  them ;  being  affrighted  and  starting  at  the 
Firing  of  Guns  by  Gunners  that  frequent  there  after  Game."  * 

There  was  a  scarcity  of  bread  this  year,  occasioning  much  suffering 
among  the  poor  of  the  Town.f  Persons  who  had  the  misfortune  to  be 
thrown  into  prison  appear  to  have  been  little  cared  for  by  the  proper 
authorities,  in  respect  to  their  wants  of  food  or  their  sufferings  from 
cold.  A  "  voice  "  from  some  of  these  has  penetrated  even  to  this  dis- 
tant day.  | 

Elder  David  Copp  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  yard  upon 
the  hill  bearing  the  name  of  his  family.  His  grave  "is  not 
far  from  the  north  gate,  on  the  west  side  of  the  path  between  the 
gates  ;  and  several  others  of  the  name  of  Copp  lie  around  him."  From 
an  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  the  Town  a  portion  of  the  hill 
had  belonged  to  the  family,  and  received  its  name  from  them  ;  but  at 
what  time  it  began  to  be  called  Copp's  Hill,  cannot  be  stated  with  cer- 
tainty^    It  was  at  one  period  called  Snow  Hill,  perhaps  from  a  hill  of 

*  Colony  Laws,  231.  1670.  On  the  records  are  found,  Jonathan,  son 

f  Remains  of  Grove  Hirst,  Esq.,  p.  69.  of  William  and  Goodith  Copp,  born  23  Aug. 

%  "  On  the  3d.  of  November  of  this  year,  1640  ;  Rebecca,  6  May  1641  ;  and  Ruth,  24. 

several  persons  in  the  common  jail  petitioned  9.  1643. 

the  Gen.  Court  "  for  relief;  imprisoned,  they  The  brick  house  of  Elder  Copp  is  mentioned 

said,  "  for  no  great  crime,"  and  were  com-  in    the    Selectmen's    Minutes,    which    Snow 

pelled  "  to  lie  on  the  boards,  cold,  without  thought  was  that  "at  the  head  of  Hull-st., 

bed-clothes  or  fire,   or  any  nourishment,  no  south  side." 

farther  than  just  to  keep  them  alive,  and  William  Copp,  "  cordwainer,"  left  a  will 
hardly  that ;"  therefore,  say  they,  "  We  hum-  dated  31  Oct.  1662,  proved  27th  2d.  mo. 
bly  beg  of  you  to  allow  us  some  succor  to  keep  1670  ;  inventory  of  his  estate,  £109,  17s.  6d. 
us  from  perishing.  We  are  some  of  us  been  "  Wife  Goodeth,  dau.  Tewksbury  ;  grand- 
here  two  or  three  months,  as  our  ships  we  be-  childn.  William,  Thomas,  John,  and  Mary 
long  to  are  not  nye  sailing.  So  we  humbly  Harvey.  To  son  Jonathan  house  and  ground 
beg  of  you  to  send  us  some  relieve  in  the  mis-  in  Boston  where  I  now  live  ;  he  to  pay  daus. 
erable  condition  we  are  in.  It  is  very  hard  for  Ruth  and  Lydia,  and  grandchildn  John  and 
us,  we  having  committed  nothing  to  deserve  Sarah  Atwood,  Sarah  Norden,  and  Mary  Har- 
it."  There  were  five  of  the  prisoners  who  vey ;  son  David  30  acres,  Jonathan  20,  dau. 
petitioned.  Two  of  them  appear  to  have  been  Lydia  10,  dau.  Ruth  lO,  John  Atwood  10, 
imprisoned  only  for  safe-keeping,  until  their  grandch.  Saml.  Norden  10,  and  grandch.  Wm. 
vessels  sailed,  one  for  debt,  one  for  "  costs  of  Harvey  10,  being  my  100  acres  beyond  Brain- 
Court  ;"  the  other,  a  female,  offence  not  named,  tree.  Son  David  sole  executor."  —  Suffolk 
Whether  relieved  or  not,  my  MS.  does  not  Wills,  viii.  32. 
show.  Among  the  first  entries  in  the  Book  of  Pos- 

§  William  Copp  was  made  a  Freeman,  2  sessions,  is  the  description  of  "  the  possession 

June,  1641  ;  David,  probably  his  son,  11  Oct.  of  William  Copp  within  the  limits  of  Bos- 


550  POST-OFFICE. GEORGE  I.  [1714. 

the  same  name  in  Liverpool,  in  England,  or  a  street  in  London  so 
named  also. 

The  war  between  France  and  England  was  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  the  news  of  which  caused  great  rejoicing  in  Boston, 
and  the  hostile  Indians  sent  deputations  to  offer  peace  to  the  harassed 
frontiers. 

The  Town-house,  which  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of 
1711,  having  been  rebuilt,  the  first  meeting  is  held  in  it.  The 
peculiar  class  of  vessels  called  schooners  are  believed  to  have  been 
first  constructed  about  this  time  at  Gloucester.  Their  importance 
is  confirmed  by  their  superior  numbers,  compared  at  any  late  period 
with  all  other  craft  in  and  about  the  waters  of  Boston.  Mr.  Andrew 
Robinson  is  said  to  have  been  their  original  contriver.* 

A  person  belonging  to  Salem  was  detected  in  passing  coun- 
ay'  terfeit  Province  bills  among  the  people  of  Boston.  The  bills 
were  of  the  denomination  of  twenty  shillings.  The  individual  who 
passed  them  had  the  credit  of  making  them  also,  and  the  plate  from 
which  they  were  struck  being  found  in  his  house,  and  some  of  the  bills 
upon  his  person,  he  declined  contending  "with  the  Queen,"  and  was 
dealt  with  "  agreeably  to  the  law  in  such  cases  made  and  provided." 

The  Postmaster  gave  notice  "that  the  Post-Office  in  Bos- 

y  '  ton  is  opened  every  Monday  morning  from  the  middle  of  March 
to  the  middle  of  September,  at  seven  of  the  clock,  to  deliver  out  all 
letters  that  do  come  by  the  Post,  till  twelve  o'clock.  From  twelve  to 
two  o'clock,  being  dinner-time,  no  office  kept."  In  the  afternoon  it 
was  open  from  two  to  six,  "  to  take  in  all  letters  to  go  by  the  southern 
and  western  Post,  and  none  to  be  taken  in  after  that  hour,  excepting 
for  the  eastern  Post,  and  till  seven  at  night."  f 

About  the  middle  of  September  news  reached  Boston  that 
ep  *     '  Queen  Anne  was  dead,  and  that  her  successor  to  the  Crown 
was  "Prince  George,  Elector  of  Brunswick-Lunenburg,"  as  George 
the  First.  J 

Capt.  John  Bonner  surveyed  and  made  a  Plan  of  the  shore  of  the 
Town  from  "  Dr.  Cook's  wharf,"  a  little  to  the  north  of  Oliver's  Dock 
to  "Hels"  [Hill's]  wharf,  about  100  yards  beyond  Windmill,  now 
Wheeler's  Point.§ 

Although  George  I.  had  been  proclaimed  King  immediately  after 

ton  ;"  namely,  "  one  house,  and  lott  of  half  J  The   Queen  died  Aug.  1st,  in  the  50th 

an  acre  in  the  Mill  field,  bounded  with  Thomas  year  of  her  age,  and  13th  of  her  reign.     She 

Buttolph,  southeast,  John  Button,  northeast,  married,  28  July,  1683,  Prince  George  of  Den- 

the  marsh  on  the  southwest,  and  the  river  on  mark,  2d  son  of  Frederick  III.,  King  of  Den- 

the  northwest."     The  Mill  field  was  on  Copp's  mark.     She  had  several  children,  all  of  whom 

Hill,  and  was  so  called  because  a  Windmill  died  before  her.  —  Salmon.     George  I.    was 

was  early  placed  there.  —  See  ante,  p.  141.  great-grand-son  of  James  I.     Anne  stood  in 

Some  of  the  family  probably  emigrated  to  the  same  relation  to  that  Monarch. 

Connecticut.     I  find  a  John  Oopp  of  Norwich,  §A   copy  of  this  Plan,  made  by  Francis 

Ct.,  1727,  who  was  Administrator  on  the  estate  Jackson,  Esq.,  in  1836,  was  presented  by  him 

of  James  Mead,  of  Greenwich,  Ot.  to  the  New  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Society.     It  is  on 

*  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  ii.  445.  a  scale  of  120  feet  to  an  inch.    No  wharves  laid 

t  Boston  News-Letter.  down  between  "  Capt.  Holmes'  "  and  "Hels." 


1715.]  GOV.    BURGESS. — NEW    SOUTH    CHURCn.  551 

M  the  news  was  received  that  the  Queen  was  dead,  yet,  owing  to 

several  circumstances,*  no  orders  were  received  from  England 
with  directions  until  the  March  following  that  event. 

By  the  death  of  the  Queen  Governor  Dudley  lost  his  chief  supporters 
in  England,  and  the  last  year  Col.  Elizeus  Burgess,  who  had  served 
under  General  Stanhope,  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  But  the  Colonel 
sold  out  his  Commission,  and,  perhaps,  wisely  remained  in  England. 
There  was  a  great  deal  of  intrigue  and  manoeuvring  in  those  days, 
among  aspirants  for  office,  as  well  as  in  these.  Boston  was  the  heart 
whence  proceeded  the  various  movements.  There  was  a  strong  bank 
party  in  Boston,  and  an  almost  equally  strong  anti-bank  party.  Which- 
ever party  could  secure  the  Governor,  considered  itself  in  a  fair  way  to 
carry  its  favorite  measures.  Mr.  Jonathan  Belcher,  a  wealthy  mer- 
chant of  Boston,  was  in  London,  and  was  opposed  to  the  banking  party. 
He  joined  with  the  Massachusetts  Agent,  Mr.  Jeremy  Dummer  ;  they 
together  securing  the  interest  of  Sir  William  Ashurst,  induced  Mr. 
Burgess  to  sell  his  Commission  of  Governor  of  Massachusetts  for  a 
thousand  pounds  sterling.  Of  this  sum  Belcher  and  Dummer  advanced 
equally.  They  then  procured  the  appointment  of  Col.  James  Shute  as 
Governor,  and  Mr.  William  Dummer  was  commissioned  Lieut.  Gov- 
ernor. Thus  Lieut.  Gov.  Tailer  was  supplanted  in  this  office,  to  which 
he  was  commissioned  in  1711.  f 

Colonel  Shute  was  supposed  to  be  well  calculated  to  suit  the  people 
here,  and  probably  would  have  suited  them  had  they  been  in  a  temper 
to  be  suited.  But  party  interest  admitted  of  no  reconciliation,  and 
this  Governor  had  a  stormy  administration.  J 

A  Church  was  founded  at  the  South  end  of  the  Town,  which,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  the  South  Church,  received  the  name  of  the  New 
j  .  14  South  Church.  The  first  steps  for  its  formation  were  taken  by 
several  persons  assembled  at  the  Bull  tavern  in  Summer-street, 
near  the  intersection  of  Sea  and  Summer  streets.  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Glover  had  made  a  donation  for  the  object.  Forty-four  subscribers 
s  t  20  were  soon  obtained  for  carrying  it  into  effect.  In  September  fol- 
lowing the  Town  was  petitioned  by  "  sundry  inhabitants  at  the 

*  The  Hazard  sloop,  sent  express  from  Eng-  don,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter  of  the 

land,  with  orders  to  the  Government,  was  lost  Kev.   Mr.   Joseph   Caryl,   who  wrote  eleven 

on  Cohasset  rocks,  Nov.  12th,  1714.     All  on  quartos  on  the  book  of  Job,  whose  portrait 

board  were  lost,  and  no  papers  saved  ;  enough  may  be  seen  in  Calamy's  Nonconformist's  Me- 

of  the  wreck,  however,  washed  ashore  to  show  morial.     Lord  Barrington,  as  the  head  of  the 

what  the  vessel  was,  and  a  man  from  it  had  dissenting    interest    in   Parliament,   was    his 

been  landed  at  Nantucket.  —  Hutchinson,  ii.  brother.     He  served  in  the  army  under  Wil- 

209.  liam  HI.,  who  gave  him  a  Captain's  commis- 

f  He  arrived  from  England  with  his  com-  sion,  and  was  a  Colonel  under  the  Duke  of 

mission  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1711.     In  1730  Marlborough,  and  wounded  in  one  of  that 

he  was  again  in  office,  and  died  in  1732.     He  Duke's  sanguinary  battles  in  Flanders.     He 

has  descendants  in  this  vicinity,  who  write  their  became  tired  of  trying  to  reconcile  a  factious 

name  Taylor.        ^^    ^^     •  n  people,   and  returned  suddenly  to  England, 

£UJ/7Z  (lJ~zt/l  /p/f  |  January  1st,  1723,  and  died  there  in  1742, 

'v  ' T  aged  80.     He  left  Boston  so  privately  that  not 

J  Gov.  Shute  belonged  to  a  dissenting  fam-  a  member  of  the  Government  knew  of  his  in- 

ily  ;  his  father  was  an  eminent  citizen  of  Lon-  tention. 


552 


NEW   SOUTH    CHURCH. 


[1715. 


southerly  end  of  Boston,  for  leave  to  erect  a  Meeting-house  at  said 
South  End,  and  for  a  grant  of  that  piece  of  land  called  Church  Green, 
in  Summer-street,  for  the  said  House,  to  be  sixty-five  feet  long  and 
forty-five  broad  ;  and  by  the  situation  and  name  of  said  land,  it  was 
no  doubt  intended  by  our  forefathers  for  that  purpose."  The  petition 
was  signed  by  Thomas  Peck,  Nicholas  Boone,  Samuel  Adams,  Eneas 
Salter,  Jr.,  Samuel  Greenleaf,  Henry  Hill,  Jonathan  Simpson,  Eleazer 
Dorby,  David  Craige,  William  Engs,  Eneas  Salter,  Thomas  Salter, 
John  Barton,  Daniel  Legre.  Several  of  these  were  prominent  men. 
Nicholas  Boone  was  the  bookseller  of  that  name,  whose  "  shop  "  was 
in  Cornhill,  "  over  against  the  Meeting-house,"  as  early  as  1701. 
Samuel  Adams  was  the  father  of  the  Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence of  the  same  name. 

The  petition  was  granted,  and  the  house  was  finished  and  dedicated 
on  the  eighth  of  January,  1717.  Mr.  Wadsworth,  of  the  Old  South, 
and  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  of  the  Old  North,  preached  sermons  on  the 
occasion,  which  were  printed.  At  first  preaching  was  obtained  by  a 
Committee,  who  were  authorized  to  pay  twenty  shillings  for  each  ser- 
mon preached.  There  were  in  the  mean  time  several  candidates  for 
settlement.  The  choice  fell  on  Mr.  Samuel  Checkley,  September  the 
twenty- fourth,  1718,  who  was  ordained  on  the  fifteenth  of  April  of  the 
following  year.  On  the  same  day  these  persons  signed  the  Church 
Covenant,  namely: — Henry  Hill,  Thomas  Peck, 
John  Clough,  Thomas  Salter,  Samuel  Adams, 
Samuel  Bridgham,  Benjamin  White,  and  Thomas 
Doane.* 

The  New  South  Meeting-house  occupies  one 
a.    of  the  most  beautiful  locations  in  Boston.     The 
§1  house  as  it  appeared  after  it  was  rebuilt  in  1814, 
U  and  as  it  now  appears,  is  represented  in  the 
margin,  from  a  view  taken  at  the  foot  of  Sum- 
mer-street, near  the  site  of  the  ancient  Tavern, 
'where   its   design   originated.      It  is   built   of 
Chelmsford  granite,  under  the  architectural  di- 
rection of  Charles  Bulfinch,  Esq.f 


NEW   SOUTH   CHURCH. 


*  The  succession  of  Pastors  in  the  New 
South  Church  :  — 

Samuel  Checkley,  ord.  15  April,  1719,  died 
1  Dec.  1769. 

Penuel  Bowen,  ord.  colleague,  30  April, 
1766,  dismd.  12  May,  1772. 

Joseph  Howe,  ord.  19  May,  1773,  died  25 
Aug.  1775. 

Oliver  Everett,  ord.  2  Jan.  1782,  dismd.  27 
May,  1792. 

John  Thornton  Kirkland,  ord.  5  Feb.  1794, 
dismd.  4  Nov.  1810. 

Samuel  Cooper  Thacher,  ord.  15  May,  1811, 
died  2  Jan.  1818. 

Francis  William  Pitt  Greenwood,  ord.  21 
Oct.  1818,  dismd.  24  Jan.  1821. 


Alexander  Young,  ord.  19  Jan.  1825,  died 
16  Mar.  1854._ 

f  The  Building  Committee  consisted  of  Jona- 
than Hunnewell,  George  G.  Lee,  John  Dorr, 
Stephen  Higginson,  and  John  Cotton,  Esqs. 
The  body  of  the  building  is  octagonal,  formed 
in  a  square  of  76  feet  diameter  ;  four  sides 
being  47  feet,  and  four  smaller  sides,  20  feet 
each.  The  height  from  the  ground  is  34  feet. 
The  porch  is  of  equal  extent  with  one  of  the 
sides,  and  projects  16  feet,  in  front  of  which 
is  a  portico  of  four  fluted  Grecian  Doric  col- 
umns. A  tower  rises  from  its  attic,  in  which 
is  the  belfry.  The  entire  height  is  190  feet. 
The  pulpit  is  richly  built  of  mahogany,  sup- 
ported by  Ionic  and  Corinthian  columns.    On 


1715.]  GREAT   BREWSTER   LIGHT-HOUSE.  553 

In  the  course  of  May  Session  of  the  General  Court  there  was  passed 
"  An  Act  for  Building  and  Maintaining  a  Light-house  upon  the  Great 
Brewster  (called  Beacon  Island),  at  the  extreme  of  the  Harbour  of 
Boston  ";  for  the  reason  that  the  want  of  one  "  hath  been  a  great  dis- 
couragement to  Navigation,  by  the  loss  of  the  lives  and  estates  of  sev- 
eral of  his  Majesty's  subjects."  It  was  ordered  to  be  built  "  on  the 
southernmost  part  of  the  Great  Brewster,  called  Beacon  Island,  to  be 
kept  lighted  from  sun-setting  to  sun-rising."  It  was  likewise  ordered 
that  all  vessels,  except  coasters,  should,  after  the  Light-house  was 
built,  pay  a  duty  of  one  penny  per  ton,  inward  and  outward.  Their 
tonnage  to  be  ascertained  by  a  method  still  in  practice.*  It  was  built 
at  the  charge  of  the  Province,  though  Boston  first  moved  in  the  mat- 
ter, as  appears  from  the  records  of  the  Town.  John  Hays,  or  Hayes, 
was  the  first  keeper  of  it. 

Two  distinguished  men  died  this  year ;  Mr.  Isaac  Addington  and 
Doctor  Elisha  Cooke.  They  had  been  long  in  public  office,  and  may 
be  considered  as  among  the  Fathers  of  the  Town.  Mr.  Addington  was 
Secretary  of  the  Province  before  the  arrival  of  the  new  Charter  ;  was 
opposed  to  Andros,  and  appointed  to  office  by  the  adherents  to  the 
old  Charter,  and  received  the  same  appointment  under  the  Crown  when 
the  new  Charter  went  into  effect.  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  popular  leader  in 
the  General  Court  for  above  forty  years  ;  was  an  Agent  when  the  new 
Charter  was  obtained.  He  was  strenuous  for  the  restoration  of  the  old 
one,  saying  he  would  have  that  or  none  at  all.  f 

Died  also  this  year  the  Rev.  Grindal  Rawson,  a  zealous  and 
distinguished  Minister  to  the  English  and  Indians  for  about 
thirty-five  years.    He  was  born  in  Boston,  on  the  23d  of  Jan.  1659-60, 
and  was  named  Grindal,  for  Edmund  Grindal,  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, between  whom  and  his  father's  mother  there  was  a  relationship.  J 

the  floor  are  118  pews,  and  in  the  gallery  32.  Davenport,    Commissioners    for    keeping  the 

—  Dedication  Ser.  of  S.  C.  Thacher,  29  Dec.  Great  Seal  and  the  Public  Records  and  Files, 

1814.  until  His  Majesty  should  appoint  a  Secretary 

*  Colony  Laws,  p.  238,  edition  1726.  — "  It  for  the  Province.  One  arrived  here,  22  Sept. 
is  about  8£  miles  from  the  City."  Sixty  years  following.  His  name  was  Samuel  Woodward, 
ago  the  island  on  which  it  stood  "  contained  Mr.  Addington  Davenport  was  grandson  of 
about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  soil.  A  bar,  Isaac  Addington,  Esq.,  by  his  daughter  Re- 
dry  at  low  water,  connected  it  with  the  Great  becca,  and  Eleazer,  son  of  Capt.  Richard 
Brewster.  Between  Point  Alderton  and  Mid-  Davenport,  killed  by  lightning  at  the  Castle, 
die  Brewster. "  —  Pemberton.     It  is  in  Lati-  as  noted  ante,  p.  285. 

tude  42°  19'  38. 77"  N. —  Z7.  &.  Coast  Survey,  %  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  preached  a  sermon  on 

Report  1852,  p.   202.     Mr.   Thomas   Robie,  the  death  of  Mr.  Rawson,  which  he  dedicated 

Fellow    of  Harvard  College,    computed   the  to  Judge  Sewall.    In  that  dedication  he  copies 

Latitude  of  Boston  to  be  42°  25',  N.,  Lon.  71°  the    following    from  President  Oakes'  Com- 

3<y.  mencement  Oration  :  —  "  Tertius  [having  said 

f  Hutchinson,  and  Eliot.  —  Mr.  Addington  something  of  two  other  persons]  Grande  quid- 
lived  in  what  was  called  "  Half  Square  Court,"  dam  Sonans,  Grindallus  Rawsonus  est;  Clar- 
near  what  is  now  the  corner  of  State  and  Dev-  issimo  quoque  Genere  natus  ;  Nam  Pater  Ejus 
onshire  streets.  He  died  on  the  19th  of  March,  Honorandus  illustrem  in  R.  P.  locum  tenet; 
aged  70.  Dr.  Cooke  died  May  31st,  a.  78.  A  Pientissimus  et  Oq-93oLoraxog  JOHANNES 
copy  of  the  autograph  of  the  former  is  given,  WILSONUS,  Apostolicus  plane  Vir  Proa- 
ante,  p.  472,  and  the  latter,  p.  484.  After  vunculus,  Reverendissimusque  EDMUNDUS 
Mr.  Addington's  death,  the  Governor  ap-  GRINDALLUS,  Archi-Episcopus  olim  Can- 
pointed  his  son  Pauld  Dudley,  and  Addington  tuarensis,  Sanctissimus  Vir,  tantumque  non  in 

70 


554  REBECCA   RAWSON.  [1716. 

He  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  first  Minister 
of  Medfield,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  the  first 
Minister  of  Boston.  He  was  settled  at  Mendon  about  1680  ;  in  1690 
he  went  "  as  Chaplain  with  the  fleet  that  went  into  Canada."  Becom- 
ing greatly  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Indians,  he  set  about  learn- 
ing their  language,  that  he  might  instruct  them  in  Christianity  and 
improve  their  temporal  condition  ;  and  he  so  far  mastered  that  barbar- 
ous tongue,  that  in  nine  months  he  was  able  to  preach  to  them  so  as  to 
be  well  understood ;  and  he  continued  his  labors  among  them  about 
twenty-seven  years. 

Edward  Rawson,  the  father  of  Grindal,  came  to  Boston  from  New- 
bury, and  was  a  long  time  Secretary  to  the  General  Court,  having  suc- 
ceeded Increase  Nowell  in  that  office,  in  May,  1650.*  He  residedin  the 
lane  called  from  him  Rawson' s  lane,  afterwards  Bromfield-street.  He 
had  before  represented  Newbury  in  the  General  Court  several  years. 
He  died  on  the  27th  of  August,  1693,  at  the  age  of  78  years.  Among 
his  twelve  children,  Grindal  was  the  fifth  son,  and  youngest  child. 
Another,  a  daughter,  experienced  a  most  singular  fortune,  and  met  with 
a  tragical  and  melancholy  end.  Her  name  was  Rebecca.  Being  ac- 
complished and  beautiful,  she  naturally  attracted  the  attentions  of  many 
of  the  opposite  sex,  and  in  due  time  gave  her  hand  to  one,  who,  passing 
under  an  assumed  name,  deceived  her  and  her  friends.  Her  deceiver 
pretended  to  be  Sir  Thomas  Hale,  nephew  of  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale. 
After  they  were  married  she  went  with  him  to  England,  with  a  good  outfit 
for  those  days.  As  soon  as  they  arrived  in  London  he  plundered  her 
of  nearly  all  her  valuable  effects,  leaving  her  destitute  among  strangers. 
She  soon  learned  the  name  and  character  of  the  villain  to  whom  she  had 
been  connected,  and  that  he  had  a  wife  then  living  in  Canterbury.  She 
never  saw  him  after.  Thus  abandoned  she  applied  herself  to  various 
employments,  as  painting  and  needle-work,  and  being  very  ingenious, 
supported  herself  and  child  (for  she  had  one  by  the  wretch  who  had 
abandoned  her)  comfortably  for  about  thirteen  years.  Although  she  had 
friends  in  England  able  to  assist  her,  she  would  not  apply  to  them  ; 
suffering  too  keenly  from  mortification  and  pride.  At  length,  the  long, 
tedious  years  having  dissipated  to  some  degree  the  latter,  and  overcome 
the  former,  she  determined  to  return  again  to  the  place  of  her  nativity. 
Accordingly,  embarking  for  Boston  in  a  ship  bound  thither  by  the  way 
of  the  West  Indies,  with  an  uncle  whose  name  is  not  mentioned,  she 
arrived  safely  at  Port  Royal  in  Jamaica.  And  being  there  ready  to 
proceed  on  her  voyage  on  the  morning  of  the  ninth  of  June,  1692,  an 
earthquake  came,  the  sea  where  the  ship  rode  opened  under  hers  and 
she  went  down  into  a  gulf  of  unknown  depth  with  all  on    board ! 

Archi-Episcopatu  Puritanus,  Abavunculus ,  fue-  years.     He  was  then  removed  by  Edward  Ran- 

runt.     Detque  Deus,  ut  Eruditione,  Sanctitale,  dolph,  who  came  over  with  a  Commission  from 

Moribus  optimus,    WILSONUM,  et    GRIN-  the  King.  — See  p.  468.  There  is  in  the  N.  E. 

DALLUM eooprimat.''''  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  vol.  iii.,  a  minute  gene- 

*  Mr.  Rawson    continued  in   the  office  36  alogy  of  Secretary  Rawson's  descendants. 


1717.] 


PROJECT    OF    A    MARKET   HOUSE. 


555 


This  was  the  sad  fate  of  Rebecca  Rawson,  who  had  been  one  of  the 
ornaments  of  Boston.  Her  uncle,  happening  to  be  on  shore  at  the  time 
of  the  earthquake,  was  saved. 


CHAPTER   LVII. 


Project  of  a  Market-house  Dofeated.  — Town  Clock.  —  South  Burying-place  Enlarged.  — Deer  Island 
Hospital.  —  School-house. — Pirates.  —  Moll's  Notice  of  Boston.  —  Fire  Society  Incorporated. — 
Death  of  aged  Men.  —  Free  Writing-school.  —  Fortifications.  —  Lotteries  Suppressed.  —  New  Brick 
Church.  —  Aurora  Borealis.  —  Boston  Gazette. — Bridge  over  Charles  River  Proposed.  —  Linen 
Manufacture.  —  Small  Pox. — Inoculation. — New  England  Courant. — James  Franklin.  —  Benj. 
Franklin.  —  Ministers  Aggrieved. 

Feb  20  ^  February  this  year  there  fell  such  an 
immense  quantity  of  snow,  that  it  was  referred 
to,  for  a  long  time  after,  as  "the  Great  Snow." 
Many  houses  were  entirely  buried  in  it ;  all  communi- 
cation between  neighbors  was  cut  off ;  people  in  sick- 
ness could  not  be  visited  ;  vast  numbers  of  domestic 
animals  perished,  and  the  wild  animals,  especially 
deer,  were  destroyed  in  great  numbers.* 

There   had   been   frequent   complaints   among    the 
inhabitants  that  they  were  imposed  upon  by  Hucksters. 
The  subject  having  been  brought  up  in  Town-meeting, 
parsons.  the  last  year,  a  Committee  was  raised  to  consider  the 

matter,  and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting.  Accordingly  they  reported 
that  to  remedy  the  evil  it  was  necessary  to  erect  a  public  Market.f 
By  which  it  was  understood  that  a  Market-house  was  intended.  The 
report  was  not  agreeable  to  the  majority  of  the  voters,  and  an  addition 
was  made  to  the  Committee,  and  they  were  requested  further  to  con- 
sider the  subject,  and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting.  It  was,  however, 
put  over  from  one  meeting  to  another,  and  was  not  finally  disposed  of 
until  two  years  after  the  first  report.  Then  "  it  was  debated  and  voted 
disallowed."  J 

*  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  gave  an  account  of  this 
Snow  in  a  long  letter,  which  goes  considerably 
into  particulars  ;  much  more  so  than  any  other 
writer  which  I  have  met  with.  Mr.  Hanson 
has  printed  it  entire  in  his  History  of  Danvers. 
It  will  well  repay  a  perusal. 

f  The  original  Committee  consisted  of  Addi- 
son Davenport,  Esq.,  Thomas  Fitch,  Esq., 
Elisha  Cooke,  Esq.,  Oliver  Noyes,  Esq.,  Sam- 
uel Keeling,  Esq.  To  whom  were  now  added, 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  Adam  Winthrop, 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  John  White. 

J  The  building  of  Markets  was  kept  in 
abeyance  until  1734.  Hence  Capt.  Uring's  ob- 
servations on  the  subject  were  correct,  even  if 
made  in  1724,  though  Mr.  Oldmixon,  in  his 


attempt  at  exactness  by  correcting  him,  mis- 
leads his  readers.  This  is  Uring's  amusing 
sketch  :  —  "  The  Town  of  Boston  is  plentifully 
supplied  with  good  and  wholesome  provisions 
of  all  sorts,  not  inferior  to  those  in  England. 
Though  the  town  is  large  and  populous,  they 
could  never  be  brought  to  establish  a  Market 
in  it,  notwithstanding  several  of  their  Govern- 
ors have  taken  great  pains  to  convince  the  In- 
habitants how  useful  and  beneficial  it  would 
be  to  'em  ;  but  the  Country  People  always, 
opposed  it ;  so  that  it  could  not  be  settled. 
The  reason  they  give  for  it  is,  if  Market  Days 
were  appointed,  all  the  Country  People  coming 
in  at  the  same  time  would  glut  it,  and  the 
Towns  People  would  buy  their  provisions  for 


June  12. 


556  HOSPITAL.  —  SCHOOL-HOUSE.  —  PIRATES.  [1716-17. 

Four  Eepresentatives  were  chosen  to  serve  in  the  General 

Court.     The  subject  of  a  Town  Clock  to  be  placed  in  the  Brick 

Meeting-house  was  introduced  in  Town-meeting,  and  postponed 

to  the  next.     Then  it  was  voted  to  request  the  Representatives 

to  move  the  General  Court  for  aid  in  the  project.     If  they  made  the 

application  it  probably  failed  ;  for  the  next  year  the  Town 

Ma*  1*5     "  v°tea  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed,  at  the  Town's  charge, 

to  procure  a  good  Town  Clock,  and  to  set  up  the  same  in  some 

convenient  place  in  Cornhill,  for  the  benefit  of  the  inhabitants." 

At  this  meeting  the  Selectmen  were  authorized,  if  they  thought  best, 
to  enlarge  the  South  Burying-place,  by  taking  in  part  of  the  highway 
on  the  easterly  side,  if  it  could  be  done  without  "  too  much  straitening 
said  highway."  And  as  to  "erecting  a  row  of  tombs"  in  the  same 
Ground,  it  was  "  voted  in  the  negative."  But  persons  might  arrange 
for-tombs  with  the  Selectmen,  at  their  own  charge.* 

The  Selectmen  were  authorized  to  lease  land  on  "  Dere  "  Island,  not 
exceeding  one  acre,  for  a  Hospital  or  Pest-house,  but  for  a  period  not 
to  exceed  ninety-nine  years. 

A  School-house  was  located  at  the  South  part  of  the  Town,  "  upon 
the  Common,  adjoining  to  Cowell's  lott,  over  against  Mr.  Wainwright's." 
"  Cowell's  "  was  in  West-street. 

There  was  a  proposal  to  repave  Cornhill  "from  Mr.  Boone's  Corner 
to  the  gutter  leading  down  to  Spring  Street."  Mr.  Boone's  corner  was 
where  the  apothecary  shop  now  is,  on  the  south  corner  of  State  and 
Washington  streets. 

A  pirate  ship  called  the  Whidah,  commanded  by  Capt.  Sam- 
pn '  uel    Bellamy,   in  cruising   on   the   coast,   captured  several  ves- 
sels, and  putting  seven  of  his  men  on  board  of  one  of  them,  is  soon  after 
cast  away,  by  following  this  prize,  "  near  the  Table-land,"  and  all  the 
crew  except  two  persons  were  drowned.     One  of  these  was  an  Eng- 
lishman, and  the  other  an  Indian.     The  prize  into  which  the  seven 
pirates  had  been  put  was  run  on  shore  at  Cape  Cod  by  the  captive  Cap- 
tain, who  took  advantage  of  his  keepers  in  a  drunken  revel.     Bellamy 
had    130   men,  who  were  now  reduced  to  nine.f     These  were  tried 
at  Boston  in  November  by  a  special  Court  of  Admiralty,  and  six  of  them 
were  condemned  and  executed.      Governor  Shute  issued  an 
y     '    order  for  firing  salutes  in  honor  of  His  Majesty's  birthday.  J 

■what  they  pleased,  so  rather  chuse  to  send  In  1719,  Dr.  Benjamin  Colman  published  a 
them  as  they  think  fit.  And  sometimes  a  tall  pamphlet  in  favor  of  the  erection  of  a  Market- 
fellow  brings  in  a  turkey  or  goose  to  sell,  and  house,  "  fairly  representing  the  advantages 
will  travel  through  the  whole  Town  to  see  who  thereof."  —  Life  by  Turell,  p.  78. 
will  give  most  for  it,  and  it  is  at  last  sold  for  *  "  Thomas  Boylston  may  set  his  brick  house 
3s.  and  6d.  or  4s.  ;  and  if  he  had  stayed  at  partly  on  the  northerly  end  of  Pierce's  Alley, 
home  he  could  have  earned  a  crown  by  his  labor,  so  as  he  leave  the  Alley  there  full  6  feet  wide 
which  is  the  customary  price  for  a  day's  work,  betwixt  his  house  and  Dr.  Noyes's  brick  walls." 
So,  any  one  may  judge  of  the  stupidity  of  the  f  After  Bellamy  was  wrecked  above  100 
Country  People." —  Voyages  and  Travels,  dead  bodies  were  washed  ashore.  An  interest- 
111-12.  Thus,  if  Capt.  Uring's  statements  be  ing  account  of  the  wreck  of  Bellamy  and  his 
correct,  as  to  the  opposition  to  a  Market-house,  companions  may  be  found  in  Mess.  Hist.  Colls., 
and  they  probably  are,  a  solution  to  the  ques-  iii.  120. 

tion  is  obtained,  for  which  the  Town-records  Jit  is  as  follows:  —  "Boston,  May  28  th, 

furnish  no  clue,  1717.      To   Capt.    Clarke       This    being  his 


1717.]  DEATH    OF   AGED   MEN.  557 

An  intelligent  Geographer,*  speaking  of  Boston  this  year,  says,  it 
"  is  reckoned  the  biggest  Town  in  America,  except  some  which  belong 
to  the  Spaniards.  It  lies  on  the  coast,  defended  by  a  strong  Castle  in 
an  island  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and  on  the  shore  by  forts  on  two 
or  three  neighboring  hills  which  command  the  avenues.  Here  are 
abundance  of  fine  buildings,  public  and  private,  as  the  Court-house,  Sir 
William  Phipps'  house,  &c.  The  inhabitants  are  reckoned  about  12,000. 
Three  or  four  hundred  ships  have  been  loaded  here  in  a  year,  with  lum- 
ber, fish,  beef,  pork,  &c,  for  Europe  and  America.  Here  's  a  market 
every  Tuesday,  and  two  fairs  in  May  and  October,  which  last  three 
days  each." 

A  Fire  Society  was  incorporated  this  year,  which  was  in 

ep  '  *  existence  many  years  after.  In  1734  its  regulations  were 
printed  in  the  form  of  a  handbill.  By  these  regulations  the  Society 
was  to  consist  of  but  twenty  members.f 

Few  years  have  been  so  remarkable  as  this  in  the  death  of  aged 
people  in  New  England.  Among  them  were  five  belonging  to  the 
Council  of  this  Province.  These  belonged  to  Boston  :  —  Eliakim  Hutch- 
inson, Grove  Hirst,  Andrew  Belcher,  Wait  Winthrop,  Elisha  Hutchin- 
son. Henry  Dering  and  his  wife  were  buried  in  the  same  grave,  also 
Robert  Winsor  and  his  wife,  all  over  seventy  years  of  age.  J 

1718.  The    Town    voted    to    raise    a    Committee    "to    inquire 

Mar.  li.  about  encouraging  the  bringing  in  of  Sea  Coal."  At  the 
same  Town-meeting  Mr.  Thomas  and  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson  offered 
to  build  a  School-house  at  their  own  charge  for  a  free  Writing- 
school  at  the  north  part  of  the  Town.  Upon  which  it  was  voted  that 
part  of  the  land  bought  of  Mrs.  Susanna  Love  be  taken  for  that  pur- 
pose. At  a  meeting  in  June  a  Committee  was  raised  to  examine  the 
state  of  the  Fortifications,  and  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
planting  guns  on  the  end  of  Long  Wharf.     In  the  reports  at 

Majesties  Birth  Day,  you  are  hereby  required  parchment)  I  am  indebted  to  the  Hon.  Fran- 
to  discharge  the  Guns  upon  the  Batery's  cis  Brinley,  of  Boston.  These  parchments 
under  your  command,  after  you  hear  the  Can-  were  probably  equal  to  the  number  of  the 
nons  at  the  Castle  are  Discharged.  Members,  and  contained  the  names  (in  MS.) 

of  those  composing  the  Society.  The  one  now 
before  me  contains  the  following  names  :  — 
Wm,  Winter,  Andrew  Craige,  Arthur  Savage, 
Thomas  Handasyde  Peek,  John  Mofiatt,  Allan 
Melvill,  Wm.  Murrey,  John  Cunningham, 
{Original  Warrant,  MS.)  In  justice  to  the  William  Brattle,  Thomas  Tyler,  Samuel  Dog- 
Governor  it  should  be  stated  that  said  warrant  gett,  Samuel  Bass,  Jona.  Simpson,  Samuel  Hill, 
is  only  signed  by  him.  It  is  probably  in  the  Wm.  Fairfield,  Daniel  Henchman,  John  Tyng, 
hand  of  Secretary  Woodward,  who  was  super-  David  Cutler,  John  Hunt,  Shrimpton  Hunt, 
seded  in  his  office  this  year  by  Mr.  Josiah  Wil-  Thomas  Marshall,  Daniel  Rae,Thomas  Symmes, 
lard.  "  Tired  of  his  post,"  says  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Holbrook,  Thomas  Fayerweather,  Wil- 
"  of  much  labor  and  little  emolument,  disposed  Ham  Andrus,  Robert  Williams,  Bartholomew 
of  it  to  Josiah  Willard,  Esq.,  who  obtained  the  Rand.  These  in  italics  are  upon  a  part  of  the 
Royal  Commission  and  arrived  at  Boston  from  parchment  so  impervious  to  the  ink,  that  there 
London,  December  the  12th,  1717."  is  some  uncertainty  respecting    them.      The 

*  Herman  Moll.     His  work  is  entitled  Atlas    first  four  names,  also,  Melvill,    Murrey,  Brat- 
Geographus.  He  was  an  extensive  publisher  of    tie,  Simpson,  Hill  and  Henchman,  are  erased, 
ips.  J  See    Hutchinson,    Hist.     Mass.,    i.    223. 

f  For  a  copy  of  the  regulations  (printed  on    Hirst's  Remains,  Int.  iv. 


d^^eMvA- 


558  NEW   BRICK    CHURCH.  [1717-18. 

subsequent  meetings,  the  subject  of  guns  on  that  wharf  is  not  mentioned, 
and  none  appear  to  have  been  placed  there  for  defence.  At  a  meeting 
in  December,  the  Selectmen  informed  the  Town  that  they  had,  in  view 
of  a  scarcity  of  grain,  "purchased  10,000  weight  of  bread,  at 
forty  shillings  per  hundred,  for  the  supply  of  the  inhabitants." 
It  was  ordered  to  be  sold  out  in  small  quantities  to  such  of  the  people 
of  the  Town  as  had  a  mind  to  purchase,  for  one  month. 

In  the  several  Churches  there  were  raised  by  contributions  483 
pounds,  to  be  applied  to  the  conversion  of  the  Indians. 

At  the  March  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  a  Committee  was  appointed 
"to  consider  what  can  be  done  for  the  relief  of  the  Town  under  its 
present  distresses;"  while  the  nature  of  the  distresses,  so  far  as  the 
records  go,  are  left  to  be  conjectured.  They  may  refer  to  the  "  unhappy 
misunderstandings,"  as  Governor  Shute  expresses  it,  between  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Houses  *  of  the  General  Court. 

Three  pounds  were  voted  to  pay  a  Bell-ringer  at  the  New 
South  Meeting-house  for  a  year.     He  was  to  ring  at  five  in 
the  morning,  and  nine  at  night,  as  other  Bell-ringers  did. 

The  General  Court  passed  a  law  suppressing  lotteries.  They  were 
declared  "  a  public  nusance,  mischievous  and  unlawful  games,"  and 
forbidden  under  a  penalty  of  200  pounds. 

Another  Church  was  formed  at  the  North  End  this  year,  to  which  the 
name  of  New  Brick  was  given.  It,  like  many  other  Churches,  grew 
out  of  difficulties  and  disagreements  among  members  of  the  same 
Church.  The  disaffections  in  the  New  North  have  been  detailed  in  the 
account  of  that  Church,  and  will  not  require  to  be  repeated  here,  f 

Those  who  had  come  off  when  Mr.  Thacher  was  ordained,  having  en- 
listed a  number  of  others  with  them,  held  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of 
„  taking  measures  to  erect  a  House.    They  were  Alexander  Sears, 

Solomon  Townsend,  John  Waldo,  Owen  Harris,  James  Tileston, 
Nathaniel  Jarvis,  Thomas  Lee,  Jonathan  Mountfort,  "William  Arnold, 
Thaddeus  Macarty,  James  Pecker,  Ebenezer  Bridge,  Benjamin  Edwards, 
Peter  Papillon,  Thomas  Dogget,  Daniel  Ballard,  Robert  Oring,  Edward 
Pell,  Samuel  Burnell,  Francis  Parnell,  James  Barnes,  James  Halsey  and 
Ephraim  Moore.  These  voted  to  treat  with  Mr.  Thomas  Roby,  of  Cam- 
bridge, for  land  to  build  upon.     About  five  weeks  after  a  Building  Com- 

*  The  names  Upper  and  Lower  Houses  seem  Revenge  Church  of  Christ ;  but  they  thought 
to  have  arisen  about  this  time.  The  Represen-  better  of  it  and  called  it  the  New  Brick 
tatives  gave  the  name  Upper  House  to  the  Church.  However,  the  first  name  was  re- 
Council  "  as  a  fleer,  and  to  intimate  that  they  tained  for  many  years  among  the  common 
might  consider  themselves  in  another  capacity  people.  Yet  their  zeal  was  great  indeed,  and 
than  as  a  Privy  Council."  —  Hutchinson.  descended    to    puerility.      They    placed    the 

f  The  following  extract  from  Mr.  Ephraim  figure  of  a   Cock  as  a  vane  upon  the  steeple, 

Eliot's  work,  before  referred  to,  will  convey  a  out  of  derision  of  Mr.  Thacher,  whose  Christian 

pretty  correct  idea  of  the  state  of  feeling  at  the  name  was  Peter.     Taking  advantage  of  a  wind 

time   the  New    Brick    Church  was    formed,  which  turned  the  head  of  the  Cock  towards 

"  The  aggrieved  Brethren,"  he  says,  "  went  off  the  New  North  when  it  was  placed  upon  the 

in  bad  humor,  and  proceeded  to  the  gathering  spindle,    a  merry  fellow  straddled  over  it  and 

of  another  Church.     In  the  plenitude  of  zeal,  crowed  three  times,  to  complete  the  ceremony." 

they  first    thought  of  denominating    it    the  Remarks  are  unnecessary. 


1718-19.]  BOSTON   GAZETTE.  559 


Dec.  20. 


mittcc  was  appointed,  and  in  a  short  time  the  number  of  Pro- 
prietors increased  to  forty.     Mr.  Edward  Pell  drew  a  plan  of 
the  building,  and  it  was  finished  for  dedication  in  May,  1721.     In  one 
year  more  the  Church  was  regularly  formed,  and  on  the  day 
May  io.  23.  of  its  formation  Mr.  William  Waldron  was  ordained.* 

The  Aurora  Borealis,  or  Northern  Lights,  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  observed  here  until  this  time.  They  were  viewed 
by  many,  for  a  considerable  period,  as  harbingers  of  some  great  calam- 
ity shortly  to  follow,  and  some  believed  they  portended  the  end  of  the 
world.  Their  frequence  has  long  since  ceased  to  excite  wonder  or  sur- 
prise, though  at  times  they  seem  to  break  over  ordinary  bounds,  and 
are  the  subject  of  conversation. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  a  second  Newspaper  was  estab- 
lished in  Boston.  It  was  called  the  Boston  Gazette,  and  the 
first  number  was  issued  on  the  twenty-first  of  December.  Like  other 
early  Newspapers,  one  of  them  is  strikingly  curious  at  this  day.  f  It 
was  published  "forWilliamBrooker/'who  succeeded  John  Campbell  as 
Postmaster,  and  James  Franklin  was  the  printer  of  it ;  a  brother  of 
the  afterwards  celebrated  Doctor  Benjamin  Franklin.  In  this  paper 
the  year  1720  begun  in  March,  but  after  that  it  begun  with  January. 
This  was  the  first  "  Boston  Gazette,"  but  there  were  two  others  before 
the  Revolution,  of  the  same  name.  The  establishment  of  a  new  Paper 
was  looked  upon  by  the  Proprietors  of  the  old  one  with  jealousy,  and  a 
skirmishing  between  them  soon  commenced,  and  continued  for  some 
time. 

Mr.  Brooker  continued  to  publish  the  Gazette  but  a  short  period. 
Philip  Musgrave  succeeded  him  as  Postmaster,  and  became  publisher 
of  it,  and  Samuel  Kneeland  printed  it.  This  arrangement  continued 
till  1726,  when  it  was  printed  for  Thomas  Lewis,  Postmaster.  The 
following  year  Henry  Marshall  was  Postmaster,  and  Bartholomew 
Green  printed  the  Paper  for  him.  Marshall  died  in  1732,  and  Mr. 
John  Boydell  became  its  publisher,  and  the  printing  went  again  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Kneeland.  J 

*  The  succession  of  Ministers  has  been  given  inch  and  a  half  square  ;  one  representing  a 

at  p.  311.     The  signers  of  the  Covenant  on  the  ship  of  clumsy  proportions,  the  other  a  Post, 

23  of  May,  1722,  were  Alexr.  Sears,  Solomon  sounding  his  horn,  mounted  upon  a  horse  at 

Townsend,  John  Waldo,  Moses  Pierce,  James  full  speed,  more  clumsily  represented,  if  pos- 

Tileston,  Josiah  Baker,  from  the  New  North  ;  sible,   than  the  ship  ;    copied  perhaps  from 

and    Wm.    Lee,    Nathaniel  Loring,    Daniel  some  old  chronicle  of  Flanders.     On  a  number 

Pecker,  Henry  Wheeler,  and  Wm.  Waldron.  of  that  Paper,  printed  in  1736,  now  before  me, 

— Snow,  217.  other  and  larger  cuts  appear,  but  of  no  better 

f  It  was  issued  on  a  half-sheet  of  foolscap  workmanship  than  the  others.    Boydell  issued 

paper,   and   was   continued   thus  for  several  it  in  quarto. 

years ;  excepting  occasionally,  when  it  was  J  Mr.  Boydell  died  on  the  11th  of  Dec. 
sent  out  on  a  whole  sheet,  a  page  of  which  1739,  in  the  49th  year  of  his  age.  He  came 
often  remained  blank  for  want  of  matter  to  fill  to  Boston  in  1716,  as  Secretary  to  Gov.  Shute  ; 
it.  It  purported  to  be  "  Published  by  Author-  was  Register  to  the  Court  of  Vice  Admiralty 
ity,"  and  was  "  Printed  by  J.  Franklin,"  for  Massachusetts,  N.  Hampshire  and  R. 
and  to  "  be  had  at  the  Post  Office,  where  Ad-  Island,  and  afterwards  Register  of  Probate  for 
vertisements  are  taken  in."  The  head  of  the  Suffolk,  and  Naval  Officer  for  Boston.  Heap- 
sheet  was  adorned  with  two  engravings,  an  pears  to  have  been  much  respected. 


560 


LINEN   MANUFACTURE. 


[1720. 


On  the  death  of  Mr.  Boydell,  "  Kne  eland  &  Green''  printed  the 
Gazette  for  his  heirs,  till  October,  1741,  and  then  those  printers 
became  its  proprietors,  and  incorporated  it  with  "  The  New  England 
Weekly  Journal."  It  was  continued  in  this  way  nearly  fifteen  years. 
Captain  Joseph  Wadsworth  was  chosen  Treasurer,  in  place 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Prout,  who  declined.  The  latter  had  served 
many  years.  Ames  Anger  was  chosen  School-master  for  the  new 
Writing-school  at  the  south  part  of  the  Town,  at  100  pounds  per 
annum.* 

A  Bridge  over  Charles  River  having  been  contemplated,  the 
pr  '  Town  voted  to  instruct  its  Representatives  in  the  General 
Court  to  move  that  body  to  promote  the  enterprise,  but  it  was  to  be 
built  "  at  the  place  where  the  Ferry  hath  been  kept  usually  ;  namely, 
between  Mr.  Gee's  and  Hudson's  Point,  and  at  no  other  place."  This 
appears  to  be  the  first  movement  upon  record  for  a  Bridge  over 
Charles  river.     Of  course  it  did  not  then  succeed,  f 

About  two  years  previous  to  this  there  arrived  in  the  country  a  large 
colony  of  persons  from  in  and  about  Londonderry  in  Ireland,  denom- 
inated Scotch  Irish,  because  they  emigrated  originally  from  Scotland  to 
Ireland.  The  most  of  this  colony  settled  in  New  Hampshire,  but  a  con- 
siderable number  of  them  fixed  their  residence  in  Boston.  These  emi- 
grants were  chiefly  manufacturers  of  linen,  and  they  brought  their 
utensils  for  that  purpose  with  them.  J  The  foot 
or  linen  wheel,  since  so  familiar  in  the  house- 
holds of  New  England,  was  introduced  by  this 
colony,  and  the  raising  of  flax  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  linen  cloth  was  looked  upon  as  of  great 
|§  importance  to  the  country.  The  people  of  Bos- 
ton took  hold  of  the  matter  with  great  earnestness. 
fij§jL  The  subject  was  put  into  the  warrant  for  call- 
ing a  Town-meeting,  which  assembled 


SPINNING    WHEEL. 


Sept.  28. 


in  September,  and  at  which  Judge  Sew- 
all  presided  as  Moderator.  A  committee  was  appointed  "to  consider 
about  promoting  of  a  Spinning  School  or  Schools,  for  the  instruction  of 
the  children  of  this  Town."  The  Committee,  which  consisted  of  seven 
persons, §  reported  at  the  meeting  in  December,  recommending 
the  building  a  house  for  a  School,  "  on  the  waste  land  before 


Dec.  27. 


*  By  vote  of  the  Town  the  Selectmen  were 
directed  to  put  that  piece  of  the  Town's  land 
nigh  Mr.  Belknap's,  lying  before  Capt.  South- 
ack's,  under  some  improvement.  An  order 
regulating  trucks  was  passed.  None  to  be 
more  than  eighteen  feet  long  ;  to  employ  but 
two  horses  in  one  team  ;  to  carry  no  more  than 
one  ton  at  a  load,  and  wheel  tires  to  be  4  inches 
wide  ;  the  driver  to  go  at  the  head  of  the  thill 
horse,  which  he  must  govern  by  a  halter  to  be 
kept  in  the  hand. 

t  Charlestown  does  not  appear  to  have  par- 
ticipated in  this  affair  of  a  Bridge.  It  is  seen 
by  the  General  Court  Records,  that  the  Coun- 


cil were  "  ready  to  promote  the  attainment  of 
so  beneficial  a  work,"  but  recommended  it  to 
be  undertaken  by  private  gentlemen,  and 
sketched  out  various  regulations  about  toll, 
and  what  part  of  it  should  go  to  the  College, 
that  that  institution  should  receive  more  than 
it  received  from  the  ferry.  Here  the  matter 
seems  to  have  rested. 

%  They  introduced  the  Potato.  This  valu- 
able plant  was  probably  first  carried  to  England 
in  1573,  by  Sir  Francis  Drake. 

§  Abijah  Savage,  Daniel  Oliver,  Wm.  Payn, 
Esqrs.,  Mr.  Francis  Thrasher,  Mr.  Abraham 
Blish,  Mr.  John  Colman,  and  Mr.  Benj.  Fitch. 


1721.] 


SMALL -POX.  —  INOCULATION. 


561 


Captain  Southack's ;  because  part  of  it  is  already  built,  a  cellar 
almost  made,  and  a  well  in  Belknap's  yard  belonging  to  the  Town." 

The  result  of  this  extensive  movement  was  the  establishment  of  Spin- 
ning-schools. A  large  building  was  erected  on  Long  Acre-street,  which 
stood  about  where  Hamilton-place  now  is,  and  was  standing  till  long 
after  the  Revolution.* 

Tea  is  said  to  have  been  about  this  time  introduced  into  the 
country. 

The  Town  was  visited  by  the  Small-pox  with  much  greater  severity 
than  at  any  time  before.  The  Selectmen  were  instructed  by  a  vote  of 
M  the   Town  to  wait  upon  the  Governor  with  a  request  that  the 

ay  "  '  Sea-horse  [Capt.  Thomas  Durell]  should  be  sent  down  to  Spec- 
tacle Island  ;  but  whether  she  was  sent  there  is  not  stated,  and  if  she 
were  it  was  too  late  to  keep  the  disease  from  getting  into  the  Town,  f 
It  was  on  this_  visitation  of  that  dreaded  contagion,  that  Inoculation 
began  to  be  practised ;  and  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston  was  the  man  who, 
almost  single-handed,  stood  forth  and  buffeted  a  storm  which  the  prac- 
tice called  forth,  the  violence  of  which  is  hardly  conceivable  in  this 
age.  |  The  physicians  were  generally  against  him,  §  and  Dr.  William 
Douglass  and  others  wrote  with  severity  against  Inoculation.  There 
was  at  this  time  residing  in  Boston  a  Dr.  Lawrence  Dalhonde,  who  had 
considerable  reputation  for  his  knowledge  of  the  disease,  and  of  Inocula- 


*  Long  Acre-street  was  that  part  of  what  is 
now  Tremont-street  between  Winter  and 
School  streets.  Mr.  Pemberton  has  something 
to  say  about  this  Linen  affair,  but  he  has  no 
dates  or  localities  to  elucidate  it.  He  says : 
"  The  Manufactory-house,  in  Long  Acre-street, 
is  an  handsome,  large  brick  building,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  street.  An  act  of  the  General 
Court  laying  an  excise  on  carriages  and  other 
articles  of  luxury  was  appropriated  to  this 
building,  designed  originally  for  carrying  on 
manufactures  in  the  Town,  particularly  the  linen 
manufacture,  which  was  begun  here  with  a  spirit 
exerted  too  violently  to  continue  long.  Great 
show  and  parade  were  exhibited  on  the  Com- 
mon at  its  commencement.  Spinning-wheeles 
were  then  the  hobby-horses  of  the  Publick. 
The  females  of  the  Town,  rich  and  poor,  ap- 
peared on  the  Common  with  their  wheels,  and 
vied  with  each  other  in  the  dexterity  of  using 
them.  A  larger  concourse  of  people  was  per- 
haps never  drawn  together  on  any  occasion 
before.  At  the  anniversary  of  its  institution 
(for  it  continued  three  or  four  years),  the 
trustees  and  company  attended  public  wor- 
ship, when  a  sermon  was  delivered  suited  to 
the  occasion,  and  a  contribution  made  to  aid 
the  business.  But  some  untoward  circum- 
stances taking  place,  the  linen  manufacture 
was  wholly  set  aside.  The  building  was  after- 
wards occupied  for  a  short  time  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  worsted  hose,  metal  buttons,  etc. 
The  Massachusetts  Bank  was  kept  here  for  a 
time.    It  now  [1794]  belongs  to  that  Corpora- 

71 


tion,  and  is  let  to  private  families,  divided  into 
separate  apartments.  At  the  west  end,  front- 
ing Long  Acre,  was  portrayed  on  the  wall  a 
female  figure,  holding  a  distaff  in  her  hand, 
emblematical  of  industry,  which  is  now  [1794] 
effaced." 

f  By  a  publication  which  the  Selectmen 
made  on  the  22d  of  July,  it  appears  that  the 
Small-pox  was  communicated  to  the  Town 
"  the  middle  of  April  "  preceding  ;  "  being 
brought  here  then  by  the  Saltertuda's  [Saltor- 
tugas]  fleet."  Dr.  Douglass  confirms  this  in 
a  letter  of  28  July,  1721,  to  Dr.  Cadwallader 
Colden,  of  New  York.  He  says  :  "  It  was  im- 
ported here  about  the  middle  of  April  last  from 
Barbadoes  via  Saltertudas.  It  is  now  19  years 
since  we  had  it  in  Boston."  —  Mass.  Hist. 
Colls. 

J  In  the  preface  to  his  "  Historical  Account 
of  the  Inoculation,"  the  doctor  says  :  "  I  have 
been  basely  used  and  treated  by  some  who  were 
enemies  to  this  method,  and  have  suffered  much 
in  my  reputation  and  in  my  business  too,  from 
the  odiums  and  reflections  cast  upon  me  for 
beginning  and  carrying  on  this  practice  in  New 
England." 

§  Assuming  every  apothecary  to  have  been  a 
physician,  there  were  then  in  the  Town  four- 
teen. This,  however,  is  not  given,  as  a  suppo- 
sition, even,  that  such  was  the  exact  number  of 
the  latter,  while  it  is  true  of  the  former, 
according  to  Dr.  Douglass.  At  which  time  he 
says  there  was  not  in  the  Town  a  thermometer 
nor  barometer  that  he  knew  of. 


562 


SMALL- POX.  — INOCULATION. 


[1721. 


tion  practised  many  years  before  in  Europe,  and  he  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  the  practice  was  attended  with  the  most  pernicious  conse- 
quences. By  order  of  the  Selectmen  he  made  a  deposition  respecting 
cases  which  he  had  witnessed  in  the  French  army  in  Italy  twenty-five 
years  before  ;  and  in  Flanders  and  Spain  at  a  later  period,  all  of  which 
went  to  prove  the  practice  nothing  better  than  murder.  This  deposi- 
tion being  published,  and  by  authority  of  the  Town,  caused,  says 
u  y  '  Dr.  Boylston,  "  a  melancholly  day  to  Inoculation  in  its  infancy  ; 
and  was  sufficient  to  influence  and  set  almost  the  whole  Town  and 
Country  against  me  and  this  method." 

It  is  remarkable  that  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  was  on  the  side  of  Inocula- 
tion,* and  encouraged  Dr.  Boylston  to  put  it  in  practice,  f  And  it  may 
be  pretty  safely  inferred,  that,  without  the  countenance  and  influence 
of  the  former,  the  latter  could  never  have  succeeded  ;  J  and  even  his 
life  would  have  been  in  as  much  jeopardy  as  his  reputation.  How- 
ever, the  result  of  this  important  undertaking  proved  that  it  was  not 
always  the  surest  way  to  prove  one's  self  a  prophet  to  attempt  to 
destroy  the  chances  of  others  for  gaining  a  name,  although  appear- 
ances might  seem  to  favor  such  a  course.  Out  of  286  persons  who 
were  inoculated  for  the  Small-pox,  but  six  died ;  while  out  of  5,759 
who  took  it  the  natural  way,  844  died.  §    Thus  was  exhibited  the  ben- 


*  "  That  eminent  Person,  the  Learned  Dr. 
Cotton  Mather,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society 
(also  to  his  honor) ,  was  the  principal  Instru- 
ment in  promoting  this  method  among  us."  — 
Vindication  of  the  Boston  Ministers,  p.  7. 

f  Dr.  Douglass  looked  upon  Mr.  Mather  as 
the  cause  of  its  being  undertaken,  at  whom, 
with  his  accustomed  moroseness,  he  levelled  his 
blunt  sarcasms.  In  writing  to  Dr.  Colden, 
May  1st,  1722,  he  says  :  "  Having,  some  time 
before  the  Small-pox  arrived,  lent  to  a  credu-; 
lous,  vain  Preacher,  Mather,  Jr.,  the  Phi- 
losophical Transactions,  Nos.  339  and  377, 
which  contain  Timonius'  and  Pyllarinus'  ac- 
counts of  Inoculation  from  the  Levant ;  that 
he  might  have  something  to  send  home  to  the 
Royal  Society,  who  had  long  neglected  his 
communications,  as  he  complained,  he  sets 
Inoculation  to  work  in  June  ;  by  18  Nov.  100 
were  inoculated,  and  by  January,  in  all,  some 
few  more  than  250,  in  Town  and  Country." 
That  the  doctor  here  disguised  the  truth  some- 
what, will  presently  be  seen.  Dr.  Boylston 
remarks : 

"  As  the  practice  was  new  in  Europe, 
so  it  must  needs  make  a  strange  figure  in 
New  England,  and  more  especially  so  when 
one  or  two  of  our  learned  Esculapian  tribe  had 
made  the  discovery  how  this  practice  would 
produce  the  Plague.  They  cavilled  and  said 
that  Dr.  Mather  had  not  given  a  fair  represen- 
tation from  Timonius'  and  Pyllarinus'  accounts. 
I  prayed  that  they  might  be  read ;  but  Dr. 
Douglass,  who  owned  them,  and  had  taken 
them  from  Dr.  Mather,  refused  to  have  them 
read,  or  even  afterwards  to  lend  them  to  the 


Governor  to  read  ;  such  was  his  extraordinary 
care,  lest  the  People  in  time  should  have  been 
reconciled  to  the  practice,  and  taken  the  ben- 
efit of  it." 

Thirty  years  after,  Dr.  Douglass  acknowl- 
edged that  in  1721  he  "  was  a  sort  of  novice  in 
the  Small-pox  practice,  and  that  he  confided 
too  much  in  Dr.  Sydenham's  practice,  which  he 
gradually  corrected."  —  Summary,  ii.  394. 

J  Dr.  Boylston  speaks  thus  upon  his  enter- 
ing upon  Inoculation  :  "  Dr.  Mather,  in  com- 
passion to  the  lives  of  the  people,  transcribed 
from  the  Philosophical  Transactions  of  the 
Royal  Society,  the  Accounts  sent  them  by 
Doctors  Timonius  and  Pyllarinus  of  inoculat- 
ing the  Small-pox  in  the  Levant,  and  sent  them 
to  the  Practitioners  of  the  Town,  for  their 
consideration  thereon.  Upon  reading  of  which  I 
was  very  well  pleased,  and  resolved  in  my  mind 
to  try  the  experiment ;  well  remembering  the 
destruction  the  Small-pox  made  19  years  be- 
fore, when  last  in  Boston  ;  and  how  narrowly 
I  then  escaped  with  my  life."  —  Histor.  Ac- 
count, Introd.  This  agrees  with  the  following  : 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1721,  Dr.  Mather  ad- 
dressed the  physicians  of  the  Town,  requesting 
them  to  meet  and  to  consult  whether  Inocula- 
tion should  be  undertaken  or  not ;  "  that  who- 
ever first  begins  this  practice,"  he  concludes, 
(  "  if  you  approve  that  it  should  be  begun  at  all) 
may  have  the  concurrence  of  his  worthy  Breth- 
ren to  fortify  him  in  it."  —  A  Vindication  of 
the  Ministers  of  Boston,  p.  8.  But  "  the 
Physicians  never  met  nor  consulted  about  it." 
—  lb. 

§  There  were  10,568  inhabitants  in  Boston, 


1721.]  SMALL-POX.  —  INOCULATION.  563 

efit  of  Inoculation  in  the  most  striking  manner.  And  Doctor  Boylston 
very  clearly  demonstrates  that  the  six  lost  under  Inoculation  were  so 
circumstanced,  that,  had  they  lived,  their  recovery  might  well  have 
been  classed  with  miracles.  *  That  he  was  both  sincere  and  confident 
in  the  outset,  is  proved  by  his  beginning  the  practice  with  inoculating 
his  own  family.  His  little  son  Thomas,  only  six  years  of  age, 
'  was  the  first  upon  whom  the  great  experiment  was  tried.  Then 
his  negro  man,  aged  thirty-six,  and  a  negro  boy  only  two  and  a  half 
years.  Before  proceeding  with  others  he  waited  to  see  if  the  effect 
would  be  satisfactory.  It  proved  eminently  so.  "  It  was  plain  and 
easy  to  see,"  he  observes,  "  with  pleasure,  the  difference  between 
having  the  Small-pox  this  way,  and  that  of  having  it  in  the  natural 
way." 

With  that  singularity  for  which  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  was  so  remark- 
able, he  proclaimed,  in  the  Life  of  his  Father  which  he  published  soon 
after  this  visitation  of  the  Small-pox,  that  that  Minister  "  expressly 
fortold  that  an  heavy  judgment  was  impending  over  Boston  that  would 
speedily  be  executed."  This  prophecy  the  Son  says  the  Father  made 
"  in  an  awful  sermon  "  which  he  preached  in  September,  1720.  f  The 
Author  might  with  as  much  propriety  have  claimed  the  gift  of  prophecy 
for  himself;  for,  only  one  year  before  the  Small-pox  broke  out,  he 
preached  from  a  Text  which  he  characterized  as  "  a  very  Awful  Text;  " 
on  which  occasion  he  gave  his  hearers  to  understand  that  "  the  people 
were  a  languishing  if  not  a  perishing  people,"  about  "  to  fall  into  very 
grievous  Distresses."  However,  he  was  content  on  this  occasion  to  give 
the  credit  to  another.  J 

The  Small-pox  was  a  serious  check  to  the  prosperity  of  Boston  ;  but 
in  the  midst  of  its  ravages  James  Franklin  commenced  a  Newspaper, 

4,549  of  whom  lived  in  the  north  part  of  the  that  a  sickness,  a  fire,  or  other  misfortunes, 

Town,  that  is,  north  of  the  Mill  Creek  ;  and  should  happen  after  some  of  them. 

6,018  to  the  south  of  it.  —  Snow.  Dr.  Douglass  J  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  Inoculation  was 

says  :  "In  the  Spring  of  1722,  by  order  of  the  begun  in  England  the  same  month  it  was  begun 

Select-men,  Mr.  Salter  made  a  perlustration  of  in  Boston.  —  Hutchinson.     It  is  equally  worthy 

the  Town   of   Boston.     He    reported    10,670  of  remark  that  it  was  introduced  by  the  cele- 

souls."     He  gives   the   number  of  those  who  brated  Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montague.     She 

died  of   the   Small-pox    as   in   the   text,  and  "  observed  the  Turkish  invention  "  in  her  then 

adds  :  "  About  the  same  number  fled  from  Bos-  late  travels  in  the  East,  and  had  suffered  from 

ton  [to  avoid  it]  ;  thus  we  may  estimate  about  the  effects  of  the  contagion  herself.     But  she 

12,000  people  in  Boston  at  its  arrival. ' '  —  Sum-  met  with  almost  as  much  trouble  as  Dr.  Boyls- 

mary,  <^c,  i.  530.  ton.     She  began,  like  him,  with  her  own  child 

*  Of  the  286  persons  who  received  Inocula-  too,  —  a  little  daughter,  Mary,  aged  about  six 

tion,  36  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.     Of  years.    "  What  a  thankless  enterprise  it  was, 

I  the  36,  Dr.  Thomas  Roby,  of  Cambridge,  in-  nobody  is  now  in  the  least  aware."  "Four  great 

.  oculated   about   11,    and   Dr.    Thompson,  of  Physicians  were  deputed  by  the  Government  to 

jCharlestown,  about  28.     Dr.  Roby  was  a  son  watch  its  progress  with  her  daughter,  with  an 

-<  of  William  Roby,  of  Boston,  and  was  a  distin-  evident  unwillingness  to  have  it  succeed  ;  man- 

)  guished  mathematician,  and  had  been  a  Pro-  ifesting  a  spirit  of  rancor  and  malignity."  — 

|  lessor   in   Harvard   College.     He  was   of  the  Letters   and    Works   of   Mrs.   Montague,  ed. 

i  same  family  as  Judge  Samuel  Roby,  of  Hamp-  Paris,  1837,  i.  64 — 5.     The  little  girl  on  whom 

\  ton,  N.  H,     He  died  at  Salem,  28  August,  the  experiment  was  made,  was  afterwards  Lady 

x729,  in  the  41st  year  of  his  age.  Bute,  wife  of  the  celebrated  minister  of  George 

f  As  it  was  almost  a  constant  practice  with  III. ,  so  conspicuous  in  advocating  the  meas- 

the  ministers  of  those  days  to  preach  ' '  awful  ures  against  the  Colonies  which  brought  on  thg 

sermons,"  there  is  nothing  very  remarkable  in  Revolution, 


564  NEW  ENGLAND    COURANT.  [1721. 

called  the  New  England  Courant,  which  was  the  third  established  in  the 
Town.*  The  general  opinion  then  appears  to  have  been  that 
ug*  '  a  third  Newspaper  was  altogether  unnecessary ;  and  some 
believed  Franklin  commenced  it  to  be  revenged  on  the  publisher  of  the 
Gazette,  the  printing  of  which  he  had  taken  from  Franklin.  In  the 
Courant  appeared  papers  rudely  attacking  the  practice  of  Inoculation  ; 
and  essays,  which  in  these  days  would  be  denominated  rather  liberal, 
while  at  that  time  they  were  denounced  in  severer  terms.  The  clergy 
took  offence,  and  Dr.  Increase  Mather  came  out  against  the  Courant  in 
the  Gazette,  calling  it  the  "Vile  Courant,"  and  said  "he  could  well 
remember  when  the  Civil  Government  would  have  taken  an  effectual 
course  to  suppress  such  a  cursed  libel."  f  The  Doctor  had  commenced 
taking  it,  but  after  a  few  numbers  he  refused  it  indignantly. 

It  was  to  James  Franklin,  then  a  young  man  only  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  that  Benjamin  Franklin  was  apprenticed,  and  it  was  in  his 
Paper,  the  Courant,  that  the  latter,  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  begun 
his  career  as  a  writer.  The  Courant  appears  to  have  been  very  well 
patronized,  but  it  was  as  much  in  advance  of  the  age  as  Dr.  Mather's 
"  Thunderbolt "  was  behind  it ;  and  some  reflections  contained  in  it 
being  construed  into  "  a  high  affront  to  the  Government,"  its  publisher 
was  imprisoned,  though  his  Paper  went  on  under  the  management  of 
Benjamin.  J  Franklin  was  imprisoned  about  four  weeks,  and  then,  upon 
an  apology,  and  bonds  for  his  good  behavior  for  twelve  months,  he  was 
set  at  liberty,  and  his  paper  was  put  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Wil- 
lard,  the  Secretary  of  the  Province.     Franklin,  however,  published  his 

*  Its  imprint  is,  "  Boston  :  Printed  by  James  none  better  would  offer.     The  offensive  matter 

Franklin,  in  Queen  Street,  where  Advertise-  was  contained  in  an  article  purporting  to  have 

ments  are  taken  in."     Franklin's  shop  was  on  been  written  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  related  to 

the  north  side  of  what  is  now  Court-street,  near  an  expedition  to  be  sent  from  Boston  in  pursuit 

the  easterly  corner  of  Franklin-avenue.    Here,  of  pirates,  who  had  been  seen  in  the  beginning 

long  within  my  recollection,  stood  a  Bookstore,  of  June,  1722,  about  Block  Island.     The  gov- 

over  the  sign  of  which  was  a  bust  of  Franklin,  ernment  at  Boston  had  had  timely  notice  of  the 

Wells  &  Lilly  were  many  years  Booksellers  at  pirates,  and  appear  to  have  used  the  utmost 

18  Court-street,  to  whom  succeeded  S.  Burditt  despatch  in  fitting  out  a  vessel  to  go  in  pursuit ; 

and  F.  Sales,  about  1832 ;  J.  W.  Burditt's,  No.  while,  in  the  Newport  communication,  printed 

27,  was  the  Franklin  Bookstore,  1828-35.  in  the  Courant  of  11th  June,  occurred  these 

f  Mr.  Everett,  in  his  Boyhood  and  Youth  of  words:  "We  are  advised  from  Boston,  that 
[Dr.]  Franklin  (Works,  ii.  26),  says:  "The  the  Government  of  Massachusetts  are  fitting 
Thunderbolt  of  the  offended  Patriarch  fell  as  out  a  ship  to  go  after  the  pirates  to  be  corn- 
harmless  at  young  Franklin's  feet,  as  the  gren-  manded  by  Capt.  Peter  Papillon,  and  't  is 
ado  had  at  [his]  son  Cotton's.  It  was  behind  thought  he  will  sail  some  time  this  month, 
the  age."  Mr.  Everett  had  previously  men-  wind  and  weather  permitting." 
tioned  the  fact  that  in  the  time  of  the  excite-  Notwithstanding  it  was  said  in  the  same 
ment  against  Inoculation,  a  "  grenado  "  was  number  of  the  Courant,  that  above  100  men 
thrown  into  one  of  Cotton  Mather's  win-  had  been  enlisted,  and  that  Capt.  Papillon 
dows.  Consult  Hutchinson  for  other  partic-  would  probably  sail  that  day,  the  General 
ulars.  Court  on  the  next  day  proceeded  to  prosecute 

J  The  proceeding  against  Franklin  was  of  Franklin  as  above  stated,  and  for  the  words  I 

the  most  arbitrary  kind,  because  the  "  reflec-  have  printed  in  capitals.     See  Mr.  Everett's 

tion  "  complained  of  would  hardly  have  fur-  Address,  as  before  cited,  p.  44,  who  has  cor- 

nished  a  pretence  in  a  far  more  despotic  age  rected  an  important  inadvertence  of  Doctor 

than  this  was.     But  the  government  had  taken  Thomas,  in  his  excellent  History  of  Printing, 

offence,  and  were    determined  to  crush    the  and  added  much  valuable  new  matter,  and  to 

Paper  at  all  events  ;  it  therefore  seized  upon  whom  I  am  much  obliged  for  kindly  directing 

the  matter  in  question,  fearing,  probably,  that  my  attention  to  them. 


1721.]  ARCHIVES. — MINISTERS   AGGRIEVED.  5G5 

Paper  without  the  approval  of  his  articles  by  the  Secretary,  and  conse- 
quently "  a  bill  of  indictment  was  some  months  after  preferred  against 
him."  To  relieve  himself  from  this  dilemma,  James  Franklin  published 
his  Paper  in  the  name  of  his  apprenticed  brother,  Benjamin.  This 
apparent  change  was  made  about  the  middle  of  January,  1723,  and, 
from  anything  which  appears  to  the  contrary,  the  Courant  continued  to 
be  so  published  until  the  beginning  of  1727,  when  it  ceased.* 

Of  Franklin's  Courant  no  perfect  file  or  series  is  known  to  exist. 
Copies  of  this  and  similar  papers  and  other  documents  would  not  only 
be  of  immense  value  in  the  Archives  of  Boston,  but  in  those  of  every 
town  in  New  England.  Has  even  Boston  to  this  day  any  Archives, 
properly  so  called  ?  Not  any  !  The  Inhabitants  must  look  to  this. 
The  Authorities  have  never  yet  looked  to  it.  There  are  good  records 
of  what  they  have  done  ;  but  what  do  those  records  tell  else  ?  It  is  by 
the  Newspapers,  Pamphlets,  Handbills  —  every  kind  and  description 
of  them  —  that  the  rise,  progress  and  importance,  of  a  place  is  to  be 
learned.  Can  the  Authorities  or  anybody  else  point  to  the  building  in 
the  City  containing  anything  of  the  kind  ?  f  Let  those  answer  who  can. 
But  this  is  not  the  place  to  speak  of  the  subject  as  it  should  be  spoken 
of.  It  may  in  due  time  be  urged  elsewhere,  in  a  manner  demanded  by 
its  vast  importance. 

The  "Ministers  of  Boston"  were  so  seriously  aggrieved  by  the 
"  Abuses  and  Scandals  lately  cast  upon  them,  in  Divers  Printed  Papers," 
that  they  came  out  in  January  with  "  A  Vindication,"  purporting  to 
have  been  written  "  By  some  of  their  People."  Though  Franklin's 
Courant  was  evidently  the  chief  source  of  annoyance  to  them,  yet 
there  had  been  some  "foolish"  pamphlets  issued  equally  annoying. J 
The  pamphlets  were  chiefly  upon  the  Inoculation  question,  of  which 
there  were  several. 

*  James  Franklin  subsequently  settled  in  designedly  to  affront  our  Ministers,  and  render 
Newport,  E.  I.,  and  there,  on  the 27th  of  Sept.,  them  Odious  ;  or  else,  it  has  hitherto  wretch- 
1732,  issued  a  Newspaper,  the  first  ever  pub-  edly  deviated  from  its  ultimate  Intent,  and  been 
lished  in  that  Colony,  which  he  called  the  notoriously  prostituted  to  that  Hellish  Servi- 
"  Rhode  Island  Gazette.''  —  Thomas.  From  tude.  We  know  no  Nation  under  the  Sun, 
an  advertisement  in  the  New  England  Weekly  that  has  so  openly  and  assiduously  insulted  the 
Journal  of  11  Dec.  1727,  it  appears  that  Frank-  Ministers  of  their  GOD  ;  and  been  so  stren- 
lin  printed  the  first  Almanack  in  that  place ;  uous,  in  their  Endeavors,  to  make  them 
or,  as  the  advertisement  says  :  "  Being  the  first  despicable  and  detestable  to  their  People,  us 
that  was  ever  published  for  that  meridian."  the  Authors  of  this  scandalous  3L ihe I."  They 
Sold  by  him  in  Newport:  "also  by  John  directly  charge  "  John  Williams,  tobacconist," 
Franklin,  Tallow  Chandler,  in  Cornhill,  Bos-  of  saying,  "  The  Ministers  have  generally  re- 
ton."  This  John  was  the  oldest  brother  of  volted  from  the  good  old  way,  and  have  set  up 
James,  by  Abiah  Folger,  the  second  wife  of  his  a  way  that  their  Fathers  knew  not  of  *  * 
father.  They  are  revolted  and  gone  *  *  Defective  in 

f  This  in  reference  to  anything  provided  by  Morals."     In  the  Courant,  No.  23:    "Most 

and   for   the  City.     There  are  indeed  a   few  of  the  Ministers  are  for  it,  and  that  induces 

small  collections  in  private  hands,  but  they  are  me  to  think  it  is  from  the  Devil."     In  No. 

nothing  compared  with  what  might  and  should  25  :  "  The  Instruments  of  mischief  and  trouble 

be.  both  in  Church  and  State,  from  the  Witch- 

{ The    Authors    of   the    Vindication    say,  craft  to  Inoculation."     This  the  "  Vindica- 

"  Above  all,  we  wonder  at  a  OTeefclg  $aper,  tion  "  thought  was  enough   "to  make    the 

which  has  been,  and  now  is,  Published,  either  most  professed  Libertine  blush." 


566 


SINGING  IN   CHURCHES. 


[1722. 


CHAPTER   LVIII 


Singing  in  Churches.  —  Town  Surveyed  hy  Bonner.  —  Map.  —  Christ's  Church.  —  Great  Inundation 

—  Way  on  the  Neck  Fenced.  —  An  aged  Indian.  —  Death  of  Increase  Mather.  —  Destruction  of 
Pirates.  —  Indian  War.  —  Capt.  Cornwall.  —  Great  Storm.  —  First  Insurance  Office.  —  Capt.  Love- 
well.  —  Indian  Treaty.  —  Depravity.  —  Execution  of  Pirates.  —  Hoop  Petticoats.  — The  Pirate  Fly. 

—  Death  of  Benj.  Franklin.  ■ —  Traffic  in  Slaves.  —  Another  Newspaper  Established.  —  Death  of  the 
King.  —  A  Violent  Storm.  —  Earthquake  of  1727.  —  Scotch  Irish  Arrive.  —  Church  in  Long-lane. 

THE  subject  of  singing  in  Churches  was 
at  the  same  time  making  considerable  talk 
both  in  Town  and  Country.  Some  thought 
it  a  great  innovation,  and  not  to  be  tolerated. 
'The  Society  in  Brattle-street,  however,  had 
been  singing  for  several  years  ;  but  it 
was  many  years  after  this  before  singing 
anything  except  paraphrased  Scripture  was 
allowed,  as  may  be  observed  in  its  proper 
order.  * 

An  accurate  Survey  was  made  of  the 
Town  this  year,  from  which  an  elegant  Map 
was  engraved.  The  enterprising  undertaker 
was  "  Capt.  John  Bonner,"  and  his  Map 
was  the  basis  of  all  other  plans  of  the  Town 
for  many  years.f  William  Price  was  inter- 
ested in  the  sale  of  the  Map,  and  had  a 
shop    "  against    ye   Town-House "    as  late 


PHILLIPS4 

as  the  year  1727,  and  perhaps  later. 

*  The  Rev.  Thomas  Symmes,  of  Bradford, 
wrote  this  year  a  tract  in  favor  of  "  regular  " 
Singing.  It  was  not  printed,  however,  till  the 
next  year.  It  was  accompanied  by  a  recom- 
mendation as  follows  :  —  "  We  the  Subscribers, 
willing  to  Countenance  and  promote  Regular 
Singing,  or  Singing  by  Note,  Do  signifie  our 
Approbation  of  the  Substance  and  Design  of 
the  Ensuing  Dialogue."  Signed  by  Thomas 
Blower  of  Beverly,  Samuel  Moody  of  York, 
John  Rogers  of  Bradford,  John  Tufts  of  New- 
bury, and  Thomas  Foxcroft  of  Boston. 

fit  is  entitled  "The  Town  of  Boston  in 
New  England,  By  Capt.  John  Bonner,  1722. 
JElalis  Sum  60."  At  the  foot  is  the  following  : 
"  Engraven  and  Printed  by  Fra  :  Dewing. 
Boston,  N.  E.,  1722.  Sold  by  Capt.  John  Bon- 
ner and  Will111  Price  against  ye  Town  House, 
where  may  be  had  all  sorts  of  Prints,  Maps, 
&c."  Its  scale  is  that  of  10  inches  to  the 
mile,  nearly.  It  also  contains  these  interest- 
ing statistics  ;  that  the  Town  contains  "  42 
streets,  36  lanes,  22  alleys,  near  3000  houses  ; 
1000  brick,  rest  timber;  near  12,000  people." 
In  1835  George  G.  Smith,  Esq.,  caused  a  beau- 


tiful fac  simile  of  Capt.  Bonner's  map  to  be 
made.  In  1743  '•  Capt.  John  Bonner  "  was 
living  in  Mackerel  Lane  [Kilby-st.],  near  the 
foot  of  Milk-st.,  "  in  a  good  double  house,  late 
the  estate  of  Deacon  Samuel  Marshal." 

%  This  was  the  Sign  of  "  John  Phillips,  Book- 
seller, at  the  Stationer's  Armes  on  the  South- 
side  of  the  Town-House."  It  is  taken  from 
a  copper-plate  shop-bill,  struck  on  paper  7  by  4^ 
inches.  The  Sign  occupied  the  top  of  the  bill, 
and  underneath  it  Phillips  says  he  ' '  Sells  Bi- 
bles large  &  small,  Testaments,  Psalters,  (Psalm 
books  with  Tunes  or  without)  Singing  books 
&  School  books,  with  Books  of  Divinity,  Phi- 
losophy, History,  Navigation,  Physick,  Mathe- 
maticks,  Poetry,  &c,  also  Pressing  Cartridge  & 
Writing  Paper,  Books  for  Accounts  or  Records, 
Ink,  Quills,  Sealing-wax,  Inkhorns,  Specta- 
cles, Letter-cases,  wlh  other  Stationary  wares 
and  all  sorts  of  Cutlery  ware,  at  ye  lowest  prices 
by  Wholesale  or  Retail.  Old  books  are  also 
new  Bound."  For  a  copy  of  this  curious  shop- 
bill  I  am  indebted  to  Andrew  Johonnot,  Esq. 

John  Phillips  died  in  Boston,  30  March, 
1763,  a.  62,  and  was  buried  with  great  cere- 


1722.] 


CHRIST  S    CHURCH. 


567 


_  .  War  was  proclaimed  at  Boston  against  the  Eastern  Indians, 

which  has  been  denominated  "  The  Three  Years'  Indian  War." 
The  Episcopalians  had  become  so  numerous  that  the  King's  Chapel 
could  not  contain  them,  and  another  Church  was  therefore  resolved 
_  „  upon.  Agreeably  to  notice  given  by  Mr.  Miles  of  the  Chapel, 
a  meeting  was  held  in  that  house  on  the  following  Wednesday, 
at  which  Mr.  John  Barnes  was  chosen  Treasurer,  Thomas  Graves,  Esq., 
Mr.  George  Cradock,  Mr.  Anthony  Blount,  Mr.  John  Gibbins,  Mr. 
Thomas  Selby,  and  Mr.  George  Monk,  were  chosen 
a  Committee  to  receive  Subscriptions  for  a  build- 
ing. A  piece  of  ground  had  already  been  pur- 
chased at  the  North  End,  and  in  the 
following  April,  the  Corner  Stone  of  the 
Second  Episcopal  Church  was  laid  by 
Mr.  Myles,  and  in  December  following  it 
was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Timothy  Cut- 
ler, who  was  its  first  Rector.*  Such  was  the 
origin  of  Christ's  Church. 

The  architecture  of  Christ's  Church  has  been 
much  admired,  and  justly  so,  and  it  still  stands  a 
fine  ornament  to  the  north  part  of  the  City, 
though  changed  by  various  repairs,  to  some  ex- 


1723. 
April  15. 

Dec.  29. 


Christ's  church. 


mony.  See  News-Letter,  28  April,  1763,  where 
there  is  a  long  account  of  him.  In  1734, 
Nathaniel  Belknap  and  John  Phillips,  "sta- 
tioners in  Cornhill,"  were  executors  to  the 
will  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Belknap. 

*  The  succession  of  Rectors  :  — 

Timothy  Cutler,  settled  29  Dec,  1793,  d. 
17  Aug.,  1765. 

James  Greaton,  settled  30  May,  1759,  left 
31  Aug.,1767. 

Mather  Byles,  Jr.,  settled  22  April,  1768, 
left  April,  1775,  d.  in  St.  John,  N.  B.,  12 
Mar.,  1814. 

Stephen  Lewis,  settled  Aug.,  1778,  left 
Sept.,  1784. 

William  Montague,  settled  April,  1786,  left 
May,  1792. 

William  Walter,  settled  29  May,  1792,  died 
5  Dec,  1800. 

Samuel  Haskell,  settled  May,  1801,  left 
Sept.,  1803. 

Asa  Eaton,  settled  23  Oct.,  1803,  left  May, 
1829. 

William  Croswell,  instituted  24  June,  1829, 
left  June,  1840,  d.  9  Nov.,  1851. 

John  Woart,  instituted  1  Nov.,  1840,  left 
1851. 

William  T.  Smithett,  instituted  1851. 

When  this  Church  was  founded,  it  is  stated 
that  there  were  about  400  regular  attendants 
on  its  services  ;  while  the  purchasers  of  pews 
were  but  53,  of  whom  Dr.  Snow  gives  the  fol- 
lowing list  :  — 

William  Abraham,  Anthony  Blount, 

Joseph  Amey,  Bissell, 


[Joseph?]  Ballard, 

Bedgood, 
Thomas  Bennet, 
Walter  Brown, 
George  Barrow, 

Boulderson, 
Daniel  Crackford, 
William  Clarke, 
Isaac  Dickenson, 
Timothy  Daniel, 
Thomas  Graves, 
Mary  Gibbs, 
Increase  Gatchell, 
[John  ?]  Hooton, 
John  Howard, 
Robert  Harris, 
William  Hislop, 
Robert  Harrison, 

Hender, 
North  Ingham, 
[Robt.?]  Jenkins, 
William  Jones, 
James  King, 

Lawlor, 


Gillam  Phillips, 
William  Patten, 
William  Priggs, 
John  Petell, 
William  Price, 
Thomas  Price, 
George  Pemberton, 
Henry  Pigeon, 
Stephen  Perks, 
John  Rachell, 
Nicholas  Roach, 
William  Ride  out, 
George  Skinner, 
Edward  Stanbridge, 
John  Sowerby, 
Arthur  Savage, 
Adam  Tuck, 
Robert  Temple, 
Thomas  Tippen, 
Mary  Tomlins, 
Henry  Venner, 
Maj.  [Leonard]  Vasall, 
Robert  Ward, 
Abraham  Winter. 


Moall, 

The  earliest  Wardens,  according  to  Dr.  Ea- 
ton, were  :  — 


1724-5  Thomas  Graves, 

1726  Anthony  Blount, 

1727  Edward  Watts, 

1728  Leonard  Vassal, 

1729  Gillam  Phillips, 

1730  George  Monk, 

1731  William  Patten, 
1732-4  William  Price, 

1735  John  Hooton, 

1736  Robert  Jervis, 

1737  Robert  Jenkins, 

1738  Edward  Lutwyche, 
1739-40  Hugh  McDaniel. 


1741  John  Hammock, 
John  Joanes, 

1742  Robert  Temple, 
1743-6  Robert  Jenkins, 

Robert  Gould, 
1747  John  Baker, 

1747  Alex.  Chamberlain, 

1748  Capt.  Grushea, 
1749-50  John  Gibbs, 

1751  Joseph  Ballard, 

1752  John  Pullen, 

1753  Giles  Tidmarsh, 
Then  the  same  name3 


568 


DEATH  OF  ROBERT  CALEF. 


[1723. 


tent.  Its  original  steeple  was  blown  down  in  the  violent  gale  of  Octo- 
ber, 1804  ;  but  it  was  soon  rebuilt  under  the  direction  of  Charles 
Bulfinch,  Esq.,  who  preserved  the  proportions  and  symmetry  of  the  old 
one,  as  far  as  practicable.*  There  is  in  this  Church  a  bust  to  the  memory 
of  Washington,  —  the  first  monument  ever  erected  to  his  memory  in 
the  Country. 

In  1744,  Christ's  Church  was  furnished  with  a  "Peal  of  eight 
Bells,"  and  it  was  for  a  long  time  the  practice  to  chime  them  several 
nights  previous  to  Christmas,  —  "  ringing  the  Old  Year  out  and  the 
New  Year  in."f 

The  death  of  Mr.  Robert  Calef  occurred  this  year.  His  name  has 
descended  to  this  age,  and  will  always  be  remembered  for  the  able 
manner  in  which  he  exposed  the  absurd  proceedings  against  persons 
accused  of  witchcraft.  Justice  was  withheld  from  him  in  his  day,  and 
traces  of  his  unpopularity  are  discoverable  in  several  proceedings  of  the 
Town.  His  work  exposing  the  witch  delusion  was  published  in  London  in 
1700  ;  probably  no  Bookseller  in  Boston  would  undertake  it,  from  fear 
of  sharing  with  the  Author  in  his  unpopularity.  To  expose  a  delusion 
in  which  almost  the  whole  community  were  believers,  was  an  under- 
taking requiring  not  only  a  mind  of  firmness,  but  one  of  conscious  rec- 
titude also.  These  were  attributes,  it  is  believed,  of  the  mind  of 
Robert  Calef.  J  Another  circumstance  shows  him  to  have  been  in 
advance  of  his  age,  which  was  his  favoring  Inoculation  for  the  Small- 
pox ;  several  of  his  children  being  inoculated  by  Dr.  Boylston,  in 
1721. 


recur  to  1760,  when  Thomas  Ivers  came  in;  1763, 
Francis  Shaw  ;  1767,  Daniel  Malcolm  ;  1782,  James 
Sherman  and  George  Bright. 

*  The  Church  is  70  feet  long,  50  wide,  and 
35  high  ;  walls  2£  feet  thick  ;  area  of  steeple 
24  feet ;  brick  tower  78  feet  high  ;  spire  97 
feet ;  in  all,  175  feet.  The  amount  of  the 
original  subscriptions  towards  its  erection  was 
£737,  18s.  sterling,  contributed  by  214  per- 
sons. 

f  The  aggregate  weight  of  these  bells  is 
7272  pounds.  On  each  of  them  is  an  inscrip- 
tion, showing  that  they  were  presented  in 
1744,  "  by  a  number  of  generous  persons." 
On  one  is  this  valuable  piece  of  history  :  — 
"  We  are  the  first  Ring  of  Bells  cast  for  the 
British  Empire  in  North  America.  A.  R. 
1744."  On  another,  "  William  Shirley,  Esq., 
Governour,  1744."  The  subscription  for  their 
purchase  was  obtained  in  1743  and  4  by 
"Iohn  Hammock,  Robt.  Temple,  Robert  Ien- 
kins  and  Ino.  Gould,  Church  Wardens."  On 
another,  "Abel  Rudhall,  of •  Gloucester,  cast 
us  all.    Anno  1744." 

On  the  28  Dec,  1823,  Rev.  Asa  Eaton,  D. 
D.,  preached  a  Century  Discourse  in  Christ's 
Church,  which  was  published  ;  from  which 
the  above  is  taken. 

%  He  was  2d  son  of  Robert  Calfe  of  Rox- 


bury,  who  died  13  April,  1719,  and  was  a 
merchant  of  Boston,  and  died  after  April, 
1722,  and  before  Feb.,  1723.  He  m.  Mar- 
garet Barton,  23  Dec,  1699,  who  d.  before  11 
Sept.,  1744.  They  had  eight  or  more  chil- 
dren, most  of  whom  died  young.  James  was 
living,  though  not  in  the  Province,  when  his 

mother  died.     Ann  married Green,  and 

had  several  children  ;  Margaret  m. Star, 

and  had  four  or  more  children.  Our  Robert 
Calfe  left  a  will,  dated  2  Jan.,  1720,  proved 
18  Feb.,  1722-3.  He  wrote  his  name  Calfe, 
when  he  signed  his  will,  and  elsewhere,  al- 
though in  his  "  More  Wonders  of  the  Invisible 
World  "  it  stands  as  in  the  test.  He  had  a 
sister  Martha,  m.  to  Solomon  Hews,  28  Sept., 
1700,  and  Mary,  m.  to  Mr.  Samuel  Stevens,  9 
Oct.,  1712.  Joseph  Calfe  of  Boston,  tanner, 
nephew  of  our  Robert,  was  appointed  admin- 
istrator of  his  grandfather's  estate,  3  June, 
1720.  This  Joseph  was  son  of  Joseph,  who 
was  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  of  Roxbury, 
clothier.  The  Autograph  accompanying  is 
copied  from  the 
will  above  men- 
tioned. 


1723.] 


DEATH    OF    INCREASE    MATHER.  569 


An  exceeding  high  tide  overflowed  all  the  low  parts  of  the 

Town  and  did  great  damage.* 
To  avoid  accidents  to  travellers  by  losing  their  way  in  coming  and 
going  over  the  Neck,  the  Town  made  an  effort  to  have  the  road  fenced 
in.  The  General  Court,  having  been  applied  to,  caused  it  to  be  done. 
It  cost  about  fifty  pounds,  which  was  put  into  the  hands  of  William 
Payne,  Esq.,  "  to  satisfie  the  labourers,  and  to  pay  for  the  posts  and 
rails  used  therein." 

0         An  Indian  named  John  Aquittamong,  a  Nipmuck,  residing 

near  Woodstock,  visited  Boston  in  August  of  this  year,  having 
attained  the  great  age  of  112  years.  He  was  entertained  at  Judge 
Sewall's  and  Judge  Dudley's ;  and  notwithstanding  his  great  age  he  was 
intelligent  and  active.  He  remembered  coming  to  Boston  the  year  it 
was  settled  by  the  English  ;  saw  them  digging  a  cellar  for  the  first 
house.  Hence  he  was  born  in  1611,  and  was  nineteen  years  old  in 
1630.  He  lived  about  two  years  after  this  visit ;  dying  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  July,  1725. f  When  he  last  visited  Boston  he  was  able  to  walk 
ten  miles  a  day. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Increase  Mather  marks  an  era  in  1723. 

He  was  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age  ;  had  preached 
sixty-six  years,  and  presided  over  Harvard  College  about  twenty.  He 
was  a  voluminous  Author,  though  his  works  are  generally  small,  chiefly 
Sermons  and  Essays.  J 

The  play  of  "  throwing  the  long  bullets"  on  the  Common  is  forbid- 
den ;  and  no  person  to  dig  sand,  earth  or  stones,  at  Fox-hill,  or  "  the 
Ridg  near  thereto,  between  that  and  Windmill-hill  in  the  Common." 

*  It  is  thus  described  by  Dr.  Cotton  Mather :  his  father  to  Boston,  and  carried  a  bushel  and 

"  It  rose  two  feet  higher  than  ever  had  been  a  half  of  corn  all  the  way  upon  his  back  ;  that 

known  unto  the  Country,  and  the  City  of  Bos-  there  was  then  only  one  cellar  begun  in  the 

ton  particularly  suffered    from  it  incredible  Town,   and  that  somewhere  near  the  Com- 

misehiefs  and  losses.     It  rose  two  or  three  feet  mon."  —  Hutchinson,  ii.  306.     Not  knowing, 

above  the  famous  Long  Wharf,  and  flowed  over  perhaps,   that  Aquittamong  lived  two  years 

the  other  wharves  and  streets  to  so  surprising  after  this  visit,  Mr.  Hutchinson  compares  his 

an  height,  that  we  could  sail  in  boats  from  the  death  to  that  of  the  famous  Thomas   Parr  ; 

Southern  Battery  to  the  rise  of  ground  in  King-  inferring  that  it  happened  immediately  after 

street,  and  from  thence  to  the  rise  of  ground  his  journey,  which  is  not   correct,   and  the 

ascending  toward  the  North  Meeting-house.    It  cases  are  not  at  all  parallel.     Parr  is  said  to 

filled  all  the  cellars,  and  filled  the  floors  of  the  have    been  killed  by  being  feasted  during  a 

lower  rooms  in  the  houses  and  warehouses  in  visit  to  London. 

Town."  —  Hist.  Colls.,  ii.  11.     It  was  very  J  The  last  of  his  publications  was  in  1722, 

common  in  those  days  to  call  Boston  a  City,  according  to  his  Biographer.     For  many  years 

Dr.  Holmes  thinks  this  inundation  happened  he  used  to  speak  in  his  discourses  "  as  a  dying 

in  1724,  and  that  Dr.  Mather  used  the  old  man."     In  a  Preface  which  he  wrote  to  Mr. 

style;  but  I  think,  had  that  been  the  case,  Webb's  "  Sermon  to  a  Society  of  young  men  " 

Mather  would  have  written  1723-4.     Besides,  in  1718,  he  says,  "  Seven  and  fifty  years  are 

I  find  no  allusion  to  the  matter  in  some  News-  the  next  week  expired,  since  I  began  my  min- 

papers    consulted,  printed    then    in    Boston,  istry  in  Boston.    It  is  matter  of  constant  hu- 

Again,  Dr.  Mather  says  it  was  on  "  the  Lord's  miliation  that  I  have  done  so  little  good  in  so 

day,"  and  Lord's  day  did  not  happen  on  Feb.  long  a  time.     It  is  also  matter  of  rejoicing, 

24th,  1724,  but  it  does  fall  on  the  24th  of  1723.  that  I  shall  leave  those  to  succeed  me,  who  I 

f  "  Forty  years  before  [this]  he  had  been  hope  will  exceed  me  in  serviceableness  to  Christ 

remarked    as  an  old    Indian.     He  constant-  and  his  People.     The  Lord  grant  it  may  be  so. 

ly  affirmed    that  in    1630,  upon  a   message  Boston,  Aug.  28,  1718."    There  is  a  pedigree 

from  the  English  that  they  were  in  want  of  of  the  family  in  the  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen* 

corn,  soon  after  their  arrival,  he  went  with  Reg.  for  1852. 

72 


570  PIRATES   BROUGHT   IN.  [1724. 

The  Selectmen  begin  the  practice  of  opening  Town-meetings 
arc     "   with  prayer.     Dr.  Cotton  Mather  at  this  time  officiated.* 

On  the  third  of  May  the  Town  was  thrown  into  much  sur- 
ay  prise  by  the  arrival  of  an  unknown  vessel  in  the  harbor,  and  it 
was  soon  found  that  it  had  been  captured  from  pirates.  A  few  young 
men,  who,  having  been  forced  into  the  service  of  the  dreaded  sea-rover, 
Capt.  John  Phillips,  seizing  an  opportunity,  killed  him  and  his  princi- 
pal men,  somewhere  about  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland,  and  sailing 
hence,  succeeded  in  reaching  Boston  in  safety  with  their  prize,  and  six 
of  the  pirates  as  prisoners.  The  names  of  the  courageous  men  who  had 
thus  ridden  the  seas  of  one  of  its  worst  scourges,  were  Capt.  Andrew 
Harridon,  of  Boston,  Edward  Cheesman,  ship  carpenter,  John  Fill- 
more, of  Ipswich,  a  Spanish  Indian,  taken  with  Harridon,  and  two  or 
three  others  not  mentioned  by  name.  These  men  were  chiefly  taken 
out  of  fishing-vessels.  They  found  great  difficulty  in  making  the 
arrangements  to  effect  their  liberty,  but  after  a  captivity  of  near  nine 
months,  they  succeeded  as  already  intimated.f 

There  appears  to  have  been  but  three  principal  actors  in  the  tragedy 
on  the  part  of  the  liberators  ;  namely,  Cheesman,  Fillmore  and  the 
Indian.  Harridon  was  so  overcome  with  fear  that  nothing  was  allotted 
to  him  to  perform.  At  twelve  of  the  clock  at  noon  the  attempt 
pn  "  was  to  be  made,  as  then  the  officers  were  usually  upon  deck. 
The  signal  was  given  by  Cheesman,  which  was  to  seize  the  Master, 
named  Nutt,  and  throw  him  into  the  sea,  which  he  did  ;  at  the  same 
moment,  Fillmore  split  out  the  brains  of  Phillips  with  an  axe,  and  the 
Indian  seized  Turrell,  the  boatswain,  around  his  arms,  and  so  held  him  till 
his  head  was  cleft  with  the  axe.  All  was  the  work  of  a  minute  ;  the 
rest  of  the  pirates  were  secured,  six  in  number,  all  of  whom  Avere 
afterwards  tried,  condemned  and  executed. J 

John  Fillmore,  so  conspicuous  in  this  capture  of  pirates,  was  the 
great  grandfather  of  Millard  Fillmore,  ex-President  of  the  United 
States.  § 

The  American  seas  continued  to  be  almost  constantly  infested  with 
pirates.  The  Sea-horse  man-of-war,  Captain  Durell,  was  stationed 
here,  and  made  occasional  expeditions  in  pursuit  of  them ;  but  with 
what  success  is  not  mentioned.  ||     There  was  at  the  same  time  a  dis- 

*I  do  not  remember  to  have  noticed  any  fate  of  two  of  Phillips's  men :  "On  Tuesday 

earlier    mention    of  the    custom     upon    the  the  2d  instant,  were  executed  here,  for  piracy, 

records.  John  Rose  Archer,  Quarter  Master,  aged  about 

•f  This  account  of  the  pirate  Phillips  is  de-  27  years,  and  William  White,  aged  about  22 

duced  from  the  Narrative  of  John  Fillmore  and  years.     After  their  death  they  were  conveyed 

the  Boston  Gazette  of  1724.     There  is  consid-  in  boats  down  to  an  island,  where  White  was 

erable  discrepancy  between  them.     Fillmore's  buried,  and  the  Quarter  Master  was  hung  up 

was  drawn  up  many  years  after  the  occurrence,  in  Irons,  to  be  a  Spectacle,  and  so  a  warning  to 

and  apparently  from  memory,  altogether.  It  is  others."     Bird  Island  is  believed  to  have  been 

destitute  of  dates,  and  contains  but  few  names,  the  usual  place  for  burying  and  gibbeting  such 

and  I  have  regarded  the  Gazette  as  more  accu-  malefactors, 
rate  in  these  respects.  §  This  information  I  had  direct  from  Mr. 

|  The  following,  taken  from  the  Boston  Ga-  Fillmore  himself,  several  years  ago. 
zette  of  June  8th,  probably  has  reference  to  the       ||  On  the    25th    of   July,    "Mr.  William 


1724.]  INDIAN   WAR.  —  INSURANCE   OFFICE.  571 

tressing  Indian  war  in  the  eastern  coasts,  attended  with  the  usual 
miseries,  and  loss  of  life  and  property.  Soon  after  war  was  declared, 
the  Government  offered  100  pounds  bounty  for  every  Indian  scalp,  or 
for  every  Indian  killed,  and  occasionally  scalps  were  brought  into  Bos- 
ton, exhibited  on  poles,  and  the  reward  claimed.  Towards  the  end  of 
December,  Capt.  John  Lovewell,  of  Dunstable,  brought  in  one  scalp 
and  a  captive,  and  received  the  bounty.* 
.  A  fire  destroyed  a  large  warehouse  near  Oliver's  Dock,  but  it 

'  was  prevented  from  spreading  by  several  buildings  being  pulled 
down.     The  loss  was  considerable,  and  several  men  were  much  hurt. 

The  man-of-war  Sheerncss,  Capt.  James  Cornwall,  arrived  in 

'  port.  She  was  the  "station-ship."  How  long  Captain  Corn- 
wall continued  here  is  not  known.  He  was  afterwards  actively  em- 
ployed in  various  expeditions  until  1743,  when  he  was  killed  on  board 
his  ship,  the  Marlborough,  of  100  guns,  while  gallantly  supporting 
Admiral  Matthews  in  his  bloody  engagement  with  the  Spanish  and 
French  fleets  off  Toulon. f 

In  the  end  of  November,  a  storm  of  great  violence  from  the 

'  south-east  did  immense  damage  to  the  wharves  and  shipping, 
"  some  vessels  being  wholly  ruined,  others  had  their  heads  or  sterns 
broke,  some  their  masts,  and  several  boats  stove  in  pieces.  A  boat 
was  overturned  in  the  harbor,  and  one  man  drowned.  A  barn  was 
blown  down,  and  a  horse  killed  in  it.  Several  chimneys  were  also 
blown  down."  J 

Mr.  Joseph  Marion  established  an  Insurance  Office  in  Boston, 
which  appears  to  have  been  the  first  in  the  Town,  and  probably  the  first 
in  New  England.  § 

Chambers,  Lieut.,  Mr.  Gilfoy,  Master,  and  Mr.  expedition  soon  after,  in  which  he  killed  10 

Roberts,  Master's  Mate,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Indians,  the  scalps  of  all  which  he  brought  to 

Sea- Horse,  sailed  from  this  port  to  the  East-  Boston  on  March  3d  following.     A  more  full 

ward  in  quest  of  the  Indians  ;  the  former,  Com-  and  particular  account  of  Lovewell's  last  and 

mander  of  a  Sloop,  and  the  two  latter,  Com-  famous  expedition  may  be  found  in  the   Gen. 

manders  of  two  Schooners  with  4  men  each."  Regr.  for  1853,  than  in  any  other  work. 

—  Gazette  of  27  July,  1724.     Nothing  appears  fA   costly   monument  was   erected   to   his 

to   have   been   effected  by  this   expedition.  —  memory  in  Westminster  Abbey,  the  inscription 

Hutchinson.  on  which,  among  other  things,  details  that  he 

"  Aug.  1st  being  the  Anniversary  of  His  was  "  the  third  son  of  Henry  Cornwall,  of 
Majesty's  happy  accession  to  the  Throne,  the  Bradwarden  Castle,  in  the  County  of  Here- 
Guns  at  Castle  William  and  on  board  His  Maj-  ford,  Esq.,  who  was  descended  from  the  very 
esty's  Ship  Sea  Horse  were  discharged,  and  the  old  and  illustrious  stock  of  the  Plantagenets." 
Day  concluded  with  Demonstrations  of  Joy  on  — Biographia  Navalis,  iv.  131,  and  Schom- 
so  joyful  an  occasion."  —  lb.,  Aug.  M.  berg's  Naval  Chronology,  i.  206. 

How  long   Capt.  Durell   remained  on  this  J  Boston  Gazette,  30  Nov.  1724.     No.  2G2. 

station  is    not   mentioned;    but    in  1731   he  ^  The  General  Court  Journal  of  Dec.  1720, 

commanded  the  Exeter  of  60  guns,  and  was  contains  the  following  interesting  facts  respect- 

with  Sir  Charles  Wager  in  the  Mediterranean,  ing  Mr.  Marion  :  "  A  Memorial  and  Represeu- 

Afterwards  he  had  command  of  the  Kent,  a  70  tation   of  Joseph   Hiller  and  Samuel   Tyley, 

gun   ship,   and   was    ordered    with    Admiral  Publick  Notaries  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 

Vernon  against  Porto  Bello  ;  but  the  order  as  to  shewing  that  Mr.  Joseph  Marion,  of  Boston, 

him  was  countermanded,  and  he  was  sent  on  Scrivener,  takes  upon  him  the  character  and 

other  service.     In  an  action  with  a  Spanish  70  office  of  a  Public  Notary,  under  pretence,  as 

gun  ship  he  lost  one  of  his  hands.     He  died  at  is  commonly  said,  of  a  Commission  from  his 

sea  23  Aug.  1741.  —  Charnock,  iv.  82-3.  Grace  the  Arch  Bishop  of  Canterbury,  request 

*  According  to  Hutchinson,  Lovewell  arrived  the  Court  to  interpose,  and  do  therein  as  may 

in  Boston  June  5th,  1725.     He  made  a  second  seem  meet,  etc.    Ordered,  that  the  said  Marion 


572  INDIAN   WAR. INDIAN   TREATY.  [1725. 

Early  this  Spring  died  Mr.  Ambrose  Vincent,  a  gentleman 
'  of  note  and  much  respected.     He  was   for  many  years  "A 
Waiter  of  the  Customs,"  and  at  his  decease  was  "  Marshall  of  Admi- 
ralty." * 

The  Indian  war  continued  with  great  fierceness  throughout  most  of 
the  year  1725,  but  in  the  beginning  of  May  the  hostile  Indians  met 
with  a  blow  from  which  they  never  recovered.  Capt.  John  Lovewell, 
at  the  head  of  about  forty  men,  penetrating  far  into  the  north- 
ay  ern  wilderness,  met  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  upon  their  own 
ground,  at  a  place  called  Pigwocket,  when  there  followed  one  of  the 
most  bloody  encounters,  considering  the  numbers  engaged,  anywhere 
recorded.  The  leaders  on  both  sides  were  killed,  as  were  their  princi- 
pal followers,  yet  the  Indians  were  beaten,  and  in  October  following,  a 
large  deputation  from  the  eastern  Tribes  proceeded  to  Boston,  where,  by 
previous  arrangements,  they  had  agreed  to  appear  to  make  a  treaty  of 
peace. 

A  formal  Treaty  was  signed  in  the  Council  Chamber,  to  which 
'  the  names  of  Sauguaaram,  Arexus,  Francis  Xavier,  and  Magu- 
numba,  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  appear.  Lieut.  Grov.  William  Dum- 
mer  signed  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts,  Lieut.  Gov.  John  Wentworth 
on  the  part  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Major  Paul  Mascarene  as  Commis- 
sioner on  the  part  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Bears  were  uncommonly  numerous  this  autumn.  In  the  month  of 
September  it  was  stated  that  not  less  than  twenty  had  been  killed  in  the 
course  of  one  week  within  two  miles  of  Boston.f 

A  case  of  singular  depravity  was  detected  and  summarily  punished. 
In  the  course  of  the  preceding  October,  "a  lad  of  about  seventeen 
years  of  age"  enticed  into  by-places  three  little  children,  barbarously 
whipped  and  otherwise  abused  them.  Some  days  after  he  was  acci- 
dentally seen  passing  along  the  street  by  one  of  them,  who  gave  timely 
notice,  and  he  was  arrested  and  put  into  bridewell.  On  his  trial  in 
F  tj  or  ^e  Superior  Court,  at  the  February  term,  the  severe  sentence 
'  decreed  to  the  culprit  may  be  taken  as  an  indication  of  the  enor- 
mity of  his  offence.     He  was   ordered  "to  be  whipped  thirty-nine 

be  notified,  that  he  may  be  heard  before  this  Joseph  Marion  was  son  of  Dea.  John  M.,  who 
House  to-morrow  at  9  o'clock."  Mr.  Marion  d.  3  Jan.,  1728,  in  his  78th  year,  whose  wife 
haying  appeared  acording  to  this  order,  and  was  Anna,  dau.  of  John  Harrison,  rope-maker, 
being  requested  "  to  produce  his  Commission  Deacon  Marion  belonged  to  the  First  Church, 
from  the  Arch  Bishop,  did  so  ;  whereupon  the  Marion-street,  I  suppose,  perpetuates  the 
Court  resolved  that  no  one  had  authority  to   name. 

grant  such  license  of  Notary  except  this  Got-  *  He  was  in  his  47th  year.  He  left  a  wife, 
ernment,  and  the  said  Marion  was  accordingly  Sarah,  who  died  very  suddenly  14  March,  1728  ; 
ordered  not  to  practise  as  Notary  any  further."  "as  she  was  walking  home  from  making  a 
In  1728  Mr.  Joseph  Marion's  office  was  near  visit,  dropped  down  in  the  street,"  and  died 
where  the  Globe  Bank  now  is,  in  State-street,  soon  after.  Mr.  Charles  Apthorp  was  one  of 
where  he  advertised  that  proposals  might  be  the  executors  of  Mr.  Vincent's  will.  There 
seen  «  for  the  erecting  an  Assurance  Office  for  was  an  Ambrose  Vincent  living  in  Bromfield's 
houses  and  household  goods  from  loss  and  dam-  Lane  in  1743.  The  same,  perhaps,  who  died 
age  by  fire,  in  any  part  of  the  Province,  by  the  16  Mar.  1800,  M.  87,  and  was  buried  in 
pame  of  the  Sun  Fire  Office  in  Boston," —  King's  Chapel burying-ground. 
Weekly  Jguf.  f  Newspaper. 


1726.]  EXECUTION   OF   PIRATES.  573 

lashes  at  the  cart's  tail,  twelve  at  the  gallows,  thirteen  at  the  head  of 
Summer-street,  and  thirteen  below  the  Town-house  ;  and  to  be  com- 
mitted to  bridewell  for  six  months."* 

This  was  the  age  of  "  Hoop  Petticoats,"  but,  judging  from  an  adver- 
tisement in  Franklin's  Courant,  they  had  been  pretty  severely  attacked, 
and  the  assault  was  probably  continued  until  they  surrendered  without 
conditions,  f 

_  .  19  Three  men  were  executed  for  piracy  ;  the  principal  of  whom 
was  William  Fly,  the  tragical  story  of  whose  life  and  death  has 
been  often  published  to  the  world.  He  was  boatswain  to  the  Snow 
Elizabeth,  of  which  John  Green  was  commander.  In  May  preceding, 
M  as  they  were  upon  their  voyage  from  Jamaica  to  Guinea,  Fly, 

'  having  united  with  him  several  of  the  crew,  cast  the  captain  and 
mate  into  the  sea,  took  the  Snow,  changed  its  name  to  the  Fame's  Re- 
venge, and  "set  out  pirating."  Their  career  was  short,  however. 
Having  coasted  up  into  the  New  England  seas,  and  captured  several 
vessels,  they  made  a  pilot  of  one  William  Atkinson,  whom  they  took 
out  of  a  sloop  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina.  Atkinson  submitted 
quietly  to  a  fate  he  could  not  avoid,  and,  though  closely  watched  by 
Captain  Fly,  he  succeeded  in  organizing  a  mutiny  to  rescue  the  vessel 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  pirates,  and  to  liberate  himself  and  the  other 
captives.  Only  three  are  named  whom  he  enlisted  in  this  dangerous  ser- 
vice. Their  names  were  Samuel  Walker,  Thomas  Streaton,  and  James 
j  Benbrook.     The  plan  succeeded,  and  the  ship  was  retaken  with- 

'  out  bloodshed,  and  soon  after  arrived  in  Boston,  where  the 
pirates  were  tried,  condemned  and  executed.  Four  were  sentenced  to 
die,  but  one  was  reprieved  at  the  place  of  execution. 

The  dead  bodies  of  the  pirates  were,  as  was  then  the  custom,  carried 
to  an  island  about  two  miles  from  the  Town,  and  there  buried,  except 
that  of  Fly,  which  was  hung  in  chains  upon  a  gibbet.  J  Six  of 
the  piratical  crew  had  been  put  on  board  a  prize  shortly  before 
Atkinson's  successful  attempt,  and  were  absent,  or  he  very  probably 
could  not  have  effected  it. 

The    well-known    and    worthy   inhabitant,    Mr.    Beniamin 

Mar  17    Franklin,  died  this  Spring.     He  came  to  this  country  in  1715, 

and  was  brother  of  Mr.  Josiah  Franklin,  and  uncle  of  Doctor 

Benjamin  Franklin  ;   of  whom  the  latter  made  honorable  mention  in  his 

*  Franklin's    Courant  of  26  Feb.   1726,  as  July   10,   1726.      On   the  Lord's   day,  before 

quoted  by  Mr.  Buckingham  in  his  Specimens,  their  Execution.'"     To  the  sermon  is  appended 

etc.,  i.  87.  a  Narrative  of  the  affair,  from  which  the  facts 

f  "  Just  published,  and  sold  by  the  Printer  in  the  text  are  taken.     The  names  of  those 

hereof.  #|*  Hoop  Petticoats.    Arraigned  and  executed  with  Fly  were  Samuel  Cole  and  Henry 

Condemned  by  the  Light  of  Nature  and  Law  Greenvill.     "  Fly,  at  his  trial,  as  well  as  be- 

of  God.     Price  3J."  fore  and  after  it,  behaved  boldly  and  impen- 

J  It  was  customary  then  to  preach  sermons  itently  ;  and  when  the  cart  came  to  take  him 
to  condemned  criminals.  Sometimes  they  were  to  execution,  he  briskly  and  in  a  way  of 
taken  into  the  Meeting-house  and  seated  upon  bravery  jumped  up  into  it,  with  a  nosegay  in 
a  stool  in  the  broad  aisle.  Dr.  Colman  his  hand,  bowing  with  much  unconcern  to  the 
preached  to  these,  except  Fly,  who  would  not  spectators  as  he  passed  along  ;  and  at  the  Gal- 
attend  with  the  others.  The  discourse  is  entitled  lows  he  behaved  still  obstinately  and  boldly  till 
"  A  Sermon  preached  to  some  miserable  Pirates,  his  face  was  covered  for  death." 


574 


SLAVES. 


THE    FOURTH   NEWSPAPER. 


[1727. 


autobiography.*     He  was  by  trade  a  silk- dyer,  at  which  business  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  London. 

This  year  opened  with  a   melancholy  occurrence  ;  the    accidental 
death  of  several  young  persons.f 

The  traffic  in  Slaves  appears  to  have  been  more  an  object  in  Boston, 
than  at  any  period  before  or  since.  For  a  time  dealers  had  no  hesita- 
tion in  advertising  them  for  sale  in  their  own  names.  At  length  a  very 
few  who  advertised  would  refer  purchasers  to  "  inquire  of  the  Printer, 
and  know  farther."  This  indicated  an  early  prejudice  against  the 
trade  ;  and  in  a  few  years  dealers  suppressed  their  names  altogether-! 
A  fourth  Newspaper  was  commenced,  called  "  The  New 
England  Weekly  Journal."  Its  imprint  reads,  "Boston. 
Printed  by  S.  Kneeland,  at  the  Printing-House  in  Queen  Street,  where 
Advertisements  are  taken  in."  It  was  issued  on  a  half  sheet  of  fools- 
cap, two  pages,  two  columns  on  a  page,  chiefly  in  brevier  type.  When 
the  Journal  had  been  published  four  months,  the  name  of  "  T.  Green" 
was  associated  with  that  of  Kneeland  as  one  of  its  publishers,  and  it 
was  thus  continued  till  it  was  united  with  the  Gazette  in  1741.  The 
Gazette  was  discontinued  in  1752.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Prince  is  thought 
to  have  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  starting  of  the  Weekly  Journal. 
It  advocated  the  Rev.  George  Whitfield  in  the  controversy  which  was 


*  He  is  thus  handsomely  and  respectfully- 
spoken  of  in  the  N.  Eng.  Weekly  Journal  of 
27  March,  1727: — "On  Monday  last  was 
decently  Interred  the  Remains  of  Mr.  Benja- 
min Franklin,  who  dyed  here  on  Friday  the 
17th  Instant,  in  the  77th  Year  of  his  age.  A 
person  who  was  justly  Esteemed  and  valued  as 
a  rare  and  exemplary  Christian  ;  one  who 
loved  the  people  and  Ministers  of  CHRIST : 
His  Presence  in  the  House  of  GOD  was  always 
solemn  and  affecting,  and  though  he  courted 
not  the  observation  of  men,  yet  there  were 
many  that  could  not  but  take  notice  of,  and 
admire  the  peculiar  excellencies  that  so  vividly 
adorned  him."  Mr.  Sparks  gives  the  time  of 
his'  birth  (22  Mar.  1650)  but  not  that  of  his 
death.  He  was  probably  born  1650-1,  which 
agrees  with  his  age  as  given  at  his  death. 

f  How  these  deaths  occurred  has  not  been 
ascertained.  They  are  thus  mentioned  in  a 
note  to  a  Sermon  on  the  death  of  two  of  them, 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Prince.  In  the  title-page  of 
his  Sermon,  Mr.  Prince  says  it  was  "Occa- 
sioned by  the  very  Sudden  Death  of  two  young 
gentlemen  in  Boston,  on  Saturday,  January 
14th,  1726-7."  —  The  Note  referred  to  fol- 
lows :  "  On  January  14th,  Mr.  Samuel  Hirst, 
aged  22,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Lewis,  aged  32. 
Besides  these  two  that  were  the  occasion,  a 
third  falls  out  this  very  day,  a  fortnight  after, 
viz.  :  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet,  aged  20."  Mr. 
Hirst  was  a  son  of  Grove  Hirst,  Esq.,  a  grand- 
son of  Judge  Sewall.  Mr.  Bradstreet  was 
probably  son  of  Dudley  Bradstreet,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Wainwright,  grandson  of  Dudley  B. 


of  Andover,  and  great-grandson  of  Gov.  Simon 
Bradstreet. 

J  A  few  advertisements  as  specimens  follow  : 

—  "A  likely  young  Negro  man  for  sale  by 
John  Brewster,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Boot  near 
the  Draw  Bridge."     May  15th,  1727. 

Benony  Waterman  had  "  a  parcel  of  likely 
Negroes  "  for  sale,  to  be  seen  at  Capt.  Nathan- 
iel Jarvis's  house,  near  Scarlett's  wharf.  June 
12th. 

Andrew  Treat,  "  several  likely  young  Ne- 
groes "  for  sale  at  "  Mr.  Brownes  on  Milk  St." 
But  if  anybody  wanted  to  see  him,  "  he  might 
be  enquired  for  at  Capt.  Nath.  Jarvis's  at  the 
North  End." 

"John  Miliken,  in  Hanover  St."  offered  a 
very  likely  young  Negro  woman.     June  19th. 

—  Benj.  Poole,  of  Reading,  advertised  a  Negro 
man  who  had  run  away  from  him.  —  Benj. 
Muzzy,  of  Lexington,  suffered  in  the  same  way. 
His  slave  spoke  "  very  good  English,  about 
26  yrs.  of  age;  had  no  hat  on,  but  a  horse- 
lock  on  the  small  of  one  of  his  legs,  and  was 
lately  a  servant  to  Mr.  John  Muzzy,  of  Men- 
don." 

Mr.  James  Lubbuck,  of  Boston,  chocolate 
grinder,  living  near  Mr.  Colman's  Meeting- 
house, offered  £3  reward  to  anybody  who 
would  catch  his  Negro. 

Jo  Daniels,  an  Indian  man-servant,  ran  away 
from  Mr.  Josiah  Bacon,  of  Boston,  sawyer. 
Said  Daniels  was  a  tall,  slim  fellow,  and  had 
on  a  pair  of  leather  breeches.     Oct.  16th. 

Mr.  John  Plaisted,  near  the  Mill-bridge, 
wanted  to  sell  a  Negro,  lately  arrived  from 


1727.]  EARTHQUAKE.  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  575 

raised  by  his  preaching  here  and  elsewhere  in  New  England.*  Mather 
Byles,  then  a  young  man,  wrote  much  for  it,  in  prose  and  poetry.  He 
was  at  this  time  the  greatest  poet  in  New  England  ;  or,  at  least,  he 
wrote  the  greatest  amount  of  poetry  of  any  one. 

News  reached  Boston  that  the  King  was  dead.  He  died  on 
s"  the  night  of  the  tenth  of  June,  at  Osnaburgh,  in  Westphalia,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years  and  thirteen  days.  He  was  succeeded  by 
his  only  son,  as  George  the  Second.  Mr.  Prince  was  invited  to  preach  a 
sermon  on  the  occasion,  which  he  did,  "In  the  Audience  of  the  Great 
and  General  Assembly  of  the  Province,"  and  which  was  "  Published  at 
the  Desire  of  the  Honorable  House  of  Representatives."  Mr.  Byles 
published  a  Poem  on  the  same  occasion,  surcharged  with  that  kind  of 
panegyric  so  common  at  that  day.  f 

On  the  eighteenth  of  September  occurred  a  violent  storm,  which 
caused  very  considerable  damage  to  the  wharves  and  shipping. 
A  kitchen  chimney  of  Mr.  Sheafe's  blew  down  and  beat  in  the  roof, 
which  killed  a  child  about  seven  years  of  age,  wounded  two  others, 
broke  Mrs.  Sheafe's  leg,  and  otherwise  bruised  her,  to  that  degree  that 
her  life  was  in  danger. 

The  greatest  Earthquake  which  had  ever  occurred  in  New 
England,  since  it  was  known  to  Europeans,  was  probably 
that  which  happened  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-ninth  and  the  thirtieth 
day  of  October.  There  were  two  great  shocks  ;  the  first  was  about  a 
quarter  before  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  "  which  was  the  most  surprising 
and  awful  for  the  space  of  about  two  minutes,  when  the  earth  shook  and 
trembled  to  a  very  great  degree.  The  houses  rocked  as  if  they  would 
have  fallen  down,  and  the  people,  being  amazed,  ran  out  into  the 
streets,  calling  upon  the  Lord  for  mercy."  The  doors,  windows  and 
movables,  "  made  a  fearful  clattering,"  The  pewter  and  china  were 
thrown  from  their  shelves.  Stone  walls  and  the  tops  of  chimneys  were 
thrown  down,  doors  were  unlatched  and  thrown  open,  and  people  with 
difficulty  kept  upon  their  feet.  It  extended  all  along  the  coast,  and  in 
the  West  Indies  it  did  great  damage. 

Governor  Burnet  appointed  a  Fast  to  be  kept  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  December,  "  throughout  this  Province,  on  account  of 
the  late  surprising  and  amazing  Earthquake  ;  and  the  repeated  shakings 
of  the  Earth." 

A  Church  of  Presbyterians  was  this  year  established  in  Boston  ;  at 
the  head  of  which  was  the  Rev.  John  Moorhead,  a  young  man  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  who  arrived  from  Ireland  with  a  consider- 
able number  of  followers,  chiefly  Scotch,  but  who  had  lived  some  time 

Guinea.     Oct.  23.     At  the  same   time  Augus-  t  "  Thee  every  muse  and  every  grace  deplores, 
tus  Lucas,  of  Newport,  offered  a  Negro  man       From  Thames'  hanks  to  these  Atlantick  shores, 
and  woman  for  sale,  both  young  and  strong.  Each  bard  his  grief  in  gliding  accents  shews, 

ri  t     t,  m  j    j-  j   ■  °    a  nr  And  fairest  eyes  distil  their  crystal  dews. 

Col    Penn  Townsend  died  in  Aug.,  a  75  ;       0  ,  were        £reagt  flushed  wi&  an  equal  firej 

he  had  long  been  a  distinguished  Magistrate.  Vast  as  my  theme,  and  strong  as  my  desire  ! "  Ac. 

*  See  Thomas,  Hist,  Printing,  ii.  225-7. 


576 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


[1727. 


FEDERAL-STREET    CHURCH. 


in  and  about  Londonderry  in  Ireland.*  They 
were  driven  from  the  latter  Country  by  the 
impositions  of  exorbitant  landlords ;  and  al- 
though they  were  a  good  acquisition  to  this 
place,  being  industrious  and  orderly,  and  in 
time  introduced  several  valuable  arts  and  im- 
jjf  provements  among  the  people,  yet  they  at 
first  met  with  a  cold  reception,  being  viewed 
as  inferiors  and  intruders. 

These  emigrants  purchased  a  lot  of  ground 
at  the  corner  of  Berry-street  and  Long-lane, 
and  converted  a  barn  which  stood  on  the 
ground  into  a  Meeting-house.  This  was  in 
1729,  and  this  humble  edifice  served  them  for 
a  place  of  worship  until  1744  ;  although  in  the  mean  time  two  small 
additions,  in  the  shape  of  wings,  were  added  to  it.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned  a  substantial  and  convenient  Church  was  built,  after  the 
fashion  of  the  Churches  of  that  time,  as  represented  by  the  engraving 
annexed. f  And  with  that  old  Church  there  is  much  of  interest  asso- 
ciated ;  it  was  within  its  walls  that  Delegates  met  in  Convention  to 
decide  whether  Massachusetts  should  accept  of  the  Federal  Constitution 
proposed  for  the  United  States  ;  and  it  was  here  that  it  was  finally 
accepted,  on  the  seventh  of  February,  1788.  It  was  owing  to  this 
circumstance  that  the  name  of  Long-lane  was  changed  to  that  of  Fed- 
eral-street. 

The  old  or  second  House  was  of  wood,  the  tower  fronting  on  Federal- 
street.  The  present  Gothic  structure  was  completed,  on  the  site  of  the 
old  one,  in  the  course  of  1809. 

The  Rev.  David  Annan  was  the  next  Pastor  after  Mr.  Moorhead. 
He  was  installed  in  1783,  and  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  by  the 
Presbytery,  in  1786,  and  was  afterwards  settled  over  a  Church  in  Phil- 
adelphia. In  the  period  succeeding  the  death  of  Mr.  Moorhead  and 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Annan,  occurred  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  dur- 
ing which  regular  preaching  was  interrupted.  After  the  evacuation  of 
the  Town  by  the  British  in  March,  1776,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Croswell 
was  employed  to  preach  to  this  Society.  In  1787,  Dr.  Jeremy  Bel- 
knap was  installed  over  this  Church,  he  having  taken  a  dismission  from 


*  Mr.  Moorhead  was  born  near  Belfast  in 
Ireland  in  1703  ;  was  an  honest,  blunt  man, 
much  beloved  and  respected.  He  died  on  the 
2  December,  1773,  having  preached  the  Sun- 
day preceding.  He  married,  here,  Miss  Sarah 
Parsons,  an  English  lady,  who  survived  him 
about  a  year.  One  of  their  children,  Mrs. 
Agnes  Wilson,  widow  of  Capt.  Alexander  Wil- 
son, was  living  in  Boston  in  1824. 

f  There  was  in  this  Church,  probably  at  an 
early  period,  an  inscription  giving  some  histor- 
ical facts  respecting  it.     It  was  a  mixture  of 


Latin  and  English,  and  may  be  seen  in  Dr. 
Douglass'  Summary,  i.  368.  Dr.  Channing 
gives  it  the  following  intelligible  reading  :  — 
"  This  Church  of  Presbyterian  Strangers  was 
congregated  Anno  Dom.  1729.  This  building 
was  begun  Anno.  Dom.  1742,  and  finished 
Anno.  Dom.  1744,  by  a  small  but  generous 
number.  (Hujus  fundamen  saxum  est.  Domus 
ilia  manebit.  Labilis  e  contra  si  sit  arena  peri- 
bit.  Gloria  Christi  lex  nostra  suprema.  De- 
siderio  J.  M.  Anjus  ecclesise,  Christique  pastor) 
and  first  preached  in  May  6th." 


WHSMM   BHH^HI^, 


1727.]  ADDITIONAL    SUNDAY   LAWS.  577 

a  Parish  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  for  that  purpose.  He  was  an  em- 
inent Scholar  and  Historian.  "  Before  the  settlement  of  this  gentleman, 
but  not  at  his  instance,  or  with  any  view  of  inviting  him  in  particular,  the 
Society,  which  had  become  reduced  to  a  small  number,  had  relinquished 
the  Presbyterian  regimen,  and  embraced  the  Congregational  order." 

Dr.  Belknap  died  suddenly  on  the  twentieth  of  June,  1798,  aged 
fifty-four.*  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Snelling  Popkin, 
D.D.,  who,  in  1802,  being  appointed  to  the  Greek  professorship  in 
Harvard  College,  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  William  Ellery  Channing, 
D.D.,  who  was  ordained  June  the  first,  1803.  The  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles 
Gannett  was  ordained  there  in  1824. f 

The  General  Court  projected  a  bill  for  fortifying  the  Sea-ports  of  the 
Colony.  Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  money,  a  new  emission  of  bills  of 
credit  was  proposed  ;  30,000  pounds  of  which  was  to  be  loaned  to  Bos- 
ton for  a  term  of  thirteen  years,  10,000  pounds  of  which  it  was  to  lay 
out  on  the  forts  and  in  stores. 

The  Act  of  1716  having  proved  insufficient  to  cause  a  proper  observ- 
ance of  Sunday,  additional  Acts  were  this  year  passed.  Transgressors 
were  to  be  fined,  which  if  they  would  not  or  could  not  pay  immediately, 
they  were  to  be  put  into  jail,  "  or  set  in  the  Cage  or  Stocks."  People 
were  forbid  keeping  open  shops  "  the  evening  preceding  the  Lord's  day 
or  evening  following."  Swimming  "in  the  water,"  unnecessary  "  walk- 
ing or  riding  in  the  streets,  lanes  or  highways,  or  Common  Field  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,"  &c,  were  in  like  manner  prohibited,  under  stipulated 
penalties.  J 

Several  arrivals  on  the  closing  days  of  the  year  brought  the  most 
appalling  intelligence  of  the  destructions  by  the  late  earthquake  in  the 
West  Indies.  Captain  Cooper  came  in  from  Barbadoes  on  the  25th  of 
December,  with  the  news  that  "  the  day  before  he  left  there  the  houses 
were  in  great  convulsion,  and  the  streets  arose  and  fell  like  the^ waves 
of  the  sea."  Six  days  after,  Captain  Wickham  arrived  in  about  thirty 
days  from  Martinico,  with  the  report  that  on  the  27th  of  October,  at 
noon,  many  buildings  were  shaken  down  and  several  Negroes  killed. 
At  four  o'clock  the  same  day  there  "was  another  terrible  shock;  which 
were  repeated  almost  every  day  till  the  10th  of  November,  on  which 
day,  being  in  a  boat,"  he  thought  the  whole  Island  would  be  swallowed 
up.  The  hills  and  mountains  upon  it  rose  and  fell  in  a  surprising  manner. 
The  damage  sustained  was  "  estimated  at  40,000  millions  of  livres." 

*  There  is  an  interesting  reminiscence  of  Dr.  Byles.  His  father  was  a  leather-dresser,  whose 
Belknap  in  Dr.  Griswold's  late  magnificent  place  of  business  was  in  Ann-street.  Dr.  Bel- 
work,  "The  Republican  Court."  —  Belknap-  knap  lived  in  Lincoln-street.  There  is  a  fine 
street  at  the  westerly  part  of  the  city  was  so  tribute  to  his  memory  in  the  Columbian  Cen- 
named  from  the  grandfather  of  the  Doctor,  tinel  of  July  4th,  1798. 

Dr.  Belknap  was  born  in  Boston,  4  June,  1744.        f  For  the  principal  facts  in  this  account  of 

He  died  of  paralysis,  having  been  attacked  the  Federal-street  Church  I  have  been  chiefly 

about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  19th,  and  indebted  to  the  Appendix  to  Dr.  Channing'a 

died  a  few  minutes  before  11  the  next  day.  Sermon  on  the  Ordination  of  Mr.  Gannett. 
His  wife  was  Ruth,  dau.  of  Samuel  Eliot,  book-        %  Province  Laws,  edition  1742,  p.  266 — 8. 
seller,  and  his  mother  was  a  niece  of  Mather       Was  this  law  ever  literally  executed  ? 

73 


578 


DEATH   OF   DR.    COTTON   MATHER. 


[1728. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 


Accidental  Deaths.  —  Death  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  —  Duel  on  the  Common.  —  Its  Cause,  and  Circum- 
stances attending.  —  Arrival  of  Gov.  Burnet.  —  His  Family.  —  His  Refutation  of  Catholicism.  — 
His  Death.  —  Number  of  Inhabitants.  —  Traffic  in  Slaves  continued.  —  Trinity  Church.  —  Stamp 
Offices.  —  Old  South  Church  Rebuilt.  —  The  General  Court  removed  to  Salem.  —  Gov.  Dummer.  — 
Gov.  Belcher.  —  Small-Pox.  —  Death  of  Judge  Sewall.  —  Termination  of  the  First  Century.  —  Dis- 
courses relating  to  the  Event.  —  Heirs  of  Thomas  Goffe.  —  Hollis-street  Church  founded.  —  Pow- 
der Regulation.  —  Lotteries  Suppressed.  —  Deaths  of  Daniel  Oliver,  Bartholomew  Green,  John 
Jekyll. 

THE  year  1728,  like  the  last,  commenced  by  several 
accidental  deaths.  Two  boys,  George  and  Nathan 
Howell,  skating  "  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common," 
were  drowned.  Being  the  only  children  of 
'  highly-respected  parents,  great  sympathy  was 
expressed  by  the  inhabitants  for  the  severe  bereave- 
ment ;  and  when  the  news  of  it  was  carried  to  Dr. 
Watts,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  he  sent  the 
mother  a  beautiful  letter  of  condolence.! 

Another  death,  though  not  casual,  happened  early 
this  year,  which  occasioned  a  greater  sensation  throughout  the 
Town  than  almost  any  other  since  its  settlement.  This  was  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather,  D.  D.  and  F.  R.  S.,  a  man  possess- 
ing extraordinary  endowments  of  mind.  His  faculty  for  acquiring  all 
kinds  of  knowledge  has  seldom  been  equalled  ;  but  his  credulity  led 
him  into  extravagances,  which  some  have  used  to  his  discredit ;  and  his 
want  of  judgment  in  ordinary  things  has  subjected  him  to  severe  cen- 
sures, which  time  may  materially  soften.  J 


WILLIAM  BURNET.* 


Feb 


*  The  family  of  Burnets,  to  whom  our  Gov- 
ernor of  the  name  belonged,  though  originally 
Saxons,  is  traceable  to  high  antiquity  in  the 
south  of  Scotland.  Bernard,  Burnard,  Bur- 
net, Burnett,  &c,  appear  to  have  the  same 
origin.  Alexander  Burnet,  the  great-grand- 
father of  the  Governor,  was  the  tenth  proprie- 
tor of  Leys.  In  1673,  there  was  living  at  New- 
ton-Morrell,  in  the  North-Riding  of  Yorkshire, 
William  Burnet,  Gent.,  who  bore  the  same 
arms  as  the  family  of  the  Governor.  There  is 
an  interesting  notice  of  Gov.  Burnet  in  Dr. 
Eliot's  jV.  Eng.  Biographical  Dictionary ;  also 
in  Dr.  Allen's  work. 

f  The  parents  of  these  children  were  Nathan 
and  Katherine  (George)  Howell.  The  boys 
were,  one  about  14,  and  the  other  about  15 
years  of  age.  Portraits  of  them  are  in  the 
Library  of  the  N.  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Soc.  —  See 
N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  i.  191,  and  N.  Eng. 
Week.  Jour.,  15  Jan.  1728. 

%  The  decease  of  Dr.  Mather  is  thus  noticed 
at  the  time  of  its  occurrence.  "  Last  Tuesday 
in  the  Forenoon,  between  8  and  9  o'clock,  died 
here,  the  very  Reverend  COTTON  MATHER, 


Doctor  in  Divinity  of  Glasco,  and  Fellow  of 
the  Royal  Society  in  London,  Senior  Pastor  of 
the  Old  North  Church  in  Boston,  and  an  Over- 
seer of  Harvard  College ;  by  whose  Death 
Persons  of  all  Ranks  are  in  Concern  and  Sor- 
row. He  was  perhaps  the  principal  Ornament 
of  this  Country,  and  the  greatest  Scholar  that 
ever  was  bred  in  it.  —  But  besides  his  universal 
Learning ;  his  exalted  Piety  and  extensive 
Charity,  his  entertaining  Wit,  and  singular 
Goodness  of  temper,  recommended  him  to  all, 
that  were  Judges  of  real  and  distinguished 
Merit.  After  having  spent  above  Forty-seven 
years  in  the  faithful  and  unwearied  Discharge 
of  a  lively,  zealous  and  awakening  Ministry, 
and  in  incessant  Endeavors  to  do  Good  and 
spread  abroad  the  Glory  of  CHRIST,  he  fin- 
ished his  Course  with  a  Divine  Composure  and 
Joy,  the  day  after  his  Birth-Day,  which  com- 
pleted his  Sixty-Fifth  year,  being  born  on  Feb. 
12,  1662-3."  — iV.  Eng.  Weekly  Journal,  19 
Feb.,  1728.  A  very  particular  pedigree  of  the 
Mather  family  has  appeared  in  a  new  edition 
of  the  Magnolia,  published  at  Hartford,  by 
Messrs.  Andros  &  Son,  this  present  year,  1855. 


1728.] 


DUEL    ON   THE    COMMON. 


579 


As  the  death  of  Dr.  Mather  caused  universal  emotion,  so  the  extraor- 
dinary marks  of  honor  and  respect  paid  to  his  memory,  at  his  funeral, 
are  additional  proofs  of  the  high  consideration  in  which  he  was  held  by 
his  contemporaries.  The  publications  of  the  time,  Newspapers  and 
Funeral  Sermons,  bear  ample  testimony  both  to  his  worth  and  renown.* 

While  upon  the  subject  of  deaths,  notice  may  be  taken  of  one  other 
in  this  place  ;  which  was  that  of  a  young  man,  Benjamin  Woodbridge, 
who  fell  in  a  duel.f  It  being  the  first  death  thus  brought  about  in  Bos- 
ton, so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,!  created  a  great  excitement.  His 
murderer  was  also  a  young  man,  whose  name  was  Henry  Phillips.  They 
were  both  merchants,  and  belonged  to  very  respectable  families.  The 
immediate  cause  of  the  encounter  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  Wood- 
bridge,  and  "  which  set  the  Town  in  mourning,"  was  a  falling  out  be- 
tween him  and  Phillips  at  the  tavern  of  Luke  Vardy  in  King-street, 
called  the  Royal  Exchange  Tavern.  A  number  of  young  men  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  assembling  at  that  noted  house  for  the  purpose  of 
gaming  and  drinking. §  Here,  on  the  night  of  the  third  of  July, 
the  before-named  individuals  were  fitted  for  shedding  each  other's 
blood.  Accordingly,  between  ten  and  eleven  of  the  clock  in  the 
evening,  they  met  alone  on  the  Common,  "  near  the  water  side,"  fought 


*  In  the  "Weekly  Journal  is  given  the  following 
account  of  his  funeral :  —  "On  Monday  last  the 
Remains  of  the  late  very  Reverend  and  Learned 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  who  decM  on  Tuesday 
the  13.  Instant,  to  the  great  Loss  and  Sorrow 
of  this  Town  and  Country,  were  very  honor- 
ably interred.  His  Reverend  Colleague  in  deep 
Mourning,  with  the  Brethren  of  the  Church 
walking  in  a  Body  before  the  Corpse.  The  Sis 
first  Ministers  of  the  Boston  Lecture  supported 
the  Pall.  Several  Gentlemen  of  the  bereaved 
flock  took  their  turns  to  bear  the  Coffin.  Af- 
ter which  followed,  first,  the  bereaved  Rela- 
tives, in  Mourning  ;  then  his  Honour  the  Lieu- 
tenant Governor,  the  Honourable  His  Majesty's 
Council,  and  House  of  Representatives ;  and 
then  a  large  train  of  Ministers,  Justices,  Mer- 
chants, Scholars,  and  other  principal  Inhabi- 
tants, both  of  Men  and  Women.  The  Streets 
were  crowded  with  People,  and  the  windows 
filled  with  sorrowful  Spectators,  all  the  way 
to  the  Burying  place  :  Where  the  Corpse  was 
deposited  in  a  Tomb  belonging  to  the  worthy 
Family."  —  lb.,  26  Feb.,  1728. 

The  burial  place  of  the  family  is  at  Copp's 
Hill.  * 

\  He  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Dudley  W.,  of  Barba- 
does,  the  same  mentioned  by  Hutchinson,  proba- 
bly, Hist.  Mass. ,  i.  402 ;  and  therefore  grandson 
of  Rev.  Benjamin  W.,  of  Medford,  by  Mary, 
dau.  of  Rev.  John  Ward,  and  great-grandson 
of  Rev.  John  Woodbridge  of  Newbury,  by 
Mercy,  dau.  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dudley.  —  Mem- 
oranda of  Mr.  John   Dean,  a  descendant  of 


Rev.  Benj.  Woodbridge. — See  N.  E.  H.  and 
Gen.  Reg.,\x.  p.  93. 

%  "  This  new  and  almost  unknown  case  (in 
this  country)  has  put  almost  the  whole  Town 
into  great  Surprise."  —  N.  E.  Weekly  Journal, 
8  July,  1728. 

§  Three  days  after  the  tragical  event,  Dr. 
Colman  preached  a  Sermon  on  "  the  late 
bloody  Duel,"  which  he  introduces  with  the 
words  "  Death  and  the  Grave  without  any  or- 
der." His  Text  was  (Prov.  ii.  15,  16),  "  My 
son,  walk  not  thou  in  the  way  with  them," 
&c.  With  his  accustomed  ability  he  treated 
the  subject  of  intemperance  and  its  conse- 
quences. Addressing  himself  to  young  men 
especially,  he  said,  "  But  the  sad  and  dismal 
disorder  which  the  righteous  God  permitted  to 
fall  out  among  us  the  last  week,  horrible  to 
mention,  and  to  be  bewailed  with  tears  of  blood, 
leads  me  into  a  more  particular  Address  unto 
our  Young  People,  and  to  the  Elders  with 
them. — See  the  hasty  and  cursed  fruit  of 
criminal  Disorders,  in  a  double  murder  of  a  late 
hopeful  and  promising  youth,  who  was  hereto- 
fore of  Us,  a  child  of  great  expectation ;  but 
he  went  out  from  us,  and  ran  himself  into 
the  paths  of  the  Destroyer,  and  an  untimely 
death.  —  Duels  are  the  Devil  all  over,  who 
was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning.  —  Chil- 
dren, beware  of  forming  yourselves  into  nightly 
or  daily  Tavern-clubs ;  or  even  into  such  weekly 
or  monthly  Societies  for  meeting  and  spending 
your  evenings  in  drinking  together  and  gam- 
ing. —  Gaming  and  Wine  incite  and  inflame  to 
Duels.  So  it  was  in  the  late  lamented  calam- 
ity. What  a  hideous  story  is  it !  "  &c.  p.  14-15. 


580 


LAW   TO   PREVENT   DUELLING. 


[1728. 


with,  swords,  and  Woodbridge  was  run  through  the  body  and  immedi- 
ately killed.  Phillips  fled  at  once  to  his  brother  Gillam  Phillips,  who, 
with  the  aid  of  their  kinsman,  Peter  Faneuil,  *  Adam  Tuckf  and  Capt. 
John  Winslow,  J  conveyed  him  on  board  the  man-of-war  Sheerness,  then 
ready  to  sail.  The  murderer  thus  escaped.  He  got  to  Rochelle,  in 
France,  the  home  of  some  of  his  relatives,  but  he  lived  only  a  year  to 
reflect  on  the  deed  which  had  not  only  made  him  the  most  wretched  of 
all  the  wretched,  but  to  reflect  also  upon  the  distress  and  anguish  his 
conduct  had  carried  to  the  bosoms  of  all  his  friends  and  the  friends  of 
his  victim. 

The  body  of  Woodbridge  was  not  found  until  the  next  morn- 
'  ing.  A  Coroner's  inquest  was  immediately  held  upon  it,  §  and 
Governor  Dummer  issued  a  Proclamation  for  the  apprehension  of  Phil- 
lips. ||  A  new  law  was  made  to  prevent  duelling,  providing  that  per- 
sons engaged  in  any  way  in  a  duel,  though  no  injury  was  done  to  either 
party,  should,  upon  conviction,  "  be  carried  publicly  in  a  cart  to  the 
gallows,  with  a  rope  about  his  neck,  and  set  on  the  gallows  an  hour, 
then  to  be  imprisoned  twelve  months  without  bail."  The  person  who 
should  be  killed  to  be  denied  "  Christian  burial,"  but  to  be  buried 
"  near  the  usual  place  of  execution,"  "  with  a  stake  drove  through  the 
body."  The  survivor  to  be  treated  as  a  wilful  murderer,  and  to  be 
buried  in  like  manner,  "  with  a  stake  drove  through  his  body." 


*  Peter  was  brother-in-law  of  G.  Phillips. 
—  Sargent  in  Ev.  Trans.,  26  April,  1851. 

f  Tuck  and  Gillam  Phillips  belonged  to 
Christ  Church,  or  owned  pews  there.  The 
former  is  styled  farrier,  and  died  in  1739,  in- 
testate. He  appears  to  have  had  an  extensive 
business,  and  the  inventory  of  his  estate 
amounted  to  about  £1300.  He  had  a  brother 
John,  and  a  Eobert  (Tucke)  is  mentioned  in 
the  probate  account. 

%  Capt.  Winslow  allowed  them  the  use  of  his 
boat  to  convey  Phillips  on  board  the  Sheerness. 

§  The  original  finding  of  the  Jury  being 
brief,  and  at  hand,  is  here  copied  :  — 

"  Suffolk  ss.  An  Inquisition  Indented,  Taken 
at  Boston,"  &c.  "  Before  William  Alden, 
Gent.,  One  of  the  Coroners  of  Our  said  Lord 
the  King,"  &c,  "  upon  the  view  of  the  Body 
of  Benjamin  Woodbridge,  then  and  there  being 
dead,  by  the  Oaths  of  Daniel  Powning,  Wil- 
liam Wheeler,  Giles  Dulake  Tidmarsh,  Wil- 
liam Randall,  John  Taylor,  Sam'l  Oakes,  Ja- 
cob Sheafe,  Wm.  Young,  Sam'l  Torrey,  Josh. 
Blanchard,  William  Rand,  Sam'l  Kneeland, 
Benj.  Bridge,  James  Boyer,  Wm.  Lambert, 
Abraham  Wendell,  Jr.  ;  Good  and  lawful 
men  of  Boston,"  "  who  being  sworn,  upon 
their  Oaths  say,  that  Benjamin  Woodbridge 
came  to  his  death  with  a  Sword  run  through 
his  Body  by  the  hands  of  Henry  Phillips  of 
Boston,  Merchant,  on  the  Common  in  sd  Bos- 
ton, on  the  3d  of  this  inst.,  as  appears  to  us  by 
sundry  evidences.  —  July  4th,  1728." 


||  The  Proclamation  was  published  in  the 
Weekly  Journal  of  July  8th.  The  preamble 
is  thus  expressed  :  —  "  Whereas  a  barbarous 
Murder  was  last  night  committed  on  the  body 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  Woodbridge,  a  young  gen- 
tleman resident  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and 
Henry  Phillips  of  said  Town  is  suspected  to  be 
the  Author  of  the  said  Murder,  and  is  now 
fled  from  Justice  ;  I  have,"  &c.  At  the  close 
the  Proclamation  states,  —  "The  said  Henry 
Phillips  is  a  fair  young  man,  about  the  age  of 
22  years,  well  set  and  well  dressed,  and  has  a 
wound  in  one  of  his  hands." 

The  age  of  Woodbridge  was  but  about  19  ; 
presuming  him  to  be  the  same  person  mentioned 
fcy  Dr.  Boylston  in  1722,  and  who  was  inocu- 
lated by  him  for  the  Small-pox  on  the  11th  of 
May  of  that  year.  The  connections  of  Phillips 
being  rich  and  influential,  he  was  easily  con- 
veyed away  by  them,  and  they  were  not  called 
to  account  for  it. 

It  is  mentioned,  in  the  account  of  the  Duel 
in  the  Weekly  Journal  above  cited,  that  the 
body  of  Woodbridge  was  found  "  about  3  in 
the  morning,  after  some  hours'  search,  near 
the  Powder-house  in  the  Common.  The  body 
was  carried  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Jonathan" 
Sewall  (his  partner),  and  on  Saturday  last 
[July  6th]  was  decently  and  handsomely  in- 
terred ;  his  funeral  being  attended  by  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  several  of  the  Council,  and 
most  of  the  Merchants  and  Gentlemen  of  the 
Town." 


1728.] 


GOVERNOR    BURNET. 


581 


July  19.  Governor  Dummcr  being  succeeded  by  William  Burnet,  Esq., 
July  25.  as  Governor,  the  latter  soon  after  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
the  office.*  His  arrival  was  enthusiastically  hailed,  but  his  administra- 
tion was  full  of  difficulty  ;  not,  however,  from  any  faults  of  his.  The 
people  had  long  since  determined  never  to  submit  quietly  to  Royal  Gov- 
ernors, f  His  troubles  here  were  brief.  He  died  on  the  seventh  of 
September,  1729. J     He  was  son  of  Gilbert  Burnet,  Bishop  of  Salis- 

following  day  tho  house  was  surrounded  with 
a  vast  collection  of  gentlemen,  to  attend  and 
guard  His  Excellency  to  Boston  ;  in  his  pro- 
gress to  which  he  was  met  near  the  George  [a 
Tavern  having  a  sign  of  tho  King,  in  Boston, 
near  the  line  dividing  Roxbury  from  Boston], 
by  the  Honorable  Lieut.  Governor,  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Council,  etc.,  who  all  stepped  out 
of  their  coaches  and  congratulated  His  Excel- 
lency's arrival  with  all  the  expressions  of  an 
undissembled  joy.  Here  His  Excellency  was 
received  and  welcomed  by  Col.  Dudley's  regi- 
ment. About  twelve  o'clock,  with  the  attend- 
ance of  fine  troops,  a  vast  number  of  gentlemen 
on  horseback,  and  a  great  number  of  coaches 
and  shaies,  he  was  ushered  into  Boston,  with  a 
splendor  and  magnificence  superior  to  what  has 
ever  been  known  in  these  parts  of  the  world. 
At  one  of  the  clock,  His  Excellency  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Boston  militia,  with  a  train  of 
Magistrates,  etc.,  and  conducted  to  the  Court- 
house, where  his  Commission  was  opened  and 
received  with  uncommon  joy.  Then  the  artil- 
lery at  the  Castle  and  forts,  and  the  cannon 
in  the  ships  were  discharged  amidst  the 
shouts  and  huzzas  of  an  almost  numberless 
multitude.  After  this  His  Excellency  was 
conducted  to  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  a  few  doors 
from  the  Town-house."  He  issued  his  procla- 
mation the  same  day.  The  Province  House  not 
being  ready  for  his  reception,  he  was  accom- 
modated at  the  house  of  Elisha  Cooke, 
Esq. 

f  Ills  successor  told  the  General  Court, 
"  that  the  King  considered  them  as  having 
attempted,  by  unwarrantable  practices,  to 
weaken,  if  not  to  cut  off  the  obedience  which 
they  owed  to  the  Crown."  And  yet  Mr. 
Breck  said,  in  his  Election  Sermon  of  the  29th 
of  May  of  this  year,  "  At  the  demise  of  our 
late  most  gracious  Sovereign,  of  blessed  mem- 
ory, hone  paid  a  larger  tribute  of  tears  "  than 
this  Province,  and  "  none  more  heartily  re- 
joiced at  the  accession  of  his  present  Sacred 
Majesty." 

X  His  wife  had  died  in  New  York  at  the 
close  of  the  last  year.  News  reached  Boston 
in  June,  that  by  a  ship  at  that  port  Mr.  Bur- 
net had  received  a  Commission  transferring 
him  to  the  Government  of  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire.  On  the  20th  of  the  same 
month  the  "  General  Assembly"  appointed  a 
Committee  "  to  repair  to  the  confines  of  that 
part  of  the  Government  which  it  may  appear 
probable  His  Excellency  may  first  arrive  at," 
to  escort  him  to  Boston,  and  £200  were  voted 
to   be   put  into  the  hands   of  Mr.   Sheriff 


*  Mr.  Mather  Bylcs  issued  a  Poem  on  tho 
Governor's  arrival,  which  thus  opens  :  — 

"  While  rising  Shouts  a  gen'ral  .Toy  proclaim, 
Anil  ev'ry  Tongue,  0  Bminkt,  lisps  thy  name; 
To  view  thy  Face,  while  crowding  Armies  run, 
Whose  waving  Banners  blaze  against  the  Sun, 
And  deep-mouth'd  Cannon,  with  a  thund'ring  roar, 
Sound  thy  Commission  stretch'd  from  Shore  to  Shore." 

This  is  tame  compared  with  the  following  : 

"  Welcome,  Great  Man,  to  our  desiring  eyes  ; 
Thou  Earth  !  proclaim  it ;  and  resound,  ye  Skies  ! 
Voice  answering  Voice,  in  joyful  Consort  meet, 
The  Hills  all  echo,  and  the  Rocks  repeat : 
And  Thou,  0  Boston,  Mistress  of  the  Towns, 
Whom  the  pleas'd  Bay,  with  am'rous  Arms,  surrounds, 
Let  thy  warm  Transports  blaze  in  num'rous  Fires, 
And  beaming  Glories  glitter  on  thy  Spires  ; 
Let  Rockets,  streaming,  up  the  Ether  glare, 
And  flaming  Serpents  hiss  along  the  Air,"  &c. 

No  person  had  hitherto  made  a  public  entry 
into  the  Town,  probably,  when  there  had  been 
anything  like  the  honors-  shown  him  that 
were  now  exhibited  for  Mr.  Burnet.  The 
following  notice  of  it,  written  at  the  time, 
gives  a  vivid  picture  of  what  the  Bostonians  of 
that  day  did  to  honor  a  Royal  Governor's 
arrival. 

His  Excellency  arrived  at  Newport  on  the 
11th  of  July,  "about  ten  at  night,"  in  a 
schooner  from  New  York.  Here  the  next 
day  he  was  received  with  great  ceremony.  On 
the  following  Monday  [July  15th],  a  writer  at 
Newport  says,  "  His  Excellency  took  his  leave 
of  our  Gentlemen,  acknowledging  his  very 
handsome  reception  ;  which  put  the  Govern- 
ment to  the  willing  expense  of  about  £500  ; 
for  the  Taverns  where  His  Excellency  was  en- 
tertained were  ordered  to  keep  open  house  all 
day,  and  the  Governor  [of  R.  I.]  ordered  the 
Treasury  to  lie  open  also.  In  short,  this  Gov- 
ernment never  more  exerted  itself  than  on  this 
occasion." 

His  Excellency  proceeded  the  same  day  to 
Bristol,  "  and  was  entertained  at  Colonel 
Paine's."  On  the  17th  he  set  out  for  Bos- 
ton, "  accompanied  by  the  Gentlemen  who 
went  from  hence  on  the  15th,  and  several 
others.  All  along  the  road  there  was  hand- 
some provision  made  for  him  and  his  company, 
who  had  a  comfortable  journey.  The  next 
night,  Thursday,  July  18th,  they  came  toDed- 
ham,  where  he  was  received  with  all  possible 
preparations  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
[Samuel]   Dexter.*     On  the  morning    of  the 

*  He  was  ordained  over  the  Eirst  Church  in  Dedham  in 
1724.  The  end  of  the  first  century  from  the  establishment 
of  the  Church  occurred  on  the  23  Nov.  1738,  upon  which 
occasion  Mr.  Dexter  delivered  a  Discourse  which  contains 
many  important  facts.  It  was  printed  the  same  year. 
Mr.  Dexter  died  29  Jan.  1755.  His  family  pedigree  is  in 
the  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  viil.  248. 


582 


NUMBER   OF    INHABITANTS. SLAVES. 


[1728. 


bury  ;  the  since  well-known  author  of  "  Memoirs  of  his  own  Times," 
"The  Thirty-nine  Articles,"  "Life  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester,"  and 
other  works  of  less  note. 

Governor  Burnet  possessed  good  literary  attainments,  and,  though  he 
made  considerable  pretensions  to  a  knowledge  of  theology,  he  was  tol- 
erant and  liberal  for  the  times.  While  he  resided  in  Boston  he  wrote 
and  published  an  "  Answer  to  a  Letter  of  a  Romish  Priest,"  which 
was  viewed  as  a  triumphant  refutation  of  Popery.*  Five  years  after 
the  Governor's  death,  the  General  Court  voted  his  children  the  sum  of 
3000  pounds  as  justly  due  their  father. 

The  ratable  polls  in  Boston  were  at  this  time  estimated  at  3000. f 
The  number  of  burials  for  the  year  ending  in  March  was  379  whites, 
and  106  blacks.  Early  in  the  year  a  Mr.  Nathaniel  Pigot  proposed  to 
open  a  school  near  Mr.  Checkley's  Meeting-house  for  the  instruction  of 
Negroes.  A  good  deal  of  business  continued  to  be  carried  on  in  the 
Town  in  buying  and  selling  slaves.J 


Winslow  to  be  used  in  defraying  the  ex- 
penses of  his  reception,  etc.  The  Committee 
of  reception  consisted  of  the  "  Hon.  William 
Tailer,  Esq.,  Nathanael  Byfield,  Esq.,  Samuel 
Thaxter,  Esq.,  Spencer  Phips,  Esq.,  Mr.  Sec- 
retary Willard,  William  Dudley,  Esq.,  and 
John  Wainwright,  Esq." 

His  demise  is  thus  noticed  in  the  New 
Eng.  Weekly  Jour,  of  Sept.  8th: — "Last 
Tuesday  [Sept.  2]  Gov.  Burnet  was  taken 
ill  at  his  house  in  Boston,  of  a  feverish  distem- 
per, which  quickly  threw  him  into  a  degree  of 
the  coma ;  and  last  night,  at  25  minutes  after 
10,  to  our  very  great  surprise,  he  expired,  in 
the  42d  year  of  his  age." 

The  funeral  of  Governor  Burnet  was  a  great 
display  of  respect  to  his  memory,  and  cost  the 
Province  about  eleven  hundred  pounds.  It 
was  conducted  in  the  manner  of  such  observ- 
ances in  England.  From  the  arrangements  it 
appears  that  he  had  in  his  family  two  sons, 
a  daughter  and  "sisters,"  a  steward  named 
George  Burnet,  and  a  French  instructor. 
These  were  to  be  dressed  in  mourning.  Gloves 
and  rings  were  distributed  to  a  large  number, 
and  gloves  only  to  still  larger  numbers. 
Among  the  former  were  included  the  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Court,  ministers  of  King's 
Chapel,  three  doctors,  the  bearers,  President 
of  the  College,  and  the  women  who  laid  out  the 
body.  Among  the  latter  were  the  twelve 
Under  Bearers,  Justices,  Captains  of  the 
Castle  and  Man-of-war,  Custom-house  Offi- 
cers, Professors  and  Fellows  of  the  College, 
and  Ministers  of  the  Town,  who  attended  the 
funeral.  Wine  "needful"  for  the  Boston 
regiment  was  furnished.  The  Castle  and  Bat- 
tery guns  were  discharged. 

Giving  scarfs  at  funerals  had  been  prohibited 
by  the  General  Court  in  1724,  "  because  a 
burdensome  custom." 

_*  The  Refutation  in  question  was  printed 
without  the  Governor's  name.  Its  title  is 
£  A  Letter  from  a  Romish  Priest  in   Canada, 


to  One  who  was  taken  Captive  in  her  In- 
fancy, and  Instructed  in  the  Romish  Faith, 
but  Sometime  ago  returned  to  this  her 
Native  Country.  With  an  Answer  thereto, 
by  a  Person  to  whom  it  was  communi- 
cated." 

It  may  be  interesting  to  the  readers  of  the 
History  of  Boston  to  have  an  explanation  of 
the  Letter  above  referred  to.  Fifteen  years 
ago  (18  April,  1840),  my  then  venerable 
friend,  Dr.  T.  M.  Harris,  of  Dorchester,  put 
into  my  hands  a  copy  of  the  Jesuit's  Letter, 
etc.,  upon  a  blank  leaf  of  which  was  written, 
in  the  autograph  of  Dr.  Belknap,  the  histo- 
rian, the  following,  which  he  extracted  from 
the  "Evening  Post"  of  15  March,  1773: 
"  Died  at  Dover,  Mrs.  Christina  Baker,  born 
there  in  March,  1688-9  ;  and  when  the  Town 
was  taken  and  destroyed  by  the  Indians  in 
June  following,  she  was  carried  captive  with 
her  mother  to  Canada,  and  there  brought  up 
in  the  Romish  faith  ;  married  and  had  several 
children  ;  but  upon  her  husband's  death,  a 
strong  desire  led  her  to  return  to  the  land  of 
her  nativity,  upon  an  exchange  of  prisoners  in 
1714.  Upon  her  return  she  married  Capt. 
Thomas  Baker,  then  of  Northampton,  where 
she  renounced  the  Romish  religion,  and  joined 
with  the  Church  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Solomon  Stoddard.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
recover  her  by  Mons.  Siguenot,  a  Romish 
priest,  who  sent  a  long  and  affectionate  letter 
to  her  from  Canada  ;  which  being  laid  before 
the  late  Governor  Burnet,  his  Excellency  wrote 
a  solid  and  judicious  confutation  of  the  erro- 
neous principles  therein  advanced."  The  per- 
son which  the  Jesuit  endeavored  to  reclaim  was 
a  daughter  of  Richard  Otis.  —  See  N.  E.  Hist, 
and  Gen.  Reg.,  v.  181,  etc. 

f  Douglass,  Summary,  i.  521. 

J  The  dealers  mentioned  last  year  continued 
to  advertise  Negroes,  and  there  were  often  new 
arrivals  :  April  1st.  "  Mr.  Henry  Richards  " 
wanted  to  sell  "  a  parcel  of  likely  Negro  boys, 


1728.] 


TRINITY    CHURCH. 


583 


.-,  or  Steps  appear  to  have  been  taken  about  the  end  of  April  for 
p  '  the  formation  of  a  third  Episcopal  Church.* 
Land  was  at  this  time  purchased  of  William  Speakman  at  the  corner 
of  Summer-street  and  Bishop's-alley,  now  Ilawley-strcet,  by  Leonard 
Vassall,  John  Barnes,  John  Gibbons,  apothecary,  who  were  "with  all 
convenient  speed  immediately  "  to  erect  a  Church  on  it,  to  be  contrived 
in  a  manner  "  most  conducing  to  the  decent  and 
regular  performance  of  divine  service,  according  to 
the  rubrick  of  the  Common  Prayer  Book,  used  by 
the  Church  of  England,  as  by  law  established." 
The  advance  of  this  Church  was,  however,  very 
slow.  Six  years  elapsed  before  its  corner-stone  was 
laid,  f  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  Ministers 
[g  of  the  other  two  Churches  generally,  until  1740  ;  in 
f  which  year,  on  the  eighth  of  May,  Mr.  Addington 
Davenport  became  its  regular  Minister.  It  had 
received  the  name  of  Trinity  Church.  The  first 
officers  were  William  Speakman  and  Joseph  Dowse,  Wardens  ;  Law- 
rence Lutwych,  Charles  Apthorp,  William  Coffin,  James  Griffin,  John 
Marrett,  Henry  Laughton,  Peter  Kenwood,  John  Arbuthnot,  Benjamin 
Faneuil,  Rufus  Green,  Philip  Dumaresq,  Thomas  Aston,  and  John 
Hamack,  Vestry-men  ;  John  Crosby,  Clerk  ;  John  Hooker,  Sexton.  J 
Stamp  offices  were  expected  to  be  established  in  New  England. 
News  had  reached  Philadelphia,  about  the  end  of  December,  that  Sir 
William  Keith  had  obtained  the  grant  of  a  commission  to  set  up  such 
offices.  This  unwelcome  news  was  published  in  Boston  in  the  course  of 
the  following  month.  § 


TRINITY   CHURCH. 


and  one  girl,  arrived  from  Nevis,  and  were 
brought  from  Guinea."  "To  be  seen  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Elias  Parkman,  mast-maker,  at 
the  North  End."  April  22d.  "Two  very 
likely  Negro  girls.  Enquire  two  doors  from 
the  Brick  Meeting-house  in  Middle-street.  At 
which  place  is  to  be  sold  women's  stays,  chil- 
dren's good  caljamanco  stiffned-boddy'd  coats, 
and  children's  stays  of  all' sorts,  and  women's 
hoop-coats ;  all  at  very  reasonable  rates." 
These  are  merely  given  as  a  specimen  from  a 
large  number  ;  but  I  do  not  remember  to  have 
seen  any  other  notice  of  Hoop-coats  and 
Negroes  being  for  sale  at  the  same  shop. 

*  "  By  reason  that  the  Chapel  is  full,  and 
no  pews  to  be  bought  by  new  comers." 

fUpon  which  was  engraved,  "Trinity 
Church.  This  Corner  Stone  was  laid  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Commissary  Price,  the  15th 
April,  1734."  Commissary  (Roger)  Price  de- 
rived his  commissaryship  from  the  Bishop  of 
London.  He  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the 
Church,  August  15th,  1735  ;  Gov.  Belcher 
being  present.  The  Bishop  of  London  was  at 
this  time  Edmund  Gibson,  since  so  favorably 
known  as  an  accurate  antiquary,  and  for  his 
edition  of  the  celebrated  Camden's  Britannia. 


Boston  then  was  within  the  Diocese  of  Lon- 
don. Mr.  Price  was  rector  of  King's  Chapel. 
He  returned  to  England  in  1747. 

|  Succession  of  Rectors,  after  Mr.  Daven- 
port :  — ■ 

William  Hooper,  inducted  28  Aug.  1747.  d. 
5  April,  1767. 

William  Walter,  Asst.  Oct.  1763,  Rector 
1767,  left  1775. 

Samuel  Parker,  Asst.  1774,  Rect.  1799,  d. 
7  Dec.  1804. 

John  Sylvester  John  Gardiner,  Asst.  1792, 
Rect.  1805,  d.  1830. 

Geo.  W.  Doane,  Asst.  1828,  Rect.  1830. 
left  1833. 

John  H.  Hopkins,  Asst.  Feb.  1831,  left 
Nov.  1832. 

Jona.  Mayhew  Wainwright,  Rect.  Mar. 
1833,  left.  Jan.  1838. 

John  C.  Watson,  Asst.  1  June,  1836. 

Manton  Eastburn,  Rect.  1843. 

John  Cotton  Smith. 

Thomas  M.  Clark,  Asst.  1847,  left  1851. 

Henry  Vandyke  Johns,  Asst.  May,  1851. 

§  New  England  Weekly  Journal,  27  Jan. 
1729.  — "All  Bills,  Bonds,  Deeds,  Writs, 
etc.,  as  in  England,"  were  to  pay  stamp  duties. 


584  THE   OLD   SOUTH    CHURCH   TAKEN   DOWN.  [1728. 

The  South  Church  was  begun  to  be  taken  down,  after  having 
"  stood  for  about  threescore  years."  The  event  was  looked 
upon  as  one  of  great  and  reverential  interest.*     A  "  Publick 


Fast  "  was  kept,  agreeably  to  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor  ; 
in  which  proclamation,  as  in  others  of  the  time,  the  divine  blessing  was 
"  particularly"  besought  in  favor  of  "  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King, 
with  his  Koyal  Consort  our  most  Gracious  Queen,  the  Eoyal  Issue,  and 
the  rest  of  the  Eoyal  Family."  On  the  first  of  the  month  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  birth  of  Queen  Caroline  "  was  observed  with  abundant 
demonstrations  of  loyalty  and  joy."  The  guns  of  the  Castle  were  dis- 
charged, and  the  Governor  and  Council  "with  many  other  gentlemen 
repaired  to  the  Town-house,  where  suitable  provision  was  made  for 
celebrating  the  same  at  the  public  charge." 

The  General  Court  having  been  transferred  to  Salem  in  Octo- 
ber last,  the  people  of  Boston  were  displeased  at  the  measure, 
and  a  motion  was  made  at  their  Town-meeting  in  March,  "  That  the 
Town  would  take  into  consideration  the  extraordinary  circumstances  of 
their  present  Representatives." f  Their  "respective  allowances,  as 
stated  by  law,"  were  voted  them,  "  and  the  further  sum  of  120  pounds 
to  be  equally  divided  between  them."  There  had  been  a  difference 
between  the  Representatives  and  the  Governor,  chiefly  arising  from  the 
subject  of  a  salary  for  the  latter.  But  no  Royal  Governor  was  prepared 
to  meet  a  people  so  different  from  the  subjects  he  had  left  at  home. 
Here  they  were  subjects  only  in  name,  notwithstanding  their  pretensions 
to,  and  protestations  of,  loyalty.  Consequently  difficulties  increased. 
Salaries  had  been  fixed  for  Governors  in  all  the  Colonies  but  in  those  of 
New  England.     In  his  Speech  at  the  opening  of  the  Session  at  Salem, 

*  The  following  notice  of  it  appeared  in  the  motion,  the  records  express  that,  "  Forasmuch 

New  England  Weekly  Journal  of  3d  March,  as  the  last  Session  of  the  General  Court  was 

1729  :  "  The  last  Friday  was  kept  as  a  day  of  continued  to  an  unusual  length,  (viz.)  from 

prayer  by  the  South  Church  and  Congregation  the  24th  of  July  last  to  the  20th  of  December 

in  this  Town,  upon  occasion  of  taking  down  following,  and  from  the  31st  of  October  last 

their  Old  Cedar  Meeting-house,  and  building  a  was  held  at  Salem,  which  necessarily  exposed 

new  one  of  brick ;  which  is  to  stand  in  the  the  said  Representatives  to  unusual  charge  as 

same  place.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Prince  preached  in  well  as  great    fatigue  and  hardships.     And 

the  forenoon,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  in  the  whereas  the  said  Members  have  behaved  them- 

afternoon.     Yesterday  was  the  last   time  of  selves  as    very  loyal  Subjects    to    our    most 

meeting  in  their  Old  House,  which  has  stood  Gracious  j Sovereign  King  George  the  Second, 

for  about  threescore  years,  it  being  built  in  the  and  steadfastly  adhered  to  the  rights  and  privi- 

beginning  of  1669.     This  day  they  begin  to  leges  of  the  people  of  this  Province,  and  have 

take  it  down."     The  "stone  foundation  was  been  hitherto  extraordinarily  prevented    any 

begun  to  be  laid,  March  31,  7  foot  below  the  allowances  ;  Therefore,"  the  vote,  as  recorded 

pavement  of 'the  street."     The  old  house  "  was  in  the  text.     It  should  be  remembered  that  the 

near  75  feet  long,  and  near  51  wide  ;  besides  Governor,  being  thwarted  in  his  demand  for  a 

the  southern,  eastern,  and  western  porches  ;  fixed  salary,  would  not  execute  the  necessary 

the  length  of  this  is  near  95  feet,  breadth  near  documents  to   enable  the  Representatives    to 

68,  besides  the  western  tower,  and  eastern  and  draw  their  pay  ;  and  it  is  well  known  that  the 

southern  porches." — Ibid.,  28  April.  Boston  members  were  the  great  cause  of  the 

While  the  new  house  was  in  building,  the  opposition  to  fixing  a  salary  for  their  Chief 

South  Society  were  accommodated  in  that  of  Magistrate  ;  and  that  they  were  instructed  to 

the  First  Church.     The  season  for  building  persevere  in  their  opposition  by  a  Committee 

was  a  remarkably  fine  one.  —  See  Wisner,  Hist,  raised  by  the  Town  for  that  purpose;  hence, 

Old  South,  26-7.  to  obviate  the  influence  of  Boston  over  the 

t"  After  mature  deliberation"   upon   the  Court,  the  Governor  convened  it.  at  Salem. 


1729.] 


WILLIAM   WELSTEED. —  GOVERNOR   BELCHER. 


585 


the  Governor  said  he  expected  a  compliance  with  the  King's 
pu  instructions  in  that  particular,  but  nothing  was  done,  and  he 
adjourned  the  Court  to  meet  in  Cambridge  in  August  following.  This 
increased  his  troubles,  for  it  was  complained  that  he  adjourned  the  Court/ 
from  one  place  to  another,  to  harass  them  into  a  compliance  with  his 
measures.  Meantime  he  fell  sick  of  a  fever,  and  died,  as  already 
stated,  in  Boston.  Some  attributed  his  death  to  a  severe  cold  which  he 
took,  a  little  time  before,  from  the  overturning  of  his  carriage  on  "  Cam- 
bridge Causeway  ;  "  by  which  accident  he  fell  into  the  water.  Others 
insinuated  that  the  perplexities  he  had  met  with  in  his  government 
brought  on  the  fever  of  which  he  died. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  July  deceased  William  Welsteed,  Esq., 

"  a  considerable  merchant  of  this  place,  and  late  one  of  his 
Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  ;  a  person  of  singular  worth 
and  usefulness."  *  When  a  young  man  he  came  near  being  swallowed 
up  by  an  earthquake  ;f  "he  saw  the  Point  at  Jamaica  sink  down  in  a 
moment  into  the  Sea,  and  was  himself  drawn  out  of  the  boiling  waters 
by  a  gracious  Providence  for  a  blessing  and  honor  to  his  Country." 

Mr.  Dummer  reassumed  the  administra- 
tion of  affairs,  but  was  superseded  by 
Mr.  Belcher  |  in  August  of  the  following 
year.  The  latter  applied  himself  with  "  all 
his  powers  "  for  the  office,  and  succeeded  in 

obtaining  a   commission   for   it,    with    I 

which  he  arrived  in  Boston  in  the  small    J 
man-of-war  Blandford,  of  twenty  guns,  Capt.     j 
George  Protheroe,  who  had  distinguished  him-    \ 
self  in  the  Mediterranean  under  Admiral  Bing. 
Mr.  Shute  might  have  returned  and  taken  upon 
him  the   office  of  Governor,   but  his  experi- 
ence of  governing  people  here  admonished  him 
to   decline  it,   which   he  very  prudently  did. 


GOT.    BELCHER. 


*  He  was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  William 
Welsteed  of  the  New  Brick  Church  (see  page 
311),  who  was  ordained  27  Mar.  1728,  died 
29  April,  1725.  "  Mrs.  Mary  Welsteed,  the 
mother-in-law  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Welsteed,  who 
attended  his  remains  to  the  grave,  was  taken 
ill  a  few  days  after,  and  died  on  Thursday 
last  [26  April],  and  was  buried  yesterday."  — 
Boston  Gazette,  1  May,  1753. 

Dr.  Samuel  Mather  preached  "  A  Funeral 
Discourse  after  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Welsteed,  who  died  April  29th,  and  Mr.  Ellis 
Gray,  who  died  on  Jan.  7th  preceding  it;" 
but  it  contains  no  facts  relative  to  the  former, 
but  of  the  latter  he  says,  he  was  in  his  37th 
year.  The  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Welsteed  was 
Mary,  sister  of  Governor  Hutchinson.  See  p. 
227. 

f  See  ante,  pages  490,  493  and  521. 

t  Col.  William  Tailer  had,  however,  a  brief 

74 


authority  ;  his  commission  of  Lieut.  Governor 
having  been  received  and  published  before  Mr. 
Belcher's  arrival. 

The  residence  of  Gov.  Dummer  was  in  Or- 
ange-street, near  Hollis.  —  Shaw. 

"  At  the  beginning  of  Orange-street,  next 
to  Mr.  Henshaw's,  northerly,  before  you  come 
to  Bennet-street."  —  Ibid.,  291. 

Gov.  Belcher  resided  in  Orange-street  in 
1732.  Shaw  says  he  resided  in  King-street, 
and  that  the  State  Bank  occupied  the  site  of 
his  residence.  I  locate  him  by  the  Selectmen's 
books,  in  which  they  record,  Jan.  12th,  that 
"  His  Excellency  Gov.  Belcher  had  liberty 
granted  him  to  dig  up  the  pavement  to  carry 
a  drain  from  his  house  in  Orange-street,"  etc. 

Dr.  Colman  preached  the  Lecture-sermon, 
Aug.  13th,  following  Mr.  Belcher's  arrival,  at 
which  the  Governor  was  present.  The  day 
before,  viz.,  Aug.  12th,  the  "  Associated  Pas- 


586  SMALL-POX. DEATH    OF    CHIEF   JUSTICE    SEWALL.        [1729-30. 

The  case  was  different  with  Mr.  Belcher ;  for,  though  he  came  as  the 
King's  Governor,  he  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  he  thought  perhaps, 
that  if  the  emoluments  of  the  office  did  not  make  up  for  the  500  pounds 
which  he  had  advanced  to  secure  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Shute,  thirteen 
years  before,  which  he  was  still  out  of,  perhaps  it  might  be  made  up  in 
honors. 

The  Small-pox  again  visited  Boston,  and  its  ravages  were  extensive. 
It  was  brought  here  by  a  vessel  from  Ireland  the  preceding  autumn,  but 
was  kept  within  the  bounds  of  a  few  families  until  the  beginning  of 
March  of  this  year,  when,  "the  watches  being  removed,  it  had  free 
course,  and  Inoculation  was  allowed."  It  continued  till  October.  In 
consequence  of  which  the  General  Court  was  convened  at  Cambridge. 
About  4,000  had  the  disease,  of  which  about  500  died  ;  or  about  one 
fell  a  victim  of  every  eight  who  were  seized  with  it.  At  this  time,  again, 
Inoculation  was  shown  to  be  of  great  advantage  ;  for  those  who  opposed 
the  practice  hitherto,  allowed  that  but  one  in  thirty-three  of  those 
inoculated  died.*  The  measles  were  also  severe  in  the  preceding  year, 
and  in  this  also,  which  was  fatal  to  many,  especially  to  the  young. 
T  The  very  beginning  of  the  year  1730  is  marked  by  the  death 

of  an  extraordinary  man.  This  was  the  Hon.  Samuel  Sewall, 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Province.  He  was  a  scholar,  possessed  remarkable 
industry,  and  sterling  integrity.  Few  men  of  that  age,  few  indeed, 
have  left  to  posterity  a  memory  so  fondly  to  be  cherished,  as  that  of 
Chief  Justice  Sewall.  He  was  in  the  seventy- eighth  year  of  his  age, 
and  had  lived  in  New  England  about  seventy  years.  Seven  days  after 
his  decease,  Mr.  Prince  of  the  Old  South,  whose  parishioner  the  deceased 
was,  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  f     And  it  must  be  allowed  that  it 

tors  of  the  Town  waited  on  His  Excellency  "  father.     The    oldest  son  of  the  Mayor,  also 

with  an  Address,  which,  being  full  of  loyalty,  named  Henry,  was  the  father   of  the  Judge, 

was  replied  to   by  him  in  a    corresponding  and  came  to  Newbury  in   1634.     Mr.  Henry 

strain.      The    Sermon    and    Addresses    were  Sewall  married  (25  March,  1646)  Jane,  the 

printed.  oldest  child  of  Mr.  Stephen  and  Mrs.  Alice 

*  Dr.   Douglass,  who  says  there  was  never  Dummer,  of  Newbury.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dum- 

any  exact  account  taken  of  the  number  who  mer  returned  to  England  in  the  winter  of 

had  the  Small-pox,  or  those  who  died  of  it.  1646-7,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sewall  with  them. 

t  A  copy  of  this  excellent  Sermon  is  now  There,  at  Bishop  Stoke,  in  Hampshire,  March 

before  me,  to  which  is  appended  "  An  Account  28th,   1652,   Samuel  Sewall  was  born.     His 

of  the  Deceased  from  the  Weekly  News-Letter,  father  returned  to  New  England  in  1659,  and, 

No.    158.     Corrected.      Boston,  January  8,  having  sent  for  his  family,  they  accordingly 

1729-30."     This  account,  although  extracted  came  over,  and  landed  in  Boston  on  the  6th  of 

from  the   News-Letter,  was  no  doubt  by  Mr.  July,  1661. 

Prince,  who  had  had  the  substance  of  it,  prob-  Samuel  Sewall  grad.  H.  C.  1671.     On  28 

ably,  from  time  to  time,  from  the  Chief  Justice  Feb.    1675-6,  he  married  Hannah,  the  only 

himself.     The  length  of  the  "  Account  "  ex-  dau.  of  Hon.  John  Hull,  by  whom  he  inher- 

cludes  it  from  this  note,  excepting  in  a  brief  ited  a  large  estate  for  that  day,  upon  which 

abridgment.     "  On  the   first  of   this  instant,  event  he  settled  in  Boston.     In  1684  he  was 

at  half  an  hour    past  five  in  the  morning,  made  a  magistrate.   In  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 

after  about  a  month's  languishment,  died  at  tion  of  1688  he  was  in  England,  but  returned 

his  house  here,  the  Honorable  Samuel    Sew-  the  next  year.     In  1692  he  received  the  ap- 

all,  Esq.,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age ;  who  pointment   of  Counsellor,   to  which   he  was 

has  for  above  forty  years  appeared  a  great  annually  chosen  till  1725,  when  he  resigned  ; 

ornament  of  this  Town  and  Country."  "  having  outlived  all  the  others  nominated  " 

Henry  Sewall,  Mayor  of  Coventry,  in  the  under  the   new  Charter.     He  was   Judge  in 

County  of  Warwick,  England,  was  his  grand-  1692,  Chief  Justice  in  1718,  in  which  he  con- 


1730.]  END    OP   THE   FIRST    CENTURY.  587 

could  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  no  one  to  perform  that  duty  better  quali- 
fied for  it.  He  not  only  possessed  a  congenial  mind  with  the  deceased, 
but  he  had  enjoyed  a  long  acquaintance  with  him,  and  his  special 
friendship.  Judge  Sewall  had  known  Boston  since  16G1  ;  he  had 
known  personally  many  of  its  Fathers,  and  had  inquired  of  them  con- 
cerning their  first  coming  to  settle  here.  Much  of  the  information  thus 
obtained  he  had  noted  down,  and  much  of  it  he  communicated  to  Mr. 
Prince. 

M  At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court  the  same  able  Minis- 

ter preached  the  Election  Sermon.  Whether  his  appointment 
was  made  in  expectation  that  he  would  review  the  Century  now  about  to 
close  since  Boston  was  settled,  does  not  appear.  Certain  it  is,  however, 
the  discourse  then  delivered  is  replete  with  historical  information,  and 
a  better  Century  Sermon  would  hardly  be  expected,  had  this  at  the 
Election  been  so  denominated.  "  How  extremely  proper  it  is,"  he 
said,  "upon  the  close  of  the  First  Century  of  our  settlement  in  this 
chief  part  of  the  Land,  which  will  now  within  a  few  weeks  expire,  to 
look  back  to  the  beginning  of  this  remarkable  transaction."*  It  has 
been  generally  said,  that,  owing  to  the  Small-pox,  the  expiration  of  the 
century  was  not  observed  in  Boston.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Town  did  take  any  action  for  its  celebration  or  observ- 
ance. But,  besides  this  Discourse  by  Mr.  Prince,  there  was  one  by 
Mr.  Foxcroft  to  the  First  Church,  expressly  for  the  occasion,  f 

The  Thursday  Lecture  of  Mr.  Webb,  in  1730-1,  is  much  of  the  nature 
of  a  Century  Sermon.  It  was  preached  "  in  the  Time  of  the  Sessions 
of  the  Great  and  General  Court,"  and  has  for  its  introductory  title, 
"  The  Great  Concern  of  New  England."  J 

tinued  till  1728,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  gregation,  Aug.  23,  1730.  Being  the  last 
also  Judge  of  Probate  1715  to  1728.  His  Sabbath  of  the  first  Century  since  its  settle- 
wife  died  19  Oct.,  1717.  He  m.  secondly,  Mrs.  ment."  His  text  was  Psalm  80.  By  a  ref- 
Abigail  Tilly,  and  thirdly,  Mrs.  Mary  Gibbs,  erence  to  a  former  page  (548)  it  will  be  seen 
who  survived  him.  He  had  children  only  by  that  Mr.  Foxcroft  had  preached  to  the  First 
the  first,  viz.,  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters ;  Church  about  14  years.  In  a  note  to  his 
of  whom  but  two  of  the  former  and  one  of  the  Preface  he  says,  "  Feb.  1716-17.  By  Vote 
latter  survived  their  father.  —  Ibid.  He  kept  a  of  the  Church  I  entered  on  stated  Preach- 
Diary,  soon  to  be  published,  it  is  hoped.  ing." 

*  To  this  passage  the  Author  makes  the  fol-       J  In  this  Lecture  Mr.  Webb  lays  down  the 

lowing  note  :  — "  On  Saturday,  June  12, 1630,  following  propositions  :  "I.  We  are  the  Pos- 

arrived  in  Salem  river  the  Arrabella,  with  Gov.  terity  of  God's    Covenant   People;    and   may 

Winthrop  and  some  of  his  Assistants,  bring-  with   humility  call    the    Lord    God    of   our 

ing  the  Charter  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  Fathers,   our    God.    II.  This   God  was  in  a 

and    therewith    the    Government    transferred  very  peculiar  manner  present  with  our  Fathers. 

hither.     The    other  ten    ships   of    the    fleet,  And   therefore,  III.  Jt  highly  concerns  us,  at 

with    Deputy    Gov.    Dudley    and   the   other  this  day,  earnestly  to  desire  and  endeavor,  that 

Assistants,  arrived  in  Salem  and  Charles  rivers  the  Lord  our  God  may  be  with  us,  as  He  ivas 

before  July   11th.     In  the    same    month  the  with  our  Fathers ;  and  that  He  would  not  leave 

Governor,   Deputy   Governor  and   Assistants,  us.   nor    forsake    us."     Notwithstanding    he 

came  with  their  goods  to  Charlestown,     And  afterwards  says  :  "  There  are  many  awful  signs 

the  first  Court  of  Assistants  was  held  there  on  of  God's    gradual  withdrawing  from    us."  — 

Aug.  23,  the  same  year."     See  ante,  p.  93.  Among  the  "  signs  "  he  mentions  "  a  flood  of 

fit  is  thus   entitled:    "Observations  His-  irreligion  and  prophaneness  come  in  upon  us. 

torical  and  Practical  on  the  Rise  and  Primitive  So   much   terrible  cursing  and  swearing,  per- 

State  of  New  England.     With  special  refer-  nicious    lying,    slandering    and    backbiting, 

ence  to  the  Old  or  first  gathered  Church  in  cruel  injustice  and    oppression,  rioting    and 

Boston.     A  Sermon  preached  to  the  said  Con-  drunkenness,"  etc. 


588  HEIRS    OF   THOMAS    GOFFE.  [1730. 

The  town  was  divided  into  eight  Wards,  in  1715.  This  year  the 
matter  of  wards  was  again  considered  by  the  Selectmen,  but  no  altera- 
tion was  made  in  their  number  or  boundaries  ;  while  both  were 
enumerated  and  confirmed,  and  reentered  upon  their  records,  "  accord- 
ing to  the  assessment  then  agreed  upon."  At  that  time  gentlemen  in 
each  ward  were  appointed  "  to  visit  the  families  in  the  several  wards, 
to  prevent  and  suppress  disorders,  to  inspect  disorderly  persons,  the 
circumstances  of  the  poor,  and  the  education  of  their  children."  The 
manner  of  visiting  remained  the  same,  and  was  performed  by  "  the 
Justices,  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Assessors  and  Constables," 
probably  without  regard  to  their  being  residents  of  the  wards  assigned 
them.* 

There  had  been  a  claim  of  an  interesting  nature  hanging  over  the 
Colony  many  years,  which  was  now  revived.  It  was  first  urged,  per- 
haps, in  1718,  by  "one  Sarah  Watts,"  of  London,  as  heir-at-law  to 
Deputy  Governor  Thomas  GofFe,  one  of  the  twenty-six  original  Paten- 
tees of  Massachusetts,  in  virtue  of  his  advances  to  the  Massachusetts 
Company.  She  claimed  a  twenty-sixth  part  of  the  Province  ;  but, 
being  baffled  and  foiled  by  the  Massachusetts  Agent  in  London,  expenses 
were  incurred,  until  "  the  poor  woman  was  at  last  arrested  and  thrown 
into  Newgate  for  debt,  where  she  perished."  f  The  claim,  however,  did 
not  end  with  the  life  of  the  "  poor  woman,"  though  it  appears  to  have 
lain  dormant  until  the  present  year.  In  the  mean  time  a  son  of  Sarah 
Watts  had  emigrated  to  New  England  and  settled  in  Boston.  He 
bore  the  name  of  Robert  Rand,  and  was  in  the  humble  occupation  of 
sail-making.  He  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  "a  grant  of  a  quan- 
tity of  the  waste  lands  "  on  account  of  the  claim  ;  setting  forth  that 
"he  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sarah  Watts,  and  next  of  kin,  by  the 
mother's  side,  to  his  uncle,  Thomas  GofFe,  Esq."  No  notice  appears  to 
have  been  taken  of  the  petition  at  this  time.  He  petitioned  again  in 
1734,  at  which  time  he  says  "that  his  great-uncle,  Thomas  GofFe, 
Esq.,  after  large  adventures  and  great  expense  in  bringing  forward  and 
planting  this  Colony,  took  a  voyage  hither,  but  died  in  the  passage. 

*  These  early  Wards  were  thus  named  and  Change  Ward,  northerly  by  the  south  side  of 

numbered  :  North    Ward  was  No.  1  ;    Fleet,  King  and  Queen  streets,  by  the  north  side  of 

No.  2  ;  Bridge,  No.  3  ;  Creek,  No.  4  ;  King's,  Milk-street,  thence  the  west  side  of  Marlbor- 

No.   5  ;   Change,  No.  6  ;  Pond,  No.   7  ;   and  ough-street  as  far  as  Rawson's  lane,  the  north 

South,  No.  8.  side  thereof  and  the  north  side  of  the  Common. 

The  North  Ward  comprised  all  north  of  Pond  Ward,  northerly  by  the  south  side  of 

Fleet  and  Bennet  streets.     Fleet  Ward,  all  be-  Milk-street,  thence  the  east  side  of  Marlbor- 

tween  Fleet  and  Bennet  streets,  and  Wood  and  ough  as  far  as  Rawson's  lane,  the  south  side 

Beer  lanes.    Bridge  Ward,  northerly  by  Wood  thereof,  southerly  by  the  north  side  of  West 

and  Beer  lanes,  and  southerly  by  the    Mill  and  Pond  streets,  Blind  lane,  and  thence  to  the 

Creek.    Creek  Ward,  from  the  Mill  Creek,  and  north   side   of  Summer-street.     South  Ward, 

southerly  by  the   north  side  of  Wing's  lane,  northerly  by  the  south  side  of  Summer,  down 

and  from  the  upper  end  thereof,  the  north  side  to  Church  Green,  the  south  side  of  Blind  lane, 

of  Hanover-street  to  the  Orange  Tree  and  the  of  West  and  Pond  streets,  and  southerly  by  the 

north-east  side  of  Cambridge-street,  southerly  Town's  southern  bounds. 

by  the  north  side  of  King  and  Queen  streets  to        f  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  ii.  225,  who  ap- 

the  southward   of  the   Writing-School  house,  pears  to  have  known  nothing   further  about 

Mr.  Cotton's  house  the  southernmost  house,  the  matter  ;  or  he  takes  no  further  notice  of  it. 


1730.]  HOLLIS-STREET   CHURCH.  589 


That  the  Petitioner's  grandmother  was  sister  to  Mr.  Goflfe  ;  and  that  he 
is  eldest  son  to  her  daughter,  and  is  now  in  low  and  necessitous  circum- 
stances." Thus  the  case  stood  in  the  beginning  of  March,  1734  ;  and 
in  the  next  month  his  petition  was  granted,  by  allowing  him  1000 
acres  of  the  unappropriated  lands  of  the  Province  ;  —  by  which  grant 
the  justness  of  the  claim  may  be  considered  as  established. 

On  the  opening  of  the   General  Court,  Mr.    Samuel   Fisk, 
ay"  "  of  the  First  Church  of  Salem,  preached  the  Election  Sermon.* 
Another  newspaper,  called  "  The  Weekly  Rehearsal,"  was 
ep  '  ~  '  commenced  in  September  of  this  year.     It  was  established  by 
the  afterwards  well-known  Jeremy  Gridley,  who,  however,  continued  it 
but  about  a  year.     The  Printer  was   "J.  Draper,"  who  "took  in" 
advertisements.     In  1733,  Thomas  Fleet  became  its  proprietor,  who 
kept  at  the  "  Heart  and  Crown  "  in  Cornhill.     The  Rehearsal  was  dis- 
continued in  August,  1735.     It  was  of  the  usual  size  of  papers  of  that 
time,  already  described.! 

Notwithstanding  public  schools  had  been  established  from  time  to 
time,  thought  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  the  children  of  the 
Town,  private  individuals  often  undertook  to  add  to  those  advantages 
by  setting  up  others.  At  the  beginning  of  this  year  Mr.  Richard 
Champion  was  allowed  to  open  a  School,  in  which  he  proposed  to  teach 
"  writing,  arithmetic,  navigation,  and  other  parts  of  mathematics." 
What  success  he  met  with  does  not  appear.  J 

As  the  southerly  part  of  the  Town  increased  in  families,  the  want  of 

another  Church  began  to  be  felt.  '  Governor  Belcher  was  one  of  the 

foremost  for  a  new  Church,  and  proposed  to  give  a  piece  of  ground  in 

Hollis-street    on   which  to    erect    one.     Accordingly,  a  meeting  was 

held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hopestill  Foster,  where  a  Society  was 

*  formed.     This  was  the  origin  of  Hollis-street    Church.  §     The 

*That  of  the  previous  year,  at  Salem,  was  Champion,  Esq.,  late  Dep.  Paymaster  General 

by  Mr.  Jeremiah  Wise,  of  Berwick.     It  was  a  of  his  Majestie's  Forces,"  published  "  Consid- 

very    elaborate    performance,  —  54  close   8vo  erations   on   the   Present    Situation   of  Great 

pages.     He     strongly   recommended    a    com-  Britain  and  the  United  States  of  America,"  in 

pliance  with  the  requests  and  requirements  of  which  he  pretty  ably  attacked  Lord  Sheffield's 

the  Rulers  ;  spoke  with  enthusiasm  of  the  late  "  Observations." 

reigning  Monarchs  of  England,  whom  he  §  The  street  was  named  in  honor  of  Thomas 
prayed  might  "  live  forever."  Mr.  Fisk's  was  Hollis,  Esq.,  of  London,  a  great  benefactor  to 
much  in  the  same  strain.  "  What  Province,"  New  England,  and  especially  to  Harvard  Col- 
he  asks,  "  subject  to  the  British  Crown,  more  lege;  and  it  is  remarkable  that  he  died  in  the 
values  the  Royal  Family  and  Succession,  or  early  part  of  this  year  (22  January,  1731),  in 
more  constantly  and  heartily  prays  for  the  honor  of  whose  memory  the  Church  now 
King,  than  this '?  "  erected  also  bears  his  name.     There  were  three 

f  Fleet  began  another  paper  the  following  sermons  published,  preached  on  the  news  of 

week,  namely,  Monday,  August  18th,  which  Mr.   Hollis's   death   being  received  here,   but 

he  called  "  The  Boston  Evening  Post,"  said  by  neither  of  them  contain  the  date  of  his  death. 

Dr.  Thomas  to  be  the  best  Newspaper  then  Dr.  Colman's  was  the  first,  being  "preached 

published    in    Boston.     "Fleet,"    he    says,  at  the  Lecture,"  April  1st,    "  Before  His  Ex- 

"  was  a  wit  and  no  bigot,  was  not  a  great  cellency  the  Governor,  and  the  General  Court, 

friend  to  itinerant  preachers,   etc.     He  con-  upon  the  News  of  the  Death  of  the  much  Hon- 

tinued  it  till  his  death  in  1758,  and  his  two  ored  Thomas  Hollis,  Esq.,  the  most  generous 

sons,  Thomas  and  John  carried  it  on  till  the  and  noble  Patron  of  Learning  and  Religion  in 

war  stopped  it,  in  1775."  the  Churches  of  New  England."    Mr.  Hollis's 

{  About  fifty  years  after  this,    "  Richard  age  was  72. 


590 


HOLLIS-STREET    CHURCH. 


[1731. 


April  21. 


first  meeting  was  composed  of  William  Payn,  Samuel  Wells,  John 
Clough,  Caleb  Eddy,  John  Bennett,  Silence  Allen,  Thomas  Walker, 
John  Walker,  Israel  How,  John  Blake,  Henry  Gibbon,  Joseph  Payson, 
James  Day,  Hopestill  Foster,  Ebenezer  Clough,  Thomas  Trott,  Thomas 
Melvin,  Thomas  Clough,  Sutton  Byles,  Alden  Bass,  Benjamin  Russell, 
Joseph  Hambleton,  Nathaniel  Fairfield,  John  Goldsmith,  Isaac  Loring, 
and  William  Cunningham. 

In  April  following,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Select- 
men, signed  by  Samuel  Wells,  William  Payn,  Caleb  Eddy,  John 
Clough,  and  Henry  Gibbon,  asking  for  liberty  to  build  a  Meeting-house 
and  house  for  the  Ministry,  near  the  Main  street  leading  to  Roxbury, 
of  timber,  which  was  granted.  A  house  was  commenced,  forty  by 
thirty  feet,  with  a  steeple,  and  was  finished  and  dedicated  on  the  eight- 
eenth of  June,  1732.  On  the  fourteenth  of  November  following,  the 
Church  was  formed,  and  their  Covenant  was  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Sewall,  of  the  Old  South. 

Three  years  after  the  House  was  finished,  a  bell  was  given  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Hollis,  of  London,  a  nephew  of  the  great  benefactor  of  the 
same  name.  Its  weight  was  800  pounds.  The  ship  in  which  it 
came  was  commanded  by  Capt.  John  Homans,  who  arrived  on  Sun- 
day, April  14th,  1734,  and  the  bell  was  soon  after  placed  in  the  belfry. 
This  donation  is  said  to  have  been  made  at  the  suggestion  of  Governor 
Belcher. 

The  first  Meeting-house  in  Hollis-street 
was  burnt  in  the  extensive  fire  of  the  four- 
teenth of  April,  1787.*  The  following 
year  another  was  completed,  on  the  same 
spot,  and  like  the  former  was  constructed 
of  wood,  but  it  had  two  steeples  instead  of 
one.  It  is  this  Church  a  view  of  which  is 
given  in  the  margin.  It  stood  until  1810, 
when  it  was  taken  down  and  removed  to 
Braintree.  The  House  now  standing  is  of 
brick,  and  was  consecrated  on  the  31st  of 
January,  1811.  It  is  about  seventy-nine  by  seventy-six  feet,  exclusive 
of  the  tower,  and  contained  130  pews  on  the  floor,  and  thirty-eight  in 
the  gallery.     The  Steeple  is  196  feet  in  height,  f 

The  first  Minister  was  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  who  was  ordained 
December  20th,  1732.  He  continued  its  pastor  till  1777,  when  he  was 
dismissed ;  being  one  of  the  very  few  Tory  Ministers  of  the  country. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Wight,  who  was  ordained 
February  25th,  1778,  and  was  dismissed,  at  his  request,  in  September, 


HOLLIS-STREET   CHURCH. 


*  Miss  J.  Fenno,  in  her  volume  of  Poems, 
p.  65,  has  one  "  On  the  Dreadful  Conflagra- 
tion in  Boston  in  1787,'"  and  thus  alludes  to 
the  burning  of  the  Church  : 

"  Wide  and  more  wide,  the  glowing  flames  did  spread, 
As  if  in  fire  we  must  have  made  our  bed  ; 


The  House  of  God,  wherein  our  friend  did  preach, 
A  solemn  lesson  unto  us  may  teach,"  etc. 

f  It  was  struck  by  lightning  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1837,  when  fire  was  communicated  to 
the  wood-work  supporting  the  iron  spire,  which 
was  not  quenched  until  the  vane  had  fallen. 


1731.]  DEATHS OLIVER,    GREEN,    JEKTLL.  591 

1788.  The  third  Minister  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  West,  who  was  installed 
March  12th,  1789,  and  died  April  10th,  1808,  at  the  age  of  seventy. 
To  him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Horace  Holly,  installed  in  March,  1809, 
who  was  dismissed  24  August,  1818.  He  died  on  the  31st  of  July, 
1827,  at  the  age  of  forty  years  and  five  months.  The  Rev.  John  Pier 
pont  was  ordained  April  14th,  1819,  dismissed  May  10th,  1845.  Rev. 
David  Fosdick,  Jr.,  ordained  in  1846,  dismissed  in  1847.  In  1848 
Thomas  Starr  King  was  settled  there,  and  is  the  present  Minister. 

The  Act  providing  for  the  safe  keeping  of  powder  "being 
'  found  not  sufficient  to  prevent  the  breaches  of  that  Act,"  an 
explanatory  Act  was  passed,  "  for  erecting  a  Powder-house  in  Boston." 
It  was  now  provided  that  if  any  persons  were  found  to  have  powder  in 
their  possession,  without  license,  above  a  stipulated  quantity,  the  whole 
should  be  forfeited,  and  the  former  penalties  were  doubled. 

An  additional  law  was  also  made  for  the  suppression  of  lotteries  ; 
"  the  good  and  wholesome  design  and  true  intent  of  the  aforesaid  Act 
being  very  much  eluded  and  evaded,  to  the  great  discouragement  of 
trade  and  industry,  and  grievous  hurt  and  damage  of  many  unwary 
people." 

The  Town  met  with  a  severe  loss  this  year  in  the  death  of 
the  Hon.  Daniel  Oliver,  one  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  "  and 
one  of  the  most  considerable  merchants  of  this  place."  He  was  in 
his  sixty-ninth  year.  Of  the  Third  Church  he  was  one  of  the  princi- 
pal founders.  He  was  distinguished  for  eminent  piety,  humility  and 
charity.*  He  was  a  great  promoter  of  Schools,  and  of  means  for 
benefiting  the  poor,  f 

Mr.  Jonathan   Bowman  was    ordered    to    take    care  of  the 
"  Water-engine  that  stands  near  the  Old  North  Meeting-house. 
He  lived  in  Lynn-street. 

Mr.  Bartholomew  Green  died  in  his  sixty-fifth  year.  He  was 
'  the  Publisher  of  the  Weekly  News-Letter,  and  Printer  to  the 
House  of  Representatives.  Mr.  Green  was  held  in  much  esteem  ;  was 
one  of  the  Deacons  of  the  Old  South  Church,  "and  one  who  had 
much  of  that  primitive  piety  in  him  which  has  always  been  the  distin- 
guishing glory  of  New  England."  J 

On  the  30th  of  December  occurred  the  death  of  John  Jekyll, 
Esq.     He  was  about  forty-nine  years  of  age,  and  had  been  Col- 
lector of  this  Port  twenty-five  years  ;  having  been  appointed  in  1707. 

*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  had  been  the  Editor  of  this  paper  for  about  ten 
See  also  ante,  p.  203,  for  an  account  of  his  years,  "  and  the  principal  printer  of  this  Town 
family.  and    Country    near    forty    years."     Samuel 

f "  In  his  will,  among  other  legacies,  he  be-  Green  was  nis  father,  also  a  printer,  who 
stowed  a  pretty  large  house,  called  the  Spin-  came  to  New  England  in  1630,  in  the  same 
ning  School,  for  which  use  he  first  designed  it,  ship  with  Gov.  Dudley.  He  lived  in  Cam- 
and  which  cost  him  £600.  This  house,  with  bridge,  and  died  there,  Jan.  1,  1701-2,  aged 
the  profits  (about  £40  a  year) ,  he  gave  forever  87.  John  Draper,  who  continued  the  News- 
to  support  a  school,  to  learn  poor  children  to  Letter  on  the  death  of  Bartholomew  Green, 
read  the  Scriptures,  etc."  —  Prince.  See  ante,  was  his  son-in-law.  Samuel  Green,  Jr., 
p.  560-1.  brother    of   Bartholomew,   whose  wife  is  so 

J  News-Letter  of  1  Jan.  1733.  —  Mr.  Green   much  praised  by  John  Dunton,  has  been  no- 


592 


TREES    ON   THE    COMMON. 


[1732 


The  well-known   Thomas   Jekyll,  D.  D.,  was  his  father,  and  he  was 
nephew  to  Sir  Joseph  Jekyll.     His  disease  was  consumption.* 


CHAPTER    LX. 


Death  of  Joseph  Maylem.  —  Order  respecting  Trees  on  the  Common.  —  Respecting  a  Fence.  —  Seven 
Fire  Engines.  —  Valley  Acre.  —  Death  of  Judge  Byfield.  —  First  Prayer  at  a  Funeral.  —  Granary 
at  the  North  End.  —  Death  of  John  Dunton — of  Thomas  Fayerweather. — First  Appearance  of 
Free  Masons.  —  Gen.  Oglethorpe  expected.  —  Numbers  Taxed.  —  Death  of  Samuel  Granger  — 
of  the  Gunner  of  the  Castle.  —  Light-house  repaired.  —  Market-houses  established.  —  Paper-Money 
Troubles.  —  Overseers  of  the  Poor.  —  Work-house.  —  Death  of  Edward  Bromfield.  —  Another  News- 
paper.—  Town  Library.  —  A  Dancing  School. — New  Instrument  for  Surveying  invented. — Town 
Divided  into  Twelve  Wards.  —  Watchmen  to  cry  the  Time  of  Night.  —  Porters  Regulated. — A 
Fast. — West  Church  founded. — A  Work-house.  —  Death  of  Benjamin  Wads  worth — of  Elisha 
Cooke.  —  Quakers  relieved.  —  Death  of  Nathaniel  Williams.  —  Hospital  at  Rainsford's  Island. — 
Chelsea  set  off.  —  Duty  laid  on  Negroes.  —  Death  of  Elisha  Callender.  —  Bridge  to  Cambridge 
proposed. 

ON  the  29th  of  January,  Mr.  Joseph  Maylem 
died,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age.  "He 
kept  a  noted  (private)  house  in  School-street  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  strangers.  By  his  will  he  left  five  pounds 
to  each  of  the  Rev.  Ministers,  and  twenty  to  the  poor 
of  the  South  Church."  f  His  sons,  Mark  and  John,  were 
executors. 

At  the  Town-meeting  in  March  it  was  voted 
that  "the  row  of  trees  already  planted  on  the 
BYFiELif.j  Common  should  be  taken  care  of  by  the  Select-men," 
who  were  at  the  same  time  instructed  to  plant  another  row  at  a  suitable 
distance  from  the  former,  and  to  set  up  a  row  of  posts  with  a  rail  on  the 
top  of  them  ;  which  posts  and  rails  were  to  extend  "  through  the  Com- 
mon from  the  Burying-Place  §  to  Colonel  Fitche's  fence,  leaving  open- 


iflF  March 


ticed.  That  probably  justly-admired  lady  was 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Oapt.  Joseph  Sill,  an 
officer  in  Philip's  war.  —  Thomas,  Hist.  Print., 
i.  281,  and  MS.  notes  of  Melvin  Lord,  Esq. 

On  the  30th  of  Jan.  1734,  the  "  Printing- 
House  belonging  to  the  widow  and  children  of 
the  late  Deacon  Green,  at  the  South  End," 
was  burned.  In  it  two  printing-presses  were 
destroyed,  also  a  great  quantity  of  type  ;  very 
little  saved.  The  fire  took  about  12  o'clock  at 
night.     No  other  buildings  burned. 

*Mr.  Jekyll  was  a  gentleman  much  re- 
spected. He  was  born  in  England,  and  was 
for  a  time  in  the  retinue  of  Lord  Paget,  in 
which  capacity  he  resided  at  the  Court  of 
Vienna.  He  married  first  a  dau.  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Clark,  of  New  York ;  second,  the 
widow  of  Archibald  dimming,  Esq.,  Sur- 
veyor and  Searcher  of  the  Port  of  Boston.  Mr. 
Jekyll  left  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  — 
Weekly  Journal,  1  Jan.  1733,  and  News-Letter, 
Jan.  4th.     The  island  near  Savannah,  called 


Jekyll's  Island,  was  so  named  by  Gen.  Ogle- 
thorp,  in  honor  of  Sir  Thomas  Jekyll,  Master 
of  the  Rolls,  mentioned  in  the  text.  Sir 
Joseph  died  about  1739. — Leicester  Corres. 
in  Camden  Soc.  Inirod.,  p.  iii.  John  Jekyll, 
second  son  of  the  late  Collector,  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  Collectorship.  He  was  married 
in  Philadelphia,  20  Oct.  1734,  to  "  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Shippe,  a  beautiful  young  lady." 

f  Weekly  Rehearsal,  5  Feb.,  1733.  (No.  71.) 
—  His  widow,  "a  very  discreet,  industrious 
woman,"  died  on  the  6th  of  March  following. 
The  John  Mylam,  heretofore  mentioned,  may 
have  been  the  father  of  Joseph  Maylem  whose 
decease  is  noticed  in  the  text. 

|  The  Arms  of  Byfield  are  copied  from  the 
tomb-stone  of  the  family  in  the  Granary 
Burying-ground  ;  not  as  it  now  appears,  but  aa 
it  was.  The  tomb  having  passed  into  the  Lyde 
family,  as  hereafter  may  be  seen,  the  name  of 
Lyde  was  engraven  on  the  shield,  in  chief. 

§  The  Granary  is  here  meant. 


1733.] 


DEATH    OF   JUDGE    BYFIELD. 


593 


ings  at  the  several  streets  and  lanes."  *  It  was  five  years  before  a  sim- 
ilar fence  separated  the  Granary  Burying-ground  from  the  Common ; 
then  (in  1739)  one  was  ordered  to  be  "  set  up  "  from  Common-street  to 
Beacon. 

At  this  period  there  were  seven  engines  for  extinguishing  fires 

ny  '  'in  the  Town.     One  was  kept  under  the  Town-house  ;   one  at  the 

North  Watch-house  ;   one  in  Summer-street ;   one  at  the  Prison  ;   one  at 

the  Dock  ;   one  near  the  New  North  Meeting-house  ;   one,  "  the  Copper 

Engine,"  by  the  North  Meeting-house,  f 

A  Committee  of  the  Selectmen,  consisting  of  David  Colson,J 
*  Joshua  Winslow,  and  William  Downe,  was  appointed  "  to  see 
that  Capt.  Cyprian  Southack  secure  his  hill  near  Valley  Acre,  by  rails 
or  otherwise,  that  people  may  not  be  in  danger."  § 

On  the  sixth  of  June  occurred  the  death  of  Judge  Nathaniel 
Byfielcl,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age  ;  a  gentleman  of  great 
worth,  with  whose  name  the  readers  of  this  History  have  already  become 
familiar.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Mr.  Richard  Byfield,  who,  in  Shaks- 
peare's  time,  preached  at  Stratford-upon-Avon,  and  son  of  Mr.  Richard 
Byfield,  Pastor  of  Long  Ditton,  in  Surrey,  ||  who,  being  ejected  upon 
the  restoration,  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  at  Mortlake,  rendered 
somewhat  famous  as  the  residence  of  the  celebrated  astrologer  and  phy- 
sician, Dr.  John  Dee. 


June  6. 


*  A  similar  fence  was  kept  up  until  1836, 
when  the  present  iron  one  was  substituted,  at 
an  expense  of  82,159.85  dollars ;  16,292  dol- 
lars of  which  were  raised  by  private  subscrip- 
tion. Its  length  is  5,932  feet,  or  a  mile  and 
one  eighth,  nearly,  and  encloses  48|  acres. 
The  Common  is  usually  said  to  contain  50 
acres. 

f  The  names  of  those  who  had  charge,  or 
were  Captains,  of  the  engines,  are  as  follow 
(in  the  order  of  the  text )  :  —  James  Reed,  with 
12  men  ;  Mr.  Jona.  Bowman,  with  16  ;  Wm. 
Wheeler,  with  13  ;  Wm.  Young,  with  15  ; 
Thomas  Pain,  with  13  ;  John  Earl,  with  11 ; 
Joshua  Baker,  with  9  men. 

To  form  a  correct  idea  of  what  sort  of  ma- 
chines, "  Water  Engines,"  as  they  were  then 
called,  were,  the  following  notice  is  extracted  : 
"  There  is  newly  erected  in  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton, by  Messieurs  John  and  Thomas  Hill,  a 
Water  Engine  at  their  Still-house,  by  the  ad- 
vice and  direction  of  Mr.  Rowland  Houghton, 
drawn  by  a  horse,  which  delivers  a  large 
quantity  of  water  twelve  feet  above  the 
ground.  This  being  the  first  of  the  sort  in 
these  parts,  we  thought  taking  notice  of  it 
might  be  of  publick  service,  inasmuch  as  a 
great  deal  of  labor  is  saved  thereby."  — 
News-Letter,  25  Jan.,  1733. 

J  Mr.  Colson  was  many  years  an  active  Se- 
lectman. His  business  was  leather-dressing. 
"  Collson's  Stone  House,"  before  mentioned 
(p.  542),  was  probably  his  place  of  business 
before  this  time.     In  the  beginning  of  the  next 

75 


year  he  had  liberty  to  build  a  house  of  wood 
on  his  land,  on  the  corner  of  Newbury-street 
and  Frog-lane.  In  March,  1733,  he  was  "  to 
have  the  old  buildings  upon  the  Dock  for  £28 , 
taking  them  down  as  soon  as  may  be,  and 
leveling  the  rubbish."  Dr.  Adam  Collson  was 
of  Boston,  1746. 

§  Valley  Acre,  as  appears  from  an  early  map 
of  the  Town,  was  adjacent  to  a  spur  of  Beacon 
Hill,  which  extended  north-easterly  from  the 
main  hill,  terminating  abruptly  not  far  from 
the  present  northern  termination  of  the  iron 
fence  in  Pemberton  square. 

||  Mr.  Nicholas  Byfield,  Vicar  of  Isleworth, 
in  Middlesex,  was  his  half-brother,  and  hence, 
uncle  to  our  Judge  Byfield.  Adoniram  By- 
field,  the  distinguished  Puritan  Divine  and 
Author,  was  cousin  to  the  Judge,  being  a  son 
of  the  Vicar  of  Isleworth  by  a  previous  mar- 
riage. For  his  zeal  in  promoting  Puritan 
principles,  he  was  transfixed  for  all  coming 
time  by  the  pen  of  the  author  of  Hudibras. 
But  to  be  posted  there  by  the  side  of  Nye, 
Owen,  and  Calamy,  was  certainly  no  dishonor : 

"  Where  had  they  all  their  gifted  phrases, 
But  from  our  Calamies  and  Cases  ?  - 
Without  whose  sprinkling  and  sewing, 
Whoe'er  had  heard  of  Nye  or  Owen? 
Their  dispensations  had  been  stifled, 
But  for  our  Adoniram  Byfield." 

There  is  in  some  editions  of  this  author  a 
most  ludicrous  portrait  of  "  our  Adoniram," 
which,  if  it  does  him  no  credit,  can  do  him 
no  harm,  while  it  displays  no  little  ingenuity 
on  the  part  of  the  artist. 


594  GRANARY   AT   NORTH   END.  [1733. 

The  mother  of  Judge  Byfield  was  a  sister  of  William  Juxon,  Bishop 
of  London,  and  the  Judge  was  the  youngest  of  twenty- one  children. 
He  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1674,  and  settled  in  Boston,  where,  in 
the  following  year,  he  married  Miss  Deborah  Clarke,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Clarke,  who  dying  in  1717,  he  married  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Sarah  Leverett,  in  1718,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Governor  Lev- 
erett.  She  died  on  the  21st  of  December,  1730.  At  her  funeral  a  prayer 
was  made,  which  was  the  first  introduction  of  the  practice  in  the  Town.* 

Mr.  Byfield  had  held  the  important  office  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Vice  Admiralty  "  for  this  and  the  neighboring  Provinces,  and  first 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  and  was  for  many  years  one 
of  His  Majesty's  Council  of  this  Province."!  He  had  five  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  youngest  married  Lieut.  Gov. 
Tailor,  "who  quickly  departed  without  issue;"  the  other,  Catharine, 
who  was  the  oldest,  married  Edward  Lyde,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  They  had 
children,  Byfield,  Mary,  and  Deborah.  Byfield  Lyde  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1723,  and  in  the  Revolution  adhered  to  the  cause 
of  the  King,  left  Boston  with  the  royal  troops,  and  died  in  Halifax  in 
1776.  His  wife  was  Sarah,  only  daughter  of  Governor  Belcher.  She 
died  in  Boston  October  tenth,  1768,  aged  sixty-one.  To  this  son-in-law 
Mr.  Byfield  "  left  the  bulk  of  his  estate."  J 

Judge  Byfield  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Bristol,  in  Rhode  Island 
in  1680,  §  and  settled  there,  but  returned  to  Boston  in  1724,  where  he 
died,  as  has  been  mentioned,  and  was  interred  in  the  Granary  Burying- 
ground.  ||     He  left  no  male  descendants. 

There  is  in  the  Magna  Britannia  an  inter-  Judge  of  Admiralty  here,  Collector  of  the 
esting  anecdote  of  the  father  of  Judge  By-  Port,  etc.  He  died  in  Boston  29  June,  1771, 
field,  in  which  Cromwell  and  Sir  John  Evelyn  aged  87.  He  had  five  daughters  ;  Mary  m.  lt 
figure.  —  See  that  work,  v.  404.  Hon.   Joseph   Gerrish,   of   Halifax  ;    2.  Rev. 

* "  Before  carrying  out  the  corpse  [Dec.  Dr.  John  Breynton,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
28th],  a  Funeral-prayer  was  made  by  one  of  Church  in  that  city.  They  died  in  London, 
the  Parsons  of  the  Old  Church,  to  whose  com-  Deborah  m.  Judge  Robt.  Auchmuty,  the 
munion  she  belonged  ;  which,  though  a  custom  younger,  of  Roxbury.  Elizabeth  m.  her 
in  the  Country-towns,  is  a  singular  instance  in  cousin,  Thomas  Brinley,  Esq.,  of  Boston, 
this  place.  The  Pall  was  held  up  by  the  Hon-  Catharine  m.  her  cousin,  Nathaniel  Brinley, 
orable  the  late  Lieut.  Gov.  Dummer,  with  Esq.,  of  Boston.  Sarah  d.  in  Boston,  un- 
other  gentlemen  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  married.  Deborah  Lyde,  the  other  sister,  m. 
Among  the  mourning  relatives  went  His  Excel-  Col.  Francis  Brinley,  of  Roxbury. 
lency,  Gov.  Belcher,  and  His  Honor,  Lieut.  §"In  the  memorable  Indian  war  of  1675, 
Gov.  Tailer,  followed  by  a  long  train  of  per-  the  territory  of  King  Philip,  the  great  Sachem 
sons  of  public  distinction."  —  Chauncy's  of  Mount-Haup,  who  was  slain  in  1676,  was 
Funeral  Sermon,  Appendix.  vested  by  right  of  conquest,  in  the  Colony  of 

f  "  He  had  the  honor  of  five  Commissions  for  New  Plymouth  ;  whereupon  the  Governor  and 
Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty,  from  three  Company  of  New  Plymouth,  in  the  year  1680, 
crowned  heads :  William,  in  1697  ;  Anne,  in  granted  and  sold  unto  four  proprietors,  viz.. 
1702,  1703,  and  1709  ;  and  from  George  II.  Messieurs  John  Walley,  Nathaniel  Oliver,  Na- 
in  1728  ;  was  first  Judge  under  our  present  thaniel  Byfield,  and  Stephen  Burton,  all  the 
Charter,  and  never  once  had  a  decree  reversed  part  of  the  conquered  lands  called  Mount 
upon  an  appeal  home  "  to  England.  —  Appen-  Hope  Neck,  since  called  by  the  name  of  Bris- 
dix  to  Chauncy's  Funeral  Sermon.  The  auto-  tol."  —  Stiles'  Account  of  the  Origin  and  Set- 
graph  of  Judge  Byfield  has  been  given  on  tlement  of  Bristol,  p.  3.  Of  this  Town  Judge 
page  481.  Byfield  was  said  to  be  "  the  head  and  glory." 

%  Byfield  Lyde's  sister  Mary  married  George   —  News-Letter,  14  June,  1733. 
Cradock,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  who  had  been  a       || .The  stone,  which  bore  the  following  in- 
merchant  in  London,  and  subsequently  Vice-   scription  to  his  memory,  has  long  since  disap- 


1733.]  FREE-MASONS.  —  GEN.  OGLETHORPE.  595 

At  a  Town-meeting,  on  the  lGth  of  October,  a  vote  passed  for  erect- 
ing a  Granary  at  the  North  End  ;   the  charge  not  to  exceed  <£100.* 

A  very  serious  accident  occurred  on  the  20th.  Mr.  Commis- 
sary Price's  horse,  a  very  unruly  one,  attached  to  a  chaise  or 
chair,  being  left  standing  in  the  alley  leading  from  Milk-street  to  Jus- 
tice Clark's  corner  in  Summer  street,  f  from  some  affright,  started  and 
ran  through  the  alley.  One  Mrs.  Stevens,  "  a  very  ancient  woman," 
being  then  in  the  alley,  was  run  over,  and  so  injured  that  she  survived 
but  a  few  hours.     A  child  was  much  hurt  at  the  same  time. 

Mr.  John  Dunton  is  said  to  have  died  in  obscurity  in  London  this  year. 
He  was  full  of  schemes  and  projects,  which  seem  uniformly  to  have 
failed  to  realize  his  anticipations.  J 

On  the  20th  of  November,  Thomas  Fayerweather,  Esq.,  died 

at  the  early  age  of  forty-four.     He  was   a  merchant  highly 

respected.     His  wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Waldo,  Esq., 

"  a  pattern  of  every  female  virtue."     She  died  on  the  27th  of  January, 

1755,  aged  fifty-two,  leaving  a  son  and  two  daughters  surviving. 

Free-masonry  was  first  introduced  into  the  Colonies,  this  year  ;  the 
first  lodge  met  in  Boston  on  the  30th  of  July.     The  first  Grand  Master 
received  his  power  from  Lord  Montague,  Grand  Master  of  England. 
On  the  opening  of  the  General  Court  this  year,  Mr.  Samuel 
Wigglesworth,  of  Ipswich,  preached  the  Election  Sermon.    The 
following  gentlemen  were  appointed  to  the  "  command  of  the  regiment 
of  militia  in  Boston  :  "  Edward  Winslow,  Esq.,  Colonel ;  Jacob  Wen- 
dell, Esq.,  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  and  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  Major. 
T      iq        Information  having  been  received  that  Gen.  James  Ogle- 
thorpe  would   visit  Boston  this  summer,  the   General  Court, 
"on  a  motion  made  and  seconded  by  many  members,"  ordered  that 
"Mr.  [Elisha]    Cooke,  Mr.  [Thomas]    Cushing,  Mr.    [Samuel]   Wells, 
Major  [William]  Brattle  and  Mr.  Thacher,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a 
vote  for  his  reception,  that  so  the  Government  may  express  their  grate- 
ful sense  of  his  good  services  to  the  public  interest  of  the  Province." 

peared,  and  is  supposed  to  be  destroyed.     This  J  For  many  years  before  Mr.  Dunton's  arri- 

copy  is  from  the  Boston  Gazette  of  30  July,  val  in  Boston,  as  well  as  for  many  years  after- 

1733.     It  is  doubtless  the  production  of  the  wards,  it  was  a  standing  order  of  the  Town, 

Rev.  Mather  Byles,  as  nearly  the  same  thing  is  that  every  person  who  came  in,  with  the  inten- 

found  in  his  Poems,  page  95  :  tion  of  stopping  above  a  certain  number  of 

"  BTFIELD  beneath  in  peaceful  slumber  lies, 
BYJTIELD  the  good,  the  active  and  the  wise. 
His  manly  frame  contained  an  equal  mind, 
Faithful  to  God,  and  generous  to  mankind. 
High  in  his  Country's  Honours  long  he  stood, 
Succour'd  distress,  and  gave  the  hungry  food, 
In  justice  steady,  in  devotion  warm, 
A  loyal  subject  and  patriot  firm. 
Through  every  age  his  dauntless  soul  was  try'd 
Great  while  he  lived,  but  greater  when  he  dy  'd." 

*  In  the  Selectmen's  Records  the  building  to 

be  erected  is  called  a  Meal  House.    It  was  to  d             gt     ive  gecUrity  that  they  might  not 

be  built  '' on  a  piece  of  land  belonging  to  the  co^e             &the   Town   for   support.      Hence 

Town  near  the  North  Mill."     John  Jeffries,  thig  rec£rd  is  found  .  u  February  16th>  1685 

Esq.,  and  Mr.  David  Colson,  two  of  the  Se-  M685-6],  Fran.  Burroughs  became  security  for 

lectmen,  were  to  contract  for  the  work.     _  John  Dunton  Bookseller,  in  £40."    Signed  by 

fThen  usually  called  Bishop's-alley,  since,  both  Dunton  and  Burroughs.  —  See  artfe,  ehap. 

Hawley-street.  xlix.,  p.  459,  etc. 


£96  ESTABLISHMENT  OP   MARKETS.  [1733. 

But  the  people  of  Boston  did  not  have  an  opportunity  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  founder  of  Georgia,  "  one  driven  by  strong  benev- 
olence of  soul ;  "  for,  though  he  intended  to  come  here,  he  was  diverted 
from  his  purpose  by  the  arduous  duties  in  which  he  was  engaged.* 

The  number  of  tax-payers  was  now  about  3500.  This  was  the  num- 
ber on  the  "  Alarm-list,"  which  pretty  nearly  corresponded  with  that 
of  taxables.  The  "Church  of  England  people"  were  at  the  same 
time  said  to  pay  "  not  exceeding  one-tenth  of  the  taxes  of  the  Town." 
Mr.  Samuel  Granger,  a  worthy  School-master,  died  suddenly  of 
June ii  apoplexy.  He  was  about  48  years  of  age,  some  fifteen  of  which 
he  had  been  a  teacher  in  Boston.  His  funeral  was  attended  by 
"  the  principal  persons  of  the  Town,  and  about  150  children,  who  were 
under  his  tuition,  walking  before  the  corpse."  f 

Mr.  William  Barnsdell  died  suddenly  at  Castle  William,  at  the 
age  of  80.     He  had  been  Chief  Gunner  there  for  about  thirty 
years.     The  corpse  was  brought  up  to  the  town  for  interment. 

The  Light-house,  which  was  built  in  1715,  being  out  of  repair, 
the  keeper,  Kobert  Ball,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  an  ap- 
propriation to  put  it  in  order,  and  likewise  the  dwelling-house  belonging 
to  it,  which  had  gone  to  decay.  Ball  succeeded  Captain  Hayes  this  year, 
who  had  requested  to  be  discharged,  as  he  had  become  old  and  infirm.  J 
The  establishment  of  Markets  in  the  Town  had  hitherto  been 
*  successfully  opposed,  but  at  the  present  Town-meeting,  although 
a  majority  appeared  in  favor  of  the  measure,  yet  the  opposition  was 
pretty  strong  against  it.  §     At  the  next  meeting  three  places 
pn     '  were  assigned  on  which  Market-houses  were  to  be  erected,  and 
700  pounds  was  appropriated  for  the  object.     This  sum  was  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  Thomas  Fitch,  Edward  Hutchinson,  Thomas  Palmer,  and 
Jacob  Wendell,  Esquires  ;    Mr.   Nathaniel   Cunningham,   Mr.  James 

*  A  Spanish  and  Indian  war  was  probably  Church  of  England  gratis,  as  are  not  able  to 

the  chief  cause.     He  was  compelled  to  take  pay  for  the  same."  —  Ibid,  28  June,  1733,  and 

the  field  in  person  against   them.     See  New  other  sources. 

England   Weekly  Jour.,  27  Aug.,  1733  (No.       J  The  appearance  of  a  Polar  Bear  in  Boston, 

cccxxxvi.),  idem,  13  May,  1734  (No.  ccclxxi.),  in  1734,  attracted  great  attention,  and  called 

and  Harris'  Life  of  Oglethorpe.  forth  the  following  notice  in  the  News-Letter 

f  Weekly  News-Letter,  17  Jan.,  1734  (No.  of  28  Feb.  "  Yesterday,  in  the  afternoon,  the 
1564).  In  the  notice  in  this  paper,  he  is  great  White  Bear,  which  was  about  a  year 
styled  "  the  ingenious  and  learned  Mr.  Gran-  ago  brought  hither  by  Capt.  Atkins  from 
ger."  He  began  an  evening  school  "  for  Greenland,  was  carried  in  his  cage  on  trucks 
writing,  accompts,  and  the  mathematics,"  in  from  the  White  Horse  at  the  South  End,  to 
Sept.,  1724.  Five  days  after  he  died,  the  Se-  the  Long- wharffe,  followed  by  a  multitude  of 
lectmen  directed  that  "  his  son  and  Usher,  Mr.  spectators,  where  he  was  shipped  on  board 
Thomas  Grainger,  be  allowed  to  go  on  with  the  Captain  Walker,  bound  for  London."  The 
school,  under  the  oversight  of  Mr.  Andrew  Le  "  White  Horse  "  tavern  was  established  before 
Mercier."  Mr.  Granger  lived  in  Marlborough-  1724.  In  1768,  Mein  and  Fleming's  Printing- 
street,  "near  to  the  Governor's."  At  the  Office  was  "  almost  oppositq." 
time  of  his  death  the  house  in  which  he  lived  §  The  votes  stood,  517  for  and  399  against, 
was  advertised  for  sale  by  Mr.  Jahleel  Bren-  Hence  the  number  of  voters  is  pretty  nearly 
ton,  of  Newport,  E.  I.  Only  the  June  pre-  approximated,  viz.,  916.  At  the  meeting 
vious  to  his  decease,  the  Society  for  Prop.  (May  24),  the  vote  stood  364  yeas  and  339 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  had  appointed  nays.  "  On  which  important  occasion  the 
"  Mr.  Grainger  School-master  to  succeed  Mr.  Assembly  was  so  very  numerous,  it  was  ad 
Edward  Mills,  Sen.,  lately  deceased,  to  instruct  journed  over  to  the  Old  Brick  Meeting-house.' 
the  children  of  such  indigent  members  of  the 


1734.]  MARKET. OVERSEERS    OF   THE   POOR.  597 

Watson,  Mr.  Francis  Willoughby,  and  Mr.  John  Steel.  The  three  places 
designated  for  the  buildings  were,  one  in  "  Orange-street,  over  against 
the  house  and  land  of  Mr.  Thomas  Downe,  there  measuring  seventy 
feet ;"  one  "  on  the  Town's  ground,  or  open  space  on  the  Town  dock 
or  wharf,  commonly  called  Dock  Square."  The  other  was  to  be  upon 
"  the  open  space  before  and  about  the  Old  North  Meeting-house."  * 

An  Order  was  passed  authorizing  the  Markets  to  be  kept  open  every 
day  in  the  week,  except  Sundays  and  such  other  days  as  the  Govern- 
ment might  appoint,  in  which  religious  services  were  to  be  observed. 
Market  hours  were  from  sunrise  to  one  o'clock,  afternoon,  and  a  bell 
was  to  be  rung  at  the  time  of  opening.  The  fourth  day  of  June  was 
set  for  the  first  Market-day,  which  took  place  accordingly.!  But  so 
strong  was  the  prejudice  against  regular  Markets,  that,  in  less  than  four 
years  from  their  establishment,  the  houses  were  abandoned  by  the 
market-men,  and  they  fell  quite  into  disuse.  That  at  the  North 
End  was  eventually  taken  down,  and  the  timber  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  Work-house ;  that  at  the  South  End  was  converted  into 
stores,  and  that  at  Dock  Square  was  demolished  by  the  populace.  J 

From  a  Fast  sermon,  preached  by  Dr.  Colman,  there  appears  to 

'  have  been  much  distress  in  the  Town,  partly  arising  from  the 
depreciation  of  the  paper  currency.  "  I  fear,"  he  observed,  "we  of 
this  Town  and  Land  are  coming  apace  into  too  much  the  like  circum- 
stances, both  the  Rich  and  the  Poor.  The  poorer  Brethren  have,  too 
many  of  them,  run  themselves  into  bonds  for  moneys  taken  up  of  the 
rich.  The  rich  are  alike  to  suffer  much  in  that  part  of  their  estates  that 
lies  in  bonds.  We  are  going,  I  fear,  into  excessive  usury,  which  may 
not  seem  so,  considering  the  yearly  fall  of  our  paper-currency." 

In  the  preamble  to  "  An  Act  for  employing  and  providing  for 

'  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston,"  it  is  said  that  the  "  Town  is 
grown  considerably  populous,  and  the  Idle  and  Poor  much  increased  ;" 
therefore  the  Town  was  empowered  "  to  choose  twelve  Overseers  of  the 

*  Proposals  about  a  market  were  published  was  very  considerable  ;  abundance  of  provisions 

as  early  as  1st  Feb.,  1733.     On  the  28th  of  the  were  brought  for  sale.     Those  that  exceeded  in 

preceding  July,  in  Town-meeting,  "  Messieurs  goodness  and  cheapness   went  off  quick,  but 

Joseph  Marion,  Edward  Durant,  Theophilus  those  that  were  poor  or  dear,  more  slowly." 

Lillie,  William  Stoddard  and  Jeffry  Bedgood,"  J  Dr.  Douglass  considered  the  tendency  of 

were  appointed  a  Committee  to  receive  pro-  the  people  to  mobs  in  his  time  quite  alarming  ; 

posals  "  touching  the  demolishing,  repairing  or  and  that  severer  acts  against  them  ought  to  be 

leasing  out  the  old  buildings  belonging  to  the  made.      A  few  days  before  the   Market   was 

Town  in  Dock  Square."     The  Committee  to  torn  down,  the  doctor  says,  a  mob  demolished 

give  their  attendance  at  Mr.  William  Coffin's,  a  notorious  house  of  ill  fame,  under  the  coun- 

the  Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern,  on  Thursdays,  tenance  "  of  some  well-meaning  Magistrates," 

weekly,  from  six  to  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  that  "the  consequence  was,  a  few  days 

f  There  was  something  of  ceremony  on  the  afterwards,  they  demolished  the  public  Market- 
occasion,  as  appears  from  the  News-Letter,  house,  and  carried  off  the  materials  for  their 
published  on  the  6th  of  June,  from  which  the  own  private  use."  To  this  he  adds,  "For 
following  is  taken:  "  On  Tuesday  morning  some  years  past,  upon  the  5th  of  November, 
last,  being  the  4th  of  June,  at  sun-rising,  the  being  the  anniversary  Gunpowder  Treason  day, 
Bell  rang  for  the  first  time,  for  opening  the  several  mobs  have  carried  about  pageants  of 
public  Markets  the  first  time,  in  this  Town,  at  the  Pope,  the  Devil  and  pretender.  These  gun- 
the  three  several  places  assigned.  The  con-  powder-treason  mobs  yearly  increase." — Sum- 
course  of  people  (sellers,  buyers  and  spectators)  mary,  i.  238. 


598  DEATH    OF    HON.    EDWARD    BROMFIELD.  [1734. 

Poor,  from  twelve  several  Wards,  into  which  the  Town  is  or  shall  be 
divided."  The  Town  was  at  the  same  time  authorized  to  build  a 
Work-house,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
and  to  receive  donations  for  its  endowment,  "  to  the  value  of  3000 
pounds  per  annum." 

The  loss  of  the  Town  in  the  death  of  the  Hon.  Edward  Brom- 
'  field,  on  the  second  of  June,  1734,  was  as  severely  felt  as  almost 
any  which  had  occurred  since  its  settlement.  Though  he  was  far  ad- 
vanced, being  in  his  86th  year,  yet  his  loss  was  not  the  less,  but  the 
more  regretted.  He  was  born  at  Haywood  House,  near  New  Forest,  in 
Hampshire,  the  seat  of  his  ancestors,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1648-9, 
and  was  the  third  son  of  Henry,  and  grandson  of  Arthur  Bromfield, 
Esq.  Being  bred  a  merchant  in  London,  he  went  to  Jamaica,  and, 
afterwards,  came  to  Boston,  where  he  arrived  in  the  year  1675,  and 
being  a  pious  Puritan,  decided  to  spend  his  days  here.*  He  belonged 
to  the  Old  South  Church,  and  was  forward  in  all  charities  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  religious  purposes  as  well  as  others.  His  residence  was 
in  Rawson's-lane,  since  called  Bromfield-street  after  him,  and  his  man- 
sion stood  where  the  Bromfield  House  now  stands.  Here  afterwards 
was  the  noted  Indian  Queen  tavern. 

Another  Newspaper,   called  "  The  Boston  Weekly  Post  Boy," 

'  was  started  in  October  of  this  year,  by  Mr.  Ellis  Huske, f  the  Post- 
master, who  continued  it  about  twenty  years.  The  name  of  the  printer 
of  it  is  not  given,  but  John  Bushel  is  supposed  to  have  printed  it  at 
some  part  of  the  period  of  its  existence.  As  hitherto  "Advertisements 
were  taken  in  at  the  Post  Office." 

About  the  commencement  of  the  year  the  Selectmen  voted  that 
"  Speedy  care  be  taken  to  fit  up  a  proper  Office  for  the  Town  Clerk, 
for  reposing  and  securing  his  books,  and  that  it  be  in  part  of  the  Green 
Chamber ;   that  the  ninety  pounds  in  the  hands  of  Nathaniel  Green, 

*  In  the  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  v.  p.  Edward  Bromfield,  as  found  to  a  receipt  in 
100,  is  some  account  of  the  family  of  Mr.  1718,  is  here  copied.  There  was  a  Thomas 
Bromfield,  extracted  from  the  newspapers  of  Bromfield,  glover,  at  the  Town  Dock,  1734. 
that  day,  but  chiefly  from  the  New  England 
Week.  Journal,  of  10  June,  1734  (No.  374), 
probably  written  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Prince. 
In  the  Journal  it  is  said,  that,  for  a  retired  re- 
cess from  worldly  noise  and  business,  "  he 
turned  the  pasture  behind  his  house  into  a  very 
shady  grove,  where,  in  the  midst,  he  built  an 
Oratory,  into  which  he  used  to  retire  several 
times  a  day,  in  his  most  flourishing  circum-  f  "  Afterwards  Deputy  Post-master  General 
stances  and  heights  of  business,"  to  enjoy  pious  for  the  Colonies.  He  was  a  brother 'to  General 
meditations,  &c.  In  a  copy  of"  The  Morning  Huske,  who  distinguished  himself  at  the  battles 
Exercises  at  Cripple  Gate,"  4to,  1671,  in  the  of  Dittengen  and  Culloden.  He  had  a  son 
Author's  Library,  is  the  autograph  of  "  Ed-  bred  a  merchant,  in  Boston,  who  was  after- 
ward Bromfield,  Jr.,"  to  which  is  added,  "  his  ward  a  member  of  Parliament.  Huske  was 
book  ex  Dono  Francisci  Burroughs,  1712  ;  "  superseded  in  the  Post  Office  by  Franklin  and 
and  on  a  fly-leaf  is  written  a  brief  Family  Rec-  Hunter." —  Thomas,  ii.  231.  He  is  the  same, 
ord  in  this  order :  "Edward  Bromfield,  Senr.,  I  presume,  who  published  a  work  entitled, 
Marye  B.,  Senr.  [parents],  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  "  The  Present  State  of  North  America."  4to, 
Frances,  Edward,  Junr.,  Mary,  Junr.,  Henrye.  London,  1755,  which  was  re-printed  in  Boston 
In  una  Familia."     The  autograph  of  the  Hon.    the  same  year. 


1734-5.]  iiougiiton's  invention.  599 

Esq.,  given  by  Col.  Fitch  and  others,  in  order  to  procure  books  for  the 
Town  Library,  "be  secured  by  bond  to  Mr.  Joseph  Wadsworth,  the 
Town  Treasurer."  Bakers  were  ordered  to  stamp  their  loaves  "  with 
the  first  and  last  letters  of  their  names."  * 

A  Dancing  School  was  allowed.     It  was  kept  by  Mr.  George 
May  28.    Brownell.f     But  an  application  for  an  exhibition  of  Rope  Danc- 
ing was  refused.  J 

Mr.  Rowland  Houghton,  of  Boston,  a  merchant,  invented  an  instru- 
ment for  surveying  land,  which  he  called  "The  New  Theodolite," 
the  making  and  vending  of  which  was  secured  to  him  by  a  special  Act 
of  the  General  Court.  In  the  Preamble  to  the  Act,  it  is  said  that  by  it 
"land  could  be  surveyed  with  greater  ease  and  dispatch  than  by  any 
surveying  instrument  heretofore  projected  or  made  within  this  Prov- 
ince, which,  upon  careful  view  and  examination,  appears  to  be  a  pro- 
jection tending  to  public  benefit  and  service."  His  privilege  was 
limited  to  seven  years. 

Much  attention  had  for  some  time  been  given  to  the  cultivation  of 
Flax  and  Hemp  in  New  England.  To  extend  a  knowledge  of  their 
culture,  Col.  Daniel  Henchman,  bookseller  in  Cornhill,  re-published 
Lionel  Slator's  work  upon  the  subject,  which  had  been  issued  in  Dublin 
in  1724.§ 

.    „  „         Watchmen  were  required  "  in  a  moderate  tone  to  cry  the 
'  time  of  night,  and  give  account  of  the  weather,  as  they  walk 
their  rounds,  after  twelve  o'clock."  ||    The  practice  was  continued  about 
one  hundred  years. 

The  Selectmen  were  not  unmindful  of  the  importance  of  recording 
the  births  and  deaths  which  occurred  in  the  Town,  and  gave  notice  that 
there  was  a  great  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  to  comply  with 
a  law  made  for  that  purpose. H 

"  Mr.  John  Bowles,  Mr.  Thomas  Tileston  and  others,"  having 
petitioned  to  have  Boston  made  a  County  by  itself,  a  Committee 

*  The  weight  of  hread  was  prescribed   as  in  a  better  manner  than  generally  practised  in 

follows:  "  The  penny  white  loaf,  3  oz.  5  dw. ;  Ireland.     By  Lionel  Slator,  of  Cabraugb,in'the 

wheaten,  4  oz.  15  dw.;  household,  6  oz.  10  dw.;  County  of  Cavan,  Flax  and  Hemp  Dresser  to  the 

sixpenny  wheaten  loaf,  1  lb.  13  oz.  13  dw."  Honourable  Thomas  Coote,  of  Coote  Hill,  in  the 

f  There  was  considerable  opposition  to  such  said  County."  There  is  an  Introduction,  signed 

a  school,  and  his  application  was  previously  by  Mr.  Coote,  addressed  "  To  the  Honourable 

refused  by  the  Selectmen.     The  school  was  not  the  Trustees  of  the  Flaxen  and  Hempen  Manu- 

merely  for  dancing ;  as,  doubtless,  for  that  alone  facturers  of  Ireland."    He  was  probably  of  the 

liberty  could  not  have  been  obtained.     "A  same  family  of  Coote  noticed  in  page  516  of  this 

school  for  reading,  writing,  cyphering,  danc-  history. 

ing  and  the  use  of  the  needle,"  are  set  forth  in  ||  The  watch  was  at  this  time  maintained  at 

the  application.  an  expense  of  about  £12,000  per  annum. 

J  To  the  Petition  of  Mr.  John  Bradley  (with  %  Mr.  Samuel   Gerrish,   the  Town   Clerk, 

others  in  his  behalf)  for  liberty  to  entertain  made  a  record  of  the  negligence  complained  of, 

the  Town  with  the  diversion  of  Rope  Dancing,  from  which  it  appears  that,  for  the  fourteen 

the  Selectmen    say,    "Fearing  lest  the  said  months  preceding,  " more  than  950  births  and 

divertisement  may  tend  to  promote  idleness  in  deaths  "  had  occurred  in  the  Town,  of  which 

the  Town  and  great  mispense  of  time,  the  no    record    had    been    handed    in ;    "  which 

same  is  disallowed."  neglect  of  theirs,"   he  very  sensibly  added, 

§  The  title  of  the  work  13  "  Instructions  for  "  may  prove  to  be  of  ill  consequence  to  their 

the  Cultivating  and  Raising  of  Flax  and  Hemp,  posterity." 


600  WARDS. — porters'    FEES. FAST.  [1735-6. 

is  appointed  by  the  town  to  draw  up  a  remonstrance,  and  the  proposi- 
tion was  laid  aside.*  Mr.  Joseph  Marion  recommended  that  certain 
papers  on  file  should  be  entered  in  the  records  of  the  Town,  "that  so 
the  Town  may  have  recourse  to  them."  f 

A  proposition  to  divide  the  Town  into  twelve  Wards,  having 
Mar  8.  been  Previously  made  at  the  Town-meeting  in  March,  1736,  it 
was  voted  to  submit  the  subject  to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  ; 
who,  at  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  ninth  of  the  same  month,  reported 
a  division,  which  was  accepted.  The  names  given  to  the  former  Wards 
were  disused,  and  the  new  ones  were  designated  by  numbers  only. 
The  Committee  who  made  this  division  consisted  of  Jacob  Wendell, 
William  Tyler,  Jeffery  Bedgood,  John  Hill  and  Thomas  Hubbard. 

At  a  Town-meeting  in  May,   Nathaniel  Cuningham,  Hugh 
^    '  Vans,  Samuel  Waldo,   Cornelius  Waldo  and  James  Peirpoint, 
were  appointed  a  Committee  to  instruct  the  Kepresentatives. 

Province  bills  were  ordered  to  be  received  in  payment  of 
ay  '  taxes  at  the  rate  of  twenty  shillings  for  one  ounce  of  silver. 
Porters'  fees  were  regulated  by  law.  The  Selectmen  were  author- 
ized by  the  General  Court  to  fix  "the  number  of  Porters,  and  the 
rate  or  price  they  should  ask,  according  to  the  distance  of  place  or 
other  circumstances  ;  all  which  persons  shall,  at  all  times,  when  in  the 
service,  or  doing  the  business  of  Porters,  wear  a  badge  or  ticket,  with 
the  figure  of  a  Pine-tree  marked  thereon,  on  some  part  of  his  upper 
garment  or  girdle  ;  which  badge  or  ticket  shall  be  numbered,  and  a 
fair  entry  of  each  Porter's  ticket  made  in  the  Selectmen's  books." 
Any  one  undertaking  the  business  without  license,  to  be  fined  twenty 
shillings  ;  and  any  Porter  charging  more  than  authorized  by  the  Select- 
men, to  be  fined  ten  shillings. 

The  Council  of  the  Province,  "  taking  into  consideration  the 
many  and  pressing  difficulties  the  public  affairs  now  labor  under, 
and  likely  to  increase,  unless  the  Government  be  speedily  led  into  some 
happy  methods  for  the  remedy  thereof,"  voted  that  the  Governor  be 
desired  to  appoint  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  and  that  the  reverend 
Ministers  of  Boston  be  desired  to  assist  in  the  solemnity.  The  Governor 
D  10  accordingly  appointed  the  tenth  of  December  to  be  kept  as  a 
Fast.  On  that  day  Dr.  Colman  preached  a  Sermon  in  the  Coun- 
cil Chamber  before  his  Excellency  and  the  Members  of  the  General 
Court. 

*  The  Committee  consisted  of  Mr.  Joseph  f  Mr.  Marion's  recommendation  is  entered 
Marion,  William  Stoddard,  Esq.,  John  Fayer-  upon  the  records,  and  consists  of*  several  able 
weather,  Esq.,  and  Kobert  Auchmuty,  Esq.  articles.  Among  them  "The  Release  of  Mr. 
Mr.  Fayerweather  and  Mr.  Marion  were  active  Blackston,  the  first  Proprietor  of  the  Town  of 
men  in  Town  affairs.  The  former  subscribed  Boston,"  is  mentioned  as  "  now  on  file  in  the 
£50  towards  the  Work-house.  Town  Clerk's  Office,  and  also  the  Indian  Deeds 

/7  to  the  Selectmen."  I  have  never 

.£«.         i  yj  met  with  the  originals  here  re- 

•^Z/^?y^  £  ^■/~^f%P-*~»  ferred  to,  nor  does  it  appear  that 
"    Shaw  or  Snow  ever  saw  them. 


1736.] 


GENERAL   DISTRESS. WEST    CHURCH. 


601 


Jan.  3. 


The  cause  of  sufferings  at  this  period  appears  mainly  to  have  been 
occasioned  by  the  bad  state  of  the  currency  of  the  country,  by  which 
its  business  relations  were  deranged  in  a  manner  not  easily  conceivable 
at  this  day.* 

The  winter  of  1736-7  was  one  of  intense  cold,  occasioning  great 
sufferings  everywhere,  especially  among  the  poor  and  improvident ;  not 
a  few  of  whom  perished  from  the  effects  of  its  severity.  Sermons  were 
preached  upon  the  occasion,  some  of  which  were  published.         v 

The  West  Church  was  organized  this 
year,  at  the  instigation,  it  was  said,  of 
the  Rev.  William  Hooper,  who,  on  the  18th 
of  May  following,  was  ordained  over  it.  He 
preached  his  ordination  Sermon,  Mr.  Foxcroft 
=  and  Mr.  Sewall  made  prayers,  Mr.  Prince  gave 
the  Charge,  and  Dr.  Colman  the  Right  Hand 
of  Fellowship.! 

Mr.  Hooper  continued  in  his  office  about 
nine  years,  when,  having  embraced  Episcopacy, 
he  abruptly  left  the  Church,  and  went  to  Eng- 
land to  receive  ordination  in  the  established 
Church. J  He  was  afterwards  Pastor  of  Trinity  Church,  which  station 
he  held  till  his  death  in  1767,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-five.  He  was 
native  of  Edenham,  in  Scotland,  possessed  more  than  ordinary  powers 
of  mind,  of  a  noble  aspect,  an  eloquent  and  popular  preacher.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Dennie,  an  eminent  merchant.  His 
son  William,  the  oldest  of  five  children,  read  law  with  James  Otis,  set- 


THB  WEST  CHURCH. 


*  Something  may  be  gathered  from  Hutch- 
inson's History  relative  to  the  currency  diffi- 
culties, but  he  jumps  entirely  over  the  pe- 
riod from  1733  to  1737,  the  years  of  the 
greatest  trouble.  From  Dr.  Colman's  Fast 
Sermon  some  valuable  hints  may  be  obtained 
upon  this  particular  period.  I  have  room  but 
for  the  following  brief' extracts  :  "  And  now, 
my  honoured  Fathers,  having  said  enough  to 
raise  your  just  detestation  of  the  sin  of  injus- 
tice, and  to  excite  your  compassions  to  your 
sinful,  suffering  people,  may  the  righteous  God 
direct  you  what  should  or  can  be  done  by  you 
in  the  present  unhappy  juncture  of  our  affairs." 
—  "It  ought  to  be  very  pleasing  to  us,  and  we 
should  be  very  thankful  to  God  for  it,  that  we 
have  a  Governour  who  can  heartily  joyn  with 
us,  and  go  before  us  in  seeking  to  God  for  help 
in  this  open  manner."  —  "  I  will  presume  to 
propose  to  the  honourable  Court,  that  if  there 
should  sooner  or  later  come  any  great  loss, 
thro'  the  miserable  pass  that  our  tatter'd 
Bills  of  Credit  are  come  to,  will  it  not  be 
highly  just  that  the  Public  should  bear  it  in  an 
equal  tax  ?  as  I  saw  the  damage  easily  borne 
and  repair'd  by  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  the 
Parliament  of  England,  when  their  coin  was 

76 


redue'd  to  a  like  scandalous  state,  that  our 
currency  now  is,  Anno,  1695."  The  historian 
of  Massachusetts  should  read  this  Discourse. 

f  The  Church  was  formed  by  seventeen  indi- 
viduals, whose  names  follow  :  "  Hugh  Hall, 
William  Stoddard,  from  the  South  Church  ; 
James  Gooch,  Jr.,  John  Darroll,  John  Daniels, 
from  the  First  Church ;  Joseph  Ricks,  John 
Pierce,  Samuel  Sprague,  Joseph  Badger,  from 
Brattle-street  Church  ;  William  Williams,  from 
the  First  Church  in  Cambridge  ;  Ephraim  Cope- 
land,  Abijah  Adams,  John  Scot,  from  the  New 
North  ;  William  More,  from  the  North 
Church  ;  James  Watson,  Robert  Watt,  John 
Moffatt,  noncommunicants." 

J  Dr.  Lowell's  Cent.  Discourse,  p.  11.  My 
author  says,  "  Mr.  Hooper  resigned,  or  rather 
abdicated."  But  eighteen  members  appear  to 
have  been  added  to  the  Church  during  Mr. 
Hooper's  ministry.  Their  names  are  "  Thomas 
Chapman,  Ebenezer  Messinger,  Harrison  Gray, 
Alexander  Gregory,  John  Smibert,  John  Lit- 
tle, James  Scholie,  Henry  Berry,  Ebenezer 
Berry,  Jeremiah  Gridley,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Mr.  Franklin,  Stephen  Whiting,  William 
Winslow,  Mr.  Colburn.  Story  Dawes,  Robert 
Glen,  Mr.  Keys." 


602  WEST .  CHURCH.  [1736. 

tied  in  North  Carolina,  was  a  member  of  the  Congress  of  1776,  and 
signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

To  Mr.  Hooper  succeeded  Jonathan  Mayhew,  "  a  name,"  it  is  justly 
said,  "  which  cannot  be  pronounced  without  emotion  by  any  friend  of 
civil  liberty,  or  the  right  of  private  judgment  in  matters  of  religion ; 
second  to  none  in  his  profession,  whom  our  country  has  ever  pro- 
duced."* Mr.  Mayhew  was  ordained  June  17,  1747,  on  which  occa- 
sion the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Gay,  of  Hingham,  preached  the  Sermon.  The 
Rev.  Experience  Mayhew,  father  of  the  candidate,  gave  the  Charge, 
and  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Prescott,  of  Salem,  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellow- 
ship. His  ministry  continued  about  nineteen  years,  when  it  was  termi- 
nated by  his  sudden  death,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  1766.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday,  Dr.  Chauncy  preached  a  funeral  Discourse  in  the  West 
Church,  and  six  weeks  after,  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Browne,  of  Hingham, 
preached  another,  both  of  which  were  printed. 

'  The  next  Minister  of  the  West  Society  was  the  Rev.  Simeon  Howard, 
who  was  ordained  on  the  sixth  of  May,  1761.  He  died  August  14th, 
1804,  aged  seventy-one.     He  was  a  native  of  Bridgewater.f 

The  Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  a  native  of  Boston,  succeeded  Mr.  How- 
ard, and  was  ordained  January  first,  1806  ;  Eliphalet  Porter,  of  Rox- 
bury,  preached  the  ordination  sermon.  Dr.  Lowell  is  one  of  the  pres- 
ent Pastors.  On  the  first  of  March,  1837,  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Augustus 
Bartol  was  ordained  as  junior  pastor  of  the  same  Church. 

The  formation  of  a  Society  at  what  was  then  called  West  or  New 
Boston,  had  been  more  than  a  year  in  agitation,  when  the  Church  was 
formed,  and  the  frame  of  a  Meeting-house  had  been  set  up  about  the 
first  week  in  September,  1736  ;  but  it  was  not  finished  until  the  fol- 
lowing April.  It  was  of  wood,  and  had  a  steeple.  In  1775,  the 
British  used  it  for  a  barrack,  and  took  down  the  steeple,  because  it 
had  been  used,  as  was  said,  by  the  Rebels,  to  make  signals  in  to 
their  friends  in  Cambridge.  The  old  or  first  house  was  taken  down  in 
March,  1806,  and  on  the  fourth  of  April  following  the  corner-stone  of 
the  present  edifice  was  laid,  which  was  ready  for  dedication  on  the  day 
of  the  annual  Thanksgiving  of  the  same  year.  It  was  furnished  with 
an  Organ  in  1817.  It  stands  in  Lynde-street,  fronting  on  Cambridge, 
with  a  beautiful  open  square  before  it.      In  this  square,  which  has 

*  Dr.  Mayhew  died  at  the  early  age  of  forty-  ministry  among  the  Aboriginal  Natives  for  45 
six.  He  was  born  on  Martha's  Vineyard  in  years  successively,  and  had  spent  of  his  own 
1720,  was  grandson  of  Mr.  John  Mayhew,  of  estate  about  £1500,  by  which  he  was  brought 
that  place,  who  died  in  1698,  aged  37  ;  great-  into  great  straits  and  difficulties."  Dr.  May- 
grandson  of  Thomas  Mayhew,  who  was  the  hew's  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Clark, 
only  son  of  Thomas,  the  original  emigrant.  f  During  Mr.  Howard's  ministry,  "  A  Col- 
This  (emigrant)  ancestor  of  the  Mayhews  lived  lection  of  Hymns"  was  published,  "more 
to  be  ninety-two,  dying  in  1681.  His  only  son  particularly  designed  for  the  use  of  the  West 
died  at  sea  in  1657,  aged  thirty-seven.  Dr.  Society  in  Boston."  It  was  a  duodecimo  of 
Mayhew's  father  was  the  author  of  the  "  In-  162  pages,  and  was  printed  in  1783.  No 
dian  Converts,"  8vo,  London,  1727  ;  who,  in  a  author's  name  is  given  in  the  work,  nor  is  there 
petition  to  the  General  Court  in  1739,  said,  anything  by  way  of  preface  or  introduction  to 
"  he  had  labored  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  show  whether  they  are  original  or  selected. 


1737.]         DEATH    OP   PRESIDENT   WADSWORTII    AND    ELISIIA    COOKE.  603 

recently  been  surrounded  by  an  iron  fence,  there  is  a  fountain,  and  it 
is  susceptible  of  being  further  beautified. 

The  subject  of  a  Work-house  had  for  several  years  been  agitated, 
but  its  expense  had  been  the  main  obstacle  to  its  erection.  Two 
years  before,  a  subscription  in  aid  of  the  object  was  circulated  among 
the  inhabitants,  to  which  some  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  persons 
subscribed  about  43G8  pounds,  chiefly  in  small  sums.  Thus  encouraged, 
the  Town  committed  the  matter  to  several  gentlemen,  with  instructions 
to  fix  upon  a  location,  and  to  recommend  such  building  as  they  judged 
necessary.  Accordingly  those  gentlemen  made  a  Report  at  the 
Town-meeting  in  March,  1737,  which  was  accepted  without 
debate.  The  location  recommended  was  on  Common-street,  on  or  near 
where  the  Granary  stood,  and  the  Granary  was  to  be  removed  down 
to  the  corner  of  Tremont  and  Common-streets. 

M  Harvard  College  suffered  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  its 

'  President,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Wadsworth,  who  died  on  the  six- 
teenth of  March,  aged  about  sixty-eight.  He  was  the  seventh  son  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Wadsworth,  of  Milton,  who  was  killed  in  a  battle  with 
the  Indians ;  or  who,  in  the  language  of  a  Sermon  preached  at  his 
funeral,  "  was  slain  with  others,  on  the  high  places  of  the  field,  bravely 
fighting,  at  the  head  of  his  company,  against  the  Indian  enemy."  His 
connection  with  the  First  Church  has  been  mentioned. 

A  distinguished  and  leading  man,  the  Hon.  Elisha  Cooke,  died 
ug"  in  August,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  He  was  the  son  of  a  former 
agent  of  the  Province,  the  Hon.  Elisha  Cooke,  who  died  in  1715,  and, 
like  him,  was  true  to  that  policy  which  led  to  the  Independence  of  the 
Country.*  His  son  Middlecott  Cooke,  Esq.,  was  many  years  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Suffolk.  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  Member  of 
the  General  Court  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  in  September  following 
John  Wheelwright,  Esq.,  was  chosen  in  his  place. 

*  An  interesting  notice  of  the  political  charac-   his  health  as  a  private  gentleman,  and  not  as 
ter  of  the  Cookes,  father  and  son,  is  given  by    Governor  of  this  Province,  and  to  this  I  am 
Hutchinson.  In  1734,  a  story  was  got  up  to  pre-   ready  to  make  solemn  oath, 
judice  the  election  of  Mr.  Cooke,  who  was  a  can-  "  Samuel  "Waldo.* 

didate  for  the  office  of  Councillor.  From  the  fol-  "  Tuesday,  7th  of  May,  1734." 
lowing  extracts  of  a  handbill  issued  by  Mr.  Ebenezer  Holmes  and  Benj.  Pollard,  "  being 
Cooke's  friends,  the  nature  of  the  case  may  be  present  at  Mr.  Waldo's,"  made  a  similar  state- 
learned,  and  the  manoeuvres  of  political  parties  of  ment,  to  which  the  three  made  oath  before 
those  days:  "Whereas  it  is  industriously  reported  "  Nathanael  Green,  J.  Pac." 
(as  I  imagine  with  design,  at  this  juncture,  to  Accompanying  the  above,  Gov.  Shirley  made 
prejudice  the  Hon.  Elisha  Cooke,  Esq.,  in  the  a  statement  over  his  own  signature,  the  pur- 
good  opinion  of  the  Freeholders  and  Voters  of  port  of  which  is,  that  he  did  not  arrive  at  Mr. 
this  Town)  that  on  Tuesday  evening  last,  being  Waldo's  till  the  healths  were  drunk,  but  had 
the  30th  of  April,  he  proposed  or  drank  the  heard  Mr.  Waldo  decline  drinking  Col.  Dun- 
health  of  Col.  [David]  Dunbar  as  Governor  of  bar's  health,  on  other  occasions,  as  Governor  ; 
this  Province,"  &c.  "  Now  these  are  to  certify  that  he  made  this  statement,  because  it  had 
that  Mr.  Cooke  and  several  other  gentlemen,  been  reported  that  he  heard  the  health  so 
being  at  my  house,  I  proposed  to  drink  the  drunk  on  this  occasion. — Original  Handbill  in 
health  of  Col.  Dunbar,  and  Mr.  Cooke  drank  possession  o/Mk.  J.  W.  Parker,  of  Roxbury. 

*  Samuel  and  Cornelius  Waldo  were  eminent  merchants  of  Swing  Bridge.    Lucy,  wife  of  Mr.  Saml.  Waldo,  died  7  Aug., 

Boston.      Their  place  of  business  was  for  a    considerable  1741,  in  the  38th  year  of  her  age.    Cornelius  Waldo  lived  in 

period  in  King-street,  near  the  Crown  Coffee  House.    About  Leverett's-lane,  now  Congress-street.    Judge  Samuel  Waldo 

the  close  of  1733,  they  removed  to  Merchant's  Row,  near  the  died  at  Falmouth,  Casqo  Bay,  Me.,  April,  1770. 


604  HOSPITAL  AT   RAINSFORD   ISLAND. CHELSEA.  [1737-8. 

This  year  is  remarkable  for  some  advancement  of  free  principles  in 
the  public  mind.  Quakers  were  to  be  exempted  from  taxes  to  sup- 
port the  Clergy,  provided  they  attended  their  own  meetings.  Large 
buckles  began  to  be  worn  on  shoes,  a  practice  which  continued  in  use 
among  some  aged  people  till  within  a  few  years. 

In  answer  to  a  petition  from  Boston,  dated  in  1735,  for  a  grant  of 
unappropriated  lands,  the  General  Court  ordered  two  Townships  to  be 
set  off  the  following  year.  This  year,  being  in  straitened  circum- 
stances, "  owing  to  the  decline  of  trade,"  those  tracts  of  land  were 
ordered  to  be  sold  at  auction.  In  the  mean  time,  a  third  tract  having 
been  acquired,  all  were  disposed  of;  the  first  to  John  Reed,  Esq., 
for  1020  pounds  ;  the  second  to  Col.  Joseph  Heath,  for  1320  pounds  ; 
and  the  third  to  Col.  Jacob  Wendell,  for  1320  pounds.  Towns  in  the 
Commonwealth  bear  the  names  of  Heath  and  Wendell,  but  they  were 
comparatively  recently  so  named. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Williams  died  on  the  tenth  of  January,  in  his 

Jan.  10.  sixty-third  year.*     He  had  been  a  Minister,  Physician,  and 

School-master.     He  was  Master  in  the  Free  Grammar  School 

from  1703  to  1734  ;  having  succeeded  Master  Cheever,  and  was  himself 

succeeded  by  the  celebrated  Master  John  Lovell.  f 

"  A  good  and  convenient  house  had  lately  been  built,  at  the  charge 
of  the  Province,  on  the  Island  called  Rainsford's  Island,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  such  persons  as  might  be  visited  with  any  contagious  sick- 
ness." Such  were  the  steps  which  laid  the  foundation  of  a  Hospital, 
justly  renowned  to  this  day.  J  It  is  under  the  joint  control  of  the  City 
and  State.     The  City  appoints  the  resident  Physician. 

At  the  May  term  of  the  General  Court,  "  all  the  lands  within 
the  Town  of  Boston,  heretofore  called  Winnisimet,  Rumney 
Marsh,  and  Pullen  Point,"  were  "  erected  into  a  township  of  the  name 
of  Chelsea."  This  separation  had  been  many  years  meditated,  and  the 
point  was  finally  gained  with  difficulty.  The  territory  now  set  off  was 
before  called  Number  Thirteen.  Noddle's  and  Hog  islands  were  not 
included.  § 

*  Mr.   Prince,  who    preached  his  Funeral  and  direct  the  Masters  of  all  vessels  coming 

Sermon,  says,  page  26,  that  "  he  was  very  dili-  near  them,  wherein  any  infectious  sickness  is 

gent  and  faithful  in  the  school,  and  greatly  or  hath   lately  been,  at   their   coming  in,  to 

beloved  by  the  scholars  for  an  agreeable  mix-  come  to  anchor  as  near  the  before  mentioned 

ture    of  majesty  and  sweetness,  both  in  his  House  as  may  be,  that  the  sick  persons,  and 

voice  and  countenance."  In  January,  1733-4,  everything  else  on  board  said  ship  that  might 

he  requested  to  be  provided  with  an  Usher,  give   infection,  may  be  removed  into  it  with 

in  room  of  Mr.  Jer.  Gridley,  and  Nathaniel  the  greater   ease   and    safety." — Laws,  661. 

Oliver,  Jun.,  was  appointed,  at  £80  a  year.  The  island  contains    about    11  acres  of  land, 

Mr.  Samuel  Gibson  succeeded  Mr.  Oliver  as  and  is  distant  from  the  city,  by  the  channel, 

Usher,  14  Aug.  of  the  same  year.     Mr.  Wil-  about  7i  miles. 

liams  was  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Oliver)        §  In  the  Preamble  of  the  Act  of  Incorpora- 

Williams,  and  was  born  Aug.    16th,  1675.  tion,  the  reasons  for  the  separation  are  thus 

See  page  293,  and  Boston  Records.  briefly,  and  at  the  same  time  comprehensively, 

f  Mr.  Lovell  had  been  one  of  the  Ushers  in  stated:    "Whereas    the    inhabitants  of  the 

the  school  "  for  some  time  past."  Town    of  Boston,  that  dwell  in  the  district 

J  The   General  Court  enacted,    "  That  the  called  Winnisimet,  Rumney  Marsh  and  Pullin 

Commanding  Officer  at   Castle  William,  and  Point,  lying  on  the  northerly  and  north-easterly 

the   Keeper    of  the  Light-house,  shall  notify  side  of  the  Harbor,  have  represented  to  this 


1738.]  church  music.  —  charles  river  bridge.  605 

There  had  been  for  some  time  a  duty  of  four  pounds  a  head  on  all 
Negroes  imported  into  the  Province,  but  means  were  found  to  evade 
the  law  requiring  its  payment,  which  led  to  one  this  year  more  strin- 
gent. Masters  of  vessels  bringing  in  any  Negroes  were  obliged  to  give, 
under  oath,  a  list  of  them  to  the  proper  Authorities  ;  which  list,  if  not 
found  to  be  a  true  one,  subjected  the  Master  to  a  penalty  of  100 
pounds.  Similar  obligations  and  penalties  were  also  provided  respecting 
Negroes  which  might  be  brought  in  by  land. 

This  Spring  occurred  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elisha  Cal- 
'  lender,  Minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  after  a  ministry  of  about 
twenty  years.*  "  He  was  a  gentleman  universally  beloved  by  people 
of  all  persuasions ; "  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Ellis  Callender,  of  Boston,  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Callender,  of  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  was  his 
nephew.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Mr.  John  Callender,  and  was  born 
in  Boston  in  1706,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  forty-two,  sincerely 
lamented,  f 

The  subject  of  Church  music  was  again  agitated  this  year.  It  appears 
that  the  singing  of  hymns,  "  of  mere  human  composure,"  had  begun 
to  be  practised,  and  that  the  practice  was  opposed  by  the  Churches 
generally.  J 

For  about  nineteen  years  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  much 
said  about  a  bridge  over  Charles  river.  The  subject  was  agitated  in 
1720,  but  was  doubtless  abandoned  on  account  of  the  large  amount  of 
funds  its  construction  would  require.  This  year  Mr.  John  Staniford 
petitioned  to  be  authorized  to  build  one  "  from  the  west  part  of 
the  town  to  Colonel  Phipps'  farm."  The  design  was  again  laid  aside, 
probably  from  the  same  cause  as  before.  § 

At  the  request  of  several  persons,  liberty  was  granted  them 
*"  "  to  erect  a  brick  wall  with  tombs  on  the  front  of  the  old  Bury- 
ing-place."  This  is  now  the  Johnson  or  Chapel  Burying-place.  The 
next  year,  "John  Chambers  and  other  grave-diggers"  represented 
to  the  Selectmen  that  this  Burying-place,  and  also  the  South,  or 
Granary,  "  were  so  filled  with  dead  bodies,  that  they  were  obliged,  oft- 

Court  that  they  labor  under  great  difficulties  it.     A   copy  is  in  the  library  of  the  writer, 

by  reason  of  their  remoteness  from  the  body  with  corrections  by  the  Author's  own  hand, 

of"  the  said  Town,  and  separated  by  the  River  {As  late  as  1744,  Dr.    Colman  said,  "I 

that  renders  their  attendance  on  Town-meet-  heartily  wish  that  no  Hymns  of  mere  human 

ings  very  difficult ;  and  whereas  they  have  a  composure    may  be    brought  into   the  public 

long  time  since  erected  a  Meeting-house  in  that  worship  among  us  in  any  congregation  ;  no,  not 

District,"  etc.  the  very  best  in  the  world,  even  those  of  Dr. 

*  See  New  Eng.    "Weekly  Journal,  4  April,  Watts   himself,    saving    such   as  are  a  para- 

1738.  phrase  or  version  of  some  part  of  Holy  Scrip- 

f  He  left  a  monument  to  his  own  memory,  ture ;  and  so  it  was  judged  by  the  Fathers  of 

which  will  endure  when  marble  has  crumbled  New  England,  as  our  Psalm  Book  is  an  abundant 

to  dust,  and  as  valuable  as  it  is  durable.     The  testimony." — Letter  to  Mr :  Solomon  Williams , 

mind  of   the   intelligent    reader  will    readily  of  Lebanon. 

recur  to  "  An    Historical  Discourse  on  the  §  Mr.  Staniford  asked  to  be  allowed  by  the 

Affairs  of  Rhode  Island,"  which  he  delivered  Town  to  obtain  aid  by  a  subscription.     On  the 

this  year  (1738),  it  being  the  close  of  the  First  12th  of  October  of  this  year  (1739),  a  Oom- 

Century  of   the  settlement  of  that  Colony,  niittee  to  whom    this  request  was  referred, 

My  early  pages  have  been  indebted  to  it,  as  coldly  reported,  "  that  a  Bridge  as  proposed 

will  have  been  seen  ;  and  no  one  can  write  sat-  will  be,  a  public  benefit,  and  that  it  will  be 

isfactorily  of  Rhode  Island  without  consulting  proper  for  the  Town  to  make  no  objection." 


606  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  —  LEGACY  TO  THE  POOR.        [1739. 

times,  to  bury  them  four  deep,"  and  desired  to  know  what  they  should 
do.*     The  Selectmen  were  desired  to  look  into  the  matter. 

John  Ruck,  Esq.,  having  been  elected  one  of  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  requested  to  be  excused,  he  "having  for  twenty  years  past  served 
in  that  capacity,  and  being  now  advanced  in  years."  The  Town 
excused  him,  and  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  long  and  faithful 
services. 

Gentlemen  appointed  to  visit  the  Public  Schools  reported  that  they 
were  generally  satisfactorily  conducted,  and  that  the  children  appeared 
to  be  advancing ;  but  that  in  the  South  Writing-school,  though  the 
scholars  and  their  teacher  had  improved,  they  thought  they  would 
improve  more  ;  that  there  were  in  the  five  schools  about  600  pupils  ; 
namely  :  in  the  South  Grammar  School  about  120 ;  in  the  North 
about  60 ;  in  the  North  Writing  School  about  280  ;  in  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen-street  about  73 ;  and  in  the  South  Writing  School 
about  62. 

The  widow  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Frizzell  f  (Dorothy  Saltonstall)  had 
left  to  the  poor  of  the  Town  200  pounds,  and  twenty  pounds  to  be  laid 
out  in  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  be  distributed  among  poor  children.  The 
subject  being  brought  up  in  Town-meeting,  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
were  directed  to  call  upon  the  Executors  for  the  legacy.  Mrs.  Salton- 
stall was  the  Executrix  of  Mr.  Frizzell's  will,  and  Thomas  Hutchinson, 
John  Ruck  and  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  Esquires,  were  Executors  of  her 
will. 

Christopher  Kilby,  one  of  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  in  the 
General  Court,  having  been  appointed  by  that  Court  to  go  to  England 
as  an  agent  for  the  Province,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cunningham  was  unani- 
mously chosen  to  take  his  place.J  The  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town 
to  instruct  the  Representatives,  consisted  of  Captain  Cunningham,  Mr. 
Hugh  Vans,  Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  Capt.  Benjamin  Pollard,  and  Mr. 
Middlecott  Cooke. 

*  Not-withstanding  another  Yard  was  after-  passed  an  act  granting  the  King  an  excise  on 
wards  established  on  the  south  part  of  the  spirituous  liquors,  wines,  limes,  lemons  and 
Common,  these  continued  to  be  used;  and,  if  oranges,  the  Town  "voted  unanimously  to 
their  condition  was  truly  reported  115  years  employ  him  to  appear  on  behalf  of  the  Town, 
ago,  and  no  doubt  it  was,  what  must  be  their  and  to  use  his  utmost  endeavor  to  prevent  said 
present  condition?  And  who,  knowing  these  Act's  obtaining  the  Royal  Assent,"  and  like- 
facts,  could  advocate  intermural  burials  ?  wise  to  be  its  Agent  in  other  matters.     This 

fMr.    Frizzell  died    10  April,   1723.     Dr.  action  of  the  Town  was  Jan.  3d,  1755. 
Cotton  Mather  preached  a  Sermon  on  the  occa-       The  name  of  Kilby  is  not  found  in  Farmer's 

sion,   but  nothing  is  to  be  learned  from  it  Register,  though  John  Kilby  was  a  resident  of 

except  that  he  was  an  honorable  merchant,  and  Boston  before  1700.     Kilby-street  was  named 

that  the  time  of  his  death  is  as  here  given,  in  honor  of  the  family.     Thomas  Kilby,  Esq., 

Mrs.  Frizzell  (Saltonstall)  died  4  April,  1733.  was  Commissary  of  the  King's  stores  at  Louis- 

%  Mr.  Kilby  embarked  for  London  soon  after,  bourg,  and  died  there  on  the  23d  of  August, 

where  he  resided  for  several  years.     He  was  1746.     At  the  time  of  the  great  fire  of  March 

called  the  "  Standing  Agent  "  of  the  Province,  17th,  1760,  Mr.  Christopher  Kilby  was  resid- 

and  was  likewise  the  Special  Agent  of  the  ing  in  New  York,  in  the  service  of  the  home 

Town.     Five  years  after  this  we  find  his  re-  Government.     On  hearing  of  the  distressing 

election  recorded,  at  which  election  he  had  102  fire  in  Boston,  he  sent  the  Town  £200  sterling 

votes  out  of  109.     When  the  General  Court  as  a  present. 


1740.] 


OLDMIXON  S   ACCOUNT. 


607 


CHAPTER    LXI. 


Oldmixon's  Account  of  Boston.  —  Gcoi'go  Whiteficld. — Visits  Boston.  — Preaches  on  the  Common.  — 
Accident  at  Mr.  Chcckley's  Church.  —  A  New  Market-house  —  Faneuil's  Gift. — Hall  named  for 
him.  —  Death  of  Peter  Faneuil. —  Cradle  of  Liberty. — Land  Bank  Scheme.  —  Shirley,  Governor. 
. —  His  Family.  —  Number  of  Inhabitants.  —  Samuel  Mather's  Church.  —  Second  Baptist.  —  Boston 
Marine  Society.  —  Magazines  begun.  —  Christian  History.  —  American  Magazine.  —  Death  of 
William  Cooper.  —  War  with  France.  —  Proclaimed  in  Boston.  —  Great  Arrival  of  Cannon. 

THE  Representatives  chosen  this  year 
ay  '  were  Thomas  Cushing,  Jun.,  Edward 
Bromfield,  James  Allen,  and  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, Esquires.  Mr.  Hutchinson  sailed  not  long 
after  for  England,  and  Mr.  Timothy  Prout  was 
chosen  in  his  stead. 

"  Sundry  of  the  inhabitants"  petitioned  the 
Town  that  they  might  have  the  privilege  of  en- 
closing a  small  part  of  the  top  of  Fort  Hill  for 
a  Bowling-green  ;  but  they  were  refused.  How- 
ever, the  next  year  Joseph  Clewly  was  allowed 
to  remove  his  Wind-mill  from  Roxbury,  and 
to  set  it  on  Fort  Hill ;  and  the  year  following  a 
vote  was  obtained  for  a  Bowling-green  there. 

Mr.  John  Oldmixon  corrected  his  work,  called  "  The  British  Empire 
in  America,"  this  year,  and  published  the  second  edition  of  it  in  1741, 
and  died  in  1742.  In  it  "  The  History  of  New  England  "  occupies  a 
very  large  space,  and  Boston  a  due  proportion  of  that  space.     The 


BELCHER.* 


*  For  the  copy  from  which  the  above  Arms 
are  taken,  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of 
Mrs.  Harriet  A.  T.  Lewis,  as  also  for  a 
fine  mezzotinto  engraving  of  Governor  Belcher, 
from  which  Mr.  S.  S.  Kilburn,  Jr.,  our  Artist, 
has  given  a  good  copy,  though  necessarily 
much  reduced  in  size.    For  good  biographies  01 


Y&A&T^) 


Gov.  Belcher,  see  Eliot's  and  Allen's  Diction- 
aries, often  referred  to  in  my  notes.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  Government  of  New  Jersey, 
after  he  was  superseded  by  Shirley,  and  died  at 
Elizabeth  Town,  Aug.  31,  1757,  aged  76.  His 
first  wife  was  Mary,  dau.  of  Lieut.  Governor 
Partridge,  of  New  Hampshire,  who  died  6  Oct. , 
1736.  He  m.  secondly,  Mrs.  Mary  Louisa 
Emily  Teal,  9  Sept.,  1748.  Mr.  Belcher  had 
all  the  advantages  of  education  and  travel, 
which    the    opulence  of  a  fond  father  could 


give ;  "  and  added  to  these  excellent  endow- 
ments of  mind,  were  a  peculiar  beauty  and 
gracefulness  of  person,  in  which  he  was 
equalled  by  no  man  in  his  day ;  and  there 
was  a  dignity  in  his  mien  and  deportment 
which  commanded  respect."  Mrs.  Teal,  his 
second  wife,  is  said  to  have  been  "  a  lady  of 
great  merit  and  a  handsome  fortune."  After 
the  Governor's  death,  she  resided  in  this  vicin- 
ity. Gov.  Belcher  had  given  directions  for 
his  remains  to  be  brought  to  Cambridge  and 
interred  there.  Accordingly  they  were  brought 
to  Boston,  in  the  end  of  November  following 
his  death,  and  deposited  in  a  tomb  in  that 
Town. — Harris,  Cambridge  Epitaphs,  173. 
There  were,  probably,  other  families  of  Bel- 
cher than  that  to  which  the  Governor  be- 
longed, in  and  about  Boston.  I  find  mention 
of  Joseph,  of  Milton,  "  a  great  grandson  of 
John  Gill,  1733."  This  Joseph  Belcher's 
father's  name  was  also  Joseph.  See  pages 
181,  196,  236,  293,  319,  384,  403,  514.  B61- 
chertown  in  this  Commonwealth  was  named 
in  honor  of  the  family  of  Gov.  Belcher. 


608  WHITEFIELD.  [1740. 

Town  contained  then,  he  says,  ten  Churcnes,  the  names  of  which 
he  gives.  Upon  the  "conversation  and  way  of  living  "  of  the  inhab- 
itants, he  remarks :  "  The  conversation  in  this  Town  is  as  polite  as 
in  most  of  the  Cities  and  Towns  of  England ;  many  of  their  mer- 
chants having  traded  into  Europe,  and  those  that  stayed  at  home 
having  the  advantage  of  Society  with  travellers  ;  so  that  a  gentleman 
from  London  would  almost  think  himself  at  home  at  Boston,  when  he 
observes  the  number  of  people,  their  houses,  their  furniture,  their 
tables,  their  dress  and  conversation,  which  perhaps  is  as  splendid  and 
showy  as  that  of  the  most  considerable  tradesman  in  London.  Upon 
the  whole,  Boston  is  the  most  flourishing  Town  for  trade  and  commerce 
in  the  English  America.  Near  600  sail  of  ships  have  been  laden  here 
in  a  year  for  Europe  and  the  British  Plantations.  The  goodness  of  the 
pavement  may  compare  with  most  in  London  ;  to  gallop  a  horse  on  it  is 
three  shillings  and  fourpence  forfeit." 

A  remarkable  man  had  made  his  appearance  in  England  some  time 
before  this,  who,  by  his  singular  zeal  and  eloquence,  had  made  much 
impression  on  the  religious  world.  This  was  the  Rev.  George  White- 
field.  A  visit  from  him  to  Boston  was  fondly  anticipated  by  some,  and 
by  others  such  a  visit,  it  was  thought,  would  be  productive  of  no  per- 
manent good.  There  was  in  Boston  no  lack  of  able  and  devoted 
ministers,  and  it  was  argued  that  a  man  like  Mr.  Whitefield,  might 
divert  their  followers  from  their  regular  worship,  which  diversion  in  the 
end  would  lead  to  a  distrust  of  their  ability  to  teach,  and  cause  a  gen- 
eral dissatisfaction  with  them.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  said  that  there 
was,  from  some  cause,  a  general  apathy  with  regard  to  religion,  and 
that  something  was  wanting  to  awaken  people  to  a  sense  of  their  condi- 
tion. Hence  there  were,  as  in  all  similar  cases,  two  parties ;  and 
eventually  the  leaders  of  those  parties  attacked  each  other,  the  conse- 
quence of  which  was  a  pamphlet  war,  carried  on  with  much  acrimony, 
and  to  a  length  that  can  hardly  be  imagined  at  this  day,  unless  by  those 
who  have  met  with  their  instruments  of  warfare.*  Mr.  Whitefield 
himself,  being  the  cause  of  the  controversy,  had  to  bear  the  brunt  of 
it.  f  And  notwithstanding  the  matter  was  then  thought  to  be  one  of 
immense  moment,  few  probably  in  this  age  care  to  inquire  which  party 
had  the  advantage. 

g  lg  Mr.  Whitefield  paid  a  second  visit  to  Gen.  Oglethorpe's  Col- 
*  ony  of  Georgia  in  1739  ;  thence  he  travelled  by  land  to 
Boston,  where  he  arrived  in  September  of  this  year.  As  he  approached 
the  Town  he  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  gentlemen,  who  conducted  him 
to  lodgings.  |    He  was  now  only  in  his  twenty-sixth  year,  and  it  is 

*  I  know  not  the  number  of  those  pamph-  f  Writing    tracts   defending  himself    must 

lets,  but  I  have  found  about  thirty  in  my  own  have  absorbed  much  of  his  time,  as  they  are 

collection.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft,  and  sev-  very  numerous,  and  some  of  them  not  incon- 

eralof  the  Country  Ministers,  wrote  in  "  vin-  siderable    in    bulk.     They  were   usually    in 

dication  "  of  Mr.    Whitefield,   among  whom  quarto,  as  were  those  of  his  adversaries, 

the  Rev.  William    Balch,    of  Bradford,  waa  {  "  Next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  Dr.  Sewall 

conspicuous  ;    while   Dr.    Ohauncy    and    Dr.  and  I  made  him  a  visit ;  found  several  Minis- 

Wigglesworth  with  many  others  wrote  against  ters  and  other    gentlemen    of  the  Town  with 

him.  him,  and  that  Dr.    Colman  and  Mr.  Cooper 


1740.]  wiiitefield's  visit.  609 

doubtless  true  that  few  men  have  since  lived,  who,  at  so  early  an  age, 

have  acquired  so  wide  a  reputation  as  a  preacher.* 

„  The  next  day  he  preached  in  Brattle-street  Meeting-house, 

'  "  to  a  vast  concourse  of  people  ;  "  the  next  morning  in  the  Old 
South,  but  as  the  number  which  could  not  gain  admittance  there  was  far 
greater  than  that  within,  he  preached  in  the  afternoon  on  the  Common 
to  a  great  number. 
g  The  Sunday  following,  in  the  morning,  he  went  to  hear  Dr. 

'  Colman  preach,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  preached  at  the  Old 
Brick  ;  but  there  was  such  dissatisfaction  among  the  multitude  without, 
that  the  Preacher  led  them  to  the  Common,  where  he  was  heard  by  from 
8,000  to  10,000  persons,  as  was  supposed. 

9  On  the  morning  of  Monday  he  preached  at  Mr.  Webb's 
J"  Church,  and  proposed  to  preach  at  Mr.  Checkley's  in  the  after- 
noon, but  an  accident  prevented  the  services.  The  house  being  densely 
filled,  a  noise  was  heard  in  the  gallery,  which  some  supposed  to  be  the 
breaking  of  timbers,  and  the  utmost  confusion  ensued  ;  some  jumped 
from  the  gallery  upon  the  people  below,  some  out  of  the  windows,  while 
others  rushed  for  the  doors,  regardless  of  all  consequences.  In  this  wild 
confusion  "  several  were  trod  to  death,  three  died  almost  presently,  and 
others  were  grievously  wounded,"  some  of  whom  died  within  a  few 
days  after,  f  Mr.  Whitefield  was  on  the  spot,  and  immediately  led  the 
vast  assemblage  to  the  Common,  and  there  held  forth  again.  He  con- 
tinued preaching  in  Boston  and  its  vicinity  with  increased  reputation 
until  the  second  week  in  October,  when  he  delivered  his  fare- 
well sermon  on  the  Common,  "  to  a  vast  assembly,  supposed  to 
be  20,000  or  more."  The  next  day  he  left  for  New  York,  where, 
and  in  that  vicinity,  he  preached  some  time.  He .  reached  Charles- 
ton, in  South  Carolina,  on  the  third  of  January  following,  and  on  the 
18th  of  the  same  month  he  sailed  for  England.  J 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Whitefield  from  this  vicinity,  the  people 
began  to  reflect,  and  the  excitement  induced  by  his  presence  was  grad- 
ually allayed  ;  and  some  who  had  welcomed  him,  and  believed  his  visit 
was  calculated  to  do  much  good,  changed  their  opinions.  For  a  time 
he  seems  to  have  carried  all  before  him,  and  the  Ministers,  in  order 
that  they  should  not  be  left  alone,  were  obliged  to  join  with  their 
parishioners  in  showing  their  devotion  to  him.     But  on  his  return  to 

had  engaged  him  to  preach  this  afternoon  in  ley.     So  remarkable  did  these  young  men  be- 

their  house  of  Public  Worship.     And  in  about  come  for  their  correct  deportment  and  exact 

an  hour  we   went   to  the    place,  which  was  method  in  all  their  affairs,  that  they  received 

quickly  crowded  with  two  or  three  thousand  the  name  of  Methodists.    This  was  the  origin 

people." — Prince  in   Christ.  Hist.,  ii.   379.  of  the    name   of  the    since  well-known  sect 

"  He  addressed  himself  to  the  Audience  in  such  bearing  it.     John,  the  elder  Wesley,  had  pre- 

a  tender,   earnest     and  moving    manner,  as  ceded  Whitefield  in  America, 

melted  the  Assembly  into  tears."  —  Ibid.,  380.  f  Rev.  Joseph  Sewall's  Journal,  in  "Wisner'a 

*  He  was    born  in  Gloucester,  Gloucester-  Hist.  Old  South,  p.  103. 

shire,  16  Dec.  1714,  at  the  sign  of  the  Bell,  J  Whitefield 's    Journal    (original    edition), 

an  Inn  kept  by  his  mother,  and  was  educated  Boston,  1741.     He  went  by  way  of  Northamp- 

at  Pembroke  College,  Oxford,  where  he  found  ton.     From  Philadelphia  he  went  by  water  to 

those  kindred  spirits,  John  and  Charles  Wes-  Charleston. 

77 


610  faneuil's  market  and  hall.  [1740. 

this  country,  in  1744,  his  reception,  though  warm  in  many  places,  was 
different  from  that  he  had  received  on  his  first  coming.  It  was  not  until 
this  second  visit  that  the  "  war  of  pamphlets,"  before  adverted  to, 
commenced.* 

To  be  as  brief  as  possible,  it  must  suffice  here  to  say,  that,  after  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  Ocean  seven  times  upon  his  pious  and  benevolent  labors, 
he  landed  for  the  last  time  in  this  country  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1769,  and  on  the  30th  of  September  of  the  following  year  he  died  at 
Newburyport,  and  was  there  entombed. 

On  the  whole,  it  must  be  confessed  that  Mr.  Whitefield  had  the  good 
of  his  fellow-men  at  heart,  and  that  if  his  labors  did  not  have  a  lasting 
benefit,  it  was  not  because  he  did  not  prosecute  them  in  all  sincerity.! 
"  The  Great  Revival  "  which  commenced  this  year,  and  which  spread 
over  the  country,  was  occasioned  by  his  preaching.J 

Notwithstanding  the  fate  of  the  late  Market-houses,  the  utility  of 
such  structures  was  allowed  by  a  large  class  of  the  people  of  the  Town. 
But  when  they  were  called  upon  to  build  a  Market,  it  was  hard  to  get 
a  majority  in  favor  of  it.  Thus  the  case  stood  for  several  years. 
To  relieve  the  Town  from  this  difficulty,  there  came  forward,  about 
this  time,  a  liberal  and  wealthy  merchant,  who  proposed  to  build  a 
House  at  his  own  charge,  and  to  make  a  present  of  it  to  the  Town. 
The  name  of  this  gentleman  was  Peter  Faneuil,  already  brought  to  the 
reader's  notice. 

,  Thomas    Palmer,    Edward   Hutchinson,    and   John   Osborn, 

'  Esquires,  took  an  active  part  in  this  business.  They  circulated 
a  Petition,  to  which  was  procured  340  subscribers,  which  was  pre- 
sented in  Town-meeting,  in  which  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Faneuil  was 
introduced.  §  And,  strange  as  it  may  now  seem,  that  gentleman's  lib- 
eral offer  was  accepted  by  a  majority  of  only  seven  votes  ;  367  voting 
its  acceptance,  and  360  against  it.  Such  was  the  slender  majority 
that  gave  a  Market-house  to  Boston,  and  a  Faneuil  Hall  to  the  United 
States.  || 

*  He  arrived  at  Pascataqua,  in  New  Hamp-  his  thousand  pounds  a  day  would  sink  into  in- 
shire,  in  the  ship  Wilmington,  Capt.  Darling,    significance. 

While  on  his  passage  he  wrote  a  pamphlet  in  J  The  following  remarks  of  Dr.  Colman 
answer  to  one  by  Dr.  Smallbroke,  Bishop  of  have  reference  to  that  Revival :  "Whoever  of 
Litchfield,  and  soon  after  he  arrived  he  wrote  us  went  early  and  too  suddenly  into  a  good 
another  in  answer  to  Dr.  Chauncy.  This  is  opinion  of  the  transports  of  weak  people  and 
dated  Portsmouth,  19  Nov.,  1744,  while  its  children,  in  the  beginning  of  the  work  of  God 
Preface  is  dated  Boston,  Jan.  18th,  1744-5.        which  we  still   judge  has   been  among  us  in 

f  Dr.  Douglass,  who  was  writing  his  work  many  places  ;  let  us  look  back  with  humility, 
on  the  Colonies  at  the  time  Mr.  Whitefield  even  in  the  conscience  of  our  integrity 
was  here,  speaks  of  him  as  a  "  vagrant  en-  therein,  and  not  be  ashamed  to  confess  our 
thusiast,  with  an  ill-pointed  zeal,  by  whom  inadvertence  and  imprudence  in  not  being 
poor  deluded  tradesmen  and  laborers  (whose  more  aware  of  the  tendency  of  those  extraor- 
time  is  their  only  estate)  are  called  off  to  his  dinaries  and  irregularities,  unto  these  errors 
exhortations,  to  the  private  detriment  of  their  and  extravagancies  of  others."  —  Letter  to  Mr. 
families,   and  great   damage  to  the    Public ;    Williams,  of  Lebanon. 

thus,  perhaps,  every  exhortation  of  his  was  §  The  meeting  was  so  large  that  it  was  found 
about  £1000  damage  to  Boston."  —  Sum-  necessary  to  adjourn  to  Brattle-street  Meeting- 
jnary,  i.  249-50.     Had  the  Doctor  lived  in  our   house. 

time,  and  witnessed  the  flocking  after  Mafiit,  ||  It  is  quite  doubtful  if  Mr.  Faneuil's  gift 
Miller,  and  others  which  might  be  mentioned,    had  not  been  refused,  had  not  the   following 


1740.] 


FANEUIL   HALL. 


611 


1742. 


About  two  years  elapsed  before  it  was  finished  ;*  and  then 
J3epkl3.  in  a  Town-meeting  held  in  it,  it  was  reported,  that  in  pursuance 
of  the  vote  of  1740,  Mr.  Faneuil  had,  "  at  a  very  great  ex- 
pense, erected  a  noble  structure,  far  exceeding  his  first  proposal, 
inasmuch  as  it  contains  not  only  a  large  and  sufficient  accommodation 
for  a  Market-place,  but  has  also  superadded  a  spacious  and  most  beau- 
tiful Town-hall  over  it,  and  several  other  convenient  rooms,  which  may 
prove  very  beneficial  to  the  Town,  for  offices,  or  otherwise  ;  and,  the 
said  building  being  now  finished,  has  delivered  possession  thereof  to  the 
Selectmen  for  the  use  of  the  Town." 

It  was,  on  motion  of  the  Hon.  John  Jeffries,  then  voted,  that  "the 
Town  do,  with  the  utmost  gratitude,  receive  and  accept  this  most  gen- 
erous and  noble  benefaction."  The  Moderator  of  the  Meeting,  "  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Cushing,  the  Hon.  Adam  Winthrop,  Edward  Hutchinson, 
Ezekiel  Lewis,  and  Samuel  Waldo,  Esquires,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq., 
the  Selectmen,  and  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  the 
Hon.  Jacob   Wendell,  Esq.,   James  Bowdoin,   Esq.,  Andrew  Oliver, 

Esq. ,  Captain  Nathaniel 
Cunningham,  Peter 
Chardon,  Esq.,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Apthorp,"  were 
appointed  a  Committee 
to  wait  upon  Mr.  Fan- 
euil,  "  and  in  the  name 
of  the  Town  to  render 
him  their  most  hearty 
thanks  for  so  beautiful  a 
gift."  On  motion  of 
Thomas  Hutchinson, 
Esq.,  it  was  also  voted, 
"  that  in  testimony  of 
the  Town's  gratitude  to 
Peter  Faneuil,  Esq., 
and,  to  perpetuate  his 
memory,  that  the  Hall  over  the  Market-place  be  named  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  at  all  times  hereafter  be  called  and  known  by  that  name."     Then 


TANEUIL   HALL. 


clause  accompanied  and  concluded  the  propo- 
sal of  it  :  "  And  we  the  said  Subscribers  would 
humbly  propose  that,  notwithstanding  the  said 
building  should  be  encouraged  and  come  to  ef- 
fect, yet  that  the  Market-people  should  be  at 
liberty  to  carry  their  Marketing  wheresoever 
they  pleased  about  the  Town,  to  dispose  of 
it.'''  Such  was  the  prejudice  against  Market- 
houses  at  that  day,  and  there  are  those  now 
(1855)  who  doubt  their  public  utility. 

When  the  Committee  waited  on  Mr.  Faneuil 
to  thank  him  for  his  donation,  he  made  the 
following  remarkable  observation  ;  — -  that  "  he 
hoped  what  he  had  done  would  be  for  the 
service  of  the  whole  country."  Had  this 
benefactor  lived  but  a  few  yeara    longer,  he 


would  have  had  the  mortification  to  see  hia 
commodious  Market  entirely  abandoned.  So 
few  people  resorted  to  it,  that  it  was  shut 
up  by  a  vote  of  the  Town,  in  Sept.,  1747. 
In  the  March  following  a  vote  was  obtained 
for  its  being  open  three  days  in  the  week,  and 
some  time  after  it  was  opened  every  day  ;  but 
in  1752  it  was  closed  indefinitely,  after  a  sharp 
contest.  However,  in  1753,  with  a  view  to 
deriving  some  income  from  it,  it  was  opened 
and  the  stalls  leased. 

*The  work  was  begun  on  the  8th  of  Sept., 
1740,  and  finished  on  the  10th  of  Sept.,  1742. 
On  the  day  last  named,  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles, 
who  had  been  employed  upon  the  building,  de- 
livered the  key  to  the  Selectmen, 


612  FANEUIL   HALL.  [1740. 

Mr.  William  Price  moved  that  "  his  picture  be  drawn  at  full  length,  at 
the  expense  of  the  Town,  and  placed  in  the  Hall."  * 

The  building  was  of  brick,  100  by  40  feet,  and  was  finished  in  a 
style  of  elegance  which  rendered  it  an  ornament  to  the  Town.  The 
present  Faneuil  Hall  occupies  the  same  site  as  the  original  building, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1761.  It  was  rebuilt  by  the  Town  in 
1763,  and  it  is  this  building  which  is  above  represented.  In  1775  the 
British  made  a  theatre  of  it,  and  had  performances  in  it  until  they  were 
compelled  to  evacuate  the  Town  the  following  year. 

In  about  six  months  after  he  had  provided  Boston  with  a  Market- 
Mar.  3.  nouseJ  Mr.  Faneuil  died.f  His  age  was  but  forty-two  years  and 
about  nine  months.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Anne 
Bureau,  and  he  was  the  oldest  of  eleven  children,  and  was  born,  as 
were  the  others,  at  New  Eochelle,  in  the  then  Province  of  New  York. 
Upon  the  death  of  their  benefactor,  the  Selectmen  appointed  Mr.  John 
Lovell,  Principal  of  the  South  Grammar  School,  to  deliver  a  funeral 
oration,  which  he  did,  in  the  Hall  bearing  the  name  of  Faneuil,  eleven 
days  after  his  death.| 

The  Hall  and  other  apartments  in  this  building  now  became  the  prin- 
cipal place  for  transacting  the  business  of  the  Town,  and  it  very  well 
served  the  purpose  until  it  had  fully  recovered  from  the  disasters  of  the 
Revolution ;  except  in  cases  of  extraordinary  meetings,  when  it  was 
sometimes  found  necessary  to  adjourn  to  the  Old  South.  At  length, 
public  convenience  required  a  more  spacious  building,  and  in  1805  the 
enlargement  of  Faneuil  Hall  was  undertaken,  and  carried  through  in 
about  twelve  months.  By  this  enlargement  a  Hall  was  provided  seventy- 
six  feet  square,  and  twenty-eight  in  height,  with  galleries  on  three 
sides,  resting  upon  Doric  columns,  as  it  now  appears. 

The  magnificent  paintings  which  adorn  its  western  wall,  with  the 

*  Among  the  regulations  adopted  was  one  to  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Town, 

requiring  the  annual  appointment  of  a  Clerk,  It  has  been  copied  into  several  works,  and  will 

and  Mr.  Faneuil  was  desired  to  name  one,  to  be  found  in  Loring's  Boston  Orators,  in  the 

serve  till  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  and  he  re-  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  March,  1789,  p. 

commended    Mr.   Thomas  Jackson.     At    the  133,  and  in  Snow's  Hist.  Boston,  235.    March 

Annual  Meeting  the  next  year    (14  March,  14th,  1744,  the  Town  "  voted  to  purchase  the 

1743),  John  Staniford  was  chosen;  probably  Faneuil  arms,   elegantly  carved  and  gilt  by 

the  same  who  had  been  strenuously  exerting  Moses  Deshon,  to  be  fixed  in  the  Hall." 
himself  about  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over       The  first  meeting  in  the  Hall,  after  the  death. 

Charles  River.  of  Mr.  Faneuil,  was  held  to  perform  funeral 

f  His  residence  was  on  the  westerly  side  of  solemnities    over  his  remains.     This  was  on 

Tremont-street,  opposite  the  old,  or  Johnson  March  14th,  1743.  The  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy,  | 

Burying-ground,  in  an  elegant  mansion  built  D.   D.,  opened    the    meeting  with    prayer, 

by  his  uncle,  Andrew  Faneuil;  the  same  in  "  The  Select-men  having  determined  that  some 

which  lived  afterwards  Lieut.  Gov.  Phillips,  proper  respect  should  be  paid  to  his  memory, 

Upon  a  summer-house  belonging  to  it  there  had  appointed  Mr.  John  Lovell,  Master  of  the 

was  a  grasshopper  for  its  vane,  similar  to  that  South  Grammar  School,  to  do  the  same.     And 

upon  Faneuil  Hall ;  from  the  fact,  no  doubt,  then  the  said  Master  Lovell  having  taken  the 

of  its  representing  the  crest  of  the  Arms  of  Moderator's  seat,  which  was  hung  in  mourn- 

Faneuil.  ing  cloth,  made  an  handsome  Oration  on  the 

J  Though  there  is    nothing    remarkable  in  death  of  the  said  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.,  to  the 

Mr.  Lovell 's    oration,  the  occasion  was  suffi-  great    acceptance    of    the    Town."  —  Town 

cient  to  give  it  importance,  and  it  was  ordered  Records. 


1740.]  LAND   BANK   SCHEME.  613 

exception  of  that  of  the  founder,*  have  been  added  from  time  to  time  ; 
among  which  none  appear  more  appropriate  than  that  of  Samuel 
Adams,  who,  of  all  others,  was  the  chief  cause  of  its  being  immortalized 
as  the  Cradle  of  Liberty.  A  few  days  after  the  funeral  oration  on 
Mr.  Faneuil,  Governor  Shirley  informed  the  Town,  through  the  Select- 
men, that  "  he  had  received  his  Majesty's  picture  from  the  Lord  Cham- 
berlain [the  Duke  of  Grafton],  and  that  he  intended  to  present  it  to  the 
Town  to  be  hung  up  in  Faneuil  Hall."  A  vote  of  thanks  was 
conveyed  to  him  by  a  Committee  raised  for  that  purpose,  and  not 
long  after  the  portrait  of  George  the  Second  was  placed  in  the  Hall. 

A  "  Manufactory  Company "  was  formed  in  Boston  this 
p  '  year  ;  its  object  being  "  for  the  ease  of  trade  and  commerce," 
as  its  projectors  alleged  ;  to  accomplish  which  they  were  to  issue 
150,000  pounds  in  bills  of  credit,  to  be  called  "Manufactory  Bills." 
This  was  a  revival  of  a  scheme  for  private  banking,  strongly  urged  in 
1713,  but  which  was  then  prevented  from  being  carried  into  effect  by 
the  governmental  issue  of  paper  money.  This  was  called  the  "  Land 
Bank  Scheme,"  because  land  was  pledged  for  the  redemption  of  the 
bills.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  the  historian,  the  inveterate  opposer  of  all 
paper-money  projects,  opposed  this  with  all  his  ability  ;  but  it  went  into 
operation,  and  although  it  terminated  quite  as  well,  if  not  better,  than 
any  other  paper-money  affair  hitherto,  yet  Mr.  Hutchinson's  hostility  to 
it  prevented  his  taking  a  candid  view  of  the  subject,  or  treating  its  pro- 
jectors with  respectful  consideration  in  his  history. f 

Governor  Belcher  was  superseded  by  William  Shirley,  Esq., 

and  Henry  Frankland,  Esq., J  was  made  Collector  of  the  Port.  Mr. 

Shirley  was  a  lawyer,   and  came  originally  from  Sussex,  but  he  had 

lived  in  Boston  about  seven  years,  and  was  esteemed  for  his  gentlemanly 

deportment.     When  the  news  of  his  appointment  arrived,  he  was  in 

*  That  now  in  the  Hall  representing  Mr.  note  afterwards.     Leonard  was  the  author  of 

Faneuil  was  copied  from  one  of  smaller  size,  the  famous  Letters  signed  Massachusettensis, 

by  Col.  Henry  Sargent.     That  of  Washington  mis-attributed  by  the  first  President  Adams  to 

is  by  Stuart,  and  was  presented,  as  was  this  of  Jonathan  Sewall,  Esq.    Auchmuty  was  Judge 

Faneuil,  by  the  late  Samuel  Parkman,  Esq.  of  the  Court  of  Vice  Admiralty,  in  1728. 

f  As  I  have  not  met  with  the  names  of  the  |  Afterwards  Sir  Henry  Frankland.    He  had 

Undertakers  of  the  Land  Bank  in  any  publica-  an   elegant   residence   in   North   Square,   and 

tion,     they   are     here    introduced  :  — Robert  another  in  the  town  of  Hopkinton,  where  he 

Auchmuty,  Esq.,  of  Roxbury  ;  Samuel  Adams,  passed  his  summers  in  a  style  of  elegance  not 

common  at  that  day.     His  history  is  a  very 

romantic  one,  and  has  been  collected  by  the 

f                       /}  /J sJ sy sfj>jf  v"  Rev.  Mr.  Nason,  of  Natick,  a  native  of  Fox- 

/%s£{/t£^-&'£- — C?jL&L£*sz€nsy.  borough,  who  is  capable  of  giving  it  to  the  pub- 

/  lie  in  a  history  of  that  Town,  in  a  manner 
which  would  be  creditable  to  our  local  histori- 
Esq.  [father  of  the  Patriot],  William  Stod-  cal  literature.  Sir  Henry  Frankland  died  at 
dard,  Esq.,  and  Peter  Chardon,  merchant,  of  Bath,  in  England,  the  seat  of  the  family, 
Boston;  Samuel  Watts,  Esq.,  of  Chelsea;  Jan.  11th,  1768,  and  his  title  descended  to 
George  Leonard,  Esq.,  of  Norton;  Robert  Thomas  Frankland,  Esq.,  his  nephew,  a  Vice 
Hale,  Esq.,  of  Beverly  ;  John  Choate,  Esq.,  Admiral  in  the  Navy.  When  a  captain  in  the 
of  Ipswich,  and  Thomas  Cheever,  of  Lynn,  service,  he  commanded  the  Rose  frigate,  and 
gentleman.  —  Original  MS.  Indenture  between  was  in  Boston  in  1743.  Some  poetry  addressed 
John  Clap,  of  Scituate,  and  the  Directors  or  to  him  at  that  time  may  be  seen  in  the  Even- 
Undertakers.    Several  of  these  were  men  of  ing  Post  of  22  Aug.,  No.  420. 


614  GOVERNOR   SHIRLEF.  [1741. 

Rhode  Island,  acting  as  Counsel  for  Massachusetts  before  a  Court 
u  y*  of  Commissioners  assembled  at  Providence  to  settle  the  boundary 
line  between  the  two  Colonies.*  He  had  the  address  to  secure  in  his 
favor  those  who  had  opposed  Governor  Belcher,  and  also  to  uphold  the 
prerogative  of  the  Crown,  which  was  always  obnoxious  to  the  party 
which  may  very  properly  be  denominated  the  Republican  party.  The 
interests  of  the  Province  were  much  advanced  during  Mr.  Shirley's 
administration.  He  gave  the  people  something  to  do,  and  in  that  em- 
ployment which  fitted  them  to  oppose  the  measures  of  the  home  govern- 
ment. His  operations  against  the  French  were  of  this  character,  and 
some  of  them  were  peculiarly  fortunate.  He  had  a  large  family.  Two 
of  his  sons,  William  and  Thomas,  were  officers  in  the  army.  The 
former  was  killed  with  General  Braddock,  in  1755.  In  1746  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Frances  Shirley,  died,  and  was  buried  in  King's  Chapel  burying- 
ground.f  In  1756,  Governor  Shirley  was  superseded  by  Thomas 
Pownall,  Esq.  He  was  afterwards  Governor  of  one  of  the  Bahama 
Islands,  but,  returning  to  America,  died  at  his  seat  in  Roxbury",  March 
24th,  1771,  aged  about  seventy-seven.  His  remains  were  deposited  in 
a  vault  under  King's  Chapel,  the  corner-stone  of  which  church  he  had 
laid  in  1749. 

There  were  this  year,  "at  one  and  the  same  time,"  upon  the 
stocks  in  Boston,  forty  topsail  vessels,  amounting  to  about  7,000 
tons. | 

The  winter  of  1740-1  was  excessively  severe,  and,  to  mitigate  the 
sufferings  of  the  poor,  those  in  better  circumstances  contributed  large 
amounts.  On  a  single  Sunday,  in  the  month  of  February,  a  collection 
in  the  Churches  amounted  to  1251  pounds. § 

*  As  was  then  the  custom,  "  the  Associated  fired  every  half  minute,  as  were  those  of  four 
Pastors  of  the  Churches  "  waited  on  the  new  of  the  King's  ships  then  in  the  harbor,  and 
Governor,  on  the  17th  of  August,  and  pre-  several  others.  The  corpse  being  carried  into 
sented  him  with  their  congratulatory  Address,  King's  Chapel,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Commissary 
in  which  they  assured  him  they  should  pray  Price  preached  a  sermon  from  Rev.  xiv.  13  ; 
"  that  the  spirit  of  wisdom  might  rest  upon  and  on  the  morning  of  the  same  day  Dr.  Col- 
him,  to  enable  him  to  discharge  his  great  man  preached  at  the  Lecture,  "  in  audience 
duties  acceptably  ;  and  that  the  Churches  and  of  the  General  Court,"  on  the  same  occasion, 
the  College  would  meeb  with  his  favor  and  pro-  His  Discourse  was  printed.  Mrs.  Shirley  was 
tection  ;  and  that  he  would  cause  a  strict  ob-  said  to  have  been  a  Catholic,  and  that  cir- 
servance  of  the  Lord's  day."  He,  in  return,  cumstance  was  prejudicial  to  his  popularity, 
assured  them  that  they  might  depend  upon  his  J  Douglass,  Summary,  ii.  18.  —  Ship-build- 
endeavors  in  those  respects.  They  then  pro-  ing  rapidly  decreased  from  about  this  period, 
ceeded  to  Ex-Governor  Belcher's,  and  thanked  and  this  author  attributes  the  decline  "  to  Mr. 
him  for  "all  his  goodness  and  favor  to  the  Shirley's  faulty  government,"  which  is  a  very 
Churches,  and  the  Pastors  of  them."  The  prejudiced  view  of  the  case. 
Associated  Pastors  were  Benj.  Colman,  Joseph  §  To  show  the  relative  ability  of  the  Societies 
Sewall,  Thomas  Prince,  John  Webb,  William  at  this  time,  the  amount  contributed  by  each 
Cooper,  Thomas  Foxcroft,  Samuel  Checkley,  is  here  given:  —  Dr.  Cutler's,  £72  14s.  2d ; 
William  Welsteed,  Joshua  Gee,  Mather  Byles,  Mr.  Price's,  £134  10s.;  Mr.  Davenport's, 
Ellis  Gray,  and  Andrew  Eliot.  £133  3s.  3d.     These    were    Episcopal.     Mr. 

fShe  died  at  Dorchester  on  the  4th  of  Sep-  Welsteed's,  £58;  Mr.  Hooper's,  £143;  Mr. 
tember,  and  was  buried  with  much  ceremony  Foxcroft's,  £95  ;  Dr.  Colnian's,  £164  10s.; 
on  the  11th.  Great  numbers  attended  the  Dr.  Sewall's,  £105  ;  Mr.  Webb's,  £105  ;  Mr. 
funeral  from  the  neighboring  towns  ;  and,  Gee's,  £71  10s.  5d.;  the  French  Church,  £14 
during  the  procession,  which  was  formed  about  lis.  3d.;  Anabaptist,  £14  2;  Mr.  Moore- 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  guns  at  the  head's  [known  as  the  Irish  meeting],  £27  5s.; 
Castle  and  at  the  Batteries  in  the  Town  were  Mr.  Checkley 's,  £72  12s.;  Mr.  Byles',  £40 2s. 


1741-2.]        MATHER   CHURCH.  —  FIRST    UNIVERSALIST   CHURCH.  615 

The  subject  of  the  Fortifications  of  the  Town  had  been  constantly 
brought  up  in  Town-meetings,  but  no  effectual  action  had  been  taken, 
owing  chiefly  to  the  "  poverty  and  distress  "  of  the  inhabitants,  arising 
from  a  loss  of  trade  and  the  state  of  the  currency.  The  North  and 
South  Batteries  were  so  much  decayed  that  they  were  entirely  unservice- 
able. At  the  general  Town-meeting  in  March,  a  subscription  was  pro- 
posed among  the  inhabitants,  "  in  order  to  raise  about  20,000 
pounds,"  and  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  solicit  donations  ; 
but  to  no  purpose,  as  it  appears  from  the  Report  of  the  Committee,  who 
said  that  "  the  inhabitants  in  general  declared  they  would  not  subscribe 
until  they  knew  where  the  Fortifications  were  to  be  placed,  and  the 
Committee  who  were  to  lay  out  the  money."  The  consequence  was 
the  General  Court  took  the  case  in  hand,  and  the  old  Forts  were  event- 
ually repaired.  m 

For  the  last  nineteen  months,  "  taking  one  time  with  another," 
'  there  were  forty  persons  in  the  Work-house.     At  this  time  there 
were  fifty-five,  of  whom  but  ten  were  men. 
;wVe,       The  burials  in  Boston  in  1742  were  515,  from  which  it  was  reck- 

1719  ' 

'  oned  that  there  were  about  18,000  inhabitants.*  This  computation 
was  based  upon  the  notion  that  but  one  in  thirty-five  dies  per  annum, 
which  was  not  then  very  near  the  truth,  probably.  Sir  William  Petty 
had  about  this  time  concluded  that  one  in  thirty,  in  cities,  was  a  fair 
estimate.  There  were,  however,  now  in  the  Town  1200  widows,  all  but 
200  of  whom  were  in  indigent  circumstances  ;  in  the  Alms-house  were 
111  inmates,  in  the  Work-house,  thirty-six;  Negroes,  1514.  The 
dwelling-houses  numbered  1719  ;  warehouses,  116 ;  horses,  418 ; 
cows,  141. 

The  Church  known  as  Mr.  Samuel  Mather's  Church  was  formed  this 
year.  Mr.  Mather  had  been  Minister  in  the  Old  North  about  nine  years, 
when,  in  February,  1741,  he  asked  a  dismission  from  it.  The  Church 
at  first  refused  to  grant  it ;  but  in  October  of  that  year,  the  matter 
having  been  submitted  to  a  Council,  a  dismission  was  granted.  With 
Mr.  Mather  about  thirty  men  and  twice  as  many  women  separated  from 
the  Old  North,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1742  they  had  a  house  ready 
for  their  worship.  It  was  of  wood,  and  stood  at  the  corner  of  North 
Bennet  and  Hanover  streets.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Mather,  in  1785, 
his  Meeting-house  was  purchased  by  Universalists,  and  became  the  First 
Universalist  Church  in  Boston. 

Another  Church  was  formed  this  year  under  similar  circumstances. 
This  was  the  Second  Baptist.  Some  persons  belonging  to  the  First 
Baptist  complained  that  the  Pastor,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Condy,  f  was  an 

*This  is  Dr.  Douglass'  statement;  but  in  and  died  7  July,   1773.     Her  father  was  a 

another  page  he  says,  "  By  a  new  valuation,  in  claimant  of  Eastern  lands  under  Elbridge  and 

1742,   there  were  reported    16,382  souls  in  Aldsworth,  which  he  derived  through  his  wife, 

Boston."  daughter  of  Richard  Russell.     Mr.  Drowne  re- 

f  Mr.  Condy  died  28  Aug.,  1768,  and  was  sided  for  many  years  in  Boston,  and  was  often 

buried  in  the  Common  Burying-ground.     His  employed  in  Town  affairs,  especially  in  the 

wife  was  Sarah,  dau.  of  Mr.  IShem  Drowne.  management  of  the  Fortifications.     The  name 

She  mar.  secondly,  Dr.  "William  Lee  Perkins,  does  not  occur  among  Farmer's  early  settlers. 


616  SECOND   BAPTIST    CHURCH. MARINE   SOCIETY.  [1742. 

Arminian,  and  that  he  had  departed  from  the  original  Covenant  of  their 
Church.  The  case  or  accusation  being  propounded  to  him  in  writing, 
he  would  not  make  any  reply  to  it.  Accordingly,  James  Bound,  John 
Proctor,  and  Ephraim  Bosworth,  called  themselves  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  because  they  adhered  to  the  original  Covenant,  "  and  on  the 
same  day  John  Dabney  and  Thomas  Boucher,  then  Ephraim  Bound,  and 
then  Thomas  Lewis,  acknowledged  the  aforenamed  persons  to  be  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  and  were  admitted  members."  The  evening  following 
they  made  choice  of  Mr.  Ephraim  Bound  to  take  the  pastoral  Charge 
of  them.  As  no  Ministers  here  or  in  this  vicinity  would  assist  in  ordain- 
ing Mr.  Bound,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Warwick,  in  Rhode  Island,  and 
was  there  ordained  on  the  seventh  of  September,  1743. 

This  Society  held  its  first  Sunday-meetings  in  the  dwelling-house  of 
Mr*  James  Bound,  in  Sheaf-street,  which  were  begun  on  the  third  of 
October,  1742.  The  first  sermon  preached  in  their  Meeting-house  was 
on  March  15th,  1746.  Their  first  house  was  small,  built  of  wood,  and 
stood  upon  the  site  occupied  by  the  Church  in  Baldwin  Place.  It  was 
forty-five  by  thirty-three  feet.  Dr.  John  Grill,  the  well-known  Com- 
mentator on  the  Bible,  presented  the  Church  with  plate,  books,  and 
baptismal  garments.  Mr.  Ephraim  Bosworth  and  his  wife,  who  were 
of  Hull,  became  members  of  this  Church.  At  his  death  Mr.  Bos- 
worth bequeathed  it  a  valuable  house  in  the  north  part  of  Boston, 
and  the  principal  part  of  the  island  called  the  Great  Brewster,  in 
the  harbor.  A  few  years  after  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Baldwin,  the  So- 
ciety had  so  much  increased,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  their 
House.  This  was  completed  and  opened  for  service,  Thanksgiving- day, 
November  30th,  1798.  A  clock  was  given,  by  Mr.  John  Hoffman,  for 
the  front  gallery.  In  1810  the  increase  of  the  Society  again  rendered 
their  House  too  small,  and  a  new  one  was  erected,  which  is  the  present 
edifice.     It  was  dedicated  on  the  first  of  January,  1810.* 

The  "  Boston  Marine  Society  "  was  established  this  year,  but  it  was 
not  incorporated  until  the  second  of  February,  1754.  Its  objects  are 
set  forth  in  the  Charter,  most  of  which  having  been  assumed  by  the 
General  Government,  renders  it  of  less  importance  now  than  at  the  time 
of  its  formation.! 

*  The  Ministers  of  this  Church  are   thus  here  included.     Dr.  Baldwin  died  suddenly,  29 

given:  —  Ephraim  Bound,  or  Bond,  7  Sept.,  Aug.,  1825,  aged  71,  at  Waterville,  Me. 
1743,  to  18  June,  1765  ;  John  Davis,  9  Sept.,        fit  consisted  of  "  a  considerable  number  of 

1770,   July,   1772;  Isaac  Skillman,  3   Oct.,  persons  who  were  or  had  been  masters  of  ships 

1773,  7  Oct.,  1787;  Thomas  Gair,  23  April,  or  other  vessels."    They  associated  "to  im- 

1788,    27  April,  1790 ;     Thomas     Baldwin,  prove    the    knowledge     of    this    Coast,    by 

11  Nov.,   1790,   29   Aug.,    1825;   James  D.  communicating  their  observations, inward  and 

Knowles,  28  Dec,  1825,  7  Oct.,  1832;  Baron  outward,  of  the  variation  of  the  needle,  the 

Stow,   15   Nov.,   1832,   1   July,   1848;    Levi  soundings,  courses,  and  distances,  and  all  other 

Tucker,  31  Dec,  1848.  remarkable    things    about   it,  in  writing,  to 

In  Dr.  Baldwin's  Sermon  at  the  Opening  of  be  lodged  with  the  Society,  for  the  making  of 
the  Church,  Jan.  1st,  1811,  and  his  New-  the  navigation  more  safe ;  and  also  to  re- 
Year's  Discourse,  Jan.,  1824,  may  be  found  lieve  one  another  and  their  families  in  poverty 
interesting  facts  concerning  the  Ministers  of  or  other  adverse  accidents  in  life ;  and  for 
that  Church,  his  predecessors.  Also  a  more  this  end  had  raised  a  considerable  common 
particular  history  of  the  Church  than  can  be  Stock,  out  of  which  they  had,  from  time  to 


1742-3.]  MAGAZINES    COMMENCED. GREAT    CONVENTION.  G17 

The  Schools  had  all  along  received  the  special  attention  of  the  Town. 
Learned  and  efficient  men  made  visits  to  them,  and  their  reports  were 
anxiously  listened  to.  Masters  and  Ushers  were  constantly  petitioning 
for  an  increase  of  salary,  and  these  petitions  received  careful  attention.* 
A  periodical  was  commenced  on  the  third  of  March,  1743, 
MxJr432  called  "  The  Boston  Weekly  Magazine  ;  "  but  the  age  of  Mag- 
azines had  hardly  arrived  in  Boston,  while  in  Philadelphia  one 
was  started  two  years  before  this.  The  Boston  Weekly  Magazine, 
issued  in  octavo  form,  continued  only  four  weeks. f 

r  It  cannot  be  stated  with  certainty  whether  it  was  suspended  for 
want  of  patronage,  or  whether  another  work,  partaking  something 
of  the  Magazine  character,  took  its  place.  This  was  "  The  Christian 
History,"  undertaken,  no  doubt,  at  the  instance  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Prince,  one  of  the  principal  contributors  to  its  pages.  Thomas  Prince, 
Junior,  son  of  the  former,  was  its  publisher.  It  was  an  octavo,  eight 
pages  in  each  number,  and  issued  weekly,  on  Saturdays.  At  the  end 
of  two  years  it  ceased.  J 

On  the  25th  of  May,  at  their  annual  Convention,  the  Pas- 
tors of  the  Churches  published  a  "Testimony  against  several 
Errors  in  Doctrine,  and  Disorders  in  Practice,"  which  had  "  of  late 
obtained,  in  various  parts  of  the  Land."     It  bears  the  signature  only 
of  the  Moderator,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Eells.     And  on  the  seventh 
uy  "   of  July,  "  there  met  in  Boston  one  of  the  largest  Assembly  of 
Ministers  that  ever  convened  here,  to  bear  their   Testimony  to  this 
remarkable  Revival  in  the  Land  ;  when  ten  Ministers  in  this  Town  " 
joined  in  the  Testimony.  § 

On  the  12th  of  September  there  appeared  a  work  in  opposi- 
"'  sition  to  these  "  Testimonies."     It  was  entitled  "  The  Testi- 

time,  contributed  largely  to  the  aforesaid  pur-  that  £30  be  added  to  the  salary  of  the  latter, 

poses."     On  admission  to  a  membership  in  the  which  was  adopted. 

Society,  a  fee  of  twenty  dollars  and  twenty-  The  substance  of  the  Report  has  been  ex- 
five  cents  was  required.  tracted  here,  as  giving  the  best  insight  into  a 
*Mr.  Zacheriah  Hicks  had  the  last  year  Boston  School  of  1741,  that  can  be  gathered 
petitioned  for  an  increase  of  salary.  He  was  from  the  Eecords. 
IJsher  in  Mr.  John  Proctor's  North  Writing-  f  Thomas,  Hist.  Printing,  ii.  253. 
School.  A  Committee  having  been  appointed  JThe  great  object  of  "  The  Christian  His- 
to  inquire  into  the  merits  of  the  case,  reported  tory  "  appears  to  have  been,  to  collect  into  a 
that  in  said  School  they  found  about  280  permanent  form  an  account  of  the  great  Revi- 
scholars  ;  the  Master  had  £280  per  annum  ;  val  which  had  spread  over  the  Country  imme- 
and  the  IJsher,  £150  ;  that  the  children  of  the  diately  after  the  first  sojourn  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Town,  who  could  read  in  the  Psalter,  had  not  Whitefield,  before  noticed.  The  work  is  now 
been  refused  admittance,  and  no  entrance-  very  highly  prized  by  Antiquaries,  not  for  its 
money  demanded ;  but  of  the  children  of  rarity  merely,  but  for  its  numerous  obituaries, 
strangers  a  fee  was  taken,  and  there  were  about  biographical  notices,  and  other  facts  connected 
ten  such  in  the  School ;  that  for  firing,  poor  with  the  period.  It  was,  during  its  progress, 
children  paid  nothing,  others,  as  they  think  rudely  attacked,  both  in  newspapers  and 
fit ;  so  that  "  one  with  another  "  paid  about  pamphlets,  but  those  attacks  with  their 
5s.,  which  the  Master  insisted  on  as  his  perqui-  authors  have  gone  to  oblivion,  while  the  Chris- 
site,  and  could  not  subsist  without  it,  he  tian  History  remains  a  valuable  repository  for 
having  for  some  time  paid  an  Assistant  £l00  future  Historians  of  New  England, 
per  annum  out  of  his  salary.  Therefore  the  §  Christian  History,  ii.  412.  —  The  names 
Committee  were  of  opinion  that  nothing  could  of  the  "  ten  Ministers"  I  presume  to  be  the 
be  taken  from  the  Master's  [Mr.  John  Proc-  same  as  given  in  note  *,  p.  614,  ante,  though 
ter's]  salary  for  the  Usher,  and  recommended  there  are  more  than  ten  there  enumerated. 

78 


618  AMERICAN   MAGAZINE. DEATH   OP   DR.    COOPER.  [1743-4. 

mony  and  Advice  of  a  number  of  Laymen,  respecting  Religion  and  the 
Teachers  of  it.  Addressed  to  the  Pastors  of  New  England."  In  this, 
those  who  had  composed  the  Convention,  and  those  of  the  Assembly, 
were  accused  of  inconsistencies,  of  holding  to  different  principles,  cal- 
culated to  mislead  and  bewilder  the  ignorant,  and  to  set  the  Laity  in  a 
very  disadvantageous  light.*  The  opposition  to  the  Revival  Ministers 
probably  subsided,  as  that  excitement  died  away,  and  but  little  more  is 
heard  about  it.f 

Notwithstanding  the  feeble  support  extended  to  periodicals, 

'  another  was  undertaken  in  the  Autumn  of  1743.  Its  title  was 
"  The  American  Magazine,  and  Historical  Chronicle."  The  numbers 
were  issued  monthly,  contained  about  forty-five  pages,  in  octavo,  and 
appeared  as  well,  in  all  respects,  as  similar  works  of  the  time  in  Eng- 
land, excepting  it  had  no  plates.  Some  of  the  early  numbers  had  a 
cut  in  the  first  page,  intended  to  represent  Boston  ;  which  it  did  quite 
as  well  as  that  in  the  London  Magazine  represented  London,  probably. 
But  the  American  Magazine  had  a  brief  existence,  extending  only  three 
years  and  four  months.J 

On  the  loth  of  December  the  Church  in  Brattle-street  was  de- 
prived of  one  of  its  Pastors,  the  Rev.  William  Cooper,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty.    He  was  a  very  eminent  Preacher,  and  "  his  death 
was  greatly  lamented  by  all  the  Town  and  Land."§     He  had  been  a 
Colleague  of  Dr.  Colman  about  twenty-seven  years,  and  was  his  first 
assistant,  with  the  exception  of  the  Rev.  Eliphalet  Adams  for  about  two 
years,  1701  and  1702,  afterwards  of  New  London. 
1744      The  affairs  of  Boston  were  much  changed  during  the  Summer  of 
'  1744.  Its  regular  business  met  with  serious  obstructions,  growing  out 
of  a  war  between  England  and  France.     It  had  been  declared  in  Lon- 
don on  the  last  day  of  March,  and  it  was  proclaimed  in  Boston  in  two 
months  after.     All  was  now  stir  and  bustle.     Soldiers  were  col- 

'  lected  here  as  their  place  of  departure  upon  proposed  expedi- 
tions ;  and  privateers  were  made  ready  at  its  wharves  for  the  cruising 
service. 

*Read  in  this  connection  page  198,  vol.  i.,  had  never  been  converted.  —  See  Christ.  Hist., 

of  the  Christian  History.  ii.  407.    See,  also,  ibid.,  237  and  241.  — Shep- 

f  During  the  Whitefield  excitement,  one  Mr.  herd,  in  Backus,  Discourse  on  Internal  Call, 

James  Davenport,  "  a  wonderful  man  to  search  106. 

hypocrites,"  of  Long  Island,  came  to  Boston,       %  It  was  published  by  Samuel  Eliot,  in  Corn- 

and,  by  his  "  fiery  zeal,"  attracted  many  peo-  hill,  and  Joshua  Blanchard,  in  Dock  Square, 

pie  to  hear  him  preach.     He  expressed  more  and  printed  by  Rogers  and  Fowle,  in  Prison 

earnestness  than  Mr.  Whitefield,  with  far  less  Lane.     Dr.  Thomas  notes,  that  "  it  has  been 

prudence.      On  the  27th  of  July,  1742,  he  said  that  Jeremy  Gridley,  Esq.,  who  had  edited 

preached  on  the  Common  to  an  immense  as-  the  Rehearsal,  was  the  Editor  of  this  Maga- 

semblage.     From  some  circumstances  it  is  pre-  zine."  In  the  imprint  the  following  publishers 

sumed  he  introduced  the  singing  of  hymns  in  are  named:  —  "  B.  Franklin,  in  Philadelphia; 

the  streets.     His  conduct  gave  great  offence,  J.  Parker,  in  New  York ;  J.  Pomroy,  in  New 

and  several  pamphlets  were  written  about  it.  Haven ;    C.  Campbell,  Post  Master  in  Neio- 

At  length  he  came  out  with  "  A  Confession  port."    The  price  was  3s.  New  Tenor  a  quar- 

and  Retractions  ;  "  but  it  was  not  very  satis-  ter,  about  equal  to  two  dollars  a  year, 
factory.     His  principal  offence  seems  to  have        §  Christian  History,  i.  337  ;  American  Mag* 

been  a  refusal  to  unite  with  other  ministers  azine,  i.  176.     He  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy, 

here  and  elsewhere,  under  the  belief  that  they  Fine  portraits  of  him  are  extant. 


1744.] 


EXPEDITION    AQAINST    LOUISBOURG. 


619 


This  war  had  been  expected  for  many  months,  and  the  Home  Gov- 
ernment had  not  been  unmindful  of  the  wants  of  the  Metropolis  of  New 
England  ;  for  on  the  last  day  of  the  last  year  a  ship  came  in  from  Eng- 
land, which  brought  twenty  forty-two  pound  cannon  for  Castle  William  ; 
also  two  large  mortars,  with  their  carriages  and  beds,  shell  and  shot, 
with  other  utensils. 


CHAPTER  LXIL 


Expedition  against  Louisbourg.  — News  of  its  Capture  received.  — Great  Rejoicing.  —  Thanksgiving. 
—  Reception  of  Victors.  —  Great  Arrival  of  Specie.  —  The  Town  threatened  by  the  French.  —  Sun- 
day Observance. —  Deaths  and  Baptisms.  —  David  Brainerd.  —  Impressment  Tumult.  —  Commo- 
dore Knowles.  —  Fire.  —  Town-house  burnt. 


WENDELL.  $ 


THE  Expedition  against  Louisbourg  has  given  to  the 
year  1745  a  remarkable  prominence  in  the  History  of 
New  England.  It  was  planned  in  Boston  by  Governor 
Shirley,*  and  when  he  communicated  his  intention  to 
the  General  Court,  an  injunction  of  secrecy  was  en- 
joined.f  It  was  a  hazardous  undertaking,  and  nothing 
but  a  bold  and  sudden  stroke  could  ensure  its  success. 
The  originator  had  learned,  by  much  perseverance  and 
skill  during  the  previous  winter,  that  the  place  was 
in  no  very  perfect  condition  for  resistance,  which  put 


*  Much  credit  is  probably  due  to  several 
Boston  gentlemen  for  the  ready  support  they 
gave  the  Governor.  Among  them  may  be  men- 
tioned Col.  James  Gibson,  who  contributed  up- 
wards of  £500,  and  went  a  volunteer  in  the 
Expedition.  He  was  a  wealthy  merchant, 
whose  place  of  business  was  in  King-street,  and 
his  residence  was  at  Beacon  Hill,  and  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  Town.  The  "  Beacon  Hill 
Seminary  "  is  near  its  site.  —  Johnson's  edi- 
tion of  Gibson's  Journal.  In  this  work  it  is 
said  that  Col.  Gibsop  came  to  Boston  from 
London  (of  which  city  he  was  a  native) ,  about 
1700  ;  that  he  was  a  kindred  of  Bishop  Gibson 
the  Antiquary.  It  is  also  claimed  for  Col.  Gib- 
son, that,  but  for  his  encouragement,  Gov.  Shir- 
ley would  never  have  gone  forward  in  the  at- 
tempt on  Louisbourg  ;  while  an  English  writer 
of  respectability  says,  that  to  Robert  Auch- 
inuty,  Esq.,  "belonged  the  sole  merit  of  set- 
ting the  glorious  enterprise  on  foot."  —  Beat- 
son,  i.  265.  Auchmuty  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal Land  Bank  founders.  The  same  is  also 
claimed  for  Col.  William  Vaughan,  who  died 
in  London  the  next  year. 

f  When  the  vote  was  taken  which  was  to  de- 
cide upon  the  undertaking,  there  was  but  one 
majority  in  favor  of  it.  And  yet  it  is  matter 
of  astonishment  with  what  alacrity  the  people 
came  forward  to  enter  into  it.  One  of  the  most 


judicious  writers  of  that  day  says  :  "As  soon 
as  ever  the  design  was  known  among  us,  it  was 
a  marvellous  thing,  that  when  this  Province 
had  lately  lost  so  many  hundred  men,  volunteers 
in  the  sad  expedition  to  Carthagena,  not  one  in 
ten  being  alive  to  return,  their  wives  left  wid- 
ows and  their  children  orphans  :  yet  to  see  so 
many  likely  men,  and  I  conclude  the  most  of 
them  owners  of  lands  and  houses,  and  many 
religious,  in  all  our  towns,  readily  listing  even 
as  private  soldiers ;  with  the  small  wages  of  25 
shillings  [new  tenor]  a  month,  to  leave  their 
gainful  farms  and  trades,  as  well  as  parents, 
wives  and  children ;  all  as  free  volunteers  in 
this  hazardous  enterprise  ;  yea,  more  than  the 
Court  desired ;  and  that  so  many  men  of  dis- 
tinguished figure  should  cheerfully  oiler  them- 
selves—  even  four  of  his  Majesty's  Council  for 
this  Province,  among  them  the  Hon.  William 
Pepperrell,  Esq.,  the  first  of  the  Council ;  as 
also  the  Hon.  Dep.  Governor  of  Connecticut 
Colony,  and  divers  others  of  public  esteem  and 
character."  —  Thanksgiving  Ser.  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Prince,  18  July,  1745,  p.  23, 

%  The  progenitor  of  the  family  of  Wendell 
came  from  Germany.  Evert  Jansen  Wendell 
is  found  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  about  1645.  He 
came  from  East  Friesland,  in  Hanover,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  88,  in  the  year  1709.  Hia 
son,  John  Wendell,  was  the  father  of  Abra- 


620 


LOUISBOURG  TAKEN. 


[1745. 


him  upon  the  action.  Fortunately  the  country  was  ready  for  the  enter- 
prise, and  it  succeeded  beyond  the  expectations  of  the  most  sanguine. 
The  Governor  had  applied  to  the  Court  of  England  for  direction  and 
assistance,  but  no  answer  had  been  received  when  the  expedition  was 
resolved  upon  ;  so  that  it  was,  in  fact,  a  Boston  undertaking.  And  there 
are  not  many  parallels  to  be  found,  perhaps,  where  an  expedition  of  such 
magnitude  had  been  made  ready  in  the  incredibly  short  period  of  two 
months.  Within  this  time  there  had  assembled  at  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston  about  2070  men,  who  sailed  on  the  intended  enterprise  on 
the  24th  of  March.     The  details  of  the  expedition  belong  to 

"  the  History  of  New  England,  and  must  be  deferred  here.     The 
'         famous  fortress,  sometimes  called  the  Gibraltar  of  America,  sur- 

'  rendered  on  the  16th  of  June. 
Few  events  have  caused  such  rejoicing  in  Boston  as  did  the  reception 
of  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Louisbourg.     An  express  packet  arrived 

in  the  night  of  the  second  of  July,  bringing  despatches  from 
u  y  '  Lieut.  General  Pepperrell,  containing  the  account  that  that  strong- 
hold of  the  power  of  France  in  America  had  surrendered.*  As  soon 
as  it  was  day  the  astounding  intelligence  was  communicated  to  the 
Town  by  the  officers  of  the  military,  with  three  discharges  of  small 
arms  ;  "at  which  summons  the  people,  of  all  ranks,  arose  from  their 
beds  to  joy  and  thanksgiving,  and  each  one  severally  contributed  their 


ham,  who  came  to  Boston,  and  died  here  28 
Sept.,  1734.  His  ninth  child  was  the  Hon. 
Jacob  Wendell,  a  wealthy  merchant,  a  Colonel 
of  the  Boston  regiment,  a  Counsellor,  and,  in 
1733,  a  Director  in  the  first  Banking  institu- 
tion in  the  Province.  His  residence  was  in 
School-street,  opposite  King's  Chapel,  which 
was  recently  standing,  where  he  died  7  Sept., 
1761,  aged  70.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Oliver.  — 
(See  pedigree  of  Oliver,  p.  293).  Among  the 
children  of  the  Hon.  Jacob  Wendell  were  Ja- 
cob, who  m.  Elizabeth  Hunt,  and  d.  27  Nov., 
1753  ;  Elizabeth,  b.  1719,  m.  Eichd.  Wibird, 
of  Portsmouth;  Mary,  b.  14  Jan.,  1724,  m. 
Saml.  Sewall,  d.  21  Jan.,  1746  ;  Katherine, 
m.  Wm.  Cooper,  Town  Clerk  of  Boston;  John 
Mico,  m.  Catherine  Brattle  ;  Ann,  m.  John 
Penhallow,  of  Portsmouth  ;  Oliver,  b.  5  March, 
1733,  d.  15  Jan.,  1818.  He  m.,  in  1762,  Mary, 
dau.  of  Edward  Jackson,  whose  wife  was  Dor- 
othy Quincy.  This  Oliver  Wendell  was  the 
recently  well-known  Judge  Wendell.  His  dau. 
Sarah  m.  the  Bev.  Abiel  Holmes,  D.D.,  the. 
author  of"  American  Annals ,"  &c,  the  father 
of  Mary  Jackson,  who  m.  Usher  Parsons, 
M.  D.,  of  Providence,  B.  I.  ;  Ann  Susan,  who 
m.  the  Bev.  Charles  W.  XJpham,  of  Salem, 
and  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  M.  D.,  the 
Poet.  John  Wendell,  Esq.,  who  lived  at  the 
corner  of  Queen  and  Tremont  streets,  was  the 
oldest  brother  of  the  Hon.  Jacob  W.,  before 
named.  He  was  a  merchant,  m.  a  dau.  of  Judge 
Edmund  Quincy,  and  d.  15  Dec,  1762,  a.  60. 
Their  son  John,  b.  11  Sept.,  1732,  settled  in 


Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  d.  there  26  April, 
1808.  The  present  Jacob  Wendell,  Esq.,  of 
that  town,  is  a  representative  of  this  family. 

Margaret,  the  twelfth  child  of  the  Hon.  Jacob 
Wendell,  b.  20  Aug.,  1739,  m.  William  Phil- 
lips, Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  was  mother  of  the 
Hon.  John  Phillips,  first  Mayor  of  the  City ; 
and  grandmother  of  Thomas  W.  and  Wendell 
Phillips,  Esquires,  of  Boston. — W.  P.,  in 
Memorials  of  the  Dead  in  Boston,  &c. 

The  Arms  of  Wendell,  as  above  given,  "  were 
stained  on  nine  panes  of  glass  in  the  window 
of  the  old  Dutch  Church,  at  Albany,  of  which 
Evert  Jansen  Wendell  (the  grandfather  of 
Abraham  who  came  to  Boston)  was,  in  1656, 
Regerendo  Dijaken.  That  Church  stood  till 
1805,  and  was  then  demolished.  Judge  Oliver 
Wendell,  of  Boston,  in  expectation  of  the  event, 
had  written  to  Killian  Van  Bensselaer  to  pre- 
serve his  family  arms,  but  Mr.  Van  Bensselaer 
was  at  Washington  when  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion was  done,  and  to  his  sorrow  learned  that 
they  had  not  been  saved  ;  and  in  writing  of  the 
affair  he  said  he  would  have  given  100  dollars 
if  he  could  have  saved  them.  —  Munsell's  An- 
nals of  Albany,  120.  In  the  same  work  is  pre- 
served a  view  of  the  Church,  and  also  a  view 
of  a  house  built  by  one  of  the  Wendell  family, 
which  the  writer  remembers  to  have  seen,  and 
which  was  demolished  in  1841. 

*So  fatally  secure  were  the  French,  that 
they  had  not  the  slightest  intimation  of  this 
design  upon  them,  until  they  were  completely 
invested  by  the  forces  sent  for  the  purpose. 


1745.]  LOUISBOURG   TAKEN.  621 

part  to  wear  away  the  day  in  rejoicing.  In  the  evening  there  was  a 
very  handsome  bonfire  on  the  glad  occasion,  and  the  Town  universally 
illuminated,  with  all  other  public  testimonies  of  joy,  with  a  surprising 
decency  and  good  order."* 

-  .  lg  The  18th  of  July  was  celebrated  as  a  Thanksgiving  for  the 
'  occasion.  And  on  the  return  of  the  officers  and  others  to  Boston, 
Nov.  8.  f,ne  eYQi\t  was  again  celebrated  more  extravagantly  than  before. 
The  Governor  and  his  lady  had  been  at  the  scene  of  action.  They  arrived 
after  eleven  days'  passage,  in  the  Massachusetts  frigate,  Capt.  Edward 
Tyng.  His  Excellency  debarked  from  the  frigate,  which  saluted  him 
with  seventeen  guns  ;  and,  on  landing  at  the  Castle,  which  was  about 
four  in  the  afternoon,  that  fortress  gave  him  twenty-one  guns.  Here  he 
passed  the  night  of  the  eighth.  The  next  morning  he  proceeded  in  the 
Castle-barge  to  the  Town,  accompanied  by  the  Lieut.  Governor,  Spen- 
cer Phips,  Esq.,  and  other  officers  who  came  with  him  from  Louisbourg, 
being  saluted  all  the  way  by  the  ships  in  the  Harbor  and  the  Town-bat- 
teries. About  twelve  o'clock  they  landed  at  the  end  of  Long  Wharf, 
amidst  a  crowd  of  people,  who  gave  repeated  shouts  of  acclamations. 
Here  they  were  received  by  his  Majesty's  Council,  the  Speaker  of  the 
House,  Magistrates,  Gentlemen  and  Merchants  of  the  Town.  The  regi- 
ment of  militia  under  Col.  Jacob  Wendell,  with  a  foot  company  belong- 
ing to  Chelsea,  were  drawn  up  in  King-street,  as  were  also  "  the  Troop 
of  Guards,  with  another  Troop  of  the  regiment  of  Horse,  under  Col. 
Estes  Hatch,  and  the  Company  of  Cadets  under  Col.  Benjamin  Pollard, 
who  paid  the  proper  salutes.  The  new  set  of  bells,  with  all  the 
other  bells  in  the  Town,  continued  ringing  the  greater  part  of  the  day." 
An  illumination  and  fireworks  in  the  evening  closed  the  "joyous 
occasion."! 

The  Expedition  against  Louisbourg  has  been  called  J  an  "uncom- 
monly rash  adventure,"  wherein,  "if  any  one  circumstance  had  taken 

*  American  Magazine,  ii.  323.  ance  for  contingencies  had  been  made  by  the 
f  On  the  3d  of  January  following,  an  Ad-  projectors,  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  would 
dress  was  presented  to  the  Governor,  "signed  have  been  undertaken.  When  the  proposal 
by  70  of  the  principal  Gentlemen,  Merchants  was  sent  from  Boston  to  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
and  Traders,"  congratulating  him  upon  the  -  facts  became  known  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  he 
•reduction  of  Louisbourg.  In  this  Address  he  wrote  a  private  letter  to  a  friend  here,  in  which 
is  fully  recognized  as  "  the  projector  of  the  late  he  asked  several  of  his  shrewd  questions 
happy  Expedition ; ' '  and  his  ' '  zeal  and  vigi-  respecting  what  was  proposed  to  be  accom- 
lance  "  in  its  accomplishment  are  likewise  duly  plished  by  the  Expedition,  and  the  means  at 
acknowledged.  The  Governor's  reply  is  of  the  command  to  ensure  its  success  ;  what  were  the 
most  modest  character,  in  which  he  claims  means  of  annoyance  on  this  hand,  and  of  re- 
nothing  but  "  a  desire  for  the  welfare  and  sistance  on  that ;  if  the  vast  superiority  neces- 
prosperity  of  the  Province  in  general,  and  the  sary  to  storm  a  fortified  place  like  Louisbourg 
Town  of  Boston  in  particular."  Nor  have  I  had  been  well  considered,  and  so  forth.  Had 
discovered  any  confirmation  of  the  often-  the  present  allied  Sovereigns  of  Europe  seen  this 
repeated  story,  that  while  the  Expedition  was  letter  of  Franklin  before  attempting  Sebastopol, 
in  progress  and  the  result  uncertain,  he  spoke  they  would  not  have  had  much  excuse  for  the 
of  it  to  the  General  Court  as  "  our  Expedition  ill-success  which  has  attended  them.  But,  in 
or  your  Expedition,"  and  after  the  result  the  case  of  the  Louisbourg  undertaking,  the 
was  known,  as  "  his  Expedition."  accidents  were  all  on  one  side,  and  thus  the 
J  By  Dr.  Douglass,  to  whose  prejudiced  ap-  scale  turned  in  favor  of  New  England.  Yet 
prehension  Governor  Shirley  and  his  party  could  there  should  be  no  detraction  from  the  sagacity 
do  nothing  right  except  by  fortunate  blunders,  of  Gov.  Shirley.  Jealousy  and  detraction  should 
And  it  must  be  confessed  that,  if  a  due  allow-  die  with  their  propagators. 


622  FRENCH   DISASTERS. COMMODORE    WARREN.  [1746. 


a  wrong  turn  on  the  English  side,  and  if  any  one  circumstance  had  not 
taken  a  wrong  turn  on  the  French  side,  it  must  have  miscarried,  and  the 
forces  would  have  returned  in  shame." 

To  accomplish  the  work  an  immense  outlay  had  been  made  by  New 
England,  and  an  important  appendage  had  been  added  to  the  British 
Empire.  Consequently,  the  Country  looked  to  the  English  Parliament 
to  be  reimbursed  for  its  expenses  ;  and  after  about  four  years  the  claim 
was  allowed,  and  the  money  paid.  It  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  18th  of 
September,  1749.* 

The  loss  of  Louisbourg  was  a  severely  mortifying  blow  to  France,  and 
stupendous  preparations  were  made  to  recover  it ;  but  the  ill-fortune  of 
the  French  still  continued.  Constant  alarms,  however,  were  received, 
occasioned  by  the  presence  of  French  men-of-war  along  the  coast.  On 
one  occasion  an  attack  on  Boston  was  daily  expected,  and  within  three 
days  there  flocked  into  the  Town  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  men  in 
arms  to  defend  it.  On  this  occasion  unlimited  authority  was  given  to 
the  Governor  to  strengthen  Castle  William,  and  to  do  anything  he 
judged  necessary  to  defend  the  Harbor.f  This  alarm,  however,  soon 
died  away ;  the  mighty  French  armament  was  chiefly  destroyed  by 
tempests,  and  its  experienced  and  valiant  commander,  the  Duke  D'An- 
ville,  perished,  it  is  said,  by  his  own  sword. 

Meanwhile,  Boston  was  honored  with  a. visit  from  the  Naval 
'  Hero  of  Louisbourg,  Admiral  Warren,  accompanied  by  General 
Pepperrell.  They  arrived  in  a  fifty  gun-ship,  the  Chester,  Capt.  Bichard 
Spry,  with  a  blue  flag  at  her  mizzen  topmast.J  Their  reception  was 
similar  to  that  before  given  on  the  arrival  of  Governor  Shirley  from  the 
scene  of  the  late  action.  §  The  Admiral  probably  remained  in  Boston 
till  the  end  of  the  following  August ;  as  on  the  20th  of  that  month  he 
advertised  that  he  was  "  shortly  to  leave  the  place,"  and  requested  that 
if  any  had  demands  against  him,  to  present  them. 

The  late  large  assemblages  of  soldiers  in  the  Town,  holiday  celebra- 
tions, and  receptions  of  persons  of  rank,  of  course  tended  to  loosen  the 
reins  both  of  government  and  morals  ;  hence  more  stringent  regulations 
were  attempted  to  be  put  in  force.  A  disregard  of  Sunday  was  par- 
ticularly noticed.  || 

*  Douglass,  ii.  15.  —  Ifc  was  brought  by  a  Country,  well  armed,  appeared  in  Boston 
frigate.  The  amount  was  £183,649  2s.  ~l\d.,  Common,  some  of  them  (v.ff.)  from  Brook- 
contained  in  215  chests,  3000  pieces  of  eight  field,  travelled  70  miles  in  two  days,  each  with 
[dollars]  in  a  chest,  and  100  casks  of  coined  a  pack  (in  which  was  provision  for  14  days) 
copper.  There  were  17  cart  and  truck  loads  of  of  about  a  bushel  corn  weight." 
the  silver,  and  about  10  of  the  copper,  as  it  was  J  The  color  of  the  flag  denoted  that  the  Ad- 
conveyed  from  the  wharf  to  the  Treasurer's  miral  of  the  Blue  Squadron,  Peter  "Warren, 
Office.     The   payments  to  the   other  Colonies  Esq.,  was  on  board. 

show  the  amount  of  their  services  as  compared  §  In  the  News-Letter  of  June  26th  will  be 

Avith  this  :  —  N.  Hampshire  received  £16,355  found  the  particulars  referred  to. 

13s.  4d.;    Connecticut,      £28,863     19s.    Id.;  ||  "  The  Justices  in  the  Town  of  Boston  have 

K.  Island,  £6,332  12s.  lOd.  agreed  to  walk,  and  observe  the  behavior  of  the 

t  Memoirs  of  the  War,  p.  65.  —  This  alarm,  people  of  said  Town  on  the  Lord's-day,  and  to 

says   Douglass,  who  was  an  eye-witness,  was  give   public   notice  thereof,  that  persons  pro- 

"  in   the   end   of  September,  and   was   occa-  faning  said   day  by  walking,  standing  on  the 

sioned    from   [the    Duke]  D'Anville's    Brest  streets,  or  any  other  way  breaking  the  Law 

Squadron."     He  says  :  "  6,400  men  from  the  made  for  its  observance,  may  expect  the  execu- 


1746.] 


DR.    DOUdLASS. DAVID    BRAINERD. 


623 


j      4       At  a  Town-meeting  on  the  fourth  of  June,  Samuel  Adams, 
'  Esq.,  was  elected  a  Representative,  to  serve  in  the  place  of  the 
lion.  Andrew  Oliver,  who  was  chosen  a  Councillor. 

A  Packet  Schooner  began  to  run  between  Boston  and  Lynn.  It  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  Hugh  Alley,  and  continued  to  run  for  many 
years.* 

An  Act  was  passed  to  prevent  "  the  firing  of  guns  in  the  Town." 
The  number  of  deaths  for  the  year  ending  January,  1746,  was 
706  whites,  and  seventy-four  blacks  ;  there  were  baptized  in  the 
Churches,  573.f 

There  was  a  Thanksgiving  for  the  victory  of  Culloden. 
Taxes  in  the  Town  were  heavy,  and  caused  many  to  complain. 
Among  them,  Dr.  Douglass  protested  that  he  was  greatly  over- 
taxed, while  many  others  were  rated  far  below  their  income. J 

The  famous  missionary  to  the  Indians,  David  Brainerd,  visited 
, "  Boston  for  the  last  time,  being  in  the  final  stages  of  consump- 
tion. Aware  that  he  could  live  but  a  very  short  time,  he  was  anxious 
to  return  to  Northampton,  that  he  might  not  die  here,  where  much 
parade  and  ceremony  would  be  likely  to  take  place,  to  which  he  had  a 
strong  aversion.     Accordingly,  he  returned  to  that  Town  on  the  25th 


Aug.  14 
1747. 


tion  of  the  law  upon  them."  — News-Letter, 
12  June.  The  law  referred  to  is  that  of 
1692,  by  which  "  all  and  every  person  shall 
carefully  apply  themselves  to  the  duties  of  re- 
ligion and  piety,  publicly  and  privately  ;  " 
and  if  any  person  presumed  to  work,  he  was  to 
be  fined  5s.;  "  travelling,  unless  by  some  ad- 
versity persons  were  belated  and  forced  to  lodge 
in  the  woods,  wilderness  or  highways,  the  night 
before,"  to  pay  20s. 

*  Lewis,  Hist.  Lynn,  203. 

f  Nathaniel  Wardell's  term  for  using  "  the 
Jlngine  erected  for  weighing  hay  at  the  South 
part  of  the  Town,"  expired  in  May  ;  any  per- 
sons wishing  to  take  a  lease  of  it  were  requested 
to  apply  to  the  Selectmen. 

J  In  a  note  to  the  Assessors,  accompanying 
the  "Schedule  of  his  income,"  the  Doctor 
says  :  "  I  am  sorry  for  the  necessity  of  giving 
you  trouble,  from  time  to  time,  of  my  com- 
plaints as  being  aggrieved  in  my  Rate-bills. 
Last  year  you  abated  me  £66,  Old  Tenor,  which 
though  not  a  sufficient  abatement,  that  I  might 
ease  you  of  the  trouble  of  further  application, 
I  acquiesced  with  the  same."  This  he  handed 
in  on  the  23d  of  April,  and  as  late  as  August 
22d  it  had  not  received  attention,  although 
his  accompanying  note  must  have  been,  as  it 
now  seems,  very  satisfactory.  In  it  he  said 
he  was,  or  soon  must  be,  in  the  decline  of  life, 
[he  was  now  about  55  years  of  age]  did  not  en- 
deavor to  increase  his  fortune,  having  no  family 
to  provide  for ;  but  should  yearly  lessen  it  by 
doing  charities,  by  donations  and  bounties ; 
had  this  year  sold  his  garden  in  Atkinson- 
street  to  Mr.  Thos.   Goldthwait  ;  had  settled 


£500,  O.  T.,  on  a  Free  School  in  Douglass, 
and  £50  per  annum  for  7  years  on  their  Min 
ister,  besides  other  bounties  ;  had  contracted 
the  business  of  his  profession,  etc.  That,  if 
the  Assessors  did  not  relieve  him,  he  should 
apply  to  the  "  Quarter  Sessions."  He  stated 
further,  that  "  Dr.  Bulfinch,  who  had  the  best 

Eractice  in  Boston,  was  assessed  but  £45  ;  Drs. 
Kennedy,  J.  Perkins,  and  [John]  Sprague, 
whose  practice  was  better  than  his,  were  as- 
sessed only  £25  to  £30."  Among  the  mer- 
chants and  tradesmen  he  mentioned  "  Mr. 
Clark,  the  hatter,  deceased,  worth  £30,000  to 
£40,000,  taxed  £38  ;  Deacon  Parker,  the  Top 
mason  in  Town,  £11."  The  amount  of  the 
Doctor's  Schedule  is  £2,615  2s.  Among  the 
items  are  "  the  Green  Dragon ;  Jarvis  in 
Roxbury,  and  appurtenances ;  Fowle,  late 
Walker's,  near  the  Orange  Tree ;  house  in 
Mill-creek  lane  ;  Burnet,  late  Capt.  Heel's  ; 
Maj.  Sewall,  a  warehouse  late  Capt.  Hall's ; 
money  at  interest,  £300  ;  income  by  faculty 
£500  ;  a  refuse  Negro  boy,"  etc.     All  O.  T. 

His  tax  last  year,  on  which  he  obtained  £66 
abatement,  was  £112  8s.  Sd.  Dr.  Douglass' 
autograph,  as  attached  to  the  Schedule  above 
mentioned,  is  here  copied.  The  Town  of 
Douglass,  in  this  State,  was  named  for  him, 
of  which  he  was  a  principal  proprietor.  He 
died  intestate,  21  Oct.,  1752,  aged  about  61. 


624  IMPRESSMENT   TUMULT.  [1747. 

of  July,  and  died  there,  October  the  ninth,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of 
his  age.* 

A  dangerous  tumult  commenced  on  the  17th  of  November, 
'  occasioned  by  the  imprudent  conduct  of  Commodore  Charles 
Knowles.f  He  was  then  lying  in  the  harbor  with  a  number  of  ships-of- 
war.  Some  of  the  Commodore's  men  had  deserted  while  the  squadron 
lay  here,  and  although  the  deserters  had  probably  fled  further  off  than 
Boston,  yet  Knowles  sent  a  press-gang  ashore  in  the  night,  or  early 
in  the  morning,  and  surprised,  not  only  all  the  seamen  that  could  be 
found  on  board  vessels  outward  bound  as  well  as  others,  but  swept 
the  wharves  also,  taking  some  ship-carpenters'  apprentices,  and  other 
laboring  land-men.J  To  such  outrages  the  people  of  Boston  were  not 
accustomed,  and  that  they  would  submit  to  them  could  not  for  a 
moment  be  expected.  For  friends  and  kindred  to  be  kidnapped  in 
this  manner,  no  arbitrary  or  lawless  proceeding  could  have  been  more 
justly  a  cause  of  tumult  and  outrage.  The  lower  class  were  the 
especially  aggrieved,  because  it  was  upon  them  the  depredation  was 
made.  Hence  a  mob  of  this  order  was  speedily  collected  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th,  armed  with  a  few  "  rusty  swords,  cat-sticks, 
pitchmops  and  clubs,"  and  proceeded  to  make  reprisal.  Meeting  with 
a  Lieutenant  belonging  to  one  of  the  ships,  who  happened  to  be  on  shore, 
but  who  had  had  no  hand  in  the  outrage,  they  seized  him  ;  and,  while 
in  doubt  what  to  do  with  him,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.,§  came  along, 
who,  knowing  the  Lieutenant  to  be  innocent,  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
mob  to  let  him  go.  They  however  led  him  off  to  a  place  of  safety, 
and  proceeded  to  the  Governor's  house,  where  they  had  learned  that 
several  of  the  officers  of  the  ships  were.  Meantime,  several  "  persons 
of  discretion  "  got  into  the  house,  and  prevented  the  populace  from 
entering,  which  soon  filled  the  court  leading  to  it,  and  quite  surrounded 
it.  Seeing  that  the  prospect  of  something  really  serious  was  at  hand, 
the  officers  of  the  navy  within  armed  themselves  with  carbines,  and, 
placing  themselves  at  the  head  of  the  stair-cases,  seemed  resolved  to 

*  "While  in  Boston  he  was  entertained  at  the  Knowles  in  no  very  moderate  manner,  which  in 

house  of  Mr.  Edward  Bromfield.     On  Sunday,  part  may  be  accounted  for  from  the  fact  that 

the  19th  July,  he  went  to  meeting  at  the  Old  that  officer  said,  or  was  believed  to  have  said, 

South,  heard  Dr.  Sewall  in  the  forenoon,  and  that  "  all  Scotchmen  were  rebels."     Some  of 

Mr.  Prince  in  the  afternoon ;  sat  in  Mr.  Brora-  the  vessels  out  of  which  men  were  pressed,  be- 

field's  pew,  which  was    the  second  wall  pew  longed  to  Glasgow,  in  Scotland,  which  caused 

on  the  left  from  the  Milk-street   entrance.  —  Knowles  to  think  that  the  Scotch  masters  of 

Edwards'   Life  Brainerd,  225,  248,  253,  and  those  vessels  had  instigated  the  mob.     This 

Wisner,  103.  caused  him  to  make  the  rash  expression  above 

|He    was    appointed     Governor    of   Cape  cited,  and  Dr.  Douglass  to  speak  of  his  conduct 

Breton    after    the    capture  of  Louisbourg. —  as  being  of  the  most  outrageous  character; 

Beatson.    He    was    afterwards    knighted  for  thus  feeling  the  insult  in  common  with  his 

services  in  the  West  Indies.     His  career  was  countrymen.     The  conduct  of  the  press-gang 

a  long   and    fortunate  one  in  the  Navy.     In  he  thus  characterizes :  They  "  in  the  night- 

1770  he  went  into  the  service  of  the  Empress  time,  with   armed  boats,  did  kidnap  or  steal 

of\Russia,  in  which  he  continued  four  years,  ship-builders'  apprentices,  and    did  rob  ships 

Returning  then  to  England,  he  lived  in  retire-  (cleared  out)   of  their  crews,"   etc.  —  Sum- 

ment  till  his  death,  Dec.  9th,  1777.  —  Char-  mary,  i.  254. 
nock.  fy  The  Author  of  the  History  of  the  Province 

%  Dr.  Douglass    handles    the    conduct    of  of  Mass.  Bay. 


fe^Z"^^! 


^ 


^t^U^^y^ 


Engraved  for  Brakes  History  of  Boston. 


1747.] 


IMPRESSMENT  TUMULT. 


625 


proceed  to  the  last  extremity.  At  this  stage  of  affairs,  a  circumstance 
happened  which  diverted  the  besiegers  from  forcing  the  house.  A  sheriff 
attempted  to  enforce  his  authority  ;  whereupon  the  mob  took  him, 
and  in  a  triumphant  manner  bore  him  to  the  front  of  the  Town-house, 
and  there  fixed  him  in  the  stocks.  This  they  looked  upon  as  a  kind  of 
victory;  and  it  seemed  to  cool  their  rage,  and  "  disposed  them  to 
separate,  and  go  to  dinner.  " 

Thus  passed  the  forenoon,  and  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
any  gathering  in  the  afternoon.  But  soon  after  dusk  several  thousand 
people  came  together  in  King-street,  whose  chief  attention  was  directed 
to  the  Town-house,  in  which  the  General  Court  was  sitting,  and  brick- 
bats and  other  missiles  were  thrown  through  its  windows  into  the  Coun- 
cil-chamber. The  majority  of  the  mob  did  not  approve  of  this  action, 
which  was  done  by  boys,  and  some  who  were  intoxicated.  The  Gover- 
nor, and  several  of  the  Council  and  House,  undauntedly  appeared  on  the 
balcony,  and  the  former  addressed  them  in  a  well-timed  speech ;  in 
which  he  assured  them  that  Commodore  Knowles'  proceeding  had  no 
justification,  and  that  his  utmost  endeavors  would  be  used  to  have  all 
the  impressed  persons  restored.  But  they  had  become  too  much  exas- 
perated to  hear  to  anything  reasonable,  and  nothing  short  of  the  confine- 
ment of  the  before  mentioned  officers  in  town  would  be  listened  to.  In 
the  mean  while  a  report  came  that  a  barge  from  one  of  the  men-of-war 
had  landed  at  one  of  the  wharves.  This  the  mob  immediately  went  in 
quest  of;  and,  coming  to  a  boat  belonging  to  a  Scotch  ship,  they  mis- 
took it  for  the  barge,  seized  it,  dragged  it  up  in  front  of  the  Governor's 
House,  "  with  as  much  seeming  ease  as  if  it  had  been  in  the  water," 
and  here  proposed  to  burn  it ;  but,  as  burning  it  there  might  set  the  town 
on  fire,  which  they  did  not  wish  to  do,  they  dragged  it  away  and 
burnt  it  elsewhere. 

The  next  day  the  Governor  gave  orders  for  the  military  compa- 
Nov.  18.  ^eg  ^  ^e  ^wn  to  turn  out,  and  that  a  Military  Watch  should 
be  kept  the  succeeding  night ;  but  his  orders  were  very  imperfectly 
obeyed  ;  the  drummers  were  interrupted,  and  a  general  non-appearance 
satisfied  his  Excellency  that  he  had  not  only  lost  his  control,  but  that 
his  personal  safety  was  somewhat  uncertain.  He  therefore  retired  to 
Castle  William.  When  the  Governor's  design  was  made  known  to  cer- 
tain gentlemen,  they  sent  a  message  to  him  by  Col.  Edward  Hutchinson, 
assuring  him  that  they  would  stand  by  and  support  him  in  maintaining 
the  laws  and  restoring  order  ;  but  he  kept  his  resolution  and  proceeded 
to  the  fort.  Thence  he  wrote  to  Commodore  Knowles,  setting  forth  the 
troubles  which  had  been  caused  by  the  conduct  of  his  press-gang. 

Instead  of  releasing  the  pressed  men,  or  proposing  any  accommoda- 
tion, Knowles  expressed  himself  passionately,  and  threatened  to  bring  up 
his  ships  and  bombard  the  town,  unless  his  officers  now  on  parole  on 
shore  were  at  once  allowed  to  come  on  board  ;  and,  as  though  to  carry  out 
his  threat,  sail  was  begun  to  be  made  on  some  of  the  ships,  and  the  eyes 
of  the  town  were  turned  in  the  direction  of  those  floating  batteries  with 
79 


626  IMPRESSMENT    TUMULT.  [1747. 

no  little  solicitation.  Two  of  the  paroled  officers  were  Captain  Robert 
Askew  and  Captain  Robert  Erskine  of  the  Canterbury.  The  latter  was 
seized  at  the  house  of  Col.  Francis  Brinley*  in  Roxbury. 

The  General  Court  still  continued  in  session,  "not  willing:  to 
'  interpose,  lest  they  should  encourage  other  Commanders  of  the 
Navy  "  to  do  as  Knowles  had  done.  But  on  the  19th,  to  relieve  the 
Governor,  whose  conduct  had  been  unexceptionable,  and  if  possible  to 
restore  quiet  to  the  Town,  the  House  resolved  that  it  would  stand  by 
his  Excellency  the  Governor,  and  support  him  with  their  lives  and  es- 
tates ;  that  it  would  by  all  ways  and  means  possible  exert  itself  to  re- 
dress the  grievance  the  people  were  under,  which  had  caused  the  present 
tumults.  At  the  same  time  the  Council  ordered  that  Capt.  Erskine, 
and  all  other  officers  under  restraint  on  account  of  the  impressment  affair, 
should  be  set  at  liberty. 

When  the  doings  of  the  General  Court  became  known  to  the  inhab- 
itants, the  disorderly  spirit  began  to  abate.  A  Town-meeting  was  called, 
and  held  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  to  consider  what  was  proper  for 
the  Town  to  do  on  the  occasion ;  in  which  there  was  a  strong  revenge  par- 
ty, who  urged  that  if  this  offence  was  slightly  passed  over,  it  would  en- 
courage a  repetition  of  such  outrages.  But  the  orderly  party  pre- 
vailed, and  those  who  had  insulted  the  Governor  and  the  Court  were 
pointedly  denounced  and  reprobated. 

The  Governor,  not  expecting  the  tumult  would  be  allayed  thus  soon, 
had  given  orders  for  the  officers  of  the  regiments  in  the  neighboring 
towns  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  to  any  point  he  should  indicate  at  an 
hour's  notice.  "  But  the  next  day  there  was  an  uncommon  appearance 
of  the  militia  of  the  Town ;  many  persons  taking  their  muskets  who 
never  carried  one  upon  any  other  occasion,  and  the  Governor  was  con- 
ducted to  his  house"  with  as  great  parade  as  when  he  returned  from 
the  conquest  of  Louisbourg.f  Then,  or  soon  after,  the  Commodore  dis- 
missed the  impressed  men,  and  sailed  out  of  the  harbor,  to  the  great  joy 
of  the  Town. 

It  is  not  likely  that  this  attempt  to  impress  men  at  Boston,  by  Com- 
modore Knowles,  was  the  first  which  had  occurred  ;  for,  six  years  be- 
fore this,  the  Town  had  sent  a  Committee  to  request  the  Governor  to 
take  measures  to  protect  Coasters  being  pressed  to  serve  on  board  the 
King's  ships.  Such  a  measure  would  hardly  have  been  taken  without 
some  act  of  impressment  had  preceded  it.     The  subject  is  alluded  to 

*  Col.  Brinley  was  born  in  London  in  1690,  and  Catharine  Lyde,  April  18,  1718,  grand- 
and  educated  at  Eaton,  was  son  of  Thomas,  daughter  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  Byfield.  The 
the  only  surviving  son  of  Francis  Brinley,  present  Hon.  Francis  Brinley,  of  Boston,  is 
Esq.,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  He  was  one  of  the  a  great-grandson.  The  first  Francis  B.  was  at 
founders  of  King's  Chapel,  but  returned  to  Newport  in  1651-2,  died  in  1719-20,  aged  87, 
London,  and  died  there  27  Nov.  1765.  The  was  buried  in  King's  Chapel,  Boston, 
house  in  which  he  resided  in  Roxbury  was  f  Hutchinson  says  the  parade  was  as  great 
built  after  the  plan  of  those  at  Dutchet,  in  as  at  the  time  of  the  Governor's  arrival  to  en- 
England,  and  bore  the  same  name.  It  is  now  ter  upon  his  office  as  Governor,  but  I  have  fol- 
owned  and  occupied  by  John  Bumstead,  Esq.  lowed  Douglass,  in  this,  as  I  have  in  some  oth- 
Col.  B.  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Edward  er  parts  of  the  narrative. 


1747.] 


TOWN-HOUSE    BURNT. 


627 


Dec.  9. 


several  years  later.  The  Town,  in  its  congratulatory  address  to  Gover- 
nor Pownall,  on  his  departure  for  England  in  17G0,  observed  that  he  had 
"with  great  prudence  answered  the  demand  for  Seamen  for  his  Majesty's 
Service,  and  yet  preserved  them  from  the  burden  of  naval  impressments  ; 
a  burden  which  they  had  sometimes  severely  felt." 

On  the  ninth  of  December  occurred  a  fire  in  the  Town-house, 

which  destroyed  that  building,  together  with  many  records  and 
papers  of  great  importance,  as  already  detailed  in  a  previous  chapter. 
The  General  Court,  then  in  session,  being  deprived  of  their  place  of 
meeting,  were  offered  the  use  of  Faneuil  Hall,  but  they  were  accommo- 
dated in  the  Royal  Exchange  tavern,  kept  by  Mr.  Luke  Vardy,  for  the 
D     12    few  days  which  were  left  of  the  session.     They  adjourned  on 

the  twelfth.  When  they  met  again  in  February,  there  was  a 
motion  to  have  a  house  for  their  accommodation  built  in  Cambridge,  and 
another  that  it  should  be  located  in  Roxbury.  But  it  was  finally  deter- 
mined that  the  old  one  should  be  repaired. 


CHAPTER   LXIII. 

Independent  Advertiser  begun.  —  View  of  the  Commerce.  —  State  of  Schools.  —  Eeturn  of  Indian  Cap- 
tives. —  News  of  the  Death  of  Dr.  Watts.  —  First  Masonic  Procession.  —  First  Bibles  printed.  — 
Opposition  to  Parliament.  —  Theatrical  Exhibitions  forbidden.  —  Lotteries.  —  Small-pox.  —  Number 
of  Inhabitants.  —  Linen  Manufactures.  —  New  Style.  —  Indian  Treaty.  —  Boston  Gazette  begun.  — 
Fire  in  Marlborough-st.  —  Singular  Punishment  of  a  Female. — Decline  of  Religion. — Intem- 
perance. — Monster  of  Monsters.  —  Daniel  Fowle.  — Stone  Jail.  —  Post  Office  in  Cornhill.  — Excise 
Law.  —  Opposed.  —  Great  Storm.  — Franklin.  — His  Discoveries. 


1748. 
Jan.  4. 


SHIRLEY.* 


A  NEW  Paper,  called  "  The  Independ- 
ent Advertiser,"  made  its  appearance.  It 
did  not  differ  much  in  its  mechanical  execution 
from  other  papers  of  the  time.  "Rogers  and 
Fowle  "  were  its  publishers,  "  next  to  the  Prison 
§)  in  Queen-street."  •  Its  political  tendency  was 
Whig,  and  it  was  supplied  with  essays  of  this 
character  by  an  Association  of  Gentlemen,  of 
whom  Samuel  Adams,  afterwards  Governor,  was 
one.     The  Advertiser  continued  but  two  years ; 


*Paly  of  six,  Or  and  Azure,  a  Canton, 
Ermine.  —  Crest — A  Saracen's  head  in  profile, 
•wreathed  about  the  temples,  Or  and  Azure. 
The  Arms  of  the  present  representative  of  the 
family.  From  an  engraved  Portrait  of  Gov. 
William  Shirley,  in  possession  of  a  descendant, 
Edward  Shirley  Erving,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  is 
taken  the  following  Memorial : — 

"  The  Honorable  William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Ap- 
pointed Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief, 
&c,  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England,  in  1741.  One  of  His  Majesty's 
Commissioners  at  Paris  for  Settling  the  Limits 
of  Nova  Scotia  and  other  controverted  Rights 


in  America,  1750.  General  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  North  Ameri- 
ca, 1755,  and  Lieut.  General  in  His  Majesty's 
Army,  1759.  —  1.  Nova  Scotia  or  Acadie  pre- 
served during  the  late  war,  commenced  in 
1744.  2.  The  Island  of  Cape  Breton  taken  in 
the  Expedition  fitted  out  from  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  in  1745."  —  On  a  scroll  at  his  left 
hand  is,  "  1.  Conservation."  Below  it,  "2. 
Expugnata."  Under  the  Picture  on  one  side, 
—"I  Hudson  Pinxt.,  1750."  On  the  other 
side,  —  "  I.  McArdell,  fecit." 

Under  the  Arms  of  Shirley  in  Blome's  Bri- 
tannia,   edition  fol.  1673,  is  as  follows  :  — 


628 


COMMERCE. 


SCHOOLS. 


[1748-9. 


owing  probably  to  the  dissolution  of  the  copartnership  of  the  proprie- 
tors.* 

An  idea  of  the  commerce  of  Boston  is  obtained  from  the  number  of 
arrivals  and  clearances  of  a  given  period.  Between  Christmas  1747,  and 
the  same  date  1748,  there  entered  430  vessels,  and  540  cleared.  This 
is  according  to  the  Custom-house  books ;  while,  from  Michaelmas  to 
Michaelmas  of  the  same  years,  the  Boston  Naval  Office  gives  491  clear- 
ances on  foreign  voyages. f 

The  sympathies  of  the  people  were  not  unfrequently  excited 
by  being  obliged  to  witness  the  sufferings  of  persons  who  had 
been  in  captivity  among  the  Indians.  Several  at  this  time  arrived  from 
Canada,  among  whom  was  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Fitch,  taken  from 
Lunenburg  on  the  third  of  July  preceding.  Mrs.  Fitch  had  died  while 
on  her  return  from  captivity,  the  story  of  whose  sufferings  is  not  less 
thrilling  than  that  of  Mrs.  Rowlandson,  or  Mrs.  Johnson. 
1749.  The  votes  for  Representatives  stood  thus  this  year :  —  The  Hon. 

May  9-  James  Allen  had  543  ;  Thomas  Hubbard,  Esq.,  678 ;  Mr.  John 
Tyng,  513  ;  and  the  Hon.  Samuel  Waldo,  539.  The  Committee  who 
examined  the  Schools,  reported  that  they  found  in  the  South  Grammar 
School  120  scholars  ;  in  the  South  Writing  School  "  in  the  Common," 
220  ;  in  the  Writing  School  in  Queen-street,  57  ;  in  the  North  Gram- 
mar School,  38  ;  and  in  the  North  Writing  School,  270.  All  were 
reported  to  be  "in  good  order."  The  Selectmen  were  desired  to 
recommend  to  the  Masters  of  the  schools,  that  they  "  instruct  their  schol- 
ars in  reading  and  spelling."  They  were  also  desired  to  provide  suit- 
able books  for  that  purpose,  at  the  charge  of  the  Town,  to  be  given  to 


"  Sir  Robert  Shirley  of  Staunton  and  Harold 
in  Leicestershire,  of  Chartley  in  Staffordshire, 
of  Ettington,  Warwickshire,  of  Astwell  in 
Northamptonshire,  of  Shirley  Brialsford  and 
Eddleston  in  Derbyshire,  Bart." 

There  have  been  many  persons  of  distinc- 
tion among  the  race  of  Shirley,  both  in  the  field 
and  in  literature,  descended  from  Sir  Thomas 
Shirley,  of  Whiston,  in  Sussex.  The  descent  of 
Governor  Shirley  from  Thomas  Shirley,  Esq., 
of  Preston,  in  Sussex,  is  briefly  thus  :  —  By 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Drew  Stapley  of  Lon- 
don, Thomas,  of  Preston,  had  William,  a  3d 
son,  who  had  William,  an  only  son,  merchant 
of  London.  This  son  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Goodman,  and  died  in  1701. 
These  were  the  parents  of  the  Governor,  whose 
first  wife  was  Frances,  dau.  of  Francis  Baker,  of 
London,  by  whom  he  had,  William,  killed  with 
Gen.  Braddock,  1755 ;  John,  a  Captain  in  the 
army,  died  at  Oswego  ;  Thomas,  only  surviving 
son,  born  in  Boston,  Governor  of  the  Leeward 
Islands,  a  Major  General  in  the  army,  created 
a  baronet  in  1786.  He  died  in  March,  1800, 
leaving  a  son,  the  late  Sir  William  Warden 
Shirley,  of  Oat  Hall,  Wivelsfield,  Sussex,  who 
dying  sine  prole  Feb.  1815,  the  Baronet- 
cy became  extinct.  Of  the  daughters  of 
Governor    Shirley,    Elizabeth     m.     Eliakim 


Hutchinson,  Frances  m.  William  Bollan,  "the 
King's  Advocate  in  the  Court  of  Vice-Admi- 
ralty in  Massachusetts."  Mrs.  Bollan  d.  21 
Mar.  1744,  in  her  24th  year,  in  giving  birth 
to  her  first  child.  Harriet  m.  Robert  Tem- 
ple, Esq.  ;  Maria  m.  John  Erving,  Esq.,  of 
Boston.  A  daughter  of  Mr.  Erving  m. 
Governor  Scott,  of  the  Island  of  Dominica,  and 
died  at  that  Island,  13  Feb.  1768.  The  Er- 
ving mansion-house  was  in  Milk-street. 


Governor  Shirley  built  the  then  spacious 
mansion  in  Roxbury,  since  the  well-known 
residence  of  the  late  Governor  William  Eustis, 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Shirley  Place. 

*  Thomas,  ii.  235.  This  paper  had  a  cut 
at  its  head  containing  a  curious  device,  which 
is  described  by  this  Author,  and  also  by  Mr. 
Buckingham  in  his  Reminiscences,  i.  156. 

f  Namely,  51  ships,  44  snows,  54  brigs,  249 
sloops,  and  93  schooners.  —  Douglass,  i.  538. 


1749.] 


FIRST    MASONIC     l'l!<  M'KSSION. 


629 


such  poor  children,  as  they  might  think  proper.  Two  years  later  the 
Masters  were  ordered  not  to  exact  "  entrance  money,  so  called,"  of  any 
children,  belonging  to  the  Town,  but  the  Selectmen  were  to  give  direc- 
tions what  money  they  might  receive  from  the  scholars,  "  to  defray  the 
expense  of  firing." 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Doctor  Isaac  Watts  was  received  about  the 
first  of  April,  1749,  and  with  almost  as  much  sorrow  as  if  he  had  been  a 
native  and  resident  of  Boston.  His  Hymns  and  Sermons  had  been  for 
many  years  held  in  the  highest  repute,  and  had  been  published  and 
republished  in  Boston.*  He  died  at  Stoke  Newington,  Nov.  25th, 
1748,  aged  about  seventy-five  years. 

About  the  same  time  news  was  received  of  the  death  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  "the  first  who  had  died  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
years."     Sermons  were  preached  on  the  occasion  and  printed. 

A  procession  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  was  at  this  time  a  rare  exhi- 
bition in  Boston,  if  not  the  first  which  had  taken  place.  Such  a  pro- 
cession made  its  appearance  on  the  Feast  of  Saint  John,  and  of 
course  excited  great  curiosity,  and  from  a  learned  wit  called  forth 
a  short  Poem,  in  which  the  circumstance  is  treated  with  much  satirical 
humor  and  ridicule.  In  this  many  of  the  principal  Masons  figure  by 
name.f     A  Lodge  had  now  existed  in  Boston  about  nineteen  years.     It 


Dec.  27. 


*  In  the  Independent  Advertiser  of  April 
3d,  a  notice  of  his  death  is  given,  in  which  he 
is  spoken  of  as  "  beloved,  admired  and  re- 
vered ;  most  remarkable  for  his  moderate  and 
pacific  sentiments  ;  whose  works  in  prose  and 
verse,  with  which  the  world  were  obliged, 
would  perpetuate  his  eulogy  to  ages  yet  un- 
born. ' '  He  was  buried  in  Bunhill  Fields,  where 
a  monument  to  his  memory,  with  a  suitable 
inscription,  was  soon  -after  erected.  He 
preached  in  London,  in  the  Church  where  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Caryll,  Dr.  John  Owen,  Mr.  Da- 
vid Clarkson,  and  Dr.  Isaac  Chauncy,  had 
preceded  him.  He  was  a  native  of  South- 
ampton, son  of  Isaac,  and  grandson  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Watts,  who,  in  1656,  was  blown  up 
in  his  ship,  in  the  Dutch  war.  — Lyric  Poems, 
12mo.,  Boston,  1748  ;  Robinson's  History  of 
Stoke  Newington,  87. 

Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns  gradually 
superseded  the  work  of  Dr.  N.  Brady,  and  N. 
Tate,  Esq.  Mein  and  Fleeming  published  the 
26th  edition  of  Dr.  Watts  in  1768,  with  the 
music  at  the  end.  How  many  editions  had 
preceded  this,  in  Boston,  I  have  not  learned. 
John  Mycall  published  a  40th  edition  in  New- 
buryport,  in  1781.  I  have  seen  but  a  single 
copy  of  the  first  edition  in  England,  and  that 
was  procured  in  London,  at  a  considerable  cost, 
some  three  years  since,  for  my  friend  Geo.  Liv- 
ermore,  Esq.     Its  date  is  1719. 

|  The  Poem  is  thus  ludicrously  entitled  :  — 
"  Entertainment  for  a  Winter's  Evening  : 
being  a  Full  and  True  Account  of  a  very  Strange 
and  Wonderful  SIGHT  seen  in  Boston,  on  the 
27th  of    December,   1749,   at  NOON-DAY. 


The  Truth  of  which  can  be  attested  by  a  Great 
Number  of  People,  who  actually  saw  the  same 
with  their  own  Ey es .    By  ME ,  the  Hon .  B .  B . , 
Esq."     Said  to  be  Joseph  Green,  Esq.* 
The  procession  marching  is  thus  described  : 

"  See  Buck  before  the  apron'd  throng 
Marches  with  sword  and  book  along  ; 
The  stately  ram,  with  courage  bold, 
So  stalks  before  the  fleecy  fold, 
And  so  the  gander,  on  the  brink 
Of  river,  leads  his  geese  to  drink." 

The  noted  keeper  of  the  Royal  Exchange 
Tavern  is  taken  notice  of  in  this  wise  : 

"  Wh^re  's  honest  Luke  ?  that  cook  from  London  ; 
For  without  Luke  the  Lodge  is  undone. 
'T  was  he  who  oft  dispell'd  their  sadness, 
And  filled  the  Brethren's  hearts  with  gladness. 
Luke  in  return  is  made  a  Brother, 
As  good  and  true  as  any  other, 
And  still,  though  broke  with  age  and  wine, 
Preserves  the  token  and  the  sign." 

In  another  place  Luke  comes  in  with  less 
credit : 

"The  high,  the  low,  the  great  and  small, 
James  Perkins  f  short,  and  Aston  tall  ; 
Johnson  as  bulky  as  a  house, 
And  Wethred  smaller  than  a  louse. 
We  all  agree,  both  wet  and  dry, 
From  drunken  Luke  to  sober  I." 

*  The  same  probably  who  appeared  early  in  oppo- 
sition to  Royal  Authority.  He  died  1st  July,  1705, 
aged  62. 

■f  Perhaps  the  same  respectfully  mentioned  by 
Tudor  in  his  Life  of  Otis,  p.  16.  If  so  he  was  living 
when  that  Author  wrote,  but  died  before  he  pub- 
lished in  1823. 


630  FIRST   PRINTING    OF    BIBLES.  [1749. 

was  first  organized  under  Henry  Price,  who  was  styled  "  The  Right 
Worshipful  Provincial  Grand  Master  of  New  England."  The  other 
officers  were  "The  Right  Worshipful  Andrew  Belcher,  Deputy  Grand 
Master  ;  Right  Worshipful  Thomas  Kennelly,  Senior  Grand  Warden  ; 
Right  Worshipful  John  Quann,  Junior  Grand  Warden."  This  Lodge 
had  authority  to  establish  others  in  any  part  of  North  America  ;  and  on 
application  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  one  was  immediately  after  founded  at 
Philadelphia,  of  which  Franklin  was  appointed  its  "Right  Worshipful 
first  Master." 

Price,  having  resigned  in  1736,  was  succeeded  by  Robert  Tomlinson; 
and  the  latter  was  succeeded  in  1774  by  Thomas  Oxnard. 

The  first  Bibles  printed  in  Boston  were  printed  this  year,  or  about 
this  time.  Owing  to  the  restrictions  upon  the  publication  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  England,  they  could  not  be  published  in  the  Colonies  with- 
out the  breach  of  an  enactment  of  the  British  Parliament.  But  an 
evasion  of  those  enactments  had  not  been  very  scrupulously  regarded, 
especially  when  the  good  of  the  people  here  was  affected  by  their  ob- 
servance. Hence  the  printing  of  Bibles  in  Boston  was  begun  clandes- 
tinely, and  their  issue  concealed  by  a  false  imprint ;  the  undertakers 
arguing,  no  doubt,  that  "  the  end  justified  the  means;  "  —  an  argument, 
difficult,  at  all  times,  to  be  met  successfully. 

This  edition  of  the  Bible  was  undertaken  principally  by  Daniel 
Henchman,  and  "  Kne eland  and  Green"  were  the  printers.  It  was  in 
quarto,  and  so  exact  a  copy  of  that  printed  "  cum  privilegio  "  by  Mark 
Basket,  that  it  was  not  easy  to  distinguish  a  copy  of  the  Boston  edition 
from  it.  This  is  not  strange,  as  the  materials  used,  type,  paper,  and 
even  ink,  were  all  imported  from  England.* 

The  people  always  felt  that  the  Mother  Country  had  not  morally  any 
right  to  legislate  for  them,  which  the  most  casual  reader  cannot  fail  to 
have  perceived  in  the  perusal  of  these  pages  from  the  first.  This  spirit 
occasionally  exhibited  itself,  and  on  various  occasions.  What  gave  it  the 
more  strength  and  efficiency,  from  time  to  time,  was  its  declaration  from 
the  Pulpit.  Dr.  Jonathan  Mayhew,  though  a  young  man,  had  great 
influence  in  giving  direction  and  encouragement  to  those  opposed  to 

The  Poet  designates  Lewis  Turner  as  "Pump       *  Dr.  Thomas  says,  Hist.  Printing,  i.  30 5, 

Turner,''''  probably  from  his  occupation.     Dr.  "When  I  was  an  apprentice,  I  often  heard 

Thomas  Aston  figures  as   "  Aston    tall."  *  those  who  had  assisted  at  the  case  and  press, 

Francis  Johonnot  is  called  "  laughing  Frank,"  in  printing  this  Bible,  make  mention  of  the 

and  is  thus  nicely  introduced:  fact,"  of  its  being  published  in  the  manner 

"  But  still  I  see  a  numerous  train  :      '  and  under  the  circumstances  stated  in  the  text. 

Shall  they,  alas !  unsung  remain  ?  "  Governor  Hancock  was  related  to  Henchman, 

Sage  Hallowelf  of  public  soul,  knew  the  particulars  of  the  transaction,  and 

And  laughing  Frank  friend  to  the  bowl,  possessed  a   copy  of  this  impression  of  the 

Meek Rea,t  half  smother  dm  the  crowd  ^ible.     Not  long  after  the  Bible  was  issued,  a 

And  Rowe,§  who  sings  at  Church  so  loud.  _     ,  ,  &        ,  .     ,,  T,     ' 

•    .   \,  ,  „  .  Testament  was  got  out  in  the  same  way.   It  was 

*  Aston  was   an   '•  Apothecary  and   Grocer,  next  a  duodecimo  a^  likethe  Bible  well  executed." 

door  to  the  Governors  House,    in  LIAS,     ine  Gov-  _,  '    _    ..  „    .  -p..,  , 

emor's  House  was  the  Province  House,  now  Ordway's,  There  are  doubtless  many  of  these  Bibles  m 

in  Washington-street.  existence,  but  as  it  is  very  difficult  to  identify 

f  No  doubt  Captain  Benjamin  Hallowell.  them,  they  pass  for  the  genuine  English  edition. 

j  Probably  Mr.  John  Rea,  who  kept  in  Butler's 

Row  in  1748.     He  was  a  ship-chandler.  on  Belcher's  Wharf  in  1744.     He  lived  in  Essex-street 

§  John  Ro'we  was  a  merchant,  an  importer,  kept  in  1760. 


1750.]  THEATRICAL   EXHIBITIONS.  631 

what  was  termed  Parliamentary  encroachments.     A  sermon,  which  he 
preached  about  the  commencement  of  the  year,  is  not  without 
"  interest  at  this  day,  and  is  often  sought  after.* 

It  was  long  after  this  before  anything  like  theatrical  exhibitions  was 
tolerated,  though  something  of  the  kind  was  no  doubt  clandestinely 
practised  at  a  much  earlier  period.  One  was  brought  to  notice  this 
year,  owing  to  a  disturbance  it  occasioned  among  the  applicants  for  ad- 
mission to  witness  it.  This  was  undertaken  by  two  young  Englishmen, 
assisted  by  some  volunteers  from  among  the  inhabitants.  They  were  to 
"bring  out"  "The  Orphan,  or  Unhappy  Marriage,"  a  Tragedy,  by 
Thomas  Otway  ;  but  some  persons  attempting  to  force  an  entrance, 
probably  regardless  of  regulations,  gave  the  affair  publicity,  and  caused 
the  General  Court  to  enact  a  law  to  prohibit  all  such  representations, 
which  was  continued  for  many  years.f  The  place  selected  for  this  per- 
formance, being  the  most  public,  or  as  much  so  as  any  in  the  Town, 
was  the  more  readily  detected  ;  it  being  at  the  Royal  Exchange 
Tavern. 

By  a  late  law  of  the  Province,  a  duty  was  laid  on  tea,  coffee, 
'  coaches,  chaises,  and  some  other  articles.  The  people  viewed  it 
a  burden,  operating  very  unequally  upon  the  inhabitants,  and,  therefore, 
at  the  Town  Meeting  on  the  15th  of  May,  a  committee  was  raised  to 
memorialize  the  General  Court  for  its  repeal.J  At  the  same  meeting 
the  subject  of  removing  the  Powder  House  from  the  Common  came  up ; 
but  it  was  voted  that  "the  Town  will  do  nothing  concerning  it." 
Among  other  transactions  fifty  pounds,  lawful  money,  was  voted  "Mr. 
Robert  Treat  Paine  for  his  salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School ;  and  fifty  more  to  repair  the  North  Battery,  and  that  John 
Steele,  Esq.,  the  Captain  of  it,  was  to  take  care  that  the  same  be  re- 
paired." By  another  vote  "the  Marsh  Lands  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Common"  were  ordered  to  be  leased. 

With  the  last  year  ended  the  services  of  Joseph  Wadsworth,  Esq., 
as  Town  Treasurer,§  and  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 
1751.  At  the  Town  Meeting  on  the  eleventh  of  March,  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Mar.  11.  Goldthwait,  who  for  many  years  had  been  Town  Clerk,  was 
rechosen,  having  377  votes  out  of  398.  At  this  meeting  a  vote  was 
passed,  by  which  all  persons  were  exempt  from  liability  to  serve  as 
Constables,  if  they  had  served  in  that  capacity  within  seven  years.  The 
subject  "  of  the  disorders  that  are  frequently  committed  by  Negroes  in 
the  night,"  was  discussed  ;  the  proposition  being,  whether  any  more 
effectual  method  than  that  already  prescribed  by  law,  could  be  taken 
for  that  object,  and  it  was  referred  to  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Samuel 

*  Its  title  is  very  significant:  —  "A  Dis-  f  See  Minot's  Hist.   Mass.  i.  142-3.     The 

course  concerning  Unlimited  Submission,"  etc.  Act  5  of  William  III.   (1699),  however,  in- 

"  On  the  Anniversary  of  the  Death  of  Charles  eluded  theatrical  performers. 

I.     In  which  the  mysterious  Doctrine  of  that  J  It  consisted  of  Abiel  Walley,  Hon.  Samuel 

Prince's  saintship  and  martyrdom  is  unriddled."  Welles,  Charles  Apthorp,  Thomas  Hancock, 

I  have  space  only  to  refer  my  readers  to  page  Esquires,  and  Mr.  John  Smith. 

40,  etc.,  of  that  work.  §  He  served  long  and  with  great  reputation. 


632  small-pox.  [1752. 

Welles,  and  Benjamin  Pratt,  Esquires.  The  meeting  of  the  14th 
'  of  May,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Mather  opened  with  prayer,  as  all 
the  Town  Meetings  had  been  for  many  years  ;  on  which  occasions  the 
Ministers  served  in  rotation.  The  Hon.  James  Allen,  Mr.  John  Tyng, 
Mr.  Harrison  Gray,  and  the  Hon.  Thomas  Hubbard  were  elected  Repre- 
sentatives. The  three  gentlemen  first  named  had  253,  263  and  300 
votes  respectively  ;   but  Mr.  Hubbard  had  "  a  great  majority." 

By  an  Act  of  the  Province,  a  lottery  was  authorized,  "  for  supplying 
the  Treasury  with  26,700  milled  dollars."  The  Hon.  Samuel  Watts 
was  the  chief  manager  of  it,  who  had  his  office  in  Faneuil  Hall,  where 
the  lottery  was  drawn.     The  price  of  tickets  was  three  dollars. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  May,  "  a  young  Negro  servant  was  exe- 
'  cuted  for  poisoning  an  infant." 

There  are  recorded  624  deaths  in  the  Town  this  year.  Of  this  number 
seventy-six  were  Blacks.  The  number  of  baptisms  in  the  Churches 
was  488. 

The  Town  was  again  thrown  into  consternation  from  fear  of  the  small- 
pox.    Captain  Cousins,  in  a  ship  from  London,  was  cast  away,  on  the 
24th  of  December  last,  in  Nahant  Bay.     The  crew  were  saved,  and 
compassionately  received  by  the  people  of  Chelsea,  and  the  disease 
was  in  that  manner  communicated  on  shore.     In  the  following  January 
it  found  its  way  into  Boston,  where  it  continued  with  its  usual  mortality 
about  six  months.    Nearly  1,800  people  fled  from  the  Town,  which  then 
;  contained  15,734  souls,  absentees  and  1544  Negroes  included.     Inocu- 
I  lation  was  resorted  to,  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  appear 
3V to  have  adopted  that  practice;   5,059  having  taken  the  small-pox  the 
natural  way,  while  but  1,970  took  it  by  inoculation.     Of  the  latter 
twenty-four  died,  and  of  the  former  452.* 

1752.  Early  in  February  the  Selectmen  endeavoured  to  obviate  the 
Feb.  9.  effects  of  the  alarm  which  the  small-pox  had  occasioned,  and 
issued  circulars  to  that  effect.  They  said  they  had  made  strict  inquiry 
throughout  the  whole  Town,  and  did  not  find  it  to  exist,  excepting  in 
the  families  of  "  Mr.  Benjamin  Hallowell's,  in  Batterymarch-street,  Dr. 
William  Clarke's  in  Wing's  lane,  Mr.  Benjamin  Hodgdon's  in  Summer- 
street,  and  in  the  Pest  House,  and  all  contrary  reports  were  absolutely 
false. f  At  all  which  places  there  was  a  flag  hung  out  as  the  law  directs." 
Inoculation  had  not  then  commenced,  and  the  Physicians  had  promised 
the  Selectmen  that  they  would  give  them  notice  before  they  did  so. 

The  efforts  of  the  "  Society  for  Encouraging  Industry,  and  Employing 
the  Poor,"  were  not  remitted,  though  some  interruption  was  occasioned 
by  the  prevalence  of  the  small-pox.  But  that  had  so  far  abated  by  the 
first  of  August,  that  affairs  began  to  resume  their  wonted  course.  The 
manufacture  of  linen  was  an  important  object,  and  was  the  more  thought 

*  Data   in   Douglass,  ii.  397 ;  but   in  the  sons  had  industriously  circulated  the  report, 

News-Letter  of  1754,  the  number  is  stated  at  to  prevent  the  country  people  from  bringing  in 

569.                    (       .  provisions  "  that  they  might  engross  'em,  in 

|  The  Selectmen  added,  that  ill-minded  per-  order  to  make  great  gains." 


1752.]  NEW    STILE. A    FIRE.  633 

of,  as  it  was  to  be  a  means  of  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town.  In  a 
sermon  before  the  society  just  mentioned,  Dr.  Chauncy  spoke  in 
:  the  most  encouraging  terms  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from 
such  manufacture,  and  adverted  to  the  discouragements  it  met  with  from 
some,  who  urged  that  it  was  quite  too  great  an  undertaking  "  for  so 
poor  and  small  a  people."  But  he  argued  that  notwithstanding  all  the 
obstacles  and  objections,  linen  could  be  made  here  cheaper  than  it  could 
be  imported  ;  and  that,  "  as  poor  and  small  as  they  were,  they  needed 
linen,  and  couldn't  do  without  it."  * 

Until  the  commencement  of  the  present  year  all  legal  papers  and 
instruments  bore  date  corresponding  with  the  25th  of  March,  as  the 
beginning  of  the  year.  This  year,  in  conformity  to  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment f  of  last  year,  was  begun  on  January  first ;  and  by  the  same  Act 
it  was  ordered  that  eleven  days  should  be  struck  out  of  the  following 
September ;  that  is,  that  the  third  should  be  called  the  fourteenth, 
which  made  the  equinoxes  and  solstices  fall  on  the  same  days  as  they 
did  at  the  Mcene  Council,  in  the  year  325.  This  change  in  the  style 
of  dating  occasioned  the  use  of  the  terms  Old  Style  and  New  Style. 

Lieutenant  Governor  Phips  quieted  the  Eastern  Indians  by  sending 
Commissioners  to  meet  their  Chiefs  at  Fort  St.  Greorge  (now  Warren  in 
Maine).  Jacob  Wendell,  Samuel  Watts,  Thomas  Hubbard,  and  Cham- 
bers Russell,  Esquires,  were  the  Commissioners.  J  Another  was  held 
the  following  year,  at  the  same  place,  at  which  '-  Sir  William  Pepperell, 
Baronet,  Jacob  Wendell,  Thomas  Hubbard,  John  Winslow,  Esquires, 
and  Mr.  James  Bowdoin,"  were  Commissioners.  These  acted  under 
the  direction  of  Governor  Shirley. 

1753:  With  the  new  year  commenced  the  publication  of  "  The  Boston 
Jan.  3.  Gazette,  0r  Weekly  Advertiser."  It  was  issued  by  Samuel 
Kneeland,  and  was  the  successor  of  "  The  Boston  Gazette  and  Weekly 
Journal."     It  continued  but  two  years. 

On  the  night  of  the  seventh  of  February  occurred  a  destructive 

fire,  "  near  Marlborough-street."     It  took  in  an  out-house,  burnt 

two  stables,  Mr.  Sellon's  blacksmith  shop,  and  the  dwellings  of  Dr. 

John  Cutler,  and  Dr.  Edward  Ellis.    The  night  was  rainy,  but  it  "raged 

with  great  vehemence  for  two  or  three  hours."     Several  people  were 

injured  by  the  falling  of  a  brick  wall,  and  a  horse  was  burnt  to  death. 

On  the  tenth  of  May  a  spectacle  was  presented  on  King-street 

'  as  revolting  to  every  feeling  of  humanity  as  it  was  disgraceful  to 

the  community  that  tolerated  it.     An  unfortunate  female  was  exposed 

*  See  also  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips'  Convention  Bradley,  His  Majesty's  Astronomer  at  Green- 
sermon,  3d  June,  1733.  wich,  who  computed  the  Tables  at  the  end  of 

f"  Peter  Deval,ofthe  Middle  Temple,  Secre-  the  Bill."—  Almanack  of  1752.     In  this  Al- 

tary  to  the  Royal  Society,  drew  the  Bill,  and  manack  eleven  days  are  left  out  of  the  month 

prepared  most  of  the  Tables,  under  direction  of  September,  which  gives  it  a  curious  appear- 

of  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  the  first  former  of  ance  on  the  page.     I  have  seen  no  other  with 

the  design  ;  and  the  whole  was  carefully  ex-  the  like  omission. 

amined  and  approved  of  by  Martin  Folkes,  J  Printed  Treaty,  4to,  Boston,  1753.  Jabez 

Esq.,  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  Dr.  Bradbury,  Esq.,  was  Commander  of  the  Fort, 

80 


634  MATTHEW   ADAMS.  —  DECLINE    OF    RELIGION.  [1753. 

near  the  Town-house,  upon  a  scaffold  above  the  heads  of  the  people, 
who,  for  her  crimes,  had  been  sentenced  to  stand  there  for  the  space  of 
an  hour,  and  to  face  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  each.  In  this  situation  she  was  obliged  to  suffer  the  most 
brutal  treatment  the  mob  could  inflict ;  the  description  of  which  is 
altogether  of  too  revolting  a  nature  to  be  anywhere  repeated.* 

A  Fast  sermon,  preached  on  the  previous  19th  of  April,  by  the  Eev. 
Andrew  Eliot,  contains  intimations  respecting  the  state  of  society  in 
the  Town,  doubtless  having  reference  to  the  case  of  the  individual 
alluded  to  ;  its  introductory  title  being  "  An  evil  and  adulterous  gen- 
eration." f 

Some  time  in  July  Lazarus  Noble  and  Benjamin  Mitchel  re- 
u  y"  turned  to  Boston  from  Canada,  where  they  had  been  to  redeem 
their  families,  which  had  been  carried  off  captive  by  the  Indians  from 
Swan  Island,  in  Maine.  They  met  with  no  success,  being  ordered  by 
the  French  to  leave  the  country,  or  they  would  immediately  imprison 
them.J 

Mr.  Matthew  Adams  died  this  year.  He  deserves  mention  on  several 
accounts,  but  especially  as  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  friends  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,  who  when  a  boy  was  invited  into  his  house,  and 
furnished  with  books ;  to  which  circumstance,  it  may  be,  the  world  is 
indebted  for  the  productions  of  a  mind  scarcely  inferior  to  any  which  has 
illuminated  the  annals  of  philosophy.  §  Mr.  Adams  was  one  of  the 
writers  in  the  Courant,  published  by  Franklin's  brother. 

Governor  Shirley  arrived  from  England  on  the  sixth  of  August. 
'  The  state  of  religion  was  at  this  period  thought  to  be  very  low, 
as  appears  from  some  of  the  Discourses  then  printed.  In  a  Sermon  "  on 
the  Public  Fast"  of  the  last  year,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot  said,  "  The 
Table  of  the  Lord  is  contemned  ;  but  few  come  to  seal  their  engagements 
to  be  the  Lord's  there ;  an  attendance  on  the  Christian  Eucharist  begins 
to  be  thought  a  needless  thing.    In  the  way  we  have  for  some  time  been 


*  MS.  Diary  of  Rev.  Jacob  Bailey,  in  pos-        §  Materials  are  very  scanty  for  a  biography 

session  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Bartlet,  of  Chelsea.   Mr.  of  Matthew  Adams.     Eliot  and  Allen  notice 

Bailey  was  an  eye-witness.  him,  but  appear  to  have  known  nothing  of 

f  Though  there  may  be  something  of  exag-  his  ancestry.  According  to  a  MS.  note  in  a 
geration  in  Mr.  Eliot's  sermon,  it  is  an  able  and  volume  of  Poems  by  the  Rev.  John  Adams, 
excellent  performance.  "  Things  did  not  use  who  died  at  Cambridge  at  the  early  age  of 
to  be  so  in  New  England,"  varies  a  little  from  36,  that  author  was  his  nephew;  and  the 
my  convictions  in  wading  up  from  the  begin-  Preface  to  that  volume  was  written  by  his 
ning  thus  far  among  the  Records,  with  due  al-  uncle,  Matthew  Adams.  The  volume  of  Poems 
lowance  for  the  great  increase  of  inhabitants,  here  referred  to  is,  or  was  recently,  in  the 
But  what  he  says  about  intemperance  is  doubt-  Boston  Athenaeum.  My  friend  Charles  Fred- 
less  true,  and  could  not  well  be  exaggerated.  erick  Adams,  Esquire,  of  Boston,  informs  me 

%  Deposition  of  Noble  and  Mitchel  before  that  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  of  Durham,  N.  H., 

Hon.  Jacob  Wendell  and  Thomas  Hubbard,  who  died  in  1750,  was  brother  of  Matthew ; 

Noble  was  the  father  of  the  afterwards  famous  and  that  said  Matthew  married  first  Katherine 

Erancis  Noble,  one  of  the  captives,  well  known  Brigdon,  17th  November,  1715  ;  and,  second, 

in   history.      Nine   years  after   this  he   was  Meriel  Cotton,  10th  June,  1734  ;  that  he  had 

petitioning  the  General  Court  at  Boston  for  children,  William,  Katherine,  Matthew,  John 

remuneration  on  account  of  his  Canada  mis-  — born  19th  June,  1725,  minister  of  Durham, 

sion.  N.  H..  died  4th  June,  1792 — and  Nathaniel. 


1754.]  PROCEEDINGS   AGAINST   FOWLE.  635 

our  Churches  are  like  to  come  to  nothing ;  there  will  bo  none  to  admin- 
ister the  Lord's  Supper  to." 

The  same  preacher  spoke  of  intemperance  as  prevalent  beyond  all 
former  example.  "  'Tis  surprising,"  he  said,  "what  prodigious  sums  are 
expended  for  spirituous  liquors  in  this  one  poor  Province.  If  things 
arc  not  greatly  exaggerated,  more  than  a  million  of  our  old  currency  in  a 
year." 

In  July  a  pamphlet  was  issued,  called  the  "Monster  of  Monsters." 
Daniel  Fowle,  the  printer,  was  prosecuted  "  on  suspicion  of  publishing  " 
it,  and  committed  to  jail.  He  was  arrested  on  the  warrant  of  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  charged  with  issuing  that 
work,  which  the  House  resolved  was  "a  false,  scandalous  libel,  reflect- 
ing upon  their  proceedings  in  general,  and  on  many  worthy  Members  in 
particular."  At  the  same  time  ordering  "  that  the  said  pamphlet  be 
burnt  by  the  hands  of  the  common  hangman  below  the  Court  House,  in 
King-street." 

The  proceeding  against  Fowle  was  arbitrary  in  the  extreme.  It  is 
true  that  in  the  "Monster"  the  Assembly  had  been  satirized  in  an 
allegory,  or  "  romance  "  as  its  writer  called  it,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
had  there  been  proof  (which  does  not  appear)  that  it  was  aimed  at  the 
Assembly,  from  anything  that  is  now  discoverable  in  it,  it  was  as  harm- 
less as  any  tea-table  conversations  by  old  ladies,  to  which  the  members 
were  compared.  However,  Fowle  was  sent  to  prison,  among  "mur- 
derers, thieves,  &c.,"*  denied  the  use  of  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and  not 
allowed  to  speak  with  or  to  see  any  of  his  family  or  friends.  His 
description  of  the  accommodations  of  the  "  Stone  Jail"  of  that  day, 
shows  that  prisons  in  Boston  had  not  greatly  improved  over  those  of  a 
much  earlier  date.  "  If  there  is  any  such  thing,"  he  says,  "  as  a  hell  upon 
earth,  I  think  this  place  is  the  nearest  resemblance  of  any  I  can  con- 
ceive of."  When  ordered  to  be  imprisoned,  Mr.  Fowle  supposed  he 
would  be  allowed  an  apartment  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Young,  the  jailer  ; 
but  when  he  came  there  he  was  told  he  must  go  into  the  Common  Jail. 
So,  "after  eleven  at  night,"  he  continues,  "I  was,  by  the  Prison  Keeper 
and  several  others,  conducted  through  several  apartments,  each  of  which 
was  secured  with  locks  and  bolts;  on  each  door  of  about  70  spickes, 
the  heads  of  which  about  two  inches  diameter."  As  he  walked  through 
the  passage-ways,  he  says  he  was  forcibly  reminded  "  of  the  dark  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death."  The  way  to  his  cell  was  "  an  ugly  stum- 
bling one."  f  It  was  near  the  end  of  October;  the  night  was  stormy 
and  cold,  and  the  only  bedding  he  found  was  a  sort  of  pillow  and  one 
blanket.  The  aperture  which  served  to  let  in  the  light  and  air,  served 
equally  well  to  let  in  the  rain  and  snow,  for  there  was  nothing  to  keep 
them  out  but  the  iron  bars  which  kept  the  prisoners  in.  The  outer 
walls  were  of  stone,  and  about  three  feet  in  thickness,  but  the  cells  were 
partitioned  off  with  plank.J 

*  JFowle's  Total  Eclipse  of  Liberty,  p.  19.  J  This  old  Stone  Jail  stood  on  the  south  side 

f  Total  Eclipse,  p.  20.  of  Court-street,  on  a  part  of  the  lot  now  occu- 


636  POST  OFFICE. EXCISE   LAW.  [1754. 

In  the  next  cell  to  this  prisoner  lay  a  man,  under  sentence  of  death 
for  murder,*  whose  lamentations  at  the  near  approach  of  his  end,  added 
to  the  pelting  of  a  violent  storm  without,  may  well  be  supposed  to  give 
an  additional  force  to  the  before-mentioned  reflections  of  Mr.  Fowle.  His 
imprisonment  lasted  but  about  two  days ;  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
was  taken  from  his  cell  to  the  keeper's  house,  and  told  "  he  might  go." 
But  having  been  "imprisoned  against  law,"  he  refused  to  be  thus  privately 
set  at  liberty,  and  therefore  demanded  that  the  same  authority  which 
had  "  at  midnight  confined  him  uncondemned,"  should  perform  the 
office ;  but  after  waiting  three  days  without  gaining  that  point,  and  hear- 
ing his  wife  was  dangerously  ill,  he  left  the  keeper's  house  and  re- 
turned to  his  family. 

Being  disgusted  with  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Fowle 
subsequently  removed  to  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  was  the 
first  printer  who  settled  in  that  province.! 

The  Post  Office  was  opened  in  Cornhill,  at  Mr.  John  Franklin's ; 
and  Samuel  Holbrook  gave  notice  that  all  persons  indebted  for  Post  Boy 
papers  or  postage  of  letters  must  make  payment  "  as  soon  as  possible."  J 
Franklin  was  Deputy  Postmaster. 

The  burials  in  the  Town  from  January  third,  1753,  to  January 
first,  1754,  were  481 ;  of  which  63  were  blacks.  The  baptisms  in 
the  several  churches  were  396.  The  following  year,  ending  January 
seventh,  1754,  the  deaths  were  439,  of  which  54  were  blacks  ;  bap- 
tisms, 439. 

1755.  The  General  Court  having  passed  a  law  laying  an  excise  on 
Jan.  3.  distilled  spirits,  wine,  limes,  lemons  and  oranges,  the  inhabit- 
ants met  in  Town-meeting,  to  devise  a  plan  to  prevent  its  going  into  op- 
eration. It  was  voted  "  to  make  application  home  to  prevent  the  royal 
assent  to  the  measure."  They  accordingly  chose  Christopher  Kilby, 
Esq.,  of  London,  as  their  Agent  to  carry  the  resolution  into  effect. 
F ,  .  The  Postmaster  gave  notice  that  the  western  Postriders 
"  would  perform  their  stages  in  future,  every  week,  in  winter  as 
well  as  summer  ;"  and  that  "  he  "  would  be  dispatched  every  Monday 
afternoon,  precisely  at  two  o'clock,  during  winter. 
Feb  On   the   fifth  of  February  the    Town  suffered  great  damage 

from  a  most  violent  storm  of  wind  and  rain  from  the  south-east. 

pied  by  the  Court  House.     Court-street  was  their  copartnership  begun  in   1742),   "over 

called  Prison  Lane  as  late  as  1762. —  See  Even-  against  the  S.  East  Cor.  of  the  Town  House." 

ing  Post,  9  Aug.,  1762.  In  1746  they  were  "  in  Queen-street,  next  to  the 

*  The  man  was  named  William  Wieer.  He  Prison."  In  1755  Fowle's  office  was  in  Ann- 
was  executed  on  the  19th  of  Nov.  following,  street.  The  next  year  he  removed  to  Ports- 
leaving  a  wife,  children,  father  and  mother,  mouth.  There  he  printed  a  Newspaper,  the 
The  name  of  the  murdered  man  was  William  Province  Laws,  &c,  became  a  Magistrate,  and 
Chism.  —  Chauncy's  Sermon  on  the  day  of  Ex-  died  there  in  June,  1782,  aged  72.  —  Thomas, 
ecution,  p.  19-20.  J  A  little  later  there  were  a  great  many  let- 

f  Thomas,  Hist.  Printing,  i.  336.  —  Daniel  ters  advertised  as  remaining  in  the  office  un- 

JFowle  had  been  a  partner  with  Gamaliel  Rog-  called  for.    The  first  published  list  in  a  News- 

ers.     I  have  many  books  printed  by  Rogers  &  paper,  which  I  have  seen,  is  in  the  News- Letter 

Fowle,  all  of  which  are  very  well  executed  for  of  30th  Jan.,  1755.     It  contained  351  names  ; 

that  day.     They  commenced  printing  as  early  a  large  proportion  of  which  were  of  persons 

as  1741    (Dr.  Thomas  is  mistaken  in  saying  out  of  Boston. 


1755.] 


DISCOVERIES    OP    FRANKLIN. 


G37 


The  tide  rose  to  an  uncommon  height,  injuring  the  shipping  and"  wharves 
exceedingly.  "  The  great  Crane  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Long  Wharf  was 
broken  down,  as  was  the  upper  one  on  the  south  side,  and  the  lower  one 
on  that  side  suffered  much.  To  give  a  detail  of  all  the  damage  done 
would  be  almost  endless." 

The  extraordinary  discoveries  of  Benjamin  Franklin  in  electricity, 
though  they  had  been  before  the  public  above  three  years,  do  not  appear 
to  be  noticed  in  the  Newspapers  of  Boston  until  this  year ;  and  yet  his 
friend  Peter  Collinson,  Esq.,  of  London,  had  long  before  been  giving 
the  letters  of  that  since  renowned  Philosopher  to  the  British  Public ; 
and  these  letters  detailed  the  steps  by  which  Franklin  arrived  at  those 
astonishing  results,  which,  as  the  learned  Collinson  expresses  it,  "are 
at  once  the  most  awful,  and,  hitherto,  accounted  for  with  the  least  veri- 
similitude." * 


CHAPTER  LXIY. 


Lectures  on  Electrical  Fire.  —  Boston  Gazette.  —  Colonial  Stamp  Act.  —  War  News.  —  Arrival  of  war- 
like Stores.  —  Soldiers  march  for  the  Frontiers. — Young  Ladies  make  Soldiers'  Garments. — Writ- 
ing School.  —  Arrival  of  French  Prisoners.  —  The  Great  Earthquake.  —  Edward  Tyng.  —  Concert 
Hall.  — Trade  depressed.  — Taxes  increased.  —  Law  against  Pageants.  — Edward  Bromfield.  — Jo- 
siah  Willard.  —  Visit  of  Lord  Loudon.  —  Arrival  of  Gov.  Pownall.  —  Lotteries  granted.  —  Visitation 
of  Schools.  —  School  Statistics.  —  Private  Schools.  —  Magazine.  —  General  Amherst  arrives.  — 
Marches  for  Albany.  —  Death  of  Thomas  Prince  —  of  Charles  Apthorp. 

IT  has  long  since  become  a  proverb  that  Boston  is  slow 
to  appreciate  merit  in  humble  life.  It  may  have  been 
so  in  the  days  of  Franklin.  However  that  may  be,  the 
proverb  will  scarcely  be  laid  aside  for  want  of  use  in  later 
days. 

The  discoveries  of  Franklin  had  been  some  time  known 

to  the  public,  and  there  were  doubtless  at  this  period 

many  persons  endeavoring  to  experiment,  as  he 

'  had  done,  in  that  branch  of  natural  philosophy  in 

which  he  had  surpassed  all  others.     Joseph  Miller  ad- 


PRIIJCE.t 


*  Preface  to  New  Experiments  and  Observa- 
tions on  Electricity.  By  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Esq.  Communicated  in  Several  Letters  to  P. 
Collinson,  Esq.,  of  London,  F.  R.  S.  4to.  Lon- 
don, 1760,  3d  Edition. 

In  the  Gentleman 's  Magazine  for  Sept.,  1754, 
is  a  notice  of  Mr.  Collinson's  publication,  and 
this  notice  is  noticed  in  the  Boston  News-Letter 
of  2d  Jan.,  1755.  As  the  communications  of 
Franklin  to  Collinson  begun  as  early  as  July, 
1747,  it  appears  from  an  observation  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Prince,  that  the  result  of  his  experi- 
ments was  unknown  in  Boston  till  late  in 
1755.  In  his  Discourse  upon  the  Earthquake 
of  Nov.  18th,  of  this  year,  Mr.  Prince  says  : 
' '  Since  my  composing  of  the  foregoing  Dis- 


course, the  sagacious  Mr.  Franklin,  born  and 
brought  up  in  Boston,  but  now  living  in  Phil- 
adelphia, has  greatly  surprised  and  obliged  the 
world  with  his  discoveries  of  the  Electrical 
Substance,  as  one  great  and  main  instrument  of 
lightning  and  thunder."  —  P.  20.  Prof.  Win- 
throp  also  refers  to  Franklin  in  his  Lecture  on 
Earthquakes,  as  "the  very  ingenious  and  sa- 
gacious Mr.  Franklin,  who  with  happy  success 
had  accounted  for  the  phenomena  of  Thunder 
and  Lightning." —  P.  32. 

f  This  engraving  of  the  Arms  of  Prince  is  a 
copy  of  one  formerly  possessed  by  the  Reverend 
Thomas  Prince,  Minister  of  the  Old  South. 
He  procured  it  during  his  sojourn  in  England, 
it  is  believed,  previous  to  his  settlement  in  the 


638 


BOSTON    GAZETTE. 


[1755. 


vertisecf"  A  Course  of  Experiments  on  the  newly  discovered  Electrical 
Fire,  at  his  house  near  the  Blue  Ball"  in  Hanover-street.*  Price 
of  tickets  of  admission  was  "  one  pistareen  each  lecture." 

.  A  Newspaper,  called  "The  Boston  Gazette,  or  Country  Jour- 

pr  '  nal,"  was  established.  It  was  printed  by  Benjamin  Edes  and  John 
Gill,  in  King-street,  near  the  east  end  of  the  Town  House.  This  paper 
ably  advocated  the  cause  of  the  Colonies  against  the  Mother  Country, 
and  consequently  it  met  with  interruptions  during  the  Revolution.  In 
April,  1775,  it  was  suspended,  and  Gill  left  it.  But  Edes  removed  his 
press  to  Watertown,  and  there  issued  the  Gazette  till  November,  1776. 
He  then  returned  to  Boston,  and  published  his  paper,  which  was  contin- 
ued till  1798,  when  it  ceased.f 

A  Stamp  Act  had  been  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the  Colony, 
laying  duties  on  Vellum,  Parchment,  and  Paper,  for  two  years.     The 


Ministry  here.  Its  heraldic  reading  is  —  Gules, 
a  Saltire  Or,  surmounted  by  a  Cross  engrailed 
Ermine.  Crest  —  A  dexter  hand  issuing  from 
a  Ducal  Coronet,  holding  a  pine  branch  prop- 
er, fructed  Or. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Prince  has  already  been 
noticed.  It  was  on  what  is  now  Washington- 
street,  on  the  easterly  side,  in  the  same  house 
in  which  Gov.  Winthrop  had  lived.  The  site 
is  now  covered  by  the  South  Kow.  It  was 
nearly  opposite  School-street.  See  p.  315, 
ante.  His  will  is  dated  Oct.  2d,  1758,  and 
proved  Nov.  3  following,  before  Thos.  Hutch- 
inson. He  gave  to  his  nephew,  Samuel 
Prince,  son  of  his  brother,  Moses  Prince,  de- 
ceased, his  land  in  Shepscut,  in  the  County  of 
York,  the  land  given  him  by  his  cousin  Jon- 
athan Loring,  of  Boston,  deceased.  To  said 
Samuel  and  other  children  of  his  brother  Mo- 
ses, "  lands  beyond  Hartford  in  Connecticut 
Colony,"  received  also  from  his  cousin  Loring. 
To  them  also  all  his  lands  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire.  All  his  lands  in  Boston  to  his 
wife  Deborah,  and  daughter  Sarah  Prince. 
To  said  dear  wife  all  land  in  Church  Neck,  in 
Rochester,  in  Plymouth  Colony,  and  land  in 
Cromasett  Neck  in  Wareham,  and  all  lands  in 
Leicester,  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  in  the 
East  and  West  Wing  of  Rutland*  in  said 
County.  He  had  some  other  lands,  which  he 
also  gave  them.  To  his  dear  Colleague,  the 
Rev.  Doctor  Joseph  Sewall,  as  a  token  of  his 
affection,  Hooght's  Hebrew  Bible,  2  vols., 
printed  in  1705,  and  Witsteniu's  Greek  Testa- 
ment. To  the  Old  South  Church  a  piece  of 
plate  of  the  form  and  height  of  that  last  pre- 
sented to  said  Church.  "  I  would  have  it 
plain,  and  to  hold  a  full  pint."  But  the  part 
of  his  will  which  will  be  most  thought  of  by 

*  The  East  Wing  of  Rutland  is  included  in  Prince- 
ton, in  the  County  of  Worcester,  about  fifty  miles  from 
Boston.  It  contained  about  11,600  acres.  Princeton 
was  not  incorporated  till  1771;  though  in  1759  it  was 
"erected  into  a  District  by  the  name  of  Prince 
Town,"  one  year  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Prince. 


antiquaries  is  that  disposing  of  his  "  New 
England  Library,"  which  is  as  follows  : — 
"Whereas  I  have  been,  a  number  of  years, 
collecting  a  number  of  books,  pamphlets,  maps, 
papers  in  print  and  manuscript,  whether  pub- 
lished in  New  England  or  pertaining  to' its  his- 
tory and  public  affairs,  to  which  collection  I 
have  given  the  name  of  the  New  England  Li- 
brary, and  have  deposited  it  in  the  Steeple 
Chamber  of  the  Old  South  Church  ;  and  as  I 
made  the  collection  from  a  public  view,  and 
desire  that  the  memory  of  many  important 
transactions  might  be  preserved,  which  other- 
wise would  be  lost,  I  hereby  bequeath  the  said 
collection  to  the  Old  South  Church  forever. 
But  to  the  end  that  the  same  may  be  kept  en- 
tire, I  desire  that  this  collection  may  always 
be  kept  in  a  different  apartment  from  the  other 
books,  and  that  it  may  be  so  made  that  no 
person  shall  borrow  any  book  or  paper  therefrom, 
but  that  any  person  whom  the  Pastor  and 
Deacons,  for  the  time  being,  shall  approve  of, 
may  have  access  thereto  and  take  copies  there- 
from." The  question  has  been  propounded, 
whether  the  will  of  the  great  Benefactor  has 
been  kept  inviolate,  in  respect  to  the  part  of 
it  which  I  have  italicized. 

*  A  very  appropriate  location,  being  near  the 
identical  spot  where  Franklin  was  born.  I 
would  here  remark  that  since  I  wrote  the  note 
on  page  492,  I  have  had  additional  confirma- 
tion that  Franklin  was  born  in  Hanover-street. 
An  aged,  intelligent,  and  well-informed  lady 
(Mrs.  Harriet  A.  T.  Lewis)  well  remembers 
hearing  his  birthplace  spoken  of  by  old  per- 
sons, when  she  was  young,  as  a  matter  fa- 
miliarly known  to  them  ;  namely,  that  Frank- 
lin was  born  at  the  sign  of  the  Blue  Ball,  in 
Hanover-street,  as  has  been  stated. 

f  Mr.  Edes  had  sons  Benjamin  and  Peter. 
Benjamin  was  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
publication  of  the  Gazette  for  a  considerable 
period.  He  was  born  in  Charlestown,  began 
business  with  Gill  in  1755,  died  in  Boston,  in 
May,  1800,  aged  40.  —  Thomas. 


1755.] 


WILLIAM    SHIRLEY. 


639 


funds  thus  arising  were  to  be  applied  "  towards  de- 
fraying the  charges  of  this  Government."  The  Act 
went  into  effect  on  the  first  of  May,  and  on  that  day 
the  News-Letter  appeared  with  a  stamp,  which  occu- 
pied a  place  near  the  right-hand  corner  near  the  foot 
of  the  first  page.  It  is  very  exactly  represented  in 
the  annexed  engraving.* 

Governor  Shirley  was  chiefly  occupied  in 
the  military  affairs  of  the  Country.  He  visited 
*  General  Braddock  at  Alexandria,  in  Vir- 
ginia, relative  to  the  campaign  now  in 
progress  against  the  French,  and  returned  to 
Boston  on  the  loth  of  May.  He  had  been 
here  but  one  month  and  ten  days  when  the 
news  arrived  of  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  and 
the  destruction  of  the  army.  And  probably 
the  additional  news  also  reached  the  Governor, 
that  in  that  defeat  his  son  William,  who  was 
one  of  the  General's  Aids,  had  been  killed. 

War  news  had  been  for  some  time  the  most 
prominent  topic  of  the  Town,  and  it  was  kept 
alive  by  arrivals  of  various  accounts  from  the  frontiers,  and  the  collecting 
and  marching  of  troops.  Two  days  after  the  return  of  Gov.  Shir- 
ley from  Virginia,  there  came  in  Captain  Kirkwood  from  England, 
bringing  2000  stand  of  arms  and  other  munitions  for  the  regiment  of 
soldiers  raised  in  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  who  were  waiting  their  arrival 
to  march  against  the  enemy.  Two  days  after  arrived  Captain  Trout, 
who  had  on  board  a  large  quantity  of  powder,  destined  for  the  same  ser- 
vice. The  Boston  men  being  now  ready  for  service,  on  the  28th  of 
May  the  Rev.  Mr.  Checkley  preached  a  sermon  to  the  company  under 
Captain  Thomas  Stoddard,  about  to  proceed  to  join  the  main  army,  from 
a  text  most  appropriately  chosen. f 

When  these  soldiers  had  been  in  the  field  about  three  months,  news 
of  their  sufferings  from  want  of  suitable  clothing  reached  their  friends. 
Immediately  a  number  of  young  ladies  volunteered  their  services  to  the 
Town  Authorities,  offering  gratuitously  to  make  garments  for  those  en- 
gaged in  the  country's  service. 

A  Writing  School  was  proposed  to  be  opened  in  Long  Lane, 


WILLIAM    SHIRLEY. 


May  15. 


July  17. 


now  Federal-street,  by  Mr.  William  Elphinstone.J 


*  Under  date  1759,  Dr.  Holmes  says  :  "  The 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts  passed  a  Stamp 
Act,  in  which  Newspapers  were  included  ;  but, 
on  application  from  the  Printers,  the  Duty  was 
taken  off,  in  consideration  that  they  were  ve- 
hicles of  knowledge,  and  necessary  for  infor- 
mation. ' '  This,  it  will  readily  be  conceded,  was 
a  very  sensible  reason  why  Newspapers  should 
not  be  taxed.  I  wish  our  retograde  Congress 
could  be  influenced  by  such  reasoning  to  take 


off  that  wicked  duty  which  they  have  imposed 
on  old  boohs;  they  probably  desire  to  keep 
them  out  of  the  country,  lest  they  should  shed 
some  light  on  their  —  practices. 

f  Second  Chron.  xxxii.  7,  8.  The  reader 
will  find  himself  well  repaid  for  his  time  by 
turning  to  and  reading  it ;  it,  being  too  long 
for  this  note,  is  omitted. 

J  He  was  to  teach  "  persons  of  both  sexes, 
from  12  to  50  years  of  age,  who  never  wrote 


640  THE    GREAT   EARTHQUAKE.  [1755. 

The  Government  of  Nova  Scotia  having  judged  it  necessary  to  remove 
the  French  inhabitants  from  that  Province,*  about  200  families  of  them 
were  allotted  to  Massachusetts.  Of  these  expatriated  families,  thirty 
had  arrived  in  Boston  previous  to  the  eleventh  of  November, 
and  others  were  daily  expected.  The  General  Court  appointed 
a  Committee  to  attend  to  their  dispersion  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston  and  other  towns,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Samuel  Watts, 
Esq.f  These  French  families  were  neutral  as  to  the  war  that  was  going 
on,  and  how  this  barbarous  expulsion  of  them  is  to  be  justified  by  the 
Historian,  it  is  not  easy  to  discover. 

But  a  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  French  neutrals  in  Bos- 
'  ton,  happened  the  most  fearful  Earthquake  ever  before  or  since 
known  in  New  England.  Boston  was  by  it  "  more  dreadfully  shaken  "J 
than  any  other  place  in  all  North  America,  through  nearly  the  whole 
extent  of  which  it  was  felt  with  great  severity.  It  began  in  this  town 
about  four  of  the  clock  in  the  morning, §  and  continued  nearly  four  and 
a  half  minutes.  Great  damage  was  done  to  the  buildings ;  "  about 
100  chimneys  were,  in  a  manner,  levelled  with  the  roofs  of  the  houses, 
and  about  1500  shattered  and  thrown  down  in  part."  Buildings  erect- 
ed upon  made  land  suffered  the  most.  Their  tottering  was  extremely 
frightful,  and  the  ways  about  them  were  covered  with  bricks  and  other 
fragments  of  building  materials.  The  ends  of  about  fifteen  brick  build- 
ings were  thrown  down  as  far  as  the  eaves.  Many  clocks  stopped.  The 
vane  of  the  Market  House  fell  to  the  ground.  The  new  vane  of  one  of 
the  churches  was  bent  several  "  points  of  the  compass.  "||  Some  old 
springs  ceased  to  flow,  and  new  ones  broke  out,  and  some  wells  afforded 
water  no  longer.  In  his  sermon  upon  the  occasion,  the  Rev.  Mather 
Byles  says,  "It  was  a  terrible  night,  the  most  so,  perhaps,  that  ever 
New  England  saw.  When  we  remember  it,  we  are  afraid,  and  trem- 
bling taketh  hold  of  our  flesh." 

The  violence  of  the  shock  of  this  earthquake  may  be  conceived  of 
from  the  facts  which  follow.  A  brick  was  thrown  thirty-two  feet  from 
a  house,  the  chimney  of  which  was  but  thirty-one  feet  high.  Some  of 
the  chimneys  were  broken  off  several  feet  below  the  top,  and  by  the 

before,  to  write  a  good  hand  in  five  weeks,  at  dren  were  in  one  vessel  and  husbands  and  fath- 

one   hour  per  day,"  &c.     "At  his  house  in  ers  in   another,  in   many  instances.     Of  the 

Long  Lane,  where  the  Kev.  Mr.  Hooper  lived,  former,  some  were  landed  in  Boston,  while  of 

next  door  to   Mr.  Borland's."     Elphinstone  the  latter  some  were  landed  in  Philadelphia, 

was  probably  a  Scotchman.     Whether  a  con-  —  Ibid. 

nection  of  William  "  Elphinston,"  the  author  ^Discourse  on  the  occasion  by  the  Rev.  Thos. 

of  the  Dictionary,  &c,  I  do  not  know.  Prince,  p.  23. 

*  Governor  Lawrence  acted  in  accordance  §  Accident  gave  Prof.  Winthrop,  of  Cam- 

with  the  advice  of  Admirals  Boscawen  and  bridge,  an  opportunity  to  measure  the  time  of 

Moyston  respecting  the  orders  for  their  expul-  its  duration,  and  also  the  exact  time  it  com- 

sion.  menced.  —  See  his  Lecture  on  Earthquakes,  p. 

f  An  account  of  those  French  Neutrals  is  in  14.   It  was  on  Tuesday  morning,  at  4  h.  11'  35". 

progress,  by  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Whitmore,  a  young  —  Mems.  Amer.  Acad.,  i.  273.     The  article  in 

gentleman  wanting  in  nothing  for  its  successful  this  work  upon  the  Earthquake  is  an  excellent 

completion.  one  ;  taken  mainly,  I  perceive,  from  Dr.  May- 

Hutchinson,  vol.   iii.  40,   gives  other   facts  hew's  Discourse  on  the  same  occasion, 

respecting  the  Neutral   French  in  Massachu-  ||  Sermon  by  Dr.  Charles  Chauncy,  p.  31. — 

setts.    Families  were  divided  ;  wives  and  chil-  See  also  Holmes'  Annals,  ii.  67. 


1755.]  EDWARD    TYNG. CONCERT    HALL.  C41 

suddenness  and  violence  of  the  jerks  canted  horizontally  an  inch  or  two 
over,  so  as  to  stand  very  dangerously.  Some  others  thus  broken  off 
were  turned  round  several  points  of  the  compass,  as  with  a  circular  mo- 
tion. The  wooden  spindle  which  supported  the  vane  of  the  Market 
House,  though  five  inches  in  diameter,  and  had  withstood  the  most  vio- 
lent tempests,  was  broken  off;  and  a  distiller's  cistern,  made  of  plank, 
nearly  new  and  very  strong,  was  burst  asunder  by  the  agitation  of  the 
liquid  which  it  contained,  which  also  broke  down  the  whole  side  of  the 
building  in  which  it  was,  at  the  same  time  demolishing  a  fence  in  its 
way  at  some  eight  or  ten  feet  distance.* 

Commodore  Edward  Tyng  died  in  Boston,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two.  He  commanded  the  provincial  fleet  in  the  memorable  Louis- 
bourg  Expedition  ten  years  before.  He  captured  the  French  frigate 
Vigilant,  of  sixty-four  guns,  in  that  expedition,  for  which  and  other 
important  services  Sir  Peter  Warren  offered  him  the  command  of  the 
Vigilant,  with  the  rank  of  Post  Captain  in  the  Royal  Navy  ;  but,  on 
account  of  his  age,  being  then  sixty-two,  he  thought  proper  to  decline 
the  offer.  In  the  war  of  1744,  he  commanded  the  Snow  Prince  of 
Orange,  and  in  her  captured  the  first  French  privateer  on  the  coast,  on 
the  24th  of  June  of  that  year.  For  that  brilliant  action  the  merchants 
of  the  town  presented  him  with  a  piece  of  plate  with  a  suitable  in- 
scription.! 

Concert  Hall  was  built  prior  to  this,  but  may  not  have  been  so  de- 
nominated until  about  this  time.  It  was  not  so  called  in  a  deed  of  the 
30th  of  September,  17£>4,J  by  which  the  building  afterwards  designated 
by  that  name  was  conveyed  by  Gilbert  and  Lewis  Deblois,  braziers,  to 
Stephen  Deblois,  for  2,000  pounds,  lawful  money.  In  1769,  Stephen 
Deblois  sold  it  to  William  Turner,  gentleman,  for  1,000  pounds  sterling; 
Turner  at  the  same  time  mortgaging  it  to  Deblois  to  secure  the  payment 
of  just  half  that  sum,  with  the  condition  that  the  500  pounds  must  be 

*  Appendix  to  Dr.  Mayhew's  Discourse,  p.  4.  dying  in  a  dungeon  there."    fhe  Court  finally 

—  Winthrop's  Led.,  p.  11.  granted  them  2100  acres  of  land  "  lying  west 

f  The  omission  of  Tyng  in  all  the  American  of  Salem  Canada,  and  northerly  of  Ipswich 

Biographical  Dictionaries  is  to  be  seriously  re-  New  Township." 

gretted.  The  family  is  duly  noticed  by  Farmer  J  It  is  described  in  the  deed,  —  "A  certain 
in  his  Register.  The  ancestor  of  the  Commo-  brick  dwelling-house  or  messuage,  with  the 
dore  was  Edward  Tyng,  merchant  of  Boston,  land  belonging,  being  in  the  westerly  part  of 
The  mansion  house  of  the  family  was  on  Milk-  Boston,  bounded  westerly  in  the  front  on  Queen- 
street.  The  Commodore  left  a  large  estate,  street,  48  ft.  and  8  in.  Northerly  on  Hanover- 
Besides  the  house  and  land  in  Milk-street,  he  street,  66  ft.  Easterly  on  the  house  and  land 
had  two  brick  houses  in  Fleet-street,  in  which  of  Wm.  Hyslop,.  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Steele, 
were  living,  in  1762,  Dr.  Yorke,  and  Mr.  Sam-  49  ft.  And  southerly  on  the  house  and  land 
uel  Goodwin  ;  a  house,  warehouse  and  wharf  of  Thomas  Procter,  69  ft.,"  who  was  dead  in 
near  Windmill  Point,  adjoining  the  estate  of  1769.  At  this  last  date  it  is  called  Concert 
Mr.  Jabez  Hatch.  In  1736,  Edward  Tyng,  Hall,  in  the  deed  of  Deblois  to  Turner. 
Temple  Nelson  and  Nathaniel  Alden,  all  of,  Shaw,  in  his  "  Description  of  Boston,"  fol- 
Boston,  petitioned  the  General  Court,  on  their  lowing  Pemberton,  says  Concert  Hall  was  built 
own  and  the  behalf  of  others,  heirs  of  Col.  Ed-  in  1756,  which  is  clearly  wrong.  As  early  as 
ward  Tyng,  John  Nelson,  Esq.,  and  Capt.  John  the  2d  of  Jan.,  1755,  "  a  Concert  of  Music  " 
Alden,  all  deceased,  for  some  consideration  was  advertised  to  take  place  at  Concert  Hall 
"  for  the  deceased's  extraordinary  services  and  in  Queen-street;  Tickets  to  be  had  at  the 
sufferings  ;  they  having  suffered  a  long  and  place  of  performance  at  four  shillings  each.  — • 
tedious  captivity  in  France,  the  said  Col.  Tyng  News-Letter. 

81 


642 


CONCERT   HALL. TRADE   DEPRESSED. 


[1755. 


paid  within  eight  years.     It  afterwards  passed  to  the  Amory  family,  in 
which  it  has  ever  since  remained.* 

In  the  early  times  of  the  Revolution,  Concert  Hall  was  one  of  the 
principal  head-quarters  of  the  Friends  of  Liberty,  and  the  Society  of 
Cincinnati  held  their  meetings  in  it  for  nearly  fifty  years. f  About  half 
a  century  ago  it  was  described  as  having  been  enlarged  and  improved 
by  the  proprietor,  at  a  great  expense ;  making  the  front  hall  in  the  sec- 
ond story  about  sixty  by  thirty  feet.  This  was  the  most  elegant  Hall 
in  the  Town,  and  was  much  admired  for  its  symmetry  and  elegant  arch- 
itectural finish.  Its  style  was  Corinthian,  and  there  was  an  orchestra, 
and  superb  mirrors  adorned  its  walls.  It  was  used  as  a  tavern,  prob- 
ably from  its  commencement,  till  and  during  the  time  of  the  late  Mr. 
William  Forster.  It  was  for  a  long  period  the  most  noted  Hall  in  Bos- 
ton ;  nor  has  its  notoriety  departed  even  to  this  day.  The  many-col- 
ored lantern  signj  of  its  present  enterprising  proprietor§  is  well  calcu- 
lated to  make  it  a  mark  of  distinction. 

Owing  to  the  continuance  of  the  War  there  was  a  great  stagnation 
in  trade.  This  stagnation  affected  Boston  more  than  any  other  place 
in  New  England  ;  and  with  the  depression  of  business  there  was  a  cor- 
responding increase  in  taxes  ;  some  merchants  being  assessed  to  the 
amount  of  four  hundred  pounds. 

An  Act  was  passed  by  the  General  Court,  regulating  the  Hospital  at 
Rainsford's  Island,  by  which  the  Selectmen  of  Boston  were  empowered 
to  manage  its  chief  concerns. 

It  had  been  a  custom  from  a  very  early  day,  among  the  lower  classes, 

to  have  evening  gatherings,  to  march  in  processions,  following  some 

pageant,  in  mockery  of  persons  or  transactions  which  they  had  learned 

to  detest  from  former  example.     These  gatherings  frequently  ended  in 

bloodshed  and  other  mischiefs.     A  law  was  therefore  made  "  to 

'  prevent  riotous,  tumultuous  and  disorderly  assemblies,  of  more 


1756. 


*  Messrs.  Jonathan  and  John  Amory  were 
importers  of  Dry  Goods.  In  1757  their  store 
was  at  ' '  the  sign  of  the  Horse  at  the  head  of 
Dock  Square."  They  afterwards  (before 
1762)  removed  into  King-street,  "just  below 
the  Town  House."  Their  store  was,  I  believe, 
the  last  of  the  old  stores  in  State-street. 

f  The  meetings  of  Columbian  Lodge  of  Free- 
masons were  held  at  Concert  Hall  from  22d 
June,  1795,  to  5th  May,  1796,  with  five  excep- 
tions. After  the  installation  of  the  Rt.  Wor- 
shipful Jeremy  Gridley  as  Grand  Master  of 
Masons  of  North  America,  Oct.  1st,  1755, 
and  after  Divine  Service  on  that  occasion,  "the 
brotherhood  returned  to  Concert  Hall  and  cel- 
ebrated the  day  in  harmony  and  joy."  —  Hist. 
oftColumbian  Lodge,  by  J.  T.  Heard,  Esq.,  now 
in  course  of  publication. 

J  Singular  signs  are  not  so  much  in  use  as 
formerly.  Before  the  streets  were  numbered, 
signs  of  an  odd  appearance  were  very  impor- 
tant to  shop-keepers  who  were  unable  to  locate 
themselves  near  some  well-known   residence 


or  public  building.  There  has  been  given  a 
view  of  the  sign  of  a 
Bookseller,  who  prob- 
^.ably  outdid  all  his 
I  r^l!S£Sltlb=,  f  brethren  in  that  time. 
J  **1J  In  1758,  William  Blair 
!||f§igi  Townsend  and  Edward 
Wigglesworth,  import- 
ers of  British  and  India 
goods,  kept  in  Marl- 
j|  boro '-street,  opposite 
Dr.  Gibbins'.  But  the 
Doctor  was  not  suffi- 
ciently known,  per- 
^  haps,  and  they  put  out 
a  large  swing-sign,  on  which  were  painted  the 
figures  of  three  doves  ;  which  not  only  served 
their  own  purpose,  but  that  of  their  neighbors 
also.  For  being  one,  two,  or  three  "  doors 
from  the  Sign  of  the  Three  Doves  "  was  almost 
equal  to  having  that  sign. 

§  Peter  Brigham,  Esq.,  who  has  conducted 
it  for  about  twenty-five  years. 


1756-7.]  ARRIVAL    OP    GOV.    POWNALL.  643 

than  three  persons,  all  or  any  of  them  armed  with  sticks,  clubs  or  any- 
kind  of  weapons,  or  disguised  with  vizards,  or  painted  or  discolored 
faces,  or  in  any  manner  disguised,  having  any  kind  of  imagery  or  pag- 
eantry, in  any  street,  lane  or  place  in  Boston."  The  penalty  for  being 
in  such  a  gathering  subjected  each  person  to  a  fine  of  forty  shillings. 

Among  the  deaths  of  the  year  1756  should  be  mentioned  that  of  Mr. 
Edward  Bromfield,  a  merchant.  He  died  on  the  tenth  of  April,  aged 
sixty-one.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  in  1695.  His  father  was  the  Hon. 
Edward  Bromfield,  and  his  mother  was  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  of  Roxbury,  by  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
John  Wilson,  the  first  minister  of  Boston.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
great  benevolence,  and  was  much  beloved  by  the  people  for  his  public 
spirit  and  upright  dealing.  He  was  a  Selectman  in  1731,  in  1735  an 
Overseer  of  the  Poor,  in  1739  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 
This  office  he  declined  after  four  years,*  but  continued  an  Overseer  of 
the  Poor  for  twenty-one  years.f 

On  the  sixth  of  December  died  Josiah  Willard,  Esquire,  late  Secre- 
tary of  the  Province,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  He  was  son  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Willard,  of  the  Old  South,  born  in  May,  1681,  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1698,  of  which  he  was  Tutor  and  Librarian  in  1703. 
In  1717  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  which  office  he  re- 
signed in  1745,  after  a  service  of  twenty- eight  years.  In  1731  he  was 
made  Judge  of  Probate,  and  in  1734  he  was  chosen  of  His  Majesty's 
Council.^  He  was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate  by  the 
Hon.  Edward  Hutchinson,  and  in  the  Secretaryship  by  Andrew  Oliver, 
Esquire. 

In  prosecuting  the  War  against  the  French,  Lord  Loudon,  who 
'  had  been  some  time  in  the  country,  came  to  Boston  to  meet  the  Gov- 
ernors of  the  Colonies  and  others,  Commissioners,  to  confer  with  them 
upon  measures  to  be  pursued.  The  Massachusetts  Commissioners  were 
Thomas  Hutchinson  and  William  Brattle,  of  the  Council ;  Samuel  Wells, 
Thomas  Hubbard,  and  James  Otis,  of  the  Representatives.  The  Con- 
vention lasted  ten  days.  The  number  of  men  to  be  raised  for  the  ser- 
vice by  each  of  the  New  England  Colonies  was  agreed  upon.  Massa- 
chusetts was  to  furnish  1800. 

Thomas  Pownall,  Esquire,  having  been  appointed  Governor  of 

'  Massachusetts,  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  second  of  August.     This 

was  his  third  visit  to  the  Colonies.     He  came  over  to  New  York  in 

1754,  with  Sir  Danvers  Osborn,  and  had  a  commission  of  Lieutenant 

Governor  of  New  Jersey.     In  June  of  that  year  he  was  at  the  famous 

*  The  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing,  Speaker  of  was  very  remarkable  for  his  scientific"  attain- 

the  House,  was  Mr.  Bromfield's  brother-in-  ments.     He  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 

law.   He  died  on  the  11th  of  April,  1746,  aged  1738,  died  August  18th,  1746,  at  the  age  of  23. 

53.     His  wife,   Mrs.   Mary,  daughter  of  the  There  is  a  long  and  interesting  account  of  his 

Hon.  Edward  Bromfield,  died  30th  October,  of  microscopic  investigations  in  the  American 

the  same  year.  Magazine  of  1746,  p.  548,  &c. 

f  Prince's   Sermon   at  his  Funeral,  p.   30.  J  Sewall's  and   Prince's  Funeral  Sermons 

Mr.  Bromfield's  oldest  son,  also  named  Edward,  See  also  Eliot  and  Allen. 


644 


LOTTERIES    GRANTED. 


[1757-8. 


THOMAS   POWNALL. 


Congress  of  Albany,  where  Franklin  made  his 
memorable  proposal  for  a  union  of  the  Colonies, 
similar  to  that  adopted  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Eevolution.  On  coming  to  Boston  soon 
after,  Governor  Shirley  appointed  him  a  Com- 
missioner, with  two  others  to  solicit  aid  from 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  for  carrying  on 
the  "War.  He  was  also  with  Mr.  Shirley  and 
the  other  Governors  and  gentlemen  who  met 
General  Braddock  at  Alexandria  in  1755. 
He  returned  to  England  the  same  year,  but 
the  next  year  returned  with  Lord  Loudon. 
His  stay  was  now  limited  to  a  few  months. 
Being  again  in  England,  he  succeeded  in  being 
appointed  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  soon  after  arrived  in  Boston, 
as  has  been  mentioned.  Mr.  Shirley  was  thus  superseded,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded General  Braddock  in  the  command  of  the  Army. 

Notwithstanding  an  Act  had  been  passed  in  1719,  for  the  suppression  of 
Lotteries,  "  as  common  and  public  nuisances,"  the  town  was  this  year 
carrying  on  a  lottery,  and  the  inhabitants  were  notified,  on  the  23d  of 
November,  that  if  they  did  not  "  adventure  "  in  the  purchase  of  tickets 
"on  or  before  Monday  the  28th,  they  would  be  excluded  "  from  the 
benefits  of  said  Lottery,  as  the  Town  had  voted  to  take  all  unsold  tickets 
to  itself.  What  arguments  had  been  made  use  of  by  the  Fathers  of  the 
Town  to  convince  the  General  Court  that  they  might  gamble  by  Lotteries 
without  suffering  in  character,  does  not  appear.  But  certain  it  is,  that 
body  did  authorize  the  Town  to  raise  2,100  dollars  by  a  Lottery, 
towards  paving  and  repairing  the  Neck  ;  and  not  long  after  another,  to 
raise  funds  for  paving  the  Highway  from  Boston  line  to  Meeting-house 
Hill  in  Roxbury.     The  days  of  Lotteries  were  not  yet  numbered. 

1758.  At  the  Town  Meeting  on  March  13th,  Ezekiel  Goldth wait  was 
Mar.  13.  c]20Seil  Town  Clerk. 

The  visitation  of  the  Schools  had  for  some  time  been  quite  a  formi- 
dable circumstance.  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  to 
make  the  visitation  reported  that  they  were  accompanied  by  the  Hon. 
John  Osborn,  Richard  Bill,  Jacob  Wendell,  Andrew  Oliver,  Stephen 
Sewall,  John  Erving,  Robert  Hooper,  Esquires,  the  Representatives  of 
the  Town,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  the  Ministers,  Mr.  Treasurer  Gray, 
Joshua  Winslow,  Richard  Dana,  James  Boutineau,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Esquires  ;  Dr.  William  Clark,  and  Mr.  John  Ruddock  ;  that  they 
found  in  the  South  Grammar  School,  115  scholars  ;  in  the  South  Writ- 
ing School,  240  ;  in  the  Writing  School  in  Queen-street,  230  ;  in  the 
North  Grammar  School,  36  ;  in  the  North  Writing  School,  220  :  "  All 
in  very  good  order." 

There  were  at  the  same  time  several  Private  Schools.  Richard  Pate- 
shall  *  kept  one  in  Hanover-street,  "  three  houses  below  the  Orange 

*  He  was  the  only  brother  of  Oapt.  Robert  died  at  the  Havana,  about  the  beginning  of 
Pateshall.  of  the  40th  Regiment  of  Foot,  who    1763. 


1758.]  GENERAL   AMHERST.  G45 

Tree,*  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bradford."  He  instructed  in  all  branches, 
from  the  Alphabet  to  Latin,  inclusive,  and  kept  an  Evening  School  at 
his  house  in  Pond  Lane,f  opposite  to  Capt.  James  Nickles,  south  of 
"  Seven  Star  Lane."     He  was  living  at  the  same  place  in  17G3. 

Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esquire,  a  native  of  Boston,  was  pro- 
'  claimed  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Colony,  and  Andrew  Oliver, 
Esquire,  Secretary.     Their  Commissions  were  published  in  Council  on 
the  first  of  June. 

A  Periodical  is  commenced,  called  the  New  England  Maga- 

'  zine.     Judging  from  its  contents  it  was  a  very  feeble  aifair.| 

But  three  or  four  numbers  were  published  in  the  course  of  six  or  seven 

months,  and  there  the  work  ended.     Benjamin  Mecom  was  the  Printer. 

The  thirteenth  of  September  was  a  great  day  in  Boston. 

'  General  JefFery  Amherst,  who  had  been  appointed  to  take  the 
command  of  the  Army  in  America,  landed  in  the  Town.  Never  before  did 
the  Harbor  exhibit  such  an  amount  of  Shipping.  The  Men-of-War  and 
Transports  from  London,  with  those  from  Louisbourg  which  accompanied 
the  General,  made  a  more  grand  and  imposing  appearance  than  the 
people  of  Boston  had  been  accustomed  to  see.  His  Excellency  came  in 
a  seventy-four  gun  ship,  called  the  Captain,  commanded  by  his  brother 
Captain  John  Amherst.  With  the  General  there  came  Lieutenant 
Colonel  William  Forster,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Morris,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
John  Hale,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ralph  Burton,  and  Colonel  Simon 
Fraser,§  of  the  Highland  Regiment ;  the  same,  it  is  supposed,  who  after- 
wards fell  fighting  under  General  Burgoyne,  at  Saratoga.  The  men 
under  the  immediate  command  of  these  officers  were  encamped  on  the 
g  Common.     After  being  refreshed  for  a  few  days,  they  marched, 

'  4,500  strong,  for  Albany,  led  by  General  Amherst  in  person. 
There  was  a  marked  difference  between  the  movements  of  this  officer 
and  those  of  Lord  Loudon.  Amherst  was  at  all  points  in  apparently 
the  briefest  possible  space.  In  about  a  month  he  was  at  Boston, 
Albany,  Lake  George,  New  York,  Boston  again,  and  Halifax.  ||     His 

*  Corner  of  Queen  and  Hanover  streets.  The  all  that  from  the  pen  of  Junius.     One  could 

corner  opposite  Concert  Hall.  well  afford  to  suffer  some  to  find  such  a  defend- 

f  Now  Bedford-street.   Seven  Star  Lane,  now  er.       However,   he  received    due  honors  at 

Summer-street.  length,  being  made  a  Knight  of  the  Bath  in 

J  Article  I.  was  a  Poetical  Dedication  ;  V.  1761,  was  raised  to  the  Peerage  in  1776,  as 

Quintessence  of  Books  —  a  great  book  is  a  great  Baron  Amherst  of  Holmesdale,  in  the  County 

evil  ;  XV.  A  Learned  Method  to  roast  Eggs  ;  of  Kent.     In  1778  he  was  appointed  to  the 

XVII.     Seven  Queer  Notions.  —  See  Thomas,  chief  command  of  all  the  land  forces  in  Great 

ii.  259.  Britain.     In  1796  he  was  made  Field  Marshal, 

§  Capt.  Thomas  Fraser,  of  Colonel  Simon  and  died  the  following  year.     Though  twice 

Fraser's  Regiment,  died  on  the  march  to  Al-  married  he  left  no  issue.     The  present   Lord 

bany,  at  Springfield,  September  28,  of  fever;  Amherst  was  son  of  Lord  Amherst's  brother, 

"  an  elderly  gentleman,  whose  death  was  great-  William,  who  also  served  in  America,  as  Aid- 

ly  lamented."  de-camp  to  the  General,  and  was  at  the  cap- 

||  General  Amherst  was  a  truly  meritorious  ture  of  Louisburg  in  1758,  and  carried  the 
officer,  but  like  others  similarly  circumstanced,  news  of  its  surrender  to  England.  An  auto- 
he  was  treated  by  the  then  intriguing  Ministry  graph  letter  of  General  Amherst,  dated  Staten 
with  all  the  atrocity  which  corruption  could  Island,  28th  October,  1761,  is  in  my  collection, 
suggest.    But  he  had  more  than  a  requital  for  Its  direction  is  "  Colonel  Bradstreet,  D.  Q.  M. 


646 


DEATH   OF    REV.    T.    PRINCE   AND    C.    APTHORP,   ESQ. 


[1758. 


Oct'.  22. 


men  were  in  good  health  and  spirits,  generally,  consequent  upon  their 
activity  and  success  at  the  reduction  of  Louisbourg,  on  the  26th  of  the 
preceding  July. 

The  22d  of  October  will  be  remem- 
bered as  a  remarkable  day  in  the  history 
of  the  Town,  and  not  only  of  Boston,  but  of 
New  England  ;  for  on  that  day  died  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Thomas  Prince,  a  benefactor  to  his  coun- 
try ;  leaving  a  name  which  will  be  venerated 
to  the  remotest  ages,  if  literature  shall  then  be 
valued ;  a  name  which  may  with  pride  be 
emulated  by  the  inquirers  after  historical 
knowledge,  and  the  admirers  of  precision  and 
accuracy  in  the  paths  of  history. 

Mr.  Prince  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 
He  had  been  one  of  the  Pastors  of  the  Old 
South  Church  forty  years  and  twenty-one  days.*  His  father  was  Samuel 
Prince,  Esquire,  of  Middleborough,  in  the  Colony  of  Plymouth,  and  his 
mother  was  Mercy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hinckley,  Esquire,  one  of  the 
Governors  of  that  Colony.  His  grandfather  was  Mr.  John  Prince,  of 
Hull,  who  emigrated  to  New  England  about  1633.  The  town  of  Prince- 
ton was  named  for  him,  and  Prince-street  in  the  City  perpetuates  the 
name,  though  not  named  for  him. 

But  a  few  days  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Prince,  occurred  that 
'  of  Charles  Apthorp,  Esquire,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  was 
reputed  "the  greatest  and  most  noble  Merchant  on  this  Continent." 
His  death  was  very  sudden.  As  he  was  about  to  retire  for  the  night, 
he  complained  of  feeling  cold,  and  nearly  at  the  same  moment  fell  life- 
less upon  the  floor.  His  funeral  took  place  twelve  days  after,  at  King's 
Chapel,  and  his  remains  were  therein  deposited.     He  is  characterized 


THOMAS    PRINCE. 


G.,  at  Albany."  It  gives  minute  directions 
about  the  discharge  of  certain  troops,  with 
paternal  expressions  for  their  comfort  upon 
their  return  march  ;  strictly  ordering  that  they 
should  be  well  supplied  with  provisions  and 
other  necessaries. 

*  As  I  have  elsewhere  published  a  Memoir 
of  Mr.  Prince,  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  more 
particular  here.  —  See  N.  E.  His.  G.  Reg. 
(1851)  v.,  p.  375,  &c.  In  that  Memoir  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  make  a  perfect  catalogue 
of  his  writings.  Since  that  publication  I  have 
conic  into  the  possession  of  several  other  of  his 
works.  In  1826,  Mr.  Hale,  of  the  Boston 
Daily  Advertiser,  printed  an  edition  of  the 
' '  New  England  Chronology  ' '  (by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Prince).  After  about  twenty-five  years 
Mr.  Hale  had  left  of  his  edition  some  fifty 
copies.  The  greater  part  of  these  I  purchased, 
and  added  to  them  my  Memoir,  some  correc- 
tions, a  list  of  the  original  subscribers  (of 
1736)  and  some  engravings.  This  was  denomi- 
nated the  third  edition. 


When  Mr.  Prince  published  his  great  work, 
the  New  England  Chronology,  he  presented  a 
copy  to  the  General  Court,  of  which  circum- 
stance the  following  record  was  made  in  the 
Journals  of  the  House  :  —  "  The  House  being 
informed  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Prince  was 
at  the  door,  and  desired  admittance,  Ordered, 
that  Mr.  Prince  be  admitted  into  the  House, 
and,  coming  up  to  the  Table,  he  addressed  him- 
self to  Mr.  Speaker  and  the  House  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  viz. :  '  Mr.  Speaker,  1  most 
humbly  present  to  your  Honor  and  this  Honorable 
House  the  first  Volume  of  my  Chronological  His- 
tory of  New  England,  which  at  no  small  Ex- 
pense and  Pains  I  have  composed  and  published 
for  the  Instruction  and  Good  of  my  Country.'' 
And  then  he  made  a  Compliment  of  one  of  the 
Books  to  Mr.  Speaker,  by  presenting  it  to  him, 
and  another  he  presented  to  and  for  the  use 
of  the  Members  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, and  laid  it  on  the  Table,  and  then  with- 
drew. ' '  But  that  laborious  work  was  not  fully 
appreciated  in  the  Author's  day. 


1758.] 


PROGRESS    OF   THE   WAR. 


G47 


as  "a  truly  valuable  member  of  society;"  and    that  "he  left  few 
equals  behind  him."  * 

This  was  the  birthday  of  the  King,  which  appears  to  have  been  cele- 
brated in  Boston  with  greater  earnestness  than  such  days  had  hitherto 
been.f 


CHAPTER  LXV. 


Progress  of  the  War.  —  Fire  at  Oliver's  Dock.  —  Death  of  Sir  William  Pepperrell.  —  Departure  of  Gov. 
Pownall.  —  Fire  at  New  Boston.  —  Another  at  Griffin's  Wharf.  —  The  Great  Fire.  —  Law  respect- 
ing rebuilding  the  Burnt  District.  —  News  of  the  Surrender  of  Montreal.  —  Thanksgiving. 


1759. 


HENCHMAN.  § 


BY  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  under  the 
direction  of  Amherst  and  other  experienced  officers, 
nearly  all  Canada  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Eng- 
lish, by  the  end  of  the  summer  of  1759.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  great  victory  gained  by  Sir  Edward  Hawke, 
over  one  of  the  most  powerful  French  fleets  which 
'  had  ever  appeared  on  the  ocean.  This  was  com- 
manded by  Admiral  Conflans,  and  had  on  board  a  large 
force  for  the  service  in  America.  J  A  few  days  after 
the  news  of  this  victory  reached  England,  "  A  form  of 
Prayer  and  Thanksgiving"  was  issued  "  By  His  Majesty's 


*  He  was  the  son  of  John  Ap thorp,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  country.  To 
King's  Chapel  he  was  a  bountiful  benefactor, 
having  given  £5000  towards  its  rebuilding. 
His  father  was  a  great  proficient  in  the  Fine 
Arts,  especially  in  Painting  and  Architecture  ; 
talents  which  have  been  transmitted  to  his 
descendants,  as  Charles  Bulfinch,  Esquire,  the 
Architect  of  the  State  House  and  other  edifices, 
proves.  A  marble  Monument  with  a  Latin 
inscription  was  placed  in  the  Chapel  to  the 
memory  of  the  subject  of  this  note,  by  his  son, 
' '  which  monument  covers  the  tomb  of  the 
truly  noble-minded  race  of  Ap  thorp." 

"  Apthobp  !  my  proud  paternal  name, 
The  homage  of  my  soul  is  thine,"  &c. 

Mrs.  Morton. 

|  Arnold  Welles  advertises ' '  some  very  likely 
Negro  boys,  from  twelve  to.  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  three  or  four  Negro  men,  between 
twenty  and  thirty  years  old." — Ne,ivs-Letter. 
This  Mr.  Welles  I  suppose  to  have  been  the 
father  of  the  Hon.  John  Welles,  who  died  yes- 
terday (25th  September,  1855),  in  his  91st 
year.  —  See  Papers  of  the  Day. 

J  The  news  of  Hawke's  victory  did  not  ar- 
rive in  Boston  until  the  following  February  ; 
upon  which  arrival,  Feb.  21st,  the  great  guns 
of  the  Castle  were  fired,  and  also  those  of  the 
batteries  in  the  Town.  —  Sup.  to  the  Neios- 
Lettero/25  Feb.,  1760. 


§  The  above  representation  of  the  Arms  of 
Henchman  is  taken  from  a  drawing  in  pos- 
session of  Dr.  Daniel  Henchman,  of  Cambridge- 
street,  which  has  been  handed  down  from 
his  ancestors.  They  do  not  materially  differ 
(with  the  exception  of  the  Crest)  from  those 
of  Henchman,  or  Hinchman,  of  Nottingham- 
shire. There  is  a  notice  of  several  of  the 
Henchman  family,  in  the  N.  Eng.  Hist,  and 
G.  Reg.,\.  374,  communicated  to  that  work  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Waterman,  of  Boston.  Capt. 
Daniel  Henchman,  freeman  of  Boston,  1672, 
was  one  of  the  original  purchasers  of  Worces- 
ter of  the  Indians,  in  1674.  He  died  there, 
Oct.  15th,  1685,  intestate.  The  inventory 
of  his  estate  amounted  to  £1381.13.09.  It 
is  dated  29  April,  1686,  from  which  it  ap-- 
pears  that  he  was  a  dealer  in  military  goods. 
Many  books  are  named  in  it,  some  of  them  in 
Latin,  some  on  geometry,  &c,  by  which  it  is 
inferred  that  he  was  a  man  of  learning.  His 
property  seems  to  have  been  nearly  all  in 
Boston.  "  At  the  County  Court  for  Suffolk," 
12  Nov.,  1685,  "  administration  was  granted 
on  the  estate  of  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  for- 
merly of  Boston,  unto  Mary  his  relict,  and  his 
two  elder  sons,  Richard  and  Hezekiah  Hench- 
man." His  [2d?]  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
William  Pole  [now  Poole],  of  Dor  Chester,  whom 
he  married  22  April,  1672.  — Hist,  and  G.  Reg., 
v.  402.  Col.  Daniel  Henchman, the  enterprising 
Bookseller,  who  died  25  Feb.,  1761,  at  the  age 


648  FIRE. — DEATH    OF    SIR   W.    PEPPERRELL.  [1759. 

Special  Command."  *  Governor  Pownall  had  ordered  a  Thanksgiving 
in  Massachusetts  for  the  success  against  Canada,  and  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Cooper  preached  a  sermon  f  before  His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  and 
both  branches  of  the  General  Court ;  and  the  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot 
preached  on  the  same  occasion  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month. 
In  the  Sermon  of  the  last-named  gentleman  is  found  a  detailed 
account  of  the  Avar. 

In  the  two  preceding  years  this  Colony  had  furnished  the  army  with 
"  little  less  than  2000  men."  J 

A  fire  occurred  at  Oliver's  Dock,  by  which  about  fifteen  fam- 
'  ilies  were  rendered  houseless.  It  began  a  little  to  the  south- 
ward of  Oliver's  Bridge,  and  extended  to  the  lower  end  of  Water  and 
Milk  streets,  to  Hallo  well's  ship-yard.  It  continued  to  rage  for  about 
two  hours.  Governor  Pownall  was  present  during  the  whole  time,  en- 
couraging the  people  in  their  exertions  against  the  flames,  at  the  same 
time  exhibiting  much  sympathy  for  the  distressed. 

It  cannot  be  foreign  to  a  history  of  any  portion  of  New  Eng- 
land, to  notice  the  death  of  one  of  its  noblest  sons.  Sir  William 
Pepperrell  died  at  his  seat  in  Kittery,  on  the  sixth  of  July,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years  and  nine  days.  He  was  son  of  William  Pep- 
perrell, Esq.,  a  native  of  Wales,  who  came  to  New  England,  and  set- 
tled first  on  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  and  not  many  years  after  at  Kittery 
Point,  where  Sir  William  was  born.  He  married  a  Boston  lady,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Grove  Hirst,  Esq.,  with  whom  he  became  acquainted  while 
residing  here  as  a  member  of  the  General  Court.  § 

of  72,  was  son  of  Hezekiah  above  named,  son  After  I  had  written  thus  far,  I  received  some 
of  Capt.  Daniel  H.  Thomas  Hancock,  who  memoranda  from  Dr.  Henchman,  of  whom  the 
was  a  book-binder  and  book-seller,  served  his  Coat  of  Arms  was  obtained,  from  which  it 
time  with  Henchman,  whose  daughter,  Lydia,  appears  that  Nathaniel,  son  of  Capt.  Daniel 
he  married.  —  Thomas,  Hist.  Print.,  ii.  430.  H.,  was  a  book-binder,  and  was  father  of  the 
He  lived  in  Queen-street,  in  what  is  now  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  H.,  of  Lynn,  and  died  in  that 
Brattle-street  Society's  parsonage,  and  which  town,  in  July,  1749,  aged  94.  That  Daniel  H., 
was  willed  to  that  Society  by  Mrs.  Hancock,  son  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel,  of  Lynn,  returned 
Col.  Henchman  established  the  first  Paper  to  Boston,  and  was  the  father,  by  Elizabeth, 
Mill  in  the  Colony,  in  which  undertaking  he  dau.  of  Jacob  Hurd,  of  twelve  children, 
was  encouraged  by  the  General  Court.  It  *  It  was  issued  in  an  octavo  tract  of  4  pages, 
was  in  Milton.  In  his  will  he  remembers  his  a  copy  of  which  is  before  me. 
brother  Samuel,  also  John  Wharton,  and  f  It  is  dedicated  to  the  Governor,  in  which 
Nicholas  Bowes,  "  who  lived  with  him  ;  "  and  he  says,  "  When  our  hearts  overflowed  with  joy 
sister  Margaret  Breck.  at  the  news  of  the  conquest  of  Quebec,  your 

There  were  several  Daniel  Henchmans.  In  Excellency,  with  both  Houses,  thought  proper 
1719,  Jan.  4th,  John  Varney  of  Boston,  brick-  to  point  our  attention  to  the  Providence  of 
layer,  was  appointed  "guardian  to  Daniel  God,  and  to  order  that  the  civil  demonstrations 
Henchman,  a  minor,  aged  about  12  years,  son  of  loyalty  and  gladness  upon  this  event  should 
of  Daniel  H.,  late  of  Dorchester,  in  South  be  preceded  by  solemn  Praise,  and  Thanksgiv- 
Carolina,   gent.,  deceased."     Elizabeth,   wife    ing."  —  p.  x.  and  xi. 

of  Daniel  H.,  administered  on  the   estate  of       J  Cooper's  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  Dedication, 
her  husband,  1775.     He  was    son  of   Rev.    p.  viii. 

Nath'l.  H.,  of  Lynn.     His  wife  was  dau.  of       §  She    was    grand-daughter  of   the    Hon. 
Jacob  Hurd .  Judge  Samuel  Sewall .     A  sister  of  Sir  William , 

Cap.  Daniel  Henchman,  before  named,  was  Miriam,  older  than  himself,  married  Andrew 
distinguished  in  the  Indian  war  of  1675-6,  a  Tyler,  of  Boston  ;  another,  Jane,  younger, 
merchant,  and  a  dealer  in  real  estate  to  a  great  married,  1st,  Benj.  Clarke,  of  Kingston,  N. 
extent.  Conveyances  to  and  from  him  began  H.,  and,  2dly,  William  Tyler,  of  Boston, 
as  early  as  1669.  brother  of  Andrew.     Catherine,  dau.  of  An- 


1760.]  THE    GREAT    FIRE.  G49 

The  administration  of  Governor  Pownall,  though  short,  was  a  very 
popular  one.     At  a  full  Town-meeting,  an  Address  was  unanimously 
voted  him,  in  which  the  inhabitants  acknowledged  their  great 
'  obligations  to  him.*      He  had  been  appointed  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  South  Carolina,  but  he  did  not  leave,  Boston  until  the  third  of 
June. 

Until  the  present  time  the  fire  of  1711  had  been  denominated  the 
Great  Fire,  but  now  one  occurred,  which  rendered  that  comparatively 
unimportant.  Before  proceeding  to  narrate  the  history  of  that  of  the 
20th  of  March,  it  is  proper  to  state,  that  only  three  days  before, 
between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  it  being  Monday,  a 
'  large  house,  and  a  joiner's  shop  adjoining,  were  burnt  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town,  called  New  Boston.  Several  other  houses  near  by 
were  much  damaged  and  many  things  destroyed.  The  wind  being  high, 
and  from  the  north-east,  the  roof  of  the  West  Meeting-house  took  fire 
in  several  places,  but  by  great  exertion  the  house  was  saved. 

The  next  day,  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
'  a  store  at  the  upper  end  of  Mr.  James  Griffin's  wharf  (since 
Liverpool  wharf),  the  chamber  of  which  was  improved  as  a  laboratory 
by  a  detachment  of  the  Royal  Artillery  then  here,  accidentally  took  fire. 
It  soon  communicated  to  a  quantity  of  powder,  by  which  the  building 
was  blown  up,  wounding  four  or  five  men.  Mr.  Griffin's  loss  was  con- 
siderable, having  a  large  quantity  of  merchandise  in  the  lower  story. 
Two  other  buildings,  lower  down  on  the  wharf,  a  carpenter's  shop  and 
a  blacksmith's,  also  took  fire,  and  the  former  was  destroyed.  One  or  two 
grenados  and  some  small  arms  went  off  during  the  fire,  and  "the  ex- 
plosion was  so  great,  that  a  considerable  shock  was  felt  over  the  extreme 
parts  of  the  Town." 

"  But  the  20th  of  March  will  be  a  daymemorable  for  the  most 
'  terrible  fire  that  has  happened  in  this  Town,  or  perhaps  in  any 
other  part  of  North  America,  far  exceeding  that  of  the  second  of  Octo- 
ber, 1711,  till  now  termed  the  Great  Fire."     It  broke  out  about  two 
of  the  clock  "in  the  first  watches  of  the  morning,  when  our  bodies 

drew  and  Miriam,  in.  David  Ochterlony,  who  had  signed  the  Address,  "  with  upwards  of 

was  the  father  of  Gen.  Sir  David  Ochterlony  150  merchants  and  others."     They  say  to  his 

(also  born  in  Boston),  a  distinguished  command-  Excellency,  in  the  opening,  "The  happy  influ- 

er  in  the  East  Indies,  who  died  15  July,  1825.  ence    of  your   Administration,  while  it  has 

After    the  death  of   David    Ochterlony,  the  extended  itself  to  every  branch  of  the  Public 

father,  his  widow,  Catharine  (Tyler)  Ochter-  Interest,  has  been  too  sensibly  felt  by  the 

lony,  married  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  Garter  King  Merchants  and  others  concerned  in  trade,  to 

at  Arms,  the  same  who  took  so  much  pains  in  allow  us  to  part  with  your  Excellency,  with- 

searching  out  the  pedigree  of  Washington,  out  the  most  particular  acknowledgment  of 

Dr.  Usher  Parsons  has  lately  published  an  ex-  gratitude  and  respect." 

cellent  work  on  Sir  Wm.  Pepperrell.  The  reply  of  the  Governor  was  brief,  but 
*  On  the  17th  of  May  the  following  named  couched  in  language  which  plainly  expressed 
gentlemen  waited  on  the  Governor  with  the  the  goodness  of  his  heart,  and.  his  great  inter- 
Address,  namely,  Samuel  Wells,  Andrew  est  in  the  welfare  of  the  Country,  and  of  Boston 
Oliver,  Thomas  Hancock,  Thomas  Hubbard,  especially.  And  to  his  lasting  honor  it  should 
Francis  Borland,  John  Phillips,  Harrison  be  remembered  that  he  always  remained  the 
Gray,  Stephen  Greenleaf,  James  Pitts,  Joshua  friend  of  the  Colony,  even  in  its  darkest  trials 
Henshaw,  and  John  Rowe,  Esqs.,  Dr.  Sylves-  of  the  Revolution.  This,  though  well  known, 
ter  Gardiner,  and  Mr.  John  Scollay.     These  cannot  be  too  often  mentioned. 

82 


650  THE   GREAT   FIRE.     •  [1760. 

were  fast  fettered  with  soundest  sleep,  and  the  Town  alarmed  with  an 
outcry."  It  began  in  the  dwelling-house  of  Mrs.  Mary  Jackson  and 
Son,  at  the  sign  of  the  Brazen  Head  in  Cornhill,*  but  by  what  accident 
it  took  was  unknown.  The  flames  immediately  extended  to  the  adjoin- 
ing houses  in  the  front  of  the  street,  and  four  large  buildings  were  con- 
sumed before  it  could  be  checked  in  that  direction.  It  still  raged  vio- 
lently towards  the  east ;  the  wind  being  strong  at  north-west,  carried  all 
before  it,  from  the  back  sides  of  the  houses.  All  the  stores  and  dwell- 
ings in  Pudding-lane,  excepting  those  which  fronted  the  south  side  of 
King-street,  and  a  store  of  Mr.  JohnSpoonerf  in  Water-street,  to  Quaker 
lane ;  thence,  only  leaving  a  large  old  wooden  house  and  a  house  which  be- 
longed to  the  then  late  Cornelius  Waldo,  Esq.,  every  house,  shop,  store  and 
out-house,  to  Oliver's  Dock,  was  consumed.  Then,  by  a  sudden  veer  of 
the  wind,  the  fire  was  driven  in  a  contrary  course,  taking  the  buildings 
fronting  the  lower  part  of  King-street,  and  burning  the  houses  from  the 
corner  opposite  the  Bunch  of  Grapes,J  to  the  warehouse  of  Box  &  Aus- 
tin, leaving  only  the  warehouse  of  the  Hon.  John  Erving,  and  the 
dwelling-house  of  Mr.  Hastings.  The  other  brick  warehouses  towards 
Long  Wharf  were  considerably  damaged.  On  the  south-east  part  the 
conflagration  extended  from  Mr.  Torry's,  a  baker,  in  Water-street,  to 
Mr.  Hall's  working-house,  and  thence  to  Milk-street,  consuming  every 
house  from  Mr.  Joseph  Calef  's  §  to  the  foot  of  the  street,  and  the  oppo- 
site way,  including  Mr.  Dowse's  ;  likewise  every  house  to  Fort  Hill, 
excepting  that  of  the  Hon.  Secretary  Oliver's  and  two  or  three  tene- 
ments opposite  ;  also  every  house,  warehouse,  shop  and  store,  from  Oli- 
ver's Dock,  by  Mr.  Hallowell's  ship-yard,  taking  the  house  of  Mr.  Hal- 
lowell,  the  Sconce  of  the  South  Battery,  all  the  buildings  on  Col.  Wen- 
dell's wharf,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Hunt,  ship-builder.  Hence,  from 
Pudding-lane  to  the  waterside,  there  was  not  a  building  of  any  descrip- 
tion left,  excepting  those  on  the  side  of  King-street,  and  those  above 
mentioned.  Besides,  there  was  a  large  ship  burnt,  at  Col.  Wendell's 
wharf,  of  which  Capt.  Eddy  had  been  in  command,  also  two  or  three 
sloops  and  a  schooner.  || 

Such  was  the  Great  Fire  of  1760,  in  which  349  dwelling-houses, 
stores  and  shops,  were  consumed, H  and  above  one  thousand  people  were 
left  without  a  habitation  ;  many  of  whom,  the  day  before,  were  in  easy 
circumstances.  "  But  it  is  not  easy,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  to  describe 
the  terrors  of  that  fatal  morning,  in  which  the  imaginations  of  the  most 
calm  and  steady  received  impressions  that  would  not  easily  be  effaced. 

*Very  nearly    opposite    Williams,  Court,  rebuilt  after  the  fire,  and  perhaps  lower  down 

answering  to  No.  96  Washington-street.  the  street,  on  the  site  of  the  present  New  Eng- 

fThis  store  was  afterwards  a  blacksmith's  land  Bank, 
shop,  and  made  the  westerly  corner  of  Water       §JnMilk,  corner  of  Congress.     It  was  after- 

and  Devonshire  streets,  and  stood  till  1824,  when  wards  the  noted  Julien's  restaurant.     It  stood 

it  was  replaced  by  a  brick  building,  the  lower  till  July,  1824. 

part  of  which  was  occupied  by  Mr.   Daniel       ||  There  were  eight  or  nine  vessels  burnt  at 

Hersey  as  an  auction  room.  the  wharves.  —  Mayhew,  Ser.  on  the  Fire,  17. 
|  "In  King-street,  just  below  the  Town-       Tf  Of  the  number  were  174  dwelling-houses, 

house,  1724."—  Bost.  Gazt.  26  Oct.    It  was  and  175  other  buildings. 


1760.]  THE   GREAT   FIRE.  651 

The  distressed  inhabitants  of  those  buildings  wrapped  in  fire  scarce 
knew  where  to  take  refuge.  Numbers  who  were  confined  to  beds  of 
sickness,  as  well  as  the  aged  and  the  infant,  were  removed  from  house 
to  house,  and  even  the  dying  were  obliged  to  take  one  remove  more 
before  their  final  one."  * 

When  the  fire  was  discovered  there  was  but  little  wind,  but  it  soon 
came  on  to  blow  a  hard  gale  from  the  north-west ;  "  then  was  beheld," 
says  the  eye-witness,  "  a  perfect  torrent  of  fire,  bearing  down  all  before 
it.  In  a  seeming  instant  all  was  flame."  The  people  living  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  South  Battery  were  in  much  terror,  knowing  there 
was  a  large  quantity  of  powder  deposited  there ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
it  was  removed,  "  by  some  hardy  adventurers,"  just  before  the  fire 
reached  the  place  of  its  deposit.  As  it  was,  enough  was  left  to  make 
a  heavy  explosion,  "  which  was  heard  and  felt  to  a  very  great  dis- 
tance." f 

People  had  flocked  in  from  the  neighboring  country,  who,  with  the 
Town's  people,  fought  with  desperation  against  the  flames,  "  encouraged 
by  the  presence  and  example  of  the  greatest  personages  of  the  place, 
who  condescended  to  the  most  laborious  services,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  for 
the  haughty  flames  triumphed  over  our  engines,  our  art,  and  our  num- 
bers."    It  continued  to  rage  till  near  noon,  about  ten  hours. 

The  amount  of  property  destroyed  was  at  first  supposed  to  be 
300,000  pounds ;  but  in  the  votes  of  the  General  Court  upon  the  occa- 
sion, it  is  said  "  that  the  loss  upon  a  moderate  computation  could  not 
be  less  than  100,000  pounds  sterling."  J  As  there  were  a  great  many 
persons  requiring  immediate  relief,  it  was  voted  to  advance,  out  of  the 
public  treasury,  3,000  pounds  of  the  money  raised  by  Excise  the  pre- 
vious year.  This  sum  was  committed  to  the  Selectmen  and  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  §  to  be  by  them  distributed  among  the  sufferers.  || 

A  large  amount  in  donations  was  from  time  to  time  received.  On 
receipt  of  the  news  of  the  conflagration  in  Pennsylvania,  which  was  com- 
municated to  Governor  Hamilton  by  Governor  Pownall,  the  Assembly 
of  that  Province  voted  1,500  pounds  sterling  for  the  relief  of  the  unfor- 
tunate Bostonians.  The  Assembly  of  New  York  voted  them  a  very 
liberal  sum. IT     Governor  Lawrence,  of  Nova  Scotia,  wrote  to  Governor 

*  "We  hear  that  the  woman  who  was  over-  property  destroyed  was  £73,112,  7s.  and  2>d. ; 

taken  in  travail,  and  delivered  in  the  open  air  and  that   "  collective  donations  amounted  to 

on  Fort  Hill,  in  the  time  of  the  late  dreadful  £17,750, 15s  and  8d." 

fire,  is  likely  to  do  well."  —  Newspaper,  extract-  §  The  gentlemen  appointed  hy  those  officers 

ed  in  Janeway,  48.  to  receive  contributions  were  John  Phillips, 

fThe   stones   and  timber  were  widely  scat-  Esq.,   Joshua    Henshaw,   Esq.,   Mr.    Joshua 

tered  about.     "  The  explosion,  and  light  of  the  Barrett,     Joseph     Jackson,     Esq.,    Thomas 

fire,  was  heard  and  seen  many  miles  in  the  Flucker,  Esq.     They  accepted  the    appoint- 

country  and  on  the  sea-coast."  ment,  and  gave  notice  that  they  would  attend 

%  "  Others,  who  had  observed  the  increased  at  Faneuil  Hall,  every  Monday  and  Tuesday, 

value  of  the  land  upon  which  the  houses  stood,  where  the  sufferers  were  to  apply, 

estimated  the  loss  at  not  more  than  £50,000  ;  ||  The   above   account    is   chiefly  made   up 

and  judged,  that  if  the  donations  could  have  from  the  News-Letter,  and  that  appended  to 

been  equally  distributed,  no  great  loss  would  Janeway's  "  Dreadful  Fire  of  London." 

have  been  sustained." — Hutchinson,  iii,  81.  —  ^f  £25,000,  old  tenor,  which  was  in  propor- 

Dr.  Holmes,  Annals,  ii.  103,  says  the  value  of  tion  to  sterling  as  25  to  1. 


652 


THE    GREAT   FIRE. 


[1760." 


Pownall,  advising  him  that  "  480  dollars  and  one  real"  had  been  col- 
lected for  the  same  object.  Mr.  Charles  Apthorp,  of  New  York,  ordered 
100  pounds,  "  lawful  money,"  to  be  paid  for  the  benefit  of  the  suf- 
ferers ;  and  Mr.  De  Berdt,  of  London,  gave  100  pounds.  A  petition  was 
forwarded  to  the  King,  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the  sufferers,  praying, 
for  relief,  and,  after  two  years,  they  learned  that  "it  had  been  gracious- 
ly received  by  his  Majesty,"  but  what  finally  became  of  it  does  not  ap- 
pear ;  nor  does  it  appear  whether  it  was  directed  to  George  the  Second, 
who  was  living  till  the  25th  of  October  of  that  year,  or  to  his  successor, 
George  the  Third.*  Mr.  Whitefield  collected  and  sent  over  250  pounds. 
It  is  remarkable  that  no  lives  were  lost  during  the  fire,  though  sev- 
eral persons  were  one  way  and  another  wounded.  It  extended,  on  Corn- 
hill,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Peter  Cotta  on  the  north,  and  to  that  of  Mrs. 


*  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  burnt 
out,  as  contained  in  the  News-Letter,  so  far  as 
they  could  be  ascertained  at  the  time ;  com- 
piled chiefly  from  the  Assessors'  books  of  the 
previous  November  : 

"In  Cornhill,  Mary  Jackson  and  Son, 
widow  McNeal,  Jona.   Mason,*  Mrs.  Quick. 

— In PuddingLane,Wm.  Fairfield, Rogers, 

John  Sterling,  Geo.  Glen,  James  Steward, 
widow  Marshal,  Edmond  Dolbear.  —  Upper 
part  of  Water-street,  Henry  Lawton,  Jr.,  an 
old  house  untenanted,  Mrs.  Grice,  an  empty 
house  of  Mr.  Cazneau,  Wm.  Palfrey,  Jo- 
seph Richardson,  Dinley  Wing,  Benj.  Jeffries, 

John   Durant, Lawson.      [Two  or  three 

items  wanting  in  copy.]  —  In  Quaker  Lane, 
Wm.  Hyslop,  Sampson  Salter  (brewer),  Capt. 
Robert  Jarvis,  Daniel  Ray,  Friends'  Meeting- 
house. —  Towards  Oliver's  Dock,  David  Spear, 
Thomas  Bennet,  Wm.  Baker,  Ebenezer  Dog- 
get,  James  Barnes,  Daniel  Henchman,  Joseph 
Marion,  Thomas  Hawkins,  shop  and  barns 
opposite,  widow  Savel,  James  Thompson,  Hugh 
Moore,  widow  Davis,  Nicholas  Tabb,  Michael 
Carrol,  two  tenements  of  free  Negroes. — Mack- 
erel Lane  [Kilby-st.J,  John  Gardner,  John 
Powell,  Vincent  Mundersal,  Masseton's  bar- 
ber's shop,  and  a  gunsmith's,  Edmund  Per- 
kins, James  Perkins,'  several  chair-makers' 
shops,  James  Graham,  Capt.  Atherton  Haugh, 
John  Doane,  Capt.  Benoni  Smith,  Samuel 
Bangs,  Daniel  Remak,  Geo.  Perry,  Paul  Bax- 
ter's shop,Benj.  Salisbury,  Nicholas  Dyer,Wm. 
Stutely,  Peter  Airs,  Francis  Warden,  Benj. 

Phillips'    store, McNeal's  sail-loft, 

Palfrey's  do.,  Potter's  cooper  shop, Davis' 

blacksmith's  do. ,  James  Graham's  do.  ,FishMar- 

ket, Sowerby's  shop, Read's  do. , 

Harris'  do. , Mellen's  do. ,  T.  Palfrey's  sail- 
loft,  widow  Brailesford,  John  Osborn,  Obed 
Cross,  Isaac  Dafforn.  —  The  lower  part  of 
Water-st.,  Wm.  Torrey,  Jacob  Bucknam, 
James  Beaton,  Nicholas  Lobden,  John  Rice, 
a  blacksmith's,  carpenter's,  and  chaise-maker's 

*  The  prefix  of  "  Mr."  is  to  all  the  names  of  men 
in  the  original  list,  unless  the  Christian  name  was  un- 
known, or  the  person  had  some  title,  as  "Capt.,"  &o. 
The  use  of  "  Mr,"   had  now  become  very  general. 


shops,  Thos.  Palfrey,  Thos.  Hartley,  Jr.,  Ed- 
mond Mann,  Col.  Thwing,  James  Thwing, 
widow  Noyes,  Edmund  Quincy,  Jr.,  Thos. 
Walley,  widow  Parrott,  Benj.  Parrott,  Mrs. 
Stevenson,  Thos.  Read,  Thos.  Read,  Jr., 
Brackley  Read,  Robt.  Williams,  James  Tuck- 
er, John  Fullerton,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Wins- 
low,  Joseph  Webb,  Jr.,  Barnard  &  Wheel- 
wright's shop  and  stores  adjoining.  —  Milk- 
st.,  and  Battery  March,  Mr.  Hall's  and  Messrs. 
Calefs  tan-houses,    Thomas  Barnes,    widow 

Griffin, Jones,  and Waters,  Nathan 

Foster,  Thos.  Speakman,  Wm.  Freeland,  Isaac 
Hawse,  Hon.  John  Osborn,  widow  Brown, 
Oliver  Wiswall,  Caleb  Prince,  Mary  Oliver, 
Joseph  Dowse,  Esq.,  David  Burnet,  Edward 
Stone,  Andrew  Oliver,  Jr.,  Esq.,  John  Powell, 

Edward  Davis, Masters,  Thos.   Masters, 

Benj.  Cobb,  James  Orill,  John  Pierce,  Eben. 
Cushing,  Eben.  Cushing,  Jr.,  Jas.  Rickford, 
Joseph  Uran,  Joseph  Putman,  Stephen  Fuller- 
ton,  John    Province,  Mr.   Andrew  Gardner, 

Finnesey,  Andrew  Lepair,  Samuel  Hewes, 

Increase  Blake,  Capt.  Edward  Blake,  Benjamin 
Hallowell,  Esq.,  Daniel  Ingerson,  sundry 
shops,  Thos.  Salter,  Peter  Bourn,  widow  Per- 
kins, Nath.  Eddy,  Joshua  Sprigg,  Zephaniah 
Hasset,  John  Boyce,  Jacob  Ridgeway,  James 

Moore, Muggot,Wm.  Fullerton, Hill, 

John  Nowell,.  Wm.  Cox,  Isaac  Pierce  and 
distil-house,    a  bake-house,    Benj.    Frothing- 

ham,  Edward  King,  John  Giffen, Bright, 

Thos.  Spear,  Capt.  Killeran,  Isaiah  Aude- 
bert,  Ed.  Brattle  Oliver,  Matthew  Salter, 
Joshua  Bowles,  James  Phillips,  Isaac  Wendell, 

John  Allen, Wallis, Wilson,  all  the 

buildings  on  Col.  Wendell's  wharf.  —  King- 
street,    John  Stevenson,    cor.   Mackerel-] ane, 

widow  Foster,  Simon  Eliot, Peck,  glasier, 

John  Green,  James  Lamb,  widow  Checkley, 
John  Wheatly,  John  Jepson,  Ben.  Jepson, 
Thos.  White,  Hezekiah  Cole,  Goodwin's  shop, 
John  Peck's  shop,  Apthorp  and  Gardiner's 
warehouse,  John  Knight's  do.,  Barthol  Chee- 
ver's  do.,  where  the  fire  was  stopt."  It  did 
not  extend  to  any  part  of  the  north  side  of 
King-street,  nor  to  any  part  of  the  westerly 
side  of  Cornhill. 


1760.]  SURRENDER   OF    MONTREAL.  653 

West  on  the  south,  inclusive  of  them.  Mrs.  Alice  Quick  kept  next 
north  of  Mrs.  West,  where  she  "sold  all  sorts  of  the  best  kinds  of  teas."  * 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court  an  Act  was  passed  "  for 
the  better  rebuilding  that  part  of  the  Town  which  was  laid  waste  by  the 
late  fire  ;  and  for  preventing  fire  in  Boston  for  the  future."  In  the 
Preamble  to  the  Act  it  is  said  that  this  "  great  desolation  hath  been 
principally  occasioned  by  the  narrowness  of  the  streets,  and  the  houses 
being  built  of  wood,  and  covered  with  shingles."  Therefore  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  lay  out  the  streets  in  the  burnt  district  anew,  who 
reported,  accompanying  their  report  by  a  plan,  which  report  and  plan 
were  adopted.  To  settle  difficulties  which  might  arise  by  loss  of  land 
to  certain  owners,  three  Commissioners  were  appointed  to  hear  all  such 
causes.  They  were  Samuel  Danforth,  Samuel  Watts  and  Joseph 
Williams,  Esquires,  who  with  twelve  jurors  (none  of  whom  to  be  resi- 
dents of  Boston),  constituted  a  Court.  The  General  Court  at  the  same 
time  enacted,  "  that  no  house  or  other  building  whatsoever  more  than 
seven  feet  in  height  shall  be  erected  in  Boston,  otherwise  than  of  stone 
or  brick,  and  covered  with  slate  or  tiles."  The  penalty  for  non-observ- 
ance of  this  Act  was  fifty  pounds,  which  was  to  go  to  the  poor  of  the  town. 

Although  the  power  of  the  French  in  Canada  was  broken  with  the 
fall  of  Quebec,  yet  the  conquest  was  not  complete  until  the  final  reduc- 
tion of  Montreal,  to  which  place  the  French  commander-in-chief,  Gen. 
Vaudreuil,  had  retreated  with  all  the  forces  he  could  command.  How- 
ever, that  last  stronghold  was  now  surrendered  to  the  English,  and 
s  "  Articles  of  Capitulation  were  signed  in  the  Camp  before  Mon- 

treal, September  the  eighth,  by  the  French  and  English  Com- 
manders, Generals  Amherst  and  Vaudreuil."  Major  Barref  and  Capt. 
Joseph  Deane  were  dispatched  with  the  news  for  England. 

The  particulars  of  that  event  did  not  reach  Boston  until  near  three 
months  after  it  occurred,  and  then  it  came  by  way  of  England.  J  Yet, 
that  Montreal  had  fallen  was  well  known  throughout  the  Country  in  con- 
siderably less  then  one  month  §  after  its  occurrence,  and  a  Public  Thanks- 
giving took  place  on  the  ninth  of  October  following.  Sermons  were 
preached  in  the  churches,  among  which  may  be  named  one  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft,  "  in  the  Old  Church  in  Boston,"  which 
is  regarded  as  of  much  historical  value. 

*Her  house  appears  not  to  have  been  en-  London  is  thus  announced  :  —  "  Oct.  4.  Ma- 
turely destroyed,  for,  she  being  dead  in  1762,  jor  Barre  and  Capt.  Deane  arrived  Express  in 
Thomas  Knight,  one  of  her  executors,  adver-  the  Vengeance  frigate  from  Quebec,  in  23  days, 
tised  that  "  he  lived  in  the  same  house  in  with  the  news  of  the  Surrender  of  Montreal 
Cornhill  that  Mrs.  Quick  did,  and  kept  the  and  the  whole  of  Canada  to  the  British." 
same  shop."  Capt.  Deane  had  distinguished  himself  in  the 

Mrs.  Jackson  and  Son  [William]  soon  after  naval  service  in  America.    He  commanded  the 

opened    another   store    in   Cornhill,  "a   few  frigate  Lowestoff  at  the  taking  of  Quebec, 

doors  from   the  Town    House,  and    opposite  J  "  It  is  but  three  months  since  the  conquest 

Deac.  [John]  Phillip's."     She  was,  I  suppose,  was  completed,  and  yet  the  account  has  been 

widow  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Jackson,  who  died  in  home   [to  England]   and  the  particulars   re- 

1736,  leaving  a  large  estate.  turned  here  in  so  short  a  time."  —  News-Let- 

fThis    was    the    afterwards    famous    Col.  ter  of  Dec.  4th,  17 '60. 

Isaac  Barre.     He  had  lost  an  eye  by  a  musket-  §  It  was  brought  here  on  the  23d  of  Septem- 

ball  in  the  battle  of  Quebec.     His  arrival  in  ber. 


654 


ARRIVAL    OF    GOV.    BERNARD. 


[1760. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 


Arrival  of  Gov.  Bernard.  —  Festivity  on  the  Occasion.  —  Death  of  the  King.  —  George  Third  Pro- 
claimed. —  Last  of  New  England's  Kings.  —  Funeral  of  George  Second.  —  Severe  Winter.  —  Fire  in 
Dock  Square.' — Faneuil  Hall  burnt.  — Lottery  for  rebuilding  it.  — Jealousies  between  the  Colonists 
and  the  Home  Government. — Writs  of  Assistance.  —  James  Otis. — Parties  formed.  —  Hutchinson 
Chief  Justice.  — Indian  Deputation.  —  Whipping  and  the  Pillory.  — Foreign  Bills  of  Credit  Prohib- 
ited.—  War  with  Spain.  —  A  Fast. — Surveyors  of  Wood  and  Bark. — Umbrellas.  —  Fire  in  Wil- 
liams' Court.  —  A  Privateer.  —  Spinning-School  reopened.  —  Prelatical  Influence.  —  Deaths.  —  Gun- 
powder Treason  Celebration.  —  Pope  Day. 

FRANCIS  BERNARD,  Esq.,  having  been  ap- 
pointed Governor  of  the  Colony,  arrived  in  Boston 
on  the  third  of  August.  He  was  received  with 
great  parade  and  ceremony.  The  Sheriff  of  Suffolk, 
Stephen  Greenleaf,  Esq.,f  at  the  head  of  a  part 
of  the  Governor's  troop  of  guards,  met  him  at 
Wrentham,  thence  escorted  him  to  Dedham, 
where  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  several  of  the 
Council,  and  Brigadier  Gen.  Isaac  Royall,  with 
the  rest  of  the  troop  of  guards,  received  and  accompanied  him  to 
his  residence  at  the  Province  House.  The  militia  were  drawn  up  in 
the  main  street,  and  salutes  were  fired  from  all  the  forts,  and  the  ships 
in  the  harbor.  The  same  day  the  new  Governor  was  treated  to  an  ele- 
gant dinner,  served  up  in  Faneuil  Hall ;  at  which  the  Lieutenant  Gov-' 
ernor,  the  Council,  Clergy,  and  many  other  gentlemen,  were  present. J 


POWNALL.  * 


*  Such  were  the  Arms  of  Gov.  Pownall,  as 
published  under  his  portrait ;  which  portrait 
(from  an  engraving  by  Earlom  after  Cotes)  is 
one  of  great  beauty,  in  point  of  artistic  and 
mechanical  execution.  It  has  this  Inscrip- 
tion :  — "  Thomas  Pownall,  Esq.,  Member  of 
Parliament,  late  Governor,  Captain  General 
and  Commander  in  Chief;  and  Vice  Admiral 
of  His  Majesty's  Provinces  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  and  South  Carolina,  and  Lieut.  Governor 
of  New  Jersey.  London.  Printed  for  R.  Sayer 
and  J.  Bennett,  No.  53  Fleet-street,  as  the  Act 
directs,  5th  June,  1777." 

The  accompanying 
autograph  is  taken 
from  an  original, 
which  is  upon  a  fly- 
leaf of  a  copy  of 
concerning  Religious 
in    Boston    in    1746. 


Edwards'    "  Treatise 
Affections."      Printed 

This  "  Treatise  "  of  the  great  Metaphysician 
(belonging  to  the  Author's  library)  was  doubt- 
less a  companion  to  Gov.  Pownall  during  his 
travels  in  America,   as  he  appears   to  have 
written,  at  the  same  time  with 
his  name,  "  Crown  Point,  20th  of 
June,  1760."     A   copy  from   this 
book    has  been  preferred,  to  one 
from  a  commission  politely  furnished  me  by 
Mr.  W.  P.  Story ;  it  being  much  smaller. 

Gov.   Pownall,    son  of  William  Pownall, 
Esq.,  was  born  in  1722,  was  of  North  Lynn, 


Co.  Norfolk,  and  Ever  ton  House  in  Bedford- 
shire ;  m.  in  1765,  widow  Lady  Faukener,  dau. 
of  Gen.  Churchill,  and  died  at  Bath,  Eng.,  in 
1805,  aged  83,  without  issue. — See  Gent. 
Mag.,  vol.  lxxv.,  p.  288,  where  there  is  a  mi- 
nute account  of  his  literary  labors  and  public 
services.  The  curious  antiquary  will  find  an 
interesting  account  of  the  origin  of  the  name 
Pownall  in  Burke's  Landed  Gentry,  ii.  1063  ; 
from  which  it  appears  to  have  been  originally 
Paganel,  and  was  imported  into  England  by  a 
follower  of  William  the  Conqueror. 

f  He  was  son  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Greenleaf. 
His  residence  was  in  what  is  now  Tremont-st., 
near  the  site  of  the  Masonic  Temple.  His  ad- 
jacent garden  extended  to  West-street.  When 
the  Revolution  took  place,  he  adhered  to  the 
Crown,  but  did  not  leave  Boston,  and  lived  to 
the  great  age  of  91,  dying  in  Jan.  1795. — 
See  Genealogy  of  Greenleaf  Fam. ,  by  Rev.  Jona. 
Greenleaf,  p.  69. 

J  Governor  Bernard  was  of  the  family  of 
Bernard  of  Nettleham,  in  the  county  of  Lin- 
coln.    The  Governor    (Sir  Francis  Bernard, 

(LS77L  nJ/J^rT^/C^^ 

1769)  was  the  13th  in  descent  from  Godfrey 
Bernard  of  Wansford,  in  the  East  Riding  of 
the  County  of  York,  who  flourished  there  in 
the     time    of  Henry   IH.    In    1741,  he   m. 


1700-1.]  DEATH    OF    THE    KING.  655 

As  before  remarked,  the  administration  of  Governor  Pownall,  though 
short,  was  highly  pleasing  to  the  majority  of  the  Province.  While  here 
he  took  great  pains  to  gain  information  respecting  the  country,  histori- 
cal, geographical  and  statistical.  After  his  return  to  England,  he  pub- 
lished several  able  works  on  the  Colonies,  which  were  the  result  of  his 
acquaintance  with  them.* 

Between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  25th 
of  October,  died  George  the  Second.     "He  was  suddenly  seized, 
at  his  Palace  at  Kensington,  by  a  violent  disorder,  when  he  fell  speech- 
less,   and,   notwithstanding   every   medical    aid,    almost   immediately 
expired,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age,  and  34th  of  his  reign."  f     And 
on  the  following  day,  about  noon, 'his  grandson,  George,  son  of 
Frederick  Lewis,   Prince  of  Wales,   was  proclaimed   King,  as 
George  the  Third. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  the  King  was  not  received  in  Boston  till 
December  the  25th,  just  two  months  after  that  event.  Then  the  cere- 
mony  of  Proclaiming  the  new  King  from  the  balcony  of  the 
Town  House  took  place.  The  guns  were  fired  at  all  the  forts, 
and  this  was  followed  by  a  dinner  at  Fanueil  Hall,  similar  to  that  lately 
given  in  honor  of  the  new  Governor.  Thus  ended  the  kingly  celebrations 
in  Boston  ;  George  the  Third  being  the  last  of  the  line  to  be  acknowl- 
edged here. 

1761.  On  the  first  of  January  mourning  ceremonies  were  performed 

Jan.  l.  for  t^  ia^e  King.  All  the  bells  in  the  Town  were  tolled  during 
the  day,  and  minute  guns,  corresponding  in  number  to  the  age  of  his 
late  Majesty,  were  fired  at  the  Castle.  This  was  the  last  show  of  mourn- 
ing for  a  King  in  Boston.  The  deaths  of  Kings,  when  they  occur,  are 
now  regarded  as  the  deaths  of  other  men ;  the  people  of  this  country 

Amelia,  dau.  of  Stephen  Offlay,  Esq. ,  of  Nor-  the  Preface  was  dated  in  Paris  (25  Jan. ,  1780) , 

ton  Hall,   Co.  of  Derby    (by  Mary,  sister  to  was  published  by  Almon,  in  London,  the  same 

John  Viscount  Barrington) .     Sir  Francis  died  year.     In  this  treatise  he  declared, — "North 

16th   June,   1779,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  America  is  de  facto  an  Independent   Power, 

second  son,  Sir  John  Bernard  ;  Francis,  his  which  has  taken  its  equal  station  with  other  Pow- 

eldest,  died  unmarried  in  1770.     These  sons  ers,  and  must  be  so  de  jure."     His  "Map  of 

were  both  with  their  father  in  Boston.     John  the  Middle  British   Colonies,"   accompanied 

came  over  in  1760,  and  Francis  in  1762.     The  with   "  A    Description,"   was    published    in 

Baronetcy  is  now  in  the  name  of  Morland.  London  in  1776,  imperial  folio  ;  and  is  to  this 

Gov.  Bernard  had  ten  children.     His  seventh,  day  a  most  desirable  and  valuable  work.     A 

William,  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army,  perished  copy  of  it,  with  MS.  additions  by  Gov.  Pownall 

in  the  Canada  expedition  of  1776.  himself,  was  recently  imported  by  Mr.  Wel- 

*  The  accompanying  view  of  Boston    was  ford,  of  New  York,  and  sold  at  auction.     Its 

taken  by  Gov.  Pownall,  whose  point  of  obser-  present  fortunate  possessor  is  unknown  to  me. 

vation  was   Castle  William,  now  Fort  Inde-  In  the  News-Letter  of  28  Feb.,  1760,  ap- 

pendence.     His  chief  work,  "The  Adminis-  peared  the  following  item  of  intelligence  re- 

tration  of   the   Colonies,"  was  published  in  specting  Mr.  Pownall:  —  "  We  hear  that  his 

1768,  and   a  fifth  edition    (2  vols.   8vo.)  in  Excellency,  our  Governor,  who  is  appointed 

1774.     During  the  Revolution  he  advocated  Captain  General,  and  Governor  in  Chief  of  his 

the  cause  of  the  Colonies,  in  and  out  of  Parlia-  Majesty's  Province  of  South  Carolina,  has  re- 

ment.     And  in  the  midst  of  the  war,  to  reach  ceived  his  Majesty's  order  to  go  to  England  ; 

with  his  pen  those  whom  he  could  not  reach  and  that  the  Hon.  William  Bull,  Esq.,  ap- 

with  his  oratory,  he  issued  "A  Memorial,  most  pointed  Lieut.  Governor  of  Carolina,  is  to  ad 

humbly  addressed  to  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe,  minister  the  Government  until  his  Excellen 

on  the  present  state  of  Affairs  between  the  cy's  arrival  in  that  Province." 

Old  and  New  World."    This  work,  though  f  Boyle's  Chronology,  239. 


656  SEVERE   WINTER.  FANEUIL   HALL  BURNT.  [1761." 

rationally  concluding,  that  if  a  man  has  performed  any  acts  worthy  of 
remembrance,  he  will  be  honorably  remembered ;  while  another,  who 
has  done  nothing  for  the  good  and  benefit  of  his  fellow-man,  though  he 
may  have  accidentally  worn  a  crown,  is  entitled  to  no  expression  of  re- 
gard at  his  demise  on  that  account. 

The  month  of  January  was  intensely  cold.  The  harbor  was  for  about 
three  days  nearly  filled  with  ice,  and  almost  closed  up.  During  the 
extreme  cold,  a  fire  broke  out  about  half-past  nine  o'clock  in  the 
'  evening  of  the  thirteenth  of  the  month.  It  began  in  a  shop  op- 
posite the  north  side  of  Faneuil  Hall,  in  Dock  Square,  destroying  an 
entire  row  of  wooden  buildings,  from  the  store  occupied  by  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Hubbard,  to  the  Swing  Bridge.  These  shops  were  the  property 
of  the  Town,  being  leased  to  their  occupants,  most  of  whom  had  their 
all  in  them,  and  hence  lost  everything.  The  fire  did  not  extend  to  the 
buildings  on  the  north  side  of  the  Dock,  but  it  caught  Faneuil  Hall, 
which  it  entirely  consumed,  saving  its  brick  walls.  It  then  extended 
to  some  shops  on  the  south  side  of  the  Market,  and  destroyed  a  number  of 
them  also ;  the  night  being  so  dismally  cold  that  water  could  be  used 
with  but  trifling  effect,  for  it  congealed  as  soon  as  it  came  in  contact  with 
the  atmosphere,  falling  from  the  engines  in  particles  of  ice.  The 
records  and  papers  in  Faneuil  Hall  were  said  to  have  been  "mostly 
saved." 

At  the  Town  Meeting  on  the  13th  of  March  a  vote  was  passed 
'for  repairing  Faneuil  Hall,  and  the  General  Court  granted  a  Lot- 
tery for  raising  the  necessary  funds.    The  first  meeting  in  it  after  it  was 
rebuilt  was  on  the  14th  of  March,  1763.     Upon  that  occasion  James 
Otis,  Jr.,  Esq.,  delivered  an  appropriate  address. 

The  jealousy  which  had  existed  between  the  Colonies  and  the  Mother 
Country  increased  materially  upon  the  fall  of  Canada.  The  French, 
who  had  been  a  bar  to  the  expansion  and  growth  of  the  former,  and  oc- 
casioned a  constant  scene  of  blood  upon  the  frontiers,  were  no  longer  to 
be  dreaded.  Now,  by  a  very  simple  calculation,  it  was  as  easy  for  a 
Briton  as  a  Colonist  to  see  that,  at  the  rate  the  Colonies  had  increased, 
with  all  their  burthens  upon  them,  the  day  was  not  very  remote  when 
they  would  far  outnumber  in  population  Great  Britain  itself.  Hence  a 
very  natural  feeling  of  independence  constantly  increased.  This,  of 
course,  was  apparent  to  the  officers  of  the  Crown,  for  a  spirit  pf  inde- 
pendence exhibited  itself  in  various  ways ;  but  in  none  touching  the 
Royal  interest  so  much  as  the  opposition  to  the  laws  of  trade  and 
revenue.  , 

Opposition  to  the  revenue  laws  was  no  new  thing  in  Boston  in  1761. 
It  had  in  fact  become  so  serious  that  the  Home  Government  saw 
pretty  clearly  that,  without  some  new  regulation,  they  would  soon  be 
of  no  avail ;  and  hence  the  origin  of  the  attempt  to  introduce  what  was 
termed  Writs  of  Assistance.* 

*  These  writs  authorized  the  officers  of  the  places,  wherever  they  had  reason  to  believe 
Customs  to  enter  stores,  houses,  and  any  other   there  were  any  contraband  goods,  and  to  seize 


1761.]  JAMES    OTIS. LIEUT.   GOV.    HUTCHINSON.  G5T 

Notwithstanding,  the  Revenue  Officers  had  for  a  long  time  acted  un- 
der Admiralty  writs,  and  property  to  a  large  amount  had  from  time  to 
time  been  seized,  and  a  portion  of  the  proceeds  of  such  seizures,  though 
accruing  to  the  Province,  had  never  been  paid  to  its  Treasurer.  A  suit 
had  been  brought  for  its  recovery,  and  though  advocated  on  the  part  of 
the  people  by  the  learning  and  ability  of  James  Otis,  the  case  was  lost ; 
the  Court  unjustly  declaring  the  proceeding  illegal.  This  decision  was 
exceedingly  irritating  to  the  leaders  in  opposition  to  the  Revenue  Laws, 
some  of  whom  had  been  large  suiferers  by  their  operation. 

At  the  same  time  the  officers  of  the  Crown  had  been  charged,  and  no 
doubt  with  some  truth,  with  appropriating  to  their  own  use  moneys  be- 
longing to  the  Province,  arising  from  the  forfeitures  to  which  allusion 
has  just  been  made.  This  charge  was  embodied  in  a  petition  to  the 
General  Court,  signed  by  above  fifty  of  the  principal  merchants  of  the 
Town;*  and  though  men  of  great  influence,  many  of  them,  yet  that 
influence  was  not  sufficient  to  reach,  at  this  period,  the  officers  of  Gov- 
ernment with  the  effect  desired. 

A  crisis  was  fast  forming  when  the  people  were  to  become  one  party, 
and  the  officers  under  the  Crown  and  their  immediate  friends  another. 
Leaders  of  the  former  had  already  begun  to  distinguish  themselves,  and 
hence  became  necessarily  arrayed  against  certain  Government  measures. 
James  Otis,  eldest  son  of  Col.  James  Otis,  of  Barnstable,  was  an  early 
advocate  of  the  people.  His  father  was  the  prominent  man  for  the  office 
of  Chief  Justice  of  the  Province,  whenever  a  vacancy  might  occur  ;  but 
when  that  time  came  Colonel  Otis  was  passed  over,  and  the  office  was 
given  to  Lieut.  Governor  Hutchinson.f  This  was  extremely  disliked 
by  all  the  friends  of  Otis ;  and  the  son,  of  course,  upon  whom  the  slight 
weighed  heavily,  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  been  more  friendly  to 
Governor  Bernard  and  his  advisers  than  before  that  occurrence  took 
place. 

Meanwhile,  the  proceeding  under  Writs  of  the  Colonial  Admiralty,  for 

all  such,  goods.  A  statute  of  the  14  Charles  Peter  Boyer,  Samuel  Grant,  Samuel  Hughes, 
II.  authorized  the  Court  of  Exchequer  to  issue  Benjamin  Austin,  George  Erving,  Joseph 
"Writs  of  Assistance.  Another  of  the  7th  and  Green,  Samuel  P.  Savage,  James  Perkins, 
8th  of  William  III.  made  it  imperative  that  all  Thomas  Boylston,  John  Rowe,  Timothy  New- 
necessary  aid.  and  assistance  should  be  given  to  ell,  Joseph  Domett,  John  Spooner,  William 
officers  of  the  Customs  in  the  Plantations,  to  Greenleaf,  John  Welch,  Jr.,  John  Scollay, 
enable  them  to  execute  the  law.  John  Baker,  William  Thompson,  Christopher 

*  The  Petition  or  Memorial  was  presented  to  Clarke,  John  Erving,  Jr.,  John  Powell,  Na- 

the General  Court  on  the  19th  Dec,  1760.   As  thaniel  Holmes,  John  Barrett,  Edward  Davis, 

the  signers  were  the  principal  business  men  of  Fitch  Pool,  Thomas  Greene,  Henderson  Inches, 

the  Town,  their  names  are  here  given,  as  ne-  Daniel  Malcom,  Thomas  Tyler,  Jonathan  Amo- 

cessary  to  show  the  head  and  front  of  the  oppo-  ry,   James    Thompson,   Samuel    Wells,   Jr., 

sition  to  the  Crown  officials  then  resident  among  Samuel  Wentworth,  Arnold  Welles,  Jonathan 

them  : —  Sayward,  James  Boutineau." 

"  John  Avery,  Jonathan  Williams,  Thomas  f  This  circumstance,  according  to  Mr.  Hutch- 
Fitch,  John  Dennie,  John  Waldo,  Thomas  inson,  iii.  88,  was  the  origin  of  the  Revolu- 
Green,  Jr.,  William  Molineaux,  John  Boyl-  tion.  "From  so  small  a  spark  a  great  fire 
ston,  John  Browne,  Benj.  Hallowell,  Malatiah  seems  to  have  been  kindled."  President  Ad- 
Bourne,  Thomas  Gray,  Samuel  Austin,  Joshua  ams  also  says,  "  Here  began  the  Revolution  ;" 
Winslow,  Ezekiel  Goldthwaite,  Samuel  Dexter,  not  in  the  affront  to  Otis,  however,  but  in  the 
John  Greene,  John  Tudor,  Solomon  Davis,  principles  he  advocated  in  opposing  the  meas- 
John  Amory,  John  Gooch,  Jonathan  Mason,  ures  of  an  arbitrary  Government. 

83 


658  WRITS    OF   ASSISTANCE.  [1761. 

the  seizure  of  contraband  goods,  was  attacked  as  illegal,  arbitrary  and 
oppressive.  Therefore,  to  give  these  Writs  unquestionable  authority, 
application  was  made  to  the  Superior  Court  for  Writs  of  Assistance, 
similar  to  those  issued  by  the  Admiralty  in  England.  The  Honorable 
Stephen  Sewall,  then  Chief  Justice,  being  a  greater  friend  to  the  liber- 
ties of  the  country  than  to  its  oppressors,  declined  to  give  such  Writs 
his  sanction ;  "  having  great  doubt,"  as  President  John  Adams  writes, 
"of  the  legality  and  constitutionality"  of  such  Writs.  He  however 
ordered  that  the  subject  should  be  argued  before  the  Court  in  Boston, 
at  the  February  term,  1761.  But  before  the  meeting  of  the  Court  in 
February,  Mr.  Sewall  died,  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor.* 

The  appointment  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  the 
people  in  general,  for  several  reasons  ;  but  the  principal  one  was,  his 
known  leaning  towards  sustaining  the  Royal  prerogative.  Add  to  this, 
that  he  was  already  holding  a  great  number  of  offices  —  as  Lieutenant 
Governor,  Judge  of  Probate,  and  Counsellor.  His  family  were  likewise 
incumbents  of  several  important  offices.  Andrew  Oliver,  Secretary  of 
the  Province,  married  his  wife's  sister,  and  Peter,  brother  of  Andrew, 
was  one  of  the  Chief  Justices. 

In  the  same  month  that  Mr.  Hutchinson  received  the  appointment  of 
Chief  Justice,  came  on  "the  great  cause  of  Writ  of  Assistance," 
which  was  argued  before  the  Court  in  the  Council  Chamber,  in  Boston. 
James  Otis  made  the  argument  in  opposition  to  those  Writs,  which  is 
thus  described  by  one  who  heard  it  f  :  —  "He  displayed  so  comprehensive 
a  knowledge  of  the  subject,  showed  not  only  the  illegality  of  the  Writ, 
and  its  insidious  and  mischievous  tendency,  but  he  laid  open  the  views 
and  designs  of  Great  Britain  in  taxing  us ;  of  destroying  our  Charters 
and  assuming  the  powers  of  our  Government,  legislative,  executive  and 
judicial;  external  and. internal,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  temporal  and 
spiritual ;  and  all  this  was  performed  with  such  a  profusion  of  learning, 
such  convincing  argument,  and  such  a  torrent  of  sublime  and  pathetic 
eloquence,  that  a  great  crowd  of  spectators  and  auditors  went  away  ab- 
solutely electrified." 

The  next  day  Mr.  Otis  was  elected  a  Representative,  and  re-elected 
for  ten  years  folio  wing.  J  "  He  governed  the  Town  of  Boston  and  the 
House  of  Representatives,  notwithstanding  a  few  eccentricities,  with  a 
caution,  a  prudence  and  sagacity,  which  astonished  his  friends  and  con- 
founded his  enemies." 

*  Mr.  Sewall  died  Sept.  10th,  1760,  at  the  ous  as  if  it  had  sprung  from  a  sincere  concern 

age  of  58.   He  was  son  of  Stephen  Sewall,  Esq. ,  for  the  liberties  of  the  people. "  — Hist.  Mass. , 

of  Salem,  and  nephew  of  Judge  Samuel  Sewall,  iii.  195.   But  to  deny  true  patriotism  to  James 

and  had  been  Chief  Justice  eight  years.  Hutch-  Otis  is  to  deny  that  it  ever  existed  in  the  world, 

inson  gives  him  an  excellent  character.    Dr.  J  The  others  were  Royal  Tyler,  John  Phil- 

Mayhew  preached  his  funeral  Sermon,  an  ex-  lips,  and  Thomas   Cushing.     They  were  the 

tensive  and  elegant  performance.     Mr.  Sewall  same  in  1762,  and  William  Whitwell  was  cho- 

died  a  bachelor.   All  agree  that  he  was  a  man  sen  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  in  room  of  Mr.  Isaac 

of  superior  abilities.  Walker,  deceased  ;  also,   Belcher  Noyes   and 

f  President  John  Adams.     Hutchinson  sig-  Capt.  Samuel  Doane  were  chosen  Assessors,  in 

nificantly  remarks:  —  "Mr.  Otis'  zeal  in  car-  room  of  Mr.  Samuel  Edwards,  deceased,  and 

rying  on  these  causes  was  deemed  as  meritori-  Mr.  Joseph  Bradford,  who  had  resigned. 


1761.]  WHIPPING    AND    THE   PILLORY. A    FAST.  659 

A  deputation  of  Indians  from  the  Five  Nations  came  to  Boston,  to 
congratulate  the  people  upon  their  success  against  the  French ;  and  on 
the  last  day  of  the  year  they  had  an  audience  of  the  Governor  in  the 
Council  Chamber.  The  name  of  the  chief  speaker  was  Hongougsani- 
yonde,  or  Thomas  King,  who  was  an  Oneida.  It  was  said  that  "  he 
conducted  himself  with  surprising  dignity-  and  politeness." 

1762.  On  the  eleventh  of  February,  the  Hon.  Harrison  Gray  was 
Feb.  ll.  chosen  Treasurer  and  Recorder  General  of  the  Province  ;  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Hubbard,  Commissary  General,  and  the  Hon.  James 
Russell,  Impost  Officer.  A  few  days  previous,  a  person  was  set  in  the 
Pillory  an  hour,  whipped  twenty  stripes,  and  fined  twenty  pounds,  for 
counterfeiting  dollars,  or  for  having  tools  for  counterfeiting  in  his  pos- 
session. The  sentence  was  executed  upon  him  at  Charlestown.  The 
Town  voted  to  have  the  bells  of  Hollis-street  Church,  the  Old  Brick 
and  Old  North,  rung  at  five  o'clock  every  morning,  except  Sundays. 
A  Society  for  Encouraging  Trade  had  been  established,  and  a  meeting  was 
held  by  its  members  at  the  British  Coffee  House,  on  the  first  of  February. 
At  this  meeting  the  subject  of  sending  "some  representations  home 
concerning  their  trade"  was  considered.  The  Governor  signed  a  Bill 
"  for  the  effectual  preventing  the  currency  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  of 
Connecticut,  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island,  within  this  Province." 

Some  time  in  the  month  of  February,  the  body  of  Major  Gen.  Edward 
Whitmore  was  brought  up  to  Town  from  Plymouth,  in  the  schooner 
Leopard,  Thomas  Church,  master.  He  was  upon  his  voyage  from 
Louisbourg  to  Boston,  and,  putting  into  Plymouth  in  stress  of  weather, 
upon  some  occasion  went  upon  deck  about  midnight,  fell  overboard  and 
was  drowned.  He  was  at  the  time  Governor  of  Louisbourg,  and  com- 
mander of  the  twenty-second  Regiment  of  Foot ;  and,  at  the  second  cap- 
ture of  that  place,  received  the  keys  of  the  Citadel.  He  appears  to  have 
had  no  family.  His  effects  were  sold  by  auction  at  the  Royal  Exchange, 
in  King-street,  on  the  24th  of  March.  Thomas  Hancock  was  appointed 
administrator.*      His  age  was  seventy-one. 

On  the  fifth  of  April  the  Castle  guns  and  the  Town  batteries 
"  p  '  '  fired  salutes  on  receiving  the  news  of  the  reduction  of  Martinico. 
Christopher  Prince  offered  ten  dollars  reward  to  any  body  who  would 
catch  his  negro  man,  named  Caesar,  who  could  read  and  write,  but  had 
run  away.f 

The  General  Court  attended  in  the  Old  Brick  Church,  to  hear 
'  a  sermon  by  Doctor  Sewall,  occasioned  by  a  Fast  for  the  decla- 
ration of  war  against  Spain.     General  Amherst  proposed  to  the  mer- 
chants to  hire  vessels  of  them  for  transports. 

At  the  Town  Meeting  on  the  eleventh  of  May,  it  was  alleged 
'  that  great  frauds  were  practised  in  the  sale  of  wood  and  bark. 

*  He  was  probably  of  the  family  which  had  f  May  24th. — "A  parcel  of  hearty,  likely 

given  several  Aldermen  and  a  Lord  Mayor  to  Negroes,  imported  the  last  week  from  Africa, 

London. —  See  Dale's  Hist,  of  Harwich,  Soc.  to  be  sold.     Enquire  of  Capt.  Wickham,  or 

71-2,  205-7,  409,  &c.     His  remains  were  in-  Mr.  John  Avery,  at  his  house  near  the  White 

terred  in  King's  Chapel.  Horse,"  in  Newbury-street. 


660  FIRE. PRIVATEER.  SPINNING    SCHOOL.  [1762. 

Whereupon  it  was  voted  that  all  such  fuel  should  be  surveyed  by  an 
officer  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  the  vender  to  be  furnished  with 
a  ticket,  by  which  he  should  sell  the  article. 

Umbrellas  were  probably  introduced  about  this  time,  as  "  Umbrillos" 
are  advertised  for  sale  in  the  papers  of  the  day.* 

The  birthday  of  the  new  King  was  celebrated  with  the  usual 
'  noise  on  such  occasions ;  and  the  example  of  the  Government  of- 
ficials, as  now-a-days,  was  followed  by  many,  because  they  knew  no 
better. 

About  one  o'clock  a  fire  was  discovered  in  the  bakehouse  of 

'  Mr.  George  Bray,  at  the  upper  end  of  Williams'  Court,  Cornhill, 
but  it  had  made  such  progress  at  that  time  that  nothing  of  much  account 
could  be  saved  of  the  effects  of  Mr.  Bray.  It  took  his  dwelling-house, 
bedding  and  other  furniture,  and  even  his  clothing,  together  with  one 
hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  flour  ;  the  family  barely  escaping  the  flames 
themselves.  It  immediately  communicated  to  other  houses  and  barns 
in  that  confined  vicinity,  and  great  was  the  apprehension  that  an  immense 
conflagration  could  not  be  avoided.  However,  from  the  favorable  time 
of  day,  the  engines  of  the  Town  were  at  once  on  the  spot,  also  those  of 
Charlestown  and  Castle  William,  and,  all  being  in  fine  condition,  the  fire 
was  subdued  with  less  damage  from  its  ravages  than  was  at  first  ex- 
pected. As  it  was,  however,  many  families  were  burnt  out,  and  many 
new  objects  of  charity  were  added  to  the  list,  already  very  large,  occa- 
sioned by  the  destructive  fires  during  the  three  past  years.  Governor 
Bernard  was  present  during  the  whole  time,  encouraging  the  exertions 
of  the  firemen.f 
j  Towards  the  close  of  June,  exertions  were  made  to  raise  men 

'  to  go  against  the  Spaniards.  Captain  William  Augustus  Peck 
gave  out  that  he  was  about  to  sail  on  a  cruise,  and  invited  able  men  to 
join  him.  He  commanded  the  private  armed  vessel  Tartar,  called  a 
"  Billander,"  mounting  fourteen  six-pounders,  twenty  cohorns,  and  its 
complement  of  men  was  120.  He  sailed  the  following  month,  and  was 
reported  from  time  to  time  as  having  taken  several  rich  prizes. 

„      News  having  been  received  that  the  Moro  Castle,  at  Havan- 

'nah,  had  surrendered  after  a  forty  days'  siege,  occasioned  great 
rejoicing.     Some  time  after,  Dr.  Sewall  preached  a  sermon  on 

'  the  "  Reduction  of  the  Havannah,"  which  was  printed. 
Notice  was  given,  on  the  second  of  September,  that  the  "  Spinning 
School  in  the  Manufactory  House  is  again  opened,  where  any  person 
who  inclines  may  learn  to  spin  gratis  ;  and  to  be  paid  for  their  spinning 
after  the  first  three  months."  At  the  same  time  a  premium  of  eighteen 
pounds,  Old  Tenor,  was  offered  to  the  four  best  spinners. 

*  Is  it  possible  that,  as  Hayden,  Dictionary  Samuel  Holbrook,Mr.  Ephraim  Copeland,  Jr., 

of  Dates,  says,  umbrellas  were  not  used  in  Lon-  Mr.  Jacob  Thayer,  Mr.  Benj.  Loring,  Widow 

don,  except  in  noblemen's  houses,  in  1778?  Gould,   and    Mr.   John   Barker."  —  Evening 

f  The  following  list  of  persons,  then  living  Post,  June  14th.    Mrs.  Day  was  noted  as  a 

in  Williams'  Court,  were  burnt  out  :—•"  Mr.  school-teacher.     She  re-opened  her  school  at 

George   Bray,  Mr.  John  Popkins,  Widow  Sla-  Mr.  Head's,  in  Brattle-street,  soon  after.    She 

ter,  Mrs.  Jane  Day,  Capt.  Arthur  Noble,  Mr.  taught  "  embroidery  in  Gold  and  Silver,"  &c. 


1762.]  GUNPOWDER   TREASON    CELEBRATION.  601 

Several  tracts  issued  this  year  indicate  pretty  clearly  the  growing  op- 
position to  Government  measures,  and  especially  the  Prelacy,  so  inti- 
mately connected  with  it,  which  had  made  fearful  strides  in  the  Province 
within  a  few  years,  as  it  appeared  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans. 
An  anonymous  tract  came  out,  in  favor  of  the  Church  of  England,  cal- 
culated to  irritate  and  alarm  the  fears  of  those  who  looked  upon  that 
Church  as  having  been  intruded  upon  the  Country,  both  in  a  spirit  of 
opposition,  and  a  determination  to  supplant  the  religion  which  the  foun- 
ders of  the  State  had  established  at  so  much  sacrifice.  This  work  was 
written  to  show  "The  real  advantages  which  ministers  and  people  may 
enjoy,  especially  in  the  Colonies,  by  conforming  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land." The  writer  prophesied  "that  the  Dissenters  in  New  England 
were  likely  to  break  to  pieces  in  a  very  little  time;  "  which  must  have 
been  viewed  by  such  men  as  Samuel  Adams  with  feelings  of  much 
regret,  if  not  with  subdued  indignation.*  James  Otis  about  the  same 
time  issued  his  "  Vindication  of  the  House  of  Representatives." 

Among  the  deaths  this  year  were  those  of  Capt.  John  Larabee,f  the 
commander  of  Castle  William,  and  the  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier.J  Also 
on  the  30th  of  November  died  Mr.  John  Draper,  a  much  respected 
printer,  "  having  just  entered  his  61st  year."  §  He  was  a  son  of  Mr. 
Richard  Draper,  a  merchant  of  Boston.  Several  newspapers  were  pub- 
lished by  him,  the  Laws  of  the  Province,  and  many  other  works.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  published  the  Evening  Post ;  in  the  publication 
of  which  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Richard.  He  owned  and  lived  in 
a  house  wThich  stood  at  the  east  corner  of  the  short  alley  which  led  to 
Brattle-street  Church.  ||  His  paternal  ancestor  came  originally  from 
Banbury,  in  the  County  of  Oxford. IT 

The  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  the  "  Popish  Gunpowder 
Treason"  was  celebrated  with  all  the  licentiousness  which  long- 
continued  recurrences  of  such  celebrations  are  calculated  to  produce.  This 
important  era  in  the  history  of  England  had  been  observed  by  the  people 
of  New  England  from  its  first  settlement,  but  nowhere  with  such  an  enthu- 
siasm as  in  Boston,  especially  of  late  years.     The  day  was  always  sure 

*  The  manner  in  -which  John  Adams  spoke  Thomas  Edes,  of  Boston,  1738.     He  rose  from 

and  wrote  about  the  "Established  Church"  a  common  soldier,  and  became  distinguished 

long  after,  shows  something  of  what  the  feel-  for  his  merit  alone, 

ing  must  have  been  at  this  period.  —  See  his  J  See  ante,  p.  489. 

Letter  to  Dr.  Morse,  in  Morse's  Hist .  American  §  Evening  Post,  6th  Dec,  1762. 

Revolution,  p.  199.  ||  Thomas,  Hist.  Print.,  i.  328. 

-j-  Capt.  Larabee  died  12th  Feb.,  1762,  at  the  "j|  His  son  Richard  died  in  Boston,  June  5th, 

age  of  76.    He  had  been  an  old  soldier.   Capt.  1774,  in  his  48th  year.   His  father,  also  named 

Benjamin  Larabee,  perhaps  his  father,  died  at  Richard,    was    a    Deacon    of    Brattle-street 

Brunswick,  Me.,  in  May,  1748.   He  was  com-  Church.   After  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Draper, 

mander  of  Fort  George  in  1735,  at  which  time  Richard  continued  the  News-Letter  till '  his 

his  house  was  burnt,  ' '  which  cost  him  £323  9s.  death,  which  paper  had  been  published  by  the 

2d. ;  "  besides  great  loss  of  goods.    Capt.  John  family  for  eighty  years.   The  widow  of  the  last 

Larabee  had  been  in  command  at  the  Castle  named  continued  the  paper  (The  Massachusetts 

since  the  death  of  Capt.  Fairweather,  in  1712,  Gazette,   and    Boston  Weekly  News-Letter) 

about  50  years.     He  had  a  wife,  Elizabeth  ;  until  the  Town  was  evacuated  by  the  British, 

son  John,  born  19th  April,  1713 ;  Elizabeth,  with  whom  she  retired  to  Halifax,  thence  to 

born  4th  Feb.,  1715,  died  2d  May,  1746,  aged  England,  where  she  was  living  long  after  the 

29 ;  Sarah,  born  12th  July,  1719,  married  war. 


662  pope  day.  [1763. 

to  invite  all  the  frolicsome,  wayward  and  turbulent  young  men  as  par- 
ticipants ;  and  hence  the  termination  was  an  extravagant  and,  some- 
times, a  riotous  affair. 

The  manner  of  proceeding  on  these  anniversaries  was  to  form  a  pro- 
cession at  certain  head-quarters,  thence  to  proceed  through  the  streets. 
At  the  head  of  the  procession  went  one  with  a  bell  in  his  hand,  which 
notified  the  people  in  their  houses  that  the  procession  was  in  motion,  and 
that  they  were  to  be  called  upon  to  contribute  something  to  carry  out 
the  celebration.*  Those  who  did  not  contribute  were  in  danger  of  hav- 
ing their  windows  broken,  or  of  receiving  some  other  injury.  The  money 
thus  obtained  was  to  defray  the  expense  of  a  supper  provided  for  the 
leaders. 

An  imposing  pageant  was  carried  along  with  the  procession.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  figure,  or  figures,  upon  a  platform,  or  stage,  mounted  upon 
wheels,  and  drawn  by  horses.  On  the  front  part  of  the  stage  a  lantern 
was  elevated  some  six  or  eight  feet,  constructed  with  transparent  paper, 
upon  which  were  inscriptions  suited  to  the  occasion ;  usually  significant 
of  some  obnoxious  political  characters  of  the  day.  The  Pretender,  f  on 
a  gibbet,  stood  next  the  lantern,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  platform  stood 
the  Pope,  grotesquely  attired,  exhibiting  a  corresponding  corpulency. 
In  the  rear  stood  a  devil,  with  a  superabundance  of  tail,  with  a  trident 
in  one  hand,  and  a  dark  lantern  in  the  other.  Under  the  platform  were 
placed  boys,  or  persons  of  small  size,  who,  with  rods  which  extended  up 
through  the  figures,  caused  them  to  perform  certain  motions  with  their 
heads,  —  as  making  them  face  to  the  right  or  left,  according  to  circum- 
stances, or  rise  up  as  though  to  look  into  chamber  windows. 

Pope  Day  originated  on  the  accession  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  1558. 
At  first  the  Pope  and  the  Devil  were  the  only  pageantry,  which  were 
burnt  as  soon  as  they  had  been  satisfactorily  exhibited.  After  the  de- 
tection of  the  Gunpowder  Plot,  in  1605,  Guy  Fawkes  figured  conspic- 
uously. Hence,  in  process  of  time,  the  pageantry  became  considerably 
changed,  as  it  respected  its  subordinate  characters.  In  this  country  the 
conductors  of  the  celebration  took  such  liberties  in  the  production  and 
arrangement  of  characters  as  suited  their  fancies.  At  what  time  Boston 
first  produced  two  celebrations,  upon  the  same  day  and  occasion,  does  not 
appear.  But  there  were  two  about  this  time,  occasioned,  no  doubt,  by 
the  rivalry  which  had  grown  up  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  End 

*  The  bellman  chanted  a  ballad  as  he  pro-  Go  chink,  chink,  chink  ? 

ceeded,  which,  according  to  Tudor,  in  his  life  Please  give  me  a  little  money, 

of  Otis,  ran  thus  :  To  buy  my  PoPe  some  drink- 

"Don't  you  remember  j  The  effigy  of  the  Pretender  was  added  after 

The  fifth  of  November,  the  accession  of  Queen  Anne.     An  epigram 

I  see  nTrTson  u8ed  °*  the  occasion  has  been  Preserved  : 

Why  gunpowder  treason  "  Three  Strangers  blaze  amidst  a  bonfire's  revel, 
Should  ever  be  forgot.  The  Pope,  and  the  Pretender,  and  the  Devil ; 

Prom  Rome  to  Rome  Three  Strangers  hate  our  faith,  and  faith's  defender, 

The  Pope  is  come,  The  Devil,  and  the  Pope,  and  the  Pretender; 

Amid  ten  thousand  fears,  Three  Strangers  will  be  strangers  long,  we  hope, 

"With  fiery  serpents  to  be  seen  The  Devil,  the  Pretender,  and  the  Pope; 

At  eyes,  nose,  mouth  and  ears.  Thus  in  three  rhymes  three  Strangers  dance  the  lay, 

Don't  you  hear  my  little  bell  And  he  that  chooses  to  dance  after  'em  may." 


1762.1  FIRE. SERMON    IN    FANEUIL   HALL.  063 

and  those  of  the  South  End.  The  two  celebrating  parties,  after  having 
marched  about  to  their  content,  used  to  meet  in  and  about  Union-street, 
and  then  would  commence  a  disgraceful  fight  for  the  possession  of  all  the 
effigies.  These  fights  ended  in  bloodshed,  broken  bones,  and  sojnetimes 
broken  heads.  The  victors,  if  South-Enders,  carried  the  trophies  to  the 
Common,  and  there  burnt  them.  If  the  North-Enders  gained  the  day, 
they  took  the  trophies  to  Copp's  Hill,  and  burnt  them  there. 

These  celebrations  were  kept  up  till  1774,  when  the  patriot  leaders 
of  the  Revolution  found  means  to  reconcile  the  North  and  South  Ends, 
and  to  unite  both  in  the  common  cause  of  the  Country.  So  in  November 
of  that  year  both  parties  joined  in  one  celebration,  which  they  called  the 
Union  Pope,  and  this  was  the  last  Pope  Day  in  Boston. 

There  were  now  four  Newspapers  published  regularly,  namely,  the 
News-Letter,  The  Evening  Post,  The  Gazette,  and  The  Advertiser,  or 
Post-Boy. 


CHAPTER   LXVIL 

Fire  in  Newbury-street.  —  Sermon  in  Fanexiil  Hall.  —  First  Stage  between  Boston  and  Portsmouth.  — 
Wilkes  and  Liberty. — Whig  and  Tory.  —  Opposition  to  Government.  —  Reasons  for  it. — Discus- 
sions about  Taxation.  —  Anti-Stamp  Fire  Society.  —  Crown  Officers  Churchmen.  —  East  Apthorp. 
—  Jonathan  Mayhew.  —  Great  Pamphlet  War.  —  The  Participants  in  it.  —  Independence  no  new 
Principle.  —  Its  Leaders.  —  James  Otis.  —  Oxenbridge  Thacher.  —  Benjaman  Pratt.  —  Thomas 
Cushing.  —  Samuel  Cooper.  —  Charles  Chauncy.  —  Samuel  Adams.  —  John  Hancock.  —  Josiah 
Quincy,  Jr.  —  Joseph  Warren. 

17G|-    ABOUT  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the 
16th  of  January,  a  fire  broke  out  in  a  building  in 
Newbury-street,    by  which  five  or  six  houses  were  de- 
stroyed, and  several  others  considerably  damaged.     The 
weather  was  exceedingly  cold,  and  the  snow  lay  very  deep ; 
but  the  fire,  occurring  in  the  daytime,  was  not  so    de- 
structive as  it  probably  would  otherwise  have  been. 
*      6       On  the  evening  of  the  sixth  of  March,  the  Rev. 
'  Mr.  Samuel  Mather  preached  a  Charity  Sermon  in 
bulfinch.*      Faneuil  Hall,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  which  was  the 
first  sermon  delivered  in  it  after  it  was  rebuilt. 

*  This  engraving  of  the  arms  of  Bulfinch  is  valuable  estate  at  his  decease.     His  son  John 

from  a  copy  in  King's  Chapel  Inscriptions.  —  married  Jeanette,  daughter  of  John  Crawford, 

Gules,  a  cnevron  Argent,  between  three  garbs  whose  only  child,  Elizabeth,  married   Daniel 

Or.     Crest  —  From  a  wreath  on  a  helmet,  a  Boyce.    By  this  last  marriage  were  two  daugh- 

dexter  arm,  couped  below  the  elbow,  grasp-  ters,  Elizabeth,  married  to  Joseph  Coolidge, 

ing  a  baton,  ppr.  1772,   and   Katharine,  who   married  Joseph 

The  first  of  the  family  in  Boston  was  Adino  Coolidge,  2d  April,  1778,  died  5th  Dec. ,  1829. 

Bulfinch,  who  settled   here  in   1681,  a  mer-  Samuel  had  daughters,  Abby  and  Elizabeth, 

chant.     From  1700   to   1708,   he  was  often  both  of  whom  died  unmarried.     Adino,  the 

chosen  into  town  offices.     He  had  four  sons,  third  son,  died  unmarried  also,  about  1746. 

John,  Samuel,  Adino  and  Thomas.     He  left  a  Thomas  was  educated  a  physician  in  Paris, 


664  STAGE-COACH   TRAVELLING.  [1763. 

A  Stage  began  to  run  regularly  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth,  in 
pn  '  New  Hampshire.  Owing  to  the  trouble  of  ferrying  the  stage  and 
horses  over  Charles  River,  they  were  kept  at  Charlestown,  at  the  sign 
of  the  Three  Cranes.  Bartholomew  Stavers  was  the  undertaker,  who 
had  his  head-quarters  at  the  sign  of  the  Lighthouse,*  at  the  North  End 
of  Boston.  His  vehicle  was  called  the  "  Portsmouth  Flying  Stage- 
Coach, "  and  was  to  carry  "six  persons  inside,  each  person  to  pay  thirteen 
shillings  and  sixpence  sterling  to  Portsmouth,  and  nine  shillings  to  New- 
bury;  to  set  out  every  Friday  morning,  between  six  and  seven  o'clock ; 
to  put  up  at  inns  on  the  road,  where  good  entertainment  and  attendance 
were  provided  for  the  passengers  in  the  coach.  Returning,  to  leave 
Portsmouth  every  Tuesday  morning."  Mr.  Stavers  further  added,  that 
"  as  this  was  a  convenient  and  genteel  way  of  travelling,  and  greatly 
cheaper  than  hiring  carriages  or  horses,  he  hoped  gentlemen  and  ladies 
would  encourage  the  same." 

This  was  the  commencement  of  Stage-Coach  travelling  between 
Boston  and  Portsmouth,  and  was  doubtless  viewed  with  almost  as  much 
astonishment  by  the  people  as  the  first  train  of  railroad  cars  was  a  few 
years  since.  Stage-travelling,  thus  begun,  was  continued  between  the 
two  Capitols  until  within  the  memory  of  the  young  people  of  this  age. 

It  is  said,  by  one  high  in  authority,  that  at  this  period  there  did  not 
appear  to  be  any  cause  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  administration  of  gov- 
ernment in  Massachusetts  Bay,  except  such  as  arose  from  persons  who 
had  not,  but  desired,  a  place  in  that  government.  From  these  and  their 
friends  "the  sound  of  'Wilkes  and  Liberty'  was  heard  in  Boston,  as 
much  as  in  London,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  and 
squibs  were  thrown  at  the  characters  of  officials,  in  newspapers  and 
handbills.  | 

Whig  and  Tory  were  new  terms  in  New  England,  or -they  had  not 
been  in  general  use  previous  to  this  time.  "  All  on  a  sudden  the  officers 
of  the  Crown,  and  such  as  were  for  keeping  up  their  authority,  were 

whence  he  returned  to  Boston  in  1722,  and  in  Europe,  returned  to  Boston  in  1786.     This 

became  very  eminent  in  his   profession.     He  was  the  great  architect  before  mentioned  in 

married  Judith,  daughter  of  John  Colman,  these  pages.   He  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of 

Esq.,  a  distinguished  merchant,  often  men-  Selectmen  twenty-one  years,  during  which  of- 

tioned  in  this  History.     Dr.  Bulfinch  had  but  ficial  service  many  of  the  great  improvements 

two  children,  Thomas,  and  Judith  married  to  in  the  town,  yet  to  be  seen,  were  executed. 

Dr.  Samuel  Cooper,  of  Brattle-street  Church,  Among  others,  the  building  of  Franklin-street, 

noticed  in  the  present  chapter.     Thomas  was  the  State  House,  City  Hall,  and  General  Hos- 

of  the  profession  of  his  father,  having  com-  pital.     After  the  Capitol  of  the  United  States 

pleted  his  studies  in  medicine  in  Edinburgh,  was  burnt  by  the  British,  in  1814,  Mr.  Bulfinch 

He  married  Susan,  second  daughter  of  Charles  was  applied  to  by  President  Monroe  to  super- 

Apthorp,  Esq.     They  had  a  number  of  chil-  intend  its  reerection.     He  was  also  employed 

dren,  three  only  of  whom  arrived  at  marriage-  on  other  public  buildings  of  the  General  Gov- 

able  age.    Charles,  the  only  son,  was  born  8th  ernment.     His  wife  died  in  1841,  and  he  sur- 

Aug.,  1763,  married  Hannah,  eldest  daughter  vived  her  but  three  years,  dying  April  15th, 

of  Mr.  John  Apthorp,  20th  November,  1788.  1844. 

Anna  married  Geo.  Storer,  May,  1795.     Eliz-  *  Robert  Whatley  lived  at  the  Lighthouse 

abeth  married  Joseph  Coolidge,  20th  Sept.,  and  Anchor  at  this  time;  perhaps  the  same 

1796.     Mr.    Charles  Bulfinch  graduated  H.  place. 

C,    1781,   and,   after    spending    some    time  f  Hutchinson. 


1763.]  ANTI-STAMP    FIRE    SOCIETY.  665 

• 

branded  with  the  name  of  Tories,  which  was  always  a  term  of  reproach, 
while  their  opposers  assumed  the  name  of  Whigs."* 

The  reason  of  much  of  the  present  opposition  to  the  General  Govern- 
ment in  Boston  arose  from  the  difficulties  thrown  in  the  way  of  certain 
measures  advocated  by  Mr.  Otis,  "  the  idol  of  the  people." 

The  heavy  duties  upon  molasses  and  other  necessary  articles 
amounted  almost  to  a  prohibition  of  those  articles,  and  this  occasioned 
the  proposal  of  Lord  Grenville  to  substitute  a  stamp  duty ;  but  he  con- 
descended to  give  the  Colonies  an  opportunity  of  taxing  themselves 
in  some  other  way,  if  they  could  think  of  any  they  liked  better.  But 
it  was  a  shallow  device  of  the  Minister,  and  was  no  sooner  proposed  by 
him  than  seen  through  by  the  people,  who  could  see  no  difference  in 
the  principle,  as  to  whether  they  paid  a  certain  amount  of  money,  de- 
manded of  them,  out  of  one  pocket  or  the  other.  They  very  naturally 
said  that  if  the  Mother  Country  could  tax  them  without  their  consent, 
it  mattered  not  whether  they  paid  such  tax  on  one  article  or  a  dozen, 
or  none  at  all.  They  were  not  represented  in  Parliament,  and,  conse- 
quently, there  was  no  one  in  that  body  to  protest  against  any  measure 
it  should  propose,  however  unjust  it  might  be  to  them. 

The  daily  discussion  of  this  subject  of  taxation  in  Boston, 
soon  produced  a  considerable  excitement  among  all  classes.  In 
October  a  number  of  persons  formed  themselves  into  a  society,  which 
they  called  "The  Anti-Stamp  Fire  Society." f  It  probably  became 
dormant  after  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1766,  and  was  not 
revived  until  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  it  is  supposed  it 
did  not  survive  the  war,  at  least  under  that  name. 

The  officers  serving  under  the  Crown  were,  from  highest  to  lowest, 
nearly  all  Churchmen.  Hence  it  is  not  at  all  strange  that  the  Epis- 
copal Church  should  be  looked  upon  with  quite  as  much  suspicion  as 
the  Government,  part  of  which  it  was.  The  Ministers  of  that  Church, 
viewing  themselves  secure  under  the  wing  of  the  Government,  may 
have,  from  a  consciousness  that  it  could  protect  them,  acted  in  some 
things  injudiciously.  An  Episcopal  Church  frowned  in  the  very  pres- 
ence of  Harvard  College.  Here,  Mr.  East  Apthorp,  "  hot  from  Ox- 
ford," J  this  year  issued  his  "  Considerations  on  the  Institution  and 
Conduct  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 

*  Hutchinson.  J  "  And  still  more  warmed  by  holy  orders 
1 1  have  not  ascertained  the  names  of  any  of  from  Episcopal  hands,  returned  to  his  native 
the  original  members  belonging  to  it.  It  was  country  ;  and  soon  after  arose  a  splendid 
revived  in  November,  1776,  and  the  following  edifice,  as  it  was  then  thought,  which  every- 
names  appear  signed  to  their  "  Rules  and  body  immediately  concluded  was  intended  for 
Regulations":  Edward  "Walker,  William  an  Episcopal  Palace,  and  in  time  for  a  Lam- 
Bant,  Joseph  Barrell,  Samuel  Eliot,  Joshua  beth.  All  sensible  men  knew  that  this  system 
Gardner,  Thomas  Chase,  William  Hickling,  could  not  be  effected  but  by  act  of  Parliament ; 
John  Lowel,  Herman  Brimmer,  Samuel  Al-  and  if  Parliament  could  do  this,  they  could  do 
leyne  Otis,  Ziphion  Thayer,  Lemuel  Cox,  all  things.  And  what  security  could  Ameri- 
Nathaniel  Abraham,  Thomas  Lee,  Thomas  cans  have  for  life,  liberty,  property,  or  relig- 
Hill,  John  Read,  Nathaniel  Barrett,  John  ion?"  —  John  Adams.  Mr.  Adams  is  often 
Hunt,  tertius,  Samuel  Eliot,  Jr.,  Edward  quoted  to  show  the  spirit  of  the  times,  not 
Gray,  John  Andrews,  James  Smithwick,  and  that  I  always  fully  subscribe  to  all  he  says. 
John  Hopkins. 

84 


666 


JONATHAN    MAYHEW. PAMPHLET    WAR. 


[1763. 


Parts  ;  "  in  which,  by  implication,  the  conductors  of  that  society  were 
accused  of  misapplying  its  funds  in  the  cause  of  the  Indians.  He  also 
openly  avowed  that  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  was  now  the  "  sole 
business  "  of  the  Society  ;  "  whereas,  in  truth,"  he  says,  "  the  Indian 
conversions  are  only  subordinate  to  their  principal,  most  excellent 
and  comprehensive  object,  that  of  giving  all  the  British  subjects  on 
this  vast  continent  the  means  of  public  Keligion."  *  This  was  at  once 
construed  to  mean  nothing  short  of  a  design  to  supplant  that  religion 
which  the  founders  of  the  Colony  had  established. 

But  the  Bostonians  found  they  had  a  champion  in  the  ecclesiastical 
field,  inferior  to  none  in  that  of  politics.  This  was  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
Mayhew,  of  the  West  Church,  already  brought  to  notice  in  this  history. 
Viewing  Mr.  Apthorp's  "  Considerations"  in  the  nature  of  a  challenge, 

he  composed  and  published  ."  Observations 
on  the  Charter  and  Conduct  of  the  So- 
ciety,"! in  answer  to  it,  in  an  incredibly 
brief  period.  By  an  extract  from  the  Apos- 
tle Paul  to  the  Galatians,  which  he  inserted 
as  a  sort  of  motto  in  his  title-page,  it  is  pretty 
easy  to  judge  of  the  whole  tone  of  his  work. 
"Brethren  unawares  brought  in,  who  came 
in  privily  to  spy  out  our  liberties  which  we 
have  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  they  might  bring 
us  into  bondage.  To  whom  we  gave  place  by 
subjection,  no,  not  for  an  hour." 

This  was  the  commencement  of  a  pamphlet 
war,  "  which  soon  interested  all  men,  spread 
through  America,  and  in  Europe  brought 
forward  the  aged  Doctor  [Samuel]  Johnson,  and  at  last  [Dr.  Thomas 
Seeker]  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  All  denominations  in  America 
became  interested  in  it,  and  began  to  think  of  the  secret,  latent  prin- 
ciple upon  which  all  encroachments  upon  them  must  be  founded,  the 
power  of  Parliament.  The  nature  and  extent  of  the  authority  of  Par- 
liament over  the  Colonies  was  discussed  everywhere,  till  it  was  discovered 
that  it  had  none  at  all."  § 


JONATHAN   MAYHEW.J 


*  Considerations,  7,  13.  —  Mr.  Adams  says  : 
"  Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Miller,  of  Braintree, 
a  satirical  irony  appeared  in  a  newspaper,  the 
point  of  which  turned  upon  this  abuse  of  the 
Society's  resources."  That  "  this  jew  d'esprit 
soon  produced  an  explosion,"  which  explosion 
was  Mr.  Apthorp's  "  Observations." 

f  The  whole  title  to  Dr.  Mayhew's  work  is 
too  long  to  be  transcribed.  His  design  was  to 
show  that  between  the  "  Charter  and  Con- 
duct of  the  Society  "  there  was  a  "  Non-con- 
formity, with  Remarks  on  the  Mistakes  of 
East  Apthorp,  M.'A.,  Missionary  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  Quoting  and  Representing  the 
Sense  of  said  Charter,  &c.  As  also  various 
incidental  Reflections  relative  to  the  Church 


of  England,  and  the  State  of  Religion  in  North 
America,  particularly  in  New  England." 
These  "Considerations"  extended  to  176 
pages,  large  octavo  ;  printed  by  Richard  and 
Samuel  Draper,  in  Newbury-street,  Edes  & 
Gill,  in  Queen-street,  and  Thomas  and  John 
Fleet,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown  in  Cornhill, 
1763. 

J  Paul  Revere  engraved  a  portrait  of  Doctor 
Mayhew,  which  accompanied  a  volume  of  the 
Doctor's  sermons.  It  is  the  most  perfectly 
awful-looking  thing  of  the  kind  I  have  ever 
seen.  The  above  is  a  copy  of  that  accompany- 
ing Bradford's  Life  of  Mayhew. 

§  John  Adams,  who  says  :  "  If  any  gentle- 
man supposes  this  controversy  to  be  nothing  to 


1763.]  JAME3   OTIS.  G67 

One  of  the  most  masterly  productions,  caused  by  the  controversy 
begun  by  Mr.  Apthorp  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mayhew,  was  by  Samuel 
Adams,  though  by  some,  who  had  probably  never  read  it,  ascribed  to 
Mr.  Apthorp.  It  is,  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  late  President 
John  Adams,  "a  model  of  candor,  sagacity,  impartiality,  and  close, 
correct  reasoning." 

Thus  the  agency  of  certain  individuals,  men  of  Boston,  is  touched 
upon,  in  tracing  the  rise  of  Independence,  clearly  showing  that  it  was 
no  new  principle  or  idea  ;  but  that  it  was  to  be  asserted  as  soon  as  there 
was  power  to  maintain  it.  And  hence,  as  in  all  times  reached  by  his- 
tory, great  spiri.ts  suited  to  the  great  occasion  were  not  wanting  to 
meet  any  emergency.  And  here,  before  proceeding  to  other  details,  it 
is  proper  to  take  some  special  notice  of  several  of  the  great  men  who 
took  the  lead  in  the  stirring  events  already  begun. 

The  commencement  of  the  career  of  James  Otis  has  already  come 
under  notice.  He  was  now  but  thirty-eight  years  of  age  ;  an  age  for 
ardent  and  energetic  action.  He  studied  law  under  the  direction  of 
Jeremy  Gridley,  now  Attorney  General  of  the  Province,  one  of  the  first 
civilians  of  his  time.  It  was  Mr.  Gridley,  who,  by  virtue  of  his  office 
under  the  Crown,  pleaded  the  cause  of  Writs  of  Assistance  in  opposi- 
tion to  Mr.  Otis  ;  a  circumstance  calculated  to  arouse  the  energies  of 
the  mind  of  the  latter.  Mr.  Otis  well  knew  that  the  Attorney  General 
would  come  into  the  cause  with  abilities  with  which  no  other  lawyer  then 
in  the  Province  could  come  ;  that  he  had  every  qualification  necessary  to 
ensure  a  decision  in  favor  of  the  Government  which  any  man  could  pos- 
sess. To  overcome  these  was  the  task  which  Mr.  Otis  had  undertaken  ; 
and  thus  were  master  and  pupil  set  against  each  other  in  the  cause  of 
Writs  of  Assistance,  which  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  cause  of 
Independence  ;  the  great  parties  to  which  were  the  People  on  the  one 
side,  and  the  Place-men  on  the  other.  For  this  cause  Mr.  Otis  had 
ample  time  to  prepare  himself ;  and  that  he  did  prepare  himself  there 
is  this  evidence,  by  one  who  heard  the  defence  he  made,  and  who  has 
left  this  account  of  it. 

Feb  "  Alarm  was  spread  far  and  wide.     Merchants  of  Salem  and 

Boston  applied  to  Mr.  [Benjamin]  Pratt,  who  refused,  and  to 
Mr.  Otis  and  Mr.  [Oxenbridge]  Thacher,  who  accepted,  to  defend  them 
against  this  terrible  menacing  monster,  the  Writ  of  Assistance.  Great 
fees  were  offered ;  but  Otis,  and  I  believe  Thacher,  would  accept  of 
none.  '  In  such  a  cause,'  said  Otis,  '  I  despise  all  fees.'  Mr.  Grid- 
ley  argued  with  his  characteristic  learning,  ingenuity,  and  dignity,  and 

the  present  purpose,  he  is  grossly  mistaken,  nor  Archbishops,  could  appoint  Bishops  in 
It  spread  an  universal  alarm  against  the  America  without  an  Act  of  Parliament ; 
authority  of  Parliament.  It  excited  a  general  and  if  Parliament  could  tax  us,  they  could 
and  just  apprehension  that  Bishops,  and  Dio-  establish  the  Church  of  England,  with  all  its 
ceses,  and  Churches,  and  Priests,  and  Tythes,  Creeds,  Articles,  Tests,  Ceremonies  and  Tythes, 
were  to  be  imposed  on  us  by  Parliament.  It  and  prohibit  all  other  Churches  as  Conventi- 
was  known  that  neither  King,  nor  Ministry,    cles  and  Schism-shops." 


668  OXENBRIDGE   THACHER.  [1763. 

said  everything  that  could  be  said  in  favor  of  Cockle's  *  petition,  all 
depending,  however,  on  the  '  If  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  is  the 
Sovereign  Legislature  of  all  the  British  Empire.'  Mr.  Thacher  fol- 
lowed him  on  the  other  side,  and  argued  with  the  softness  of  manners, 
the  ingenuity,  the  cool  reasoning,  which  were  peculiar  to  his  amiable 
character.  But  Otis  was  a  flame  of  fire  !  With  a  promptitude  of 
classical  allusions,  a  depth  of  research,  a  rapid  summary  of  historical 
events  and  dates,  a  profusion  of  legal  authorities,  a  prophetic  glare 
of  his  eyes  into  futurity,  and  a  rapid  torrent  of  impetuous  eloquence, 
he  hurried  away  all  before  him.  American  Independence  was  then  and 
there  born.f  Every  man  of  an  immense  crowded  audience  appeared 
to  me  to  go  away,  as  I  did,  ready  to  take  up  arms  against  Writs 
of  Assistance.  "J 

In  passing  from  Mr.  Otis,  §  the  next  upon  the  same  side  may  be 
mentioned  Oxenbridge  Thacher,  his  colleague,  also  before  noticed.  He 
belonged  to  one  of  the  most  respectable  families  in  New  England  ;  had 
been  educated  for  the  ministry,  a  calling  in  which  his  immediate 
ancestors  had  been  distinguished  ;  but  his  constitution  being  slender, 
and  his  voice  weak,  he  renounced  the  Pulpit  for  the  Bar.  He  was 
about  two  years  older  than  Mr.  Otis  ;  was  a  fine  scholar,  and  had 
acquired  much  general  literature.  Being  in  his  manners  affable,  modest 
and  unassuming,  he  was  well  calculated  to  gain  popular  favor  ;  and  his 
practice  had  become  as  large  as  any  one  in  Boston.  Whenever  he 
entered  into  a  subject,  it  was  with  his  whole  strength  ;  and  his  physical 
system  being  entirely  unequal  to  support  the  intellectual,  he  fell  an 

*  James   Cockle,   the  Collector    of  Salem,  cial  wigs.     At  a  long  table,  all  the  Barristers 

who,  at  the  request  of  Charles  Paxton,  Sur-  of  Boston,  and  its  neighboring    County  of 

veyor  General,  of  Boston,  moved  in  the  Supe-  Middlesex,  in  their  gowns,   bands,  and  tye- 

rior  Court  at  Salem  for  its  sanction  of  Writs  wigs.     They  were  not  seated  on  ivory  chairs, 

of  Assistance,   as  has  been  before  observed,  but  their  dress  was  more  solemn  and  more 

Roger  Hale  was   at  this  time  Collector  of  pompous    than   that  of  the    Roman  Senate 

Boston.  when  the  Gauls  broke  in  upon  them.  Twopor- 

j-  After  what  the  reader  may  have  seen  in  traits,  at  more   than    full-length,    of   King 

the  progress  of  this  History,  he  will  probably  Charles  II.  and  King  James  II.,  in  splendid 

decide  that  this  sentence  is  a  little  poetical,  golden  frames,  were  hung  up  in  the  most  con- 

What  can  be  truly  said  is,   it   received  an  spicuous  side  of   the    apartment.     I  believe 

impulse    then,     and    a    confidence,    hitherto  they  were  by  Vandyke,  being  far  superior  to 

unknown.  those  of  the  King  and  Queen  of  France,  in  the 

%  The  stage  on  which  this  primary  act  in  Senate  Chamber  of  Congress.  Sure  I  am  there 

the  great  drama  of  the  Revolution  was  per-  was  no  painter  in  England  capable  of  them  at 

formed,  was,  as  before  stated,  in  the  Council  that  time.     They  had  been  sent  over,  without 

Chamber  of  the  old  Town-house  still  standing  frames,  in  Gov.  Pownall's   time.     But,  as  he 

at  the  head  of  State-street,  one  of  the  few  re-  was  no  admirer  of  Charleses  or  Jameses,  they 

mains  of  revolutionary    scenery  in  the   city,  were  stowed  away  in  a  garret  among  rubbish, 

That  chamber  was  in  the  east  end,  and  is  thus  till   Gov.   Bernard  came,  had  them   cleaned, 

described    by   John     Adams  :    "It  was    as  superbly  framed,  and  placed  in  the  Council 

respectable  an  apartment,  and  more  so  too,  in  for    the    admiration    and  imitation     of    all 

proportion,  than  the  House  of  Lords  or  House  men." 

of  Commons  in   Great    Britain,  or  that  in  §  For  details  respecting  the  family  of  Otis, 

Philadelphia  in  which  the  Declaration  of  In-  see  the  New  Eng.  Hist.  4-  Gen.  Reg.,  vols.  11. 

dependence  was    signed   in  1776.     Near   the  and   v.,   containing    articles  by   one   of    its 

fire  were  seated  five  Judges,  with  Lieut.  Gov.  members,  Mr.  Horatio  N.  Otis,  of  New  York, 

Hutchinson  at  their  head,  as  Chief  Justice ;  discovering    much     patience,     diligence    and 

all  in  their  new  fresh  robes  of  scarlet  English  research.    The  admirable  life  of  Otis  by  Tudor, 

cloth,  in  their  broad  bands  and  immense  judi-  should  be  read  by  every  one. 


1763.]  BENJAMIN    PRATT. THOMAS    GUSHING.  G69 

early  martyr  to  the  cause  he  so  ardently  espoused.  lie  died,  of  disease 
of  the  lungs,  in  17G5,  at  the  age  of  forty-five.  His  death  is  said  to 
have  been  much  hastened  by  his  great  anxiety  in  .  public  affairs.* 
Hutchinson  said  of  him,  "  Thacher  was  not  born  a  plebeian,  but  he  was 
determined  to  die  one." 

Conspicuous  at  this  time  was  Benjamin  Pratt,  one  of  the  greatest 
lawyers  in  this  or  any  country.  His  father  was  poor,  but  circum- 
stances gave  the  son  an  education  at  Harvard  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1737,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  and  hence,  at  this 
period,  was  about  fifty-three  years  of  age.  Being  older  than  Otis  or 
Thacher,  he  was  applied  to  by  both  parties  to  argue  the  great  cause 
of  Writs  of  Assistance,  but  he  had,  through  the  influence  of  Governor 
Pownall,  received  the  appointment  of  Chief  Justice  of  New  York,  in 
1761,  and,  therefore,  declined  a  service  which,  would  have  been 
agreeable  to  him  under  other  auspices.  He,  however,  enjoyed  his 
.  high  position  but  a  short  time,  dying  there  this  year  (1763). f 
He  has  been  characterized  as  the  embodiment  of  "wit,  sense, 
imagination,  genius,  pathos,  reason,  prudence,  eloquence,  learning,  sci- 
ence, and  immense  reading."  When  Mr.  Pratt  commenced  his  judicial 
services  in  New  York,  he  was  viewed  with  jealousy  by  the  Judges  of 
that  Province,  over  whom  he  was  placed  ;  but  that  jealousy  soon  gave 
way  to  admiration  of  his  legal  knowledge  and  acumen.  His  intel- 
lectual sagacity,  displayed  in  a  very  important  cause  which  had  been 
several  years  depending,  at  once  secured  the  wavering  in  his  favor,  and 
silenced  all  who  were  disposed  to  entertain  a  distrust  of  his  abilities. 

Another  of  the  leading  men  was  the  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing.  "  His 
good  sense  and  sound  judgment,  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  his 
universal  good  character,  his  numerous  friends  and  connections,  and 
his  continual  intercourse  with  all  sorts  of  people,  added  to  his  constant 
attachment  to  the  liberties  of  his  country,  gave  him  great  and  salutary 
influence  from  the  beginning  in  1760."  He  was  son  of  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Cushing,  merchant,  of  Boston,  and  his  mother  was  Mary,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  Bromfield,  and  was,  at  this  time,  about  thirty- 
seven  years  of  age. | 

*  He  was  son  of  theKev.  Oxenbridge  Thach-  &c,  57.  Mr.  Peter  Thacher,  of  Cleaveland, 
er,  of  Milton,  who  died  October  29,  1772,  a.  Ohio,  is  expected  to  give  a  history  of  the 
91  ;  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Peter  T.,  of  Milton,    Thacher  family. 

by  Theodora,  dau.  of  the  Rev.  John  Oxen-  f  He  was  son  of  Aaron  Pratt,  born  in  Bos- 
bridge,  of  the  First  Church  of  Boston,  who  ton  in  1709,  grandson  of  Phinehas,  the  old 
died  Dec.  27,  1727,  in  his  77th  year  ;  great-  planter  of  Weymouth,  a  fac-simile  of  whose 
grandson  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  T.,  of  the  Old  autograph  is  given  at  page  41.  He  was  mar- 
South  Church,  who  died  Oct.  16,  1678,  a.  58.  ried  to  a  Miss  Wells,  but  left  no  male  pos- 
The  Rev.  Thomas  T.,  of  the  Old  South,  was  terity.  He  had  been  appointed  Governor  of 
son  of  the  Rev.  Peter  T.,  a  Puritan  minister  one  of  the  West  India  Islands,  but  had  not 
of  Salisbury,  in  England.  —  Funeral  Sermons,  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office.  —  MS. 
and  Prince's  Christian  History.  The  intro-  letter  of  Mr.  JE.  F.  Pratt,  of  Boston,  20  June, 
duction   of  the  name  of  Oxenbridge  is  appa-    1855. 

rent.  The  Reverend  John  0 .,  before  named,  %  Mr.  James  S.  Loring,  author  of  the 
was  son  of  "  Daniel  0.,  Doctor  in  Physic,"  "Hundred  Boston  Orators,"  has  communi- 
of  Daventry,  in  Northamptonshire,  of  whom  cated  a  good  account  of  the  Cushing  family  to 
there  is  a  curious  account  in  Magna  Britan-  the  New  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  which  will  be 
nia,  iii.   502.     See,  also,  Sewall's  New  Haven,    found  in  vol.  viii.  of  that  work 


670 


SAMUEL  COOPER.  —  CHARLES  CHAUNCY. 


[1763. 


SAMUEL   COOPER.* 


Among  the  ministers  of  the  Town,  there 
was,  besides  Mr.  Mayhew,  Doctor  Samuel 
Cooper,  to  whom  the  patriots  were  much  in- 
debted for  the  exertion  of  his  great  talents 
in  the  common  cause.  He  was  about  the  age 
of  Mr.  Cushing,  having  been  born  the  same 
year,  namely,  1725.  He  was  not  only  great 
in  the  pulpit,  but  he  was  remarkable  for 
extensive  general  acquirements.  He  well 
understood  the  nature  and  objects  for  which 
governments  were  instituted,  and  was  early 
attached  to  the  cause  of  religious  liberty,  and 
among  the  first  to  assert  its  importance  at  this 
crisis.  He  was  a  fine  classical  scholar  before 
he  entered  college.  In  1754  he  wrote  a 
political  tract  against  the  Excise  Act,  which  he  entitled  The  Crisis. 
Doctor  Cooper  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Cooper,  and  succeeded 
him  in  the  ministry  of  the  Brattle-street  Society.  In  the  founding  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  he  was  one  of  the  foremost, 
and  became  very  intimate  with  Doctor  Franklin,  the  Adamses,  and 
other  leading  men,  and  through  them  became  known  and  valued  in 
France,  and  other  countries  of  Europe. 

Nor  should  the  name  of  Chauncy  be  overlooked  in  a  notice  of  the 
ministers  who  contributed  to  the  cause  of  the  Revolution.  Doctor 
Charles  Chauncy  was  now  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  being  fifty-eight 
years  of  age.f  He  entered  Harvard  College  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  1721,  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
In  1727  he  became  colleague  with  Mr.  Foxcroft  over  the  First  Church, 
and  he  lived  to  see  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,  if  not  their 
Consolidation.  He  died  in  1787,  having  just  entered  upon  his  eighty- 
third  year.  He  was  one  of  the  good  men  who  did  not  believe  benefits 
would  accrue  to  the  country  from  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitefield. 
Neither   did    Colman,    Sewall,   Prince,   Cooper,   Foxcroft,  nor  Eliot, 


*  This  portrait  is  from  a  copy  in  the  March 
number  of  the  Boston  Magazine  for  1784,  en- 
graved for  that  work  by  J.  Norman ;  the 
same,  probably,  who  printed  the  first  Direc- 
tory of  the  Town  five  years  after.  The  plate 
in  the  Magazine  is  a  very  rude  specimen  of 
copper-plate  engraving  of  that  or  any  other 
time. 

f  I  have  a  pedigree  of  the  Chauncy  family, 
in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  Chauncy  above 
named,  the  concluding  part  of  which  is  as 
follows:  "Isaac,  the  eldest  of  the  sons  of 
Charles  Chauncy,  had  three  children ;  Elisa- 
beth, now  alive  in  London,  the  widow  of  the 
late  Rev.  Mr.  John  Nesbitt,  one  of  the  Lec- 
turers at  Penner's  Hall ;  Isaac,  a  linen-draper 
in  Bristol,  who  died  in  middle  age,  leaving  two 
daughters  ;  Charles,  who  came  over  into  this 


country,  and  settled  here  [in  Boston],  a  mer- 
chant, taking  to  wife  Sarah  Walley,  eldest 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  Walley,  Esq. 
From  this  Charles  descended  Charles,  who  was 
born  Jan.  1st,  1704-5,  and  married  to  Elisa- 
beth Hirst,  May  the  9th,  1728,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children  :  Charles,  born  16 
May,  1729  ;  Elisabeth,  born  12  Nov.,  1731, 
and  Sarah,  born  22  Sept.,  1733.  Written  by 
me,  their  father,  this  23d  day  of  March, 
1743.  Charles  Chauncy." 

Isaac,  above  named,  was  the  oldest  son  of 
Dr.  Charles  Chauncy,  President  of  H.  C, 
who  "  arrived  at  Plymouth  from  England,  a 
few  days  before  the  great  Earthquake,  which 
happened  Jan.  1st,  1638.  There  were  five 
others,  Isaac,  Ichabod,  Barnabas,  Nathanael, 
Elnathan  and  Israel."  —  lb.  See  p.  393,  ante. 


1763.]  SAMUEL    ADAMS.  671 

although  some  of  them  were  not  unwilling  to  hear  him,  and  to  allow 
him  to  speak  for  himself.  But  Mr.  Chauncy  rendered  his  chief  service 
in  the  cause  of  Independence  in  the  learned  and  able  attacks  which  he 
made  upon  Episcopacy  as  it  was  at  that  time  practised. 

Of  Samuel  Adams,  so  conspicuous  from  this  time  to  the  firm  estab- 
lishment of  Independence,  it  is  no  easy  task  to  speak  ;  of  whom  it  has 
been  said,  "  He  was  in  the  Cabinet  of  his  Country  what  General  Greene 
was  in  the  field  ;  ever  early,  ever  watchful,  and  never  weary  of  toil  or 
fatigue,  until  he  saw  all  was  well."*  And  by  another  :  "If  Otis  was 
Martin  Luther,  Samuel  Adams  was  John  Calvin.  If  Luther  was  rough, 
hasty,  and  loved  good  cheer,  Calvin  was  cool,  abstemious,  polished  and 
refined,  though  more  inflexible,  uniform  and  consistent,  who  was  des- 
tined to  a  longer  career  than  those  before  mentioned,  and  to  act  a  more 
conspicuous,  and,  perhaps,  a  more  important  part  than  any  other 
man."  f 

Samuel  Adams  was  born  in  Boston,  as  appears  by  his  father's 
family  record  in  his  own  hand,  "  The  sixteenth  day  of  September,  at 
twelve  of  the  clock  at  noon,  being  Sabbath  Day,  1722."  He  was 
son  of  Samuel  Adams,  Esquire,  a  merchant,  by  Mary,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Mary  Fifield,  also  of  Boston.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
graduated  with  high  honors  at  Harvard  College,  at  which  early  day 
he  exhibited  signs  of  those  political  principles  which  he  so  successfully 
maintained  in  his  manhood.  When  he  took  his  Master's  degree,  in 
1743,  he  proposed  this  question  for  discussion  :  "  Whether  it  be  law- 
ful to  resist  the  Supreme  Magistrate,  if  the  Commonwealth  cannot  be 
otherwise  preserved."  He  maintained  the  affirmative  with  marked 
ability.  He  was  a  political  writer  as  early  as  the  commencement  of 
Governor  Shirley's  administration ;  in  which  he  always  displayed 
great  ingenuity,  wit,  and  profound  argument.  The  office  of  Collector 
of  taxes  in  Boston  was  in  those  days  one  of  importance.  This  he  exer- 
cised to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  though  it  is  said  with  loss  to 
himself.  However  that  may  have  been,  the  people  all  became 
acquainted  with  him,  and  were  ever  after  his  fast  friends.  On  the 
death  of  Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher,  in  1765,  he  was  elected  a  Repre- 
sentative, and  soon  after  Clerk  of  the  House  ;  in  which  house  his  influ- 
ence soon  became  almost  unbounded.  He  was  now  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  stirring  events,  but  he  possessed  a  courage  which  no  danger  could 
shake.  The  prospect  which  sent  dismay,  and  struck  terror  into  the 
hearts  of  many,  he  met  with  undisturbed  dignity.  For  nearly  ten  years 
he  was  a  member  of  that  House,  and  he  was  the  soul  which  animated 
it  to  the  most  important  resolutions  ;  and  to  him  belongs  the  credit  of 
drafting  the  able  State  Papers  of  that  period.  No  man  did  so  much.. 
Now  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  pressed  his  measures  with  ardor,  yet  with 
prudence.  He  knew  how  to  bend  the  minds  of  others  to  the  great  pur- 
poses of  State.  | 

*  Mies'  Principles  and  Acts,  477.  f  John  Adams.  %  Dr.  Allen. 


672  SAMUEL   ADAMS.  [1763. 

No  man  was  dreaded  by  the  officers  of  the  Crown  like  Samuel  Adams. 
In  that  day  of  ministerial  corruption,  a  proposition  to  silence  him  by 
bribery  was  entertained  ;  but  when  the  proposition  had  proceeded  as  far 
as  Governor  Hutchinson,  he  replied  that  bribes  were  out  of  the  ques- 
tion with  such  a  man,  and  that  if  the  authors  of  the  proposition  knew 
him  as  well  as  he  did,  it  would  not  be  for  a  moment  thought  of. 
"  For,"  he  said,  "  such  is  the  obstinacy  and  inflexibility  of  the  man, 
that  he  never  can  be  conciliated  by  any  office  or  gift  whatever."  Here, 
then,  was  one  man  without  a  price  ! 

The  testimony  of  Thomas  Jefferson  respecting  the  character  of 
Samuel  Adams  will  always  be  viewed  by  many  with  the  greatest 
respect.  "  I  can  say,"  says  that  shrewd  and  far-seeing  philosopher, 
"  that  Mr.  Adams  was  truly  a  great  man  ;  wise  in  council,  fertile  in 
resources,  immovable  in  his  purposes  ;  and  had,  I  think,  a  greater  share 
than  any  other  member  of  Congress  in  advising  and  directing  our 
measures  in  the  northern  war.*  In  debate,  although  not  of  fluent 
elocution,  he  was  so  vigorously  logical,  so  clear  in  his  views,  abundant 
in  good  sense,  and  master  always  of  his  subject,  that  he  commanded 
the  most  profound  attention  whenever  he  rose  in  an  assembly  by 
which  the  froth  of  declamation  was  heard  with  sovereign  contempt."  f 

There  are  many  engraved  likenesses  of  Samuel  Adams.  The  ear- 
liest is  believed  to  be  that  upon  copper,  "  done  "  for  the  Royal  Amer- 
ican Magazine  by  the  patriotic  Paul  Revere,  and  accompanying  the 
April  number,  of  1744,  of  that  work.J  The  head  is  surrounded  by 
devices  emblematical  of  the  state  of  the  times.  Above  it  is  an  angel 
with  wings  displayed,  sounding  a  trumpet ;  below  is  a  scroll,  inscribed 
Magna  Charta.  On  the  right,  a  female  stands  upon  a  large  volume 
as  a  pedestal,  which  volume  is  inscribed,  Laws  to  enslave  America. 
In  the  right  hand  of  the  female  figure  is  a  rod,  on  which  is  elevated 
the  Cap  of  Liberty,  while  her  left  arm  rests  upon  the  portrait.  In  her 
countenance  is  discovered  an  expression  of  security,  and  her  breast  is 
bared  in  defiance.  On  the  left  is  a  corresponding  figure  representing 
Wisdom,  the  pedestal  of  which  is  the  prostrate  Pope,  with  but  one  arm 
visible,  in  the  hand  of  which  is  grasped  a  hissing  serpent.  § 

*  This  was  doubtless  so  considered  in  Eng-  London  in  1780.  This  is  a  picture  of  much 
land;  for  in  the  picture  of  him  published  in  interest ;  for,  besides  being  a  good  engraving,  it 
that  country  in  1780,  hereafter  to  be  described,  is  a  tolerable  likeness,  which  is  worthy  of  re- 
there  appears  a  map  suspended  in  his  apart-  mark.  How  it  could  have  been  produced  in 
ment,  with  "Canada"  inscribed  upon  it.  England  at  that  time  is  matter  for  conjecture. 
And  in  his  left  hand  is  exhibited  a  document  The  same  work  contained  Hancock,  Franklin, 
disclosing  the  words,  "  Plan  of  the  Reduction  Washington,  and  others,  all  well  done.  These 
of  Canada."  were  reproduced  here,  in  a  reprint  of  the  work 

f  From  an  extract  in  that  popular  work,  by  Coverly,  with  the  addition  of  Warren  and 

The  Hundred  Boston    Orators,  by  James  S.  others,  but  they  were  perfectly  shocking   as 

Loring,  p.  12.  specimens  of  art. 

%  Though  this  is  the  best  engraving  which  I  In  the  time  of  Mr.  Adams'  administration 

remember  to  have  seen  by  that  Artist,  it  makes  as  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  there  was  a  very 

but  a  sorry  figure  by  the  side  of  similar  works  good  mezzotinto  portrait  of  him  published,  but 

of  art  of  this  age.  no  name  of  artist  appears   upon  it.     Of  the 

The  next   engraving   of  a  portrait   of  Mr.  numerous  late  portraits  it  is  not  necessary  to 

Adams  that  I  now  recollect  is  one  of  full  length,  add  any  account. 

sitting,  engraved  for  "An  Impartial  History  §  I  have  been  particular  in  describing  this 

of  the  War  in  America,"  and  published  in  rare  portrait,  as  it  is  now  very  difficult  to  pro- 


17G3.]  JOHN    HANCOCK.  673 

It  is  a  reproach  to  the  present  age  that  there  has  not  appeared  a 
Life  of  Samuel  Adams  worthy  of  him.  Unfortunately  for  his  memory, 
there  are  no  male  descendants  of  his  name,  and  his  private  papers  have 
not  only  gone  out  of  the  name,  but  out  of  New  England  also. 

The  most  of  the  conspicuous  characters  here  sketched  were  from 
time  to  time  honored  by  the  publishers  of  almanacs,  if  the  caricature 
likenesses  which  they  produced  can  be  said  to  honor  them  ;  for  that  of 
James  Otis,  in  "  Bickerstaff 's  "  Almanac  for  1770,  could  never  have 
been  recognized  as  a  likeness.  Aware  of  this,  the  publishers  took  care 
to  put  his  name  under  it.  The  same  may  be  said  of  one  of  General 
Warren,  in  George's,  of  1776  ;  nor  did  Washington  and  John  Wilkes 
fare  any  better  in  "  Weatherwise,"  or  Washington  and  Gates  in 
"  Bickerstaff,"  in  1778. 

The  numerous  portraits  of  the  great  Statesman,  however  well  or 
poorly  executed,  all  represent  him  as  no  common  man  ;  they  discover  a 
majesty  and  dignity  almost  without  a  parallel,  exhibiting  a  nobleness  of 
demeanor,  harmoniously  blended  with  that  of  benignity.* 

There  are  fine  paintings  of  Mr.  Adams.  That  in  Faneuil  Hall,  the 
noble  gift  of  a  noble  Bostonian,f  is  one  of  the  best.  Among  the  thou- 
sands who  annually  visit  that  renowned  edifice,  few  will  probably  forget 
the  marked  features  of  Samuel  Adams,  as  exhibited  there  upon  canvas. 
It  has  been  pronounced  by  one  of  the  best  judges  J  to  be  Copley's 
masterpiece.  It  is  from  that  the  copy  has  been  made  for  this  history. 
The  original  was  presented  to  the  City  early  in  1842. 

John  Hancock  was  five  years  younger  than  Mr.  Adams. §  He  was 
early  secured  to  the  patriot  side,  and,  once  having  taken  that  elevated 
and  enviable  stand,  he  ever  maintained  it  without  wavering.  His  great 
wealth  and  wide  mercantile  transactions  made  his  name  extensively 
known  before  he  declared  himself  in  opposition  to  parliamentary  usur- 
pation. Indeed,  it  was  not  till  a  later  period  than  this  under  consider- 
ation, that  he  came  before  the  people,  as  one  of  them,  in  the  great 
cause  now  fully  commenced.  But  it  was  considered  proper  to  introduce 
him  briefly  in  this  connection,  but  to  defer  further  particulars  to  a  subse- 
quent period. 

cure,  or  even  to  get  a  sight  of;  and  as  it  is  an  f  Adam  W.  Thaxter,   Esq.,  who,  with  no 

excellent  auxiliary  in   a  description  of  early  little  perseverance,  secured  it  for  Faneuil  Hall, 

revolutionary  times  in  Boston.  at  a  cost  of  about  $400.     It  was  painted  for 

*  The  reverend  and  venerable  Dr.  Jenks,  of  Gov.  Hancock,  and  when  his  effects  were  sold 

this  city,  recently  gave  the  author  some  of  his  it  went  into  the  hands  of  Samuel  A.  Wells, 

recollections  of  Samuel  Adams,  whom  he  knew  Esq. ,  grandson  of  Mr.  Adams.  Mr.  Thaxter  has 

in     his    childhood;     his    demeanor    towards  said,  "  If  he  had  performed  any  act  to  be  proud 

children  being  that  of  kindness  and  paternal  of,  it  was  this."     But  this,  though  enough  to 

affection.     On  a  time  when,  with  other  chil-  cause  his  name  to  be  remembered  with  gratitude 

dren,    the   future     distinguished  Divine    was  by  the  citizens  of  Boston,  is  not  the  only  one. 

playing   about    his   dwelling,   the   venerable  J  Mr.  Howarth. 

Statesman  called  him  to  him,  and,  patting  him  §  He  was  son  of  Rev.  John,  of  Braintree,  gr.- 
upon  the  head,  among  other  things  said  to  son  of  Rev.  John,  of  Lexington,  gr.  grandson  of 
him  :  "  Be  good  and  love  learning,  and  in  Nathl.,  who  was  son  of  Nathl.  H.,  of  Cam- 
time  you  will  become  a  great  man."  This,  bridge.  He  was  born  on  the  23d  of  January, 
the  reader  may  be  assured,  on  no  questionable  1737  ;  died  Oct.  8th,  1793.  For  a  pedigree  of 
authority,  had  something  to  do  in  directing  Hancock,  prepared  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Whitmore, 
one  to  the  paths  of  eminence.  see  New  Eng.  Hist.  <Sf  Gen.  Reg.,  ix.,  352. 

85 


674  JOSIAH    QUINCY.  GEN.    JOSEPH   WARREN.  [1763. 

Josiah  Quincy,  junior,  was  still  much  younger,  having  been  born 
early  in  1744  ;  notice  of  him  will  be  more  properly  taken  hereafter. 
But  as  he  was  bred  in  that  school  of  Patriots,  many  of  whom  have 
received  a  passing  glance,  it  may  be  but  justice  to  observe,  here,  that 
he  graduated  in  1763,  and,  being  designed  for  the  profession  of  the 
law,  he  pursued  its  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  learned  and  able 
Oxenbridge  Thacher  ;  and,  as  he  attended  closely  upon  the  courts  of 
the  time,  noted  the  arguments  of  those  able  barristers,  Auchmuty, 
Gridley,  Thacher,  Otis,  Adams,  and  others,  he  was,  from  the  first, 
imbued  with  the  lofty  patriotism  of  those  who  advocated  the  cause  of 
independence  ;  and  himself  became  one  of  its  ablest  defenders,  as  may 
hereafter  appear.* 

The  conspicuous  figure  of  Gren.  Joseph  Warren  will  always  rise  in 
the  imagination  whenever  the  American  Revolution  is  mentioned,  or 
the  pages  of  its  history  are  opened.  Due  and  deserved  honors  have 
been  paid  to  his  memory,  which  will  last  when  the  firm  granite  col- 
umn, which  marks  the  spot  where  he  yielded  up  his  life's  blood  in  the 
cause  of  liberty,  shall  have  given  place  to  other  memorials,  perhaps  in 
other  less  sacred  causes.  He  was  born  in  Roxbury,  but  resided  in 
Boston,  where  he  was  a  practising  physician;  and,  though  at  this 
period  he  was  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  took  great  interest 
in  political  affairs,  and  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  in 
the  Town.  His  acts,  like  his  compatriots,  are  a  part  of  the  history  of 
Boston,  and  will  occupy  an  important  place  in  the  sequel. f  The 
same  may  be  said  of  John  Adams,  and  many  others. 

Such  is  a  passing  glance  of  some  of  those  leading  Patriots  who  had 
the  boldness  and  the  firmness  to  stem  the  torrent  of  what  was  then 
generally  believed  a  power  which  could  not  be  resisted  with  even  a 
faint  hope  of  success.  And  when  the  immense  resources  of  that 
power  are  considered,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  many,  even 
stout  hearts,  quailed  at  the  prospect  before  them.  It  was,  indeed, 
literally,  the  rich  against  the  poor ;  strength  against  weakness  ; 
while  equally  true  it  is,  that  it  was  might  against  right ;  a  fact  which 
the  issue  has  long  since  established. 

*  This  was  the  father  of  the  now  venerable  his    family    has    been    printed    by  his   dis- 

Josiah  Quincy,  Senior,  who,  in  1825,  pub-  tinguished  nephew,  John    Collins  Warren, 

lished  a  life  of  his  father  worthy  of  the  great  M.D.,    of  Boston  ;    which   Memoir  contains 

patriot,  and  alike  honorable  to  the  son.     Had  a  most  beautiful  engraving   of  the   General, 

the  Memoir  been  accompanied  by  a  likeness  of  This   work,  it   is  proper   to   state,   was  not 

the  former  (for  we  are  told  that  one  exists) ,  printed   for  sale,  and   the  number  of  copies 

it  would  have  been  a  most  desirable  addition  was  very  limited.     It  is  to  be  hoped  it  will 

to  that  able  performance.  be   republished,   and   in  a  form   for  general 

f  An  elegant  Memorial  of  Gen.  Warren  and  circulation. 


1763.] 


REASONS    FOR   TAXATION. 


675 


CHAPTER    LXVIIL 

Cause  of  Taxing  the  Colonies.  —  A  Stamp  Duty  proposed.  —  Small-Pox.  —  Inoculation. —  Great  Num- 
bers fly  from  the  Town.  —  General  Gourt  removed  to  Concord.  —  Fire  at  Harvard  College.  —  Har- 
vard Hall  and  Library  destroyed.  —  Depressing  News  from  England.  —  Non-importation  Agree- 
ment. —  Mourning  Costume  changed.  —  Habits  of  Economy  adopted.  — Power  of  Parliament  ques- 
tioned. —  Colonial  Representation  in  Parliament  considered.  —  Otis'  "  Rights  of  the  Colonies."  — 
Ellis  Callender. — Thomas  Hancock. — Numerous  Bankruptcies.  —  The  Common. —  Small-Pox 
Hospitals.  —  Beacon  Hill.  —  Sandemanians.  —  Geo.  Whitefield. — Fire.  —  General  Court  meet  in 
Town.  —  Jealousies  in  England.  — Stamp  Act  News  from  there.  — Its  Effect.  —  Stamps  and  Stamp 
Masters.  —  Continental  Congress.  —  Fire.  —  Lightning  Rods  first  used. 


mm 


ADAMS.* 


AFTER  the  fall  of  Canada,  the  Home  Government 
found  itself  laboring  under  a  great  accumulation  of 
debts.  Its  own  immediate  subjects  had  long  groaned 
under  excessive  taxes,  and  it  was  hardly  possible  to 
increase  them  further  without  the  risk  of  insurrections. 
The  Colonies  were  represented  as  prosperous,  and 
they  were  looked  to  with  anxious  eyes  by  the  Eng- 
lish Ministers  as  the  only  source  of  relief.  They  ar- 
gued that  a  large  part  of  their  present  debt  arose  from 
defending  the  Colonies,  and  it  was  just  and  reasona- 
ble that  the  Colonies  should  contribute  to  relieve  the 
Mother  Country.  This  was  indeed  plausible,  but  it 
was  only  a  side  view  of  the  subject.      It  should  have 


*  In  the  New  Eng.  Hist,  and  G.  Reg.  for 
1853,  pages  39 — 45,  is  given  some  account  of 
the  Adams  family  of  Boston,  originally  settled 
at  Braintree,  now  Quincy.  To  this  family 
belonged  Samuel  and  John  Adams,  two  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  the  period  now  en- 
tered upon  in  this  History.  By  a  reference 
to  the  work  above  cited,  it  will  be  seen  that 
Henry  Adams  was  the  first  ancestor  in  New 
England  of  the  two  patriots  here  named,  and 
that  his  ancestry  in  England  is  traced  up, 
through  sixteen  generations,  with  as  much 
particularity,  and  consequently  with  as  much 
certainty,  as  any  pedigrees  appear  to  be,  ex- 
tending over  as  long  a  period. 

Mr.  Burke,  in  his  Royal  Families,  shows 
the  descent  of  a  branch  of  this  family,  now 
represented  by  Edward  Adams,  Esq.,  of  Mid- 
dleton  Hall,  Co.  of  Carmarthen,  from  Ed- 
ward the  Third.  We  learn,  from  the  same 
source,  that  the  ancient  Arms  of  this  family 
are  still  to  be  seen  (as  represented  in  the  above 
engraving)  in  the  upper  part  of  a  Gothic  win- 
dow on  the  south-east  side  of  Tidenham 
church,  near  Chepstow,  County  of  Glouces- 
ter. These  Arms  are  described  :  —  Argent,  on 
a  cross  gules,  five  mullets  of  five  points  or, 
and  were  those  of  Lord  Ab  Adam,  whose 
name  appears  above  the  arms  ($oj)es  Sift  ^D= 
ant.   1310)  in  Gothic  type. 


The  family 
of  Matthew 
Adams   (no- 


ticed  ante,  p.  634)  is  probaby  distinct  from  that 
of  Braintree  ;  at  least,  no  connection  is  yet 
discovered.  Since  the  previous  pages  of  this 
History  were  published,  my  friend,  Wilijam 
G.  Brooks,  Esq.,  has  handed  me  some  extracts 
made  by  him  from  the  MS.  diary  of  Josiah 
Cotton,  of  Plymouth,  which  corrects  the  date 
of  the  death  of  Mr.  Adams,  and  which  extracts 
follow  :  "  Oct.  29th,  1734-5.—  We  hear  that 
Mrs.  Meriel  Cotton,  youngest  daughter  to  my 
brother  Rowland,  is  married,  or  about  to  be 
married,  to  one  Mr.  Adams,  a  merchant  in 
Boston  ;  and  God  render  them  acceptable  one 
to  another,  and  to  y6  people  among  whom  they 
reside  and  build  up  their  house.  Amen." 
"Aug.  19th,  1746-7.— Cousin  Meriel  Ad- 
ams, a  good  woman  and  wife,  died  at  Bos- 
ton, and  left  one  daughter."  "March  2, 
1748-9.  Mr.  Matthew  Adams,  that  married 
my  brother  Rowland's  daughter,  died  at  Bos- 
ton." 

There  will  be  found  in  the  New  Eng.  Hist, 
and  Gen.  Reg.,  vol.  x.  p.  89,  etc.,  a  paper 
upon  the  "  Descendants  of  Matthew  Adams," 
in  which  there  are  considerable  valuable  and 
new  materials.  There  was  a  Matthew  Adams, 
of  Boston,  lost  at  sea  in  1768, 


676  REASONS    FOR    TAXATION.  [1763. 

been  considered  at  the  same  time,  by  those  Ministers,  that  there  was  no 
small  sum  due  to  the  Colonists  for  the  blood  and  treasure  they  had  spent 
in  conquering  a  vast  extent  of  country,  all  of  which  was  added  to  the 
British  Empire  ;  and  they  should  have  entertained  the  question, 
"Where  were  the  Colonists  to  look  for  their  remuneration?"  For 
the  Colonies  to  fight  the  battles  of  the  Mother  Country,  and  then  to  be 
made  to  pay  for  it,  was  the  present  aspect  of  things.  The  people  here 
had  done  their  part  in  conquering  Canada,  and  this,  they  very  rea- 
sonably thought,  should  exempt  them  from  direct  taxation.  They  had 
conquered  Louisbourg,  in  1745,  with  very  small  assistance.  For  this 
service  England  made  them  a  partial  remuneration.  Now  it  was 
different.  All  Canada  had  been  conquered,  and  the  English  govern- 
ment spread  over  it.  This  government  must  be  supported.  The 
Colonists  were  willing  to  pay  for  their  own  government,  even  though 
not  of  their  own  choosing,  but  to  pay  for  the  support  of  another  was, 
to  say  the  least,  of  questionable  justice.  The  people  were  already 
obliged  to  support  a  government  forced  upon  them,  daily  becoming 
more  and  more  expensive.  New  offices  were  created,  and  there  was, 
literally,  a  swarm  of  place-men  pouring  in  upon  them.  The  present 
was  a  great  departure  from  the  simple  days  of  the  old  charter,  when 
those  who  were  to  govern  were  chosen  by  and  from  among  themselves. 
This  state  of  things  never  was,  nor  could  it  ever  be,  agreeable  to  them, 
and  was  only  submitted  to  because  it  could  not  be  successfully  resisted. 
The  numerous  office-holders  being  viewed,  therefore,  as  "  spies  upon 
their  liberties,"  it  is  not  strange  that  whatever  could  be  was  kept 
from  the  knowledge  of  the  Home  Government.  Nor  is  it  a  matter  of 
wonder  that  when  a  census  of  the  Colonies  was  ordered,  it  met  with 
opposition  from  the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature.  When  Gover- 
nor Bernard  brought  the  subject  before  them,  the  true  friends  of  the 
Country,  well  knowing  that  it  was  for  purposes  of  taxation,  directly 
or  indirectly,  managed  to  have  it  postponed  from  one  session  to 
another  for  some  time  ;  but  at  length  a  majority  was  obtained  for  the 
measure.* 

The  ships  which  arrived  from  London,  early  in  May,  brought  the 
"  doings  of  Parliament  relative  to  the  Colonies.  They  were  looked  for 
with  interest,  and  proved  to  be  very  important.  A  committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons  reported  that,  after  the  twenty-ninth  of  Septem- 
ber of  this  year,  instead  of  the  present  duty  upon  molasses  and  syrups, 
one  of  three  pence  sterling  on  the  same  articles  ought  to  be  substi- 
tuted. The  report  was  long,  and  related  entirely  to  the  "  ways  and 
means  for  raising  the  supply  granted  to  His  Majesty."    The  committee 

*  Hutchinson  gives  a  "wrong  impression  re-  discover   them,   to   the   disadvantage   of    the 

specting   this   matter,  to   my  apprehension  ;  Province  ;    others,  and  not  a  few,  seemed  to 

intimating  that   the   opposition   to   it   arose  have   religious  scruples,  and   compared  it  to 

from  a  jealousy  of  something  which  they  could  David's  numbering  the  people, ' ' —  Hist.  Mass. 

not  discover.     "  Some  suspected  that  it  was  Bay,  iii.  104.     This  is  a  direct  charge  of  ig- 

required  for  purposes,  though  they  could  not  norance  by  that  Historian. 


17  04.]  small-pox.  G77 

also  "Resolved  that  it  was  their  opinion  that,  towards  further  de- 
fraying the  neqessary  expenses  of  defending,  protecting  and  securing 
these  Colonies  and  Plantations,  it  may  be  proper  to  charge  certain 
Stamp  Duties  in  the  said  Colonics  and  Plantations." 

Here  was  created  a  new  cause  of  alarm.  The  Duties  on  some  arti- 
cles were  proposed  to  be  reduced,  and  at  .the  same  time,  though  under 
another  name,  they  were  to  bo  demanded  upon  others. 

The  year  1764  was  one  of  great  depression  to  the  Town,  occasioned 
by  the  Small-Pox.     As  yet  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any 
proper  system  adopted  for  its  management,  and  inoculation  had  its 
opponents,  singular   as  that  may  seem.      Early  in  January, 
Governor  Bernard  issued  a  proclamation,  forbidding  inocula- 
tion until  the  Selectmen  should  give  notice  that  all  means  to  prevent 
the  spreading  of  the  pestilence  were  like  to  prove  ineffectual,  or  till 
they  should  give  permission  for  persons  to  be  inoculated.     About  ten 
Jan.  19.     days  later,  the  Selectmen  advertised  that  the  distemper  was 
26.    in  fourteen  families  ;*  and  a  week  later,  that  it  was  in  eleven  ; 
that  flags  were  kept  suspended  from  those  houses,  as  a  warning  to  such 
as  were  liable  to  take  the  infection. 

The   small-pox  continued  to  spread,  and  great  alarm  pre- 
vailed.     People  were  constantly  flying  from  the  town  in  vari- 
ous directions.      Many  of  the  merchants  and  traders  removed  their 
goods  into  the  country,  opened  stores  in  private  houses,  and  there 
advertised  them  for  sale.f     These  persons  were  probably  generally 

*  "  All  of  which  were  in  Fish-street,  near  the  sign  of  the  Half  Moon,  near  the  Meeting- 

where  the  first  person  who  had  it  dwelt  ;  ex-  house."     He  had  "  New  England  rum  by  the 

cept  Mr.  Lebrees,  by  the   Rev.   Mr.   Eliot's  hogshead,   barrel,   or   less    quantity,   TV.    I. 

meeting-house  :  Mr.  Hall's,  in  Paddy's  Alley,  goods,"    &c.      Thomas    Handasyd   Peck   re- 

to  the  northward  of  Mill-bridge  ;   Mrs.  Jer-  moved  his  hats  and  furs  to  Koxbury.     Ezekiel 

vis's,  near  the  North  Battery  ;  Mr.  Pease's,  Lewis,  Jr.,  went  to  the  same  town,  "  at  the 

at  the  head  of  Mr.  Gray's  ropewalk."     The  Upper  end,  commonly  called  Spring-street,  in 

"first  person,"  mentioned  above,  was  Capt.  the  house  of   Ebenezer  Whiting."      Besides 

Joseph  Bulkley,  who  died  of  the  small-pox  English  goods,  Mr.   Lewis  sold  powder  and 

Jan.  2d.    He  arrived  from  Newfoundland  some  shot,  W.   I.  goods,   &c.      Theophilus  Lillie, 

time  previous.     His  was  the  only  case  in  town  with  a  similar   assortment,  set  down  "near 

at  the  time  of  his  death.  Milton  Meeting-house."   Thomas  Knight,  who 

f  Samuel  Blodget  fled  to  Medford,  "to  a  kept  at  the  "Sign  of  the  Three  Kings"  in 
house  nigh  the  south  side  of  the  Bridge,"  with  Cornhill,  said  "  he  had  no  one  in  his  family 
his  broadcloths  and  W.  I.  goods;  Joshua  to  have  the  small-pox,"  and  would  sell  his 
Blanchard,  to  Watertown  Bridge,  where  he  W.  I.  and  English  goods  where  he  was.  Rich- 
opened  his  English  goods,  7  by  9  and  8  by  10  ard  and  Samuel  Draper,  who  printed  the 
glass,  &c.  ;  William  Greenleaf  to  Watertown,  Mass.  Gazette  and  News-Letter,  in  Newbury- 
also,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Saltmarsh.  He  had  street,  gave  notice,  on  the  1st  of  March,  that 
English  goods  and  "a  few  Boston  Lottery  "the  small-pox  was  in  no  house  nigh  the 
Tickets."  Stephen  Deblois,  Jr.,  fled  to  Ded-  Printing  Office  of  the  printers  thereof."  Wm. 
ham,  and  got  into  the  house  of  the  Old  Alma-  Blair  Townsend,  at  the  "  Sign  of  the  Three 
nack-maker,  Dr.  Ames.  He  had  a  great  Doves,"  said,  "  as  no  person  would  have  the 
assortment,  "  too  numerous  to  mention,"  from  small-pox  in  his  house,  and  he  should  be  care- 
fowling-pieces  to  violin-strings,  "  as  cheap  as  ful  of  going  where  it  was,"  people  might  come 
in  Boston."  Gilbert  Deblois  did  not  stop  to  his  shop,  "  through  the  Common,"  without 
short  of  Weston,  with  his  large  stock  of  hard-  danger.  But  "  Stephen  Cleverly  &  Co."  would 
ware,  and  had  "  a  commodious  shop  and  store  not  risk  it,  and  went  to  Dedham,  and  opened 
adjoining  the  house  of  Mr.  Josiah  Smith,  inn-  their  W.  I.  and  English  goods  close  by  Sarnu- 
holder,  on  the  Great  Road  to  Worcester,  at  el  Dexter,  Esq.     Ralph  lnman  went  to  Wal- 


678  FIRE   AT    HARVARD    COLLEGE.  [1764. 

such  as  had  not  had  the  small-pox.  And,  on  the  other  hand,  persons 
in  the  country,  who  had  not  had  it  (who  were  a  great  majority),  would 
not  venture  into  town.  Hence,  business  was  almost  at  an  end.  This 
state  of  things  lasted  about  three  months.  But  by  the  beginning  of 
April  there  was  such  general  confidence  in  inoculation,  that  in  the 
previous  five  weeks  near  4000  persons  received  it ;  of  which  number 
only  about  one  in  a  thousand  died.  People  flocked  in  from  New 
Hampshire,  and  even  from  Connecticut,  to  forestall  the  small-pox  by 
this  practice. 

10       The  Governor  issued  a  Proclamation,  proroguing  the  General 
Court,  which  was  to  have  met  in  Boston  on  the  28th  of  March, 
to  meet  in  Concord  on  the  18th  of  April,  "there  being  nothing  in 
prospect  for  his  Majesty's  immediate  service." 

Mar  12  ^  ^e  Town-meeting,  James  Otis  was  Moderator,  and 
'  Joshua  Henshaw,  Joseph  Jackson,  John  Scollay,  Benjamin 
Austin,  Samuel  Sewall,  Nathaniel  Thwing,  and  John  Ruddock,  were 
chosen  Selectmen.  David  Jeffries  was  Town  Treasurer. 
M  99  The  Treasurer  of  the  Province  gave  notice,  on  the  twenty- 
J'  second  of  March,  that  as  it  was  probable  the  town  would  be 
generally  infected  in  a  few  days,  and  it  would  be  hazardous  for  any 
persons  to  come  in,  he  would  keep  his  office  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
Greaton,  in  Roxbury,  innholder,  where  dues  to  the  Province  might  be 
paid. 

9r  A  distressing  fire  occurred  at  Cambridge  on  the  25th  of 
January.  It  was  discovered  soon  after  twelve  o'clock,  in  the 
morning,  in  what  was  then  called  the  Old  College,  or  Harvard  Hall, 
which  was  entirely  consumed,  together  with  the  Library,  and  the  ex- 
tensive Philosophical  Apparatus.  Stoughton  and  Massachusetts  Halls 
were  preserved  from  the  flames  with  great  difficulty,  they  having 
been  on  fire  several  times.  The  fire  was  supposed  to  have  originated 
under  the  hearth  (which  was  laid  upon  timber),  as  it  had  been  kept 
up  for  a  week  or  more  for  the  accommodation  of  the  General  Court 
then  sitting  there.*  Harvard  Hall  was  four  stories  high,  ninety- 
seven  feet  in  length,  forty-two  in  breadth,  and  had  been  built  almost 
one  hundred  years. f 

Although  the  General  Court  were  burnt  out,  no  notice  of  it  appears 
in  their  journals  ;  nor  does  there  appear  to  have  been  any  interruption 
in  the  business  of  the  session, J  which  was  continued  in  the  house  of 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Bradish. 

tham,  and  so  did  Herman  Brimmer.    Richard  room  of  the   College  was   occupied   by   the 

Salter  removed  to   Watertown,  and  Powers  Governor  and  Council,  and  the  Representatives 

Marriott  to  Milton,  "  beyond  Milton  Bridge,  had  a  room  below. 

over  against  Col.  Gooch's  house."     He  sold        f  It  was  erected  in  1672.     See  Mass.  Gaz. 

English  and  India  goods.    These  are  all  I  have  and  News-Letter,  26th  Jan.,  1764.    Mr.  Quin- 

space  to  mention.  cy  has  been  minute  in  his  account  of  this  con- 

*  They  had  been  driven   from   the   Town  flagration,  in  his  Hist.  Har.  Col.,  ii.  112-13. 
Hall  in  Boston  by  the  small-pox.   The  library-        J  There  is,  indeed,  this  entry  on  the  26th 


1704.]  NON-IMl'ORTATION    AGREEMENT.  '  679 

Boston  had  not  emerged  from  one  trouble  before  another  was  upon 
it.  Amidst  the  small-pox  distress,  frequent  advices  were  received 
from  England,  that  oppressive  taxes  and  restrictions  were  laid,  or  to 
be  laid,  on  the  Colonies  ;  and,  worst  of  all,  that  some  persons,  brought 
up  and  educated  in  Boston,  were  movers  of  the  oppression.*  To  this 
effect  wrote  a  gentleman  in  London  to  another  in  New  York. 
He  said  "he  could  write  nothing  agreeable;  that  there 
would  soon  be  sent  over  a  parcel  of  Marmadonian  ravens,  who  would 
rip  up  and  feed  upon  the  very  vitals  of  the  people  ;  such  as  officers  of 
stamp  duties,  appraisers  of  lands,  furniture  and  other  goods  ;  and  that 
the  Ministry  were  determined  to  make  the  Colonists  pay  for  the  peace 
which  they  liked  so  well." 

Such  intelligence,  with  the  news  of  the  arrival  of  several  Lieuten- 
ants of  the  Navy,f  to  command  cutters  on  the  coast,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  see  that  the  Custom  House  was  not  defrauded,  was  exceedingly 
alarming,  especially  to  the  commercial  part  of  the  people. 

With  these  prospects  before  them,  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton decided  upon  a  non-importation  system,  and  a  non-consumption 
of  articles  on  which  heavy  duties  were  laid.  It  was  the  practice  then, 
as  it  is  at  this  day,  to  dress  in  black  clothes  on  mourning  occasions. 
It  was  decided  to  discontinue  such  dresses,  and  the  custom  of  wearing 
black  on  those  solemn  occasions  was  generally  laid  aside.  |  An  agree- 
ment to  this  effect  was  drawn .  up  and  very  generally  signed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  also  by  some  members  of  the  Council  and 
Representatives^  This  would  affect  the  sales  of  English  goods,  and 
none  were  to  be  purchased  but  at  fixed  prices.  At  the  same  time 
another  agreement  was  very  extensively  signed,  to  eat  no  lamb-flesh 
during  the  year.  This  was  to  increase  the  sheep  in  the  country,  and 
consequently  to  encourage  the  manufacture  of  woollen  goods,  which 
were  imported  from  England  in  large  quantities. 

following:  —  "Whereas,   the    Files   of  the  which  he  says  they  are  well  able  to  pay  ;  and 

General  Court,   and  the  Minutes  of  Council,  he  was  heard  by  the  House  with  great  joy  and 

for  the  present  Session,  are  consumed  by  fire,  attention."  —  Letter  from  London,   7th  Feb. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  and  paid  out  1764. 

of  the  publick  Treasury  all  such  grants  and  f  Six  of  those  officers  arrived  at  New  York 

allowances  as  shall  appear  upon  the  Journal  in   the  Juno  frigate,  on  the  29th  of  March, 

of  the  House  to  have  been  made  by  them  be-  viz.  :     Thos.  Langham,    Thos.    Allen,   Kobt. 

fore  the  25th  instant,  and  which  shall  not  ap-     Dugdale, Candler,  Thos.  Hill,  and  Ralph 

pear  to  have  been  non-concurred  by  the  Board,  Dundass. 

or  refused  by  the  Governor,  and  for  which  J  The  only  sign  made  use  of  was  a  piece  of 

warrants  have  not  been  already  issued." —  black  crape  about  the  hat,  which  was  in  use 

Journal  House  Rep .,  227 '.  before,  and  a   piece   of  the   same   stuff  tied 

*  "  What  is  most  unlucky  for  us  is,  there  around  the  arm. 
is  one  Mr.  Huske,  who  understands  America  §  The  Rhode  Islanders  came  heartily  into 
very  well,  and  has  lately  got  a  seat  in  the  this  arrangement.  One  of  them  wrote,  at  New- 
House  of  Commons  ;  but,  instead  of  standing  port :  "As  we  have  always  manifested  a  great 
an  advocate  for  his  injured  country  (for  he  is  attachment  to  Boston  fashions,  however  ridicu- 
an  American  born,  and  educated  in  Boston),  lous  and  extravagant,  it  is  to  be  hoped  we  shall 
he  has  officiously  proposed,  in  the  House  of  not  show  an  aversion  to  such  as  are  decent, 
Commons,  to  lay  a  tax  on  the  Colonies,  which  reputable,  and  prudent;  but  that  we  shall 
will  amount  to  £500,000  per  annum,  sterling,  cheerfully  join  in  the  above  resolutions." 


680  POWER    OF   PARLIAMENT    QUESTIONED.  [1764. 

As  yet  it  was  not  generally  agreed  that  Parliament  had  not  the 
right  to  tax  the  Colonies  ;  but  it  was  agreed  that  if  Parliament  exer- 
cised that  power,  the  people  had  a  right  not  to  use  the  goods  taxed 
with  duties. 

Through  the  teachings  of  such  men  as  Otis  and  Adams,  the  people 
soon  became  very  strong  in  the  belief  that  any  kind  of  taxation,  with- 
out representation,  was  arbitrary,  illegal,  and  liable  to  the  grossest 
abuses  ;  and  in  England  the  same  doctrine  was  not  seriously  denied. 
A  few,  indeed,  advocates  of  despotism,  had  the  hardihood  to  aver  that 
the  Colonists  had  no  rights,  except  what  the  Crown  or  Parliament 
might  think  proper  to  grant  them.  But  when  the  Ministry  saw  the 
stand  made  by  the  Bostonians,  they  began  to  think  there  would  trouble 
arise  in  levying  taxes,  unless  the  question  of  representation  should  be 
disposed  of  satisfactorily  to  the  party  complaining  of  the  grievance. 
They  therefore  were  about  to  propose,  or  did  in  fact  propose,  that  the 
Colonies  might  send  Representatives  to  Parliament.  But  before  any 
actual  decision  was  arrived  at  in  England,  the  leaders  in  Boston  had 
discovered,  and  not  only  discovered  but  avowed  openly,  that  Parlia- 
ment had  no  right  to  tax  the  people  here  at  all.  Hence,  the  Mother 
Country  was  placed  in  a  truly  awkward  position.  It  must  give  up  its 
pretended  right,  or  attempt  to  maintain  it.  Here  was  a  dilemma,  out 
of  which  a  deliverance  only  by  the  sword  was  eventually  effected. 

Mr.  Otis  published,  early  in  the  year,  his  "Rights  of  the  British 
Colonies  Vindicated."  In  that  he  did  not  claim  an  exemption  of  the 
Colonies  from  parliamentary  taxation.  His  language  upon  the  point, 
however,  is  somewhat  equivocal ;  and  he  laid  great  stress  upon  the 
inseparability  of  representation  and  taxation. 

However,  the  idea  had  pretty  extensively  taken  root,  before  the  end 
of  this  year,  that  the  way  to  make  the  King's  taxes  under  the  name 
of  duties  lightly  felt  was  to  make  little  use  of  the  articles  on  which 
such  duties  were  laid.  Encouraging  letters  were  received  in  Boston, 
from  people  of  several  other  Colonies,*  approving  of  the  course  they 
had  entered  upon.  An  occasion,  though  a  melancholy  one,  soon  pre- 
sented itself,  when  the  swarm  of  Custom  House  and  other  officers  of 
the  Crown  had  an  opportunity  to  see  that  the  Non-consumption  Agree- 
ment lately  entered  into  might  amount  to  something  more  than  they 
had  anticipated.  The  occasion  referred  to  was  the  funeral  of  Mr. 
Ellis  Callender,f  which  was  conducted  conformably  to  that  Agreement, 
"  by  a  great  number  of  respectable  inhabitants."  The  corpse  was 
placed  in  a  very  plain  coffin,  and  followed  to  the  grave  by  a  long  train 
of  mourners,  "without  any  sort  of  mourning  at  all.  Mr.  Andrew 
Hall,  the  chief  mourner,  appeared  in  his  usual  habit,  with  a  crape 
round  his  arm,  and  his  wife,  who  was  sister  and  nearest  relation  to 

_  *  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  and  Pennsylva-         f  He  was  a  son  of  the  late  Piev.  Mr.  Elisha 
uia.  Callender,  of  the  Baptist  Society. 


1764.] 


THOMAS    HANCOCK. 


681 


the  deceased,  with  no  other  token  of  mourning  than  a  black  bonnet, 
gloves,  ribbons,  and  handkerchief.,"  The  funeral  was  attended  "  by  a 
large  procession  of  merchants  and  gentlemen  of  figure,  as  a  testimony 
of  their  approbation  of  this  piece  of  economy,  and  as  a  mark  of  their 
esteem  for  a  family  who  have  shown  virtue  enough  to  break  a  custom 
too  long  established,  and  which  has  proved  ruinous  to  many  families 
in  the  community."* 

This  was,  perhaps,  the  first  public  demonstration  of  the  determina- 
tion of  the  people  of  Boston  to  carry  out  the  views  expressed  in  the 
late  Agreement.  There  was  a  much  greater  funeral  occasion  but  a 
little  more  than  a  month  before  this  of  Mr.  Callender's,  but  the  time 
for  a  demonstration  had  not  then  arrived,  or  the  individual  of  the  occa- 
sion did  not  warrant  such  an  exhibition  of  opposition  to  taxation  prin- 
ciples. 

The  individual  occasion  referred  to  was  the  funeral  of  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Hancock,  "  one  of  His    Majesty's    Council."     He   died  of 

apoplexy  on  the  first  day  of  August, 
"  about  three  of  the  clock  in  the 
afternoon,  having  been  seized  about 
noon  of  the  same  day,  just  as  he  was 
entering  the  Council  Chamber."  He 
was  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his 
age,  "  and  was  one  of  the  most  noted 
merchants  in  New  England."!  He 
was  the  first  American  to  found  a 
jj|*^  professorship  of  any  kind  in  this 
country. 

But  the  practice  of  wearing  ex- 
pensive mourning- dresses  was  soon 
very  generally  laid  aside.  Other 
funerals,    which  soon   after   followed 


HANCOCK  HOUSE. 


*  Gazette  and  News-Letter. 

t  He  was  buried  on  the  following  Monday, 
August  6th,  "  with  great  respect."  He  was 
son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Hancock,  of  Lex- 
ington, and  was  born  there  July  13th,  1703  ; 
being  sent  to  Boston  early  in  life  to  learn  the 
business  of  stationer,  etc.,  which  business  he 
left  for  a  more  extensive  field  of  mercantile 
enterprise.     "  His   house  was  the  seat  of  hos- 


pitality, where  all  his  numerous  acquaintances 
and  strangers  of  distinction  met  with  an 
open  and  elegant  reception."  He  was  boun- 
tiful to  the  poor,  and  what  added  to  such 
bounties  was  their  being  privately  made.  By 
his  will  he  gave  £1,000  sterling  for  the 
founding   of  a  professorship    of  the   Oriental 

86 


languages  in  Harvard  College  ;  £1,000,  law- 
ful money,  to  the  Society  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel  among  the  Indians;  £600  to  the 
Town  of  Boston  towards  an  Insane  Hospital, 
and  £200  to  the  Society  for  carrying  on  the 
Linen  Manufactory.  But,  "  having  no  issue, 
he  left  the  bulk  of  his  estate  to  his  nephew, 
Mr.  John  Hancock,  eldest  son  of  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  [John]  Hancock,  of  Braintree." 
His  wife,  as  mentioned  in  a 
previous  note,  p.  648,  was 
Lydia  Henchman.  The  once 
splendid  mansion  in  Beacon- 
street,  yet  standing,  was  built 
by  the  Hon.  Thomas  Hancock, 
and  which,  as  my  friend  N.  I.  Bowditch 
informs  me,  was  finished  in  1737.  He  pur- 
chased the  lot  on  which  it  stands  in  1735. 
Our  artist,  Mr.  Kilburn,  made  a  drawing  on 
the  spot,  of  which  the  annexed  engraving  is  an 
exact  copy.  How  long  will  modern  improve- 
ments allow  the  "  Hancock  House  "  to  remain? 


682  RUIN    OF    BUSINESS. BANKRUPTCIES.  [1704. 

that  of  Mr.  Calender's,  were  conducted  in  the  same  manner  in  which 
his  was,  in  respect  to  mourning  garments.  It  was  now  further  pro- 
posed "  to  give  no  other  gloves  than  are  of  the  manufacture  of  the 
country,  in  lieu  of  white  ones,  that  are  seldom  drawn  on  a  second  time." 
It  was  suggested  to  the  glovers  that,  "  it  might  not  be  amiss  if  some 
peculiar  mark  of  distinction  were  put  upon  them,  as  a  bow  and  arrow, 
or  pine  tree,*  instead  of  the  usual  stitching  on  the  back."  And  "  a 
great  number  of  the  respectable  tradesmen  of  the  Town  came  into  a 
resolution  to  wear  nothing  but  leather  for  their  working  habits  for 
the  future,  and  that  to  be  only  of  the  manufacture  of  this  Govern- 
ment." 

The  course  of  the  Government,  and  the  determined  stand  made  by 
the  people,  had  a  ruinous  effect  on  the  business  of  Boston  and  its  vicin- 
ity, and  innumerable  bankruptcies  were  the  consequence  ;  a  catalogue 
of  the  names  alone  of  those  who  became  bankrupts  would  make  a 
formidable  portion  of  the  whole  community,  embracing  names  connected 
with  all  branches  of  business,  and  almost  every  family  ;  and,  for  a 
long  period,  the  newspapers  are  nearly  filled  with  advertisements  of 
insolvent  estates.  Debtors,  then,  to  avoid  being  thrown  into  loath- 
some prisons,  were  compelled  to  abscond  or  keep  themselves  concealed. 
Women  as  well  as  men  were  obliged  to  resort  to  the  same  humiliating 
means,  the  better  to  enable  them  to  contend  with  misfortune. 

But  amidst  all  the  trials  to  which  the  people  were  subjected  during 
this  period,  the  consequence  of  the  Schools  of  Boston  is  strikingly 
observable.  Booksellers  flourished,  newspapers  increased,  and  a  Cir- 
culating Library  of  above  twelve  hundred  volumes  was  established.! 
The  most  extensive  bookseller  of  that  day  in  Boston  was  the  propri- 
etor of  this  Circulating  Library.  A  few  months  later  his  advertise- 
ment of  books,  "just  imported,"  covers  an  entire  page  of  the 
Massachusetts  Gazette,  in  which  he  says  his  stock  comprised  "  above 
ten  thousand  volumes,"  which  would  be  more  for  the  Town  then,  than 
a  stock  of  150,000  is  at  this  time  (1855). 

M  The    gentlemen    chosen   to   serve  as  Eepresentatives  in  the 

General  Court  this  year  were  the  same  as  last  year ;  namely, 

Royall    Tyler,    James    Otis,  Jr.,  Thomas    Cushing,   and    Oxenbridge 

Thacher,  Esquires.     Elaborate  Instructions  for  their  government  were 

*  The  lofty,  majestic,  and  useful  pine  was  Fleeming,  before  noticed,  was  the   proprietor, 

always  an  object  of  great    regard.     Whoever  It  was  opened  about    the  7th    of  November, 

has  paused    beneath  its  lofty  branches,  when  1765.     In  his  advertisement    Mr.   Mein   says 

swayed    by  tempests,  and  in  a  primitive  wil-  he  was  influenced   to    undertake   it  "by  the 

derness,  as  the  writer    has,  will  never  forget  repeated   request  of  a  number  of  gentlemen, 

a  feeling  which  no  other  occasion  can  produce  the    friends  of  literature."     It   was  kept  at 

in  the  mind.  the  London  Bookstore  [late  Rivington  &  Mil- 

But  what  "  Robert  Hall,  gardener,"  wanted  ler's],  second   door  above  the  British  Coffee- 

of  a    great    quantity  of  "  pine-tree  seeds   of  House,  north    side     of   King-street.     Yearly 

different   sorts,"    for  which    he   at   this  time  subscribers  to  pay  £1  8s.,  Quarterly,  10s.  Sd., 

advertised,  is  not  within  the  knowledge  of  the  in  advance.    He  had  a  printed  catalogue  of  his 

writer.     He   said    he  wanted    ten   pounds  of  library.     He  took  the  side  of  royalty,  and  was 

that    commodity,  "  more  or  less,"  and  would  one  of  the  very  few  who  would  not  come  into 

pay  a  dollar  a  pound  for  it,  "at  his  house,  the  non-importation  arrangement,  and  was  ad- 

the  head  of  Long-lane  "  (Federal-street).  vertised  by  the  Liberty  party.     He  came  from 

f  John    Mein,   of  the    late  firm  of  Mein  &  Scotland,  with  Mr.  Robt.  Sundeinan,  in  1764. 


17G4.]  INSTRUCTIONS   TO    REPRESENTATIVES.  683 

drawn  up  by  a  Committee*  appointed  by  the  Town.  Such  Instructions 
were  common,  and  drawn  with  much  ability.  They  were  entered 
at  length  upon  the  Records.  The  following  passages  from  those 
at  this  time,  are  a  very  important  part  of  the  History  of  the  Town. 
They  commence  by  observing  to  those  gentlemen  that  their  election 
was  a  strong  testimony  of  the  inhabitants  to  their  integrity  and  ca- 
pacity ;  that  they  expected  from  them  their  "  power  and  influence  in 
maintaining  the  invaluable  rights  and  priviloges  of  the  Province,  of 
which  tins  Town  was  so  great  a  part,  as  well  those  rights  which  were 
derived  to  them  by  the  Royal  Charter,  as  those  which,  being  prior  to 
and  independent  on  it,  they  held  essential  as  free-born  subjects  of 
Great  Britain."  These  Instructions  continue  :  "  You  will  endeavor, 
as  far  as  you  shall  be  able,  to  preserve  that  independence  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  which  characterizes  a  free  people  ;  and  the  want 
of  which  may,  in  a  great  measure,  prevent  the  happy  effects  of  a  free 
government.  Cultivating,  as  you  shall  have  opportunity,  that  har- 
mony and  union  there,  which  is  ever  desirable  to  good  men,  when 
founded  in  principles  of  virtue  and  public  spirit ;  and  guarding  against 
any  undue  weight  which  may  tend  to  disadjust  that  critical  balance 
upon  which  our  happy  Constitution  and  the  blessings  of  it  do  depend. 
And  for  this  purpose  we  particularly  recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your 
endeavors  to  have  a  law  passed,  whereby  the  seats  of  such  gentlemen 
as  shall  accept  of  posts  of  profit  from  the  Crown,  or  the  Governor, 
while  they  are  members  of  the  House,  shall  be  vacated,  agreeable  to 
an  Act  of  the  British  Parliament,  till  their  constituents  shall  have 
the  opportunity  of  reelecting  them  if  they  please,  or  returning  others 
in  their  room.  You  will  have  a  special  regard  to  the  morals  of  the 
people,  which  are  the  basis  of  public  happiness  ;  and  endeavor  to  have 
such  laws  made,  if  any  are  still  wanting,  as  shall  be  best  adapted  to 
secure  them  ;  and  we  particularly  desire  you  carefully  to  look  into  the 
laws  of  Excise,  that,  if  the  virtue  of  the  people  is  endangered  by  the 
multiplicity  of  oaths  therein  enjoined,  or  their  trade  and  business  is 
unreasonably  impeded  or  embarrassed  thereby,  the  grievance  may  be 
redressed." 

Those  Instructions  further  propose  that,  "  as  the  Province  still  lies 
under  a  very  grievous  burthen  of  debt,"  occasioned  by  the  war  with 
France,  frugality  should  be  strongly  recommended  as  one  means  of 
lessening  the  public  debt ;  and  that  the  necessity  of  continuing  gar- 
risons on  the  eastern  frontier  should  be  inquired  into,  as  it  was  now 
"  a  time  of  profound  peace  ;  the  French  being  totally  subdued,  and 
there  being  hardly  any  remains  of  the  Indian  tribes  left  ever  again  to 
give  annoyance."!  They  continue  :  "  Our  trade  has  for  a  long  time 
labored  under  great  discouragements  ;  and  it  is  with  the  deepest  con- 
cern that  we  see  such  further  difficulties  coming  upon  it  as  will  reduce 

*It  consisted  of  Richard  Dana,  Samuel  f  Governor  Bernard  was  of  a  different  opin- 
Adains,  John  Ruddock,  Nathaniel  Bethune,  ion.  See  his  message  at  Concord,  31  May,  of 
and  Joseph  Green,  Esquires.  this  year. 


684  CONSEQUENCES    OF    ARBITRARY   TAXATION.  [1764. 

it  to  the  lowest  ebb,  if  not  totally  obstruct  and  ruin  it.  We  cannot 
help  expressing  our  surprise,  that,  when  so  early  notice  was  given  by 
the  Agent  of  the  intentions  of  the  Ministry  to  burthen  us  with  new 
taxes,  so  little  regard  was  had  to  this  most  interesting  matter,  that  the 
Court  was  not  even  called  together  to  consult  about  it  till  the  latter  end 
of  the  year  ;  the  consequence  of  which  was  that  the  instructions  could 
not  be  sent  to  the  Agent,  though  solicited  by  him,  till  the  evil  had  got 
beyond  an  easy  remedy.  We  therefore  expect  that  you  will  use  your 
earliest  endeavors  in  the  General  Assembly  that  such  methods  may  be 
taken  as  will  effectually  prevent  these  proceedings  against  us." 

The  Instructions  then  proceed  to  show,  by  close  and  cogent  reason- 
ing, "  that  such  severities  will  prove  detrimental  to  Great  Britain 
itself.  But  what  still  heightens  our  apprehensions  is,"  they  say, 
"  that  those  unexpected  proceedings  may  be  preparatory  to  new  tax- 
ations upon  us.  For,  if  our  trade  may  be  taxed,  why  not  our  lands  ? 
Why  not  the  produce  of  our  lands,*  and  everything  we  possess  or  make 
use  of?  This  we  apprehend  annihilates  our  Charter  right  to  govern 
and  tax  ourselves.  It  strikes  at  our  British  privileges,  which,  as  we 
have  never  forfeited  them,  we  hold  in  common  with  our  fellow-subjects, 
who  are  natives  of  Britain.  If  taxes  are  laid  upon  us  in  any  shape, 
without  our  having  a  legal  representation  where  they  are  made,  are  we 
not  reduced  from  the  character  of  free  subjects  to  the  miserable  state  of 
tributary  slaves  ?  "  * 

These  and  the  other  Instructions,  given  from  time  to  time  by  the 
Town  to  their  representatives,  embody  the  grievances,  not  only  of  Bos- 
ton, but  of  the  whole  country. 

According  to  the  annual  custom,  the  Town  proceeded  to  fix 
the  salaries  of  the  School-masters.  Mr.  John  Lovel,  of  the 
South  Grammar  School,  120  pounds  ;  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall,  of  the  North 
Grammar  School,  100  pounds  ;  Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke,  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen-street,  eighty  ;  Mr.  John  Proctor,  of  the  same  school, 
100  ;  Mr.  John  Tileston,  of  the  North  Writing-School,  100  ;  Abia 
Holbrook,  of  the  Writing  School  on  the  Common,  100  ;  Mr.  James 
Lovel,  Usher  to  the  South  Grammar  School,  sixty  ;  Mr.  Ephraim  Lang- 
don,  Usher  in  the  North  Grammar  School,  sixty  ;  and  Mr.  John  Vinal, 
Usher  in  the  Writing  School  in  the  Common,  fifty  pounds. 

The  price  of  committing  depredations  on  the  Common  was  very  low ; 
or  but  a  very  small  reward  was  offered  by  the  Selectmen  for  the  detec- 
tion of  those  who  committed  them,  notwithstanding  they  say  "  the 
Town  has  suffered  considerable  damage  from  persons  passing  over  it 
with  horses  and  carriages,  and  breaking  down  the  rails  and  enclosures." 
Two  dollars  was  the  reward  tendered  ! 

M  It  was  complained  of,  as  a  great  grievance,  that  people  from 

other  towns  obtruded  themselves  into  this  to  be  inoculated  for 

*  James  Otis  uses  the  same  language  in  lished  on  the  23d  of  July  of  this  year.  Hence 
his  "Rights  of  the  British  Colonists  Vindi-  he  probably  adopted  the  language  of  the  ln- 
cated,"  before  noticed.     That  work  was  pub-   structions  purposely. 


17G4.]  BEACON   HILL.  685 

the  small-pox,  when  the  Selectmen  were  using  all  their  exertions  to 
clear  the  Town  of  the  distemper.  They  therefore  ordered  the  inhabitants 
to  give  them  notice  when  any  such  intruders  appeared.  They  at  the 
same  time  gave  notice  that  the  period  for  inoculating  in  the  Town  was 
now  ended.  The  physicians*  also  gave  notice  that  they  had  removed 
their  inoculating  Hospital  from  Castle  William  to  Noddle's  Island,  at 
the  mansion-house  where  Hubert  Temple,  Esq.,  had  lately  resided  ; 
"  which  contained  elegant  rooms,  suitable  for  the  reception  of  persons 
of  the  first  condition."  One  of  the  physicians,  Dr.  Gelston,  to  reside 
constantly  on  the  island,  and  the  others  were  to  attend  when  desired. 
Dr.  Barnet  continued  to  reside  at  the  hospital  at  Point  Shirley.  There 
were  supposed  to  be  "  more  down  with  the  small-pox,  in  the  natural 
way,  than  there  has  been  or  will  be  this  season." 

On  account  of  the  prevalence  of  the  contagion,  it  was  decided  not 
to  have  any  Election  Sermon  this  year,f  although  a  gentleman  had  been 
elected  to  deliver  one  as  usual. J 

Up  to  this  time  Beacon  Hill  had  probably  suffered  very  little  dimi- 
nution in  height ;  the  people  of  the  Town  appear  to  have  looked  upon 
it  as  among  the  natural  objects  to  be  preserved  and  transmitted  unim- 
paired to  other  ages.  But  there  was  a  certain  owner  of  a  small  tract 
of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill,  who,  having  a  right,  as  he  be- 
lieved, to  dig  up  his  ground  to  any  extent  he  pleased,  in  pr<|secution 
of  that  right  had  jeopardized  the  very  existence  of  this  famous 
eminence.  The  individual  in  question  was  named  Thomas  Hodson. 
He  was  reasoned  with  by  the  Selectmen,  but  they  could  not  succeed  in 
dissuading  him  from  persisting  in  digging  gravel  on  his  lot,  to  the  gen- 
eral damage  of  the  Town,  and  the  particular  damage  of  Beacon 
Hill.  The  subject  was  therefore  brought  up  in  Town-meeting, 
and  a  Committee  was  raised  to  take  Thomas  Hodson  and  his  digging 
gravel  into  consideration.  Accordingly,  Thomas  Hancock,  William 
Phillips,  Joseph  Sherburne,  Joshua  Henshaw,  and  James  Otis,  Esquires, 
were  appointed  to  serve  as  such  committee.  They  accepted  the 
appointment,  and  a  few  days  after  reported  that  the  said  Thomas 
Hodson  would  dig  ground  on  his  lot,  and  had  dug  to  that  extent  that 
the  said  hill  was  in  very  great  danger  of  being  destroyed,  and  that 
there  was  no  prospect  of  the  Town  being  able  to  buy  him  off.  That  is 
to  say,  he  would  not  sell  his  land  to  the  Town.  That  they  saw  no  way 
to  prevent  the  destruction  of  Beacon  Hill  without  the  interposition  of 

*Tliey  -were  N.  Perkins,  M.  Whitworth,  J.  f  There  appeared  this  announcement  in  the 

Lloyd,   S.   Gelston,    and   J.  Warren.      There  Gazette  and  News-Letter  of  the  24th  of  May, 

were  besides  them,  practising  in  Boston,  Doc-  relative  to  this  important  part  of  Election  ser- 

tors    Kast,  Sprague,  Lord,  Church,  Roberts,  vices  : 

Jackson,   of    Portsmouth,    N.    H.,   Sylvester  "  As  the   election  of  Counsellors  this  year 

Gardiner,  Gardner,  Barnett,  Clark,  John  and  is  to  be  at  Concord,  and  the  gentleman  ap- 

William  Perkins,  Yougust,  Bulfinch,  Pecker,  pointed  to  preach  on  that  day  is  obliged   to 

Doubt,*   Crozier,  and  Pynchon.     These    gen-  be  conversant  with  persons  sick  of  the  small- 

tlemen     gratuitously  inoculated  526  poor  of  pox  in  this  Town,  we  hear,  that  to  prevent  all 

the  Town,  and  499  were  inoculated  at  the  ex-  apprehensions  of  danger,  there  will  be  no  ser- 

pense  of  the  Town;  making  in  all,  1025.  mon  on  that  occasion." 

*  Hr.  Nyott  Doubt.    He  died  on  the  11th  of  June  follow-         tJJe  ReV"  Andrew  Eliot.  —  Jour.  H.  Reps. , 
ing.  p.  226. 


Aus.  2. 


086  SANDEMANIANS.  [1764. 

the  General  Court.  It  was  therefore  voted  that  the  Representatives 
should  be  instructed  to  move  in  the  Legislature  for  an  act  by  which  this 
and  similar  mischiefs  might  be  prevented.  No  law,  however,  appears  to 
have  been  passed  concerning  it. 

One  of  the  Representatives  of  the  Town,  Royall  Tyler,  having 
'  been  elected  a  Counsellor,   Mr.   Thomas  Gray,   merchant,  was 
chosen  in  his  stead. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  who  had  been  for  some  time  sojourning 
in  this  vicinity,  preached  a  farewell  sermon  on  the  fifth  of  May,  in  the 
Old  South,  being  about  to  depart  for  the  southern  colonies. 

In  the  time  of  the  election,  on  the  sixth,  a  fire  occurred  near  the  lower 
end  of  Auchmuty's-lane,*  but  it  was  confined  to  a  turpentine  distillery, 
which  it  consumed,  but  the  damage  was  not  great.  From  the  second  of 
April  to  the  seventh  of  June,  the  burials,  including  those  who  died  of  the 
small-pox  and  other  diseases,  were  175  whites,  and  twenty-nine  blacks. 
T  ,  The  brig  Hannah,  Capt.  Robert  Jarvis,  arrived  from  London, 

bringing  several  gentlemen  of  note.  Among  them  were  Ben- 
jamin Hallowell,  Jr.,  Esq.,  who  had  lately  been  appointed  Controller 
of  His  Majesty's  Customs  for  this  Port,  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Walter, 
an  assistant  minister  at  Trinity  Church,  and  Mr.  John  Timmins,  mer- 
chant.! 

tThe  Selectmen  gave  notice  that  there  were  brit  two  cases 
of  the  small- pox  in  Town  ;   "  one  in  a  house  in  Orange-street, 
and  one  at  a  house  behind  Fort  Hill." 

The  Town  having  suffered  from  a  disproportionate  taxation  in  respect 
to  the  Colony  tax,  for  some  time  past,  had  petitioned  for  an  abatement. 
After  much  delay  the  General  Court  granted  the  sum  of  3,000  pounds 
in  1763.  This  was  but  a  part  of  what  was  claimed  by  the  Town  as 
justly  due,  and  it  was  consequently  refused.  But,  subsequently,  a  vote 
passed  in  Town-meeting,  "  that,  considering  the  distressing  circum- 
stances of  the  inhabitants  by  means  of  the  small-pox,  and  the  absolute 
necessity  of  ready  money  for  the  poor  and  needy,  the  Town  do  accept 
the  grant." 

The  new  religious  sect,  since  called  Sandemanians,  were  first  known 
in  Boston  this  year.  They  took  their  name  from  Robert  Sandeman,  a 
native  of  Perth,  in  Scotland,  whose  writings  had  been  read  with  avidity 
by  some  of  the  people  here.  They  accordingly  invited  him  to  visit 
them,  which  he  did,  arriving  in  Town  on  the  eighteenth  of  October, 
direct  from  Glasgow.  On  the  followingjSunday  he  preached  to  a  few 
followers  at  Masons'  Hall.  After  this  he  had  regular  meetings  in  a 
large  room  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Edward  Foster,  in  that  part  of  Prince- 
street  called  Black  Horse  lane.  His  followers  becoming  more  numer- 
ous, meetings  were  held  at  the  Green  Dragon  Tavern.J    Soon  after,  his 

*That  part  of  Essex-street  between  Short  J  They  petitioned  for  the  use  of  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  South  streets.  3  May,  1765,  but  the  petition  does  not  appear 

f  The  following  ships  of  war  were  now  lying  to  have  been  granted.  Masons'  Hall  was,  I 
in  the  harbor  :  The  Fortune,  14  guns,  Capt.  suppose,  in  the  Green  Dragon  Tavern.  The 
Bishop;  Cygnet,  18,  Leslie;  Jamaica,  14,  name  of  this  tavern,  as  elsewhere  mentioned, 
Burden  ;  Magdalene,  8,  Capt.  Dugdale.  was  changed  to  "  The  Freemasons'  Arms." 


1765.]  SANDEMANIANS.  C87 

friends  built  a  house  to  worship  in,  at  the  Coot  of  a  lane  "  leading  to 
the  Mill  Pond,  somewhere  between  the  two  Baptist  meeting-houses." 
This  house  was  burnt  on  the  fourth  of  April,  1773,  by  a  fire  which 
originated  in  the  cabinet-shop  of  Mr.  Alexander  Edwards,  on  a  Sunday. 
Several  other  buildings  were  at  the  same  time  burned.  After  the 
destruction  of  their  meeting-house,  the  Sandemanians  met  for  a  time  in 
a  School-house  ;  then  at  Mr.  Shippie  Townsend's,*  in  Cross-street, 
until  a  new  house  could  be  built,  which  was  soon  after  erected  in  the 
rear  of  Middle-street.  Here  they  held  their  meetings  until  about 
1823  ;  at  which  time  their  numbers  were  so  much  diminished  that  they 
were  discontinued.  Their  house  was  soon  after  occupied  as  a  Primary 
School.  Mr.  Watford  Butler,  who  died  in  Boston  in  1829,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-nine,  is  said  to  have  been  the  last  of  the  denomination  here. 

Those  who  first  adhered  to  Mr.  Sandeman  in  Boston,  were,  Edward 
Foster,  Alford  Butler,  and  George  Ogilvie,  or  Ogle  vie,  with  their  fam- 
ilies. To  these  were  soon  joined,  Edward  King,  Henry  Capen,  Adam 
Chizeau,  Ebenezer  Allen,  Barnabas  Allen,  Hopestill  Capen,  Benjamin 
Davies,  Isaac  Winslow,  Colburn  Barrell,  Walter  Barrell,  Mr.  Peck, 
Hannah  Robinson,  Susanna  Davies,  Mary  Cotton,  Mary  West,  Keziah 
West,  Mrs.  Stayner,  and  a  few  others  ;  and,  at  a  later  period,  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Howe,  Mr.  Samuel  Harris  and  his  wife.  One  of  Mr.  Sandeman's 
Deacons  was  Daniel  Humphries,  Esq.,  brother  of  Col.  David  Hum- 
phries, of  the  Revolution.  He  went  to  Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  and 
afterwards  to  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he  was  District 
Attorney  of  the  United  States,  and  died  there  in  1827,  aged  eighty- 
eight. 

The  next  year,  in  the  month  of  June,  a  meeting-house  was 
erected  for  Mr.  Sandeman  at  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire, 
"  near  the  Canoe  bridge,"  and  in  the  following  November  he  preached 
in  that  town,  "  in  the  audience  of  some  hundreds  of  people,  to  the 
acceptance  of  many."  He  died  in  Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  April  the 
second,  1771,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three. 

The  General  Court  now  assembled  in  Boston  at  its  former  place 
of  meeting,  to  which  it  had  been  prorogued  by  the  Governor  on 
the  24th  of  November.  It  had  been  notified  to  meet  on  the  twelfth  of 
December,  but  that  notification  was  countermanded,  and  the  assembling 
was  postponed  to  the  present  time,  because,  as  Mr.  Bernard  says  in  his 
Proclamation,  there  was  nothing  in  prospect  for  His  Majesty's  imme- 
diate service  requiring  an  earlier  meeting. 

The  spring  arrivals  from  England  furnished  new  proofs  of  an  increas- 
ing jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  Mother  Country  in  respect  to  the  grow- 
ing prosperity  of  these  Colonies.     Since    the  addition  of  the  French 

*  He  was  a  block-maker,  and  his  shop  was  "  Gospel  News,"  8  vo.,  1794,  and  some  other 

on  Barrett's  wharf,  "  two  wharves  below  the  theological  works.     He  died  31  Aug.   1798. 

Draw-Bridge    in   Anne   street."     Dr.    David  He  was  Deacon  of  the  Universalist  Church  at 

Townsend  was  his  son.     The  father  was  known  the  time  of  his  death  ;  perhaps  a  son  of  Mr. 

as.  Deac.  Townsend,  and  was  the  author  of  Elias  Townsend,  of  Boston,  block-maker. 


688  JEALOUSIES   IN    ENGLAND.  [1765. 

possessions  to  them,  their  importance  was  magnified  to  a  great  extent, 
and  various  projects  were  talked  of  relative  to  their  commerce  and 
internal  regulations.  The  managers  in  that  country  had  found  out  that 
the  New  England  people  tried  to  keep  what  was  doing  among  them  in 
the  way  of  manufactures  from  their  knowledge.  In  the  Government 
organs,  or  publications,  it  was  said  that  "  The  setting  up  manufactures 
in  the  Colonies  was  no  new  complaint ;  for  as  early  as  1719,  Governor 
Shute  informed  the  Board  of  Trade  that  in  some  parts  of  Massachusetts 
the  inhabitants  then  worked  up  their  wool  and  flax,  and  made  a  coarse 
sort  of  stuff  for  their  own  use.  There  were  also  hatters  in  the  maritime 
towns  ;  they  also  manufactured  the  greatest  part  of  their  leather  ;  and  that 
six  iron  furnaces  and  nineteen  forges  were  set  up  for  making  iron."  * 
Governor  Belcher,  who  succeeded  Governor  Shute  in  1731,  confirmed 
the  same  ;  and  Col.  Jeremiah  Dunbar,  Surveyor  General  of  His  Maj- 
esty's Woods  in  North  America,  in  his  letter  to  the  same  Board,  of  Sep- 
tember, 1730,  mentioned  "their  manufacturing  and  exporting  hats  to 
Spain,  Portugal,  and  the  West  Indies."  Colonel  Dunbar  further  in- 
formed the  Board  of  Trade,  "  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
they  [the  Officers  of  Government]  were  able  to  procure  true  information 
of  the  trade  and  manufactures  of  New  England  ;  that  the  Assembly  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  had  the  boldness  to  summon  him  [Col.  Dunbar] 
before  them,  and  pass  a  severe  censure  upon  him,  for  having  given  evi- 
dence at  the  Bar  of  the  House  of  Commons  with  respect  to  the  trade 
and  manufactures  of  this  Province." 

For  the  more  ready  management  of  the  business  of  government,  the 
establishment  of  a  Line  of  Packets  was  in  contemplation,  between  Eng- 
land and  the  newly  acquired  possessions. 

As  an  important  item  of  news  from  London  it  was  published  that  the 
Queen  had  decided  to  wear  a  muff  made  of  fur  this  winter,  and  it  was 
not  doubted  but  that  all  the  ladies  would  follow  the  example  ;  and  that 
the  French  ladies  would  wear  feathered  muffs,  and  not  fur  .ones  as  here- 
tofore, because,  by  the  loss  of  Canada,  the  fur  market  was  lost  to 
France. f  Whether  the  ladies  of  Boston  wore  fur  or  feather  muffs,  or 
no  muffs  at  all,  is  not  mentioned. 

A  remarkable  woman  died  on  the  twelfth  of  February,  named 
Ruth  Barnaby  ;  not  only  remarkable  for  her  great  age,  but  for 
her  usefulness,  her  retentive  memory  and  physical  constitution.  She 
was  born  at  Marblehead,  in  August,  1644,  and  hence  at  her  decease 
was  in  her  101st  year.  She  practised  midwifery  forty  years  in  Boston. 
To  avoid  the  small-pox  she  had  formerly  removed  from  the  town,  but 
when  it  broke  out  here  last  spring,  being  then  in  her  100th  year,  she 

*  It  was  said  about  this  time,  in  England,  This  was  certainly  a  lesson  to  the  advocates  of 
"  We  hear  the  North  American  Colonies  en-  taxation,  by  which  they  should  have  profited, 
deavor  to  rival  the  Mother  Country  in  divers  f  One  might  expect  to  find  something  re- 
material  articles,  which  will  occasion  some  specting  the  antiquity  of  muffs  in  Hayden's 
wholesome  regulations  shortly  to  take  place.  Dictionary  of  Dates,  but  there  is  nothing. 
Demands  for  iron  ware,  from  New  England,  Their  antiquity  is  doubtless  nearly  coeval  with 
have  sunk   this   year  upwards  of  £10,000."  the  origin  of  the  race  who  use  them. 


1765.] 


STAMP    ACT. 


689 


March  22. 


April  4. 


gave  out  that  she  would  not  remove  out  of  Town  again,  in  consequence 
of  it,  but  would  remain  and  be  inoculated.  But  this  precaution  was  not 
taken,  and  yet  she  escaped  the  disease,  although  it  visited  the  family 
in  which  she  resided.  A  few  months  after  she  was  born,  her  father  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  New  Harbor,  in  Maine,  not  far  to  the  eastward 
of  Pemaquid.  She  resided  there  until  Philip's  war,  about  eleven 
years,  and  then  returned  to  Boston,  where  she  continued  till  her  death. 
The  world-renowned  Stamp  Act  passed  the  British  Parlia- 
ment in  March,  and  received  the  King's  assent  on  the  22d 
of  the  same  month,  but  a  copy  of  the  Act  itself  did  not  reach  Boston 
until  several  months  after.* 

On  the  fourth  of  April,  the  Publishers  of  one  of  the  Boston 
papers  announced  that  they  had  seen  the  Resolves  of  the  House 
of  Commons  respecting  a  Stamp  Duty  in  the  Colonies  ;  fifty-five  in 
number  ;  —  "a  terrible  string  of  them  !  "  they  said.  Those  which 
more  immediately  affected  the  Printers  and  Publishers,  were,  one  penny 
to  be  laid  on  every  newspaper  of  one  sheet ;  two  shillings  for  every 
advertisement  inserted  therein  ;  two  pence  for  every  almanack  ;  every 
book  and  pamphlet  according  to  number  of  sheets ;  deeds,  bonds,  &c, 
were  subject  to  higher  duty. 

When  those  resolves  were  passed,  one  member  remarked  "  That 
where  the  Colonies  stand  on  such  high  pretensions  of  independence  on 
the  supreme  legislative  authority  of  Great  Britain,  there  was  no  moder- 
ating anything;"  and  among  the  speakers  upon  the  same  occasion, 
there  was  not  one  who  did  not  declare  that  America  ought  to  be  taxed. 
This  information,  however,  proved  to  be  incorrect,  as  there  were  several 
members  who  spoke  against  the  measure. f 

About  the  same  time  Thomas  and  John  Fleet,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown 
in  Cornhill,  issued  an  edition  of  Dummer's  Defence  of  the  New  England 
charters.  Thus  was  given  an  invitation,  to  all  who  had  a  mind  to  read, 
to  look  into  the  rights  of  parliamentary  taxation.  Other  works  were 
from  time  to  time  republished  with  the  same  view.  A  little  later  an 
edition  of  Wood's  New  England's  Prospect  was  sent  forth ;  and 
although  the  original  work  had  nothing  in  it  relative  to  the  political 
state  of  these  times,  some  able  writer  accompanied  it  with  a  dissertation 


*  The  Stamp  here  rep- 
resented is  copied  from  the 
London  Morning  Chron- 
icle of  1775.  The  im- 
pression was  usually  in 
deep  red  or  crimson  ink, 
and  often  from  a  different 
engraving.  The  Stamp 
Act  was  reprinted  in  Bos- 
ton by  Edes  &  Gill,  in 
Queen-street,  1765,  in  a 
folio  pamphlet  of  24  pages,  a  copy  of  which  is 
now  before  me.  A  copy  may  be  seen  in  Mr. 
Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution. 

87 


f  Edmund  Burke  declared  that  "  no  more 
than  two  or  three  gentlemen  spoke  against  the 
Act."  That  "  there  was  but  one  division  in 
the  whole  progress  of  the  Bill,  and  the  minor- 
ity was  but  39  or  40.  In  the  House  of 
Lords,"  he  said,  "  I  do  not  recollect  that  there 
was  any  debate  or  division  at  all."  "  But 
amongst  the  '  two  or  three  speakers  '  against 
the  Bill  was  Col.  Barre,  who,  in  reply  to  Mr. 
Charles  Townsend,  the  most  eloquent  of  its 
supporters,  made  an  admirable  and  forcible 
appeal  to  the  House."  Gen.  Conway  and 
Alderman  Beckford  were  the  other  two. — 
Britton's  Authorship  of  Junius,  p.  37. 


690  STAMP- ACT   AGITATION.  [1765. 

having  special  reference  to  them.  Nor  should  mention  be  omitted  of  an 
essay  on  the  Canon  and  Feudal  Law,  by  John  Adams.  A  work  of 
power  and  ability. 

Unfavorable  reports  respecting  the  temper  of  the  people  of  Boston 
were  often  circulated  in  London.  These,  getting  into  the  gazettes, 
came  back  to  Boston,  and  were  again  published.  "  Indeed,"  says  a 
London  paper  of  the  sixth  of  May,  "  at  present  all  America  seems  to 
be  in  a  violent  agitation  ;  they  sing,  up  and  down  the  streets  of  Boston, 
the  downfall  of  Old  England,  and  the  rise  of  New."  And  a  gentle- 
man in  London  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Boston,  under  date  of  the  eleventh 
of  June,  saying,  "  We  have  been  making  an  addition  to  your  troubles 
by  levying  very  heavy  duties  upon  you,  and  if  these  are  tamely  borne, 
you  may  yet  have  a  few  more." 

News  had  been  received  at  Boston,  in  July,  that  a  large  quantity  of 
stamped  paper  had  been  shipped  for  America,  and  on  the  fifth  of  August 
was  published  for  the  first  time  in  the  Massachusetts  Gazette  &  News- 
Letter,  a  list  of  persons  who  had  been  appointed  to  distribute  Stamps 
in  the  various  Colonies.  Among  them  was  Andrew  Oliver  for  Massa- 
chusetts. Rather  than  submit  to  this  tax  upon  paper,  several  newspa- 
pers in  the  other  Colonies  had  been  suspended  by  their  Proprietors.* 
A  vessel  having  stamps  on  board  arrived  in  Boston  harbor  in  Sep- 
tember. 

Soon  after,  another  letter  from  London  announced  that  "  Lord 

to'  Bute  and  all  that  party  were  totally  routed,  to  the  joy  of  all  the 
people  there."  f 

At  the  June  session  of  the  General  Court,  the  House  of  Repre- 
'  sentatives  issued  a  Circular  to  the  other  Colonies,  purporting  that 
they  had  unanimously  agreed  to  propose  a  meeting  of  Delegates  from 
each  of  them,  to  meet  in  New  York  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  October  ; 
there  "  to  consult  together  on  the  present  circumstances  of  the  Colo- 
nies," and  inviting  those  Colonies  to  send  Delegates  for  the  objects  pro- 
posed. This  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Continental  Congress."  The  Gen- 
eral Court  soon  after  appointed,  as  its  Delegates,  the  Hon.  James  Otis, 
Jr.,  Gen.  Timothy  Ruggles,  and  Col.  Oliver  Partridge,  and  one  hundred 
and  ten  pounds  sterling  was  voted  to  each,  "  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
their  journey  to  New  York."  It  may  at  this  day  be  looked  upon  as 
extraordinary  that  the  Council  should  concur  in  this  appropriation,  and 
still  more  extraordinary  that  it  was  approved  by  the  Governor  ;  but 
such  are  the  facts. 

*  In  the  Gazette  and  News-Letter,  of  26  April,  next. ' '  It  was  then  expected  that  in  October 
1765,  there  is  this  paragraph  :  —  ''  It  is  said  the  Stamp  Act  would  go  into  effect, 
that  the  prospect  of  the  Stamp  Act  has  put  a  f  In  an  extract  from  a  London  paper,  pub- 
stop  to  three  Gazettes  already  on  this  Conti-  lished  hereon  the  16th  of  August,  is  thispas- 
nent,  viz.  :  Virginia,  Providence,  and  one  of  sage  :  —  "A  coffin  of  excpiisite  workmanship 
the  New  York."  It  is  also  said,  "  The  Mary-  was  preparing  for  the  interment  of  a  young 
land  Gazette  is  in  a  very  ill  state,  occasioned  gentleman  called  the  Stamp  Act,  who,  it  is 
by  a  violent  cruel  kick,  and  it  is  thought  said,  expired  soon  after  Lord  B— — e  [Bute] 
cannot  possibly  survive  the  month  of  October  went  to  Scotland." 


17G5.]  FIRE. LIGHTNING-RODS   FIRST   USED.  G91 

In  Town-meeting,  on  the  14th  of  May,  a  report  was  made  by 
'  a  Committee  appointed  in  March  preceding,  to  inquire  "  by  what 
terms  or  tenure  the  mill-owners  hold  the  Mill-pond  Mills."  They 
stated  that  on  the  31st  of  July,  1643,  there  was  granted  to  Henry 
Simons,  George  Burden,  John  Button,  John  Hill,  and  their  partners, 
all  the  cove  on  the  north-west  side  of  the  causeway  .leading  towards 
Charlestown,  with  all  the  Saltmarsh  bordering  thereupon,  not  formerly 
granted,  on  these  conditions  :  that,  within  three  years  they  erect  thereon 
one  or  more  corn-mills,  "  and  maintain  the  same  forever."  Also,  make 
a  gate  ten  feet  wide  to  open  with  the  flood  for  the  passage  of  boats 
into  the  cove,  &c.  This  gate  was  also  to  be  "  maintained  forever." 
Four  years  after  a  committee  took  possession  of  the  premises,  as  having 
reverted  to  the  Town. 

On  Tuesday  evening  of  the  fourth  of  June,  died  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Lechmere,  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  for  many  years 
Surveyor  General  of  His  Majesty's  Customs  for  the  Northern  District  of 
America.  The  then  late  Lord  Lechmere  was  his  brother.  His  wife 
Ann  died  in  1746.  The  Point  bearing  the  name  Lechmere  received 
its  name  from  this  family. 

The  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler,  D.  D.,  Rector  of   Christ  Church, 
'  died  on  Saturday  morning,  the  seventeenth  of  August,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two,  after  a  long  confinement.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Caner,  of 
King's  Chapel,  preached  a  Sermon  at  his  funeral,  after  which  the  re- 
mains were  deposited  under  the  Church.* 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  August  a  fire  broke  out  in 

Aug   21  . 

one  of  six  work-shops  making  the  corner  between  Quaker- 
lane  and  Water-street,  when  the  whole  six  were  at  once  in  flames, 
but  by  the  extraordinary  exertions  of  the  inhabitants  the  fire  was  con- 
fined to  these  shops,  and  the  upper  part  of  them  only  was  destroyed. 
They  were  all  in  one  large  structure. 

At  this  fire  an  engine  of  home  manufacture  was  made  trial  of,  and 
"  was  found  to  perform  extremely  well."  It  was  made  by  Mr.  Da- 
vid Wheeler,  a  blacksmith,  in  Newbury-street.  At  the  same  time 
notice  was  given  that  there  was  now  an  opportunity  for  those  disposed 
to  encourage  native  artists  ;  that  Mr.  Wheeler  would  manufacture 
engines  "  as  good  as  any  imported  ;  "  and  the  same  artisan  proposed 
"to  make  and  fix  iron- rods  with  points,  upon  houses  or  any  other 
eminences,  for  prevention  from  the  effects  of  lightning."  This  was 
doubtless  about  the  time  of  the  first  introduction  of  lightning-rods  into 
Boston. 

*  There  is  extant  a  fine  mezzotinto  likeness    Boston,  by  "  P.  Pelham,  pinx  ;  et  fecit.  1750." 
of  Dr.  Cutler.     It  was  published  and  sold  in    A  copy  is  in  the  author's  collection. 


692 


STAMP-ACT   RIOTS. 


[1756. 


CHAPTER    LXIX. 


Stamp-Act  Riots.  —  Their  Cause.  —  Evasion  of  Revenue  Laws.  —  Elms  of  Hanover  Square.  —  The 
Great  Tree.  — Effigies  upon  it.  —  Burnt  at  Fort  Hill.  —  Stamp  Office  demolished.  —  Andrew  Oliver's 
House  attacked.  —  Union  Club.  —  Oliver's  Resignation.  —  Jared  Ingersol.  —  Proclamation.  —  Re- 
ward for  Rioters.  —  Rioters  encouraged.  —  Destroy  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson's  House. — 
His  Narrative  of  the  Aifair.  —  Dr.  Mayhew.  — William  Storey's  House  attacked.  — Benj.  Hallow- 
ell's.  —  Town-meeting.  —  The  Rioters  denounced.  —  Another  Proclamation.  —  Case  of  Mackintosh. 
—  Prisoners  set  at  Liberty.  —  George  Messervey.  —  News  of  a  Change  of  Ministry.  —  Rejoicings.  — 
The  Great  Tree  decorated  and  inscribed  "  Liberty  Tree." — Lord  Gordon.  —  Col.  Barre.  —  General 
Conway.  —  Riots  out  of  Massachusetts. ; —  Arrival  of  Stamps.  —  None  to  receive  them.  —  A  Gen- 
eral Court  convened.  —  Death  of  Joseph  Green. 

THE  serious  outbreak  of  the  fourteenth 
us'  *  of  August  served  to  widen  the  breach 
between  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  the 
King's  officers,  beyond  anything  which  had  oc- 
curred hitherto.  Its  immediate  occasion  ap- 
pears to  have  been  an  assurance  that  there  was 
no  escape  from  the  hated  Stamp-tax.  The 
Revenue  Laws  of  the  Custom-House  had  been, 
for  a  long  time,  very  successfully  evaded,  but 
the  Stamp-law  admitted  of  no  such  evasion. 
Nothing  could  be  done  legally,  where  any  kind 
of  a  written  instrument  was  required,  unless 
that  instrument  bore  upon  it  the  odious  Stamp. 
Newspapers  could  not  be  issued,  the  business  of  the  courts  could  not 
move,  no  process  was  valid,  no  vessel  could  go  to  sea,  no  person 
could  be  married,  no  debts  could  be  collected.  This  Act  was  made, 
it  may  be,  to  punish  the  people  for  their  former  evasions  of  the  Rev- 
enue Law,  as  well  as  effectually  to  ensure  its  observance  for  the 
future. 

The  Revenue  Laws,  as  is  well  known,  were  regarded  as  the  most 
unjust  aggressions  upon  the  liberties  of  the  people  upon  whom  they 
were  made  to  bear  ;   and,  hence,  to  elude  their  operation  was  consid- 


OTIS.* 


*  A  full  and  interesting  account  of  the  fam- 
ily of  Otis  will  be  found  in  the  New  Eng. 
Hist,  and  Gen.  Beg.,  vol.  ii.  281,  &c,  vol.  iv. 
163,  &c,  and  vol.  v.  pp.  177—223,  collected 
with  persevering  industry  by  Horatio  N.  Otis, 
Esq.,  of  New  York.  Of  the  great  patriot  of 
the  name,  the  Hon.  James  Otis,  there  is  an  ex- 
cellent Life  by  the  late  William  Tudor,  which 
deserves  a  new  edition ,  with  the  additions  and 
corrections  which  can  be  easily  made  by  a  skil- 
ful hand,  from  the  great  store-houseB  of  mate- 
rials now  accessible. 

,     The  first  of  the  name  of  Otis  in  this  country 
was  John,  who  settled  in  Hingham,  1635,  and 


had,  by  wife  Margaret,  John,  married  to  Ma- 
ry Jacob.  They  had  also  a  son  John,  wbo 
married  (for  his  second  wife)  Mary  Bacon,  and 
had  issue,  among  others,  James,  who  married 
Mary  Alleyne.  These  were  the  parents  of 
the  great  patriot,  the  Hon.  James  Otis,  whose 
wife  was  Ruth  Cunningham,  of  Boston.  He 
was  the  eldest  of  thirteen  children.  The  tenth 
child  was  named  Samuel  Allyne,  who  married, 
1st,  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Har- 
rison Gray  ;  and,  2d,  Mary,  widow  of  Edward 
Gray,  and  daughter  of  Isaac  Smith.  The  late 
Hon.  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  third  mayor  of  Bos- 
ton, was  the  first  child  by  the  first  marriage. 


1705.]  STAMP-ACT    RIOTS.  693 

cred,  if  not  just  and  proper  in  every  sense,  quite  justifiable  under  the 
circumstances.  Now  the  case  was  different ;  no  chance  being  left  for 
evasion. 

The  sky  had  hitherto  been  partially  obscured,  but  now  all  was  total 
darkness.  This  state  of  things  produced  the  scenes  of  the  fourteenth 
of  August,  before  alluded  to,  which  are,  in  the  next  place,  to  be 
related. 

As  localities  are  of  the  utmost  importance  in  describing  any  trans- 
action, it  is  necessary  to  observe  that,  at  the  junction  of  Essex  and 
Newbury  streets*  (now  Essex  and  Washington),  there  stood  a  number 
of  majestic  elms.  This  place  was  sometimes  called  Hanover  Square. 
On  one  of  these  elms,  usually  called  the  Great  Tree,  which  stood  close 
to  the  street,  were  discovered,  very  early  on  Wednesday  morning, 
suspended  from  a  branch,  "  two  effigies  ;  one  of  which,  by  the  labels, 
appeared  to  be  designed  to  represent  a  Stamp  Officer  ;  the  other  a  Jack 
Boot,  with  a  head  and  horns  peeping  out  of  the  top  ;  said  by  some  of 
the  Printers  to  be  the  Devil  or  his  Imp  ;  but,  as  we  are  not  acquainted 
with  that  species  of  gentlemen,  we  cannot  so  well  determine  whether 
it  was  an  exact  resemblance  or  not."  This  is  the  account  published, 
eight  days  after  the  occurrence,  in  the  News-Letter,  a  print  which 
took  sides  with  the  people,  and  which,  for  apparent  reasons,  is  here 
extracted.  The  News-Letter  proceeds  :  "  The  report  of  these  images 
soon  spread  through  the  Town,  brought  a  vast  number  of  spectators,! 
and  had  such  an  effect  on  them,  that  they  were  immediately  inspired 
with  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  which  diffused  itself  through  the  whole  con- 
course. So  much  were  they  affected  with  a  sense  of  liberty,  that 
scarce  any  could  attend  to  the  task  of  day-labor,  but  all  seemed  on  the 
wing  for  freedom.  About  dusk  the  images  were  taken  down,  placed 
on  a  bier,  supported  in  procession  by  six  men,  followed  by  a  great 
concourse  of  people,  some  of  the  highest  reputation,  and  in  the  great- 
est order,  echoing  forth  '  Liberty  and  Property  !  No  Stamps  ! '  &c. 
Having  passed  through  the  Town-house,  they  proceeded  with  their 
pageantry  down  King-street,  and,  it  is  said,  intended  for  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  But  orders  being  given,  they  turned  their  course 
through  Kilby-street,  where  an  edifice  had  lately  been  erected,  which 
was  supposed  to  be  designed  for  a  Stamp-office. J  Here  they  halted, 
and  went  to  work  to  demolish  that  building,  which  they  soon  effected 
without  receiving  any  hurt,  except  one  of  the  spectators,  who  happened 
to  be  rather  too  nigh  the  brick  wall  when  it  fell.     This  being  finished, 

*  The  reader  is  reminded  that  Orange-street  f  Not  only  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  col- 
terminated  at  what  is  now  Boylston-street.  lected  in  great  numbers  to  view  them,  but  the 
This  was  its  northern  termination.  The  elms  people  came  in  from  the  country  in  vast  num- 
ruade  the  corner  of  Orange,  Newbury,  and  bers  ;  so  that  when  the  procession  moved  from 
Essex  streets.  The  Sexton  of  the  Old  School  the  place  there  were  several  thousand  persons 
errs  in  saying  "  Auchmuty's-lane,  now  Esses-  in  it. 

street."     That  part  of  Essex-street  was  never,  J  Gordon    says    it  was    not    so  designed. 

I  think,  called  Auchmuty's-lane.       Essex-st.  Hutchinson  does  not  say  as  much,  but  that 

had  been  so  called  nearly  sixty  years,  having  "  it  was  conjectured  V  to  have  been  erected  for 

received  that  name  as  early  as  1708.  that  purpose. 


094  STAMP-ACT   RIOTS.  [1765. 

many  of  them  loaded  themselves  with  wooden  trophies,  and  proceeded, 
bearing  the  two  effigies,  to  the  top  of  Fort  Hill,  where  a  fire  was  soon 
kindled,  in  which  one  of  them  was  burnt ;  we  can't  learn  whether 
they  committed  the  other  to  the  flames,  or,  if  they  did,  whether  it  did 
not  survive  the  conflagration  ;  being,  it  is  said,  like  the  salamander, 
conversant  in  that  element. 

"  The  populace  after  this  went  to  work  on  the  barn,  fence,  garden, 
and  dwelling-house,  of  the  gentleman  [the  Hon.  Andrew  Oliver] 
against  whom  their  resentment  was  chiefly  levelled,  and  which  were 
contiguous  to  said  hill.  And  here,  entering  the  house,  they  bravely 
showed  their  loyalty,  courage,  and  zeal,  to  defend  the  rights  and  lib- 
erties of  Englishmen.  Here,  it  is  said  by  some  good  men  that  were 
present,  they  established  their  Society  by  the  name  of  the  Union  Club. 
Their  business  being  finished,  they  retired  and  proceeded  to  the  Prov- 
ince-house, which  was  about  eleven  o'clock,  gave  three  huzzas,  and 
all  went  quietly  home. 

"  The  next  day  the  Honorable  Gentleman  who  had  been  appointed 
to  the  duty  of  Distributor  of  the  Stamps  when  they  should  arrive,  sup- 
posing himself  to  be  the  object  of  their  derision,  informed  the  principal 
gentlemen  of  the  Town  that,  as  it  appeared  so  disagreeable  to  the  people, 
he  should  request  the  liberty  of  being  excused  from  that  office  ;  and  in 
the  evening  the  populace  reassembled,  erected  a  pyramid,  intending  a 
second  bonfire  ;  but,  upon  hearing  of  the  resignation,  they  desisted, 
and  repaired  to  the  gentleman's  gate,  gave  three  cheers,  and  took 
their  departure  without  damage. 

"  But  having  heard  it  propagated  that  an  Honorable  Gentleman 
[Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson]  at  the  North  part  of  the  Town,  had  been 
accessary  in  laying  on  the  Stamp-duties,  &c,  they  repaired  to  his 
house,  where,  upon  being  informed,  by  some  gentlemen  of  integrity 
and  reputation,  that  he  had  not  only  spoke  but  wrote  to  the  contrary, 
they  retired,  and,  having  patrolled  the,  streets,  returned  to  their 
respective  habitations  as  quietly  as  they  had  done  the  night  be- 
fore." 

That  the  leaning  of  the  writer  of  the  above  might  not  be  mistaken, 
he  closed  by  a  memorable  saying  of  Lord  Burleigh,  much  in  use  in 
those  days,  —  "  England  can  never  be  undone  but  by  a  Parliament." 
Thus  the  mob  was  encouraged,  and,  as  by  the  sequel  it  will  appear,  a 
very  partial  account  was  given  of  what  had  taken  place.  The  course 
taken  by  the  papers  under  the  control  of  the  Government  had  some 
effect  in  producing  the  above,  for  the  News-Letter  had  been  jeered  by 
them  because  it  had  not  come  out  with  early  denunciations  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  mob.  That  occasioned  it  to  introduce  the  account 
above  given,  with  a  sort  of  apology,  or  defence,  in  which,  it  is  said, 
"  It  was  out  of  our  power  to  give  a  perfect  account  before,  as  the  trans- 
actions were  not  finished,  and  a  partial  one  would  have  drawn  down 
the  resentment  of  many  of  the  true  Sons  of  Liberty."  It  was  then 
remarked   that  the  News-Letter  was  a  tool  to  no   one,  and  hence  it 


17G5.J  STAMP-ACT   RIOTS.  695 

labored  under  a  disadvantage  about  getting  correct  information,  while 
pens  enough  stood  ready  to  assist  on  the  other  side. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  proceedings  now  under  consideration  is 
attributed  by  Mr.  Hutchinson  to  the  arrival  of  Jared  Ingcrsoll,  Esq., 
from  London,  and  the  attentions  shown  him  by  Mr.  Oliver  ;  the  former 
having  been  appointed  Stamp  Oilicer  for  Connecticut.  His  arrival  was 
only  a  few  days  before  the  fourteenth,  and,  when  he  left  Boston,  Mr. 
Oliver  accompanied  him  out  of  the  Town.  This  exhibition  of  brother- 
hood between  the  "brothers  in  iniquity,"  as  some  expressed  it,  called 
forth  audible  murmurings  among  the  people,  and  the  Boston  Gazette  con- 
tained an  article  which  was  pronounced  inflammatory  by  th"e  Government 
party.  It  is  also  said  that  the  news  of  the  "  Virginia  Resolves"  *  had 
not  only  encouraged  the  people  to  resist  the  Stamp  Law,  but  that  they 
had  "  highly  inflamed  them."  However,  it  was  on  the  morning  of  the 
following  day  that  the  effigies  or  images  were  discovered  upon  the 
Great  Tree,  as  has  been  described. 

The  persons  who  prepared  and  suspended  these  effigies,  "  upon  the 
limb  of  a  large  old  elm,  toward  the  entrance  of  Boston,"  were  John 
Avery,  Jr.,  Thomas  Crafts,  John  Smith,  Henry  Wells,  Thomas  •Chase, 
Stephen  Cleverly,  Henry  Bass,  and  Benjamin  Edes.  The  figure  repre- 
senting a  Stamp  Officer,  even  without  the  label  appended  to  it,  was  at 
once  recognized  as  intended  for  Mr.  Oliver. 

The  Sheriff,  Stephen  Greenleaf,  Esq.,  with  his  Deputy,  Mr.  Benja- 
min Cudworth,  was  early  on  the  spot,  "  but,  by  advice  of  some  of  the 
graver  persons  present,  forbore  any  attempt  to  remove  the  Image." 
The  Governor  had  already  convened  the  Council,  but  the  majority  of 
that  body,  on  hearing  the  report  of  the  Sheriff,  "  advised  not  to  meddle 
with  the  Image  ;  "  arguing  that  the  people  were  orderly,  and,  if  left 
alone,  would  take  it  down  and  bury  it  without  any  disturbance  ;  while 
an  attempt  to  remove  it  might  bring  on  a  riot,  the  very  mischief  sought. 
to  be  prevented.  This  was  in  the  forenoon  of  the  fourteenth.  The  Gov- 
ernor convened  the  Council  again  in  the  afternoon,  who  were  in  session 
in  the  Town-House  when  the  effigies  were  carried  through  it,  as  men- 
tioned in  the  News-Letter  account  above  extracted.  It  is  likewise 
mentioned  that  the  pageant  was  preceded  "  by  forty  or  fifty  tradesmen, 
decently  dressed."  f 

On  the  day  following  the  riot,  Governor  Bernard  issued  a 
'Proclamation,  offering  100  pounds  reward  to  be  paid  "upon 

*  These  were  the  first  Acts  of  any  Assem-  treason  there  would  have  been  no  Revolution  ; 

blies  against  the  authority  of  the  Act  of  Par-  and   but   for   a  Revolution  there  would  have- 

liament.     They  were  expressed  in  such  terms,  been  no  Independence  ;  however  unjust  may 

that  many  people,  "  upon  the  first  surprise,  have  been  the  requirements   of  Government, 

pronounced    them  treasonable  ;    particularly,  they  do  not,  in  a  legal  point  of  view,  affect  the 

Mr.  Otis,  in  the  hearing  of  many  persons  in  nature  of  the  offence.     If  the  People  possess 

King-street." — Hutchinson,  iii.    119.      This,  the  power  to  rebel  successfully,  rebellion  is  at 

as  it  respects  James  Otis,  may  be  very  true,  once  dignified  with  the  name  of  Revolution. 
It  is  also  very  true  that  all   such   opposition        f  Hutchinson.  —  The  reason  for  destroying 

partook  of  the  nature  of  treason  ;  and  but  for  Mr.  Story's  house,  it  is  said,  was,  "  because  he 


696 


STAMP-ACT   RIOTS. 


[1765. 


the  conviction"  of  any  person  concerned  therein.*  But  the  current 
of  public  sentiment  was  already  too  strong  to  be  turned  by,  or  even  to 
heed  Proclamations,  as  will  presently  be  seen. 

Notwithstanding  many  persons  were  much  distressed  at  the  wanton 
destruction  of  the  property  of  an  estimable  fellow-townsman  and  gen- 
tleman, and  viewed  the  ruins  with  the  sincerest  and  deepest  regret,  yet 
"  their  prejudices  were  not  abated  against  the  Stamp  Act." 

This  aspect  of  affairs  brought  Mr.  Oliver  "  to  a  sudden  resolution  to 
resign  his  office  before  another  night,  and  he  immediately  signified,  by  a 
writing  under  his  hand,f  to  one  of  his  friends,  that  he  would  send  let- 
ters, by  a  ship  then  ready  to  sail  for  London,  which  should  contain  such 
resignation ;  and  he  desired  that  the  Town  might  be  made  acquainted 
with  it,  and  with  the  strong  assurances  he  had  given,  that  he  would 
never  act  in  that  capacity."  This  is  Mr.  Hutchinson's  statement  of  the 
case  of  his  friend  and  relative. 


did  something  amiss  in  the  Office  he  sustained 
in  the  Customs,  relating  to  some  gentlemen's 
characters  in  this  Town  ;  "  and  Mr.  Hallowell, 
"  they  lily,  had  given  out  he  would  not  value 
taking  the  post  of  Stamp  Master." —  Copy  of 
a  Letter  from  Joshua  Henshaw,  Jr.,  then  in 
Boston,  to  David  Henshaiv  of  Leicester,  dated 
28  Aug.,  1765.  The  original  was  recently  in 
possession  of  Mr.  T.  J.  Whittemore  of  Cam- 
bridge. 

*  As  Gov.  Hutchinson  does  not  give  the 
Proclamation  in  his  Appendix,  it  is  thought  it 
would  be  proper  to  add  it  in  a  note  here. 

"By  His  Excellency  FRANCIS  BER- 
NARD, ESQ.,  Captain-General,  &c.  A 
PROCLAMATION. 

"  Whereas,  yesterday,  towards  evening,  a 
great  number  of  people  unlawfully  and  riot- 
ously assembled  themselves  together,  in  the 
town  of  Boston,  armed  with  clubs,  staves,  &c, 
and,  with  great  noise  and  tumult,  pulled  down 
a  new  erected  building,  belonging  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Province,  and,  having  so  done, 
surrounded  his  dwelling-house,  pulled  down 
part  of  his  fences,  broke  his  windows ;  at 
length  with  force  and  violence  entered  the 
house  and  damaged  and  destroyed  his  furni- 
ture, and  continued  thus  unlawfully  assembled 
until  midnight,  and  committed  divers  other 
outrages  and  enormities,  to  the  great  terror  of 
his  Majesty's  liege  Subjects.  I  have  therefore 
thought  fit,  with  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's 
Council,  to  issue  this  Proclamation  ;  requiring 
all  Justices  of  Peace,  and  all  Officers,  civil 
and  military,  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors 
for  discovering,  apprehending  and  bringing  to 
justice  all  and  every  of  the  persons  concerned 
in  the  unlawful  assembly  aforesaid.  And  I  do 
hereby  promise,  that  whosoever  shall  discover 
and  detect  any  of  the  persons  concerned  in  the 
outrages  aforesaid,  so  that  they  or  any  of  them 
may  be  lawfully  convicted,  shall  receive  out 
of  the  Public  Treasury  of  this  Province  the 
sum  of  ONE  HUNDRED  POUNDS  as  a  re- 


ward, to  be  paid  upon  the  conviction  of 
such  offender  or  offenders  :  And  any  person 
concerned  therein,  over  and  above  the  reward 
aforesaid,  upon  discovery  of  any  of  his  accom- 
plices as  aforesaid,  shall  receive  his  Majesty's 
tree  and  gracious  pardon. 

"  GIVEN  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Bos- 
ton, the  15th  day  of  August,  1765,  &c.  &c. 
" FRA.  BERNARD. 

"  By  His  Excellency's  Command, 
"  Jno.  Cotton,  Dep.  Seer. 
"  GOD  Save  the  KING." 

f  On  the  26th  of  August  following,  Mr. 
Oliver  wrote  to  his  friend  Ingersoll :  "  Sir,  the 
newspapers  will  sufficiently  inform  you  of  the 
abuse  I  have  met  with  ;  I  am  therefore  only 
to  acquaint  you,  in  short,  that  after  having 
stood  the  attack  for  36  hours,  a  single  man 
against  a  whole  people,  the  Government  not 
being  able  to  afford  me  any  help  during  that 
whole  time,  I  was  persuaded  to  yield  in  order 
to  prevent  what  was  coming  on  the  second 
night ;  and,  as  I  happened  to  give  out  in  writ- 
ing the  terms  of  capitulation,  I  send  you  a 
copy  of  them  ;  assuring  you,  at  the  same  time, 
that  this  only  was  what  was  given  out  by  my 
leave.  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  you, 
and  am, 

"  Sr.  Yor.  most  humble  Servant, 

"  Andw.  Oliver." 

[At  the  foot  of  the  letter  follows  the  Capit- 
ulation.] 

"  Mr.  Oliver  acquaints  Mr.  Waterhouse 
that  he  has  wrote  to  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury 
to  desire  to  be  excused  from  executing  the 
office  of  Distributor  of  the  Stamps,  and  that, 
when  they  arrive,  he  shall  only  take  proper 
care  to  secure  them  for  the  Crown,  but  will 
take  no  one  step  for  distributing  the  same,  at 
the  time  appointed  by  the  Act.  And  he  may 
inform  his  friends  accordingly.  Thursday 
afternoon,  15  August." — From  a  copy  of  the 
original,  in  possession  of  Dr.  F.  E.  Oliver, 
of  Boston. 


17G5.]  STAMP-ACT    RIOTS.  697 

The  determination  of  the  Distributor  being  made  known  to  the  people, 
they  were  highly  elated  at  their  success,  and  looked  upon  it  as,  what  in 
fact  it  was,  a  great  victory  ;  and  it  encouraged  them  to  organize  more 
effectually  in  opposition  to  the  Government.  They  were  so  much 
pleased  with  Mr.  Oliver's  resignation,  that  the  same  night  they  assem- 
bled on  Fort  Hill,  and  kindled  a  bonfire  in  honor  of  the  event.  And, 
having  been  completely  victorious,  the  officers  of  Government  were  en- 
couraged to  hope  that  the  authors  of  the  disturbance  would  quietly 
resume  their  wonted  affairs  ;  but  they  soon  found  they  had  deceived 
themselves,  and  that  even  more  serious  troubles  awaited  them. 

On  the  night  of  the  attack  on  Mr.  Oliver's  house,  Lieut.  Governor 
Hutchinson  was  in  that  house,  and,  as  he  acknowledges,  had  "  excited 
the  Sheriff  and  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment  to  suppress  the  mob." 
This,  of  course,  it  was  his  duty  to  do.  But  duty,  on  the  part  of  those 
the  people  considered  as  their  oppressors,  was  but  a  small  argument 
with  them  for  their  forbearance  to  inflict  retaliatory  injury.  Therefore, 
the  Lieut.  Governor  was  next  to  be  called  upon  to  make  atonement  for 
his  offences  against  the  sovereignty  of  the  people.  And  as  no  one 
could  give  so  faithful  an  account  of  what  befell  him  as  himself,  his  own 
relation  of  the  whole  transaction  will  presently  be  given  in  his  own 
words. 

"  A  report  was  soon  spread  that  he  *  was  a  favorer  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  and  had  encouraged  it  by  letters  to  the  Ministry.  Whereupon,  on 
the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  of  August,  the  mob  surrounded  the 
"  house  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Chief  Justice. f  Upon 
notice  of  the  approach  of  the  people,  he  caused  the  doors  and  windows 
to  be  barred,  and  remained  in  the  house.  After  attempting  to  enter, 
they  called  upon  him  to  come  into  the  balcony,  and  to  declare  that  he 
had  not  written  in  favor  of  the  Act,  and  they  would  retire  quite  satis- 
fied. This  was  an  indignity  to  which  he  would  not  submit ;  and 
therefore  he  made  no  answer.  An  ancient  reputable  tradesman 
obtained  their  attention,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  them,  not  only  of 
the  unwarrantableness  of  their  proceedings,  but  of  the  groundlessness 
of  their  suspicions  -of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  who  might  well  enough  wish 
the  Act  of  Parliament  had  not  passed,  though  he  disapproved  of  the 
violent  opposition  to  its  execution.  Some  were  for  withdrawing,  and 
others  for  continuing  ;  when  one  of  the  neighbors  called  to  them  from 
his  window,  and  affirmed  that  he  saw  the  Lieut.  Governor  in  his  car- 
riage, just  before  night,  and  that  he  was  gone  to  lodge  at  his  house  in 
the  country. J  Upon  this  they  dispersed,  with  only  breaking  some  of 
the  glass." 

Meanwhile,  Dr.  Mayhew  preached  a  sermon  in  his  own  Church,  from 

*  The  Governor  wrote  in  the  third  person.  beyond  the  Neponset  river,  on  the  main  road. 

f  Mr.  Hutchinson,  it  will  be  remembered,  The  beautiful  trees,  which  shade  the  avenue 

held  both  these  offices.  leading  from  the  river  to  that  locality,  are 

\  Mr.  Hutchinson  had  an  elegant  country  said  to  have  been  planted  by  Gov.  Hutchin- 

seat  in  Milton,  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  just  son's  own  hand. 

88 


698  STAMP-ACT  RIOTS.  [1765. 

the  text,  "I  would  they  were  even  cut  off  which  trouble 
ug"  "  '  you."  *  The  Doctor's  enemies  seized  upon  this  circumstance, 
and  reported  that  he  had  preached  a  sermon  which  went  to  encourage 
the  people  to  resist  the  Government,  and  had  caused  the  mob  to  com- 
mit the  violence  of  which  they  had  been  guilty.  This  account  of  the 
Sermon  was  circulated  immediately  after  the  enormities  of  the  twenty- 
sixth,  next  to  be  detailed. 

As  a  reason  for  the  proceedings  of  the  mob  against  him,  Governor 
Hutchinson  makes  the  following  declaration  :  "  Certain  depositions  had 
been  taken,  many  months  before  these  transactions,  by  order  of  the 
Governor  [Bernard] ,  concerning  the  illicit  trade  carrying  on  ;  and  one 
of  them,  made  by  the  Judge  of  the  Admiralty,  had,  at  the  special 
desire  of  the  Governor,  been  sworn  to  before  the  Lieutenant  Governor, 
as  Chief  Justice.  They  had  been  shown  at  one  of  the  Offices  in  Eng- 
land to  a  person  who  arrived  in  Boston  just  at  this  time  ;  and  he  had 
acquainted  several  merchants,  whose  names  were  in  some  of  the  deposi- 
tions as  smugglers,  with  the  contents.  This  brought,  though  without 
reason,  the  resentment  of  the  merchants  against  the  persons  who,  by 
their  office,  were  obliged  to  administer  the  oaths,  as  well  as  against 
the  Officers  of  the  Customs  and  Admiralty,  who  had  made  the  deposi- 
tions." 

These  causes,  though  they  may  have  more  readily  occurred  to  the 
Lieut.  Governor  than  others,  do  not  seem  to  be  quite  sufficient  to  war- 
rant the  conclusion  that  they  were  the  only  ones,  or  even  the  chief 
causes  of  the  troubles.  Gordon,  who  wrote  at  the  time,  and  was  con- 
versant with  the  stirring  men  of  the  period,  dates  the  prime  cause  much 
earlier.     However,  on  Monday  evening  following  the  decease  of 

&' "  '  Dr.  Mayhew,  "about  twilight,  a  small  bonfire  appeared  to  be 
kindled  in  King-street,  and  surrounded  only  by  a  few  boys  and  chil- 
dren ;  but  one  of  the  Fire  Wards,  perceiving  it  to  rise  to  a  dangerous 
height,  interposed  and  used  his  endeavors  to  extinguish,  or  at  least  to 
diminish  it ;  in  which  salutary  attempt,  after  several  whispers  from  a 
person  unknown,  warning  him  of  danger,  he  received  a  blow  and  such 
tokens  of  insult  and  outrage  as  obliged  him  to  desist  and  take  his  de- 
parture." 

*  Galatians  v.  12,13.      When  it  came  to  and  I  have  heard  your  honor  speak  to  the  same 

the  knowledge  of  Mr.  Mayhew  that  he  was  purpose.   But,  as  my  text  led  me  to  do,  I  cau- 

charged  with  causing  the  destruction  of  Gov.  tioned  my  hearers,  very  particularly,  against 

Hutchinson's  house,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  that  the  abuses  of  liberty,  and  expressed  the  hopes 

gentleman,  in  which  he  said  :  "  God  is  my  wit-  that  no  persons  amongst  ourselves  had  encour- 

ness,  that  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  de-  aged  the  bringing  of  such  a  burden  on  their 

test  these  proceedings  ;  and  that  I  am  sincerely  Country,  notwithstanding  it  had  been  strongly 

grieved  for  them,  and  have  a  deep  sympathy  suspected.     In  truth,  sir,  I  had  rather  lose  my 

with  you  and   your   distressed  family  on  this  hand  than  be  an  encourager  of  such  outrages 

occasion.  I  did,  indeed,  express  myself  strongly  as  were  committed  last  night.     I  do  not  think 

in   favor  of  civil    and   religious  liberty,  as  I  my  regard  to  truth  was  ever  called  in  question 

hope  I  shall  ever  continue  to  do  ;  and  spoke  by  those  that  knew  me ;  and,  therefore,  hope 

of  the  Stamp  Act  as  a  great   grievance,  like  your  Honor  will  be  so  just  as  to  give  entire 

to  prove  detrimental,  in  a  high  degree,  both  credit  to  these  solemn  declarations." — Gordon's 

to  .the    Colonies    and    the    Mother  Country ;  Hisi.  Am.  Revolution,  i.  178-9.  Ed.  Lon.  1788. 


1765.]  STAMP-ACT   RIOTS.  699 

This  is  the  commencement  of  the  account  of  what  may  be  denomi- 
nated the  Great  Riot,  as  published  in  a  "  Supplement  to  the  Boston 
News-Letter,"  printed  one  week  after  it  happened;  and,  as  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson but  barely  alludes  to  it,  this  account  is  continued  from  the  same 
source  as  the  transactions  preceding  the  destruction  of  the  house  of 
the  Lieutenant  Governor,  which,  as  before  stated,  will  be  given  in  his 
own  words. 

"  Soon  after  this"  (the  departure  of  the  Fire  Ward),  "  daylight 
being  scarce  in,*  the  fire  gradually  decaying,  a  peculiar  whoop  and 
whistle  was  observed  to  be  sounded  from  various  quarters,  which  in- 
stantaneously drew  together  a  great  number  of  disguised  ruffians,  armed 
with  clubs,  staves,  etc.  No  sooner  were  they  assembled  than  an  attack 
was  made  on  the  dwelling-house  of  William  Story,  Esq.,  opposite  the 
north  side  of  the  Court-house  ;  the  lower  part  of  which,  being  his  office 
as  Dep.  Register  of  the  Court  of  Vice- Admiralty,  was  in  a  few  moments 
laid  open.  The  public  files  of  that  Court,  Mr.  Story's  private  papers, 
books  of  accounts,  etc.,  were  exposed  to  ravage  and  destruction,  and 
improved  as  fuel  to  revive  the  expiring  flames  of  the  bonfire.  Little  more 
than  half  an  hour  sufficed  them  here. 

"  Boisterous  and  intrepid,  from  the  first  object  of  their  rage,  they 
rushed  onward,  increasing  still  in  numbers  and  fury,  to  the  new  and 
elegantly-finished  building  of  Benjamin  Hallo  well,  Jr.,  Esq.  [Comp- 
troller of  the  Customs  in  Hanover-street]  ,f  where,  after  tearing  down 
the  fences,  breaking  the  windows,  etc.,  they  at  length  entered  the 
house,  and,  in  the  most  savage  and  destructive  manner,  broke  and 
abused  his  furniture,  chairs,  tables,  desk,  glasses,  china,  and,  in  short, 
everything  they  could  lay  their  hands  on  ;  at  the  same  time  purloining 
his  money,J  an(^  dispersing  his  private  books  and  papers,  until,  by  the 
effect  of  wine  and  the  other  stores  of  his  cellar,  they  ripened  in  ebriety 
and  madness,  and  became  fit  for  the  next  more  desolating  and  barbarous 
operation." 

*  Another  account  says  the  mob  went  first  barrel  of  punch  probably  prepared  the  way  for 

to  Mr.  Charles  Paxton's  house  (which  was  in  the  other  mischiefs. 

Till ey  Valley,  afterwards  Hutchinson,  now  f  After  the  numbering  of  buildings  was 
Pearl-street,  and  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  adopted,  that  occupying  the  site  of  Mr.  Hal- 
street,  some  four  doors  from  Milk,  an  elegant  lowell's  was  No.  47.  The  Hon.  John  Coffin 
three-story  brick) .  But  Mr.  Paxton  was  only  Jones  afterwards  lived  on  the  same  spot.  Here 
a  tenant,  and  did  not  own  the  house,  and  its  stood  his  mansion-house  when  the  first  Direc- 
real  owner,  happening  to  be  there,  assured  tory  of  the  Town  was  made  (1789),  and  here 
them  of  the  fact.  He  assured  them  also  that  he  resided  many  years.  Before  1818  he  re- 
Mr.  Paxton  had  gone  off,  and  had  carried  'moved  to  Pearl-street,  and  afterwards  to  Som- 
away  most  of  his  valuables ;  that,  as  he  (the  erset  Place^  where  he  died,  25  Oct.,  1829, 
owner  of  the  house)  had  not  done  them  any  aged  82.  A  church  was  built  in  Hanover- 
harm,  he  hoped  they  would  not  injure  his  street,  upon  the  site  of  Mr.  Jones'  former 
property,  and,  at  the  same  time,  proposed  to  mansion,  over  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman 
treat  them  with  a  barrel  of  punch  "  at  the  Beecher  was  installed  22  March,  1826.  This 
tavern."  This  offer  was  immediately  accepted,  church  was  burned  on  the  1st  of  Feb.,  1830, 
That  after  the  punch  was  disposed  of,  the  'and  the  ground  on  which  it  stood  has  been 
Mob  went  directly  to  Mr.  Story's.  There  is  no  since  improved  for  stores, 
allusion  to  this  prelude  to  the  tragedy  in  the  J"  About  £30  sterling.'' — Governor 's Proo 
Governor's  Proclamation  of  Aug.  28th.     The  lamation. 


700 


STAMP-ACT   RIOTS. 


[1765. 


"They  came  with  intoxicated  rage,"*  writes  Mr.  Hutchinson 
(whose  account  follows),  "upon  the  house  of  the  Lieut.  Governor. f 
The  doors  were  immediately  split  to  pieces  with  broad  axes,  and  a  way 
made  there,  and  at  the  windows,  for  the  entry  of  the  mob  ;  which 
poured  in,  and  filled  in  an  instant  every  room  in  the  house. 

"  The  Lieut.  Governor  had  very  short  notice  of  the  approach  of  the 
Mob.  He  directed  his  children  and  the  rest  of  his  family  to  leave  the 
house  immediately,  determining  to  keep  possession  himself.  His  eldest 
daughter,  after  going  a  little  way  from  the  house,  returned,  and  refused 
to  quit  it  unless  her  father  would  do  the  like.  This  caused  him  to 
depart  from  his  resolution  a  few  minutes  before  the  mob  entered.  They 
continued  their  possession  until  daylight ;  destroyed,  carried  away,  or 
cast  into  the  street,  everything  that  was  in  the  house  ;  demolished  every 
part  of  it,  except  the  walls,  as  far  as  lay  in  their  power,  and  had  begun 
to  break  away  the  brick  work. J 

"  The  damage  was  estimated  at  about  2,500  pounds  sterling,  without 
any  regard  to  a  great  collection  of  public  as  well  as  private  papers,  in 
the  possession  and  custody  of  the  Lieut.  Governor. § 

"  The  Town  was  the  whole  night  under  the  awe  of  this  mob  ;  many 
of  the  Magistrates,  with  the  Field  Officers  of  the  militia,  standing  by 
as  spectators  ;   and  nobody  daring  to  oppose  or  contradict. 

"  The  Governor  was  at  the  Castle,  ||  and  knew  nothing  of  what  had 
happened  until  the  next  morning.     He  then  went  to  Town,  and  caused 


*  In  a  MS.  note  in  a  copy  of  Snow's  His- 
tory it  is  said,  that  "  Mr.  John  Rowe  led  the 
Mob  against  Mr.  Hutchinson's  house ;  but 
there  was  no  intention  to  commit  such  violence 
as  was  committed."  The  authority  cited  is 
"  C.  Hopkins  to  R[edford]  Webster."  But 
Hutchinson  himself  says  the  leader  was  Mack- 
intosh. 

fin  Garden  Court-street.  It  was  taken 
down  about  1830. 

J  Governor  Bernard's  proclamation  is  more 
particular.  It  says  those  who  had  been  at 
Mr.  Hallowell's,  "  or  other  riotous  people,  did 
on  the  same  night  attack  the  dwelling-house  of 
the  Hon.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Governor  of  the  Province,  and  forcibly  enter 
the  same,  break  down  and  destroy  the  wain- 
scot and  partitions  therein,  leaving  the  house 
a  mere  shell  from  top  to  bottom,  break  and 
destroy  every  window,  with  all  the  furniture 
belonging  thereto,  destroy  or  carry  oiF  all  the 
wearing  apparel,  jewels,  books  and  papers  of 
every  kind  belonging  to  his  Honor  and  his 
family,  drink,  take  away  or  destroy  eight 
pipes  and  three  quarter-casks  of  wine,  and 
every  bottle  of  liquors,  and  all  provisions  and 
stores  of  what  kind  so  ever  in  his  cellars,  and 
carry  off  about  £900  sterling  in  money,  with 
all  his  Honor's  plate  ;  and  did  afterwards  de- 
liberately cut  down  the  cupola  or  lantern  on 
top  of  the  house,  and  uncover  great  part  of  the 
roof,"  etc. 


In  an  extract  in  Snow's  History  it  is  said, 
"  they  [the  Mob]  worked  three  hours  at  the 
cupola  before  they  could  get  it  down,  and  they 
uncovered  part  of  the  roof ;  but  I  suppose  the 
thickness  of  the  walls,  which  were  of  very  fine 
brick  work,  adorned  with  Ionic  pilasters 
worked  into  the  wall,  prevented  their  com- 
pleting their  purpose,  though  they  worked  at 
it  till  daylight.  The  next  day  the  streets  were 
found  scattered  with  money,  plate,  gold  rings, 
etc.  The  whole  loss  in  this  house  is  reckoned 
at  £3,168  17s.  9d.  lawful."  This  ,was  the 
amount  he  received  afterwards  as  an  indemnity 
for  his  loss  of  property.  —  Eliot.  But  Gordon 
says,  "  Mr.  Hutchinson's  loss  was  £2,396  3s. 
lhd;  Mr.  Oliver's,  £129  3s.;  Mr.  Hallowell's, 
£289  0s.  3Arf." 

§  These  papers  he  was  using  in  compiling 
his  History,  the  first  volume  of  which  was  is- 
sued the  last  year  (1764).  In  the  Preface  to 
the  second  volume  he  thus  alludes  to  this 
destruction  of  his  papers  :  "  The  loss  of  many 
papers  and  books,  in  print  as  well  as  manu- 
script, besides  my  family  memorials,  never  can 
be  repaired."  Nor  can  any  estimate  be  made 
of  the  real  loss  to  the  history  of  the  Country. 

||  Gov.  Bernard  had  a  seat  at  Jamaica  Plain, 
in  Roxbury,  about  which  Luther  M.  Harris, 
M.  D.,  has  communicated  some  interesting  par- 
ticulars to  the  New  Eng.  Hist.  6f  G.  Reg.  for 
Jan.  1856,  p.  23. 


1705.] 


STAMP-ACT   RIOTS. 


701 


a  Council  to  bo  summoned.  Before  they  could  meet,  the  inhabitants 
of  Boston  assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall  ;  and  in  as  lull  a  meeting  as  had 
been  known,  by  an  unanimous  vote,  declared  an  utter  detestation  of 
the  extraordinary  and  violent  proceedings  of  a  number  of  persons  un- 
known, against  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  the  preceding 
night ;  and  desired  the  Selectmen  and  Magistrates  of  the  Town  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavors  to  suppress  the  like  disorders  for  the  future  ;  the 
freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  being  ready  to  do  everything  in  their 
power  to  assist  them.  It  could  not  be  doubted  that  many  of  those  who 
were  immediate  actors  in,  as  well  as  of  those  who  had  been  abettors  of, 
those  violent  proceedings,  were  present  at  this  unanimous  vote." 

By  advice  of  the  Council,  the  Governor  issued  a  Proclamation,  offer- 
ing a  reward  of  300  pounds  for  the  detection  of  the  ringleader,  and 
100  pounds  for  others  concerned  in  the  riot.  Many  of  them  were 
probably  well  known.  Indeed,  several  were  apprehended,  among  whom 
was  one  Moore  ;  but  courts  and  law  had  the  majority  of  the  people 
against  them,  and  consequently  jails  had  lost  their  strength. 

One  Mackintosh,*  a  mechanic  of  the  Town,  was  apprehended  in 
King-street,  as  a  ringleader  ;  but  the  Sheriff  who  had  him  in  charge 
was  at  once  surrounded  by  a  number  of  merchants,  and  other  persons 
of  property  and  character,  who  assured  him  that  if  Mackintosh  was  pro- 
ceeded against,  not  a  man  would  appear  in  arms,  as  had  been  proposed, 
for  the  security  of  the  Town  the  next  night.  Whereupon  the  Sheriff 
released  him,  and  made  return  of  his  doings  to  the  Governor,  then  in 
Council.  Some  of  the  Council  thought  the  Sheriff  could  not  be  ex- 
cused ;    but  no  action  of  disapprobation  followed    in  that   body ;    all 

being  ready,  probably,  like  the 
Lieutenant  Governor,  to  ex- 
claim :  "To  this  feeble  state 
were  the  powers  of  Government 
reduced !  " 

Six  or  eight  others  were  ap- 
prehended, and  on  examination 
were  committed  to  jail ;  but  be- 
fore their  trial  came  on,  a  party 
of  men  entered  the  house  of  the 
Jailer  in  the  night,  compelled 
him  to  deliver  them  the  keys  of 
the  prison,  which  they  opened 
and  set  the  accused  at  liberty. 
All  this  was  effected  without  tu- 
mult or  alarm  to  any  except  the 
Jailer  and  his  immediate  family. 
The  persons  liberated  kept  out 
of  the  way  for  a  time  ;   "  but 


*  Perhaps  Peter  M'Intosh,  a  blacksmith,  at  the  South  End. 


702  CONSEQUENCES    OF   THE   RIOTS.  [1765. 

there  was  no  authority,"  says  Hutchinson,  "  which  thought  it  advisable 
to  make  any  inquiry  after  them." 

The  day  following  this  riot  was  the  first  day  of  the  Superior 

ug'  "  Court  for  the  County  of  Suffolk.  And  while  the  four  Judges 
appeared  in  their  robes  of  office,  Mr.  Hutchinson,  as  Chief  Justice, 
appeared  in  his  ordinary  dress,  in  which  he  was  sitting  in  the  evening 
when  the  Mob  came  to  his  house  ;  because  his  robes  and  every  other 
garment  had  been  destroyed  or  carried  off.*  Therefore,  instead  of  a 
Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury,  the  Chief  Justice  made  a  long  speech  to  the 
people,  in  which  he  endeavored  to  convince  them  of  the  fatal  effects  to 
the  Province  of  the  violent  opposition  to  Government  which  had  begun 
to  take  place.  The  Court  then  "  showed  their  resentment  by  refusing 
to  do  any  business  while  the  Town  was  in  that  disorderly  state,  and  ad- 
journed for  six  weeks." 

Governor  Hutchinson  observes,  that  "  many  of  the  most  ruffian  part 
of  the  Mob,  who  left  the  Town  the  next  day  after  the  Riot,  returned  in 
the  evening,  and  attempted  again  to  collect  the  people  together,  in 
order  to  further  rapine  ;  but  a  military  watch  having  been  ordered,  and 
the  Governor's  company  of  Cadets  appearing  in  arms,  and  showing 
great  spirit,  the  Mob  was  dispersed." 

About  the  tenth  of  September,  there  was  a  ship  arrived  di- 

p  "  "  rect  from  London.  In  her  came  George  Messervey,  Esq.,  with 
a  Commission  as  Distributor  of  Stamps  for  the  Province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. Having  understood  that  such  officers  were  not  very  welcome 
in  Boston,  Mr.  Messervey  thought  it  best,  before  coming  on  shore,  to 
signify  by  letter  to  some  gentlemen  in  the  town,  "that,  as  such  an 
office  would  be  disagreeable  to  the  people,  he  should  resign  it."  This 
announcement  being  made  known,  a  large  number  of  his  friends  and 
other  gentlemen  assembled  on  the  end  of  Long  Wharf  to  greet  him  on 
his  landing,  which  immediately  followed.  Here  he  made  a  declaration 
to  this  effect :  "  As  he  was  the  unhappy  man  who  had  personally 
accepted  of  an  office  odious  to  his  Country,  he  freely  resigned  it,  and 
would  never  act  in  that  capacity."  Upon  this,  three  cheers  were 
given  "  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people"  which  had  now  assembled. 
Mr.  Messervey  was  then  escorted  into  the  Town.  On  arriving  at  the 
head  of  the  wharf  the  cheering  was  repeated,  and  again  on  the  Ex- 
change, in  King-street.  In  the  ship  with  the  Stamp  Master  came  one 
box  of  Stamps  for  New  Hampshire,  but  no  other  mention  is  made  of 
them. 

News  came  by  the  same  ship  that  there  was  a  change  of  Ministry 
"  at  home,"  and  that  the  Stamp  Act  would  be  laid  aside.     All  this, 

*  The  paraphernalia  of  office  in  those  days  lated  to  produce  regard  to  authority."  Bag- 
was  supposed  to  be  of  great  consequence,  wigs,  gaudy  robes,  and  sashes,  might  have 
Soon  after  the  Revolution  it  was  entirely  dis-  some  influence  in  inspiring  respect  where  ig- 
pensed  with.  Mr.  Gordon  says,  "  Mr.  Hutch-  norance  abounded,  while  they  only  excited 
inson  attended  in  his  only  suit,  and  necessarily  contempt  in  a  community  where  intelligence 
without  those  ensigns  of  office  eo  wisely  calcu-  and  common  sense  had  their  due  influence. 


1765.]  NEWS    OF    CHANGE    OP    MINISTRY.  703 

together  with  what  had  just  transpired,  filled  the  Town  generally  with 
joy  ;  "  and  in  the  evening,  many  loyal  healths  were  drank  by  num- 
bers of  gentlemen  who  met  at  several  public  places  for  that  purpose." 
But  the  demonstration  did  not  end  here  ;  for,  on  the  following 
morning,  all  the  bells  were  rung,  "and  joy  and  gladness  ap- 
peared on  every  countenance.  At  the  south  part  of  the  town,  the 
trees,  for  which  many  have  so  great  a  veneration,  were  decorated  with 
the  ensigns  of  loyalty,  and  the  Colors  embroidered  with  several  mot- 
toes. On  the  body  of  the  largest  tree  was  fixed,  with  large  deck 
nails,  that  it  might  last,  as  a  poet  said,  '  like  oaken  bench  to  perpetu- 
ity,' a  copperplate,  with  these  words  stamped  thereon,  in  golden  let- 
ters, 'THE  TREE  OF  LIBERTY,  August  14,  1765.'  "  A  great 
holiday  ensued.  Liquor  was  freely  served  out  to  the  multitude  who 
had  assembled  about  Liberty  Tree,  and  salutes  were  fired.  Soon 
after  one  o'clock,  "some  of  the  train  of  artillery  brought  down  some 
cannon,  placed  them  before  the  Town-house,  and  fired  several  rounds." 
This  appears  to  have  been  done  without  the  authority  of  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  and  without  any  notice  to  the  Governor  and  Council, 
then  sitting. 

The  next  day  there  was  a  Town-meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall ; 
the  principal  motive  for  which  appears  to  have  been  to  show 
respect  to  Lord  Adam  Gordon,  who,  on  the  previous  Sunday,  had  ar- 
rived in  Town  from  Albany,  and  to  engage  him  to  use  his  influence,  on 
his  return  to  England,  to  effect  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.*    Accord- 
ingly, a  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  him,  at  the  head  of 
which  was  James  Otis,  the  Moderator.     His  Lordship  received  the 
Committee  with  all  due  respect,  but,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Otis's  address, 
his  language  was  so  well  guarded,  that,  while  it  contained  nothing  to 
encourage  the  Patriots,  it  gave  them  no  special  ground  to  think  he 
would  take  particular  pains  to  serve  them.     He  was  attached  to  the 
Army,  was  Colonel  of  the  sixty-sixth  regiment,  and  soon  after  left 
for  England.     The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  eighteenth  following. 
At  the  Town-meeting  of  the  twelfth  of  September,  gentlemen,  as 
usual,  were  appointed  to  draw  up  Instructions  for  the  Representatives. 
At  the  adjourned  meeting,  those  Instructions  were  reported 
'     '  and   accepted.      At    the   same   meeting,  special   notice   was 
taken  of  those  gentlemen  who  had  stood  up  in  Parliament  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  laws  which  bore  so  heavily  upon  the  Colonies  ;  f  and  it  was 

*  He  was  a  Member  of  Parliament,  and  was  transmit  by  the  first  opportunity,  to  the  Et. 

making  a  tour  through  the  country.  Hon.  Gen.  Conway,  now  one  of  his  Majesty's 

•j-  On  a  motion  made  at  the  above  meeting,  principal   Secretaries  of  State,  and   to   Col. 

it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  Hon.  James  Isaac  Barre,  a  Member  of  Parliament,  several 

Otis,  Esq.,  the  Moderator,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Addresses,    humbly    expressing    the    sincere 

Welles,  Esq.,  the  Hon.  Harrison  Gray,  Esq.,  thanks  of  this  Metropolis  of  His  Majesty's 

the  Hon.  Royall  Tyler,   Esq.,   Joshua  Hen-  ancient  and   loyal  Province,  for  their  noble, 

shaw,  Esq.,  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Samu-  generous,  and  truly  patriotic  speeches,  at  the 

el  Adams,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  and  last  session  of  Parliament,  in  favor  of  the 


704  ISAAC    BARRE.  [1765. 

voted  that  letters  of  thanks  should  be  transmitted  to  them,  and  that 
their  portraits  should  be  requested,  and,  when  obtained,  be  hung  up 
in  Faneuil  Hall.  This  was  in  due  time  accomplished,  and  the  por- 
traits of  Gren.  Conway*  and  Colonel  Barre  were  afterwards  placed 
there.  But  what  became  of  them  is  not  known,  though  they  are 
supposed  to  have  been  destroyed  or  carried  off  when  the  British  army 
had  control  of  the  town  in  1775-6. 

Mr.  Otis  probably  drafted  the  letters  sent  to  those  gentlemen,  but 
Colonel  Barre  did  not  receive  that  directed  to  him  until  the  latter  end 
of  December  following,  owing  to  his  absence  from  London.  In  a  few 
days  after  its  receipt,  he  replied  to  it,  and  in  a  style  of  surpassing  felicity 
of  expression,  glowing  with  the  best  feelings  of  the  human  heart.f 
He  commenced  by  observing  that  "it  was  with  the  highest  sense  of 
honor  done  him  he  acknowledged  the  receipt"  of  the  letter,  and  the 
resolutions  of  the  Town.  He  then  referred  to  his  services  in,  and 
acquaintance  with,  America,  and  then  to  the  immediate  cause  of  the 
notice  taken  of  him  by  the  Town  of  Boston,  in  these  words:  "My 
conduct  in  Parliament,  so  obligingly  referred  to,  being  the  real  senti- 
ments of  my  heart,  was  the  natural  result  of  these  considerations. J 
The  terms  in  which  they  were  delivered  were  such  as  the  particular 
circumstances  of  time  and  place  first  suggested,  and  such  as  I  cannot 
possibly,  at  this  distance,  charge  my  memory  with.  They  were  not 
premeditated,  nor  are  they,  perhaps,  worthy  to  be  remembered.  I 
must,  therefore,  beg  your  mediation,  Sir,  with  the  respectable  body 
whose  pen  you  hold,  to  excuse  my  troubling  them  with  an  imperfect 
repetition  of  words,  in  themselves  of  little  use  in  North  America. 
But  if  there  should  be  any  call  for  the  like  exertion  in  Europe,  I  beg 
leave,  through  your  means,  to  assure  them  that  no  consideration  shall 
make  me  forget  my  duty,  whenever  an  occasion  presents  itself,  of  pro- 
moting, to  the  utmost  of  my  abilities,  the  united  interests  of  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies." 

Colonel  Barre  then  modestly  refers  to  the  request  for  his  portrait, 
in  this  paragraph :  "As  long  as  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
will  continue  to  regard  the  motives  of  my  conduct,  and  not  the  conse- 
quences, I  do  not  despair  of  retaining,  what  I  shall  ever  esteem  among 
the  greatest  rewards,  their  approbation,  of  which  I  cannot  have  a  more 
honorable  or  distinguishing  mark  than  that  contained  in  the  last  part 

Colonies,  their  Eights  and  Privileges  ;  and  tary  of  State  for  the  Northern  Department, 

that  correct  copies  of  the  same  be  desired,  that  then  the  leader  of  the  House   of  Commons, 

they  may  be  deposited  among  our  most  pre-  whom  Junius,  with  no  great  justice,  perhaps, 

cious  archives.    Also  voted,  that  those  gentle-  characterized  as  "  Caution  without  foresight." 

men's  pictures,   as  soon  as  they  can  be  ob-  His  career  was  a  short  one. 
tained,  be  placed  in  Faneuil  Hall,  as  a  stand-         f  It  was  dated  January  11th,  1766.      The 

ing  monument  to  all  posterity  of  the  virtue  date  of  Mr.  Otis's  was  September  the  20th, 

and  justice  of  our  benefactors,  and  a  lasting  two  days  after  the  vote  recorded  in  the  text. 
proof  of  our  gratitude.     Attest,  J  Considerations  respecting  the  interests  of 

"William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk."  both  countries,  noticed  in  a  previous  paragraph 

*  The  Hon.  Henry  Seymour  Conway,  Secre-  of  his  letter. 


1705.]  RIOTS    OUT    OF    BOSTON.  705 

of  their  resolution.     A  flattering  request,  which  I  shall  comply  with 
as  soon  as  possible."* 

Gen.  Conway's  letter,  acknowledging  the  action  of  the  Town,  as 
also  that  of  Colonel  Barre,  are  entered  upon  the  Records  of  the  Town. 
The  letter  accompanying  his  portrait  was  not  received  until  17G7.J 

Boston,  though  it  took  the  lead  in  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act,  was 
not  the  only  place  where  a  disposition  was  shown  to  set  its  provisions 
at  defiance.  Stamp  Masters  had  been  burnt  in  effigy  in  nearly  all  the 
Colonies,  and  those  holding  that  office  had  been  compelled  to  follow  the 
example  of  Mr.  Oliver,  and  resign.  "  Mobs  became  frequent  in  Con- 
necticut, Rhode  Island,  and  New  York."  The  first  of  November  was 
at  hand.  Then  the  Act  was  to  take  etfect.  All  business  requiring 
forms  must  be  suspended  or  done  illegally.  To  proceed  as  before,  using 
instruments  without  Stamps,  was  hazardous  in  the  extreme,  inasmuch  as 
it  was  by  no  means  certain  that  the  Act  would  not  be  enforced.  This 
was  the  aspect  of  the  political  horizon  in  Boston  in  the  autumn  of 
1765. 

When  the  General  Court  met,  in  September,  the  Governor  alluded  to 
the  disturbances  in  his  speech  ;  and,  although  he  spoke  sensibly  in  some 
parts  of  it,  it  is  plain  that  he  did  not  well  understand  his  position,  nor 
the  people  over  whom  he  was  placed.  He  had  abundant  proof  that 
his  authority  was  set  at  defiance  ;  and  for  him  to  threaten  them,  under 
such  circumstances,  was  calculated  to  call  forth  ridicule,  and  to  lessen 
the  little  respect  entertained  for  him.  Even  Mr.  Hutchinson  remarks 
of  Governor  Bernard's  speech,  that  though  "animated,  the  conclusion 
was  faint." 

The  General  Court  were  expected  to  take  some  action  by  which 
Stamps  might  be  dispensed  with.  This  was  as  well  understood  by  the 
people  as  by  the  Court,  especially  the  popular  branch  of  it.  Hence, 
when  the  subject  came  up,  it  was  referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  two 
Houses. 

Meanwhile,  the  Stamps  having  arrived,  and  as  there  was  no 
p  '     '  officer  having  a  commission  to  receive  them,  the  Governor  caused 
them  to  be  landed  at  the  Castle,  and  there  to  be  kept  until  the  pleas- 
ure of  his  Majesty  should  be  known.  J     Therefore  the  Report  of  the 

*  It  is  not  a  little  source  of  mortification  to  slow  in  finishing  it,  I  hope  it  will  not  be  im- 

the  Writer,  to  be  obliged  to  say,  that  the  por-  puted  to  any  neglect  on  my  part,  or  to  any 

traits  of  Ool.  Barre  and  Gen.  Conway  have  want  of  the  just  sense  I  ought  ever  to  retain 

never  been  replaced  in  Faneuil  Hall.      Could  of  the  great  distinction  they  were  pleased  to 

some  of  the  City's  expenditures  be  converted  favor  me  with  on  that  occasion."  —  From  the 

into  them,  it  would  lose  none  of  its  honor  by  original  in  the  -possession  of  Francis  Jackson, 

the  change.  Esq.,  who  kindly  brought  it  to  the  notice  of 

f  That  letter  was  brief,  and  in  these  words  :  the  Author.  It  should  be  stated  that  the  let- 
"  London,  March  16th,  1767.  Sir,  I  am  ter  is  not  in  the  autograph  of  Secretary  Con- 
ashamed  to  have  so  long  deferred  sending  my  way,  but  is  signed  by  him. 
Picture,  which  the  Assembly  of  Boston  have  %  Before  taking  the  responsibility  of  con- 
done me  the  honor  to  request.  But  as  this  cerning  with  the  Stamps,  Mr.  Bernard  desired 
delay  has  been  chiefly  owing  to  the '  dilatori-  the  advice  of  the  General  Court  in  the  matter  ; 
ness  of  the  painter,  who  has  been  extremely  but  the  Court  declined  giving  any. 

89 


706  BUSINESS    SUSPENDED.  [1765. 

Committee  was  in  accordance  with  all  the  facts  ;  recommending  that, 
as  there  was  nobody  to  distribute  the  Stamps,  and  that  no  persons 
' '  would  think  it  consistent  with  their  reputation  to  become  a  Distrib- 
utor," all  business  should  proceed  as  before  the  passage  of  the  Act, 
using  papers  without  Stamps,  and  that  this  course  should  be  legalized 
by  the  General  Court,  or  become  valid.  The  Governor,  of  course,  was 
not  expected  to  give  his  assent  to  such  an  Act,  and  it  was  recom- 
mitted in  the  House.  In  the  mean  time  the  Assembly  was  prorogued, 
but  the  opponents  of  the  Stamp  Act  got  all  they  expected,  though 
"  they  had  not  got  authority  to  do  business  without  Stamps.  It 
was  therefore  resolved  by  the  business  community  to  do  all  in  their 
power  to  cause  the  Act  to  be  repealed.  They  were  much  encour- 
aged in  this  movement,  for  about  the  time  the  General  Court*  was 
prorogued,  several  vessels  arrived  from  England,  bringing  intelli- 
gence that  a  great  part  of  the  people  of  that  country  were  against 
the  Act. 

The  people  had  now  pretty  generally  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  would  defeat  the  operation  of  the  Stamp  Act  by  refusing  to 
make  any  use  of  stamped  paper ;  that  a  suspension  of  all  business 
would  necessarily  follow,  for  a  time,  in  which  stamps  were  required, 
was  also  expected. 

At  the  same  time  the  merchants  and  traders  in  and  near  Boston  formed 
an  agreement  to  recall  all  unconditional  English  orders,  except  for  sea- 
coal,  and  a  few  other  bulky  articles,  and  to  order  none,  except  upon  the 
condition  that  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed.  All  who  did  not  come 
into  this  agreement  were  looked  upon  as  enemies  to  the  Country.  In 
addition  to  this,  all  merchants,  who  were  getting  vessels  ready  for  sea, 
took  out  their  papers  before  the  first  of  November,  although  they  did 
not  expect  to  use  them  for  a  month  or  more  after  that ;  thereby  avoid- 
ing stamped  clearances.  Hence  five  or  six  weeks  passed  without  any 
business  being  done  or  required  to  be  done  at  the  Custom-house.  It 
was  the  same  in  the  Courts  of  Law.  No  wills  were  proved  nor  ad- 
ministrations granted;  no  deeds  nor  bonds  were  executed,  or  any 
other  business  done,  where  stamped  papers  were  required  to  make  the 
transaction  legal.  This  was  indeed  a  great  inconvenience,  and  to 
many  a  serious  grievance. 

While  affairs  were  in  this  state,  the  Rulers  must  have  seen  that 
fearful  troubles  might  well  be  expected,  and  at  no  very  distant  day ; 
but  their  hands  were  tied  as  well  as  those  of  the  people  ;  and  when  a 
gentleman  of  the  Liberty  Party  complained,  to  some  of  the  officers  of 
Government,  that  things  were  in  such  a  condition,  he  was  told  that 
"  he  had  raised  the  Devil,  and  now  could  not  lay  him."  Such  an  an- 
swer may  have  discovered  the  feelings  of  the  Official,  but  its  effect 
naturally  was  to  irritate  the  Liberty  Men. 

In  the  midst  of  the  stirring  scenes  now  opened,  the  Patriots  lost  one 
of  their  substantial  supporters.     This  was  Joseph  Green,  Esq.,  a  mer- 


1705.] 


ANTI-STAMP    DEMONSTRATIONS. 


707 


chant,  who  has  been  before  noticed  in  these  pages.     He  died  on  the 
first  day  of  July,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age.* 


CHAPTER    LXX. 

Anti-Stamp  Demonstrations.  —  Grenville  and  Huske  burnt  in  Effigy.  —  A  Caricature.  —  Powder-plot 
Celebration.  —  Union  of  the  North  and  South  End  Pageants.  —  Scriptural  Account  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

—  Vessels  sail  without  Stamped  Clearances.  —  Business  at  a  Stand.  —  News  from  England  favoi'- 
able.  —  Mr.  Oliver  called  upon  to  make  a  public  Resignation.  —  Resigns  at  Liberty  Tree.  —  The 
Town  memorialize  the  General  Court.  —  No  Redress.  —  Hutchinson  resigns  Office  of  Judge  of  Probate. 

—  Population  of  Town  and  Province.  — Boston  in  Rebellion  proclaimed  in  Parliament.  —  A  Stamp 
described.  —  Liberty  Tree  pruned. —  Grenville  and  Bute  burnt  in  Effigy.  —  Case  of  Capt.  Thacher. 

—  Ceremony  of  Burning  a  Stamp.  —  Case  of  Capt.  Kirkwood. 


Nov.  1. 


WARREN,  f 


BUT  the  Liberty  Party  were  determined  to 
make  a  demonstration  on  the  day  on  which  the 
Stamp  Act  was  to  have  taken  effect ;  more,  perhaps,  to 
overawe  the  authorities,  and  cause  them  to  abandon 
any  hope  they  might  have  of  an  acquiescence  or  submis- 
sion to  that  Act,  than  for  any  other  purpose.  Ac- 
cordingly, that  morning,  it  being  Friday,  was  "ush- 
ered in  by  the  tolling  of  bells,  and  the  vessels  in  the 
harbor  displayed  their  colors  at  half  mast."  The  au- 
thorities feared  there  would  be  some  outbreak,  and  had 


*  He  was  son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Green, 
of  Salem  Village,  and  was  born  12  Dec.  1703  ; 
m.  Anna  Pierce,  of  Portsmouth,  N.-H.  His 
portrait,  by  Copley,  is  in  possession  of  Dr. 
Joshua  Green,  of  Groton,  a  descendant.  Gov. 
Shirley  commissioned  him  a  Magistrate  in 
1755,  and  Gov.  Bernard  in  1761.  A  large  es- 
tate in  Hanover-street,  on  which  now  stands 
the  American  House,  was  purchased  by  him 
in  1734,  of  Gov.  Belcher,  for  £3,600.  He 
was  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Green  &  Walker 
of  that  day.  Mr.  Walker's  name  was  Isaac. 
Their  sons,  Joseph  Green  and  Edward  Walker, 
also  merchants  and  co-partners,  kept,  in  1761, 
"  at  the  north  corner  of  Queen-street,  near  the 
Town-house."  Joseph  Green,  Esq.,  had  many 
children,  sons  and  daughters.  All  the  sons 
died  childless  except  Joshua,  H.  C.  1749.  His 
eldest  daughter,  Anna,  m.  Joshua  Winslow  of 
Marshfield ;  another,  Susanna,  m.  Francis 
Green,  her  cousin,  son  of  Benj.  Green,  of  Hal- 
ifax ;  another,  Elizabeth,  m.  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Storer  (H.  O.  1747).  See  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen. 
Reg.,  vol.  vi.  275.  George,  son  of  Joseph 
Green,  Esq.,  m.  Catherine  Aspinwall,  of 
Brookline.  He  was'a  merchant,  and  his  shop 
was  at  the  corner  of  Williams  Court  in  1770. 


Some  time  after  this  he  went  to  England,  and 
died  there. 

f  The  Arms  of  Warren,  here  presented,  are 
copied  from  the  magnificent  (privately  jDrinted) 
work  entitled  "  Genealogy  of  Warren,  with 
some  Historical  Sketches  ;  by  John  C.  War- 
ren, M.D.,  Emeritus  Professor  of  Harvard 
University,"  printed  in  Boston,  in  1854.  The 
immediate  family  of  Gen.  Joseph  Warren  is 
descended  from  Peter  Warren,  of  Boston,  who, 
March  8th,  1659,  purchased  land  of  Theodore 
Atkinson,  "  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Bos- 
ton, next  the  water-side,  opposite  and  against 
Dorchester  Neck."  South  Boston  was  for- 
merly Dorchester  Neck.  He  died  1704.  By 
his  wife  Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  Tucker,  of 
Dorchester,  he  had,  besides  other  children,  Jo- 
seph Warren,  of  Roxbury,  who  died  in  1729. 
By  his  wife  Deborah,  daughter  of  Sam'l  WiL, 
liams,  of  Deerfield,  Joseph  of  Roxbury  had, 
beside  others,  Joseph,  also  of  Roxbury,  who 
died  in  October,  1775.  This  Joseph  m.  Ma- 
ry, daughter  of  Samuel  Stevens,  of  Roxbury, 
29  May,  1740,  and  had  Joseph,  who  fell  at 
Bunker's  Hill,  and  left  issue  Samuel,  of 
Roxbury,  who  died  unmarried  ;  Ebenezer,  of 
Foxboro ugh,  Mass.,  and  John,  of  Salem  and 


708  GRENVILLE    AND    HUSKE    BURNT    IN   EFFIGY.  [1765. 

taken  precautionary  measures  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  similar 
scenes  to  those  of  the  fourteenth  and  twenty-sixth  of  August.*  How- 
ever, on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  November,  the  Great  Tree  at  Es- 
sex-street, now  well  known  as  Liberty  Tree,  was  "adorned"  with 
the  effigies  of  George  Grenville  and  John  Huske  ;  f  the  former  had 
been  a  principal  in  bringing  about  the  Stamp  Act,  and  the  latter  had, 
it  was  said,  been  the  first  to  advise  it. 

Those  Images  remained  hanging  upon  the  tree  until  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  nobody  presuming  to  interfere.  Meanwhile, 
the  avenues  to  the  tree  were  crowded  by  several  thousands  of  people, 
of  all  ranks  and  conditions,  and  in  their  presence  the  Figures  were  cut 
down  and  placed  in  a  cart,  with  great  solemnity,  and  amidst  deafening 
acclamations  of  the  surrounding  multitude.  As  the  cart  moved  from 
the  tree  down  Newbury-street,  the  people  followed  it  in  perfect  order 
and  in  regular  ranks.  The  procession  marched  directly  to  the  Court- 
house, where  the  Assembly  or  General  Court  was  in  session ;  thence 
to  the  North  End  ;  thence  up  Middle-street ;  thence  back  through  the 
town  to  the  gallows  on  the  Neck.  Here  the  Effigies  were  again  sus- 
pended, and,  after  remaining  a  short  time,  were  cut  down,  and  treated 
with  such  indignities  as  were  thought  necessary  to  show  the  detestation 
in  which  the  characters  of  those  were  held  whom  they  represented. 
They  were  fiercely  torn  limb  from  limb,  and  the  several  parts  tossed  in 
the  air. 

When  this  was  finished,  three  cheers  were  given,  and  the  multitude 
were  requested  to  go  quietly  to  their  homes  ;  which  every  one  did  in 
a  very  orderly  manner,  and  the  following  night  was  entirely  free  from 
noise,  to  the  happy  astonishment  of  many,  who  .had  shuddered  under 
fearful  apprehensions  of  a  far  different  termination. 

The  above  is  the  substance  of  the  Massachusetts  Gazette  account  J 
of  a  memorable  event  in  the  history  of  Boston,  which  is  thus  closed : 
"  The  fears  of  many  were  great  lest  it  should  prove  another  26th  of 

Boston,  who  died  Apr.  4, 1815.  The  last-named  The  Gazette  then  goes  on  to  give  an  account 

gentleman  was  an  eminent  surgeon,  a  biogra-  of  the  Effigies  on  Liberty  Tree,  as  though  the 

phy  of  whom  is  contained  in  Dr.  Thacher's  affair  had  then  happened. 

Medical  Biography  and  several  other  works.  f  In  a  speech,  which  Huske  made  not  long 

He   married  (in  1777)    Abigail,  daughter  of  after  in  the  House  of  Commons,  he  referred  to 

Gov.  John  Collins,  of  Newport,  R.   I.     She  his  being  hung  in  effigy  in  Boston,  and  in  a 

died  in  1832.     These  are  the  parents  of  the  facetious   and   exulting   manner   called   upon 

present  Dr.  John  Collins  Warren,  of  Boston,  Mr.  Grenville  in  these  words  :  "  So,  my  Lord, 

before  named.  —  Genealogy  of   Warren,  and  I  perceive  I  have  the  honor  to  be  hung  in  effi- 

Loring's  Hundred  Orators,  p.  45.  gy  alongside  your  Lordship  in  America."  — 

*  On  the  last  day  of  October,  "  The  Massa-  See  page  598  for  some  account  of  Mr.  Huske, 

chusetts  Gazette  Extraordinary"  was  issued,  and  p.  680. 

It  contained  an  article  with  this  heading  :  J  Published  Nov.  7,  which  is  marked  No. 

*t«^^«   -vr„i,-.™». c-    *  *x.  v,      i  0.     The   Massachusetts    Gazette    and  Boston 

JSoston,  Nobemuer  first,  one  tfiotisana  seben     Ar       r  „         i  j  t     i      ,i.  A  j.-^  v  A  i  i, 
fiitirnvD*  *™w  ';rtM  fi-w  News-Letter  ended  (under  that  title)  October 

&  olst,  preceding.      JBut  it  was  resumed  aiter- 

0,  fatal !     From  and  Atter  !  wards,  namely,  May  22d,  1766.     In  1768  they 

'Jove  fixed  it  certain,  that  whatever  day  were  published  separately,  but  in  1769  they 

Makes  man  a  slave,  takes  half  his  worth  away  ! '  were  again    published    together,  on  a    whole 

Pope's  Homer,  sheet. 


17G5.]  POWDER-PLOT     CELEBRATION.  709 

August  ;  for  the  horrid  violence  of  which  night  we  hope  the  good 
order  of  this  will  in  some  measure  atone,  as  it  is  a  proof  that  such  con- 
duct was  not  agreeable  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Town,  but  was  only 
the  lawless  ravages  of  some  foreign  villains,  who  took  advantage  of 
the  overheated  temper  of  a  very  few  people  of  this  place,  and  drew 
them  in  to  commit  such  violence  and  disorders  as  they  shuddered  at 
with  horror  in  their  cooler  hours."  * 

On  the  morning .  of  the  same  day,  November  the  first,  Nathaniel 
Hurd,  "  near  the  Town-house,"  issued  an  extraordinary  caricature, 
designed  to  increase  the  contempt  in  which  the  Stamp  Act  and  its 
promoters  were  held.f 

The  Tuesday  following  was  the  anniversary  of  the  Powder 
Plot.  "  When  the  day  arrived  the  morning  was  all  quietness. 
About  noon  the  Pageantry,  representing  the  Pope,  Devil,  and  several 
other  Effigies,  signifying  Tyranny,  Oppression,  Slavery,  etc.,  were 
brought  on  stages  from  the  North,  and  South,  and  met  in  King-st., 
where  the  Union,  J  previously  entered  into  by  the  leaders,  was  estab- 
lished in  a  very  ceremonial  manner,  and,  having  given  three  huzzas, 
they  interchanged  ground  ;  the  South  [men]  marched  to  the  North, 
and  the  North  [men]  to  the  South,  parading  through  the  streets  until 
they  again  met  near  the  Court-house.  The  whole  then  proceeded  to 
the  Tree  of  Liberty,  under  the  shadow  of  which  they  refreshed  them- 
selves for  a  while,  and  then  retreated  to  the  northward,  agreeably  to 
their  plan.  They  reached  Copp's  Hill  before  six  o'clock,  where  they 
halted,  and  having  enkindled  a  fire,  the  whole  Pageantry  was  com- 
mitted to  the  flames  and  consumed.  This  being  finished,  every  person 
was  requested  to  retire  to  their  respective  houses.  And  it  must  be 
noticed,  to  the  honor  of  all  those  concerned  in  this  business,  that  every- 
thing was  conducted  in  a  most  regular  manner,,  and  such  order  observed 
as  could  hardly  be  expected  among  a  concourse  of  several  thousand 
people.  All  seemed  to  be  joined  agreeably  to  their  principal  motto, 
'  Lovely  Unity.'      The  leaders,  Mr.  Mcintosh, §  from  the  South,  and 

*  "  The  Government  party  inferred  that  about  a  union,  as  mentioned  in  the  text, 
this  was  an  evidence  of  an  influence  the  mob  Those  Chiefs  met  on  the  day  of  the  Stamp-Act 
was  under,  and  that  they  might  be  let  loose  demonstration,  namely,  Nov.  1st,  "  and  Con- 
or kept  up,  just  as  their  leaders  thought  fit."  ducted  that  affair  in  a  very  orderly  manner. 
— Hutchinson.  In  the  evening  the  Commander  of  the  South 

f  I  have  never  met  with  a  copy  of  this  car-  entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  Commander  of 
icature,  and  do  not  know  that  a  copy  exists,  the  North,  and,  after  making  several  over- 
It  is  described  at  length  in  the  Gazette  of  Nov.  tures,  they  reciprocally  engaged  in  a  union,  the 
7th.  The  description  closes  thus:  "On  the  former  distinctions  to  subside.  At  the  same 
other  side  [on  the  other  hand  of  the  picture]  time  the  Chiefs  with  their  assistants  engaged, 
is  a  Gallows  with  this  inscription,  '  Fit  enter-  upon  their  honor,  no  mischiefs  should  arise  by 
tainment  for  St[am]p  M[e]n.'  A  number  of  their  means,  and  that  they  would  prevent  any 
these  gentlemen,  with  labels,  expressing  vari-  disorders  on  the  fifth."  —  Mass.  Gaz.  7  Nov. 
ous  sentiments  on  the  occasion.  At  the  bottom  1765.  Tudor,  in  his  Life  of  Otis  (whose 
is  a  Coat  of  Arms  proper  for  the  Stamp  Man."  date  is  followed   ante,  p.   663),    is  probably 

%  Deploring  the  bad  effects  of  former  cele-  wrong    as    to    the   time  when   this  pageant 

brations  of  Pope  Days,  many  of   the  better  ceased,  or  the  two  parties  united  in  one. 

sort  of  inhabitants  had,  by  their  prudent  in-  §  The  same  person  mentioned  before,  prob- 

tercession  with  the  Chiefs  or  Leaders,  brought  ably. 


710  STAMP  ACT  UNPOPULAR  IN  ENGLAND.  [1765. 

Mr.  Swift,  from  the  North,  appeared  in  military  habits,  with  small 
canes  resting  on  their  left  arms,  having  music  in  front  and  flank  ; 
their  assistants  appeared  also  distinguished  with  small  reeds.  Then 
the  respective  corps  followed  ;  among  whom  were  a  great  number  of 
persons  in  rank.  These,  with  the  spectators,  filled  the  streets.  Not 
a  club  was  seen  among  the  whole,  nor  was  any*  Negro  allowed  to  ap- 
proach near  the  stages.  After  the  conflagration  the  people  retired, 
and  the  Town  remained  the  whole  night  in  better,  order  than  it  had 
ever  been  on  this  occasion.  Many  gentlemen,  seeing  the  affair  so  well 
conducted,  contributed  to  make  up  a  handsome  purse  to  entertain 
those  that  carried  it  out." 

"  This  union,"  the  writer  in  the  Gazette  adds,  "  and  one  other 
more  extensive,*  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  (perhaps  the  only)  happy 
effects  arising  from  the  Stamp  Act." 

About  this  time  there  was  published  in  London,  and  not  long  after 
republished  in  Boston,  an  ingenious  account  of  the  proceedings  which 
had  grown  out  of  the  Stamp  Act.  It  was  in  Scripture  style,  and  con- 
sisted of  ninety-one  verses,  and  was  divided  into  three  chapters.  The 
commencement  of  the  second  runs  thus  :  "  Now  tidings  came  to  the 
men  of  America  that  the  decree  had  gone  forth  for  them  to  pay  the 
Stamp  tribute.  2.  And  they  were  greatly  amazed  thereat,  and  they 
cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  3.  Now  is  fulfilled  that  which  was 
spoken  of  the  Prophet ;  America  shall  howl ;  on  all  their  heads  shall 
be  baldness,  and  every  beard  cut  off.  4.  In  their  streets  they  shall 
gird  themselves  with  sackcloth;  on  the  tops  of  their  houses,  and  in 
their  streets,  every  one  shall  howl,  weeping  abundantly. 

"5.  And  many  of  the  men  of  America  waxed  exceeding  wroth,  and 
they  took  unto  them  garments  and  stuffed  them  with  stuffing,  yea,  with 
filthy  rags  did  they  stuff  them,  and  they  fashioned  them  till  they  did 
represent  men.  6.  And  they  called  them  the  representations  of  Stamp 
Masters,  and  they  hung  them  upon  trees  and  gallowses,  and  they 
were  mocked  by  men  until  evening,  when  they  were  taken  down  and 
burned  with  fire.  7.  And  they  burned  also  a  Jack  Boot,  but  what  they 
meant  by  that  is  unknown  at  this  day.  8.  Yea,  and  they  made  like- 
wise a  stuffed  figure  with  horns  to  represent  Satan  ;  for  they  said,  '  Go 
to,  for  surely  Satan  himself  was  the  deviser  of  this  tribute/  9.  And 
in  like  manner  did  they  act  all  over  the  whole  land."  f 

The  whole  was  of  this  tenor,  which  showed  that  the  Stamp  Act  found 
adversaries  at  home  as  well  as  elsewhere. 

„     g        On  the   eighth   of  November,  Gov.   Bernard  prorogued   the 
General  Court  to  the  fifteenth  of  January.     This  gave  much  dis- 

*  Whether  the  writer  had  reference  to  the  document,  for  the  use  of  which  I  am  indebted 

unanimity  of  the   Colonies   in   resisting   the  to  my  friend,   John   W.   Parker,   Esq.,   of 

Stamp  Act,  or  to  the  non-importation  agree-  Roxbury,  whose  collection  of  old  papers,  con- 

ment  entered  into  in  Boston,  is  left  to  conject-  sisting  of  ballads,  hand-bills,  and  newspapers, 

U1>e.  is  probably  superior  to  any  private  collection 

f  I  have  seen  but  one  copy  of  this  curious  in  this  vicinity. 


1765.]  INDIGNITY   TO  SECRETARY    OLIVER.  711 

satisfaction  to  the  inhabitants,  who  hafl  boon  looking  to  that  body  for  , 
some  relief  from  the  distresses  which  surrounded  fchem.  But,  as  has 
been  before  detailed,  the  Assembly  was  prorogued  while  the  Bill  in- 
tended for  their  relief  was  in  the  hands  of  a  Committee.  Soon  after 
this  several  vessels  went  to  sea  without  stamped  clearances  ;  the  Cus- 
tom-house Officers  giving  the  Masters  certificates  that  no  Stamps  could 
be  procured  in  their  jurisdiction.  The  first  ship  to  venture  under  such 
circumstances,  was  the  Boston  Packet,  Capt.  John  Marshall,*  owned 
and  sent  out  by  John  Hancock,  Esquire.  She  was  bound  for  London, 
where  she  safely  arrived,  and  passed  the  Custom-house  without  her 
certificate  being  questioned. f 

But,  in  general,  business  was  at  a  stand.  A  Town-meeting  was  called 
to  see  what  could  be  done.  It  was  appointed  to  take  place  on  the 
eighteenth  of  December.  In  the  mean  time,  new  arrivals  from  England 
brought  further  advices  of  the  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act  in  that 
country.  This  gave  the  "Sons  of  Liberty  "  J  new  courage,  and 
caused  them  to  give  the  Government  a  further  proof  of  their  firmness 
in  the  cause  they  had  espoused.  They  were  determined  to  compel  Mr. 
Oliver  to  make  a  new  and  public  declaration  that  he  would  not  act  as 
Stamp  Distributor  under  any  circumstances.  And  it  is  surprising  that  a 
high-minded  and  honorable  man,  as  Mr.  Oliver  certainly  was,  should 
ever  have  submitted  to  the  gross  indignity. §  However,  he  thought  it 
best  to  yield  to  the  demands  of  the  people  ;  considerably  influenced, 
no  doubt,  by  the  news  from  England,  that  the  Ministry  had  been 
turned  out,  chiefly  because  they  had,  by  their  imprudence,  caused 
measures  to  be  adopted  which  could  not  be  carried  out. 

However,  a  few  days  before  the  Town-meeting  just  adverted  to,  a 
report  was  industriously  circulated,  that  Mr.  Oliver  was  using  his  en- 
deavors to  be  reinstated  in  the  office  of  Stamp  Master.  This  report, 
though  under  the  circumstances  it  was  very  unlikely  to  be  true,  yet  was 
the  ground  of  the  present  demand  upon  him.  He,  therefore,  published 
in  the  newspapers  an  unequivocal  denial  of  any  intention  to  obtain  or  to 
act  in  the  office  of  Distributor  of  Stamps.  This,  for  reasons  not  men- 
tioned, was  deemed  unsatisfactory  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  and  another 
letter  was  sent  to  him,  which  was  left  at  his  house  "just  as  he  was 
going  to  bed,"  requiring  his  appearance  the  next  day,  at  twelve  o'clock, 
under  Liberty  Tree,  there  to  make  a  public  resignation.  The  letter 
acquainted  him,  also,  that  a  non-appearance  would  bring  upon  him  the 
displeasure  of  the  "True-born  Sons  of  Liberty."  With  which  request, 
also,  Mr.  Oliver  thought  it  best  to  comply  ;  nor  did  he  consult  his 

*  The  same,  probably,  who  died  of  a  sur-  J  Col.  Barre  is  said  to  be  the  first  who  thus 

feit,  and  was  buried  on  the  13th  of  May,  1768,  denominated  the  Liberty  Men  of  Boston.     He 

aged  but  32.     His  death  was  much  lamented,  made  use  of  the  title  in  one  of  his  early  speech- 

The  vessels  in  the  harbor  displayed  their  col-  es  in  Parliament  in  favor  of  America, 

ors  at  half-mast.     I  shall  again  have  occa-  §  He  was  the  third  oflicer  in  the  Colonial 

sion  to  mention  Capt.  Marshall.  Government,   in   respect    to   the  dignity   of 

f  Massachusetts  Gazette,  25  April,  1766.  office. 


712  OLIVER   AT    LIBERTY    TREE.  [1765. 

friends  as  to  the  propriety  of  such  compliance.  The  consequence  was 
the  disapprobation  of  some  of  them.  But  that  gentleman  well  knew  the 
inability  of  the  Government  to  protect  him,  and  that  his  immediate 
friends  were  far  less  able  to  do  so  than  the  Government.  He,  therefore, 
took  the  only  course  he  could  take,  and  made  his  appearance  at 
Liberty  Tree.  But,  before  he  went,  he  got  a  friend,  an  influen- 
tial "  tradesman,"  to  intercede  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty  that  he  might 
be  allowed  to  make  the  required  public  Declaration  at  the  Town-house  ; 
but  the  tradesman  soon  returned  with  the  unwelcome  intelligence  that 
his  request  could  not  be  granted  ;  but  it  was  promised  that,  if  he  readily 
complied,  he  should  be  treated  handsomely  ;  and  that  promise  was  scru- 
pulously kept. 

Affairs  being  thus  arranged,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth, 
advertisements  were  found  posted  up  about  the  Town,  inviting  the  Sons 
of  Liberty  to  assemble  at  the  Tree  at  twelve  o'clock,  "to  hear  the  resig- 
nation of  Andrew  Oliver,  Esq.,  Distributor  of  Stamps."  It  happened 
to  be  a  rainy  and  tempestuous  day,  and  Mr.  Oliver  was  obliged  to  march 
through  the  streets  exposed  to  the  weather.  But  what  added,  prob- 
ably, not  a  little  to  his  mortification,  Mr.  Mackintosh,  a  chief  leader 
among  the  Liberty  Party,  attended  him  at  his  right  hand  to  the  Tree, 
at  the  head  of  an  immense  multitude.  Opposite  Liberty  Tree  was  the 
house  of  Richard  Dana,  Esq.  In  that  house  were  assembled  the  Select- 
men* of  the  town,  "  and  many  other  persons  of  condition."  Thus,  in 
the  presence  of  above  two  thousand  persons,  Mr.  Dana  administered  an 
oath  to  Secretary  Oliver,  to  the  purport  that  "  he  had  never  taken  any 
measures  to  act  in  the  office,  and  that  he  never  would  do  so,  directly 
nor  indirectly."  Three  cheers  were  then  given,  after  which  Mr.  Oliver 
made  a  brief  speech,  in  which  he  said  "  he  had  an  utter  detestation  of 
the  Stamp  Act,  and  would  do  all  that  lay  in  his  power  to  serve  this 
Town  or  Province,  and  desired  that  he  might  no  longer  be  considered 
an  enemy,  but  as  another  man."  f  Three  cheers  were  again  given,  and 
here  the  affair  ended,  and  the  throng  soon  after  quietly  dispersed. J 
D  ,„  The  next  day  was  the  Town-meeting,  according  to  appoint- 
'  ment,  in  which  an  unanimous  vote  was  passed  appointing  a  Com- 
mittee to  sign  and  present  a  Memorial,  which  was  adopted,  to  His  Ex- 

*  They  were  Joshua  Henshaw,  Joseph  Jack-  Letters,"  intercepted  by  Franklin  in  1773,  in 

son,   Benj.  Austin,   Samuel  Sewall,    Nathan-  proof  of  the  charge.     But  I  must  own,  that, 

iel  Thwing,   John   Kuddock,  and  John  Han-  under  the  circumstances,  I  cannot  see  anything 

cock.       The  Assessors  were  Wm.    Fairfield,  very  terrible  in  those  letters.     They  explain 

John  Keeland,  Benj.  Church,  Belcher  Noyes,  the  state  of  the  opposition  to  Government,  in 

Sam'l.  Downe,  Wm.  Torrey,  and  John  Green-  tolerably  plain  language,  in  the  political  style 

ough.     Mr.  Thwing  resigned  his  place  of  Se-  of  those   days.      A  serious   game  was   com- 

lectman,  and,  on  the  14th  of  May,  the  Hon.  menced,  which  in  time  became  a   desperate 

Thomas  Flucker  was  chosen  in  his  stead.  one  ;  life  and  death  were  the  stakes,  and  many 

f  Comparing  this  compulsory   conduct  of  found  themselves  compelled  to  do  what  they 

Secretary  Oliver  with  his  course  afterwards,  gladly  would  have  avoided, 

our  writers  have  unsparingly  branded  him  as  J  The  Gazette  account  says  Hanover  Square 

a   malignant  Traitor   to   his    Country ;    and  was   cleared   in  ten  minutes    after   the    last 

cite  the    famous    "  Hutchinson  and   Oliver  cheers. 


1765.]  TOWN    MEETING. NEW    JUDGE    OF    PEpBATE.  713 

celloncy  the  Governor  in  Council.*  The  Memorial  set  forth  that  the 
Courts  of  Law  had  been  shut  up,  for  which  "  no  just  and  legal  reason 
could  be  assigned."  For  this  and  oilier  causes  the  Memorialists 
"  humbly"  requested,  "  that  His  Excellency,  in  Council,  with  whom 
the  executive  power  was  constitutionally  lodged,  would  give  directions 
to  the  several  Courts  and  their  Officers,  so  that  under  no  pretence 
whatever  they  might  any  longer  be  deprived  of  that  invaluable  bless- 
ing." They  also  requested  to  be  heard  "  by  their  Counsel,  learned  in 
the  Law." 

In  reply  to  the  Memorialists,  it  was  said  that  the  people  of  the  Town 
had  brought  the  state  of  things,  of  which  they  complained,  upon  them- 
selves. The  Courts  could  not  proceed  without  the  lawfully  stamped 
papers,  and  those  papers  were  not  to  be  had,  because  the  Officers 
appointed  to  distribute  them  had  been  terrified  into  a  resignation,  and 
no  other  persons  dared  to  take  the  office.  It  was,  therefore,  determined 
by  the  Governor,  in  Council,  that,  as  it  was  a  doubt  whether  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Courts  without  Stamps  could  be  justified,  inasmuch  as  the 
violence  of  the  people  had  been  the  cause  complained  of,  that,  there- 
fore, the  matter  rested  upon  a  point  of  law.  However,  they  proposed 
to  refer  the  subject  to  the  Judges  of  the  Courts. 

The  Town-meeting  was  adjourned  for  two  clays,  to  await  the  action 
of  the  Governor  and  Council.  At  the  reassembling,  and  the  result 
being  known,  it  was  voted  that  it  was  "  unsatisfactory." 

Such  votes  became  common  in  the  Town-meetings,  "  and  had  greater 
effect  than  can  well  be  imagined."  f  So  that  the  final  result  was,  that 
the  Courts  did  proceed  without  Stamps,  excepting  the  Probate  Court 
of  Boston,  of  which  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson  was  Judge,  and  ships 
went  to  sea  as  usual. J  But  it  was  soon  made  apparent  to  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson, that  he  run  quite  a  serious  risk,  if  he  much  longer  refused  to  suf- 
fer his  Court  to  go  on.  He  therefore  saw  but  one  way  to  extricate 
himself,  and  that  was  to  resign,  and  he  resigned  accordingly.  Gov- 
ernor Bernard  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  fill  the  office  with  any  other 
but  a  person  who  would  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  Town,  and 
agreeably  to  that  suggestion,  Foster  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  was  ap- 
pointed^ 

*  The  committee  consisted  of  Samuel  Ad-  §  The  same,  I  suppose,  H.  C.  1721,  brother 

ams,   John    Rowe,   Thomas    Cushing,    John  of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  —  See  p.  227.     The 

Ruddock,    Samuel    Sewall,    John    Hancock,  last   time   the   Lieut.    Governor   officiated   as 

Joshua  Henshaw,  Benjamin  Kent,  and  Arnold  Judge  of  Probate  was  on  Oct.  25th,  1765  ; 

Welles  ;  and -they  were  authorized  to  employ,  and  the  first  time  his  successor  acted  in  that 

as  Counsel,  Jeremy  Gridley,  James  Otis,  and  capacity  was  on  the  6th  of  Jan.  following. 

John  Adams,  to  appear  in  support  of  the  me-  Hence  the  interval  or  interruption  from  want 

morial.  of  Stamps  is  seen.    The  last  instrument  proved 

f  Hutchinson.  before  the  Lt. Governor,  was  the  Inventory  of 

j  In  the  Mass.  Gazette  of  Dec.  19th,  is  this  the  Estate  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Prat,  of  New 

notice  :  — "  The  Custom-house  in  this  Town  York,  exhibited  by  his  widow,  Isabella,  taken 

is  now  open  for  the  clearing  out  of  vessels,  a  by  Samuel  Swift,  Samuel  Quincy,  and  William 

certificate  being  given  that  Stamp  Papers  are  Spurr.    Oxenbridge  Thacher  was  one  of  Mr. 

not  to  be  had."  Prat's  executors.     His   Inventory  of  Estate 

90 


714  BOSTONIANS    DECLARED    REBELS    IN   PARLIAMENT.  [1765. 

At  the  pass  to  which  things  had  now  arrived,  it  is  not  strange,  as 
Governor  Hutchinson  says,  that  timidity  pervaded  both  legislative  and 
that  executive  powers  ;  every  measure  which  forwarded  the  deter- 
mined design  of  compelling,  at  all  events,  all  Officers  within  the 
Province  to  pay  no  regard  to  the  Stamp  Act,  succeeded. 

When  the  ability  of  the  Country  to  carry  out  its  determination  to 
nullify  the  laws  of  England  is  considered,  that  determination  is  truly 
a  matter  of  surprise.  Boston  then  had  but  about  15,000  inhab- 
itants. These  were  contained  in  2,000  families,  and  the  number  of 
houses  was  but  1,676.  The  whole  colony  did  not  contain  much,  if 
any,  above  240,000  souls.  Boston  did  not  contain  so  many  inhabitants 
this  year  as  it  did  in  1752,  —  thirteen  years  before  ;  there  were 
then,  —  1752,  —  15,731,  of  which  1,541  were  Negroes,  or  persons 
of  color  ;  and  ten  years  earlier  the  population  was  still  greater, 
—  16,582. 

On  Wednesday,  the  twenty-seventh  of  November,   Colonel 
'  "     "  Francis  Brinley  died  at  Roxbury,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years  ;   a  gentleman  distinguished  for  his  manly  virtues  and  acknowl- 
edged moral  worth.     On  the  following  Saturday  his  remains  were  de- 
posited in  the  family  tomb  in  the  King's  Chapel  burying-ground. 

The  conduct  of  the  Bostonians  was  the  cause  of  the  opposition  to 
'  the  Stamp  Act  in  the  other  Colonies  ;  accounts  of  which  had  for 
some  time  crowded  the  London  papers.  The  current  of  public  opinion 
was  too  strong  for  the  British  Ministry,  and  nothing  could  be  clone  to 
allay  the  excitement,  now  reacting  upon  the  people  of  England,  but 
the  establishment  of  a  Ministry  that  were  with  the  people,  and  would 
repeal  that  Act.  These  consequences  made  the  Prime  Minister  furi- 
ous ;  and  in  his  last  struggles  he  declared  the  people  of  Boston 
Rebels,  and  recommended  the  sending  over  at  once  an  army  to  bring 
them  to  obedience.*  The  King,  in  a  late  speech  to  Parliament,  in 
referring  to  the  disturbances,  gave  them  the  mild  appellation  of  "  late 
occurrences  ;  "  consequently  Mr.  Grenville's  epithets  caused  quite  a 
sensation,  and  several  members  cried  out,  "  To  the  Tower  !  To  the 
Tower  !  "  These  proceedings  were  about  the  middle  of  December 
last.  An  eminent  merchant  of  New  York,  then  in  London,  wrote 
home  :  "  Our  friends  seem  apprehensive  that  George  Grenville,  the 
proposer  of   the  Act,  who  is  determined  to    support  it  with  all  his 

amounted  to  £2785, 14s.  6d.     His  autograph,  *  This  was  uttered  by  Earl  Bate,  probably 

jS                 '/rr      /^PS  under  the  smart  he  may  have  felt  from  that 

*sQ-£/7^L/  • .      L/!L*-ifi£j!!j'  answer  of  Dr.  Franklin  to  a  question  before 

y¥                 ff~~&f^S  ^e  jjouse  0f  Commons,  as  to  whether  ho  did 

//  not  think  the  Stamp  Act  could  be  enforced  by 

here  introduced,  shows  that  he  spelt  his  name  ana™y-  //Never,"  was  his  reply  ; and  to  the 

with  but  one  *    while  others  often  wrote  it  ^estion,  "Why  not?"  he  said,      An  armed 

with  two.    The  date  of  Inventory  is  July  8th,  force  would  not   find   a   rebellion     bu     they 

1763.     He  had  a  mansion  and  farm  in  Milton:  might  make  one." -Franklin  s  M2SCe^n^, 

See  ante,  page  669.  London,  1 / 79, p.  276. 


1766.] 


CONTINENTAL    CONGRESS. 


A    ST  A  ML'    DESCRIBED. 


715 


Mar.  17. 


power,  would  have  a  parly  in  the  House  strong  enough  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  Lord  [G-eorge]  Townsend  was  reokoned  one  of  his  supporters." 
However,  a  postscript  to  the  same  letter  put  a  different  face  on  the 
affair  :  —  "  Nine  at  night.  This  moment  returned  from  the  House  of 
Commons,  where  I  had  the  pleasure  to  sec  Mr.  Grenville  sink  under, 
and  withdraw  the  motion  lie  made,  of  inserting  in  the  Address  of  the 
King,  that  the  disturbances  in  America  were  open  Rehellion,  owing  to 
the  opposition  and  powerful  eloquence  of  Mr.  Charles  Townsend,  Mr. 
Cook,  Lord  George  Sackville,  and  others." 

_, ,  .  On  the  sixth  of  February  was  taken  up,  in  the  General  Court, 
'  the  subject  of  the  conduct  of  the  Delegates  to  the  late  Congress 
in  New  York.  A  debate  ensued  ;  after  which  it  was  voted,  that  the 
conduct  of  Brigadier  Ruggles,  "  in  not  signing  the  petitions  by  said 
Congress,  and  for  leaving  the  Congress  before  they  had  completed 
their  business,"  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  House.  But  it  was  re- 
solved unanimously,  "  that  the  account  given  by  James  Otis,  and 
Oliver  Partridge,  Esquires,"  was  satisfactory. 

Writers  in  the  public  papers  became  emboldened,  and  ex- 
pressed their  sentiments  in  strong  language.  They  denounced 
the  Stamp  Act  as  unconstitutional.  "  Shall  we  not,  then,"  wrote  one  in 
the  Massachusetts  Gazette,  "  all  as  one  man  join  in  opposing  it,  and 
spill  the  last  drop  of  our  blood,  if  necessary,  rather  than  live  to  see  it 
take  place  in  America  ?  "  Another  said  :  "  Any  one,  after  a  thorough 
search  and  consideration,  would,  rather  than  lose  his  liberty,  be  bored 
through  the  centre  of  life  with  the  fatal  lead."  A  little  later,  the  Edi- 
tor of  the  Gazette  thus  speaks  of  stamped  newspapers,  on  re- 
ceiving some  from  Halifax  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  February  : 
for  the  first  time  since  November  commenced, 
received  several  Halifax  papers,  with  bloody-red  Stamp  on  each,  as 
terrible  as  death  to  Printers  ;  being  two  daggers  through  a  crown  or 
under  it,  and  the  points  toward  the  word  America  on  the  top,  thought 
not  proper  to  harbor  such  unwelcome  guests  ;  therefore  immediately 
despatched  them  to  the  Committee  of  the  True-born  Sons  of  Liberty, 
to  do  with  them  as  they  may  judge  meet."* 

Agreeably  to  previous  arrangements,  Liberty  Tree  was  pruned  by  sev- 
eral carpenters,  under  the  direction  of  a 
gentleman  well  skilled  in  that  branch  of 
horticulture.  This  was  in  pursuance  of  a  vote  of 
the  Sons  of  Liberty,  who  likewise  ordered  a  plate 
bearing  a  suitable  inscription  to  be  placed  conspic- 
uously upon  the  Tree. 


Feb.  26. 


"The  Publishers  having, 


Feb.  14. 


W°  SHUatSTOS/ 


*  For  the  copy  rian  friend,  the  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Felt.     There 

of  a  Stamp   here  were  different  stamps  for  the  different  amounts 

given  I  am  indebt-  from  a  half-pence  to  £6.     I  have   seen  none 

ed  to  my   distin-  exactly  corresponding  to  that  described  in  the 

guished    antiqua-  above  extract. 


716  LIBERTY-TREE   INSCRIPTION.  [1766. 

The  plate  being  ready  on  the  twentieth  of  the  same  month, 
was  with  ceremony  fixed  in  the  place  designed  fofr  it.  The  in- 
scription was  as  follows :  "  This  Tree  was  planted  in  the  year  1646, 
and  pruned  by  order  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  February  14th,  1766." 

The  same  day  had  been  fixed  upon  for  burning  one  of  the  stamped 
papers  in  each  of  the  principal  towns  in  the  several  Colonies.  Here 
the  affair  was  made  great  account  of.  The  pitiful  Stamp  was  not 
thought  sufficient  to  give  importance  to  the  Day,  so  fine  Effigies  of 
Grenville  and  Bute,  in  full  court  dresses,  were  prepared  for  the 
sacrifice. 

The  ceremony  commenced  "with  great  decency  and  good  order. 
After  parading  the  principal  streets  to  the  north  part  of  the  town,  with 
the  Pageantry  in  a  cart,  they  returned  to  Liberty  Tree  ;  there  giving 
three  cheers,  proceeded  to  the  usual  place  of  execution  on  Boston 
Neck,  and  at  about  one  o'clock  committed  the  Effigies,  Stampt  paper, 
&c,  to  flames  under  the  gallows,  amidst  the  loud  acclamations  of  a  great 
number  of  spectators,  who  immediately  after  dispersed."  It  is  added  : 
"  The  Sons  of  Liberty  retired  to  their  apartment  in  Hanover  Square, 
where  his  Majesty's  health  was  drank,  and  many  other  loyal  toasts." 
This,  indeed,  was  loyalty  with  a  vengeance  !  Trampling  the  King's 
laws  under  foot,  and  burning  his  Prime  Ministers  in  effigy ! 

Before  proceeding  to  further  and  subsequent  details,  it  will  be  well 
to  pause,  and  to  contrast  in  the  mind  the  park  of  old  elms  in  Hanover 
Square  with  the  present  appearance  of  the  same  corner  where  they 
stood.  The  name  of  Hanover  Square  was  long  ago  discontinued  for 
that  locality,  and  about  the  same  time  it  became  covered  with  buildings. 
Those  buildings  had  grown  old  in  the  days  of  the  last  generation,  and 
their  site  became  the  property  of  a  benevolent  and  public-spirited  gentle- 
man, who,  in  1849,  erected  thereon  a  most  substantial,  as  well  as  orna- 
mental, block  of  stores.  In  speaking  of  that  undertaking,  that  gentle- 
man himself  says,  "I  have  caused  to  be  sculptured,  in  bas-relief,  a 
representation  of  this  celebrated  tree,  with  appropriate  inscriptions,  and 
have  inserted  it  on  that  part  of  the  building  which  fronts  on  Washing- 
ton-street, and  directly  over  the  spot  where  the  tree  itself  formerly 
stood."* 

*  Communication  of  the  Hon.  David  Sears  planted  in  1646,  but,  as  will  have  been  seen 

to  the  City  Government,  dated  29  September,  from  the  inscription  copied  in  the  text,  the 

1849  ;  which    communication   he   thus  com-  Sons  of  Liberty  assure  us  it  was  planted  in 

mences:   "I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  year.     They  probably  took  pains  to  sat- 

that  the  old  buildings  at  the  corner  of  Essex  isfy  themselves  with  regard  to  the  real  date, 

and  Washington  streets  have  been  removed,  The  whole  of  Mr.  Sears'  communication  is  of 

and  that  an  extensive  block  of  warehouses  is  great  interest,  and  may  be  seen  in  Mr.  Robert 

being  erected  in   their  places,  to   cover   the  Sears'    Pictorial  Illustrations   of  the  United 

whole  front  of  my  estate  on  those  two  streets.  States.    It  was  also  printed  as  a  City  Document. 

As  this  site  is  somewhat  remarkable  in  the  One  of  the  flags  with  which  Liberty  Tree 

history  of  Boston,  —  it  having  sustained,  and  used  to  be  decorated,  has  been  preserved,  and 

for  more  than  a  century  nourished,  a  splendid  was  in  possession  of  an  aged  citizen  at  the  time 

American  Elm,  known  and  venerated  as  Lib-  of  his  death,  which  happened  recently,  at  the 

erty  Tree,  —  the  present  seems  a  fit  occasion  age  of  96  ;  a  namesake,  though  not  a  relative 

to  bring  it  to  your  notice."  of  the  Patriot,  Samuel  Adams.  —  See  Hist,  and 

Mr.  Sears  supposes  Liberty  Tree  to  have  been  Gen.  Reg.  ix.  293. 


1760.]  STAMP    ACT   BUHNT.  717 

On  the  twenty-second,  Capt.  Elisba  Thacher  arrived  from  Jamai- 
ca. It. was  immediately  circulated  that  he  had  on  board  Stamped 
Clearances.  Accordingly,  the  Sons  of  Liberty  issued  a  warrant  to  some 
of  their  fraternity  to  go  and  demand  the  same,  and,  when  obtained,  to 
bring  them  into  King-street,  and,  at  one  o'clock,  to  burn  them  there.* 
It  does  not  appear  that  Captain  Thacher  had  any  others  of  the  Stamped 
Clearances  except  that  which  he  used. 

The  person  to  whom  the  Warrant  was  directed,  with  such  others  as 
were  deemed  necessary,  repaired  with  it  to  the  designated  vessel.  On 
coming  to  it,  the  "officer"  was  told  that  Capt.  Thacher  had  gone  to 
the  Custom-house,  to  which  also  proceeded  the  Pursuivants.  Here 
they  found  the  Captain,  and  demanded  his  Clearance  ;  for  which  de- 
mand the  above-named  undoubted  Warrant  was  produced.  To  this  in- 
contestable authority  submission  was  at  once  granted,  and  the  Stamped 
Clearauce  was  delivered  up.  It  was  then  fixed  upon  a  pole,  and 
solemnly  taken  into  King-street.  Here,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Court- 
house (formerly  called  the  Town-house),  were  the  Town  Stocks.  Into 
this  engine  of  justice  was  put,  not  the  wicked  Stamped  Clearance,  but 
the  pole  to  which  it  wTas  fastened  ;  and  thus  exposed  the  paper  to  pub- 
lic view  until  the  time  appointed  for  its  execution.  At  one  o'clock  the 
Executioner  read  the  warrant  with  an  audible  voice,  and  then  took  his 
culprit  into  the  centre  of  the  street.  Then  and  there  with  a  lighted 
match  he  set  fire  to  one  of  the  Stamp  Acts,  and  with  the  flames  issuing 
from  it,  burnt  the  "  offspring  of  that  hydra-headed  monster,"  the 
Stamped  Clearance  ;  and,  as  the  smoke  from  it  was  ascending,  the 
Executioner  pronounced  the  following  memorable  words:  "Behold! 
the  smoke  ascends  to  heaven,  to  witness  between  the  Isle  of  Britain 
and  an  injured  people!"  After  which  three  cheers. were  given,  and 
the  multitude  very  quietly  dispersed. 

On  the  same  day  that  Captain  Thacher  arrived,  Captain  James 
Kirkwood  came  in,  in  the  ship  Endeavor,  from  London.  It  was  re- 
ported that  he  had  Stamps  on  board.  Therefore  the  proper  Officers 
visited  him  to  ascertain  the  foundation  of  the  report.  The  Captain 
frankly  declared  he  had  no  such  article  on  board  ;  and  that,  though 
that  kind  of  freight  had  been  offered  him  in  London,  he  absolutely  re- 
fused to  take  it.  This  the  vigilant  Officers  did  not  think  quite  satisfac- 
tory ;  and  the  Captain,  having  offered  to  make  oath  to  the  truth  of  his 
assertion,  was  waited  upon  to  the  Court-house.  There  Mr.  Justice 
Dana,  who  had  officiated  at  Liberty  Tree,  administered  the  oath  to 
Captain  Kirkwood,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  number  of  witnesses. 
The  solemnity  being  finished,  three  cheers  were  given,  and  then  the 
people  went  about  their  occasions. 

*  The  Warrant  is  here  given  as  a  curiosity  :  those  Marks  of  Creole  Slavery  ;  and  when  you 

"  Boston,  24  Feb.,  1766.    To*****.  Mon-  have  obtained  them,  commit  [them]   to   the 

day,  IX  o'clock.  — The  Sons  of  Liberty  being  flames  in  King-street,  this  day  at  One  o'clock  ; 

informed  that  a  vessel  has  arrived  here  with  and  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  Warrant. 

Stamped  Clearances,  from  Jamaica,  desire  that  Signed  by  order  of  the  True-born  SONS  OP 

you  would  go  and  demand  in  their  names  LIBERTY.  M.  Y.,  Sec." 


718 


STAMP    ACT    REPEALED. 


[1766. 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

Stamp  Act  repealed.  —  Reception  of  the  News.  — Business  revives.  —  Election.  —  Liberty  Party  Tri- 
umphant. —  Case  of  Samuel  Adams.  —  Celebration  of  the  Repeal.  —  Obelisk  on  the  Common.  — 
Illuminations.  —  Celebrations  in  other  Places.  —  Thanksgiving  at  the  West  Church.  —  General 
Thanksgiving.  —  Death  of  Dr.  Mayhew  —  Of  Zabdiel  Boylston.  —  New  Troubles  in  the  General 
Court. — Its  Debates  opened  to  the  Public.  —  Case  of  Mr.  Hutchinson. — Fire  at  Mill  Creek. — 
Anti-Slavery  Movement.  —  Barre's  Picture.  —  Gun  House.  —  Neck  Improvement.  —  Instructions  to 
the  Representatives.  — Manufactures.  —  Brigadier  Ruggles.  —  A  Farmer's  Letters.  — Duck  Manu- 
facture encouraged.  —  Further  Account  of  the  Stamp  Act  Repeal  Celebration.  —  Commissioners  of 
Customs. —  Opposition  to  the  Revenue  Laws. 


Mar.  18. 


■nS: 


ON  the  eighteenth  of  March,  by  the  consent 
of  the  King,  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed,!  and 
on  the  sixteenth  of  MayJ  following,  a  copy  of  the  Act 
of  Repeal  was  received  in  Boston.     Never  before,  or 
perhaps  since,  was  any  news  received  in  the  town  which 
caused  such  enthusiastic  joy  among  all  classes.    Indeed, 
the  joy  was  universal  throughout  the  British  dominions ; 
and  was  felt  in  greater  sincerity  and  gladness  than  per- 
haps on  any  other  occasion  that  can  be  remembered.  § 
This  is  easy  to  be  believed,  when  it  is  considered  that 
ships  lay  rotting  at  the  wharves,  and  thousands  of  indus- 
trious people  had  been  driven  into  idleness.     From  such  a  state  to  life 
and  activity  in  a  moment,  as  it  were,  was  indeed  ample  cause  for  the 
ebullitions  of  joy  which  ensued.     The   newspapers  were   filled  with 


*  Arms —  Per  chev.  or  and  sa.  Three  es- 
challop  shells  counterchanged.  Crest  —  A 
lion's  head  az.,  crowned,  or.  The  note  on 
page  626,  ante,  should  conform  in  its  facts  to 
this  which  follows.  Col.  Francis  Brinley  was 
horn  in  London,  1690,  and  educated  at  Eton. 
He  was  the  only  son  of  Thomas,  the  only  sur- 
viving child  of  Francis,  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
who  was  son  of  Thomas,  Auditor  General  to 
Charles  First  and  Second.  Francis  Brinley, 
of  Newport,  went  to  that  tenvn  in  1652,  about 
14  years  after  its  settlement,  and  held  various 
offices  ;  amcng  them  that  of  Judge.  He  died 
in  1719-20,5  aged  87,  and  was  buried  in  the 


King's  Chapel  burial-ground  in  Boston.  His 
son  Thomas  resided  in  Boston,  and  was  one  of 
Ihe  founders  ..of  King's  Chapel.     He  went  to 


England  in  1684,  and  married  Catharine,  dau. 
of  John  Page,  of  London.  He  died  in  that 
city  in  1693,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth  and  Francis.  These  three,  on 
invitation  of  Francis  Brinley,  of  Newport, 
came  to  this  country.  Elizabeth  married  Wil- 
liam Hutchinson,  Esq.,  a  grad.  H.  C.  1702. 
Francis  was  the  Col.  Brinley  who  died  in 
1765,  first  named  above.  His  residence  was 
in  Eoxbury,  as  mentioned  on  page  626,  but 
there  Datchet  was  misprinted  JDutchet.  His 
mansion  was  named  Datchet  from  the  house 
at  that  place  in  England. 

f  Mass.  Gazette  and  News-Letter,  22  May, 
1766. 

J  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Mass.,  iii.,  p.  147. 

§  Annual  Register  for  1766,  p.  46.  "  When 
the  King  went  to  the  House  of  Peers  to  give 
the  Royal  assent,  there  was  such  a  vast  con- 
course of  people  huzzaing,  clapping  of  hands, 
&c,  that  it  was  several  hours  before  his  Maj- 
esty could  reach  the  House."  —  Letter  from 
London.  "  In  the  evening  a  number  of  houses 
in  London  were  illuminated,  one  in  particular 
had  108  candles  ;  that  being  the  number  of 


1706.]  ELECTION. SAMUEL    ADAMS.  719 

advertisements  of  valuable  wares,  while  notices  of  bankruptcies  nearly 
ceased.  Ships  were  promptly  freighted,  every  one  found  advantageous 
employment,  and  the  consequence  was  contentment  and  prosperity. 
The  General  Court  was  forward  to  show  its  coniidence  in  the  perma- 
nence of  the  state  of  things  now  commencing  ;  as  a  proof  of  which 
the  Manufactory  House  was  ordered  to  be  sold.  It  was  described  as 
"that  large  and  beautiful  building,  with  the  land  thereunto  belong- 
ing, situate  in  Boston,  opposite  the  public  Granary,  which,  for  sever- 
al years  past,  has  been  improved  in  carrying  on  the  Linen  and  Stock- 
ing business,  and  may  with  little  expense  be  converted  to  some  other 
public  use  ;  but  as  the  Stamp  Act  is  repealed,  there  will  not  be  that 
occasion  for  it."  But  this  was  rather  premature,  as  will  hereafter  be 
seen.  The  building  was  not  sold,  probably  for  want  of  a  pur- 
chaser. 

On  the  sixth  of  May  was  the  annual  election  of  Rep.resenta- 

y  '  tives  ;  which  resulted  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  "  Sons 
of  Liberty,"  who  had  now  got  everything  their  own  way.  The 
gentlemen  chosen  were  James  Otis,  Thomas  Gushing,  Samuel  Adams, 
John  Hancock,  and  John  Rowe.  Samuel  Adams  had  the  greatest 
number  of  votes.  Out  of  746,  the  whole  number  cast,  he  had  all  but 
55.  Mr.  Gushing  had  the  next  highest,  Mr.  Otis  next,  and  Mr.  Han- 
cock next.  And  here  it  will  be  proper  to  remark  respecting  an  impu- 
tation upon  Samuel  Adams  made  by  Governor  Hutchinson,  namely,, 
that  Mr.  Adams'  conduct  had  not  hitherto  been  honorable  towards  the 
Town  in  the  office  of  Collector  of  Taxes.  Whether  the  Historian  made 
that  insinuation  out  of  malice,  or  upon  some  slight  ground,*  is  safely 
left  for  the  judgment  of  the  reader  ;  while  he  may  consider  that  no 
charge  of  dishonesty  was  ever  brought  against  Mr.  Adams  by  the 
Town,  but  on  the  contrary  he  was  continually  advanced  in  office,  un- 
til he  was  elevated  to  the. highest  station  in  the  Commonwealth  ;  and 
that  at  the  very  time  he  is  said  to  be  a  defaulter,  he  was  the  most 
popular  man  in  the  Town,  as  by  its  voters  has  been  shown. f  The 
Land  Bank  aifair  had  soured  Mr.  Hutchinson  seriously  with  the  father 
of  Mr.  Adams,  and,  on  the  death  of  the  father,  the  son,  in  the  course  of 
his  duties  as  his  executor,  fell  under  the  same  displeasure.  Add  to 
this  that  Mr.  Adams  was  a  leader  in  the  political  party  opposed  to 
the  Government,  of  which  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  an  important  member. 

Mr.  Adams  was  one  of  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  in  1763  and  1764.    In 

the  first  majority  in  the  House  of  Commons  quently  asked  for  more  time  to  enable  them  to 

for  the  Repeal."  —  Ibid.  show  lenity  to  poor  tax-payers.     This  was  Mr. 

*  There  appears  frequently  upon  the  Town  Adams'  case,  and  the  amount  of  his  offence. 

Records  notice  to  the  eifect  that  the  amounts  f  Mr.  Hutchinson  may  have  taken  his  hint  of 

given  out  for  collecting  to  the  officers  perform-  a  slur  on  Mr.  Adams'  reputation  from  some 

ing  the  duty  of  Collectors,  were  not  paid  into  remarks  contained  in  a  series  of  grossly  libel- 

the  Treasury  ;  and  almost  uniformly  the  rea-  lous  letters  written  anonymously  in  Boston  in 

sons  for  such  deficit  were  the  inability  of  the  1774,  in  which  every  patriot  opposed  to  the 

Collectors  to  collect  the  dues  assessed  upon  cer-  arbitrary  government  then  exercised  over  the 

tain  individuals.    The  same  occurs  at  this  day.  Colonies  is  slandered  in  the  hottest  fire  of  ma- 

Consequently  the  Collectors  of  that  day  fre-  lignity.     See  pp.  9,  112 — 20,  and  elsewhere. 


720  SAMUEL    ADAMS,  [1766. 

1765,  a  Committee  reported  respecting  the  state  of  the  outstanding 
taxes  ;  from  which  report  it  appeared  that  none  of  the  five  Collectors 
had  settled  up  with  the  Treasurer.  It  was  known  that  Mr.  Adams  was 
embarrassed  in  his  affairs,  and  yet  the  Town  chose  him  again  this  year 
(1765)  a  Collector,  but  he  prudently  declined  the  office.  This  was  on 
the  27th  of  May.  On  the  eighth  of  July  Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher  died, 
and  a  Representative  was  to  be  chosen  in  his  place.  A  Town-meeting 
was  called  for  the  purpose  on  the  27th  of  September.  There  were  four 
candidates,  gentlemen  of  acknowledged  worth  and  influence  ;  Mr.  Ad- 
ams was  elected.  Then,  at  the  annual  election  of  Representatives  on  the 
sixth  of  the  following  May,  he  was  rechosen,  having  a  greater  number 
of  votes  than  either  of  the  others,  —  even  larger  than  Mr.  Gushing,  then 
considered  the  most  popular  man  in  Town. 

At  the  Town-meeting  in  March,  1767,  a  vote  was  obtained  to  com- 
mence a  suit  against  three  of  the  Collectors,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Ad- 
ams ;  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting  another  vote  was  passed  staying 
proceedings  against  him.  And  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  recon- 
sider that  vote,  so  well  were  the  people  satisfied  that  Mr.  Adams'  inabil- 
ity to  meet  his  engagements  arose  from  no  dishonorable  intention,  that 
motion  to  reconsider  was  voted  down  by  "  a  very  great  majority." 
Such  were  the  grounds  upon  which  Mr.  Hutchinson  made  the  injurious 
insinuation  against  a  man  he  could  in  no  other  way  injure.  This  kind 
of  retaliation  has  been  resorted  to  at  all  times,  but  it  is  a  mode  of  war- 
fare in  which  the  party  who  employs  it  is,  in  the  end,  the  sufferer.  He 
who  takes  advantage  of  such  misfortunes  in  his  fellow-man  is  to  be 
pitied  for  the  malignity  of  his  disposition.* 

It  is  very  true  that  Mr.  Adams'  concern  was  so  great  in  public  affairs, 
and  so  many  duties  of  a  public  nature  were  imposed  upon  him,  that  he 

*  The  scurrilous  letters  before  referred  to  Hancock,  from  the  Old  South  meeting-house, 
seem  not  to  have  been  known  to  writers  of  la-  has  lately  repeated  a  hash  of  abusive  trea- 
ter  times  ;  or,  if  known,  they  have  been  totally  sonable  stuff,  composed  for  him  by  the  joint 
neglected  by  everybody  except  Mr.  Hutchin-  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Divine  Samuel  Cooper,  that 
son,  and  he  did  not  venture  to  cite  them  as  Rose  of  Sharon,  and  by  the  very  honest  Sam- 
authority  ;  being  well  aware  that  such  author-  uel  Adams,  Clerk,  Psalm-siDger,  purloiner, 
ity  would  destroy  his  own.  A  few  extracts  and  curer  of  bacon.  This  great  and  honora- 
from  these  letters  may  amuse  the  reader.  Their  ble  master  Hancock  is  very  well  known  in 
extravagance  defeats  any  harm  which  their  wri-  London  to  many;  indeed,  unfortunately  for 
ter  might  have  intended,  and  renders  them  un-  them,  too  well  known.  When  he  was  in  Lon- 
worthy  even  of  indignation.  "  A  person  who  don  about  twelve  years  ago,  he  was  the  laugh- 
enlists  with  the  Faction,  though  formerly  a  ing-stock  and  the  contempt  of  all  his  acquaint- 
Tory,  a  Knave,  or  Atheist,  instantly  becomes  a  ances."  —  "  He  keptsneaking about  the Kitch- 
Whig,  an  honest  man,  and  a  Saint." — P.  9.  en  of  his  uncle's  correspondent ;  drank  tea  every 
"  The  merchants,  not  only  of  London,  but  day  with  the  housemaid,  and  on  Sundays  es- 
over  all  the  British  dominions,  strenuously  corted  her  to  White  Conduit  House,"  &c. — 
exerted  all  their  interest  to  obtain  a  repeal  of  "The  temper  and  abilities  of  the  rebellious 
the  Stamp  Act.  To  this  they  were  principally  Saints  in  Boston  are  easily  discoverable  in  Han- 
excited  by  the  piteous  complaints  of  the  Bos-  cock's  Oration,  who,  at  his  delivery  of  it,  was 
tonians,  who  held  forth  to  them  fallacious  attended  by  most  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  the 
views  of  emolument.  Unhappily,  their  exer-  majority  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the 
tions  were  successful." — P.  37.  "  The  Saints  Selectmen,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  the  rest 
professing  loyalty  and  godliness  at  Boston,  of  the  rebellious  herd  of  Calves,  Asses,  Knaves 
send  us,  by  every  vessel  from  their  port,  ac-  and  Fools,  which  compose  the  Faction." — Pp. 
cumulated  proofs  of  their  treasons  and  rebel-  103,  109.  Other  extracts  may  be  given  in  the 
lions.     That  mighty  wise  patriot,  Mr.  John  Appendix. 


fr 


176C] 


ARRIVAL    OF    REPEAL    NEWS. 


721 


was  obliged  to  neglect  his  own,  or,  what  he  considered  of  much  greater 
moment,  the  business  of  the  country.  There  was  scarcely  an  important 
Committee  of  the  Town  or  General  Court  upon  which  he  was  not  ap- 
pointed ;  and  he  was  not  one  to  avoid  the  laboring  oar,  in  whatever 
company  he  chanced  to  be.  If  an  important  letter  was  to  be  drafted, 
to  be  sent  to  officers  or  gentlemen  in  England,  Mr.  Adams  was  put  upon 
the  Committee  who  had  the  matter  in  charge.  If  a  letter  was  to  be 
written  to  a  neighboring  town,  he  was  upon  the  Committee  to  do  it,  and 
of  such  there  were  not  a  few.  Besides,  the  laborious  Reports  of  the 
Committees  are  replete  with  the  touches  of  his  master  hand. 

At  the  same  Town-meeting*  (May  sixth),  Mr.  Otis,  the  Moderator, 
communicated  a  very  polite  letter  from  the  Right  Hon.  Gen.  Conway, 
in  which  that  gentleman  signified  his  kind  acceptance  of  the  Address  of 
Thanks  from  this  Metropolis.  He  also  intimated  his  intention  of  favoring 
the  Town  with  his  portrait.  Of  this  mention  has  been  made.  The  Hon. 
William  Pitt  was  mentioned  in  connection  with  Barre  and  Conway  as 
the  "  immortal  Pitt,"  who,  before  his  late  secession  from  the  ranks  of 
the  old  Ministry,  was  denounced  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  no  measured 
terms. f  But  he  was  now  with  them,  so  far  as  the  Stamp  Act  was  con- 
cerned, and  as  to  his  contradictory  assertion,  that  "  Parliament  had  the 
right  to  bind  them  in  all  cases  whatsoever,"  that  was  left  entirely  out  of 
the  account,  as  not  important  to  be  considered  under  present  circum- 
stances. 

The  greatest  anxiety  had  prevailed  in  the  Town,  and  the 
master  of  every  ship  from  a  foreign  port  was  eagerly  inquired* 
of  before  he  could  bring  his  vessel  to  the  wharf,  as  to  the  fate  of 
the  Stamp  Act.  At  length  a  ^rigantine  hove  to  in  the  inner  harbor. 
It  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  the  Harrison,  Capt.  Shubael  Coffin,  about 
six  weeks  from  London,  whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  be  the  bearer  of 
the  "  important  account  of  the  Repeal  of  the  American  Stamp  Act." 
The  enthusiastic  joy  with  which  the  news  was  received  has  already  been 
mentioned.  It  remains  now  only  to  be  narrated  what  was  done  by  the  • 
people  of  Boston  to  express  their  joy  upon  this  great  occasion. 

As  soon  as  the  news  was  spread,  the  bells  in  the  different  churches 
were  set  a  ringing,  "the  ships  in  the  harbor  displayed  their  colors, 
guns  were  discharged  in  different  parts  of  the  Town,  and  in  the  even- 
ing several  bonfires  were  kindled,  and  the  night  passed  off  with  nothing 


*  Gordon  gives  the  following  humorous  ac- 
count of  the  way  in  which  Mr.  Hancock  came 
first  to  be  elected  to  the' House  of  Representa- 
tives :  "  When  the  choice  of  members  for 
Boston ,  to  represent  the  Town  in  the  next  Gen- 
eral Court,  was  approaching,  Mr.  John  Rowe, 
a  merchant,  who  had  been  active  on  the  side  of 
Liberty  in  matters  of  trade,  was  th'ought  of 
by  some  influential  persons.  Mr.  Samuel  Ad- 
ams artfully  nominated  a  different  one,  by 
asking,  with  his  eyes  looking  to  Mr.  Hancock's 
House,  '  Is  there  not  another  John  that  may 
do  better  ?  '  The  hint  took.  Mr.  John  Han- 
cock's  uncle  was   dead,  and   had  left  him  a 

91 


very  considerable  fortune.  Mr.  Adams  judged 
that  the  fortune  would  give  credit  and  support 
to  the  cause  of  Liberty  ;  the  popularity  would 
please  the  possessor  ;  and  that  he  might  be 
easily  secured  by  prudent  management,  and 
might  make  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  band 
of  Patriots." 

f  In  his  own  country,  the  great  Statesman 
received  the  name  of  Mr.  "  Turnover  "  Pitt. 
At  least,  so  Thomas  Hollis  styles  him  in  a  let- 
ter to  the  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot.  —  Copies  of 
MS.  letters  kindly  loaned  me  by  Mr.  John  F. 
Eliot,  of  Boston,  who  possesses  the  originals, 
with  other  ante  Revolutionary  relics. 


722 


REPEAL   JUBILEE. 


[1766 


to  mar  the  pleasures  of  the  day.  On  the  same  day,  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Selectmen  met  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and  appointed  Monday  the  19th  fol- 
lowing for  a  day  of  general  rejoicing.  And  in  the  mean  while  there 
were  busy  hands  employed  to  produce  a  spectacle  in  a  conspicuous  place 
worthy  of  the  event,  and  equally  busy  heads  were  at  work  to  prepare 
devices  suited  to  the  handiwork. 

The  booming  of  cannon  and  ringing  of  bells  broke  the  early 
stillness  of  the  morning,  and  many  of  the  houses  in  the  Town, 
as  well  as  the  ships  in  the  harbor,  were  set  out  with  colors.  The  dawn 
of  day  was  too  tardy  on  this  occasion,  and  the  sound  of  the  one  o'clock 
bell  had  scarcely  died  on  the  air,  when  the  bell  of  the  Rev.  Doctor 
Byles'  Church,  that  being  the  nearest  to  Liberty  Tree,  began  to  ring. 
This  was  soon  answered  by  the  bells  of  Christ  Church  at  the  North  End, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  all  the  other  bells  in  the  Town  were  in  motion.  As 
soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see,  Hollis-street  steeple  was  hung  with 
banners,  and  Liberty  Tree  was  decorated  with  flags  and  streamers,  and 
the  very  tops  of  houses  exhibited  the  same  kind  of  plumage.  Be- 
fore two  in  the  morning,  music  was  played  in  the  streets,  drums 
were  beat  and  guns  fired.  There  were,  at  this  time,  many  persons 
confined  in  jail  for  debt.  The  liberal-spirited  Sons  of  Liberty  were 
determined  that  they  should  share  in  the  general  joy  ;  they  therefore 
paid  the  debts  of  the  poor  prisoners,  and  they  were  all  set  at  liberty.* 
At  one  o'clock  the  guns  of  Castle  William  were  fired,  and  that  salute 
was  immediately  answered  by  the  North  and  South  batteries  of  the 
Town  and  also  by  those  in  Charlestown,  the  train  of  Artillery  in  Bos- 
ton, and  the  ships  in  the  Harbor. 

As  the  evening  closed  in,  the  Town  presented  a 
most  beautiful  appearance,  by  a  universal  illumi- 
nation of  the  houses.  Fireworks  of  various  kinds 
were  played  off  in  all  directions.  On  the  Common 
they  were  exhibited  beyond  anything  of  the  kind 
hitherto  known  in  New  England.  Here  had  been 
erected  an  Obelisk  or  Pyramid,  four  stories  in 
height,f  which  was  illuminated  with  two  hundred 
and  eighty  lamps.  On  its  top  was  "  fixed  a  round 
box  of  fireworks  horizontally."  About  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
Pyramid  the  Sons  of  Liberty  erected  a  stage  for  the  exhibition  of  their 
fireworks,  which  was  near  the  Workhouse.  In  the  Workhouse  they 
entertained  "the  gentlemen  of  the  Town."  The  elegant  mansion- 
house  of  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  was  brilliantly  illuminated;  in  front 
of  which  its  liberal  owner  had  a  stage  erected,  from  which  fireworks 
were  exhibited  at  his  own  expense,  and  which  answered  those  of  the 


*  This  was  done  by  a  subscription  com- 
menced in  the  morning,  said  to  have  been  set 
on  foot  by  "  a  fair  Boston  Nymph."  I  should 
be  very  glad  to  know  her  name. 

f  So  it  appears  in  a  print  then  published, 
but  its  dimensions  in  "  long  measure  "  I  have 


not  found  stated.  The  only  copy  of  the  print 
ever  heard  of  by  the  writer,  belongs  to  his 
friend,  Mr.  John  F.  Eliot,  which,  with  other 
curious  matters  relating  to  this  period,  he  has 
kindly  put  into  his  hands.  The  small  engrav- 
ing above  shows  the  Pyramid  reduced. 


1766.]  REPEAL    CELEBRATION.  723 

Sons  of  Liberty  on  the  Common,  in  front  of  the  Workhouse.  At  the 
same  time  Mr.  Hancock  entertained  in  his  house  "  the  genteel  part  of 
the  Town."  He  also  treated  the  populace  with  a  pipe  of  Madeira 
wine  ;  and  Mr.  Otis,  and  some  other  gentlemen,  who  lived  near  the 
Common,  kept  open  houses  throughout  the  exhibition. 

When  the  dusk  of  the  evening  began  to  be  perceptible,  the  night's 
entertainment  commenced  with  the  projection  of  eleven  rockets  fro'm 
each  stage.  The  fireworks,  thus  begun,  were  kept  up  till  eleven 
o'clock,  and  consisted  of  an  extensive  variety.  The  air  was  filled 
with  rockets  ;  the  ground  was  covered  with  beehives  and  serpents,  and 
the  two  stages  with  fire-wheels  of  various  kinds.  Precisely  at  eleven 
a  signal  was  given  to  set  in  motion  the  crowning  pyrotechny  of  the 
evening,  which  was  the  firing  of  the  horizontal  wheel  upon  the  top  of 
the  Pyramid.  The  signal  was  a  grand  discharge  of  twenty-one  rock- 
ets. When  the  brilliant  wheel  had  nearly  spent  itself,  it  suddenly 
disappeared,  taking  the  form  of  "sixteen  dozen 'fiery  serpents,"  which 
flew  into  the  air  in  every  direction. 

How  Mr.  Hutchinson,  Mr.  Oliver,  and  their  immediate  friends  en- 
joyed this  celebration,  does  not  appear ;  but  Governor  Bernard  invited 
his  Council  to  meet  him  at  the  Province  House  on  the  afternoon  of  that 
day,  and  there  they  drank  His  Majesty's  health,  and  "  many  other  loyal 
toasts  ;  "  after  which  they  walked  on  the  Common  with  the  people,  and 
expressed  themselves  highly  gratified  with  the  exhibition.*  About 
midnight  there  was  a  signal  given  on  the  Common,  and  the  beating  of  a 
drum  was  heard  ;  whereupon  the  people  at  once  retired  to  their  own 
dwellings,  the  lights  were  extinguished,  and  the  Town  immediately  be- 
came hushed  "in  an  unusual  silence." 

It  should  be  particularly  stated  that  Liberty  Tree  did  not  bear  its 
flags  and  streamers  that  night  in  the  dark  ;  and  that,  though  the  Pyr- 
amid on  the  Common  was  the  great  point  of  attraction,  the  Tree  was 
not  forgotten  ;  but  why  it  was  particularly  assigned  to  Mr.  John  Wilkes, 
is  to  be  explained  only  by  inference.  However,  lanterns  to  the  memo- 
rable number  forty-five  illuminated  it  for  that  time.  Yet  the  next 
day  the  matter  was  reconsidered  ;  it  being  thought,  probably,  that  that 
glorious  Tree  had  been  treated  unjustly  ;  therefore  it  was  determined 
to  make  it  amends  on  the  following  night.  Accordingly  there  were 
suspended  throughout  its  wide-spread  branches  at  evening  one  hundred 
and  eight  lamps  ;  after  the  example,  probably,  of  the  house  in  London, 
before  noticed.     It  is  said  that  all  the  gentlemen  in  the  Town  contrib- 

*  To  the  credit  of  Mr.  Bernard,  it  should  ernors  on  the  Continent,  had  pointed  out  the 

be  remembered,  that  he  was  always  opposed  to  inconvenience  of  the  Stamp  Act ;  that  he  had 

the  Stamp  Act,  and  strongly  urged  its  repeal ;  done  his  duty  like  a  friend   to  his  Country, 

and  he  was  probably  the  only  one  among  the  and   he   should   ever   respect   him."     But   a 

Colonial  Governors  who  did  not  advocate  its  King's  Governor  in  America  was  henceforth 

enforcement.     In  a  discussion  with  Lord  Mans-  doomed  to  be  an  unoomfortable  man  ;  because 

field,  Lord  Camden  made   the   following   re-  there  was  a  fixed  determination  to  be  dissat- 

marks  respecting  the  Governor  :  —  "  That  this  isfied  with  him,  which  had  taken  too  deep 

great,  good,  and  sensible  man,  of  all  the  Gov-  root  ever  to  be  eradicated. 


724 


REPEAL    CELEBRATION. 


[1766. 


uted  lanterns  on  this  occasion,*  and  that  the  Tree  was  so  full  that  it 

could  hold  no  more.  In  some  of 
the  windows  in  the  houses  in  that 
vicinity  were  suspended  elegant 
transparencies,    representing    the 


Kins 


the     immortal     Pitt, 


Camden,  Barre,  and  others. f 

The  Pyramid  or  Obelisk  erected 
on  the  Common  was  only  tempo- 
rarily to  remain  there  ;  and  after 
the  exhibition  was  over,  it  was  to 
be  removed  and  set  up  under 
(Liberty  Tree,  "  as  a  standing 
'Monument  of  this  glorious  era  ;  " 
but  by  some  accident  it  took  fire  about  one  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the 
celebration,  and  was  consumed. J  The  four  stories,  or  compartments, 
exhibited  each  four  sides.  The 
lower  story  or  base  was  without 
ornaments,  and  is  only  described 
as  "of  the  Doric  order."  The 
next  was  covered  with  what  was 
then  called  hieroglyphics ;  §  the 
next  with  ten  verses  each,  and 
the  last  with  four  portraits 
each.  ||  It  is  necessary  to  repre- 
sent only  the  "hieroglyphics" 
by  engravings,  which  the  artist 
has  done  with  great  exactness, 
and  of  the  same  size  as  the  orig- 
inal plate.  The  small  pyramid  shows  the  form  of  the  whole  structure, 
which,  compared  with  the  hieroglyphic  cuts,  an  idea  of  the  whole  is  had. 


*  If  that  report  is  strictly  true,  there  were 
but  108  gentlemen  in  Boston  at  that  time. 
Perhaps  all  the  gentlemen  who  had  lanterns 
would  be  nearer  the  truth  ;  or  perhaps,  rather, 
the  Gazette  statement  should  be  taken  with 
allowance,  for  partaking  a  little  of  that  ex- 
travagance for  which  the  celebration  was  quite 
remarkable,  and  for  which  all  parties  are 
excusable. 

f  In   the  front  windows  of  Capt.   Dawes' 
and   Mr.   Thomas  Syrurnes'    house,  appeared 
the  portrait  of  Mr.  Pitt,  "  as  large  as  life," 
with  this  inscription  : 
"  Hail,  Pitt  !  Hail,  patrons  !  pride  of  George's  days  ! 

How  round  the  globe  expand  your  patriot  rays  ! 

And  the  JSTew  World  is  brightened  with  the  blaze." 

%  From  the  print  representing  the  structure 
before  mentioned,  no  one  would  suppose  it  to 
have  been  erected  on  the  Common  ;  for  it  is 
entitled,  "  A  View  of  the  Obelisk  erected 
under  Liberty  Tree  in  Boston  on  the  Rejoic- 
ings for  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  1766." 


This  shows  that  the  original  intention  of  the 
Sons  was  to  set  it  under  Liberty  Tree  for  a  per- 
petual Memorial.  It  shows'  also  that  the 
print  was  finished  and  circulated  before  the 
day  of  celebration.  At  the  foot  of  the  plate 
is  this  dedication  :  —  "To  every  lover  of  LIB- 
ERTY, this  plate  is  humbly  dedicated  by  her 
true-born  SONS,  in  BOSTON  New  Eng- 
land." It  was  from  a  copper  plate,  in  a 
corner  of  which  is  "  Paul  Revere  Sculp." 
Where  I  have  omitted  punctuation  in  this 
description,  it  is  to  show  that  it  was  disre- 
garded by  the  engraver. 

§  These  are  thus  described  on  the  print  :  — 
"  1st,  America  in  distress,  apprehending  the 
total  loss  of  Liberty.  2d,  She  implores  the 
aid  of  her  Patrons.  3d,  She  endures  the  con- 
flict for  a  short  season.  4th,  And  has  her 
Liberty  restored  by  the  Royal  hand  of  George 
the  Third." 

||  The  poetry  may  be  read  in  the  Massachu- 
setts Gazette  Extraordinary,  of  22  May,  1766. 


1766.] 


REPEAL    THANKSGIVING. 


725 


The  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  was  celebrated  with  great  spirit  in 

Charlestown,  Cambridge,  and  all  this  vicinity  ;   and,  indeed,  throughout 

the  whole  Country,  and  but  few 
accidents  are  found  recorded, 
and  all  those  at  a  distance  from 
Boston. 

At  the  request  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives and  Counsellors,  Gov- 
ernor Bernard  appointed  the 
twenty-fourth  of  July  to  be  kept 
as  a  Thanksgiving  ;  but  the 
Society  of  the  West  Church 
could  not  wait  for  so  remote  a 
day,     and      they     unanimously 

agreed   to   have  /  their   Thanksgiving   on   the    twenty-third   of    May, 

and    requested    Doctor   Mayhew,   their   pastor,   to    deliver  a    Sermon 

upon  the  occasion,  which  he  accordingly  did.*     But  the  beloved  pastor 

enjoyed    the    blessings    of    the 

repeal  but  a  very  brief  period  ; 

for  he  died  on  the  ninth  of  July 

following,  sincerely  mourned  by 

innumerable    friends    in    every 

walk' of  life.f 

The  Thanksgiving  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor 

was  duly  observed.    Among  the 

Discourses  on  that  day,  one  by 

Doctor  Chauncey,  of  the  First 

Church,  was  published,  under  a 

well-chosen  title. J     Doctor  Stillman  also  published  a  discourse  on  the 


July  24. 


or  more  conveniently,  probably,  in  Dealings 
with  the  Dead.  The  portraits  are  generally  tol- 
erably good,  judging  by  those  we  see  in  our 
days  of  the  same  characters.  Above  the  head 
of  each  are  the  initials  of  the  names  of  the 
persons  intended  to  be  represented,  as  fol- 
lows :  "  D  Y-k,  M-q-s  R-m,  Q  C,  K  G  md, 
G-l  C-y,  L-d  T-n,  C-l  B-e,  W-m  P-t,  L-d 
D-h,  A-n  B-r[d?],  C-s  T-d,  L-d  G-e  S-k-e, 
Mr.  DeB-t,  J-n  W-s,  L-d  C-n."  As  the  im- 
port of  these  initials  may  not  readily  be  made 
out  by  every  reader,  they  here  follow  :  Duke 
of  York,  Marquis  of  Rockingham,  Queen  Char- 
lotte, King  George  III.,  General  Conway,  Lord 
Townshend,  Colonel  Barre,  William  Pitt, 
Lord  Dartmouth,  Alderman  Beckford,  Charles 
Townshend,  Lord  George  Sackville,  Mr.  Dennis 
De  Berdt,  John  Wilkes,  Lord  Camden. 

*  The  discourse  which  he  then  delivered  was 
printed,  and  is  held  in  high  estimation  even  at 
this  clay.  It  was  dedicated  "  To  the  Right 
Honorable  William  Pitt,  Esq.,"  "  an  illus- 
trious Patron  of  America."  It  is  entitled,  — 
"  The  Snare  Broken.  A  Thanksgiving  Dis- 
course,"   "  occasioned  by  the  Repeal  of  the 


Stamp  Act."  In  it  he  happily  described  the 
condition  the  people  were  in  before  the  repeal, 
and  vividly  contrasted  it  with  that  now  en- 
tered upon.  "  It  has  at  once,"  he  said,  "  in  a 
good  measure  restored  things  to  order,  and 
composed  our  minds  ;  commerce  lifts  up  her 
head,  adorned  with  golden  tresses,  pearls  and 
precious  stones  ;  almost  every  person  you  meet 
wears  the  smile  of  contentment  and  joy  ;  and 
even  our  slaves  rejoice,  as  though  they  had  re- 
ceived their  manumission."     P.  23. 

f  See  pages  602,  606,  where  are  some  no- 
tices of  Dr.  Mayhew.  His  death  is  thus  an- 
nounced in  the  Mass.  Gazt.  of  July  10ih  : 
"  Yesterday  morning  died,  in  the  46th  year  of 
his  age,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Mayiiew,  D.  D., 
Pastor  of  the  West  Church  in  this  Town.  His 
funeral  is  to  be  attended  to-morrow  afternoon, 
precisely  at  5  o'clock.  It  is  requested  the  at- 
tendance be  seasonable,  that  the  procession 
may  begin  at  the  above  hour."  In  the  same 
paper  of  the  following  week  there  is  a  very 
full  account  of  that  estimable  man. 

J  A  Discourse  on  ' '  the  Good  News  from  a  far 
Country." 


726  DEATH    OP    DR.  BOYLSTON.  [1766. 

repeal,  but  not  on  a   Thanksgiving    day,  though  it  was  earlier   than 
either  of  the  other  two. 

Alhough  not  in  the  order  of  time,  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  record  the 
death  of  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston  here.  He  was  long  a  resident  of  Boston, 
but  died  in  Brookline  on  the  first  day  of  March,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  "near"  eighty-seven  years.  His  efforts  and  perseverance  in  the 
introduction  of  Inoculation,  were  only  equalled  by  the  success  which 
attended  them,  and  his  name  may,  and  doubtless  will  be,  handed  down 
to  the  remotest  generations,  as  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  of  the 
human  race.  A  Street  and  a  Market  perpetuate  his  memory  in  the  city  ; 
those  monuments,  however,  from  a  knowledge  of  former  proceedings  of 
some  in  authority,  may  ere  long  be  known  only  from  the  records  of  the 
past.  Doctor  Boylston,  as  was  usual  in  his  time,  kept  a  medicine  shop, 
was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  street  bear- 
ing his  name.  In  1724  he  described  it  as  a  good  and  convenient 
garden,  containing  about  twenty-seven  acres,  known  by  the  name  of 
Cole's  Grarden.  The  grandfather  of  Dr.  Boylston  came  to  New  England 
in  the  year  1635,  and  settled  in  Watertown.  His  name  was  Thomas, 
who  was  son  of  Thomas  Boylston,  cloth-worker  of  London,  who  died 
about  1648,  who  had  sons,  John,  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  of  Market  Bos- 
worth,  the  father  of  nineteen  children ;  Thomas,  who  came  to  New  Eng- 
land ;  Edward,  who  died  unmarried,  and  Richard,  who  followed  the 
occupation  of  his  father.* 

*  Thomas  Boylston,  the  cloth-worker  of  Lon-  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston  married,  18  Jan. 
don,  according  to  the  researches  of  Dr.  Henry  1706,  Jerusha,  dau.  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Bond  (in  Watertown  Genealogies) ,  was  son  of  (Breck)  Minot,  of  Dorchester.  She  died  at 
Henry,  of  Litchfield,  England,  who  had  an  Brookline,  of  a  cancer  in  her  face,  15  April, 
estate  at  Weston  in  Staffordshire,  and  was  1764,  in  her  85th  year.  They  had  eight  chil- 
brother  of  Boylston  of  Derbyshire.  From  the  dren  ;<-'  Zabdiel,  H.  C,  1724,  died  in  England, 
investigations  of  Mr.  T.  B.  Wyman,  Jr.  (in  unmarried;  John,  of  Bath,  England,  d.  there' 
Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  Watertown  Genealogies),  1795,  unmarried;  Jerusha,  m.  Benj.  Fitch; 
and  other  sources,  that  Thomas  Boylston,  the  Thomas,  physician,  of  Boston,  m.  Mary 
emigrant,  was  of  Fenchurch-st.,  London,  died  Coales  ;  no  children;  Elizabeth,  m.  Gilluni 
at  Watertown  about  1653,  aged  about  38.  ("~~sf™' ,^fl&  si  Taylor,  of  Bos- 
He  had  children,  Elizabeth,  m.  to  John  '  /y%~ltr — /^  *on*  For  a  copy 
Fisher,  who  had  sons  Joshua  and  Daniel ;  Sa-  C^^°  £/e/£^£v%^^-°f  ^he  au*°graPn 


rah,  m.  Thos.  Smith,  butcher  of  Charlestown  ;  yf                   of  Dr.  Boylston, 

Thomas,  chirurgeon  of  Muddy  river,  m.  Mary,  £/                     I  am  indebted  to 

dau.   of  Thomas   Gardner,   and  had,  among  E.W.  Leffing  well,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven,  whose 

others,  Zabdiel,  the  great  physician,  the  sub-  collection    of   autographs   has    probably   few 

ject  of  this  note.      Thomas,  the  father,  died  equals  in  the  country. 

before  16  Dec.  1696  (probate),  aged  about  51.  The  late  Rev.  Daniel  Barber,  a  native  of 

Dr.  Zabdiel  was  the  7th  of  12  children.     Pe-  Simsbury,  in   Connecticut,   made  one  of  the 

ter,  the  4th,  m.  Anne  White  ;  their  dau.  Su-  besieging  army  before  Boston  in  1775.     On 

sannah  m.  Deac.  John  Adams,  father  of  Pres-  attending   the   funeral  of    Adjutant  Phineas 

ident  John  Adams;  another,  Anne,  m.  Eben-  Lyman  Tracy  (killed  by  a  cannon-shot),  who 

ezer  Adams,  brother  of  Deac.  John,  and  was  was  buried  in  the  Brookline  burial-ground, 

the  ancestor  of  the  late  Dr.  Zabdiel  B.  Adams,  he  took   notice  of  a  grave  with  an   ancient 

of  Boston  ;  Thomas,  the   12th,  and  youngest  marble  monument,  from  which  he  copied  the 

brother  of  Dr.  Zabdiel,  merchant  of  Boston,  following  inscription  :  — 

in.  Sarah   Morecock,  and   had   Thomas,   also  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boyl- 

merchant  of  Boston,  who  died  in  London  30  ston,  Esq.,  physician  and  F.  R.  S.,  who  first 

Dec.  1798,   whose   sister  Mary  m.   Benjamin  introduced    the    practice    of  Inoculation    in 

Hallowell,  and  had  14  children,  one  of  whom,  America.     Through  a  life  of  extensive  benev- 

Ward  Nicholas,  took  the  name  of  Boylston ;  olence,  he   was  always   faithful  to  his  word, 

another  sister  (dau.  of  Thomas  and  Sarah),  just  in  his  dealings,  affable  in  his  manners; 

Rebecca,  m.  Lieut.  Gov.  Moses  Gill.  and  after  a  long  sickness,  in  which  he  was  ex- 


1766— 7-]  GENERAL    COURT    OPENED    TO    THE   PUBLIC.  727 

Notwithstanding  the  great  joy  which  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act 
occasioned,  there  was  scarcely  any  cessation  of  a  kind  of  warfare  be- 
tween the  heads  of  the  two  parties.  And  although  it  was  well  known 
that  both  Governor  Bernard  and  Lieut.  Governor  Hutchinson  had  en- 
deavored to  bring  about  the  Repeal  ;  that  it  had  been  acknowledged  in 
the  highest  places  in  England  as  it  respected  the  former  ;  and  that  the 
latter  had  drafted  the  Petition  from  the  Council  and  House,  in  1764, 
which  essentially  forwarded  the  desired  measure  ;  yet  the  Liberty  Men 
would  not  allow  that  those  efforts  were  meritorious,  inasmuch  as  they 
solicited  the  object  as  a  matter  of  favor,  and  not  of  right.  In  short,  the 
whole  is  explained  in  a  few  words.  The  people  said  by  their  acts  at 
least,  "  We  will  not  have  a  King  to  rule  over  us."  With  this  feeling,  — 
and  it  was  become  almost  universal,  — the  best  Governors  and  Coun- 
sellors in  the  world,  if  placed  in  power  by  the  King,  could  not  have 
pleased  them.  Hence,  every  General  Court,  from  this  time  until  the 
King's  power  was  finally  annulled  by  the  sword,  was  almost  one  con- 
tinued scene  of  strife  and  contention. 

The  war  in  the  General  Court  was  commenced  in  the  outset 
'  of  the  May  session,  apparently  by  the  Governor  himself ;  Mr. 
Otis,  having  been  chosen  Speaker,  was  negatived  by  him.  In  this  he 
gained  nothing,  but  lost  much  ;  for  he  was  obliged  to  take  one  of  the 
same  party  for  the  office,  and  that  party  retaliated  by  keeping  Lieut. 
Governor  Hutchinson  and  Secretary  Oliver  out  of  the  Council.  Thus  the 
campaign  was  opened,  but  the  details  cannot  be  here  entered  into. 

Before  this  session  of  the  General  Court,  the  debates  and  proceedings 
had  not  been  open  to  the  public.  As  great  interest  was  felt  by  the  people 
in  those  proceedings,  the  Patriot  party,  taking  advantage  of  their 
'  strength,  ordered,  "  That  the  debates  of  this  House  be  open,  and 
that  a  gallery  be  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  such  as  shall  be  in- 
clined to  attend  them."  Agreeably  to  this  order  the  work  was  imme- 
diately commenced,  and  in  a  few  days  finished.  This  added  popularity 
to  an  already  popular  party,  and  had  the  effect  that  was  intended, 
namely,  to  forward  the  common  cause  of  opposition  to  Govern- 
ment. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  by  virtue  of  his  office  of  Lieut.  Governor  took 
'      his  seat  at  the  Council  Board,  but  the  House  were  determined  to 
expel  him  ;   and  by  a  Resolve  did  expel  him.     The  Resolve  ex- 
pressed,  "That   he,    not  being    elected    a    Counsellor,   had   no   right 
by  the  Charter  to  a  seat "  there,  "  with  or  without  a  voice,  while  the 
„    Commander-in-Chief  is  in  the  Province."     Five   days  after, 
the  Council  endorsed  the  proceedings  of  the  House,  and  the 
Lieut.  Governor  submitted  to  the  decision.     This  was  not  so  much  on 
account  of  ill-will  to  Mr.  Hutchinson,  though  there  was  no  lack  of  that, 

emplary  for  his  patience  and  resignation  to  his  Mr.  Barber  made  the  above  copy  just  fifty 
Maker,  he  quitted  this  mortal  life,  in  a  just  years  after  the  death  of  Adj.  Tracy,  and  pub- 
expectation  of  a  happy  immortality,  on  the  lished  "  The  History  of  My  own  Times,"  Wash- 
first  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1766,  aged  eighty-  ington,  D.  C,  1827,  8vo.  See  Phelps'  Hist. 
seven  years."  Simsbury  for  some  account  of  the  Barber  family. 


728 


PRIVILEGES    OF    COUNSELLORS. 


EIRE. 


[1767. 


as  it  was  to  punish  Governor  Bernard  for  his  repeated  reprimands  of  all 
those  who  opposed  his  measures. 

These  decisions  of  the  House  and  Council,  however,  were  not  sub- 
mitted to  by  Mr.  Bernard  as  they  should  have  been,  had  he  been  dis- 
posed to  show  a  magnanimity  which  common  sense  would  certainly 
have  dictated.  But,  instead  of  passing  over  and  submitting  quietly  to 
what  he  knew  he  could  not  help  or  avoid,  he  directed  Mr.  Secretary 
Oliver  to  search  the  past  records  of  the  Government,  to  see  if  prece- 
dents could  not  be  found  whereby  Mr.  Hutchinson  could  be  reinstated.* 
This  had  no  other  effect  but  to  keep  alive  animosities  and  strengthen 
opposition  to  his  own  measures. 

•p  b  10  About  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  February  third,  a  fire 
broke  out  in  Mr.  Bray's  bakehouse,  adjoining  Mill  Creek,  by 
which  were  consumed  upwards  of  twenty  houses.  It  passed  over  the 
Creek,  taking  the  houses  in  Perraway's  or  Ball's  alley,  now  Centre- 
street,  and  about  seventeen  of  the  houses  burned  were  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Creek. 

„     ,  The  Representatives  of  the  Town  in  the  General  Court  had 

been  instructed  in  May  last  to  advocate  the  total  abolition  of 


*  As  the  Report  made  by  Mr.  Oliver  is  a 
document  of  considerable  historical  value,  the 
substance  of  it  is  here  given  :  —  "I  have  exam- 
ined the  Records  from  the  year  1692  until  this 
time,  and  cannot  find  that  more  than  six  gen- 
tlemen have  been  commissioned  by  the  Crown 
since  the  present  .Charter,  viz.,  William 
Stoughton,  Esq.,  Thomas  Povey,  Esq.,  Wil- 
liam Tailer,  Esq.,  William  Dummer,  Esq., 
Spencer  Phipps,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, Esq.  When  Sir  Wm.  Phipps  arrived 
with  the  Charter,  in  May,  1692,  in  that  Char- 
ter 28  persons  were  appointed  Counsellors  or 
Assistants.  Mr.  Stoughton*was  not  one  of 
them.  Counsellors  to  take  the  oath  before  the 
Governor,  or  Lieutenant  or  Dep.  Governor,  or 
any  two  of  the  Council  authorized  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. At  the  first  Assembly,  on  the  8th  of 
Jane,  1692,  Lieut.  Governor  Stoughton  was 
present  in  Council.  The  Governor  appointed 
the  Lieut.  Governor,  attended  by  the  Secre- 
tary, to  administer  the  oaths  to  the  Represent- 
atives. Mr.  Stoughton  generally  sat  in 
Council  that  year.  He  was  continued  one  of 
the  28  Counsellors  or  Assistants,  by  election, 
till  his  death  in  1701,  although  Commander-in- 
Chief,  also,  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  In 
1702  Thomas  Povey  succeeded  Mr.  Stoughton 
as  Lieut.  Governor.  Mr.  Povey  never  was 
elected  a  Counsellor.  He  came  over  with 
Gov.  Dudley,  and  returned  to  England  in  1705. 
He  was  always  present  in  Council  during  his 
stay.  In  June,  1711,  the  Hon.  Francis  Nich- 
olson, Esq.,  was  present  in  Council ;  his  name 
being  entered  next  to  Gov.  Dudley  for  five 
successive  days.  There  is  no  mention  of  a 
Lieut.  Governor  being  in  the  Province  after 
Mr.   Povey  left  it,  till   17  Oct.,  1711,  when 


William  Tailer,  Esq.  appears  as  Lieut.  Gov- 
ernor. The  next  day  he  was  present  in  Coun- 
cil, without  the  Governor  ;  but  he  was  not  of 
the  Council  in  1711.  The  next  year  he  was 
chosen  a  Counsellor,  and  continued  to  be  till 
1716,  when  Mr.  Dummer  was  commissioned 
Lieut.  Governor.  Nov.  7,  1716,  Gov.  Shute 
opened  his  Commission,  and  Mr.  Dummer  was 
present  in  Council,  and  generally  throughout 
the  year,  though  not  a  member.  In- 1717,  18, 
19,  and  20,  Mr.  Dummer  was  elected  into  the 
Council.  In  1721  and  22,  though  not  elected, 
he  frequently  sat  in  Council.  Mr.  Shute  left 
in  Dec,  1722,  and  Mr.  Dummer  succeeded  as 
Commander-in-Chief,  and  so  continued  till 
July,  1728,  when  Mr.  Burnet  came.  Mr.  Dum- 
mer sat  in  Council  but  a  few  days  after  Gov. 
Burnet's  arrival.  On  30  June,  1730,  Col. 
Tailer  opened  the  Session  of  the  Gen.  Court. 
In  Aug.  Gov.  Belcher  arrived,  after  which  Mr. 
Tailer  sat  in  Council  a  few  days  only,  and  died 
in  the  latter  end  of  1731,  or  beginning  of  1732. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Spencer  Phipps,  Esq.,  as 
Lieut.  Governor.  Mr.  Phipps  died  in  April, 
1757,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hutchinson 
the  same  year,  in  which  he  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued, and  was  then  of  the  Council,  and  has 
ever  since  been  annually  elected.  It  was  men- 
tioned that  Gov.  Belcher  denied  the  right  of  a 
Lieut.  Governor  to  si  vn  Council,  and  that  he 
excluded  Col.  Tailer  and  Col.  Phipps  from 
the  Board.  Concerning  which  I  am  informed 
by  Mr.  Boardman,  son-in-law  to  Mr.  Phipps, 
that  they  both  complained  of  it  as  a  grievance  ; 
and  that  Mr.  Phipps  in  particular  would  never 
afterwards  make  his  appearance  on  any  public 
occasion,  as  he  could  not  do  it  in  character." 
Dated  6  Feb..  1767. 


1767.]  barre'b  portrait.  729 

Slavery  in  the  Province.  At  the  Town-meeting  on  the  sixteenth  of 
March,  the  question  came  up,  as  to  whether  the  Town  would  adhere 
to  that  part  of  its  Instructions,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirmative.* 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  vote  passed  to  illuminate  Faneuil  Hall  on  the 
eighteenth  of  March,  in  commemoration  of  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  which  the  Selectmen  were  requested  to  see  carried  into  effect,  and 
also  "  to  make  provision  for  drinking  the  King's  health." 

At  the  May  meeting  of  the  Town,  a  letter  was  ordered  to  be 
written  to  Colonel  Barre,  informing  him  that  his  Picture  had  been 
received  and  placed  in  Faneuil  Hall.  Town-meetings  of  this  period 
were  called  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  the  people  were  duly 
notified  that  "  the  Poll  for  the  choice  of  Representatives  would  be 
closed  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  a  strict  scrutiny  would  be  made  as  to  the 
qualification  of  voters."  And,  on  the  notifications  was  printed,  "  A 
person  entitled  to  vote  must  have  a  freehold  of  forty  shillings  per 
annum,  or  other  estate  worth  forty  pounds  sterling."  Notifications 
were  posted  six  days  before  the  day  of  meeting. 

The  Gun-House  on  the  Common  was  ordered  to  be  repaired, 
'and  enlarged  if  necessary,  "for  the  reception  of  the  Artillery 
lately  given  by  the  Province  for  the  use  of  the  Boston  regiment." 

On  the  tenth  of  September  died  Jeremy  Gridley,  Esq.,  the 
'Attorney  General  of  the  Province,  a  preeminent  lawyer.  He 
has  been  mentioned  before  as  the  Editor  of  the  Rehearsal,  the  instructor 
of  James  Otis  in  his  legal  studies,  and  as  Grand  Master  in  the  Society 
of  Free  Masons.  Major  General  Richard  Gridley,  distinguished  at 
Louisbourg,  was  his  brother.  He  was  Colonel  of  the  first  regiment  of 
Boston,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  age  was  about  sixty-three. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne,  Benjamin  Kent,  Esq.,  Thomas  Dowse, 

Esq.,  Melatiah  Bourne,  Esq.,  Jonathan  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr.  John 

Boylston,  and  Col.  John  Hill,  were  a  Committee  "  to  take  measures  to 

make    the    entrance    into    the    Town   near  the    Fortifications   more 

respectable." 

At  the  adjourned  Town-meeting  on  the  twenty-second  of 
"  December,  Instructions  to  the  Representatives  were  reported 
and  adopted.  From  these  Instructions  it  appears  that  the  restraint 
which  the  people  had  voluntarily  imposed  upon  themselves,  of  abstain- 
ing from  superfluities,  had  been  entirely  thrown  off  on  the  repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act.  "It  is  with  concern,"  say  the  Instructions,  "  we  are 
obliged  to  say,  that  under  all  this  difficulty  our  private  debts  to  the 
British  merchants  have  been  increasing  ;  and  our  importations,  even  of 
superfluities,  as  well  as  other  articles,  have  been  so  much  beyond  the 

*  The  Bostonians  are  thus  reproached  in  the  freedom  in  their  Town-meetings,  they  actually 

anonymous   letters   before  cited:  —  "What!  have  in  town  2000  Negro  slaves. "   Page  38 — 9. 

cries  our  good  people  here,  '  Negro  slaves  in  That  writer's  extravagance,  in  stating  the  num- 

Boston  !     It   cannot  be.'      It   is   nevertheless  ber  of  slaves  in  Boston  in  1774,  shows  him  to 

true.    For  though  the  Bostonians  have  ground-  have  written  with  but  a  shadow  of  a  regard  to 

ed  their  rebellion  on  the  '  immutable  laws  of  na-  truth.     He  maybe  right  as  to  the  move  for 

ture,'  yet,  notwithstanding  their  resolves  about  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

92 


730  REPRESENTATIVES   INSTRUCTED.  MANUFACTURES.  [1767. 

bounds  of  prudence,  that  our  utmost  efforts,  it  is  to  be  feared,  will  not 
save  us  from  impending  ruin.  At  the  same  time  our  trade,  by  which 
alone  we  are  enabled  to  balance  our  accounts  with  Great  Britain,  is 
almost  every  branch  of  it  burthened  with  duties  and  restrictions,  whereby 
it  is  rendered  unprofitable  to  us,  and  is,  indeed,  in  danger  of  being 
totally  obstructed  and  ruined.  In  such  a  deplorable  situation,  we 
warmly  recommend  to  you,  gentlemen,  to  exert  yourselves  in  promoting 
every  prudent  measure  which  may  be  proposed  to  put  a  stop  to  that 
profusion  of  luxury,  so  threatening  to  the  Country  ;  to  encourage  a 
spirit  of  industry  and  frugality  among  the  people,  and  to  establish  man- 
ufactures in  the  Province."  The  Instructions  also  urged  upon  the 
attention  of  the  Representatives  the  necessity  of  restraining  the  exces- 
sive use  and  consumption  of  spirituous  liquors  among  the  people  ;  "as 
destructive  to  the  morals  as  well  as  the  health  and  substance  of  the 
people."  They  further  say,  "  As  we  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than 
to  maintain  a  lasting  and  perpetual  friendship  and  union  with  the  people 
of  Great  Britain,  who  are  our  fellow-subjects,  we  rely  upon  it,  that  you 
will  at  all  times  readily  join  in  any  measures  tending  to  cultivate  and 
establish  it ;  using  your  best  endeavors  to  circumvent  and  frustrate  the 
designs  of  those  who  would  create  jealousies  and  foment  divisions  between 
us."  They  were  enjoined  also  to  inspect  the  Acts  of  Parliament,  to  see  if 
any  such  were  passed  binding  on  the  Colonies,  that  timely  measures  might 
be  adopted  to  remedy  any  inconvenience  arising  therefrom,  "  as  we  are. 
not,  and  cannot  be,  represented  in  the  Parliament  which  passeth  suet 
laws."    , 

The  establishment  of  manufactures  came  up  in  due  course  in  the 
General  Court,  and  Brig.  Timothy  Ruggles,  of  Hardwick,  was  the  onl) 
member  who  voted  against  such  establishment.*  The  Boston  delega 
176g  tion  were  particularly  sensitive  with  regard  to  the  course  of  Mr 
F  ,  '  Ruggles,  who  handed  in  his  reasons  for  his  vote  in  writing  ;  and, 
when  the  question  was  put  for  entering  those  reasons  on  the  Jour 
nal,  it  passed  in  the  negative.  The  linen  manufactory,  which  had  beer 
discontinued  in  the  Town,  was  again  attempted  to  be  established. 

A  series  of  twelve  interesting  and  able  letters  appeared  in  the  vari- 
ous  newspapers  of  the  day,  signed  "A  Farmer."  At  the 
'  Town-meeting  on  the  fourteenth  of  March,  the  subject  of  those 
letters  was  taken  up.  It  was  voted  "  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be 
given  to  the  ingenious  Author  of  those  letters,  published  in  Phila- 
delphia and  in  this  place  ;  wherein  the  rights  of  the  American  subjects 
are  clearly  stated  and  fully  vindicated  ;  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Church, 
John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  and 
John  Rowe,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  publish 

*  This  gentleman  made  himself  unnecessa-  Mr.  Ruggles  interrupted  him  by  the  sneering 

rily  obnoxious  to  the   Liberty  party.     After-  remark,  that  when  Representatives  were  to  be 

wards,  when  the  subject  of  sending  Represent-  sent,  he  wished  to  have  the  privilege  of  recom- 

atives  to  Parliament  was  debated  in  the  Gen-  mending  a  merchant  who  would  carry  them  to 

eral  Court,  while   Mr.  Otis   was   urging   the  England  for   half  what   they  would   sell   for 

inseparability  of  representation  and  taxation,  when  they  got  there. 


1767.]  STAMP-ACT    CELEBRATION.  731 

a  letter  of  thanks  accordingly."  It  does  not  appear  from  the  records, 
that  the  name  of  the  Author  of  the  since  celebrated  letters  was  at  that 
time  known.  It  proved  to  be  John  Dickinson,  Esq.,  of  Delaware,  who 
was  the  Samuel  Adams  of  the  Middle  States.  * 

At  the  same  Town-meeting,  the  subject  of  manufactures  was 
brought  forward,  and  a  large  Committee  *  appointed  to  pro- 
cure subscriptions  for  the  encouragement  of  the  manufacturing  of  Duck, 
lately  established  in  the  Town  by  John  Barret,  Esq.  Mr.  Gawen 
Browne  was  encouraged  to  exhibit  at  this  meeting  "the  frame  and  prin- 
cipal movements  of  a  new  and  curious  Town-clock,"  which  he  had 
manufactured.! 

The  Selectmen  chosen  were  Joseph  Jackson,  Samuel  Sewall,  John 
Ruddock,  John  Hancock,  William  Phillips,  Timothy  Newell,  and  John 
Howe.  Sewall,  Phillips,  and  Newell,  resigned  after  having  entered 
upon  their  duties,  and  Joshua  Henshaw,  Samuel  Pemberton,  and  Hen- 
derson Inches,  were  elected  in  their  stead. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  the  same  month  the  repeal  of  the 
'  Stamp  Act  was  celebrated  "  by  a  large  company,  who  met  at 
the  British  Coffee-house,  and  Col.  Ingersoll's  in  King-street."  In  the 
evening  a  great  body  of  people  assembled,  and  attempted  to  kindle  a 
bonfire,  but  were  prevailed  upon  by  some  influential  gentlemen  to  de- 
sist, and  they  desisted  accordingly.  In  the  morning  of  the  same  day 
there  were  found  suspended  on  Liberty  Tree  two  Images  ;  one  repre- 
'  sented  a  certain  Commissioner,  and  the  other,  one  of  the  Inspectors. 
These  were  taken  down  without  opposition;  being  done  by  two  or 
three  gentlemen,  well-known  friends  of  Liberty. J 

The  progress  of  the  schemes,  which  finally  resulted  in  the  Acts  of 
Parliament  for  raising  a  revenue  in  the  Colonies  by  imposts  ;  the  grad- 
ual and  artful  plans  for  rendering  the  Governments  in  them  entirely 
independent  of  the  /people  ;  the  Act  creating  a  Board  of  Commissioners 
to  carry  into  effect  the  new  revenue  laws  ;  and  the  Act  for  quartering 
troops  among  the  people,  for  the  evident  purpose  of  overawing  them 
into  a  submission  to  these  arbitrary  and  iniquitous  measures  ;   all  impor- 

*  The  Committee  consisted  of  Ebenezer  Sto-  serve  the  motion  during  the  winding-up.     The 

rer,   Benj.    Austin,    Wm.    Whitwell,    Thos.  pendulum  wheel   and   plates   to   perform  the 

Daws,  Joseph  Waldo,  Moses  Gill,  Saml.  Aus-  dead  beat."     Its  "  mathematical  pendulum  " 

tin,  Wm,  Greenleaf,  Wm-  Gray,  Saml.  Part-  was  so  contrived  that  it  could  be  "  altered  the 

ridge,  Nathl.  Barbour,  and  John  Ballard.     At  3500th   part   of  an   inch,  while  the  clock  is 

the  meeting  on  the  11th  of  May,  the  Com-  going." 

mittee  reported  that  they  had  not  met  with        %  The   Governor  had  heard  that  an  Effigy 

the  encouragement  anticipated  ;   had  got  but  demonstration  was  in  preparation.     "  On  the 

£150  subscribed,  which  was  only  one  half  of  very  day  before,"  he  says,  "  I  spoke  with  the 

what  was  required.     They  were  requested  to  most  knowing  men  I  could  procure,  who  were 

renew  their  efforts,  and  to  report  at  a  future  very  positive  no  Effigies  would  be  hung  up, 

time.  and  yet  late  that  evening  I  had  certain  advice 

f  Mr.  Browne  was  an  inhabitant  of  the  that  Effigies  were  prepared,  but  it  was  too  late 
Town.  It  is  said,  in  a  description  of  his  Clock,  to  do  anything.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
that  '«  the  two  great  wheels  took  near  90  lb.  Sheriff  came  to  me  to  inform  me  that  Effigies 
weight  of  cast  brass.  It  was  calculated  for  8  of  Mr.  Paxton  and  Mr.  Williams  were  hang- 
days,  to  show  the  hours  and  minutes  ;  to  have  ing  upon  Liberty  Tree." — Bernard's  Letter 
th?ee  great  dials,  and  a  mechanic  lever  to  pre-  to  Shelburne,  19  Mar.,  1768. 


732  BOARD    OF    COMMISSIONERS.  [1768. 

tant  affairs  for  understanding  the  true  character  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, which  was  the  immediate  consequence  of  them,  are  the  concerns 
of  the  general  history  of  the  Colonies,  and  cannot  be  fully  considered, 
even  in  the  nuost  important  section  of  them. 

But  as  the  Board  of  Commissioners  here  necessarily  referred  to  had 
its  head-quarters  in  Boston,  and  as  the  acts  of  those  composing  that 
Board  led  to  serious  difficulties  in  the  Town  shortly  after,  the  follow- 
ing details  cannot  be  dispensed  with  in  this  place. 

Mr.  Charles  Paxton  had  left  for  England,  for  the  express  purpose, 
no  doubt,  of  causing  the  commission  to  be  located  in  Boston,  and  for 
being  himself  placed  in  it.  He  succeeded  in  his  design.*  The  Board 
consisted  of  Charles  Paxton,  Henry  Hulton,  William  Bureh,  John 
Temple,f  and  John  Robinson,  Esquires.  The  two  last  named  were 
already  in  this  country,  and  the  other  three  arrived  in  the  beginning  of 
November,  1767.  These  appointments  were  made  by  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer,  a  situation  given  him  on  his  pledging  himself  to 
raise  a  revenue  in  America.  But  he  did  not  live  to  see  the  mischief 
his  undertaking  brought  upon  the  two  countries,  for  he  died  on  the 
fourth  of  September,  1767,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-two. 

The  sure  effect  of  enforcing  the  new  revenue  laws  was  to  revive 
smuggling  in  one  quarter,  and  in  another  the  non-importation  system. 
The  latter  was  immediately  entered  upon  ;  first  in  a  private 
club  of  gentlemen  in  the  Town,  and  not  long  after  in  open 
Town-meeting.  Thus  measures  were  agreed  upon,  by  which  industry, 
economy,  and  manufactures,  should  be  promoted.  Committees  and 
subscription  papers  were  set  on  foot  to  carry  out  these  objects. J  At 
first  they  did  not  meet  with  the  success  anticipated.  Many  were  in- 
clined to  submit  to  the  new  order  of  things,  rather  than  to  incur  the 
dangers  which  they  imagined  awaited  such  an  opposition.  The  repe- 
tition of  the  scenes  of  the  Stamp-Act  tragedies  were  certainly  to  be 
avoided.  Besides,  Mr.  Otis  was  against  the  measure  ;  and 
in  a  Town-meeting  in  November,  1767,  spoke  pointedly 
against  it ;  for  at  that  time  Boston  stood  almost  alone.  However,  when 
about  two  months  after,  it  was  found  that  Connecticut  and  New  York 

*  "  Mr.  Paxton,  thought  to  be  the  mostplau-  scriptions  were  John  Rowe,  Wm.  Greenleaf, 

sible  and  insinuating  of  mankind,  though  not  Melatiah    Bourne,    Samuel    Austin,   Edward 

the  most  sincere,  had  free  access  to  the  Chan-  Payne,  Edmund  Quincy,  third,  John  Ruddock, 

cellor  of  the  Exchequer,  Mr.  Charles  Town-  Jonathan  Williams,  Joshua  Henshaw,  Hend- 

shend.     It  is  said  that  he  whined,  cried,  pro-  erson  Inches,   Solomon  Davis,  Joshua   Wins- 

fessed,  swore,  and  made  his  will  in  favor  of  low,  and  Thomas  Cushing.     By  the  terms  of 

that  great  man  ;  and  then  urged  the  necessity  subscription,  the  subscribers  were  to  encour- 

of  an   '  American   Board  of  Commissioners,'  age  the  use  and  consumption  of  all   articles 

and  his  having  a  seat  at  it."  —  Gordon.  manufactured  in  any  of  the  British  American 

I  Mr.  Temple,  by  his  temperate  and  careful  Colonies,  and  more  especially  in  this  Province, 

conduct,  escaped  the  troubles  which  fell  upon  and  after  the  31st  of  Dec.  next,  not  to  pur- 

his  companions  in  office.  He  was  Surveyor  Gen-  chase  certain  specified  articles  imported  from 

eral  before  made  a  Commissioner,  and  it  was  abroad ;    also   to   adhere  strictly  to   the  late 

well  known  that  he  did  not  approve  of  a  Board  regulations   respecting    funerals.     Copies    of 

of  that  kind,  but  was  contented  with  his  for-  these  terms  were  sent   to  every  town   in  the 

mer  office.  Province,  and  to  the  principal  towns  in  the 

J  The  gentlemen  appointed  to  obtain  subr  other  Provinces. 


1768.] 


THE    BOSTON    CHRONICLE. 


733 


had  come  out  in  favor,  and  that  Newport  and  Providence  were  with 
them,  the  Bostonians  renewed  their  efforts  to  organize  the  non- 
importation system.  •  They  were  much  encouraged  by  letters  from 
merchants  in  Philadelphia.  It  was  said  in  that  city,  "  If  America  is 
saved  from  its  impending  danger,  New  England  will  be  its  acknowl- 
edged guardian." 


CHAPTER    LXXII. 


The  Boston  Chronicle. — Eminent  Strangers. — The  King's  Birthday  celebrated. — Frigate.  —  Im- 
pressment Case.  —  Wine  Seizure.  —  Capt.  Marshall.  —  Capt.  Malcom.  —  Officers  of  the  Customs 
mobbed.  —  Flight  of  Commissioners. — Town- meeting. — James  Otis.  —  Committee  wait  on  the 
Governor.  —  Military  Forces  expected.  —  Position  of  Governors  and  Governed.  —  Resistance  of  the 
People  feared.  —  Rescinding  Troubles.  —  Lady  Frankland.  —  The  King's  Governor  a  Soldier  of  For- 
tune. —  Troops  ordered.  —  Convention  of  Towns.  — ■  A  Tar-Barrel.  —  Inhabitants  advised  to  arm.  — 
Arrival  of  Troops. 

FOR  above  ten  years  there  had  not  been  any 
new  newspaper  started  in  Boston.  There  were 
regularly  issued  during  that  period  four  weekly 
papers,  namely,  the  News-Letter,  the  Evening 
Post,  the  Grazette,  and  the  Advertiser  or  Post- 
boy. On  the  21st  of  December,  1767,  John 
Mein,  a  bookseller,  and  John  Fleeming,  a  printer, 
commenced  the  publication  of  a  fifth  paper, 
which  they  called  the  Boston  Chronicle.  It 
was  a  model  paper,  as  to  size,f  being  in  quarto, 
though  printed  on  a  whole  sheet  demi.  The 
publishers  pontinued  it  in  this  form  for  one  year, 


*  The  immediate  ancestry  of  the  Searses  in 
New  England  were  of  Colchester  in  Essex,  Old 
England.  Kichard,  son  of  John  Bourchjer 
Sears,  of  Colchester,  arrived  in  Plymouth, 
N.  E.,  May  8th,  1630.  He  married  Dorothy 
Thacher,  and  was  seated  at  Yarmouth,  of 
which  he  was  some  time  a  Representative  in 
the  Old  Colony  Legislature;  dying  in  1676, 
leaving  three  sons.  Knyvet,  the  oldest,  made 
two  voyages  to  England  to  recover  his  paternal 
estates,  but,  dying  there  in  1686,  those  estates 
were  not  only  lost  to  his  family,  but  the  evi- 
dences of  their  right  to  them  also.  He  died  at 
the  residence  of  his  relative,  Catherine  Kny- 
vet, daughter  of  Sir  John  Knyvet,  who  after- 
wards married  Lord  Berners.  Knyvet  Sears 
left  by  wife  Elizabeth  (Dimoke)  sons  Daniel 
and  Richard.  The  former,  born  1682,  settled 
at  Chatham,  and  had  by  wife  Sarah  (Hawes), 
Daniel,  Richard  and   David.     The  two  last 


were  slain  in  the  battle  of  Culloden  ;  the  for- 
mer (Daniel),  born  1712,  inherited  the  estates 
of  his  father,  and  by  his  wife,  Fear  (Free- 
man), had  sons  Richard,  David  and  Daniel. 
David,  the  second  son,  settled  in  Boston,  be- 
came an  opulent  merchant  of  the  highest  re- 
spectability ;  married,  in  1786,  Anna,  dau.  of 
John  Winthrop,  Esq.,  and  had  one  son,  the 
present  Hon.  David  Sears,  whose  liberal  bene- 
factions on  various  occasions  would  be  an  en- 
viable memorial  to  any  citizen  of  a  Metropolis 
renowned  for  generous  sons.  The  mansion  of 
Mr.  Sears,  fronting  the  northerly  side  of  the 
Common,  built  upon  land  once  owned  by  John 
Singleton  Copley,  is  one  of  great  beauty,  disr 
playing  a  taste  for  permanence  and  comfort, 
rather  than  for  show  and  ornament,  and  of 
which  there  is  a  good  engraving. 

f  It  is  to  be  lamented  that  the  taste  of  this 
age  for  large  newspapers  is  so  entirely  destruc? 


734  EMINENT    STRANGERS. KING'S    BIRTHDAY.  [1768. 

and  then  issued  it  in  a  crown  folio  size,  and  published  it  twice  a  week, 
which  was  the  first  semi-weekly  paper  in  New  England.  It  was  a 
valuable  and  impartial  paper  for  the  first  year,  but  the  next  year  it 
lost  its  popularity  by  taking  up  the  cause  of  the  Mother  Country,  and 
was  suspended  on  the  25th  of  June,  1770. 

Mav  9Q  On  the  twentieth  of  May,  came  in  the  ship  London  Packet, 
Capt.  Robert  Calef,  from  London,  with  whom  came  passengers, 
Commodore  Joshua  Loring,*  and  the  Rev.  Samson  Occum,  a  Mohe- 
gan  Indian.  Mr.  Occum  had  been  about  two  years  in  England,  col- 
lecting money  for  the  benefit  of  Moore's  Indian  Charity  School,  at 
Lebanon,  in  Connecticut,  now  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Eleazer 
Wheelock.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  Indian  preacher  in 
Europe. f 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court  the  Hon.  Thomas  Gush- 
ing was  elected  Speaker,  and  Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  Clerk. 
The  Governor  negatived  six  of  the  Councillors,  among  whom  are  the 
historical  names  of  James  Otis,  John  Hancock  and  Artemas  Ward.  J 
Jun  .  The  fourth  of  June  being  the  King's  thirty-first  birthday, 
'  it  was  celebrated  with  much  spirit.  At  sunrise  the  flags  were 
displayed  at  Castle  William,  and  each  of  the  Town  Batteries,  and  at 
twelve  o'clock  the  guns  of  those  forts  were  discharged,  and  also  those 
of  the  frigate  Romney,  then  in  the  harbor.  The  Governor's  troop 
of  guards  under  Col.  Phipps,  the  regiment  of  the  Town,  under  Col. 
Jackson,  with  the  train  of  Artillery,  under  Capt.  Paddock,  all  mus- 
tered in  King-street,  where  the  troop  and  regiment  fired  three  rounds, 
and  the  artillery  responded  with  their  "  new  pieces."  § 

One  irritating  circumstance  after  another  transpired,  and  at  brief 

tive  of  their  preservation.     Instead  of  increas-  Dorchester.     Sir  John  Wentworth  Loring,  b. 

ing  their  number  of  pages,  nearly  all  publish-  13  Oct.,  1775,  was  his  son.    Another  son,Hen- 

ers  have  the  propensity  to  increase  the   size  ry   Lloyd,   died  Archdeacon  of    Calcutta,  in 

of  their   sheets  ;  under  the  erroneous  notion,  1832. 

probably,  that  their  importance  or  circulation  f  The  author  of  the  scurrilous  letters  before 

depends    upon    an    immense     broadside     (lis-  cited  has  a  good  deal  to  say  about  Mr.  Occum 

play.    The  consequence  is,  such  papers  stand  and  his  mission  ;  also  about  those  who  accom- 

hardly  any  chance  of  being  preserved ;  and,  if  panied   him.     "The    money- collecting    expe- 

preserved,  they  are  so  unwieldy,  they  cannot  dition  of  the  Eev.  triumvirate,  the  two  white 

be  consulted  except  at  extreme  inconvenience,  parsons  and  the  black  one,  sooty  Mr.  Occum. 

Almost  every  important  paper  of  this  day  is  The  latter  was  fitted  out  by  that  wise  head  of 

printed  upon  an  overgrown  sheet,  and  hence  the  faction,   Mr.  Hancock,  who  also  compli- 

scarcely  any  of  them  will  reach  another  age ;  mented  him  with  the  use  of  the  cabin  of  one 

while  the  little  papers,  before  the  Revolution,  his  vessels  bound  to  England."  —  Page  102. 

will  remain    as  sparkling    pages   of  the  his-  J  Another,  Mr.  Jerathmeel  Bowers,  of  Swan- 

tory  of  the  world.     The  New  York  Tribune,  zey,  for  whom  the  author  of  the  anonymous 

and  a  few  others,  are  tolerable  exceptions  to  letters  seems  to  have  had  a  particular  hatred, 

the  unwieldy,  unpreservable  papers  of  our  age.  —  See  pages  112-13. 

Some  of  these  will  be  preserved,  and  cordially  §  These  "  new  pieces  "  were,  I  presume,  the 

greeted  in  other  days,  while  the  more  pretend-  three-pounders,  brought  from  London  in  the 

ing  sheets  will  sink  into  oblivion  from  their  brigantine  Abigail,  Capt.  James  Harding  Ste- 

own  weight,  and  be  known  only  by  name.  vens,  who  arrived  with  them  about  the  1st  of 

*  A  son  of  the  Commodore,  Joshua  Loring,  February.     They  were  of  brass,  and  had  been 

Jr., Esq.,  was  here  the  next  year,  having  been  cast  for  the  Town,  from  two  old   cannon  sent 

appointed  "  permanent  High  Sheriff  of  Massa-  over  by  the  General   Court  for  that  purpose, 

chusetts."    He  married  a  Miss  Lloyd,  19  Oct.,  Upon  them  were   engraved  the  arms  of  the 

1769.     The  wedding  was  at  Col.  Hatch's,  in  Province. 


1768.]  FRIGATE    110MNEY. SEVERE   AFFRAY.  735 

intervals.  The  frigate  Romney,  of  fifty  guns,  Capt.  John  Corner, 
lately  arrived  from  Halifax,  was  the  station-ship,  at  this  time,  which 
lay  moored  in  the  harbor.*  Some  men  had  been  pressed  from  several 
vessels  into  the  ship's  service,  by  his  orders,  on  his  passage  from 
Halifax.  However,  when  visited  by  a  deputation  of  gentlemen,!  he  was 
found  so  conciliatory  and  agreeable,  that  the  affair  passed  off  much 
more  quietly  than  was  anticipated.  But  the  class  of  people  from 
among  whom  the  impressments  were  made  were  much  incensed,  and 
the  merchants  believed  the  Romney  had  been  sent  for  by  the  Com- 
missioners to  compel  them  to  submit  to  the  revenue  laws. 

Soon  after,  a  sloop  belonging  to  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  bear- 
ing  the  unfortunate  name  of  "  The  Liberty,"  arrived  loaded 
with  wine  from  Madeira.  As  she  was  lying  at  Hancock's  wharf,  on 
Friday,  the  tenth  of  June,  the  Tidewaiter,  Thomas  Kirk,  went  on 
board,  and  was  followed  by  Capt.  John  Marshall, — who  commanded 
Mr.  Hancock's  ship,  the  London  Packet,  —  with  five  or  six  others. 
These  persons  confined  Kirk  'below,  and  kept  him  some  three  hours  ; 
and  in  the  mean  while  the  wine  was  taken  out,  and  no  entry  made  of 
it  at  the  Custom-house  or  Naval  Office.  The  next  morning,  the  mas- 
ter, Mr.  Nathaniel  Barnard,  entered,  it  is  said,  four  or  five  pipes  of 
wine,  and  made  oath  that  that  was  all  he  brought  into  port.  It 
was  therefore  resolved  to  seize  the  sloop  upon  a  charge  of  false 
entry.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Joseph  Harrison,  the  Collector,  and  Ben- 
jamin Hallowell,  the  Comptroller,  repaired  to  Hancock's  wharf.  It 
was  now  between  six  and  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  Mr. 
Harrison  objected  to  making  the  seizure,  as  it  was  so  late  in  the  day  ; 
probably  fearing  some  disturbance,  as  laboring  people  were  just  relieved 
from  their  daily  employments,  and  had  begun  to  be  numerous  in  the 
streets.J  However,  the  seizure  was  made,  and  Mr.  Harrison  proposed 
to  let  the  sloop  lie  at  the  wharf  for  the  night,  supposing  she  might 
do  so  without  interference,  "the  broad  arrow"  being  upon  her. 
But  Mr.  Hallowell,  judging  from  his  former  experience  that  the  affair 
might  not  pass  without  trouble,  decided  that  it  was  best  to  move  the 
sloop  under  the  guns  of  the  Romney.  Signals  were  therefore  made 
for  the  frigate's  boats  to  come  to  the  place.     A  considerable  number 

*  When  a  former  Commander  left  this  sta-  f  Royal  Tyler,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Council,  was 

tion,  about  the  1st  of  Dec,  1766,  the  Town  of  the  Committee  ;  they  made  their  report  to 

appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  him  with  the  Town  on  the  16th  of  June.     Capt.  Corner 

expressions  of  gratitude  for  his  kindness  in  the  gave  his  word  that  no  one  should  be  pressed 

discharge  of  his  duties.     The  Committee  was  belonging  to,  or  who  were  married  in,  this  Prov- 

composed  of  Samuel  Adams,  John  Rowe,  and  ince ;  nor  any  employed  in  the  trade  along 

John  Hancock.     The  following  preamble  pre-  shore  or  neighboring  Colonies, 

faced  a  vote  of  thanks  :  "  Whereas  John  Lewis  J  Hutchinson  says  that  the  wine  taken  from 

Gideon,   Esq.,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's  the  vessel  was  carted  through  the  streets  in  the 

ship  Jamaica,  has,  upon  all  occasions  during  night  ;  and,  though  it  was  notorious  to  a  great 

his  station  here,  for  about  three  years  past,  part  of  the  Town,  no  officer  of  the  Customs 

.  discovered  a  readiness  to  do  everything  in  his  thought  fit   to  attempt  a  seizure  ;  nor  is  it 

power  for    promoting    the    interests  of   the  probable  he  could  have  succeeded,  if  he  had 

Province  and  Town  in  particular,  and  by  his  attempted  it,  as  it  was  guarded  by  30  or  40 

behavior  and  good  services  has  given  great  sat-  stout  fellows  armed  with  bludgeons.     There 

isfaction  to  the  Town."     Therefore  voted,  etc.  are  some  discrepancies  in  the  accounts. 


736  CUSTOM-HOUSE    OFFICERS    MOBBED. CAPT.    MALCOM.  [1768. 

of  people  had  by  this  time  been  attracted  to  the  wharf,  and  some 
one  among  them  cried  out  that  there  was  no  occasion  for  the  ves- 
sel's removal,  that  she  would  be  safe  where  she  was,  that  no  officer 
had  any  right  to  remove  her.  But  the  Komney's  boats  arrived,  cut 
the  sloop's  moorings,  and  carried  her  off,  though  at  much  peril  and 
with  no  little  difficulty. 

The  gathering  upon  the  wharf  was  now  increased  to  a  Mob  ;  many 
of  whom,  not  understanding  what  was  done,  supposed  there  had  been 
another  impressment  affair,  and  hence  were  furious  ;  swore  ven- 
geance and  destruction  to  the  oppressors,  as  nearly  all  connected  with 
the  Government  were  called.  Ill- temper  and  a  spirit  of  revenge  once 
engendered  are  easily  transferred  from  an  imaginary  object  to  a  real 
one.  Hence,  when  it  became  known  that  a  vessel  of  a  popular  citizen 
had  been  seized  by  order  of  the  new  Commissioners,  the  fury  of  the 
Mob  was  as  great  as  it  was  under  the  supposition  before  mentioned. 
In  this  state  of  exasperation  they  fell  upon  the  officers,  several  of 
whom  barely  escaped  with  life.  Among  the  numerous  missiles 
thrown  at  Mr.  Harrison  was  a  brick  or  stone,  which  struck  him  on  the 
breast  ;  from  the  effects  of  which  he  was  confined  to  his  bed.  His 
son,  Mr.  Richard  Ackloni  Harrison,*  was  thrown  down,  dragged  by 
the  hair  of  his  head,  and  otherwise  barbarously  treated.  Mr.  Hal- 
lowell  and  Mr.  Irving, f  Inspectors,  did  not  fare  much  better.  The 
former  was  confined  to  his  house  from  the  wounds  and  bruises  he  re- 
ceived ;  and  the  latter,  besides  having  his  sword  broken,  was  beaten 
with  clubs  and  sticks  and  considerably  wounded.  The  Mob  next  pro- 
ceeded to  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Williams,  the  Inspector  General,  broke 
his  windows,  and  also  those  of  the  house  of  the  Comptroller,  Mr. 
Hallowell.  They  then  took  the  Collector's  boat,  and  dragged  it  to  the 
Common,  and  there  burnt  every  fragment  of  it.  J  This  was  the  end 
of  Friday  night's  proceedings  ;  and,  as  Saturday  and  Sunday  even- 
ings were  sacred,  things  remained  quiet  during  those  evenings. 

In  the  mean  time  the  community  were  surprised  on  hearing  of  the 
death  of  Capt.  Marshall,  the  popular  master  of  the  London  Packet, 
who  died  the  same  night  of  the  riot  at  Hancock's  wharf,  and  it  is 
said  his  death  was  caused  by  the  over- exertions  which  he  made  in  re- 
moving the  wine  from  the  sloop  Liberty. 

The  most  conspicuous  man  on  the  part  of  the  Mob  was  Captain 
Daniel  Malcom,  a  trader  in  Fleet-street,  who,  it  is  said,  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  wines  attempted  to  be  smuggled.  The  Revenue  offi- 
cers knew  him  well,    and    owed   him  no   good-will   for   very  good 

*  He  was  not  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Eev-  J  This  was  a  pleasure-boat  of  Mr.  Harri- 

enue,  but  was  accompanying  his  father  in  his  son,    "  built   by  himself  in  a  particular  and 

official  duties.  elegant  manner."     The    boat-burners     "got 

|  His  name  is  about  as  often  found  spelled  some  rum,   and  attempted  to  get  more  ;   if 

Irving  as  Irvine.    Governor  Bernard  has  it  both  they  had   procured  it  in  quantity  God  knows 

ways  in  his  letters.     He  was  not  concerned  where  this  fury  would  have  ended !  "  —  Letter 

in  the  seizure  of  the  sloop.  of  Gov.  Bernard. 


1768.]  COMMISSIONERS   IN    TROUBLE.  737 

reasons  ;  for  some  eighteen  months  before  they  undertook  to  search 
his  premises  for  contraband  goods,  but  were  obliged  to  retreat  before 
deadly  weapons,  without  effecting  their  object  ;  and,  from  his  manner 
and  that  of  those  about  him,  the  Officers  did  not  think  it  safe  or  pru- 
dent to  attempt  again  to  renew  the  search.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
seizure  of  the  Liberty,  he  headed  the  party  of  men  who  exerted 
themselves  to  prevent  her  removal  to  the  Romney.*  This  affair  was 
said  by  the  principal  gentlemen  of  the  Town  to  have  been  greatly 
misrepresented  by  the  Governor,  who  took  measures  to  procure  ex 
parte  depositions  relative  to  it.  The  deponents  mentioned  were 
Stephen  Greenleaf,  the  Sheriff  of  the  County,  William  Sheaff,  Deputy 
Collector  of  the  Customs,  and  Benjamin  Hallowell,  Comptroller. 
These  depositions,  it  was  believed,  were  taken  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  being  sent  to  the  Ministry.  Therefore  a  Town-meeting  was 
called  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration.  The  Town  met  accord- 
ingly on  the  eighth  of  October,  1766,  and  appointed  James  Otis, 
Joseph  Jackson,  John  Hancock,  William  Phillips,  Timothy  Newell, 
John  Rowe,  Samuel  Adams,  and  Joshua  Henshaw,  a  Committee  to 
wait  on  the  Governor  "  to  desire  copies  "  of  those  depositions. 
The  Committee  immediately  waited  upon  his  Excellency,  and  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  reported  to  the  adjourned  meeting 
that  they  were  informed  by  him,  "  that  by  order  of  Council  said 
depositions  were  to  be  kept  secret ;  but  he  would  comply  if  so 
ordered  by  said  Council."  Copies  of  the  depositions  were  finally 
obtained,  and  measures  taken  to  counteract  their  ill  effect  in  Eng- 
land, f 

The  Commissioners  had  thus  far  escaped  the  resentment  of 
the  people,  so  freely  dealt  out  to  the  officers  acting  under  them  ; 
but,  feeling  no  security  in  their  own  houses,  they  fled  during  the  riot 
to  those  of  their  friends. |  These,  they  soon  had  intimations,  were  very 
insecure  retreats,  and  they  informed  the  Governor  early  on  Monday 
morning  that  they  were  going  on  board  the  Romney,§  and  requested 

*  Daniel  Malcom,  John  Matchet,  Captain  the  Town  in  London,  Dennis  De  Berdt,  Esq., 
Hopkins,  and  others,  said  the  sloop  should  to  prepare  him  to  meet  the  charges  contained 
not  be  taken  into  custody  ;  and  declared  they  in  the  Government  depositions  and  other  docu- 
would  go  on  board  and  throw  the  people  be-  ments  which  might  accompany  them, 
longing  to  the  Romney  overboard.  —  Deposi-  %  In  writing  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne,  of 
tion  of  Benj.  Hallowell,  Jr.,  before  Edmund  date  19  March,  1768,  Mr.  Bernard  says,  on  one 
Quincy,  J.  P.  Gov.  Bernard  said  of  Captain  occasion,  "  A  number  of  lads,  about  100,  pa- 
Malcom,  "This  man  was  thought  a  fit  per-  raded  the  Town  with  a  drum  and  horns,  passed 
son  to  be  upon  a  Grand  Jury  before  whom  his  by  the  Council  Chamber  whilst  I  was  sitting- 
own  Riots  were  to  be  inquired  into  ;  who,  there  in  Council,  assembled  before  Mr.  Pax- 
having  twice  in  a  forcible  manner  set  the  laws  ton's  house,  and  huzzaed,  and  to  the  number 
at  defiance  with  success,  has  thereby  raised  of  at  least  60  lusty  fellows  invested  Mr. 
himself  to  be  a  Mob  Captain."  —  Letter  to  Burch's  house  for  some  time,  so  that  his  lady 
Hillsborough.  Like  his  friend  Marshall,  Mai-  and  children  were  obliged  to  go  out  at  the 
com  did  not  long  survive  these  scenes.  He  back  door  to  avoid  the  danger  which  was 
died  Oct.  23d,  1769,  in  his  44th  year.  He  was  threatened.  This  was,  I  think,  on  March  the 
by  birth,  I  believe,  an  Irishman.  4th." 

f  At  a  Town-meeting  on  the  22  Oct.,  1766,  §It  appears  from  the  letters  of  Gov.  Ber- 

soon  after  the  affair  with   Malcom,   a    Com-  nard  that  the  Commissioners  went  on  board 

mittee  was  appointed  to  write  to  the  Agent  of  the  Romney  on  Saturday  evening  following  the 

93 


738  TOWN-MEETING. ADDRESS    TO    THE    GOVERNOR.  [1768. 

an  order  from  him  to  be  received  into  the  Castle,  which  his  Excel- 
lency gave  them ;  also  informing  them  that  he  could  not  protect  them. 
Shortly  after,  they  were  conveyed  in  boats  to  that  fortress,  where  they 
remained  for  a  long  time  ;  yet  they  went  and  came  at  their  pleasure, 
and  were  not  molested. 

At  the  time  of  their  escape  on  board  the  Romney,  the  people  were 
assembling  in  different  parts  of  the  Town,  apparently  under  some 
organization  for  further  movements  against  the  officers  of  the  Customs, 
and  particularly  against  the  Commissioners,  as  was  supposed  ;  but,  as 
the  latter  had  escaped,  and  the  others  were  mostly  concealed,  no  fur- 
ther violence  was  attempted.  This  state  of  things,  perhaps,  induced 
the  leaders  of  the  people  to  post  up  notices  *  calling  for  a  meeting 
of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  the  next  day  at  ten  o'clock,  at  Liberty  Hall.f 
Several  thousands  accordingly  assembled  at  the  time  and 
place,  but  it  being  rainy,  they  chose  their  senior  Selectman 
Moderator,  and  then  adjourned  to  Faneuil  Hall.  Here  it  was  agreed 
to  have  forthwith  a  legal  Town-meeting,  and  notifications  for  that 
object  signed  by  the  Selectmen  were  immediately  posted  up  for  a 
meeting  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  So  great 
was  the  attendance  at  the  hour,  that  Faneuil  Hall  could  not  accom- 
modate them,  and  they  adjourned  to  the  Old  South,  that  being  the 
largest  house  in  the  Town.  Mr.  Otis  was  elected  Moderator.  "After 
very  cool  and  deliberate  debates,"  say  the  Records,  an  Address  to  the 
Governor  was  unanimously  agreed  upon.  A  Committee  of  twenty-one 
gentlemen  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  with  the  Address.  J 
Mr.  Rowe,  Mr.  Hancock,  and  Dr.  Warren,  were  made  a  sub-committee, 
to  wait  first  on  his  Excellency,  to  ascertain  at  what  time  it  would  be 
convenient  for  him  to  receive  the  whole  Committee.  They  soon  came 
into  the  meeting,  and  reported  that  the  Chief  Magistrate  was  at  his 
country-seat.  Whereupon  it  was  voted  that  the  Committee  proceed 
to  the  Governor's  country-seat  in  Roxbury.  Then,  after  a  Speech  from 
Mr.  Otis,  the  Moderator,,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  next  day 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     In  Mr*  Otis's  Speech  he  persuaded 

riot.  On  June  18th  he  wrote  :  "The  Com-  f  Liberty  Hall  was  the  ground  immediately 
missioners  and  their  families,  and  Officers,  are  about  Liberty  Tree.  Since  August  last  (1767), 
still  on  board  the  Romney,  where  they  proceed  a  flag-staff  had  been  erected  at  Liberty  Hall, 
in  their  business.  The  Town  won't  hear  of  which  went  through  Liberty  Tree,  extending 
their  return  to  Boston,  and  it  is  much  better  far  above  its  topmost  branches.  When  a 
that  they  should  not  until  the  question  is  de-  flag  was  seen  flying  on  this  staff,  it  was  a 
termined.  I  hear  that  they  are  to  fix  their  signal  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  be  prepared 
residence  at  the  Castle  next  Monday.  The  for  action.  Their  primary  movements  appear 
Romney  is  fell  down,  and  now  lies  off  the  Cas-  to  have  much  puzzled  the  officials, 
tie  towards  the  Town.  There  is  a  Sloop  of  |  These  are  the  names  of  the  Committee 
War,  of  16  guns,  just  come  in,  which  being  of  twenty-one ;  James  Otis,  Joshua  Henshaw, 
stationed  off  the  other  side  of  the  Castle  will  Joseph  Jackson,  John  Ruddock,  John  Han- 
complete  the  command  of  all  the  approaches  to  cock,  John  Rowe,  Saml.  Pemberton,  Hender- 
the  Castle."  son  Inches,  Dr.  Thomas  Young,  Dr.  Joseph 

*In  a  letter  of  Governor  Bernard's,  dated  Warren,  Thomas  Cushing,  Samuel  Adams,  Dr. 
the  same  day,  he  says:  "  There  was  found  Benj.  Church,  Samuel  Quincy,  Edward  Payne, 
sticking  upon  Liberty  Tree  a  paper  inviting  Daniel  Malcom,  Richard  Dana,  Melatiah 
all  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  meet  at  6  o'clock,  Bourne,  Benj.  Kent,  Royal  Tyler,  and  Josiah 
to  clear  the  land  of  the  vermin,  etc.  etc."  Quincy. 


1768.]  COMMITTEE    MEET   THE    GOVERNOR.  739 

the  people  to  be  peaceable,  and  to  keep  good  order,  which  was  the 
true  course  to  obtain  that  which  they  sought  for,  a  redress  of 
grievances.  If,  by  adopting  that  course,  he  said,  they  failed,  a  re- 
sistance unto  blood  by  one  and  all  would  be  justifiable  before  the 
world  ;  but  he  prayed  that  that  might  never  happen.  The  meeting 
then  closed  in  good  order,  and  all  waited  patiently  the  report  of  the 
Committee. 

The  influence  which  Mr.  Otis  had  over  the  people  is  strikingly 
observable  throughout  his  whole  career.  His  importance  in  every 
Town-meeting  has  scarcely  been  equalled  by  any  man's  at  any 
period  in  the  history  of  the  Town.  When  he  made  his  appearance 
he  was  received  with  deafening  shouts,  a  universal  clapping  of 
hands,  and  all  other  possible  demonstrations  of  admiration.  He  could 
successfully  put  aside  any  wild,  violent  or  extravagant  motions  with- 
out offending  the  movers.  At  the  meeting  now  under  consideration, 
there  was  a  proposition  that  every  Captain  of  a  man-of-war  who  came 
into  this  Harbor  should  be  under  the  command  of  the  General  Court. 
Another  was  that  if  any  person  should  promote  or  assist  "the  bring- 
ing of  troops  here,  he  should  be  deemed  a  disturber  of  the  peace  and 
a  traitor  to  his  country  ;   but  they  were  warded  off. 

Meantime  the  Committee  of  twenty-one  proceeded  to  the  Gov- 
ernor's country-seat  at  Jamaica  Plains,  about  four  miles  from  Town. 
They  went  in  eleven  chaises,  and  were  received  on  their  arrival  by 
the  Governor  with  all  possible  civility.  On  receiving  the  Address  or 
Petition,*  his  Excellency  told  them  he  would  give  them  an  answer 
to  it  in  writing  the  next  day.  Wine  was  then  passed  round,  and 
they  left  highly  pleased  with  their  reception,  "  especially  that  part 
of  them  which  had  not  been  used  to  an  interview  with  him." 

The  next  day  the  Town  met  again  at  the  Old  South  to  hear 
the  Report  of  the  Committee.     Mr.  Otis  delivered  the   Gov- 
ernor's answer,  taking  notice  at  the  same  time  of  the  kind  entertain- 
ment the  Committee  had  met  with  at  his  house,  and  observed,  that  he 
really  believed  the  Governor  was  a  well-wisher  to  the  Province.     Such 

*  In  that  Address  it  is  said,  "  Dutiful  Peti-  parent  State  is,  in  our  idea,  the  most  shocking 
tions  have  been  preferred  to  our  most  gracious  and  dreadful  extremity ;  but  tamely 'to  relin- 
Sovereign,  which  (though,  to  the  great  conster-  quish  the  only  security  we  and  our  posterity 
nation  of  the  people,  we  now  learn  have  been  retain  of  the  enjoyment  of  our  lives  and 
cruelly  and  insidiously  prevented  reaching  the  properties  without  one  struggle,  is  so  humil- 
Eoyal  presence)  we  have  waited  to  receive  a  iating  and  base  that  we  cannot  support  the 
gracious  answer  to,  with  the  greatest  atten-  reflection."  They  then  go  on  to  say  that  they 
tion  to  the  public  peace,  until  we  find  ourselves  hoped  "  in  his  inclination  to  prevent  this  dis- 
invaded  with  an  armed  force,  seizing,  impress-  tressed  and  justly  incensed  people  from  effect- 
ing and  imprisoning  the  persons  of  our  fellow-  ing  too  much,  and  from  the  shame  and 
subjects,  contrary  to  express  acts  of  Parliament,  reproach  of  attempting  too  little."  That  the 
Menaces  have  been  thrown  out,  fit  only  for  Board  of  Customs,  having  relinquished  the 
barbarians,  which  already  affect  us  in  the  exercise  of  their  Commission,  would  never 
most  sensible  manner,  and  threaten  us  with  resume  it,  they  hoped,  under  the  conviction  of 
famine  and  desolation  ;  as  all  navigation  is  its  injustice  and  impropriety,  and  the  inevita- 
obstructed,  upon  which  our  whole  support  de-  ble  destruction  which  would  ensue  from  the 
pends ;  and  the  Town  is,  at  this  crisis,  in  a  exercise  of  their  office.  And,  lastly,  it  was 
situation  nearly  such  as  if  war  was  formally  demanded  that  the  frigate  Romney  should  be 
declared  against   it.      To   contend    with   our  removed  put  of  the  Harbor. 


740        THE    GOVERNOR'S    POSITION. CONDITION    OP    THE   PEOPLE.       [176k 

an  inference  at  this  time  was  a  very  reasonable  one,  for  the  Governor, 
knowing  he  was  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the  people,  expressed  him- 
self in  his  reply  in  the  mildest  possible  terms,  though  he  did  not 
comply  with  the  requests  in  the  Petition,  arguing  that  they  were  not 
within  his  authority. 

Governor  Bernard  had  for  some  time  considered  himself  driven  to  the 
last  extremity  ;  the  people  had  not  only  got  the  control  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  but  of  the  Council  also.  His  negativing  Coun- 
cillors had  no  other  effect  than  to  strengthen  the  opposition  to  his 
measures,  for  in  the  end  none  were  brought  forward  by  the  House 
but  such  as  were  known  friends  to  its  measures.  Hence  the  Gov- 
ernor plainly  saw  there  was  a  crisis  already  arrived,  and  his  only  hope 
was  from  a  military  power.  This  he  had  been  intimating  in  his  let- 
ters to  Earl  Hillsborough,*  to  General  Gage,  in  New  York,  and  to 
Admiral  Hood,  at  Halifax.  To  anticipate  events  the  latter  had  sent 
two  ships  of  war  to  support  the  station-ship,  which  already  frowned 
defiance  in  the  harbor,  and  the  former  was  only  waiting  for  Governor 
Bernard  to  signify  his  desire,  and  one  or  more  regiments  of  soldiers 
would  be  at  once  sent  to  his  support. 

It  had  been  a  long  time  since  the  people  had  begun  to  complain 
of  encroachments  upon  their  rights.  They  had  seen  that  one  encroach- 
ment was  relinquished  only  to  undertake  another  ;  and  that  even  more 
oppressive  than  the  former.  They  saw  that  every  new  project  for 
raising  a  revenue  was  creating  new  places  for  the  favorites  of  their 
originators.  That,  to  carry  these  oppressions  into  effect,  they  were  to 
admit  amongst  them  a  large  number  of  people,  who  were  to  be  main- 
tained by  their  industry  ;  in  fact,  the  very  tools  of  oppression.!  But 
it  was  all  according  to  law,  and  that  law  was  sanctioned  by  the  King. 
They  said,  and  said  truly,  that  law  was  one  thing,  and  right  was,  at 
least,  in  their  case,  a  very  different  thing.  It  was  very  clearly  seen 
by  the  Colonial  Government  in  Boston  that  so  long  as  the  Representa- 
tives of  the  people  had  the  choosing  of  the  Councillors,  but  little 
would  eventually  be  left  for  a  Governor  to  do  but  to  assent  to  what- 
ever bill  they  might  pass,  or  to  reject  them.  This  was  no.  desirable 
situation  for  a  Governor.  Hence  originated  an  attempt  to  make  the 
Council  as  independent  of  the  people  as  the  Governor  himself  was. 
This  gave  the  people  great  alarm.  They  saw  that  if  the  Council  was 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Crown  all  offices  were  liable  to  the  same  usur- 
pation.    And  they  very  reasonably  argued  that  they  had  no  security 

*  He  was  his  Majesty's  principal  Secretary  longer  to  provide  for  the  purposes  of  venality 

of  State  for  the  American  Department  only,  and  corruption) ,  and  tired  with  the  reiterated 

To  him  all  communications  from  the  Governor  importunities  of  their  dependents  (for  whom 

were  addressed.     He  had  been  at  the  head  of  no  adequate  provisions  could  be  made,  as  the 

the  Board  of  Trade,  and  when  it  decided  to  advantage  arising  from  the  disposal  of  places 

establish  this  new  office,  at  the  close  of  the  was  already  anticipated  by  reversionary  grants 

last  year,  Hillsborough  was  appointed  to  fill  it,  of  all  the  most  lucrative  sinecures  in  the  King- 

His  original  name  was  Willis  Hill.  dom) ,    first   formed  the   design   of  raising  a 

f  "  When  the  British  Ministry,  embarrassed  Revenue  from  the  Colonies."  —  Samuel  Adams' 

by  the  arrears  of  the  Civil  List  (unable  any  Letter  to  Hillsborough. 


1768.]  ROYAL    TR06PS    EXPECTED.  741 

against  the  most  arbitrary  designs  which  tyranny  might  think  proper 
to  exercise.  It  is  not,  therefore,  strange  that  resistance  was  made 
when,  and  in  the  manner  it  was. 

The  people  were  accused  of  being  incendiaries,  breakers  of  the 
laws,  and  of  maltreating  the  King's  officers,  as  though  there  was  no 
fault  in  the  laws,  or  those  who  undertook  their  execution  ;  while  the 
people  believed  that  he  who  undertook  to  execute  a  bad  law  was,  to 
say  the  least,  as  bad  as  the  law  itself.  In  their  case  it  was  true, 
because  they  had  no  voice  in  making  the  laws  of  which  they  com- 
plained. Hence  a  resistance  to  laws  in  an  elective  Government,  as 
that  of  the  United  States,  is  not  a  parallel  case  to  that  here  adduced, 
though  there  are  those  who  run  such  a  parallel. 

That  there  was  to  be  a  general  resistance  of  the  people  by  arms 
to  the  measures  of  Government,  Mr.  Bernard  was  well  satisfied  ;  and 
that  immediately.  For  only  eight  days  after  the  seizure  of  the 
sloop  Liberty  he  wrote  to  Hillsborough  that  the  men-of-war 
were  stationed  so  as  to  defend  the  Castle  from  an  attack  by 
the  people  ;  and  added,  ' '  If  there  was  not  a  revolt,  the  leaders  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  must  falsify  their  words  and  change  their  purposes  ; 
yet  I  cannot  think  they  will  be  so  mad  as  to  attempt  to  defend  the 
Town,  in  its  defenceless  state,  against  the  King's  forces.  But  the 
lengths  they  have  gone  already  are  scarce  short  of  madness." 

The  Instructions  given  by  the  Town  to  its  Representatives,  the  day 
before,*  doubtless  strengthened  Governor  Bernard  in  his  convictions 
that  a  resistance  by  arms  must  be  the  consequence,  and  caused  him 
to  use  the  strong  expression,  that  if  they  did  not  resist  they  "  must 
falsify  their  words."  The  Instructions  state,  "  It  is  our  unalterable 
resolution,  at  all  times,  to  assert  and  vindicate  our  dear  and  inval- 
uable rights  and  liberties,  at  the  utmost  hazard  of  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes ;  and  we  have  full  and  rational  confidence  that  no  designs  formed 
against  them  will  ever  prosper." 

If  preparations  had  before  this  been  in  progress  to  bring  troops 
into  the  Town,  those  preparations  would  not  afterwards  be  likely  to 
be  relaxed.  And  after  the  Instructions  to  the  Boston  Representa- 
tives were  read  in  the  House  on  the  morning  of  the  eighteenth,  a 
Committee  was  appointed  in  that  body  to  inquire  into  the  "  grounds 
and  reasons  of  the  present  apprehensions  of  the  people  that  measures 
have  been  taken,  or  are  now  taking,  for  the  execution  of  the  late 
Revenue  Acts  by  a  naval  or  military  force."  Suspicions  that  an  armed 
force  was  to  be  soon  expected  were  well  founded,  for  by  the  July 
packet  from  England,  General  Gage  received  orders  at  New  York  to 
remove  one  or  two  of  the  regiments  at  Halifax  to  Boston.     Whatever 

*  That  was  the  day  (the   17th)   on  which  Richard   Dana,   Esq.,  Dr.  Benjamin   Church, 

they   were   reported    and   adopted   in  Town-  John   Adams,    Esq.,   John    Rowe,   Esq.,  Mr. 

meeting.     The  Committee   to  draft  them  was  Henderson   Inches,  and   Mr.  Edward   Payne, 

appointed  at  the  meeting  of  the  15th,  and  con-  The  Town  Records  state  that  the  instructions 

sisted  of  seven,  namely  :  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  were  accepted  "  unanimously." 


742  ANTI-RESCINDERS. MRS.    FRANKLAND.  [1768 

business  had  been  lately  transacted  between  the  Governor  and  the 
Assembly  was  done  in  a  high  spirit  of  antagonism.  The  Assembly 
had  received  great  encouragement  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  the 
Governor  had  the  assurance  of  being  sustained  by  a  military  force. 
But  he  acknowledged  his  inability  to  maintain  the  position  expected 
of  him  by  his  superiors,  and  excused  himself  in  these  words  :  "I 
will  here  observe  that  it  may  be  suggested  that  I  have  not  conducted 
this  business  with  spirit  ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  to  what  a  weak- 
ness this  Government  is  reduced,  which  makes  the  most  gentle  way  of 
doing  any  business  the  most  advisable." 

The  Governor  prorogued  the  General  Court  on  the  first  of 
July  amidst  much  confusion.  He  had  required  them  in  his 
Majesty's  name  to  rescind  the  Resolutions*  sent  by  the  last  House  to 
the  several  Colonies  on  the  Continent,  but  they  refused  by  a  very 
decisive  majority. f  Those  members  who  were  not  present  when  the 
vote  was  taken,  wrote  letters  to  the  Speaker,  endorsing  the  action  of 
the  majority,  and  avowing  that  they  should  have  voted  against  rescind- 
ing if  they  had  been  present. 

The  Governor  and  his  friends  now  gave  up  all  hope  of  anything 
but  a  shadow  of  authority  until  they  should  be  seconded  by  force  of 
arms.  No  General  Court  could  be  called  "  till  the  pleasure  of  his 
Majesty  should  be  known."  . 

On  the  seventh  of  June,  the  ship  Juno,  Capt.  Constant  Freeman, 
arrived  from  Bristol,  in  which  came  passenger  the  lady  and  son  of 
the  late  Sir  Henry  Frankland. |  He  had  died  at  Bath  on  the  eleventh 
of  the  preceding  January,  as  previously  mentioned.  She  was  a  native 
of  New  England,  a  Miss  Agnes  Brown.  At  Lisbon,  in  1755,  at  the 
time  of  the  great  earthquake,  she  escaped  being  buried  in  the  ruins 
of  that  city  in  which  her  husband  escaped  perishing  in  an  almost 
miraculous  manner,  after  being  enveloped  by  those  ruins  above  an 
hour.  She  was  in  Boston  at  the  commencement  of  hostilities  in  1775, 
and  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill  from  her  own 
elegant  mansion  at  the  North  End  of  the  Town,  which  joined  that  of 
Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson.  Afterwards  she  returned  to  England,  and 
died  at  Chichester  in  1783,  aged  about  fifty-five  years.  She  had  a 
second  husband,  Mr.  John  Drew,  a  banker  of  Chichester.  In  1765, 
in  the  absence  of  Sir  Henry  Frankland,  his  mansion-house  in  Town 
was  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Ralph  Inman,  who  advertised  it  as  being  to  let.  § 
But  to  return. 

*  See  Boston  Chronicle,  page  125,  for  a  copy  |  According  to  Noble,  Memoirs  of  the  House 
of  them.  These  Resolutions  were  dated  Feb.  of  Cromwell,  ii.  433,  his  whole  name  is 
11th,  1768,  and  were  a  means  of  uniting  the  Charles  Henry  Frankland  ;  that  he  had  a  nat- 
Colonies  in  opposition  to  the  mother  country,  ural  son  whom  he  named  Henry  Cromwell. 
The  measure  was  at  once  seen  through  in  This  son  went  into  the  navy,  and  was  with 
England,  and  Lord  Hillsborough  made  the  Admiral  Kempenfelt  in  his  great  action  off  the 
demand  for  rescinding  in  a  letter  to  Governor  French  coast,  Nov.  14th,  1781. 
Bernard,  which  the  Governor  laid  before  the  §  The  month  of  July  this  year  was  remark- 
House  in  his  Lordship's  own  words.  able  for  tempests,  accompanied  with  thunder 

f  Ninety-one  to  seventeen.*  All  the  names  and  lightning.     On  the  2d  a   summer-house 

are  given  in  the  Boston  Chronicle,  pages  279,  behind  the   Custom-house  was  partly  demol- 

280,  and  in  other  papers  of  the  day.  ished,  and  an  iron  spire  upon  it  broken  to 


1768.]  Bernard's  equivocation.  743 

Governor  Bernard  had  not  actually  applied  for  troops  to  be  sent  to 
his  assistance,  dreading  the  effects  of  such  application  if  known  to 
the  people  of  the  Town  ;  while  his  complaints  and  insinuations 
amounted  to  the  same  thing.  Indeed,  he  could  do  nothing  without  an 
armed  force,  and  it  was  a  dangerous  experiment  to  attempt  doing 
anything  with  one.  lie  was  now  in  the  situation  of  a  soldier  of  for- 
tune, where  everything  depends  upon  the  success  of  the  cause  he  had 
chanced  to  espouse.  It  is  not  the  business  of  one  who  enters  the  ranks 
of  an  army  to  inquire  whether  the  cause  is  just,  but  he  is  bound  to 
execute  the  will  of  his  master.  If  he  succeeds  his  fortune  may  be 
made,  but  if  he  fails  disgrace  awaits  him.  Thus  it  was- with  those  who 
came  here  to  carry  out  the  orders  of  George  the  Third. 

The  Governor  would  have  ordered  troops  to  Boston  before  the 
end  of  July,  but  he  could  not  obtain  the  advice  of  the  Council 
in  his  favor,  and  he  dared  not  do  it  without.  He  strongly  recom- 
mended to  Secretary  Hillsborough  that  forces  might  be  sent  directly 
from  England,  and  that  the  order  for  their  being  sent  should  orig- 
inate at  Westminster.  Thus  he  hoped  to  throw  the  responsibility  upon 
his  superiors,  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  say  to  the  people,  as  he  had 
all  along,  that  he  had  ordered  no  troops  to  Boston.  He  received 
information  from  General  Gage,  on  the  second  of  July,  stating  that  he 
had  ordered  troops  to  Boston  from  Halifax,  "  if  they  were  wanted 
here."  He  returned  answer  to  the  General  that  he  could  not  apply 
for  troops  ;  and  in  writing  home  he  said,  "  Though  I  thought  it  im- 
proper for  me  to  require  troops,  it  was  full  as  improper  for  me  to 
prevent  their  coming  if  they  were  otherwise  ordered."  This  cer- 
tainly was  a  very  shallow  mode  of  proceeding  on  the  part  of  the 
Governor. 

On  the  night  of  the  eighth  of  July  occurred  the  following  cir- 
cumstance. A  schooner  was  lying  at  the  wharf,  with  some  thirty 
hogsheads  of  molasses  on  board.  The  vessel  and  cargo  had  been 
seized  for  a  violation  of  the  law  of  entry,  and  was  in  the  custody  of 
two  of  the  officers  of  the  Customs.  About  thirty  men  went  on  board, 
confined  the  officers  in  the  cabin,  and  carried  off  the  molasses.  This 
coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Selectmen  they  immediately  caused 
it  to  be  restored.  Upon  this  Governor  Bernard  wrote  to  his  superior  : 
"So  we  are  not  without  a  government,  only  it  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
people  of  the  Town,  and  not  of  those  deputed  by  the  King,  or  under 
his  authority."  Many  had  said  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  remov- 
ing the  sloop  Liberty,  and  that  she  would  have  been  safe  in  the  hands 
of  the  Custom-house  officers.  This  affair  of  the  molasses  would  have 
falsified  that  assertion,  had  the  article  not  been  restored.  Hence  the 
transaction  demonstrated  two  very  important  points  ;  one  that  the 
faith  of  the  Town  would  be  inviolate,  and  the  other  that  the  Selectmen 
held  authority  over  the  people. 

pieces.  Hollis  Hall,  at  Cambridge,  was  struck,  of  Representatives,  the  Hon.  Thomas  Gushing, 
but  the  damage  to  it  was  not  great,  but  sev-  who  happened  til  be  there,  narrowly  escaped 
eral  students  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House    with  their  lives. 


744  TROOPS  ORDERED  TO  BOSTON.  [1768. 

When  the  Ministry  became  advised  concerning  the  Eiots  which 
followed  the  seizure  of  the  sloop  Liberty,  they  gave  orders  for  two 
regiments  to  sail  for  Boston  from  Ireland.  Although  what  was  in- 
tended to  be  brought  about  by  Governor  Bernard  was  kept  secret,  yet 
the  Town  had  good  reason  to  believe  that  troops  were  at  hand. 
Therefore  a  Town-meeting  was  summoned,  which  met  on  the  12th  of 
September,  of  which,  as  usual,  Mr.  Otis  was  Moderator.  At 
1  '  '  this  meeting  the  following  record  was  made  :  —  "  Whereas  it 
hath  been  reported  in  this  Town-meeting,  that  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  has  intimated*  his  apprehensions,  that  one  or  more  regi- 
ments of  his  Majesty's  troops  are  daily  to  be  expected  here,  Voted, 
that  the  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing,  Richard  Dana,  Samuel  Adams,  Dr. 
Joseph  Warren,  John  Rowe,  John  Hancock,  and  Benjamin  Kent, 
Esquires,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Governor,  if  in  Town, 
humbly  requesting  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  communicate  to  the 
Town  the  grounds  and  assurances  he  may  have  thereof."  It  was 
voted  also  to  petition  the  Governor  to  call  "  a  General  Assembly  with 
the  utmost  speed,"  and  another  large  Committee  was  appointed!  "to 
take  the  state  of  our  public  affairs  into  consideration,"  and  to  report 
at  the  adjourned  meeting,  what,  in  their  opinion,  was  "most  salutary 
to  be  done  in  the  present  emergency." 

On  the  following  day,  the  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Gov- 
ernor reported,  that  his  Excellency  answered,  with  regard  to 
the  coming  of  troops,  that  his  information  was  of  a  private  nature, 
and  did  not  come  from  a  public  source..  And,  as  to  calling  a  General 
Court,  "  that  was  now  before  the  King,  and  he  could  do  nothing  in 
it."  At  the  same  meeting,  the  Committee  on  "  the  present  emer- 
gency "  reported  ;  upon  which  it  was  voted,  "  that,  as  the  Governor 
could  do  nothing  to  relieve  the  Town,  a  suitable  number  of  persons 
be  raised  to  act  for  them  as  a  Committee  in  Convention,  with  such  as 
might  be  sent  to  join  them  from  the  several  towns  in  this  Province  ; 
in  order  that  such  measures  may  be  consulted  and  advised  as  his  Maj- 
esty's service,  and  the  peace  and  safety  of  his  subjects  in  this  Prov- 
ince, might  require."  Accordingly,  James  Otis,  Thomas  Cushing, 
Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock  were  appointed. 

What  had  given  immediate  rise  to  these  proceedings  was  the  arri- 
val of  an  officer  from  Halifax,  whose  mission  was  rightly  judged  to 
be  to  make  arrangements  for  quartering  troops  in  the  Town.  His 
g  arrival  was  "about  the  beginning  "  of  September,  and  imme- 

diately after,  a  tar-barrel  was  discovered  in  the  skillet  of  the 

*  The  Governor  himself  says  he  thought  it  f  James  Otis,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Rud- 
best  that  "  the  expectation  of  the  troops  dock,  Thomas  Cushing,  John  Hancock,  Rich- 
should  be  gradually  communicated;"  that  ard  Dana,  John  Rowe,  Samuel  Quincy,  Joseph 
therefore  he  "  took  an  occasion  to  mention  to  Warren,  Wm.  Molineux,  John  Bradford, 
one  of  the  Council,  in  the  way  of  discourse,  Dan'l  Malcolm,  William  Greenleaf,  Adino 
that  I  had  private  advice  that  troops  were  Paddock,  Thomas  Boy lston,  and  Arnold  Wells, 
ordered  hither."  —  Letter  to  Hillsborough.  were  the  Committee. 


1768.]  TAR-BARBEL    AFFAIR.  745 

Beacon  on  Beacon  Hill.*  This,  it  was  understood,  was  to  be  fired 
when  the  King's  ships  containing  troops  from  Halifax  should  make 
their  appearance  in  the  bay.  Construing  the  elevation  of  a  tar-bar- 
rel, under  such  circumstances,  to  be  a  gross  insult  to  himself,  in  his 
military  capacity,  the  Governor  summoned  the  Council, 
which  was  held  at  a  gentleman's  house,  half  way  between  the 
Governor's  at  Jamaica  Plains  and  Boston.  Here  the  tar-barrel 
question  "was  debated,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  Selectmen 
should  be  desired  to  take  it  down  ;  but  they  would  not  do  it."  f 
However,  Sheriff  Greenleaf  had  private  orders  from  the  Governor 
and  Council  to  remove  it,  using  his  discretion  as  to  the  proper  time 
to  do  it.  He,  therefore,. taking  about  a  half  a  dozen  men  with  him, 
proceeded  stealthily  to  the  Hill,  just  at  dinner  time,  and  effected  the  im- 
portant object  in  the  space  of  about  ten  minutes.  This  was  a  victory 
over  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  gained  while  they  were  not  expecting  the 
enemy. 

At  the  adjourned  Town-meeting  on  the  13th  of  September, 
the  Selectmen  were  requested  to  write  to  the  Selectmen  of 
the  other  Towns  in  the  Colony,  communicating  the  vote  of  Boston 
respecting  a  call  upon  the  Governor  to  convene  the  Assembly,  and  his 
refusal  to  comply,  and  to  propose  to  them  a  Convention  at  Faneuil 
Hall,  on  the  22d  of  September.  A  Convention  followed  accordingly. 
On  the  15th  of  September  the  Town  met  again,  and  appar- 
ently many  expected  a  collision  would  soon  take  place,  for  a 
request  was  made  that  the  inhabitants  should  "  provide  themselves 
with  firearms,  that  they  may  be  prepared  in  case  of  sudden  danger." 
It  was  voted  that  application  be  made  to  the  ministers  to  appoint  a 
Fast  on  the  following  Tuesday.  But  these  proceedings  give  a  very 
faint  idea  of  the  consternation  which  now  pervaded  the  Town.  The 
officers  thought  they  had  ample  reasons  for  believing  that,  when  the 
troops  arrived,  a  desperate  attempt  would  be  made  to  prevent  their 
landing.  They  believed,  also,  that  it  was  the  determination  of  the 
Boston  people  to  surprise  the  Castle.  However,  if  such  proposi- 
tions were  talked  of,  and  they  doubtless  were,  they  were  laid  aside 
for  further  consideration. 

The  proceeding  of  the  Town  in  calling  a  Convention  was  viewed 
by  the  Governor  as  another  great  offence,  and  the  Lieutenant  Governor 
said,  that,  in  everything  but  the  name,  such  a  Convention  would  be 
a  House  of  Representatives  ;  and  that  the  meeting  which  originated 
the  measure  had  a  greater  tendency  toward  a  Revolution  in  govern- 


*  Governor  Bernard  says  it  was  an  empty  f  Letter  of  Gov.  Bernard.  —  On  the  Town 
turpentine-barrel,  and  "  was  put  up  upon  the  Records  is  this  entry,  Sept.  12th.  "  A  vote 
poll  [pole]  of  the  Beacon  (which  had  lately  of  the  Honorable  Board  respecting  a  tar-bar- 
been  erected  anew  in  a  great  hurry  by  the  Se-  rel,  which  was  the  other  night  placed  in  the 
lectmen  without  consulting  him) ,  which  gave  skillet  on  Beacon  Hill,  by  persons  unknown, 
great  alarm,"  &c.  Matters  now,  he  said,  "  ex-  was  committed  to  the  Town,  but  not  acted 
ceeded  all  former  exceedings."  upon." 

94 


746      NEWS  FROM  LONDON. THE  GOVERNOR  ASSUMES  AUTHORITY.       [1768. 

ment  than  any  preceding  acts  in  any  of  the  Colonies.*  This,  consid- 
ered in  connection  with  the  recommendation  about  fire-arms,  was 
indeed  ominous.  The  King's  officers  talked  about  the  treasonable 
acts  of  the  Selectmen,  in  thus  summoning  a  Convention,  and  "the 
legal  guilt  of  the  promoters  of  it."  Some  among  the  people  wavered ; 
but,  upon  the  whole,  their  cause  gained  ground  ;  and  about  ninety 
towns  sent  Delegates  to  the  Convention,  many  of  whom  had  been  the 
Representatives  from  those  towns  in  the  General  Court. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  a  ship,  Captain  Bruce,  arrived 
direct  from  London  ;  by  which  Governor  Bernard  received 
intelligence  that  the  two  Irish  regiments,  and  those  from  Halifax, 
might  soon  be  expected  in  Boston.  Upon  this,  his  Excellency  exerted 
himself  to  provide  quarters  for  them  in  the  Town.  The  Council 
advised  him  to  consult  with  the  Selectmen ;  but  the  Selectmen 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

Meanwhile  the  Convention  had  assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and  this 
received  the  Governor's  attention ;  who,  relying  upon  the  expected 
fleet  and  army,  began  to  assume  a  little  more  authority.  He  sent  a 
note  to  Mr.  Cushing,  Chairman  of  the  Convention,  directed  "to  the 
gentlemen  of  a  Committee  of  Convention,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall," 
in  which  he  observed,  that  their  assembling  was  a  very  high  offence, 
and  they  were  liable  to  penalties  ;  that  ignorance  of  law  might 
excuse  them  thus  far,  but,  if  they  went  a  step  further,  that  plea 
would  not  serve  them  ;  and  added  several  threats  of  kingly  ven- 
geance. Soon  after,  the  Convention  sent  an  Address  to  the  Governor ; 
but  he  refused  to  receive  it.  They  continued  in  session,  however, 
until  the  29th  of  September  ;  the  expected  troops  having  arrived  at 
Nantasket  the  day  before. f  These  troops  were  the  14th  and 
29th  regiments,  and  came  in  six  ships  of  war.  Of  the 
former,  Lieut.  Col.  William  Dalrymple,  and  of  the  latter,  Lieut.  Col. 
Maurice  Carr,  were  the  commanders.  In  each  regiment  were  about 
500  men.  Soon  after,  arrived  a  part  of  the  59th  regiment,  with  a 
company  of  the  Train  of  Artillery.  On  the  30th  of  Septem- 
ber, the  vessels  of  war,  amounting  now  to  about  twelve,  sailed 
into  the  harbor,  and  were  ranged  in  a  formidable  manner  about  the 
north-east  part  of  the  Town,  and  came  to  anchor.  The  next  day,  in 
the  forenoon,  the  men  were  embarked  in  the  boats  and  other  craft  of 

*  About  the  same  time,  Robert  Auchmuty,  Catalines  against  you,  that  your  life  is  greatly 

Esq.,  Admiralty  Judge,  wrote  a  private  note  in   danger." — Copies  of  Hutchinson,   Oliver, 

to  the  Lieut.  Governor,  warning  him  of  some  and  others'1  Letters,  p.  13.    Judge  Auchmuty 

plot  against  his  person  ;  but  no  conspirators  lived  in  School-street. ' 

are  named,  nor  does  there  appear  any  grounds  f  "  On  Thursday,  the  29th,  the  boats  from 
for  the  suspicion.  Mr.  Auchmuty  says,  "  Last  the  fleet  came  up  and  sounded  the  channel  all 
night  I  was  informed  by  a  gentleman  of  my  around  the  Town.  On  Friday,  the  ships  of 
acquaintance,  who  had  his  information  from  war  came  up,  and  anchored  off  the  Town,  ex- 
one  intimate  with,  and  knowing  to,  the  infer-  tending  from  the  North  Battery  to  the  south 
nal  purposes  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  as  they  of  the  Long  Wharf;  their  cannons  loaded, 
falsely  stile  themselves,  that  he  verily  believed,  and  tompkins  out,  as  if  intended  for  a  formal 
from  the  terrible  threats  and  menaces  by  those  siege."  —  Almanack. 


1768.] 


TROOPS    ARRIVE. 


747 


the  squadron,  and,  at  twelve  o'clock,  were  landed  on  Long  Wharf; 
thence  they  marched  into  King-street,  and  thence  to  the  Common. 
Here  they  were  joined  by  the  Artillery  about  three  o'clock.  With 
these  were  two  pieces  of  cannon.  Here  the  29th  regiment  encamped  ; 
but  the  14th  inarched,  in  the  evening,  to  Faneuil  Hall,  and,  after  a 

delay  of  "  some 

hours,"  was  ad- 
mitted into  it.*  On 
Sunday  night,  a  part 
of  the  regiment  were 
quartered  in  the  Court 
House.  The  detach- 
ment of  the  59th,  and 
the  Train,  were  quar- 
tered in  stores  on  Grif- 
fin's wharf,  f 

Nothing  transpired 
bearing  a  show  of  oppo- 
sition, on  the  part  of  the 
Town,  at  the  landing. 
Such  a  display  of  troops 
in  gaudy  uniforms  at- 
tracted great  attention, 
and,  in  many,  an  indig- 
nant admiration.  All 
ideas  of  resistance  were 
stifled,  and  well  they 
might  be.  A  fleet  an- 
chored in  their  very 
presence,  broadsides  to 
the  Town,  with  springs 
upon  every  cable,  guns 
shotted,  and  matches 
lighted,  —  under  that 
threatening  aspect, 
something  short  of  a 
thousand  men,  in  red 
coats,    with    glittering 


*  "  Two  or  three  hours  were  spent  in  alter- 
cation, when,  by  some  means  or  other,  one  of 
the  doors  was  opened  without  violence,  and 
they  were  sheltered  there  for  that  night."  — 
Hutchinson,  iii.  21'2.  The  same  author  says 
quarters  had  been  demanded  for  them,  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Dalrymple,  in  the  Manufactory 
House,  but  that  the  occupiers  were  prepared 
with  an  answer,  and  refused  to  open  the  doors. 
—  Ibid. 

\  The   accompanying   engraving,   by   Paul 


Revere,  is  very  exactly  copied  from  "  Edes 
and  Gill's  North  American  Almanack  and  Mas- 
sachusetts Register  for  the  Year  1770;  "  the 
only  copy  of  which,  seen  by  the  Author,  is 
the  property  of  Mr.  John  F.  Eliot,  and  for 
the  use  of  which  he  is  indebted  to  the  kindness 
of  that  gentleman.  Above  the  engraving  in 
the  Almanac  is  this  title  :  "  Prospective  View 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  the  Capital  of  New 
England  ;  and  of  the  Landing  of  Troops  in 
the  Year  1768,  in  Consequence  of  Letters 


748  SITUATION    UNDER    THE    ARMY.  [1768. 

firelocks  charged,  and  bayonets  fixed,  marched  through  the  Town, 
with  drums  beating  and  fifes  playing.* 

The  order  of  the  Governor  admitting  the  troops  into  the  Town  House 
or  Court  House,  was  condemned,  by  some  of  his  own  party,  as  an 
unwarrantable  stretch  of  power.  The  very  apartment  used  by  the 
merchants  as  their  exchange  was  occupied  with  armed  soldiers  ;  and 
the  Hall  of  the  Representatives  fared  no  better. f  Thus  was  the  Town 
unnecessarily  insulted  in  the  first  instance,  and  the  whole  Colony  in 
the  second.  Then  the  main  guard  was  posted  opposite  the  House, 
and  two  cannon  were  drawn  up,  unlimbered,  and  levelled  against  it. 

Such  a  state  of  things  was  calculated  to  increase  indignation  to  a 
point  where  it  admitted  of  no  control.  The  halls  of  freedom  and 
justice  were  filled  with  armed  mercenaries,  and  could  be  entered  only 
by  passing  through  files  of  guards  !  Thus  the  Town  was  converted 
into  a  garrison.  The  inhabitants  could  not  go  about  their  ordinary 
occupations  without  being  challenged  at  every  corner  by  sentinels  ! 
Sunday  devotions  were  disturbed  by  the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum  ! 
All  this  was  submitted  to,  happily  establishing  the  truth  of  what 
Doctor  Franklin  had  said  before  the  House  of  Commons  ;  namely, 
that  troops,  if  sent  here,  would  find  nobody  in  arms  to  oppose  them. 
Thus  were  the  hopes  of  those  who  desired  to  find  an  open  rebellion 
defeated,  and  their  bloody  project  frustrated.  That  opposition  by 
force  was  expected,  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  for  it  was  currently 
reported  in  England,  the  last  August,  that  10,000  armed  men  stood 
ready  in  Boston  to  oppose  the  landing  of  the  King's  troops.  One 
captain  of  a  ship,  at  least,  from  Boston,  had  made  a  deposition  to 
that  effect. 

from  Gov.  Bernard,  the  Commissioners,  &c,  13,  though  there  were  18  places  of  worship. 

to  the  British  Ministry."  The  Friends'  meeting-house  had  no  steeple, 

Who  the  Editor  of  the  "Almanack"  of  and  perhaps  some  others, 
that  year  was,  does  not  appear ;  but,  whoever       *  On  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  the  Eev. 

he  may  have  been,  he  was  a  genuine  "  Son  of  Mather  Byles  perpetrated  a  pun, which  was  long 

Liberty ;  "  and  the  little  work  embodies  a  bet-  remembered.    He  said  the  people  had  sent  over 

ter  notion  of  the  political  state  of  things  in  to  England  to  obtain  a  redress  of  grievances, 

Boston,  at  that  time,  than  can  be  gathered  out  which  grievances  had  returned  red-dressed.  — 

of  the  most  voluminous  publications  known  to  Diary  of  John  Adams.    I  have  seen  a  different 

the  Writer.    The  Editor,  or  Author,  signs  him-  version  of  this  anecdote  in  one  of  the  papers  of 

self  "  Incog.";  and  he  remains  to  this  day,  for  that  day. 

aught  there  is  known,   "Stat  nominis  umbra"        f  "  Gov.  Bernard,  without   consulting  the 

and  perhaps  "Stat  magni  nominis  umbra."  Council,  having  given  up  the  State  House  to 

The  numbers  set  to  the  ships  are  explained  :  the  troops,  at  their  landing,  they  took  posses- 
l,the  Beaver,  14  guns  ;  2,  the  Senegal,  14  ;  3,  sion  of  the  chambers  where  the  Representa- 
tive Martin,  10  ;  4,  the  Glasgow,  20  ;  5,  Mer-  tives  of  the  Province  and  the  Courts  of  Law 
maid,  28  ;  6,  Romney,  50  ;  7,  Launaston,  40  ;  held  their  meetings,  and  (except  the  Council 
8,  Bonetta,  10.  —  These,  though  all  the  en-  Chamber)  of  all  other  parts  of  the  house ;  to 
graver  had  room  for,  perhaps,  were  not  all  the  the  great  annoyance  of  those  Courts  while  they 
fleet.  And  so  of  the  Churches  and  wharves,  sat,"  &c.  —  Narrative  of  the  Horrid  Massacre, 
The  steeples  represented  in  the  picture  number  p.  9. 


1768.] 


THE  TOWN  UNDER  THE  ARMY. 


749 


CHAPTER    LXXIII. 


The  Town  under  the  Army.  —  A  Guard-House  destroyed.  —  Anti-Tea  Combinations.  —  Troubles  in 
quartering  the  Troops.  —  Manufactory  House  Affair.  —  A  Military  Execution.  —  Arrival  of  Com- 
modore Hood.  —  Pope  Day.  —  Visit  of  Gen.  Gage.  —  Address  to  him.  —  Case  of  Capt.  Wilson,  — 
of  John  Hancock. — New  Jail  burnt. — Town  Officers.  —  Theatricals. — The  Common.  —  Severe 
Winter.  —  Desertions  of  Soldiers.  —  Gov.  Bernard  created  a  Baronet.  —  Election  Protest.  —  Gen. 
Mackay.  —  Stage  to  Marblehead.  —  Death  of  Rev.  T.  Foxcroft  —  of  Rev.  Dr.  Sewall  —  of  Capt. 
Hamock.  —  Committee  to  request  the  Governor  to  remove  the  Troops.  —  His  Refusal.  —  His  Conduct 
censured.  —  General  Court  adjourned  to  Cambridge.  —  Copies  of  Gov.  Bernard's  Letters  received.  — 
Massachusetts  Resolves.  —  Gov.  Bernard  sails  for  England. 


THE  British  soldiers  had  now  quiet  possession 
of  the  Town  ;  but  it  was  only  such  a  quiet  as 
precedes  a  storm.  The  inhabitants  were,  at 
their  first  arrival,  dazzled  by  their  strange 
equipments  and  equally  strange  manoeuvres ; 
but  these  were  novelties,  which  only  arrested 
the  attention  of  those  who  had  seen  but  little  of 
soldiers,  and  which  soon  wore  off.  To  this  suc- 
ceeded a  dislike,  and,  at  length,  hatred.  The 
soldiers  were  intruders,  and  could  not  be  toler- 
ated ;  and  hence,  the  people  being  once  accustomed  to  them,  a  sort 
of  familiarity  grew  up  between  them,  which  resulted  in  mutual  con- 
tempt and  ill-feeling.  No  other  result  could  have  been  anticipated. 
Consequently  insults  and  injuries  followed. 

The  King's  ships   commanded  the  entrance  of  the  Town  by  sea, 
and  his  soldiers  had  possession  of  the  only  entrance  to  it  by  land  ; 


LOWELL.* 


*  This  name,  when  first  imported  into  New- 
England,  and  for  many  years  later,  was  written 
Lowle.  John  and  Richard  Lowle,  merchants 
of  Bristol,  England,  emigrated  to  New  Eng- 
land in  1639,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  MassaT 
chusetts.  Joseph  Lowle,  sen.,  and  jun.,  were 
of  Boston,  1693,  and  perhaps  earlier.  Eben- 
ezer  Lowell,  merchant  in  King-street,  1748. 
Michael  Lowell,  merchant,  "  at  the  corner 
shop  leading  to  Mr.  James  Davenport's  bake- 
house, near  the  Sign  of  the  Cornfields,"  also 
1748.  In  1754,  the  Governor  appointed  Mr. 
Michael  Lowell  "  to  be  a  keeper  of  the  Powder- 
house  in  this  Town,"  in  place  of  Capt.  Wm. 
Salter,  deceased. 

To  do  justice  to  the  name  of  Lowell  would 
require  more  than  a  moderate-sized  volume ; 
a  name  not  only  distinguished  in  literature, 
theology,  and  jurisprudence,  but  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  The  family  is  justly  honored, 
having  derived  its  high  position  by  works  for 


the  public  good.  The  name  is  fixed  upon  mon- 
uments which  can  only  perish  in  the  wreck  of 
all  things.  Four  of  the  family  have  been  of 
the  Corporation  of  Harvard  College,  —  the 
Hon.  John  Lowell ;  his  son  John,  LL.D.  ; 
Charles  Lowell,  D.D.  ;  and  John  A.  Lowell, 
Esq.  Mr.  John  Lowell,  jun.,  was  the  founder 
of  the  Lowell  Institute.  John  Lowell,  LL.D., 
A.A.S.,  &c.,was  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Lowell, 
42  years  pastor  of  the  first  Church  in  New- 
buryport.  He  came  to  Boston  in  1776,  and 
was  a  Delegate  to  the  Convention  which 
formed  the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts ; 
was  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  ;  Member 
of  Congress ;  appointed,  by  President  Wash- 
ington, Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  this 
State.  John  Lowell,  LL.D.,  and  Francis  C. 
Lowell,  Esq.,  were  sons  of  Judge  Lowell ;  and 
from  the  latter  the  Town  of  Lowell  was  named. 
There  is  extant,  in  MS.,  a  pedigree  of  Lowell, 
which,  it  is  hoped,  will  ere  long  be  published. 


750 


A    GUARD-HOUSE   DESTROYED. 


[1768. 


therefore  the  inhabitants  were  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  those  whose 
trade  was  war.  Quietness  under  such  circumstances  could  not  be 
expected  to  last  any  great  length  of  time. 

The  first  considerable  offence  to  the  soldiers  happened  on  the 
ninth  of  October.  Col.  Dalrymple  having  ordered  a  large 
guard-house  to  be  built  near  the  Fortification  on  the  Neck,  some  per- 
sons proceeded  there  in  the  night,  pulled  down  the  frame,  and  cut  it 
to  pieces.  Gov.  Bernard  offered  a  reward  for  the  discovery  of  the 
authors  of  the  outrage  ;  but  they  were  not  to  be  found  ;  perhaps 
owing  to  the  smallness  of  the  reward,  which  was  but  twenty  pounds. 
But  the  Governor  would  have  been  safe,  probably,  had  he  offered  ten 
times  that  amount ;  that  is  to  say,  safe  from  being  called  upon  to 
pay  it.* 

On  the  15th  of  October,  towards  evening,  Gen.  Thomas 
Gage  arrived  in  Town  from  New  York.  He  was  a  veteran 
officer  ;  had  seen  hard  service  under  Gen.  Braclclock  ;  being  severely 
wounded  at  the  Monongahela,  and  carried  a  musket-ball  in  his  side. 
He  was  now  commander-in-chief  in  North  America.  There  accom- 
panied him  Colonels  Robertson  and  Maitland,  Majors  Small  and 
Sheriff,  and  Captains  Kemble,  Mathurine,  and  Gamble.  The  troops 
received  him  under  arms  on  the  Common,  and  he  was  saluted  with 

seventeen  rounds  from  the  artillery. 
General  Gage  was  now  in  the 
prime  of  life,  being  about  forty- 
eight  years  of  age.  He  was  the 
second  son  of  Thomas  Viscount 
Gage  ;  entered  the  army  at  an 
early  age,  and  served,  with  con- 
siderable credit,  under  several  dis- 
tinguished commanders.  By  his 
wife,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Peter 
Kemble,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Council  of  New  Jersey,  he  had 
eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five 
daughters.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  second  of  April,  1788  ;  and  his 
age  was  about  sixty-seven. f  Lord 
Abingdon,  of  Wytham,  living  in 
1853,  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Emily,   daughter  of  Gen.   Gage. 


*  The  land  on  which  the  guard-house  was  accompanying    autograph    is    copied    from   a 

being  erected  had  been  hired  of  the  Town  by  letter  belonging  - 

Mr.  Robert  Pierpoint  for  several  years,  and  he  to  the   Author,  //^  /? 

forbid  the  erection  of  the  guard-house  before  dated  New  York,      /y^f*    **  /h%^&/ 

evidence.     It  was  said  to  be  nearly  finished  May   3d,   1769,  ^S^®-      s/^Zf    ^^ 

when  pulled  down.  and  addressed  to  //        // 

\  For  the  facts  in  this  paragraph  I  am  in-  Col.  Bradstreet, 

debted  to  the  Georgian  Era,  ii,  67-8.     The  then  at  Albany,  in  that  Province. 


17G8.]       ANTI-TEA  COMBINATION. MANUFACTORY  HOUSE  AFFAIR.  751 

Her  maternal  grandmother  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,   of  New  York.* 

At  tliis  period,  anti-tea  combinations  were  being  formed  in  the 
country  towns,  agreeably  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Boston  Pa- 
triots ;  and  other  measures  were  taken  to  render  the  people  independ- 
ent of  England  in  respect  to  the  importation  of  goods.  The  students 
of  Harvard  College,  "  with  a  spirit  becoming  Americans,  came  into 
the  solemn  resolution  to  use  no  more  of  that  pernicious  herb,  tea." 
There  were  but  four  who  refused  to  abide  the  arrangement.  In  Bos- 
ton, the  number  of  families  which  had  "totally"  discontinued  the 
use  of  tea  was  fifteen  hundred. f 

The  troops  quartered  in  Faneuil  Hall,  as  before  intimated,  remained 
there  until  the  third  of  November ;  in  the  mean  time,  all  attempts 
on  the  part  of  the  Authorities  having  failed  to  procure  for  them  the 
Manufactory  House,  which  belonged  to  the  Province,  but  which  had 
been  let  to  Mr.  John  Brown. J  As  the  defeat  of  Col.  Dalrymple  on 
the  part  of  the  troops,  and  of  Gov.  Bernard  on  the  part  of  the  civil 
Authorities,  was  an  important  victory  on  the  part  of  the  people,  a 
brief  detail  of  what  led  to  it  is  necessary  for  an  understanding  of 
subsequent  transactions. 

After  Col.  Dalrymple's  repulse  from  the  Manufactory  House,  Gov. 
Bernard  summoned  the  lessee  to  surrender  the  premises  to  the  Sheriff. 
But  Mr.  Brown  was  apprised  of  what  was  intended,  and  kept  the 
house  securely  closed  up  ;  and  when  the  Sheriff  appeared  with  his 
summons,  Mr.  Brown  informed  him  that  it  was  none  of  the  Governor's 
affair ;  that  he  had  hired  it  of  the  General  Court,  and  to  none  but 
the  General  Court  would  he  give  it  up  ;  and  as  to  Mr.  Bernard,  he 
did  not  know  him  in  the  matter.  Thus  the  affair  stood  until  about 
the  19th  of  October,  at  which  time  the  Governor  got  the  consent  of 
the  Council  for  clearing  the  building  in  dispute.  Therefore  the  Lieut. 
Governor,  accompanied  by  Sheriff  Greenleaf,  proceeded  to  the  prem- 
ises, which  they  found  admitted  no  entrance  but  by  force.  Presently 
Mr.  Brown  appeared  at  a  window,  and  demanded  their  business.  On 
being  told  that  the  Council  had  ordered  them  to  take  possession  of 
the  house,  he  replied  that  he  had  had  no  legal  notice  to  give  it  up  ; 
that,  as  to  the  authority  of  the  Council,  it  did  not  affect  his  rights  ; 
and  he  would  not  surrender  unless  compelled  by  force.  Whereupon 
Mr.  Hutchinson  and  Mr.  Greenleaf'  retreated,  to  report  the  situation 
of  affairs  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor. 

*  Mrs.  Sumner,  the  present  wife  of  Gen.  f  Statement  in   the   News-Letter    of  27th 

William  Hyslop  Sumner,  of  Jamaica  Plains,  October,  1768.     It  was  added,   "that  most 

is  a  daughter  of*  Peter  Kemble,  Esq.,  and  niece  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charlestown,  Dedham, 

of  Gen.   Gage.     Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Weymouth,  Hingham,  and  many  other  towns, 

Dickinson  Kemble.     In  the  N.  Eng.  Hist.  G.  had  refused  to  use  the  despised  article." 

Reg.,  viii.  188,  is  a  pleasant  anecdote  respect-  J  He  had  hired  it  for  about  twelve  years, 

ing  a  portrait  of  Gen.  Gage,  at  the  seat  of  There   were    several    occupants    besides    Mr. 

Lord  Abingdon.  Brown.     A  Mr.  William  Brown  is  mentioned. 


752  A    MILITARY    EXECUTION.  [1768. 

The  next  day,  the  Sheriff  undertook  to  get  possession  by 
stratagem.  Having  learned  by  his  spies  that  a  certain  aper- 
ture in  the  cellar  wall  was  assailable,  he,  taking  several  of  his  Depu- 
ties with  him,  succeeded  in  gaining  an  entrance  into  the  lower' 
apartment.  But  he  soon  found,  to  his  surprise,  that,  instead  of  taking 
possession  of  the  house,  he  was  himself  taken  prisoner  ;  nor  was  he 
allowed  to  retreat,  even,  by  the  subterranean  passage  through  which 
he  had  entered.  Thus  ludicrously  situated,  the  assaulting  party  was 
harmlessly  held  for  some  time  in  captivity.  At  length,  he  found 
means  to  communicate  With  the  commanding  officer  of  the  forces  on 
the  Common,  who  sent  a  guard  of  soldiers  to  relieve  him.  The 
soldiers  took  possession  of  the  cellar,  which  they  held  until  the  fourth 
of  November,  when  they  evacuated  it,  and  Mr.  Brown  was  left,  in 
quiet  possession.  He  afterwards  brought  an  action  against  the  Sheriff 
and  those  who  aided  him.  The  Sheriff  called  upon  the  Governor  and 
Council  to  sustain  and  hold  him  harmless  ;  and  the  matter  caused 
considerable  excitement,  as  well  as  amusement.* 

Finding  that  Mr.  Brown  was  not  to  be  driven  from  the  Man- 
ufactory House,  other  quarters  were  obtained  for  the  soldiers  ; 
and,  on  the  27th  of  October,  they  vacated  Faneuil  Hall,  and  went 
into  a  store  on  Pitts'  wharf,  belonging  to  Justice  Stoddard  ;  and,  two 
days  after,  the  29th  regiment  left  the  Common,  and  went  into  a  house 
provided  for  them  in  Green's  lane,  belonging  to  Major  Green,  distil- 
ler, and  a  house  in  New  Boston,  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Forrest.  Large 
and  commodious  stores  on  Wheelright's  wharf  were  hired  of  Mr. 
William  Molyneaux,  attorney  of  Mr.  Ap thorp,  at  300  pounds  ster- 
ling per  annum,  for  the  reception  of  the  two  regiments  from  Ireland 
when  they  should  arrive. 

A  few  days  after,  the  revolting  spectacle  of  a  military  exe- 
cution took  place  in  the  Town.  Richard  Ames,  a  soldier, 
having  deserted,  and  being  taken,  was  shot  on  the  Common,  and 
buried  on  the  place  of  execution.  His  case  was  viewed  as  one  of 
unnecessary  severity,  it  being  a  time  of  peace,  and  this  his  first 
offence,  f 

Pope  Day  was  celebrated  as  usual.     "  The  Pope  and  other 
Effigies  were  carried  through  the  Town,  as  on  these  anniversa- 

*  How  the  suit  finally  terminated,  I  have  strong  hand,  at  Boston  aforesaid,  unlawfully 

not  inquired.     But  a  passage  from  Mr.  Brown's  and  injuriously  did  break  and  enter  into  the 

Complaint  may  be  regarded  as  sufficiently  cu-  dwelling-house  of  the  said  John  Brown,  then 

rious  to  authorize  the  space  which  it  occupies  :  and  there  being  in  the  possession  of  the  said 

"  Suffolk,  ss.    To  the  Worshipful  Richard  Dana,  John  Brown  ;  and  that  the  said  Greenleaf  and 

John  Ruddock,  and  Joseph  Williams,  Esqrs.,  Otis,  together  with   the  said  other  malefac- 

Justices  of  the  peace  in  and  for  said  County,  tors,"  &c. 

—  Humbly  shews  John  Brown,  of  Boston,  in  f  Some  of  the  first  ladies  of  the  Town  inter- 
said  County,  weaver,  that  Stephen  Greenleaf,  of  ested  themselves  in  his  behalf,  and  petitioned 
Boston  aforesaid,  Esq.,  and  Joseph  Otis,  of  said  the  commanding  General  for  his  pardon ;  but 
Boston,  gentlemen,  together  with  divers  other  it  was  of  no  avail.  It  was  observed  as  remark- 
malefactors  and  disturbers  of  the  peace  of  our  able,  that,  in  the  time  of  the  French  war,  a 
Lord  the  King  (whose  names  to  the  Complain-  greater  number  of  troops  had  been  here  en- 
ant  are  not  yet  known) ,  on  the  20th  day  of  camped,  but  this  was  the  first  military  execu- 
October  instant,  with  force  and  arms,  and  with  tion. 


1768.]  ADDRESS    TO    GENERAL    GAGE. HIS    REPLY.  753 

ries  is  customary,   with   great  decency   and    decorum,  agreeable  to 
their  resolution  of  1765,  which  has  been  practised  ever  since." 

The  Town  being  now  considered  under  the  control  of  the 
'  army,  the  obnoxious  Commissioners  of  the   Customs  ventured 
to  return  and  take  up  their  residence  in  it,  and  had  an  office  in  Con- 
cert Hall,  with  a  sentinel  at  the  door.     They  had  resided  at  the  Castle 
since  the  affair  of  the  sloop  Liberty.  i 

On  the  fourteenth  of  November  the  Romney  returned  from 
'  Halifax,  in  which  came  Commodore  Hood  with  his  wife  and 
family,  proposing  to  spend  the  winter  in  Boston.  The  Commodore  was 
the  Commander-in-chief  of  all  the  men-of-war  in  these  parts.  There 
came  also  in  the  same  ship,  Lord  William  Campbell,  Governor  of 
Nova  Scotia.  Within  the  previous  week  six  transports  had  arrived 
from  Cork,  having  on  board  the  long  expected  Irish  regiments.* 
These  were  quartered  in  the  Town. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  the  same  month  Glen.  Gage  reviewed 
Col.  Pomeroy's  regiment  on  Fort  Hill.  Everything  now 
seemed  to  be  quiet,  and  the  General  began  to  prepare  for  his  return 
to  New  York.  Somewhat  of  a  change  was  visible  among  the  oppos- 
ers  of  the  measures  of  Government.  Several  who  had  been  prom- 
inent among  the  Liberty  party  were  almost  entirely  silenced  by  the 
scenes  around  them,  while  several  others  excused  themselves  for  the 
part  they  had  taken  by  endeavoring  to  lay  the  blame  upon  others  ; 
and  some  came  out  openly  in  favor  of  the  King.  Add  to  this  the 
Council,  or  as  many  of  them  as  were  present  on  the  27th  of  October, 
signed  'a  conciliatory  Address  to  the  General,!  in  which  they  remind 
him  that  the  people  had  been  misrepresented  ;  that  there  had  been 
disorders  in  the  Town  and  criminal  acts  committed,  they  allowed,  but 
these  "  had  been  magnified  beyond  the  truth."  They  spoke  flat- 
teringly of  "  the  candor,  generosity  and  justice,  that  distinguished  his 
character,"  and  were  persuaded  he  would  counteract  the  misrepre- 
sentations which  had  been  made  by  the  enemies  of  the  Town.  They 
endeavored  to  convince  him  that  there  was  no  occasion  for  so  great  a 
number  of  troops  in  the  place,  and  hoped  he  would  have,  at  least,  a 
part  of  them  removed  to  the  Castle,  especially  as  there  were  more 
here  than  had  been  intended,  as,  by  Lord  Hillsborough's  letter  of  July 
last,  appeared.  In  reply  to  the  Address,  the  General  was  very  brief. 
He  thanked  them  for  the  honor  done  him  in  their  Address  ;  but  in 
reference  to  removing  the  troops  from  the  Town  he  gave  them  no  satis- 
faction  whatever.  And,  on  the  24th  of  November,  he  left 
Boston  for  New  York,  by  way  of  Springfield,  leaving  Brig. 
Gen.  Pomeroy  in  command  of  the  forces. 

Notwithstanding  the  quiet  which  seemed  to  prevail  during  the  stay 

*  Namely,  the  64th,  Col.  John  Pomeroy,  Russell,  John  Bradbury,  Royal  Tyler,  Samuel 
which  were  quartered  in  the  Town  ;  and  the  White,  James  Pitts,  Samuel  Dexter,  Samuel 
65th,  Col.  Alexander  Mackey,  at  Castle  Island.  Danforth,  John  Hill,  Isaac  Royal,  John  Erv- 
They  consisted  of  500  men  each.  ing,    James    Bowdoin,     Gamaliel    Bradford, 

fThe  signers  were  Harrison  Gray,  James  Thomas  Hubbard,  and  Nathaniel  Sparhawk. 

95 


754  .  REASON    OP   DIFFICULTIES.  [1768. 

of  Gen.  Gage,  there  were  frequent  difficulties  between  individuals  of 
the  army  and  the  people.  There  were  turbulent  spirits  on  both  sides. 
Soldiers  could  not  brook  insults  tamely,  and,  when  they  met  with  any 
injury,  they  would  naturally  seek  to  be  revenged.  This  would  inflame 
the  friends  of  the  injured,  and  inevitably  lead  to  combats  involving 
large  numbers  on  both  sides.  Those  who  caused  the  troops  to  be  quar- 
*  tered  among  the  people  as  well  understood  what  the  consequences 
would  be  before  they  happened,  as  afterwards,  or  they  had  not  the 
common  sense  and  sagacity  of  ordinary  minds.  If  an  affray  happened 
between  the  people  and  the  soldiers,  with  the  former  the  soldiers  were 
the  aggressors,  and  with  the  latter  the  people.  That  there  was  a  dis- 
position among  the  lower  classes  of  the  Town  to  insult  the  soldiers, 
there  can  be  no  doubt ;  and,  in  a  majority  of  the  cases  of  difficul- 
ties, it  is  more  than  probable  that  they  were  the  injured  parties  in 
the  outset. 

In  the  end  of  October  it  was  complained  that  several  of  the 
inhabitants  had  been  insulted  and  abused  by  soldiers  and  officers  ; 
and  that  some  had  been  put  under  guard  by  order  of  the  latter  on 
frivolous  pretences,  and  without  lawful  warrants.  That  a  physician 
of  the  Town  was  jostled  by  an  officer  while  walking  the  streets,  and 
a  scuffle  ensued,  in  which  the  physician  was  much  injured.  That  "  a 
tradesman,  on  going  under  the  rails  of  the  Common,  on  his  way 
home,"  received  a  thrust  with  a  bayonet  from  a  soldier.  That,  on  the 
evening  of  the  28th  of  October,  "  a  merchant  was  struck  down  by 
an  officer,  who  went  into  the  Coffee-house  ;  several  gentlemen, 
following  him  in  and  expostulating  with  the  officer  there,  were 
treated  in  the  most  ungenteel  manner."  At  the  same  time,  Capt. 
John  Willson,  of  the  fifty-ninth  regiment,  was  accused  of  exciting  the 
slaves  against  their  masters,  assuring  them  that  the  soldiers  had 
come  to  procure  their  freedom  ;  and  that,  "  with  their  assistance, 
they  should  be  able  to  drive  the  Liberty  Boys  to  the  Devil."  The 
Selectmen  *  were  so  well  assured  of  the  alleged  practices  of  Captain 
Willson,  that  they  preferred  a  complaint  to  Justices  Richard  Dana 
and  John  Ruddock,  who  issued  a  warrant  for  his  arrest.  Benjamin 
Cudworth,  the  Deputy  Sheriff,  was  charged  with  the  execution  of  the 
warrant,  but  he  was  unable  to  apprehend  Willson,  who  was  not  taken 
till  the  High  Sheriff  went  "  with  divers  Constables."  Being  brought 
to  Faneuil  Hall,  the  complaint  was  so  well  supported,  that  he  was 
bound  over  to  trial  in  March  following,  but,  owing  to  the  manoeu- 
vres of  the  Attorney  General,  the  indictment  was  quashed,  and 
Willson  left  the  Province  about  the  same  time.  These  are  but  a 
few  of  the  cases  which  might  be  given  ;  nor  were  they  all  confined  to 
the  male  population.  Many  instances  were  reported  in  which  females 
were  grossly  insulted. 

*  They  were  Joshua  Henshaw,  Joseph  Jackson,  John  Hancock,  John  Rowe,  Samuel  Pem- 
berton,  and  Henderson  Inches. 


1768.]  CASE   OP   JOHN    HANCOCK.  755 

Some  outrage  was  complained  of  every  day,  and  the  nights  were 
rendered  hideous  by  drunken  brawls  and  revels.  The  regular  Town- 
watch  were  insulted  during  their  rounds,  and  invaded  in  their 
watch-houses  in  the  night.  Distilled  spirits  were  so  cheap  that  the 
soldiers  could  easily  command  them  ;  and  hence  scenes  of  drunken- 
ness and  debauchery  were  constantly  exhibited  before  the  people, 
vastly  to  the  prejudice  of  the  morals  of  the  young.  As  a  remedy  for 
such  conduct,  the  equally  demoralizing  exhibition  of  whippings  was 
put  in  practice.  These  were  not  all  the  bad  effects  of  soldiers  being 
quartered  in  the  heart  of  the  Town.  Persons  were  often  knocked 
down  and  robbed  in  the  night,  as  they  were  returning  from  their  places 
of  business  to  their  houses.  Perhaps  soldiers  were  not  always  guilty 
of  such  outrages,  but  they  generally  had  the  credit  of  them. 

There  was  another  grievance  very  justly  complained  of.  Several 
hundreds  of  wretches,  mostly  females,  the  very  dregs  of  an  European 
population,  had  clustered  around  the  troops  at  Halifax.  These  found 
means  to  follow  the  soldiers  to  Boston,  and  the  Alms-house  became 
filled  with  them  ;  and  thus  the  Town  was  burthened  with  a  heavy  addi- 
tion of  claims  upon  its  charities. 

While  the  Town  was  disturbed  by  constant  tumults  of  this  kind, 
the  arrest  of  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  tended  materially  to  irritate  the 
minds"  of  the  people.  The  case  of  the  sloop  Liberty  had  lain  dor- 
mant since  her  seizure  ;  but  now  the  presence  of  the  army  gave 
the  officers  of  the  Customs  confidence  to  prosecute  her  owner,  and 
those  concerned  with  him,  for  the  recovery  of  the  value  of  the  whole 
cargo  and  treble  damages.  Therefore,  Mr.  Arodi  Thayer,  Marshal  of 
the  Court  of  Admiralty  for  the  three  Provinces,  on  the  morning  of 
November  the  third,  arrested  Mr.  Hancock  on  a  precept  for  9000 
pounds,  and  demanded  bail  for  3000  more.  Mr.  Hancock  offered 
ready  money  for  security,  which  was  refused  by  Mr.  Thayer,  accord- 
ing to  his  directions,  as  he  reported.  However,  bail  was  finally  taken. 
Five  other  gentlemen  were  levied  upon  in  the  same  manner.  Here 
the  matter  rested  until  the  following  March,  when  the  prosecutions 
were  dropped  by  order  of  the  King's  Advocate,  the  allegations,  after 
many  trials,  not  being  supported  by  sufficient  evidence.* 

The  Superior  Court  met  agreeably  to  adjournment,  on  the 
eighth  of  November,  at  their  usual  apartment  in  the  Court- 
house. In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Mr.  Otis  made  a  motion  to 
have  the  Court  held  in  Faneuil  Hall,  "  not  only,"  he  said,  "  as  the 
stench  occasioned  by  the  troops  in  the  Representatives'  chamber  may 
prove  infectious,  but  as  it  was  derogatory  to  the  honor  of  the  Court 
to  administer  justice  at  the  mouths  of  cannon  and  the  points  of 
bayonets." 

*  Observations    on    Several   Acts    of  Par-  as  his  counsel  and  advocate,   and  a  painful 

liarnent,  etc.     Published  by  the  Merchants   of  drudgery  I  had  of  his  cause.     There  were  few 

Boston,  p.  19.     John  Adams  says,  Diary,  ii.  days  through  the  whole  winter  when  I  was  not 

315,  "  Mr.  Hancock  thought  fit  to  engage  me  summoned  to  attend  the  Court  of  Admiralty." 


756  JAIL    BURNT. PLAYS.  [1769. 

On  Monday  night,  about  ten  o'clock,  on  the  30th  January, 
the  new  Jail  in  Queen-street  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and 
when  observed  it  had  made  such  progress  that  great  exertions  were 
necessary  to  save  the  lives  of  the  prisoners  ;  but  the  hurry  and  con- 
sternation caused  the  keys  to  be  misplaced,  and  resort  was  had  to 
axes  to  break  through  the  doors,  which,  owing  to  their  thickness  and 
the  iron  about  them,  was  effected  with  much  difficulty.  Hence,  in 
some  cases,  the  prisoners  were  dragged  through  such  small  apertures 
that  their  flesh  was  torn  in  a  frightful  manner.  However,  they  were 
all  taken  out  alive,  though  two  of  them  were  considerably  burned, 
one  of  them  badly.  There  was  great  fear  of  the  fire's  spreading  ; 
but  the  night,  though  very  cold,  was  not  attended  with  much  wind, 
and  no  other  building  was  burned.  Two  of  the  prisoners  made  their 
escape.  On  examining  the  others,  it  was  found  that  the  fire  was  set 
to  their  door  by  two  of  them  who  were  confined  in  one  room.  One 
was  a  soldier  and  the  other  a  young  lad.  Mr.  Young  was  the 
keeper  of  the  Jail. 

At  the  annual  Town-meeting  on  the  13th  of  March,  the 
former  Town  Clerk  was  reelected.  The  Selectmen  were  the 
same  as  before,  with  the  exception  of  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  who  de- 
clined, and  Jonathan  Mason  was  elected  in  his  stead.  Mr.  Rowe  had 
a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  for  his  past  services.  David  Jeffries  was 
continued  in  the  office  of  Treasurer.* 

It  having  been  reported  that  the  soldiers  were  making  preparations 
for  the  performance  of  plays,  the  subject  caused  much  uneasiness  among 
many  of  the  sober  inhabitants.  They  contended  that  such  represent- 
ations were  against  the  law,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  troops  had 
no  right  to  give  leave  to  their  men  for  any  such  entertainments. f 

The  public  lands  belonging  to  the  Town  were  often  subjects  in  the 
warrants  for  calling  Town-meetings.  The  Selectmen  were  now 
appointed  a  Committee  "to  consider  what  measures  maybe  proper 
to  be  taken  for  the  preservation  of  the  Common,  and  preventing  any 
incumbrances  being  laid  thereon,  to  inquire  into  the  title  of  the 
lands,"  and  to  report  "  as  soon  as  may  be."|     The  late   occupation 

*  The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  were  John  Bar-  Mackay,  Mr.  Samuel  May,  Mr.  ¥m.  Powell, 

ret,  Esq.,  Hon.   Royal  Tyler,  Mr.  Benj.   Dol-  Mr.  Joseph  Turell,  Mr/Thos.  Walley,  Mr. 

beare,    Mr.  William  Whitwell,  Mr.  William  Benj.  Goodwin,  and  Mr.  Henry  Hill. 

Greenleaf,   Wm.   White,   Esq.,    Mr.    Joseph  f  It  was  said  in  reply  that  there  was  an  Act 

Waldo,  John  Leverett,  Esq.,  John  Gore,  Esq.,  of   Parliament  for  the    licensing    Theatrical 

Capt.  Samuel  Partridge,  Thomas   Tyler,  Esq.,  performances   throughout   the  King's  domin- 

and  Capt.  John  Bradford.     Firewards,  John  ions,   "  which   entirely  superseded  the  Act  of 

Scollay,   Newman    Greenough,    John    Rowe,  the  Province  for  preventing  the  same."    That, 

Esq.,  Mr.  Wm.  Cooper,  Mr.  John  Mico  Wen-  when  "  a  few  years  ago,  some  bunglers,  as  the 

dell,  Thos.  Marshall,  Wm.  Holmes,  Esqs.,  Mr.  means    of   making    assignations,    took  upon 

Joseph  Tyler,  Capt.  Adino  Paddock,  Mr.  James  themselves  to   exhibit  plays  at  unseasonable 

Richardson,  Capt.  Benj.  Waldo,  John  Hancock,  hours,  it  highly  incensed  the  sober  part  of  the 

Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  Capt.  Martin  Gay,  Town,  as  well  it  might ;  but  the  present  have 

Thomas  Dawes,   Esq.,  and  Mr.   Alex'r.  Hill,  different  and  strictly  upright  motives,"  &c. 

Wardens,  Mr.  Daniel  Marsh,  Mr.  Joseph  Belk-  J  The  Selectmen  were  also  required   to  see 

nap,   Mr.   Thos.   Handasyd   Peck.   Mr.  Wm.  what  could  be  done  "  to  check  "the  progress  of 


1769.]  DESERTIONS    OP    SOLDIERS.  757 

of  the  Common  by  the  soldiery  probably  gave  rise  to  this  movement.* 
A  vote  was  passed  "  not  to  rent  the  land  on  which  the  gun-house  is 
erected  to  the  officers  of  the  train  of  artillery  of  the  regiment  of  this 
Town."f 

It  is  recorded  that  the  winter  of  1768-9  had  been  more  severe 
after  February  commenced  than  in  all  the  preceding  months  ;  that 
the  ice  having  opened  new  passages  out  of  town,  desertions  among 
the  soldiers  were  more  numerous  than  at  any  former  period,  notwith- 
standing the  military  guard  which  -almost  surrounded  the  Town,  and* 
the  vigilance  of  the  officers  ;  that  the  practice  of  sending  out  Ser- 
jeant's parties  in  disguise  was  kept  up,  but,  up  to  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruary "  no  deserter  had  been  brought  back  excepting  poor  Ames, 
whose  execution  was  as  impolitic  as  it  was  illegal. "J 

Encouraging  news  was  often  brought  to  Town  from  the  other  Colo- 
nies ;  news  that  the  non-importation  system  was  gaining  ground,  and 
that  the  inhabitants  were  heartily  sympathized  with  in  their  distresses 
occasioned  by  the  quartering  of  troops  among  them.  At  a  recent 
meeting  in  Philadelphia,  held  to  celebrate  the  late  successes  of  the 
brave  General  Paoli  in  attempting  to  free  Corsica  from  its  French 
oppressors,  among  the  toasts  given  on  the  occasion  were,  "  The 
Massachusetts  Mnety-Two,  the  Town  of  Boston,  Mr.  Cushing,  Mr. 
Otis,  and  Mr.  Adams. "§  At  the  same  time  the  news  from  England 
was  calculated  to  cause  despondency  ;  especially  as  some  whom  they 
had  considered  the  chief  cause  of  their  present  difficulties  had  been 
advanced  in  honors  and  places  of  emolument.  By  a  letter  from 
London,  dated  on  the  17th  of  February,  and  received  here  about  the 
first  of  May,  it  appeared  that  Governor  Bernard  had  received  the 
title  of  Baronet.  This  had  no  tendency  to  reconcile  the  leaders  of  the 
opposition  to  his  course,  and  the  attacks  in  the  papers  of  the  day 
were  more  virulent  upon  him,  if  possible,  than  before. || 

vice  and  immoralities  now  breaking  upon  the  adventured  to  beat  time  at  a  concert  of  music 

Town    like  a    flood  ;    and   of  some    suitable  given   at   the   Manufactory-house. ' '  —  Boston 

methods  for  employing  the  poor,  whose  num-  Evening  Post. 

bers  and  distresses  are  daily  increasing,  by  a        §  There  was  much  sympathy  also  in  Boston 

loss  of  trade  and  commerce,"  etc.  with  Gen.  Paoli ;  and  there  was  not  long  be- 

*  Horse-racing  on  the   Common  by  persons  fore  this  a  child  baptized  in  one  of  the  churches, 

belonging  to  the  army  is  particularly  mentioned  named  Paschal  Paoli.     Mr.  Wilkes  had  been 

as  a  grievance.  honored  in  the  same  way,  one  having  been  chris- 

f  At -an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  4th  of  tened,  in  the  West  Church,  John  Wilkes.   The 

April  Mr.  Samuel  Calf,  Mr.   John  Gore,  and  family  names  of  those  children  are  not  given 

Mr.  George  Green,  were  added  to  the  Clerks  of  in  my  authority. 

the  Market.   Those  elected  at  the  March  meet-       ||  On  the  8th  of  May  the  following  appeared  : 

ing  previous,  were  Fitch  Pool,  Samuel  Barret,  "  March  14th;<  G[overno]r  B[ernar]d's  picture 

John  Singleton  Copley,  Francis  Green,  George  has  been  lately  returned  to  Harvard  College  to 

Spooner,   Benj.  Andrews,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  be  hung  up   in   the   Library.     Our  American 

John   Bernard,   Joseph   Barrell,   And.    Allen  limner,  Mr.  Copely,  by  the  surprising  art  of 

[Allyne]  Otis,  Jonathan  Clarke,  and  Bossinger  his  pencil,  has  actually  restored  Osgood  a  heart 

Foster.  as  has  been  taken  from  it ;  though,  upon   a 

J  Feb.  17.     "  There  have  been  within  these  near  and  accurate  inspection,  it  will  be  found 

few   days   a  great    many   severe    whippings;  no  other  than  &  false  one.     There  may  it  long 

among  the  number  chastised  was  one  of  the  remain  hanging,   to   show  posterity   the  true 

Negro  drummers,  who  received  100  lashes  in  picture  of  the  man,  who,  during  a  weak  and 

part  of  the  150  he  was  sentenced  to  receive  at  w[icke]d  Ad[ministratio]n.  was    suffered    to 

a  Court  Martial.     It  is  said   this   fellow   had  continue   in   the    S[ea]t    of    G[over]n[men]t, 


758         representative's  protest.  —  stage  to  marblehead.      [1769. 

On  the  fifth  of  May,  James  Otis,  Thomas  dishing,  Samuel 
ay  '  Adams,  and  John  Hancock,  were  reelected  Representatives. 
The  late  proceedings  against  the  last  named  gentleman  had  a  tend- 
ency to  make  him  more  popular  than  hitherto,  and  he  received  the 
highest  number  of  votes  ;  even  two  more  than  Mr.  Adams,  who  had 
the  next  highest  number.  The  gentlemen  chosen  to  instruct  the 
Representatives  were  Richard  Dana,  John  Adams,*  John  Ruddock, 
Doctors  Church  and  Warren,  Joshua  Henshaw,  and  William  Mol- 
*  lineux.f 

Before  proceeding  to  the  choice  of  Representatives,  "  the  Town 
made  an  order  to  be  entered  upon  their  records."  The  Selectmen 
had  waited  upon  General  Mackay,  and  informed  him  that  an  election 
of  Representatives  was  to  take  place  on  the  fifth  of  May,  and  requested 
him  to  withdraw  the  troops  from  the  Town,  as  their  presence  on  that 
occasion  was  not  in  .accordance  with  the  rights  of  British  subjects. 
To  which  the  General  replied  that  he  had  not  the  power  to  march  the 
troops  out  of  the  Town,  but  that  he  would  confine  them  to  their  bar- 
racks. This  the  Town  declared,  that  though  "  a  concession  of  the 
rectitude  of  the  claim,  it  was  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  extent 
of  their  constitutional  rights,  and  they  could  not  proceed  to  an  elec- 
tion without  declaring  their  clear  and  full  sense  that  the  residence 
of  armed  forces  in  the  Town  during  an  election  of  so  great  impor- 
tance, is  a  high  infringement  of  their  constitutional  rights  ;  protesting 
that  their  proceeding  to  an  election,  under  such  circumstances,  is 
wholly  from  necessity,  and  not  to  be  considered  as  a  precedent  at  any 
time  hereafter." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  eighth  of  May,  the  Town 
took  notice  of  the  proceedings  of  the  merchants  respecting  a 
Non-importation  Agreement,  voting,  "  That  it  gives  high  satisfaction 
to  the  Town  to  be  informed  of  that  Agreement ;  and  it  is  hereby 
recommended  to  the  inhabitants  not  to  purchase  any  goods  of 
those  few  persons  who  have  imported  any  articles  in  the  vessels 
lately  arrived  from  Great  Britain,  not  allowed  of  by  said  Agree- 
ment." 

Not  long  before  this,  a  Stage  commenced  running  between  Boston 
and  Marblehead ;  but  it  was  discontinued.  The  undertaker  was 
Edward  Wade  ;  and,  on  the  eighth  of  May,  he  gave  notice  that  he 
was  about  to  resume  his  trips,  which  would  be  performed  twice  a 
week  ;  that  "he  might  be  spoken  with  at  the  widow  Trefry's,  oppo- 
site Mr.  Barber's   insurance    office,  in  Fish-street;"    and   that   his 

a    scourge    to    the    people,    until     he    had  residence  was  in  Brattle  Square,  in  what  was 

happily    awakened  a  whole    continent  to  a  called  the  White  House,  where  William  Bol- 

thorough    sense    of  their    own  interest,   and  Ian,   Esq.,  had  lived  many  years.     Here,  di- 

thereby  laid  the  foundation  of  American  great-  rectly  in  front  of  Mr.  Adams'   house,  Major 

ness."  [John]  Small  exercised  a  regiment  through  the 

*  Mr.  Adams  had  become  a  Townsman  about  whole  of  the  succeeding  fall  and  winter.  — 

a  year  before,  at  the  very  urgent  request,  he  Diary  of  John  Adams,  ii.  210,  213. 
says,  "  of  my  many  friends  in  Boston."     His       f  Often  spelt  Molyneaux  and  Molineux. 


1769.]  DEATHS DR.    SEWALL,    MR.    FOXCROFT.  759 

carriage  was  a   handsome   post-chaise,   suited   to    carry  ladies  and 
gentlemen. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  died  the  Rev.  Thomas  Foxcroft, 
minister  of  the  First  Church,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 
age,  and  fifty-second  of  his  ministry.  He  was  son  of  the  Hon. 
Francis  Foxcroft,  of  Cambridge,  who  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  who 
designed  this  son  for  the  service  of  the  English  Church.  But,  after 
his  graduation  at  Cambridge  in  1714,  he  was  engaged  in  instructing 
a  school  at  Roxbury,  where,  becoming  intimate  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Nehemiah  Walter,  he  was  convinced  by  that  Divine  of  the  truth  and 
excellence  of  the  Puritan  faith,  which  he  adopted,  and  became  an 
eminent  supporter  of  that  doctrine  to  the  end  of  his  life.  Though 
born  in  Boston,  he  was,  from  early  childhood,  brought  up  in  Cam- 
bridge. He  was  settled  over  the  First  Church,  as  colleague  with 
Mr.  Wadsworth,  in  1717  ;  and,  in  1718,  he  married  Anna,  daughter 
of  Mr.  John  Coney,  of  Boston,  goldsmith,  and  left,  at  his  decease, 
one  son  and  five  daughters.*  Mr.  Foxcroft  was  the  author  of  a  large 
number  of  works,  chiefly  in  the  pamphlet  form,  some  of  which  have 
been  duly  noticed  in  this  history.f 

2>T  Only  eleven  days  after. Mr.  Foxcroft  died,  happened  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Sewall,  of  the  Second,  or  Old  South 
Church,  in  which  he  had  been  settled  about  fifty-six  years.  He  was 
a  son  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Samuel  Sewall,  and,  at  his  decease, 
was  in  his  eighty-first  year  ;  of  whom  a  contemporary  said,  "  Scarce 
any  one  ever  passed  through  life  with  a  more  unblemished  character, 
or  performed  its  various  duties  with  more  universal  esteem."  The 
University  of  Glasgow  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  in  1731.  He  had  before  been  offered  the  presidency  of 
Harvard  College,  namely,  in  1724,  on  the  decease  of  President 
Leverett ;  but  his  Church  were  unwilling  that  he  should  accept  it. 
The  evening  following  the  day  on  which  he  completed  his  eightieth 
year,  he  preached  to  a  large  audience  ;  and,  on  the  next  Sunday,  he 
was  seized  with  paralysis,  which  afterwards  confined  him  to  his  house. 
He  had  a  large  estate,  which  he  liberally  distributed  to  pious  and 
charitable  uses.  He  -published  a  considerable  number  of  sermons, 
chiefly  occasional.!  He  married,  in  1713,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Major  John  Walley,  who  died  before  him.  A  son,  Samuel,  was 
Deacon  of  the  Old  South  from  1763  to  1771. § 

*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Foxcroft,  H.C.,  1754,  G.  Reg.,  viii.  171-2,  and  364.  See  also  Thores- 
minister  of  New  Gloucester,  Me.,  was  his  son.  by's  Ducatus  Leodiensis. 
He  died  there  2  March,  1807,  aged  72.  Mr.  |  A  catalogue  of  them  may  be  found  in 
John  Coney  died  20  Aug.,  1722,  at  whose  Emerson's  Hist.  First  Church. 
funeral  his  son-in-law  (Mr.  Foxcroft)  preached  J  See  Wisner's  Hist.  Old  South,  pp.  23  and 
a  sermon,  which  he  dedicated  to  the  widow,  98,  Dr.  Allen's  Hist,  and  Biog.  Diet.,  and  Bos- 
Mrs.  Mary  Coney.  The  Foxcrofts  came  origi-  ton  Evening  Post,  3  July,  1769.,  and  Chauncy's 
nally  from  Foxcroft,  in  the  county  of  Lancas-  Funeral  Sermon. 

ter.     The  New  England  family  descend  from  §  On  the  27th  of  June,  arrived  from  New 

John,  who  went  to  reside  in  Halifax,  in  York-  Providence  His  Excellency  William  Shirley, 

shire.     The  pedigree  will  be  found  in  the  Hist.  Esq.,  formerly  Governor  of  this  Province,  and 


760  PETITION    FOR    THE   REMOVAL    OF    THE    TROOPS.  [1769. 

Several  other  deaths  occurred  about  this  time,  both  in  Town 
u  y  and  country.  Among  them  was  that  of  Capt.  John  Hamock, 
"  a  noted  vintner  in  Royal  Exchange  Lane."  He  was  a  large  importer 
of  wines  and  other  liquors  for  above  twenty  years.*  The  same  day, 
died,  at  Newburyport,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Greenleaf,  eldest  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy,  D.D.,  of  Boston,  and  wife  of  Benjamin 
Greenleaf,  Esq.  And,  on  the  15th,  died  Mrs.  Frances  Tyler,  eldest 
daughter  of  John  Tyng,  Esq.,  and  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Tyler. 

The  General  Court,  which  met  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May,  was  stronger  against  Gov.  Bernard  than  hitherto,  and 
sharp  messages  passed  between  them.  One  of  the  principal  causes 
of  controversy  was  a  demand  upon  the  Province  for  funds  to  pay  for 
quartering  the  troops  in  Boston.  This  was  a  subject  calculated  to 
cause  great  irritation,  especially  among  the  Boston  Representatives, 
who  argued  with  great  effect  upon  the  enormity  which  forced  a  stand- 
ing army  upon  them,  to  the  destruction  of  their  trade  and  the  morals 
of  the  people,  and  then  to  extort  money  from  them  to  pay  for  it.  But 
the  first  business  was  concerning  the  removal  of  the  troops  from  the 
Town. 

James  Otis  was  made  Chairman  of  a  Committee  to  remonstrate  with 
the  Governor  upon  keeping  an  armed  force  in  the  Town,  and  to  re- 
quest him  at  once  to  withdraw  it  "by  sea  and  land,  out  of  this  Port, 
and  the  gates  of  this  City,  during  the  session  of  the  General  Court." 
The  answer  to  this  demand  was  as  remarkable  for  its  brevity  as  it  was 
significant  of  the  importance  the  army  was  to  his  authority.  "  Gen- 
tlemen," he  answered,  "I  have  no  authority  over  his  Majesty's 
ships  in  this  Port,  or  his  troops  in  this  Town  ;  nor  can  I  give  any 
orders  for  the  removal  of  the  same." 

This  gave  rise  to  a  most  powerful  and  conclusive  answer  from  a 
Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  which  consisted  of  Major 
Hawley,  Mr.  Hancock,  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Preble,  and  Mr.  James 
Warren.  In  their  answer,  they  reminded  the  Governor  that  he  was 
here  as  the  King's  Lieutenant  and  Captain-General,  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  within  the  Province,  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  the  King's 
Lieutenant  was  in  Ireland.  That  his  Majesty  the  King  had  ordered 
the  troops  to  Boston,  was  admitted  ;  but  that  he  had  ordered  them 
here  owing  to  misrepresentations,  was  certain ;  and  hence  they  were 
quartered  in  the  Town  as  contrary  to  Act  of  Parliament  as  they 
were  to  reason  and  justice.  Thus,  they  said,  a  brave  and  loyal 
people  had  been  treated  with  insult,  reproach,  and  contempt. 

They  said  it  was  owing  to  the  exaggerated  reports  of  disturbances 

late  Governor  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  a  *  His  eldest  son,  Mr.  John  Hamock,  mer- 
Lieut.  General  in  his  Majesty's  army.  He  chant,  died,  "in  the  prime  of  life,"  8  Jan., 
was  saluted  as  he  passed  Castle  William,  and  1764.  His  second  daughter,  Hannah,  was 
many  principal  gentlemen  waited  on  him  with  married  to  Andrew  Cazneau,  of  Boston,  attor- 
their  compliments.  —  Evening  Post,  3  July,  ney  at  law,  2  Sept.,  1769.  Hannah  Cazneau, 
1769.  widow,  died  here,  April,  1784. 


1769. J  GENERAL    COURT    REMOVED    TO    CAMBRIDGE.  761 

that  had  caused  the  troops  to  be  sent  here,  when  it  was  well  known 
that  those  disturbances  bore  no  proportion  to  similar  tumults  in  many 
of  the  best-regulated  cities  of  Europe,  and  that  they  were  "  far,  very 
far,  from  being  carried  to  that  atrocious  and  alarming  length  to  which 
they  had  been  in  Britain,  at  the  very  gates  of  the  Palace,  and  even 
in  the  Royal  presence."  But  the  conclusion  of  the  address  placed 
the  Governor  in  a  dilemma  which  must  have  caused  him  no  little 
chagrin  and  vexation.  Here  was  a  military  force,  they  said,  not 
under  the  control  of  any  authority  in  the  Province  ;  a  power  without 
any  check,  and  therefore  completely  absolute.  This  power,  having 
the  sword  constantly  in  its  hand,  may  exercise  a  vigorous  severity 
whenever  it  pleases.  Thus  circumstanced,  "  what  privilege,"  they 
ask,  "what  security,  is  then  left  to  this  house,  whose  very  existence 
to  any  purpose  depends  on  its  privilege  and  security?"  Hence,  if 
nothing  by  way  of  redress  could  be  had  of  the  King's  Lieutenant, 
they  must  apply  to  his  Majesty.  The  dilemma  is  too  apparent  to 
require  explanation.  Here  was  a  Governor,  a  Commander-in-Chief 
in  and  over  the  Province,  but  here  was  a  force  over  which  he  had  no 
control  !  Had  he  been  superseded  ?  or  had  he  been  degraded  ?  If 
the  latter,  he  had  degraded  himself  by  calling  in  a  power  above 
him. 

While  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  the  troops  was  under  discus- 
sion, no  business  was  done  by  the  General  Court ;  nor  would  that 
body  proceed  to  business  while  the  troops  were  stationed  about  them. 
This  caused  the  Governor  to  take  another  unwise  step,  which  was  to 
adjourn  them  to  Cambridge.  Thus,  to  save  himself  the  mortification 
of  complying  with  the  request  to  remove  the  troops,  he  removed  the 
General  Court ;  not  reflecting,  it  would  seem,  that  they  could  not  be 
forced  to  do  business  there  any  more  than  in  Boston,  though  they 
would  not  have  the  same  excuse  for  delay.*  And  when  he  reproached 
them  for  sitting  two  weeks  "without  doing  anything,"  and  thereby 
putting  the  Province  to  the  great  expanse  of  500  pounds,  they  smartly 
retorted  by  comparing  that  sum  with  the  tens  of  thousands  of  pounds 
which  the  troops  had  cost  the  Province,  brought  upon  it  through  his 
means. 

On  the  removal  of  the  General  Court  from  Boston  to  Cambridge, 
a  circumstance  occurred  well  calculated  to  widen  the  breach  between 
the  members  and  the  Governor.  It  so  happened,  whether  with  design 
or  not  cannot  now  be  stated,  that,  the  very  night  following  the  re- 
moval to  Cambridge,  the  Cannon  were  withdrawn  from  before  the 
Court  House.  This  was,  naturally  enough,  turned  to  the  disadvan- 
tage of  the  Chief  Magistrate. 

*  Yet  they  urged,  with  much   force,  that  small-pox  required  it.     See  Proceedings  of  the 

their  removal  was  illegal,  and  hence  could  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  relative 

well  have  justified  themselves  on  that  ground  to  the  Convening  at  Harvard  College,  p.  7.   The 

if  they  had  still  refused  to  act.     They  showed  next  year,  the  General  Court  utterly  refused  to 

how  Gov.  Shute  considered  a  removal  from  proceed  to  business  at  Cambridge,  as  will  be 

Boston,  when,  in   1721,  the  fatality  of  the  seen  in  the  general  histories  of  the  Province. 

96 


762  MASSACHUSETTS    RESOLVES.  [1769. 

However,  after  standing  out  till  beyond  the  middle  of  June,  the 
House  voted  to  proceed  to  business  ;  but  under  a  protest,  strongly- 
expressed,  that  it  was  from  necessity,  and  that  it  was  by  no  means  to 
be  taken  as  a  precedent  in  future.  Thus,  though  the  Governor  had 
gained  his  point,  his  days  of  rejoicing  were  few,  for  about  the  same 
time  he  received  orders  from  the  King  to  repair  to  England,  "  to  lay 
before  him  the  state  of  the  Province."  This  he  communicated  to  the 
General  Court  on  the  28th  of  June,  and  proceeded  to  make 
'  arrangements  for  his  departure.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  that,  only 
the  day  before,  namely,  June  27th,  the  House  voted  a  petition  to  the 
King  for  the  Governor's  removal. 

His  situation  had  become  one  of  intense  anxiety  ;  for  it  was  not 
unknown  to  him  that  copies  of  his  letters  to  the  Ministry  had  been 
obtained,  and  he  was  daily  expecting  their  arrival  in  Boston.  But  it 
so  happened  that  they  did  not  arrive  until  his  Excellency  had  sailed. 
They  were  procured  by  Mr.  Bollan,  and  by  him  forwarded  by  Capt. 
James  Scott,  of  Mr.  Hancock's  ship,  Boston  Packet,  which  arrived 
the  second  week  in  August.* 

The  state  of  affairs  now  existing  gave  rise  to  the  famous  Resolves 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  which  were  reiterated  most  of  the 
charges  against  Governor  Bernard,  and  through  him  against  the 
Ministry. 

The  substance  of  those  relating  particularly  to  Boston  are  important 
in  this  connection.  They  were  reported  as  unanimous,  and  are  as 
follows  :  —  "  That  Governor  Bernard,  by  a  wanton  and  precipitate 
dissolution  of  the  last  year's  Assembly,  and  refusing  to  call  another, 
though  repeatedly  requested  by  the  people,  acted  against  the  spirit 
of  a  free  Constitution  ;  and,  if  such  procedure  be  lawful,  it  may  be  in 
his  power,  whenever  he  pleases,  to  render  himself  absolute."  "  That 
the  sending  an  armed  force  into  this  Colony,  under  a  pretence  of  aiding 
and  assisting  the  Civil  Authority,  is  an  attempt  to  establish  a  Standing 
Army  here  without  our  consent ;  is  highly  dangerous  to  the  people ;  is 
unprecedented  and  unconstitutional,  manifestly  tending  to  enslave 
them.  That  whoever  has  represented  to  his  Majesty's  Ministers  that 
the  people  of  this  Colony  in  general,  or  the  Town  of  Boston  in  partic- 
ular, were  in  such  a  state  of  disobedience  as  to  require  a  fleet  and 
army  to  support  the  Civil  Magistrate,  is  an  avowed  enemy  to  this 
Colony,  and  to  the  Nation  in  general.  That  the  misrepresentations 
of  the  state  of  this  Colony,  transmitted  by  Governor  Bernard  to  his 
Majesty's  Ministers,  have  been  the  means  of  procuring  the  military 

*  They  were  denied  to  Mr.  Bollan,  and  when  inson  is  singularly  out  of  the  way  in  saying 

the  Governor  heard  of  the  denial,  he  flattered  they  were  received  in  Boston  on  the  5th  of 

himself  that  they  could  not  be  obtained  ;  but,  April,  1769,  as  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to 

Members  of  Parliament  having  a  right  to  copies  the  Boston  Chronicle  of  14th  August  of  this 

of  all  documents  laid  before  that  body,  Alder-  year.     It  is  very  possible  that  some  letters  of 

man  Beckford  demanded  and  received  them,  the  Governor  may  have  been  received  on  the  5th 

and  thus  Mr.  Bollan  became  possessed  of  them,  of  April,  1769  ;  but  his  famous  letters  were  not 

—  See  Hutchinson,  iii.  226.     But  Mr.  Hutch-  received  until  the  time  above  stated. 


1769.]         GOVERNOR  BERNARD  SAILS  FOR  ENGLAND.  763 

force  now  quartered  in  the  Town.  That  whoever  gave  order  for  quar- 
tering even  common  soldiers  and  camp  women  in  the  Court  House  in 
Boston,  making  a  barrack  of  the  same,  placing  a  main  guard  with 
cannon  pointed  near  the  said  house,  and  sentinels  at  the  door,  designed 
a  high  insult,  and  a  triumphant  indication  that  the  military  power  was 
master  of  the  whole  Legislature." 

These  extracts  may  be  taken  as  a  fair  specimen  of  the  entire  docu- 
ment, which  covers  nearly  the  whole  ground  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  of  177C  ;  the  sentiments  are  the  same,  and  in  some 
parts  the  language  differs  but  little. 

A  few  days  after  the  passage  of  the  Resolves,  Commodore 
'  Samuel  Hood,*  who  had  resided  in  the  Town  for  several  months, 
sailed  for  Halifax,  and  soon  after  Governor  Bernard  sailed  for  England. 
His  recall  had  been  looked  upon  as  certain  for  some  time,  and  had 
been  familiarly  talked  of  by  the  people.  He  left  his  seat  at  Roxbury 
on  the  31st  of  July,  and  went  to  the  Castle.  .  The  next  day  he  em- 
barked on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Rippon,  Capt.  Samuel  Thompson, 
then  lying  in  King  Road.  On  his  leaving  the  fort  a  salute  of  fifteen 
guns  was  fired ;  and  on  entering  the  frigate  the  same  number  were 
discharged.  There  went  with  him  his  third  son,  Master  Thomas 
Bernard  ;  and  among  the  passengers  were  Col.  Hoar,  of  Nova  Scotia, 
formerly  of  the  Provincial  service  ;  Captain  Murray,  of  the  14th 
regiment ;  Ensign  Bertrand,  of  the  29th  ;  Lieutenant  Armstrong  and 
Ensign  Burton,  of  the  64th. 

Before  embarking,  his  Excellency  delivered  the  Province  Seal  to 
the  Lieutenant  Governor,  who  appeared  in  Council,  and  took  the  oath 
required  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  assumed  the  Government.  As 
soon  as  the  Rippon  had  spread  her  sails  to  a  fair  wind,  the  flag  which 
had  been'  flying  at  the  head  of  the  staff  at  Liberty  Tree  was  lowered. 
Thus  Governor  Bernard  not  only  made  a  timely  escape  from  a  trouble- 
some Government,  but  he  escaped  witnessing  the  scenes  of  King-street, 
which  soon  after  followed,  and  the  more  terrible  scenes  of  Concord, 
Lexington  and  Bunker's  Hill ;  while  the  people  had  got  rid  of  an 
implacable  enemy,  as  they  believed,  and  had  one  the  less  to  misrepre- 
sent their  actions. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Merchants 
3"  and  Traders  of  Boston,  to  take  into  consideration  the  late  move- 
ments in  England  relative  to  a  reduction  of  Duties.  The  Ministry  had 
discovered  that  Duties  on  glass,  paper  and  colors,  were  "  contrary  to 
the  principles  of  commerce,"  and  that  the  Act  laying  them  should  be 
repealed  at  the  next  Session  of  Parliament.  The  Merchants  saw 
through  this,  and  declared,  that  such  a  reduction  would  "  by  no  means 

*  Afterwards  Lord  Hood;   was  son  of  the  feated;  at  Toulon,  Corsica,  &c.     He  married, 

Rev,   Samuel  Hood,  of  Butleigh,  county   of  in  1794,  Miss  Susanna  Linzee,  daughter  of  the 

Somersett,  where  he  was  born  1724.     He  was  Mayor  of  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Bath,  27th 

long  in  active  service  ;  was  with  Rodney  in  the  Jan.,  1816,  aged  92.     Little  is  said  about  the 

West  Indies  in  1781,  when  De  Grasse  wasde-  Commodore  during  his  residence  in  Boston. 


764  PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE   MERCHANTS.  [1769. 

relieve  the  trade  from  the  difficulties  under  which  it  labored  ;  "  and 
they  add,  "we  apprehend  it  is  a  measure  intended  only  to  quiet 
the  manufacturers  in  Great  Britain,  and  to  prevent  the  setting 
up  of  those  manufactures  in  the  Colonies."  They  therefore  voted 
to  adhere  strictly  to  the  non-importation  agreement  entered  into  in 
August,  1768  ;  to  send  for  no  goods  contrary  to  that  agreement ;  and 
a  large  Committee  *  was  raised  to  procure  a  subscription  among  "  the 
inhabitants  not  to  purchase  any  goods  of  such  persons  as  have  or  may 
import  any  goods  from  Great  Britain,  contrary  to  the  late  agreement 
of  the  merchants." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  Committee  was  appointed  "  To  prepare  a 
State  of  the  Embarrassments  and  Difficulties  the  Trade  labors  under, 
by  means  of  the  late  Regulations  and  Revenue  Acts  ;  and  also  a  true 
Representation  of  the  Conduct  of  the  Commissioners  and  other 
Officers  of  the  Customs,  and  lay  the  same  before  the  Merchants 
at  their  next  meeting."  The  gentlemen  who  had  this  in  charge 
were  Arnold  Wells,  Esq.,  Mr.  Henderson  Inches,  Mr.  William 
Dennie,  Mr.  William  Mollineaux,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Smith.  They 
accordingly  drew  up  an  account,  which  was  accepted,  and  soon  after 
printed.f 

A  little  before  this  there  was  a  Petition  circulated  in  the  Town  which 
caused  a  good  deal  of  excitement  among  the  people.  The  officers  of 
the  Customs  and  their  friends,  to  counteract  the  efforts  of  the  Liberty 
men  to  procure  the  removal  of  the  troops,  addressed  a  Petition  to  the 
Governor,  praying  that  the  14th  or  some  other  regiment  might  be  de- 
tained in  the  Town  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  the  King's  loyal 
subjects.  This  proceeding  of  the  Ministerial,  or  Royal  Party,  gave  great 
offence.  A  Town-meeting  was  called,  in  which  it  was  denounced  in 
severe  terms,  as  being  a  reflection  upon  the  loyalty  of  the  Town  ;  as 
though  the  "  laws  of  the  land  "  did  not  make  ample  provision  for  the 
security  of  all  his  Majesty's  subjects.  It  will  not  be  very  difficult  for 
the  reader  to  judge  which  party  had  the  most  to  fear.  But  the  one 
being  supported  by  might  and  the  other  by  right,  made  a  difference 
of  vast  importance. 

*  These  are  the  names  of  the  persons  ap-  England.  —  Boston   Evening  Post,   31   July, 

pointed  upon  the  Committee  :  —  Mr.  William  1769. 

Bowes,  Mr.  Jona.  Amory,  Capt,  Saml.  Part-  f  It  was  a  quarto  pamphlet  of  24  pages,  very 

ridge,  Mr.  Saml.  Abbott,  Mr.  Thomas  Walley,  handsomely  printed,  a  copy  of  which  is  now 

Mr.  Mo6es  Gill,  Mr.  Wm.  Bout,  Mr.  Bartholo-  by  me.     In  this  it  is  said,  that  "  upwards  of 

mew   Kneeland,   Mr.    Joshua    Gardner,   Mr.  20  sail  of  men-of-war,  cutters  and  other  armed 

Thomas  Brattle,  Mr.  Edwd.  Church,  and  Mr.  vessels,  purchased  by  the  Board  of  Commis- 

Saml.  Salisbury.  sioners,  have  been  employed  this  year  to  cruise 

Capt.  Partridge,    Capt.  Dashwood,  Capt.  on  the  trade  of  this  Province." — P.  17.     The 

Bradford,  Capt.  Waldo  and   Capt.   Matchet  acts  of  some  of  the  Commanders  of  these  ves- 

were  a  Committee  to  inspect  the  Manifests  of  sels  were  daily  reported  to  be  arbitrary  and 

the  cargoes  of  vessels  which  might  arrive  from  abusive  in  the  extreme. 


1769.] 


AFFAIR    OF   THE    ROSE    FRIGATE. 


765 


CHAPTER     LXXIV. 


Affair  of  the  Rose  Frigate.  —  Deaths  —  of  James  Smith,  William  Torrey,  William  Edes,  James  Forbes. 
—  Non-Importation  Committees.  —  Importers  advertised.  —  Fourteenth  of  August  celebrated.  — 
Manufactures  encouraged.  —  Affair  of  Otis  and  Robinson.  — Bernard's  Letters  to  Hillsborough. — 
"Appeal  to  the  World."  —  Samuel  Adams'  Letter  to  Hillsborough.  —  Other  Publications.  —  Free 
Masons.  —  New  Map.  —  One  tarred  and  feathered.  —  Case  of  John  Mein.  —  Deaths  —  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Checkley,  Mr.  John  Knight,  Mr.  Samuel  Kneeland.  —  Indictment  of  Gov.  Bernard.  — 
Case  of  the  Hutchinsons.  —  Affair  of  the  Wooden  Head.  —  A  Boy  killed.  —  llopewalk  Affrays.  — 
Fifth  of  March  Tumults.  —  Mob  in  King-street.  —  Fired  upon  by  Soldiers.  —  Several  killed  and 
wounded.  —  Troops  evacuate  the  Town.  —  Funeral  Ceremonies.  —  Proceedings  of  the  Town. 


APPLETON.* 


A  TRIAL  of  very  deep  interest  came  on  in 
June  of  this  year,  in  a  special  Court  of  Admi- 
ralty ;  the  circumstances  of  which  were  as  follows : 
The  Rose  frigate,  of  twenty  guns,  was  at  this  time 
the  Boston  station-ship,  commanded  by  Capt. 
Benjamin  Caldwell,  afterwards  an  Admiral.  As 
this  ship  was  cruising  off  Cape  Ann  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d  of  April,  the  brigantine 
Pitt-packet,  Thomas  Power,  master,  w7as  fallen 
in  with.  The  frigate,  being  short  of  men,  undertook  to  press  some 
of  Capt.  Power's  ;  accordingly,  the  captain  of  the  frigate  sent  his 
Lieutenant,  a  Mr.  Panton,  with  others,  on  board  for  that  purpose. 
There  were  but  four  seamen  in  the  brig,  and  they,  knowing  the  men 
from  the  Rose  to  be  a  press-gang,  retreated  to  the  hold,  and  afterwards 
to  the  fore-peak.  Here  they  made  solemn  asseverations  that  they 
would  never  be  taken  alive.  The  brigantine,  or  brig,  as  the  vessel 
was  indifferently  called,  was  loaded  with  salt,  and  was  from  Cadiz, 
bound  to  Marblehead.  Lieut.  Panton  gave  the  four  men  to  understand 
that  they  were  in  his  power,  and  that  it  was  not  of  the  least  use  -for 
them  to  resist,  and  even  laughed  at  their  repeated  oaths  that  they 
would  never  yield.  One  of  the  men,  Michael  Corbett,  was  armed 
with  a  harpoon,  and  the  others  with  similar  weapons,  The  parley  was 
kept  up  for  some  time,  and  the  Lieutenant  continued  to  advance  upon 


*  The  pedigree  of  Appleton  has  been  ascer- 
tained with  nearly  all  the  certainty  and  minute- 
ness which  can  be  desired.  Samuel  Appleton, 
the  first  of  this  family  in  New  England,  came 
from  a  place  called  Waldingfield,  Co.  of  Suf- 
folk, England,  in  1635.  John  "  Apulton  " 
was  living  at  Great  Waldingfield,  1396.  Sam- 
uel, the  7th  in  descent  from  that  John,  was  born 
in  1586  ;  hence  he  was  49  years  of  age  when 
he  emigrated.  His  son  Samuel  was  born  at 
Waldingfield  in  1624.     He  was  distinguished 


in  Philip's  war,  and  in  various  other  import- 
ant stations  in  the  Colony.  The  family  settled 
in  Ipswich,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  Massachu- 
setts, descendants  of  which  have  since  become 
numerous,  and  spread  into  many  of  the  States 
of  the  Union.  The  present  distinguished  fami- 
lies of  Boston  are  the  descendants  of  the  Wald- 
ingfield emigrant,  and  from  whom  also  the 
late  Samuel  Appleton,  Esq.,  an  honor  and 
ornament  to  the  name,  was  also  descended. 
There  is  extant  a  judiciqus  Memoir  of  Appleton. 


766  SMALL  POX. DEATHS.  [1769. 

the  men,  until  one  of  them  made  a  mark  in  the  salt,  and  then  Corbett 
called  God  to  witness  that  if  one  of  the  gang  attempted  to  pass  it, 
that  moment  he  was  a  dead  man.  At  this,  Panton,  in  the  most  fool- 
hardy manner,  took  out  his  snuff-box,  and,  coolly  tapping  it,  proposed 
to  give  them  ten  minutes  to  alter  their  minds.  This  had  no  effect, 
and  he  ordered  his  men  to  fire  upon  the  sailors,  which  they  did,  and 
wounded  Corbett  and  another  ;  but  Corbett  was  not  disabled,  and  kept 
his  harpoon  in  readiness.  Panton,  after  jocularly  observing  that  he 
nacl  seen  as  brave  men  before,  and  heard  as  high  threats,  proceeded  to 
pass  the  line  in  the  salt.  Whereupon,  true  to  his  oath,  Corbett  threw 
his  harpoon,  and  Panton  fell  dead  upon  the  place.  It  struck  him  in 
the  neck,  severing  the  jugular  vein.*  In  the  mean  time,  a  reinforce- 
ment having  arrived  from  the  frigate,  the  crew  submitted,  and  the 
brig  was  taken  charge  of  by  the  frigate's  men,  and  brought  round  into 
the  harbor  before  Boston.  The  next  day,  Gov.  Bernard,  Commodore 
Hood,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  Secretary  Oliver,  and  Judge  Auch- 
muty  went  on  board  the  Rose,  where  the  four  men  were  in  irons,  to 
inquire  into  the  affair. 

Great  fears  were  entertained  that  the  sailors  would  not  have  a  fair 
trial,  as  they  could  have  no  jury  in  a  Court  of  Admiralty.  John 
Adams  volunteered  to  defend  them,  and  he  said  he  never  took  so  much 
pains  in  any  cause,  before  or  after  this,  as  he  did  to  clear  them  of 
the  charge  of  murder,  feeling  it  to  be  one  of  justifiable  homicide. 
They  had,  indeed,  a  powerful  defender.  He  said  :  "I  had  appealed 
to  Heaven  and  earth  ;  I  had  investigated  all  laws,  human  and  divine  ; 
I  had  searched  all  the  authorities  in  the  civil  law,  the  law  of  nature 
and  nations  ;  and  I  vainly  felt  as  if  I  could  shake  the  Town  and  the 
World. ' '  But  Mr.  Adams  was  prevented  from  making  his  world-shaking 
argument,  the  Court  dreading  its  effect  upon  the  people.  And  the 
judges,  though  they  denied  the  plea  of  jurisdiction  put  in  by  the 
prisoners'  counsel,  and  would  not  allow  a  trial  by  jury,  which  had 
been  contended  for,  did  not  dare  to  go  counter  to  the  judgment  of 
nearly  the  whole  community,  by  pronouncing  Corbett  and  his  fellows 
guilty,  and  they  therefore  acquitted  them. 

The  autumn  of  1769  brought  with  it  considerable  sickness.  There 
had  been  a  number  of  cases  of  the  small-pox,  besides  the  usual  com- 
plaints of  the  country,  and  many  deaths  occurred.  Those  infected 
with  the  small-pox  were  sent  to  the  Province  Hospital  at  New  Bos- 
ton, and  flags  were  kept  out  at  places  where  persons  had  been  taken 
with  it. 

On  the  third  of  August  Mr.  James  Smith  died  at  his  seat  at 
Brush  Hill,  in  Milton,  at  the  age  of  about  81.     He  had  been  many 

*  I  have  partly  followed  the  account  in  the  ant  of  the  Rose  was  the  person,  who,  not  long 

Boston  Evening  Post  of  July  3d  and  July  24th  since,  fought  a  duel  with  an  inhabitant  of  this 

1769.     It   differs   considerably   from   that   in  Town,  who  generously  gave  him  a  life,  which 

the  Boston    Chronicle  of  May  1st,  1769.     It  he  has  since  sacrificed  to  his  rashness."    I  have 

is  said  in  the  former  paper  "  that  the  Lieu  ten-  seen  no  other  mention  of  such  duel. 


1769.] 


IMPORTERS   ADVERTISED. 


'67 


years  a  sugar-refiner  in  Boston,  and  his  remains  were  brought  into 
Town  and  buried  from  the  house  of  James  Murray,  Esq.,  in  Queen- 
street.*  On  the  following  morning  died  Mr.  William  Torrey,  baker, 
one  of  the  Assessors,  and  was  buried  on  the  seventh.  His  age  was 
G9.  The  same  morning,  namely,  August  the  fourth,  Mr.  William  Edes 
died.  He  was  a  noted  grocer  and  dealer  in  lemons.  Capt.  James 
Forbes  died  on  the  evening  of  the  seventh,  in  his  70th  year  ;  and  on 
the  night  of  the  same  day  Mrs.  Fairfield  and  Mrs.  Hall ;  the  former 
was  the  wife  of  Mr.  William  Fairfield,  one  of  the  Assessors  ;  the  latter 
was  wife  of  Capt.  James  Hall. 

On  the  eleventh  of  August  the  merchants  held  a  meeting  at 
ug'  *  Faneuil  Hall,  to  consider  what  was  proper  to  be  done  to  carry 
out  their  Non-importation  Agreement ;  and,  being  satisfied  that  cer- 
tain gentlemen  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  come  into  the  views 
of  the  rest,  a  vote  was  passed  to  publish  their  names  in  the  news- 
papers. They  were  accordingly  published  as  follows  :  John  Bernard, 
[son  of  the  late  Governor],  Nathaniel  Rogers,  Theophilus  Lillie, 
James  McMasters  and  Company,  John  Mein,  Thomas  Hutchinson, 
Jun.,  and  Elisha  Hutchinson,  sons  of  the  Lieutenant  Grovernor.f  It 
was  voted  at  the  same  meeting  that  .Mr.  Cyrus  Baldwin,  Mr.  Gilbert 
Deblois,  and  Mr.  John  Avery,  Jun.,    should  prepare  an  Agreement 


*  His  sugar-works  occupied  a  part  of  the 
lot  between  Brattle-street  Church  and  Wing's 
lane  ;  probably  the  site  of  the  present  stables. 
I  find  him  there  as  early  as  1724.  John  Head, 
I  think,  succeeded  him.  See  ante,  p.  520.  In 
an  interleaved  Almanac  for  this  year,  Mr.  Smith 
is  said  to  have  been  "  buried  from  his  own 
house  at  ye  corner  of  Queen-street."  Mr. 
Murray  may  have  been  a  tenant  of  Mr.  Smith. 

fin  Edes  &  Gill's  N.  Amer.  Almanack,*  etc., 
before  cited,  is  the  following  list  of  Importers, 
with  their  localities  accompanying  it  :  "A 
List  of  the  names  of  those  who  audaciously 
continue  to  counteract  the  united  sentiments 
of  the  Body  of  Merchants  throughout  North 
America,  by  importing  British  goods  contrary 
to  the  Agreement. 

John  Bernard,  in  King-st.,  almost  opposite 
Vernon's  Head. 

James  McMasters,  on  Treat's  wharf. 

Patrick  McMasters,  opposite  the  sign  of  the 
Lamb. 

John  Mein,  opposite  the  White  Horse,  and 
in  King-st. 

Nathaniel  Rogers,  opposite  Mr.  Henderson 
Inches'  store,  lower  end  of  King-st. 

William  Jackson,  at  the  Brazen  Head,  Corn- 
hill,  near  the  Town  House. 

Theophilus  Lillie,  near  Mr.  Pemberton's 
Meeting-house,  North  End. 

John  Taylor,  nearly  opposite  the  Heart  and 
Crown,  in  Cornhill. 

*  In  the  imprint  of  this  Almanac  appear  the 
words  "  Printed  [upon  paper  manufactured  in  this 
Country.]" 


Anne  and  Elizabeth  Cummings,  opposite  the 
Old  Brick  Meeting-house." 

On  the  23d  of  January  (1770)  following, 
at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  merchants  and 
others  in  Faneuil  Hall,  to  hear  the  Report  of 
a  certain  Committee  respecting  persons  persist- 
ing in  importing,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson  sent 
Sheriff  Greenleaf  with  a  letter  to  the  Hall,  di- 
rected to  the  Moderator,  Wm.  Phillips,  Esq., 
requesting  the  meeting  "  to  disperse  without 
delay,  and  to  forbear  all  such  unlawful  assem- 
blies, as  they  could  not  be  justified  under  any 
authority  or  color  of  law."  The  Meeting  de- 
cided that  they  were  doing  their  duty,  and  in 
a  legal  manner,  and  requested  the  Sheriff  to 
inform  his  Honor  that  they  should  proceed  in 
their  business,  and  did  proceed  in  pursuance 
of  that  determination ;  and  among  other 
doings,  Voted,  "  That  whereas  John  Bernard, 
James  and  Patrick  McMasters  &  Co.,  Anne 
and  Elizabeth  Cummins,  and  John  Mein,  most 
of  whom  being  strangers  in  this  Country,  have 
set  themselves  in  open  defiance  of  the  body  of 
Merchants  and  others  throughout  this  Con- 
tinent, by  importing  British  Goods  contrary  to 
the  known  and  united  sentiments  of  the  mer- 
chants, freeholders,  and  inhabitants  of  every 
Colony  ;  therefore,  they  have  in  the_  most  in- 
solent manner  too  long  affronted  this  people, 
and  endeavored  to  undermine  the  liberties  of 
this  Country,  to  which  they  owe  their  little 
importance  ;  and  that  they  deserve  to  be  driven 
into  that  obscurity  from  which  they  origi- 
nated, and  to  the  hole  of  the  pit  from  whence 
they  ivere  digged."  —  Evening  Post,  29  Jan., 
1770. 


768  CELEBRATION.  [1769. 

for  the  Vendue  Masters  to  sign,  obliging  them  not  to  sell  imported 
goods  ;    and  all  of  them  signed  the  articles  accordingly. 

Great  preparations  had  been  in  progress  for  some  time  to 
celebrate  the  14th  of  August  of  this  year  in  a  manner  to 
meet  the  wishes  of  all  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  Therefore,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  that  day,  the  British  flag  was  displayed  on  Liberty  Tree, 
1 '  the  day  of  the  Union  and  firmly  combined  Association  of  the  Sons 
of  Liberty  in  this  Province,  without  the  least  view  of  licentiousness, 
in  a  constitutional  opposition  to  illegal,  oppressive  and  arbitrary  meas- 
ures at  home  and  from  abroad.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  Sons  assembled 
at  '  Liberty  Tree,  High-street,  Great  Elm,  South  End,  Boston,'  where 
they  drank  fourteen  toasts."* 

There  was  a  large  attendance  on  the  occasion  ;  many  gentlemen 
had  come  from  distant  places,  even  from  Pennsylvania  ;  among  them 
were  the  brother  of  John  Dickinson,  the  author  of  the  Farmer's  Let- 
ters, and  Joseph  Reed,  of  Philadelphia.  Peyton  Randolph,  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  expected,  but  did  not,  probably,  come. 

The  meeting  under  Liberty  Tree  was  adjourned  to  Liberty  Tree 
Tavern,  in  Dorchester,  known  as  Robinson's  Tavern,  "  where  three 
large  pigs  barbacued,  and  a  variety  of  other  provisions,  were  prepared 
for  dinner.  The  company  being  large,  about  300  in  number,  the 
tables  were  spread  in  the  field  under  the  covering  of  a  tent,  where 
they  dined  about  two  o'clock."  During  the  entertainment  a  variety 
of  colors  were  flying,  music  played,  and,  at  proper  intervals,  cannon 
were  fired.  After  dinner,  toasts  to  the  number  of*  forty-five  were  giA^en 
out ;  f  "  and,  by  order  of  the  day,  excepting  the  first,  an  indispen- 

*  Boston  Evening  Post,  21  Aug.,  1769.  The  King  of  Prussia.  27.  Paschal  Paoli  — 
editor  adds  a  note  to  the  words  between  the  shamefully  neglected  by  every  power  in  Eu- 
single  inverted  commas,  —  "See  last  edition  rope.  28.  Dr.  Lucas  and  all  other  illustrious 
or  Budget  of  Nettleham  Epistles,"  —  which  Patriots  in  Ireland.  30.  May  the  detested 
doubtless  refers  to  Bernard's  Letters  to  Hills-  names  of  the  very  few  importers  everywhere 
borough,  and  before  referred  to.  be  transmitted  to  posterity  with  infamy  (dis- 

Besides  the  King,  Queen  and  Royal  family,  charge    of   cannon).     31.  May    Sir    Francis 

were  toasted  Alderman  Wilkes,  the  "Glorious  Bernard,   of   Nettleham,   Baronet,  the  Com- 

92,"    Paoli,    American    manufactures,    and,  missioners,  and   others  his   confederates,   the 

14thly,  "May  the  14th    of   August  be  the  infamous  calumniators  of  North  America,  soon 

annual  Jubilee  of  Americans  till  time   shall  meet  with  condign  punishment  (three  cheers) . 

be  no  more."  32.  Annual  Parliaments.     38.  The  speedy  re- 

f  3.  Lord  Camden.     4.  Lord.  Chatham.   5.  moval  of  all  Task-masters,  and  the  redress  of 

Duke  of  Richmond.     6.  Marquis  of  Rocking-  all  grievances.     43.  The  abolition  of  all  craft 

ham.     7.  Gen.  Conway.   8.  Lord  Dartmouth,  and  low  cunning  in  Church  and  State.     44.  A 

9.  Col.  Isaac  Barre.     10.  Sir  George  Saville.  safe  lodgment  to  all  peculators,  State  pirates, 

11.  Sir  William  Meredith.     12.  John  Wilkes,  thieves,     robbers    and    traitors.     45.  Strong 

Esq.     13.  Mrs.  [Catharine]  Macaulay.*     14.  halters,  firm    blocks,  and    sharp   axes  to   all 

The   Farmer   of  Pennsylvania    (three   cheers),  such  as  deserve  either.     (A  discharge  of  cannon 

15.  The     Massachusetts     Ninety-Two     (three  and  three  cheers.) 

cheers).     16.  Mr.   Bourke   [Edmund   Burke].  The  article  is  closed  with  this  uncivil  lan- 
17.  Alderman  Beckford.     18.  Serjeant  Glynn,  guage  :    "Should  this  account   overtake   the 
24.  The     Cantons    of   Switzerland.     26.  The  Baronet  of  Nettleham  on  this  side  T-b-n  [Ty- 
burn ?],  he  and  Ld.  H h  [Hillsborough] 

*  This  lady  had  published  a  History  of  England,  are  at  liberty  to  write  seventy-seven  volumes 
in  which  she  favored  free  principles,  a  copy  of  which  of  their  High  Dutch  and  low  diabolical  com- 
was  just  before  this  celebration  sent  over  by  the  mentaries  '  about  it  and  about  it.'  " 

brother  of  the  authoress  to  James  Otis,  Esq. 


T    ^VUlytC  i 


176D.  J  MANUFACTURES.  769 

sable  bumper,  drunk  as  moderately  as  each  gentleman  inclined."*  At 
five  o'clock,  the  whole  set  oil' in  their  chariots,  chaises,  and  other  vehi- 
cles, and  returned  to  Boston. f  On  their  arrival,  about  six  o'clock, 
"  the  whole  cavalcade  passed  in  procession  through  the  main  street, 
around  the  Town-house,  and  then  returned  to  their  respective  dwell- 
ings ;  the  whole  having  been  conducted  with  the  greatest  decency 
and  good  order,"  "  which  gentlemen  ever  observe.  All  gentlemen 
of  distinction  from  other  Colonies,  known  to  be  in  Town,  had  cards  of 
invitation  sent  them." 

In  the  papers  of  the  day  accounts  of  the  celebration  are  given,  but 
none  of  the  names  of  the  Patriots  appear.J  They  were  no  doubt  all 
there,  from  Samuel  Adams  to  those  whose  names  have  never  found 
their  way  among  printers'  types.  John  Adams  was  there,  who  says 
there  were  350  at  the  dinner  ;  that  both  Mr.  Reed  and  Mr.  Dickin- 
son were  "  cool,  reserved  and  guarded  all  day."  "  After  dinner  was 
over,  and  the  toasts  were  drunk,"  he  says,  "  we  were  diverted  with 
Mr.  Balch's  mimicry  and  the  Liberty  Song,  and  a  song  by  Dr.  Church, 
the  whole  company  joining  in  the  chorus."  He  remarks  also,  "  Otis 
and  Adams  are  politic  in  promoting  these  festivals  ;  for  they  tinge  the 
minds  of  the  people  ;  they  impregnate  them  with  the  sentiments  of 
liberty  ;  they  render  the  people  fond  of  their  leaders  in  the  cause,  and 
averse  and  bitter  against  all  opposers.  To  the  honor  of  the  Sons,  I 
did  not  see  one  person  intoxicated,  or  near  it.  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  be 
there  ;  but  am  not  able  to  conjecture  of  what  consequence  it  was 
whether  I  was  there  or  not.  Jealousies  arise  from  little  causes  ;  and 
many  might  suspect  that  I  was  not  hearty  in  the  cause,  if  I  had  been 
absent,  whereas  none  of  them  are  more  sincere  and  steadfast  than 
I  am." 

Great  efforts  continued  to  be  made  by  the  merchants  to  cause  the 
establishment  of  home  manufactures  of  all  kinds,  which  in  the  end  had 
the  effect  to  render  the  country  independent  of  England. §  Improved 
printing-presses  began  to  be  manufactured  in  Connecticut ;  and  Mr. 
Mitchelson,  of  Boston,  made  printing-types  "  equal  to  any  imported 
from  Great  Britain."  But  there  was  another  manufacture,  which  por- 
tended not  only  independence,  but  a  maintenance  of  independence  ; 
for  the  same  merchants  created  a  fund  to  be  employed  in  carrying  on 
a  manufactory  "  of  guns  and  small  arms." 

*  To  the  above  passage  the  editor  of  the  Even-  J I  am  chiefly  indebted  to  the  News-Letter, 

ing  Post  has  this  note  :  "  This  clearly  explains  Mass.  Gazette,  and.  Evening  Post.  The  Chron- 

a  dark   passage  in  the  Nettleham  codes,  where  icle,   becoming  a   high    tory   paper,   scarcely 

there  is  a  query  made  how  forty-five  drams  can  noticed  the  celebration  at  all. 

be  drunk  in  the  morning,  and  ninety-two  in  §  "  A  gentleman,  whom  posterity  will  bless, 

the  afternoon  consistently  with  temperance."  has  deposited  100  dollars  in  the  hands  of  the 

f"  Between   four  and  five  o'clock  the  car-  Selectmen  of  Boston,  40  dollars  to  be  given 

riages  were  all  got  ready,  and  the   company  the  person,  who  in  the  year  1771  shall  have 

rode  off  in  procession,  Mr.  Hancock  first,  in  raised  the  greatest  number  of  mulberry  trees  ;~ 

his  chariot,  and  another  chariot  bringing  up  30   dollars   to  him  who  shall  have  the  next 

the  rear.     I  took  my  leave  of  the  gentlemen  greatest  number,  20  to  the  next,  and  10  to  the 

and  turned  off  for  Taunton. ' '  —  Diary  of  John  next. ' '     This  was  to  induce  the  manufacture  of 

Adams.  silk.  — See  Ames''  Almanac  for  1769. 

97 


770  OTIS    AND    ROBINSON.  [1769. 

A  very  unfortunate  affair  happened,  on  the  fifth  of  Septem- 
8p  '  ber,  at  the  British  Coffee-house  in  King-street,*  which  was  a 
rencontre  between  James  Otis  and  John  Robinson.  The  latter  was 
one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Customs,  who,  Mr.  Otis  believed,  had 
deeply  injured  him  by  misrepresenting  his  motives  for  his  political 
course.  He  believed  also,  and  probably  with  good  reason,  that  Rob- 
inson, with  other  Crown  officers  in  Boston,  had  endeavored  to  have  the 
leading  Patriots,  and  particularly  himself,  prosecuted  for  treason,  and 
sent  to  England  for  trial.  For  a  long  time,  certainly  ever  since  the 
arrival  of  the  Commissioners,  there  had  been  no  good  feeling  towards 
them  among  any  of  the  Patriots;  and  Mr.  Otis  being  considered  the  most 
dangerous  and  most  formidable  of  the  latter,  it  was  doubtless  agree- 
able to  the  Commissioners  and  their  party  to  draw  him  into  collisions 
and  difficulties ;  and,  knowing  his  impetuous  temper,  they  succeeded 
in  their  object,  without  difficulty.  To  counteract  their  representations, 
as  well  as  to  set  their  characters  in  an  odious  light,  as  it  respected 
veracity,  Mr.  Otis  advertised  the  Commissioners  and  Governor  Bernard. 
In  his  advertisement  he  stated  that  he  had  "  demanded  personal  satis- 
faction, and  given  due  warning,  but  could  obtain  no  sufficient  an- 
swer." f  Thus  the  quarrel  was  carried  into  the  papers  of  the  day,  and 
resulted  in  a  fight,  disgraceful  to  both  parties. 

Mr.  Otis,  it  seems,  went  to  the  Coffee-house  by  appointment,  where 
he  met  Robinson,  who  began  the  assault  upon  him.  Others,  friends 
of  the  former,  joined  in  the  assault,  and  Otis  was  severely  handled  ; 
being  cut  in  the  head,  and  otherwise  wounded.  As  usual  in  all  such 
cases,  the  friends  of  each  party  made  out  a  good  case  for  their  respect- 
ive sides.  Mr.  Otis  appears  to  have  gone  to  the  Coffee-house  unat- 
tended by  friends,  while  the  other  party  was  well  provided  by  the 
presence  of  several  officers  of  the  army  and  navy.  A  young  man 
named  John  GridleyJ  happened  to  be  passing  the  Coffee-house  when 
the  affair  commenced,  and,  being  a  friend  of  Otis,  he  went  to  his  assist- 
ance, but  he  was  roughly  handled  and  soon  put  out  of  the  house. 

The  matter  was  carried  into  court,  where  it  was  kept  for  about  four 
years.  The  Jury  finally  brought  in  damages  in  favor  of  Mr.  Otis  for 
2000  pounds  sterling.  In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Robinson  had  married  a 
Boston  lady,  Miss  Nancy  Boutineau,  daughter  of  James  Boutineau, 
Esq.,  and  gone  to  England. §  Mr.  Boutineau  was  a  lawyer,  and  man- 
aged the  cause  for  his  son-in-law,  who,  having  expressed  sorrow  for 
his  treatment  of  Mr.  Otis,  and  confessed  himself  the  aggressor,  the 
fine  was  refused  by  Mr.  Otis,  and  nothing  was  demanded  of  Robinson 
but  the  costs  of  Court,  and  the  amount  of  Mr.  Otis'  surgeon's  bill ; 
altogether  being  about  112  pounds,  lawful  money. 

*  Now  No.  66  State-street.  March  they  sailed  for  England.  It  is  said  that 
f  JViass.  Gazette,  14th  Sept.,  1769.  Eobinson  left  without  leave  of  his  superiors, 
%  See  his  deposition,  ibid.  and  so  secretly  that  only  a  few  friends  knew  of 
$  They  were  married  on  the  5th  of  October  his  departure. — Narrative  of  the  Boston  Mas- 
following  the  affray.     On  the  16th  of  the  next  sacre,  p.  39. 


1769.]  Bernard's  letters.  771 

At  a  Town  meeting  on  the  fourth  of  October,  the  subject  of 
the  Letters  and  Memorials  sent  to  Lord  Hillsborough  by  Gov- 
ernor Bernard  and  others  was  taken  up,  and  the  papers  read.  The 
thanks  of  the  Town  were  voted  to  Mr.  Bollan  for  having  procured  and 
transmitted  them  to  the  Selectmen.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to 
consider  them  and  report  at  the  adjourned  meeting.*  After  which  the 
subject  of  a  nonconformance  by  certain  individuals  to  the  Non-importa- 
tion Agreement  was  acted  upon,  which  is  thus  entered  upon  the 
records  :  —  "Be  it  therefore  Solemnly  voted,  that  the  names  of  those 
persons,  few  indeed,  to  the  honor  of  the  Town,"  f  "  be  entered  on  the 
record  of  this  Town,  that  posterity  may  know  who  those  persons  were 
that  preferred  their  little  private  advantage  to  the  common  interest  of 
all  the  Colonies,  in  a  point  of  the  greatest  importance  ;  who  not  only 
deserted  but  opposed  their  Country  in  a  struggle  for  the  rights  of  the 
Constitution,  that  must  ever  do  it  honor  ;  and  who,  with  a  design  to 
enrich  themselves,  basely  took  advantage  of  the  generous  self-denial 
of  their  fellow- citizens  for  the  common  good." 

On  the  18th  of  October  the  Town  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  the  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Letters 
and  Memorials,  with  instructions  "to  consider  what  measures  are 
proper  to  be  taken  to  vindicate  the  character  of  the  Town  from  the 
false  and  injurious  representations  contained  in  them,"  now  reported  a 
paper,  entitled  "An  Appeal  to  the  World,  or  a  Vindication  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  from  many  false  and  malicious  Aspersions  contained  " 
in  those  Letters  and  Memorials,  and  the  same  was  ordered  to  be  entered 
upon  the  records  of  the  Town,J  and  to  be  published  ;  which  were  ac- 
cordingly done.§ 

The  year  1769  was  very  fruitful  in  important  works  relating  to  the 
difficulties  which  had  arisen  between  the  people  of  Boston  and  the 
Government  of  Great  Britain,  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  as  well  as 
on  both  sides  of  the  question  at  issue.  Among  them,  "  Boston's  Ap- 
peal to  the  World"  has  been  considered  a  work  of  consummate  ability  ; 

*  Thomas  Cushing,  Samuel   Adams,   John  a  Member  of  Parliament ;  Benjamin  Franklin, 

Adams,  James  Otis,  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  Rich-  Esq.,  Doctor  of  Laws  ;  William  Bollam,  Esq. , 

ard  Dana,  Joshua  Henshaw,  Joseph  Jackson  Agent  for  his  Majesty's  Council  of  this  Prov- 

and  Benjamin  Kent,  composed  the  Committee,  ince  ;  Dennts  De  Berdt,  Esq.,  Agent  for  the 

f  The  names  are  the  same  as  those  given  on  House  of  Representatives,  and  Barlow  Treco- 

a  previous  page,  and   are   therefore  omitted  thic,  Esq.,  Alderman  of  the  City  of  London, 

here.  and  a  Member  of  Parliament. 

%  The  Appeal  occupies  30  full  pages  of  those  William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk." 

records,  which  pages  are  of  large  demy  size.  Why  a  copy  was  not  ordered  for  Alderman 

The  printed  tract  is  now  of  rare  occurrence.  William  Beckford,  does  not  appear ;  for  Mr. 

§  This  Direction  was  printed  with  the  Ap-  Bollan  was  indebted  to  him  for  his  success  in 

peal :  "  The  following  remarks  upon  the  let-  obtaining  the  pernicious  documents,  as  already 

ters  written  by  Gov.  Bernard  and  others,  were  stated. 

ordered  to  be  published ;  and  the  Committee  In  1773  the  General  Court  resolved  to  pay 

were  directed  respectfully  to  transmit  a  printed  William  Bollan,  Esq.,  £1200  sterling  for  his 

copy  of  the  same  to  the  following  gentlemen,  services  from  12  July,  1769,  to  12  July,  1773  ; 

viz.,  the  Hon.  Col.  Isaac  Barre,  Esq.,  Member  and  Dr.  Franklin,  for  three  years,  ending  31 

of  Parliament ;   His  Excellency  Thomas  Pow-  Oct.,   1773,  £800  sterling.  —  House  Journal, 

nall,  Esq.,  late  Governor  of  this  Province,  and  p.  25. 


772  PUBLICATIONS. NEW    MAP.  [1769. 

and  its  composition  is  almost,  if  not  entirely,  the  work  of  'Samuel 
Adams.  He  was  also  the  author  of  the  Letter  to  Earl  Hillsborough, 
published  anonymously,  and  doubtless  many  other  similar  productions. 
Edes  &  Gill  printed  the  Charter  of  the  Province,  as  granted  by  William 
and  Mary,  in  their  Almanac,  and  also  the  Explanatory  Charter  of 
George  the  First.* 

The  "  Royal  Arch  Lodge"  of  Free  Masons  had  its  beginning  in 
Boston  this  year.f  It  was  afterwards  called  "  St.  Andrew's  Royal 
Arch  Chapter."  The  next  year  they  held  their  meetings  at  the  "  Green 
Dragon,"  in  Union-street,  which  was  their  regular  place  of  meeting 
until  1805,  when  they  removed  to  Mason's  Hall,  the  north  side  of  the 
Market-house. 

Notwithstanding  the  agitations  in  the  Town  in  1769,  and  the  diffi- 
culties and  discouragements  which  beset  it  on  every  side,  its  progress 
was  onward,  and  a  beautiful  map  of  it  was  issued  by  Mr.  William 
Price,  with  this  title  :  —  "A  New  Plan  of  the  Great  Town  of  Boston 
in  New  England  in  America,  with  the  many  additional  Buildings  and 
new  Streets,  to  the  year  1769."  It  is  dedicated  to  Governor  Belcher, 
whose  Arms  are  conspicuously  delineated  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner .\ 
Like  the  Map  of  1722,  it  contains  statistics  of  fires,  times  of  small-pox 
visitations,  number  and  time  of  building  of  the  several  Churches,  and 
other  matters,  continued  to  the  year  of  publication.  It  is  also  noted 
that  on  the  Castle  "are  mounted  about  120  cannon."  The  number 
of  houses  in  the  Town  about  4,000,  and  inhabitants  20,000. 

In  a  thickly  settled  Town,  of  so  many  inhabitants  as  were  now  in 
Boston,  it  was  a  move  highly  criminal  to  quarter  troops,  and  every 
clay  they  were  continued  difficulties  increased,  and  it  required  no 
prophet  to  predict  that  a  time  was  near  at  hand  when  either  the  peo- 
ple or  the  soldiers  must  be  masters.  There  was  an  occurrence 
on  the  24th  of  October,  which  greatly  irritated  the  Revenue 
Offices,  to  redress  whose  grievances  the  soldiers  were  here  specially 
stationed.     It  was  a  high  offence  to  the  former  for  any  goods  to  be 

*  This  Charter  is  dated  August  20th,  1725,  scribed   at   page   566,   ante.     Mr.   Price  was 

12th  Geo.  I.     Dr.  Holmes  does  not  mention  it  interested  with  Bonner  in  publishing  that  of 

in  his  invaluable  Annals.  1722,  and  he  no  doubt  came  into  possession  of 

f  Its  first   meeting   was  held   on  the  28th  the  plate,  and  used  it  from  time  to  time.     On 

of  August,   at  which    were  present,   the  Rt.  the  map  is  Mr.  Price's  advertisement,  by  which 

Worshipful  James   Brown,  Master;    Charles  it  appears  his  sign  was  "  The  King's  Head  and 

Chambers,    Sen.    Warden;    Winthrop    Gray,  Looking-glass,"  and  his  shop  was  the  2d  door 

Jun.    Warden  ;    William    McMullen,    Henry  South  of  the  Old  Meeting-house  in  Cornhill, 

Glynn,    Wm.    McKeen,    John    Woodington,  "  Where  is  sold  a  large  New  South-east  Prospect 

Joshua  Loring,  D.  Sec.  ;  Samuel  Sumner,  Ty-  of  Boston,  neatly  done,  and  a  Prospect  of  the 

ler.  —  By-Laws,  &c,  of  St.  Andrews'  R.  A.  Colledg's   in   Cambridge,   N.  E.     And   great 

Chapter,  edited  by  Thomas  Waterman,  Esq.,  of  variety  of  Maps  and  Prints  of  all  kinds,  with 

Boston.  Erames  and  Glasses  or  without.    Also  pictures 

X  This  leads  me  to  the  opinion  that  maps  painted  in  Oyle  "  —  "  Newest  fashioned  Look- 

from  the  same  plate  were  issued  during  Mr.  ing   Glasses,   Tea  Tables,  China  Ware,   Eng- 

Belcher's  administration ;  copies  of  which  are  lish    and    Dutch     Toys,    Flutes,    Hautboys, 

doubtless  in  existence,  though  I  have  not  met  Violin  Strings,"   &c.    In   1727    he   published 

with  any,  nor  have  I  heard  of  such.     How-  "  A  Draught  of  the  Meeting-house  of  the  Old 

ever,  this  (of  1769)  is  the  same,  as  to  outline  Church   in   Boston,  with  the  New  Spire  and 

and  scale,  as  that  by  Capt.  John  Bonner,  de-  Gallery." 


1769.]  pope  day.  773 

landed  without  being  duly  entered.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  an 
equally  high  offence  to  the  people  for  any  one  to  inform  against  those 
who  should  bring  in  goods  without  paying  duties.  On  the  occasion 
referred  to,  a  certain  individual,  not  having  the  fear  of  the  people 
before  his  eyes,  and  happening  to  know  that  "  a  cask  or  two  "  of  wine 
had  been  brought  in,  in  a  sloop  from  Rhode  Island,  proceeded  to  give 
information  of  the  fact  to  his  Majesty's  Commissioners.  Aware  that 
he  had  taken  a  very  dubious  step,  that  individual  kept  himself  se- 
creted for  a  time  ;  but,  in  the  evening  of  the  24th,  he  fell  into  the 
hands  of  some  persons  who  had  been  on  the  watch  for  him,  and  who, 
unmolested,  proceeded  to  substitute  for  his  ordinary  dress  one  of  tar 
and  feathers.  Thus  attired,  they  carted  him  through  the  streets  for 
about  three  hours  ;*  which  period  was  ended  in  King-street  near 
nine  o'clock.  Here  "  he  promised  better  behavior  for  time  to  come, 
and  asked  pardon  for  his  past  offence."  Then  his  clothes  were  re- 
turned to  him,  and  "all  peaceably  dispersed." 

N  The  fifth  of  November  falling  on  Sunday  this  year,  Pope 

'  Day  was  celebrated  on  Monday  the  sixth.  Salutes  were  fired 
at  the  Castle  and  the  Town  Batteries.  "  A  number  of  young  persons 
exhibited  some  pageantry,  and,  after  going  through  the  principal 
streets  of  the  Town,  they  retired  to  Copp's  Hill,  where  the  effigies 
were  committed  to  the  flames,  about  seven  o'clock."  Mr.  John  Mein 
having  rendered  himself  obnoxious  by  certain  publications  in  his  Bos- 
ton Chronicle,  his  effigy  was  added  to  the  number,  and  labelled  in  a 
manner  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  decency. f  He  had  taken  the  side 
of  the  Home  Government,  and  published  the  names  of  many  of  the 
merchants  as  importers,  who  had  pledged  themselves  not  to  import 
British  goods,  and  who  had  signed  the  Non-importation  Agreement. 
This  he  did  in  retaliation  for  the  publications  of  the  merchants  before 

*  They    proceeded    first    to    Liberty   Tree,  equal  to  these,  of  which  the  following  are  a 

"  amidst  a  vast  concourse  of  people,"  making  specimen  :  — 

him   hold  a   large  glass  lantern  in  his  hand,  «  Now  shake,  ye  Tories,  I  see  the  rogue  behind, 

"  that  people  might  see  the  doleful  condition  he  Hung  up  a  scarecrow,  to  correct  mankind." 

was  in,  and  to  deter  others  from  such  infa-  "  Now  we  '11  be  free,  or  bathed  in  honest  blood, 

mous    practices."     Under    Liberty   Tree    they  We '11  nobly  perish  for  our  Country's  good. 

«  made  him   swear  never  to  be  guilty  of  the  We 'II  purge  the  land  of  the  infernal  crew, 

,.,          .        .     r  ,          ,,       .      ,,         &        J.  And  at  one  stroke  we  11  give  the  Devil  his  due." 

like  crime  in  future.        As  the  procession  was  mi     _                    „  „     °      ,                  , 

proceeding  to  Liberty  Tree,  it  was  fired  upon  .  T^e  Inspectors  of  the  Customs  are  thus  no- 

from  Mein  &  Fleeming's  printing  office.     Upon  *icec*: 

which  some  of  those  in  the  crowd  broke  into  "Here  stands  the  Devil  for  a  Show, 

the  office  ;  but  the  persons  inside  had  escaped.  WUh  the  I— n— rs  in  a  row, 

They  however  found   three  guns,  which  they  _   AU  bound  to  Hel1'  and  that  we  know- 

brought  off.  "  Wilkes  and  Liberty,  No.  45,"  stood  at  the 

f  On  one  of  the  transparencies  was  exhibited  head  of  some  lines>  in  which  the  "  Informer  " 

this  acrostic  :  —  suffers  thus  :  — 

« Insulting  wretch,  we  '11  him  expose,  "  *f  any  one  nT°Tw  tak.ef  his  Part>     , 

O'er  the  whole  world  his  deeds  disclose ;  He  u  S°  to  Hel1  wlthout  a  car*- 

Hell  now  gapes  wide  to  take  him  in,  I  suppose  Gov.  Bernard  to  be  referred  to  in 

Now  he  is  ripe,  0  lump  of  sin  !  these  verses  : 

Mean  is  the  man,  M — n  is  his  name,  ,,-,-,  ,,  .     .  ,, 

Enough  he 's  spread  his  hellish  fame,  "  Fro™ 2  **?  V<T     ^     ,  ?\?a£h» 

Infernal  Furies  hurl  his  soul  The  fell  production  of  some  baneful  birth 

Nine  million  times  from  Pole  to  Pole."  These  ills  proceed  -from  him  they  took  their  birth. 

If  I  forgive  him,  then  forget  me,  Heaven, 

There  were  verses  also  to  the  "  Tories,"  quite  Or  like  a  Wilkes  may  I  from  right  be  driven." 


774  BERNARD    INDICTED.  [1769. 

mentioned.  His  paper  had,  in  fact,  become  completely  subservient 
to  the  oppressors,  and  he  was  free  in  impeaching  the  motives  of  the 
men  on  whom  the  people  looked  as  models  of  excellence.  This 
brought  down  the  vengeance  of  the  latter  upon  him,  and  he  was  at- 
tacked in  the  street  near  his  own  office,  and  obliged  to  fly  to  the  sol- 
diers for  protection.  This  affair  happened  on  the  28th  of  October, 
and  he  soon  after  sailed  for  England. 

The   Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Checkley,   the  first  minister  of  the 
New  South  Church,  died  on  the  1st  of  December,  in  his  74th 
year,  after  a  long  and  able  pastorate.     He  was  son  of  Col.  Samuel 
Checkley,   distinguished   for  his  public   services  in  the   Town,   and 
for  his  excellent  character.     Mr.  Checkley  was  father-in-law  of  the 
distinguished  patriot,  Samuel  Adams.     And  on  the  fourth  fol- 
lowing, an  aged  merchant,  Mr.  John  Knight,  died,  aged  81 
years.     His  warehouse  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Faneuil  Hall. 

On  the  14th  of  December  died  Mr.  Samuel  Kneeland,  many  years 
a  well  known  and  highly  respectable  printer,  in  the  73d  year  of  his 
age.  He  commenced  business  about  1718,  and  his  office  was  in  Prison 
lane,  at  the  corner  of  Dorset's  or  Dassett's  alley,  and  was  used  as 
such,  by  Mr.  Kneeland  and  his  successors,  for  eighty  years.  He  was 
a  native  of  Boston,  respectably  connected,  and  served  his  time  with 
Bartholomew  Green.  In  1727  he  commenced  the  publication  of 
"  The  New  England  Journal,"  and  four  months  after  went  into  part- 
nership with  Timothy  Green,  —  a  connection  which  was  continued 
twenty-five  years.  Kneeland  and  Green  were  engaged  in  printing 
the  first  Bible  ever  issued  from  the  Boston  Press,  as  has  been  before 
stated.  Mr.  Kneeland  was  many  years  printer  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives.* 

A  very  curious  farce  was  enacted  soon  after  the  departure  of  Gov- 
ernor Bernard  for  England.  The  Grand  Jury  found  bills  of  indict- 
ment against  him,  General  Gage,  the  five  Commissioners  of  the  Cus- 
toms, the  Collector  and  Comptroller,  "  for  writing  certain  letters  to 
the  Secretary  of  State,  and  other  the  King's  Ministers,  and  therein 
slandering  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  and  Province."  This  was  of 
course  only  to  show  the  resentment  of  the  people  in  a  new  light ;  for 
it  was  doubtless  well  known  to  the  Grand  Jury,  that  a  King's  Gov- 
ernor could  not  be  tried  in  a  Colonial  Court.  Hence  there  were  no 
writs  of  attachment  ever  issued,  and,  after  a  while,  a  nolle  prosequi  was 
entered  upon  each  case. 

The  Non-importation  Agreement  ended  with  the  year  1769,  and 
some  of  those  who  had  been  forced  into  it  were  determined  to  proceed 
in  their  regular  business,  and  would  pay  no  attention  to  a  renewal  of 

*  In  the  Journal  of  the  House,  June  6th,  Mr.    Samuel    Kneeland,   the    Printer  to   the 

1738,  it  is  entered,  —  "  Col.  Prescott,  from  the  House,  be  allowed  14s.  and  4d.,  new  tenor  bills, 

Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  mat-  per  sheet,  for  printing  and  delivering  the  votes 

ter  of  charge,  &c,  of  printing  the  Journal  of  of  the  House,  as  they  shall  be  taken  off  from 

the   House,  made   report,  &c.     Ordered   that  the  Journal .' ; 


17GD.]  CASE    OF    THE    1IUTCHINSONS.  775 

that  Agreement.  Two  of  the  sons  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchin- 
son* were  of  this  number.  They  had  delivered  certain  goods  into 
the  custody  of  the  Committee,  or,  what  amounted  to  the  same  thing, 
they  had  allowed  the  Committee  to  place  its  padlock  on  the  warehouse 
in  which  they  were,  and  to  keep  the  key.  The  first  of  January  hav- 
ing come,  the  Messrs.  Hutchinsons  removed  the  lock,  and,  taking 
their  goods  from  the  warehouse,  caused  them  to  be  secreted.  They 
were  immediately  called  upon  to  return  them  to  the  custody  of  the 
Committee,  which  they  refused  to  do.  A  meeting  of  merchants  was 
called,  the  whole  body  of  whom  proceeded  to  Garden  Court,  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  a  part  of  whose  household  were  those 
two  sons.  The  merchants  were  attended  by  a  great  number  of  people, 
and  it  is  not  surprising  if  the  Lieut.  Governor  was  apprehensive  of  a 
repetition  of  the  scenes  of  1765  ;  for,  when  the  merchants  made 
known  their  business,  and  demanded  the  restoration  of  the  goods, 
"  without  sufficiently  considering  the  consequences,"  he  advised  his 
sons  to  comply  ;  "  but  had  soon  reason  to  repent;  and  that  he  felt 
more  trouble  and  distress  of  mind  from  this  error  in  his  public  trust, 
than  he  had  done  from  loss  and  damage  to  his  private  fortune,  when 
his  house  and  great  part  of  his  property  were  destroyed  ;"  that  "  he 
was  triumphed  over,  and  reproached  for  the  concession,  by  the  men 
who,  under  color  of  friendship,  advised  him  to  it." 

The  Lieut.  Governor  could  hardly  suppress  his  indignation,  and 
reproached  himself  for  doing  what  he  did  not  dare  to  refuse  to  do. 
The  merchants  continued  their  meetings,  which  he  pronounced  trea- 
sonable, and  endeavored  to  put  a  stop  to,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Joseph 
Hawley  said,  in  the  General  Court,  that  he  should  like  to  know  how 
the  Parliament  of  England  had  acquired  a  right  of  legislation  over 
the  Colonies.  And  Samuel  Adams  said  at  the  same  time,  what  was 
reiterated  afterwards  in  the  same  words  in  the  Declaration  of  1776, 
"  Independent  we  are,  and  independent  we  will  be."  This  feeling 
disseminated  itself  through  all  classes,  and  would  not  be  controlled,  f 
Meetings  of  the  merchants  were  continued.  The  Lieut.  Governor 
called  upon  the  Council  to  assist  him  in  putting  a  stop  to  them,  but 
they  refused.  He  next  appealed  to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  but 
they  were  with  the  people.  Then  he  sent  Sheriff  Greenleaf 
into  one  of  the  meetings  with  a  paper  to  read  to  those  assem- 
bled, which  required  them,  in  his  Majesty's  name,  to  disperse  and 
cease  their  unlawful  proceedings.  But  his  Majesty  was  too  far  off 
to  be  dreaded,  though  they  allowed  the  paper  to  be  read  in  his  name, 
and  then  went  on  with  their  business  as  though  nothing  had  hap- 
pened. 

*  Thomas   and  Elisha    Hutchinson,   before  Public.  —  It  is  reported  that  a  cursed  design 

noticed.     They  went   to   England,  and  both  is  on  foot  to  ruin  the  credit  of  the  merchants 

died  there.     See  ante,  page  227.  of  this  Town,  and  enslave  North  America.     If 

f  About   the   same  time   appeared,   in    the  so,  may  the  inhabitants  behave  like  men  and 

Evening  Post,  these  expressions:  —  "To  the  like  Christians.  A  Freeholder." 


776  AFFAIR    OF    THE   WOODEN    HEAD.  [1770. 

The  proscribed  Importers  were  doomed  to  experience  much  trouble. 
It  was  too  humiliating  for  them  to  submit  to  the  dictation  of  the  other 
merchants,  and  they  had  almost  the  whole  community,  on  which  they 
depended  for  trade,  against  them.  Boys  and  others  would  deride  and 
point  at  them  as  they  passed  by  their  shops.  This  feeling  was  kept 
up,  and  the  affair  at  length  ended  in  blood,  which  thus  came  about. 

-  On  the  22d  of  February,  "  some  boys  and  children  set  up 
a  large  Wooden  Head,  with  a  board  faced  with  paper,  on 
which  were  painted  the  figures  of  four  of  the  Importers,  who  had 
violated  the  merchants'  Agreement,  in  the  middle  of  the  street,  be- 
fore Theophilus  Lillie's  door."  Soon  after  it  was  set  up,  a  famous 
Informer,  who  lived  but  a  few  doors  off,  came  along,  and  endeavored 
to  persuade  a  countryman  to  drive  his  cart  against  it,  but  that  indi- 
vidual had  no  inclination  to  meddle.  Not  long  after,  the  Informer 
endeavored  to  get  a  man  with  a  charcoal  cart  to  break  down  the 
Image,  but  he  declined  also.  The  Informer  became  vexed  at  his  ill- 
success,  and  the  by-standers  at  the  same  time  became  incensed  at  his 
attempts,  and  he  retreated  towards  his  own  house,  followed  by  numer- 
ous boys  and  others.  As  he  was  retreating,  he  passed  Mr.  Edward 
Proctor,  Mr.  Thomas  Knox,  Captains  Riordon  and  Skillings,  at  whom 
he  cried  Perjury  !  Perjury  !  Upon  this,  angry  and  insulting  lan- 
guage followed  on  both  sides.  Missiles  were  thrown  at  the  Informer 
by  the  boys,  who  at  length  compelled  him  to  shut  himself  up  in  his 
house.  Not  satisfied  with  being  safe  there,  he  most  unwisely  under- 
took to  revenge  himself,  which  he  did  by  firing  a  gun  from  his  win- 
dow, severely  wounding  a  boy,  Samuel  Gore,  son  of  Capt.  John  Gore, 
and  mortally  wounding  another  boy,  Christopher  Snider,  about  eleven 
years  of  age,  who  died  on  the  following  evening.  This  boy  lived 
with  "Madam  Apthorp,"  and  his  father  lived  in  Frog  lane,  from 
whose  house  he  was  buried  on  the  26th  following,  with  great  cere- 
mony ;*  upon  which  Mr.  Hutchinson  remarked,  that  "  a  grand 
funeral  was  very  proper  for  him.  Young  and  old,  some  of 'all 'ranks 
and  orders,  attended  in  a  solemn  procession  from  Liberty  Tree  to  the 
Town  House,  and  then  to  the  Common  Burying-ground."  The  His- 
torian also  injudiciously  remarked  upon  this  funeral,  that  it  was  only 
for  the  son  of  a  poor  German.  To  return  to  the  house  of  Ebenezer 
Richardson,  this  being  the  name  of  the  Informer. 

As  soon  as  the  persons  above  named  were  shot,  some  of  the  people 
"  got  into  the  New  Brick  Meeting-house  and  rang  the  bell,  on  which, 
they  soon  had  company  enough  to  beset  Mr.  Richardson's  house  front 

*  The   corpse  was  set  down   under  Liberty  tion  for   the  life  of  a   Murderer  ;  —  he  shall 

Tree,  whence  the  procession  began.     About  50  surely  be  put  to  death."     Upon  each  side  and 

schoolboys  preceded,  and  there  were  "  at  least  at  the  foot  of  the  coffin  were  Latin  inscrip- 

2000   in  the  procession,  of  all  ranks,  amidst  a  tions,  with  interpretations  well  calculated  to 

crowd  of  spectators."  The  pall  was  supported  excite  sympathy  for  the  deceased,  and  at  the 

by  six  youths,  chosen  by  the  parents  of  the  same  time  indignation  against  him  who  occa- 

deceased.     A  board  was   fixed   upon   Liberty  sioned  his  death.     In  the  Evening  Post  of  26 

Tree,  inscribed,  "  Thou  shalt  take  no  satisfac-  Feb.  is  a  very  minute  account  of  the  affair. 


1770.]  ROi'EWALK    AFFRAY.  777 

and  rear,"  and  broke  into  it.  There  they  found  another  obnoxious 
person,  Mr.  George  Wihnot,  from  whom  they  took  a  gun,  "  heavily 
charged  with  powder,  and  crammed  with  179  goose  and  buck  shot." 
Whereupon  Richardson  and  Wihnot  were  captured  and  taken  before 
Mr.  Justice  Ruddock.  This  gentleman,  not  caring  to  act  alone  in  the 
case,  ordered  them  to  Faneuil  Hall.  There,  with  the  other  Justices, 
Richard  Dana,,  Edmund  Quincy,  and  Samuel  Pemberton,  the  Exam- 
ination was  had,  "  before  at  least  a  thousand  people,"  which  resulted 
in  their  committal  to  prison.  It  was  remarked  at  the  time  that  the 
people  were  so  exasperated,  that,  had  not  some  gentlemen  of  influence 
interposed  their  good  offices,  the  prisoners  would  have  been  torn  to 
pieces  before  they  reached  the  jail. 

On  the  20th  of  April  following,  the  two  culprits  were  tried  for  their 
lives.  Josiah  Quincy  and  Sampson  Salter  Blowers  were  their  Coun- 
sel ;  Samuel  Quincy  and  Robert  Treat  Paine,  of  Taunton  (afterwards 
a  Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence),  conducted  the  cause  on 
the  part  of  the  Crown,  the  Attorney  General  being  absent.  Rich- 
ardson was  brought  in  guilty  of  murder,  but  Wihnot  was  cleared.  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  the  Chief  Justice,  viewed  the  guilt  of  the  former,  as  every- 
body would  now,  a  clear  case  of  justifiable  homicide,  and  consequent- 
ly refused  to  sign  a  warrant  for  his  execution  ;  and,  after  lying  in 
prison  two  years,  Richardson  was,  on  application  to  the  King,  par- 
doned and  set  at  liberty.* 

The  next  event  of  much  importance  was  an  affray  between  the 
soldiers  and  ropemakers.  The  14th  and  29th  regiments,  it  will  be 
remembered,  were  the  regiments  now  remaining  in  the  Town.  The 
former  had  their  principal  barracks  in  Brattle-street,  nearly  opposite 
a  little  alley  (then  called  Boylston's  alley)  now  the  covered  passage 
nearly  in  a  line  with  Washington-street,  and  at  the  foot  of  Cornhill. 
These  were  called  Murray's  barracks,  and  sometimes  Smith's  barracks. 
The  29th  was  quartered  in  Water  and  Atkinson  streets. 

The  merest  spark  has  many  times  caused  the  most  lamentable  con- 
flagrations. So  a  silly  word,  or  a  trifling  action,  has  led  to  the  sacri- 
fice of  many  innocent  lives.  After  the  affair  of  the  Wooden  Figure 
at  Lillie's,  the  officers  of  the  regiments  were  strict  with  their  men, 
and  kept  them  more  promptly  at  their  posts  of  duty ;  but  old  grudges 
could  not  be  removed  by  discipline.  The  29th  regiment  being  sta- 
tioned in  the  vicinity  of  large  ropewalks,  in  which  were  employed 
many  young  men,  ill-feeling  had  sprung  up  between  them  and  the 
soldiers,  which  ripened  into  a  spirit  for  mastery.  The  week  pre- 
vious to  the  fifth  of  March,  two  soldiers  met  with  a  young  man,  prob- 
ably one  of  the  journeyman  ropemakers,  whom  it  is  said  they  insulted, 
and  were  by  him  knocked  down.     This  was  near  the  foot  of  King- 

*  In  this  account  of  the  case  of  Richardson  doubt  insulted  beyond  endurance,  which  caused 
and  Wilmot,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  his  rashness  ;  in  a  moment  of  intense  excite- 
is  almost  entirely  made  up  from  the  facts  de-  ment  he  fired  on  the  Mob.  These  facts  doubt- 
tailed  by  their  enemies.     Richardson  was  no  less  had  their  weight  with  the  Court. 

98 


778  ROPE  WALK    AFFRAYS.  [1770. 

street.  The  soldiers  were  determined  to  be  revenged.  Several  of 
them,  being  armed  with  clubs  or  bludgeons,  and  swords,  proceeded, 
about  eleven  o'clock,  on  Friday,  the  third  of  March,  to  Mr. 
John  Gray's  Ropewalk.  The  leader  of  the  soldiers  told  the 
workmen  at  the  Walk  that  he  had  come  for  satisfaction  for  a  previous 
transaction,  and  was  prepared  to  take  it.  He  of  course  met  with 
new  insults  and  derision  ;  and  no  one  offering  himself  for  "  satisfac- 
tion," the  "gentleman"  soldier  challenged  any  one  to  single  combat. 
Then  one  of  the  ropemakers  went  out,  a  fight  ensued,  the  soldier  was 
worsted,  had  his  sword  taken  from  him,  and  was  glad  to  retreat.  He 
soon  returned,  however,  with  some  eight  or  nine  more,  who  being 
expected  by  the  ropemakers,  these  were  prepared  for  the  emergency, 
and  a  general  fight  followed.  The  soldiers  were  severely  beaten,  and 
returned  to  their  comrades  for  a  reinforcement,  which  obtaining,  to  the 
number,  as  it  was  said,  of  30  or  40,  they  returned  again  to  the  Eope- 
walk.  Being  now  superior  in  numbers  (three  to  one,  as  was  reported), 
an  unequal  but  desperate  encounter  followed  ;  and,  although  none 
were  killed,  two  or  three  of  the  workmen  were  much  wounded,  and 
many  of  the  soldiers  fared  quite  as  hardly.  As  they  were  going  to 
the  fight,  Mr.  John  Hill,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  met  them,  and  en- 
deavored to  divert  them  from  their  purpose  ;  but  he  came  near  being 
knocked  down  with  a  club,  aimed  at  his  head,  and  the  individual  who 
aimed  it  knocked  down  a  laborer  in  the  Justice's  presence,  and  beat 
him  badly  after  he  fell.  In  this  affair  "  a  tall  negro  drummer  "  was 
conspicuous,  and  led  on  a  party  sword  in  hand  ;  but  he  had  reason 
to  regret  his  rashness,  having  his  sword  beat  out  of  his  hand,  and  was 
otherwise  punished  for  his  temerity.* 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  another  large  party  of  the  soldiers 
proceeded  to  renew  the  attack  ;  but  Mr.  Gray,  the  owner  of  the 
Walk  to  which  they  were  going,  met  them,  and  finally  succeeded  in 
dissuading  them  from  their  purpose.  But  the  next  day,  between 
four  and  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  "  three  stout  grenadiers,"  well 
armed,  went  to  Mr.  Archibald  M'Neil's  Ropewalk,  and  finding  three 
young  men  there  at  work,  called  to  them  in  highly  offensive  language. 
In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  James  Bayley  came  up,  and  being  seconded 
by  Mr.  Archibald  M'Neil,  Jr.,  and  a  journeyman  employed  in  Mr. 
Winter  Calef 's  tan-yard,  near  by,  the  three  grenadiers  were  soon  put 
to  flight. 

The  influence  of  these  brutal  affrays  extended  far  and  wide,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  and  consequence  of  the  friends  of  the  parties 
to  them.  That  outrages  were  committed  by  the  soldiers  is  no  doubt 
true,  but  those  outrages  were  exaggerated  ;  and  they,  probably,  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten,  were  the  abused  party.  It  was  their  misfortune 
to  occupy  the  very  uncomfortable  position  which  they  now  did,  and 

*  This  is  very  nearly  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Mr.  John  Gray's  ropewalks  near  Green's  bar- 
Hill's  deposition,  who,  when  the  occurrence  racks."     His  age  at  this  time  was  69.     His 
took  place,  happened  to  be  at  a  house  "  on  the  account  favors  the  ropemakers. 
corner  of  a  way  leading  from  Atkinson-st.  to 


1770.]  FIFTH    OF    MARCH    TUMULTS.  779 

those  who  sent  them  here  deserve  all  the  execration  of  posterity,  and 
not  the  poor  soldiers.* 

In  the  order  of  events,  the  tragedy  of  the  fifth  of  March  is 
next  to  be  detailed.  It  commenced  soon  after  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening  of  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  had  its  immediate  origin 
in  this  manner.  As  four  young  men,  or  "  youths,"  as  they  were 
called,  named  Edward  Archbalcl,  William  Merchant,  Francis  Arch- 
bald  and  John  Leach,  Jr.,  came  down  Cornhill  together,  they  sepa- 
rated at  Dr.  John  Loring's  corner.  The  two  former  went  on  down 
Cornhill,  to  pass  through  Boylston's  alley,  in  which  a  sentinel  was 
posted.  When  they  came  near  him  he  was  "brandishing  a  broad 
sword  of  an  uncommon  size,"  striking  it  against  the  wall,  "  out  of 
which  he  struck  fire  plentifully."  This  he  appears  to  have  been 
doing  by  way  of  recreation.  There  was  "  a  mean-looking  Irish- 
man"  in  company  with  the  sentinel,  who  had  in  his  hand  a  large 
cudgel.  Archbalcl  and  Merchant  attempted  to  pass  the  sentinel 
without  answering  his  challenge  ;  whereupon  a  scuffle  ensued,  in 
which  Archbalcl  was  struck  on  the  arm,  and  Merchant  had  his  clothes 
pierced  under  his  arm-pit  and  his  skin  grazed  ;  and  in  turn  he  struck 
the  soldier  with  a  short  stick  which  he  brought  with  him.  The  Irish- 
man ran  to  the  barracks  to  alarm  the  soldiers,  and  immediately  re- 
turned with  two  of  them.  One  was  armed  with  a  pair  of  tongs,  the 
other  with  a  shovel.  The  man  with  the  tongs  drove  Archbald  back 
through  the  alley,  and  struck  him  over  the  head  with  them.  By  this 
time  the  noise  had  brought  several  people  to  the  place,  and  John 
Hicks,  "a  young  lad,"  knocked  the  soldier  clown.  The  soldiers 
then  retreated  to  the  barracks,  followed  by  their  assailants.  Imme- 
diately after,  about  a  dozen  of  the  soldiers  came  out,  armed,  and  the 
people  dispersed.  About  the  same  time  Samuel  Atwoodf  came  up 
from  Dock  Square,  and  meeting  the  soldiers  hurrying  down  the  alley 
leading  to  the  Square,  asked  them  if  they  intended  to  murder  the 
people?  To  which  some  of  them  replied,  "Yes,  by  God,  root  and 
branch !  ' '  and  almost  at  the  same  instant  one  gave  Atwood  a  blow 
with  a  club  ;  being  unarmed,  he  attempted  to  make  off,  but  before  he 
got  out  of  their  reach  another  struck  him,  and  another  cut  him  on 
the  shoulder,  to  the  bone.  In  the  Square  the  soldiers  inquired, 
"  Where  are  the  Yankee  boogers  ?  Where  are  the  Cowards  ?  "  This 
being  attended  with  much  noise,  many  persons  hurried  into  Dock 
Square,  pressed  upon  the  soldiers,  and  some  blows  were  given  and 
received.     The  officers,  however,  succeeded  in  causing  the  soldiers  to 

*  The  accounts  of  the  Ropewalk  affrays  are  troubles.      Mr.  Gray,  the  owner  of  the  walk 

stated  with  so  much  variation,  that  it  is  ex-  where  the  principal  fights  were,  did  not  under- 

ceedingly  difficult  to  arrive  at  the  truth.    Capt.  stand  it  so,  but  he  was  so  well  convinced  that 

Preston  states  that  the  ropemakers  were  the  his  men  had  been  in  fault,  that  he  discharged 

first  aggressors,  and  that  the  trouble  began  one  of  them,  after  hearing  Cols.  Carr  and  Dal- 

while  two  or  three  soldiers  were  quietly  going  rymple's  accounts. 

through  one  of  the  walks.  But  he  was  probably  f  He  belonged  to  Wellfleet,  and  was  from  a 

mistaken  as  to  the  beginning  or  origin  of  the  vessel  then  lying  in  the  Town  Dock. 


780  MOB    IN    KING-STREET.  [1770. 

return  to  their  barracks  in  Brattle -street,  to  which  they  were  followed 
by  the  Mob  and  besieged  there.  Then  some  among  the  assemblage 
cried  out,  "  Now  for  the  Main  Guard  !"  *  which  had  its  quarters  in 
King-street,  opposite  the  south  door  of  the  State  House.  Upon  this 
the  mass  in  the  Square  moved  for  King-street ;  part  of  them  running 
up  Cornhill,  some  up  Wilson's  lane,  others  up  Royal  Exchange 
lane. 

After  the  soldiers  were  withdrawn  to  their  barracks,  some  well-dis- 
posed persons  among  the  crowd  endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  go  to 
their  homes  ;f  but  little  or  no  attention  was  paid  to  them,  and  many 
were  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  stalls  of  the  Market  place,  probably 
for  the  purpose  of  a  supply  of  such  arms  as  those  materials  afforded. 
It  appears  that  another  party  of  the  inhabitants  from  the  south  end 
were  assembled  at  Oliver's  Dock,  and  that  they  began  to  appear  in 
King-street  about  the  same  time  as  those  from  Dock  Square. 

The  sentinel  at  the  Custom  House  (which  stood  on  the  lower  corner 
of  Royal  Exchange  lane,  fronting  on  King-street)  was  the  object 
aimed  at  by  a  part  of  the  Mob, J  and  a  boy  pointed  him  out  as  one 
who  had  at  some  time  previous  knocked  him  down  ;  whereupon  this 
first  party,  consisting  of  some  twenty  young  men  of  various  ages, 
pressed  upon  the  sentinel,  some  crying  out,  "Kill  him,  knock  him 
clown  !  "  with  other  similar  expressions.  The  poor  sentinel  retreated 
up  the  steps  by  which  the  Custom  House  was  entered,  beset  by  a  shower 
of  missiles,  as  snow-balls,  pieces  of  ice,  and  sticks  of  wood.  While 
thus  attacked  the  man  loaded  his  gun,  which  the  Mob  observing, 
hallooed,  "  Fire  and  be  damned  !  "  He  then  knocked  stoutly  at  the 
door,  hoping  to  escape  into  the  house,  but,  gaining  no  admittance,  he 
called  upon  the  Main  Guard,  whose  station  was  within  hearing. 

The  Main  Guard  on  that  clay  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas 
Preston  of  the  29th  regiment,  whose  Lieutenant  was  James  Bassett. 
As  soon  as  the  sentinel  called  for  protection,  Lieut.  Bassett  detached  a 
Serjeant  with  a  file  of  six  men  for  his  relief,  and  sent  an  express  for 
Capt.  Preston,  who  was  at  Concert  Hall.  The  Captain  immediately 
came,  and,  on  learning  that  men  had  been  sent  to  the  Custom-House, 
sent  six  others  there,  and  said,  "  I  will  go  there  myself  to  see  they  do  no 
mischief;  "  and  actually  overtook  them  on  the  way,  as  their  progress 
was  necessarily  slow,   from  the  great  number  of  people  which  had 

*  Gordon   says,  the  cry  was,  "Damn  the  J  "  We  have  heen  entertained,"  says  John 

dogs,  where  are  they  now?    Let  us  go  and  kill  Adams,  "  with  a  great  variety  of  phrases  to 

that  damn'd  scoundrel  of  a  sentry,  and  then  at-  avoid  calling  this  sort  of  people  a  Mob.    Some 

tack  the  Main  Guard  !  "  call   them  shavers,  some  call  them  geniuses. 

f  "  The  body  of  the  Mob,  when  they  have  The  plain  English  is,  they  were,  most  proba- 

f  nished  their  repeated  attacks  upon  the  bar-  bly,  a  motley  rabble  of  saucy  boys,  Negroes 

racks,  are  addressed  in  the  street   by  a  tall  and  mulattoes,  Irish  teagues   and   outlandish 

large   man   in  a   red  cloak,  and  white  wig.  jack-tars  ;  and  why  we  should  scruple  to  call 

After  listening  to  what  he  has  to  offer  in  the  such  a  set  of  people  a  Mob,  I  can't  conceive, 

space  of  three  or  four  minutes,  they  huzza  for  unless  the  name  is  too  respectable  for  them." — 

the  Main   Guard,  and  say,  '  We  will  do  for  Plea  in  Defence  of  the  Soldiers. 
the  soldiers.'  "  —  Gordon. 


1770.]  SOLDIERS    FIRE    UPON    THE    MOB.  781 

by  this  time  clustered  into  King-street.  At  the  same  time  a  large 
number  came  rushing  down  that  street  from  Cornhill,  in  the  van  of 
which  was  a  Mulatto,  named  Orispus  Attucks,  and  a  number  of  sailors. 
Their  object  was,  doubtless,  the  Main  Guard,  but  when  they  came  to 
the  Town  House,  they  saw  the  gathering  at  the  Custom  House,  and 
immediately  proceeded  thither,  —  some  of  them  exclaiming,  "Damn 
the  rascals,  this  will  never  do  !  The  way  to  get  rid  of  these  soldiers 
is  to  attack  the  Main  Guard.  Strike  at  the  root.  This  is  the 
nest!" 

The  bells  had  been  set  ringing,  which  some  supposed  was  for  fire, 
and,  coming  out  of  their  houses,  were  told  that  the  fire  was  in  King- 
street,  in  order  to  concentrate  the  people  there.  Somebody  told  Capt. 
Preston  that  it  was  a  plan  of  the  people,  to  give  notice  of  an  intended 
massacre  of  the  soldiers,  and  that  a  tar-barrel  was  to  be  fired  on  Bea- 
con Hill  to  bring  in  the  people  from  the  country.  These  rumors, 
whether  true  or  false,  must  have  given  the  officers  great  alarm. 

Meanwhile  the  soldiers  were  so  pressed  upon  and  insulted,  that  the 
only  way  they  could  keep  upon  their  feet  was  by  presenting  charged 
bayonets.  This  they  did,  forming  a  kind  of  half  circle  in  front  of  the 
Custom  House.  Their  pieces  were  not  charged  when  they  left  the 
guard-house,  and  Capt.  Preston  testified  that  he  never  gave  any 
orders  for  them  to  be  charged.  However,  it  soon  appeared  that  they 
were  charged,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  Captain  might  have 
given  orders  to  that  effect,  and,  being  in  much  trepidation,  and  under 
such  excitement  as  not  to  have  been  conscious  of  the  order  after- 
wards. 

The  soldiers  were  unable  to  keep  off  the  crowd,  even  with  fixed 
bayonets,  having  their  guns  knocked  this  way  and  that  with  clubs ; 
and  Capt.  Preston,  at  the  utmost  peril,  stood  for  a  time  between  his 
men  and  the  people,  using  every  endeavor  to  prevent  further  outrage ; 
but  all  to  no  purpose,  while  some  called  out,  "Come  on,  you  bloody 
backs,  you  lobster  scoundrels  !  fire  if  you  dare  !  fire  and  be  damned  ! 
we  know  you  dare  not."*  Immediately  after  a  soldier  received  a 
severe  blow  from  a  club,  upon  which  he  stepped  a  little  on  one  side, 
levelled  his  piece,  and  fired.  Capt.  Preston  remonstrated  with  him  for 
firing,  and  while  he  was  speaking  he  came  near  being  knocked  down 
by  a  blow  from  a  club  aimed  at  his  head.f  The  noise  and  confusion 
was  now  so  great,  some  calling  out,  "Fire,  fire  if  you  dare  !  Damn 
you,  why  don't  you  fire  !  "  with  horrid  oaths  and  imprecations,  that  no 
one  could  tell  whether  Capt.  Preston  or  anybody  else  ordered  the  men 
to  fire ;  but  fire  they  did,  some  seven  or  eight  of  them,  and  the  pieces 
of  two  or  three  more  were  snapped,  but  missed  fire.     The  Mob  seeing 

*  It  was  well  understood  by  the  people,  that  ground,  reproached  Capt.  Preston  for  allowing 

no  soldier  was  allowed  to  fire  his  piece  under  his  men  to   fire.     Preston's   reply  was   used 

any  circumstances,  unless  ordered  to  do  so  by  against  him  at  his  trial, 

the  Civil  Magistrate.     This  may  account  for  f  Richard  Palmer  acknowledged  a  few  days 

the  presumptuous  conduct  of  the  people.  Gov.  after,  that  he  was  the  man  who  struck  the 

Hutchinson,  it   is   said,    on   arriving   on    the  soldier  and  Capt.  Preston. 


782  SEVERAL    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.  [1770 

that  the  soldiers  were  in  earnest,  began  to  leave  the  ground,  fearing 
the  firing  might  be  continued.  The  time  occupied  thus  far  had  not 
exceeded  half  an  hour.  That  is,  from  the  time  the  attack  began  on 
the  sentinel  in  King-street. 

The  result  of  the  firing  was  now  disclosed.  Three  lay  dead  on  the 
ground,  two  others  were  mortally  wounded,  and  several  slightly.* 
On  the  return  of  some  of  the  people  to  take  away  the  dead  and 
wounded,  the  soldiers,  supposing  them  coining  to  renew  the  attack, 
levelled  their  guns  to  fire  upon  them,  but  the  Captain  struck  them  up 
with  his  hands,  and  thus  prevented  further  bloodshed.  A  few  minutes 
after,  a  citizen  came  to  the  Captain,  and  told  him  that  there  were 
about  5000  people  assembled  close  at  hand,  who  were  coming  to 
take  his  life  and  the  lives  of  his  men.  He  therefore  disposed  his 
men  into  street  firings  ;  sef  a  guard  at  the  entrance  of  King-street 
from  Cornhill,  on  the  south  side  of  the  State-house,  and  another  at  the 
east  end  of  it,  in  King-street,  to  protect  the  Main  Gruard.  The  peo- 
ple had  set  up  the  cry,  in  the  mean  time,  —  "To  arms  !  to  arms  ! 
Turn  out  with  your  guns,  every  man  !  "  and  the  drums  were  beating 
to  arms.  This  was  followed  with  the  beating  to  arms  in  the  regi- 
ments. Several  companies  of  the  29th  soon  arrived  at  the  Town- 
house, which  were  formed  into  street-firings  also.  At  the  same  time 
Capt.  Preston  despatched  a  Sergeant  to  Col.  Dalrymple,  the  chief 
officer,  with  an  account  of  what  had  happened.  As  the  officers  were 
repairing  to  their  regiments,  some  were  knocked  down  by  the  Mob 
and  very  much  hurt,  and  some  had  their  swords  taken  from  them. 
The  Lieut.  Governor  and  Col.  Carr  immediately  met  at  the  head  of 

*  The  three  immediately  killed  were  Samuel  lived  about  nine  days  after  he  was  wounded. 

Gray,  Crispus  Attucks,  and  James  Caldwell.  He  was  about  30  years  of  age,  and  worked 

Gray  was  shot  in  the  head,  the  ball  beating  with  a  Mr.  Field,  leather-breeches-maker  in 

off  a  large  portion  of  his  skull.     He  was  one  Queen-st.     He  was  an  Irishman, 

of  the  Bopewalk  men,  and  had  been  in  fights  John  Clark,  aged  about  17,  whose  parents 

with  the  soldiers.    His  brother,  Benjamin  Gray,  lived  in  Medford,  was  an  apprentice  to  Capt. 

lived  in  a  house  "on  the  north   side  of  the  Samuel  Howard,  of  Boston.     His  wound  was 

Exchange,"  into  which  Samuel  was  taken,  and  severe,  and  it  was  supposed  mortal,  but  he  re- 

whence  he  was  buried.     Caldwell  and  Attucks  covered. 

being  strangers,  were  taken  to  Faneuil  Hall.  Mr.  Edward    Payne,    merchant,   was    shot 

The  former  was  "  mate  of  Capt.  Norton's  "  through  the  right  arm,  as  he  was  standing  in 

vessel.     The  latter  was  a  native  of  Framing-  the  front  door  of  his  own  house,  which  stood 

ham,  "  but  lately  belonged  to  New  Providence,  nearly  opposite  the  east  end  of  the  Custom 

and  was  here  in  order  to  go  for  North  Caro-  House    in    King-street.     On  finding   himself 

lina."     He  was  instantly  killed,  two  balls  en-  wounded,  he  coolly  remarked  to  some  persons 

tering  his  breast.     In  one  account  he  is  said  to  who  stood  near  him,  "  Those  soldiers  ought  to 

have  been  a  slave  ;   and  that  he  was  the  most  be  talked  to." 

insulting,  fierce  and  outrageous  of  all  the  John  Green,  a  tailor,  received  a  ball  in  his 
Mob.  thigh,  near  his  hip,  as  he  was  coming  up  Lev- 
Samuel  Maverick  was  mortally  wounded,  erett's  lane.  The  ball  was  extracted, 
and  died  on  the  following  morning.  He  was  Kobert  Patterson,  a  sailor,  was  shot  through 
a  son  of  a  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  Maverick  of  the  arm.  He  was  in  the  crowd  at  Bichard- 
Union-st.,  and  about  17  years  of  age  ;  was  an  son's  in  the  affair  of  the  Wooden  Head,  when  a 
apprentice  to  a  joiner,  a  Mr.  Greenwood.  shot  passed  through  his  clothes. 

Christopher  Monk  was  badly  wounded,  also  David  Parker,  a  lad,  apprentice  to   "Mr. 

about  17  ;  was  an  apprentice  to  a  Mr.  Walker,  Eddy  the  wheelwright,"  received  a  ball  in  his 

a  shipwright.     He  finally  recovered.  thigh.  In  the  Hist,  of  the  Massacre,  p.  11,  it  is 

Patrick  Carr 's  wound  was  mortal,  but  he  said  the  number  killed  and  wounded  was  eleven. 


1770. j  REMOVAL    OF    THE    TROOPS.  783 

the  29th  regiment,  which  was  now  paraded  in  King-street,  and, 
through  the  exertions  of  the  former,  and  the  influence  of  a  number  of 
distinguished  citizens,  the  people  were  persuaded  to  go  to  their  homes, 
and  the  regiment  returned  to  its  barracks.  This  was  about  one  o'clock 
at  night.  About  100  persons,  among  whom  were  some  men  of  dis- 
tinction, volunteered  to  form  a  Citizen's  Guard  for  the  remainder  of 
the  night,  which  they  did,  and  thus  ended  the  ever  memorable  fifth 
of  March,  1770. 

Late  in  the  night  of  the  fifth,  several  Justices  assembled  in 
the  Council  Chamber,  and  warrants  were  issued  for  the  arrest  of 
Capt.  Preston,  and  they  were  soon  after  joined  by  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutch- 
inson, at  the  request  of  Col.  Dalrymple.  It  was  some  time  before  the 
Captain  could  be  found,  but  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
6th  he  surrendered  himself,  and  was  committed  to  jail ;  and,  a  few  hours 
later,  the  soldiers  who  had  fired  on  the  people,  were  committed  also. 

This  did  not  satisfy  the  inhabitants,  large  bodies  of  whom  were  in 
motion  early  in  the  morning,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  a  Town-meeting 
was  held  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and  the  affairs  of  the  previous  night  were 
recounted  by  several  speakers.  The  crowd  was  immense,  and  an 
adjournment  to  the  Old  South  became  necessary.  A  vote  was  passed, 
that,  as  it  was  impossible  for  the  soldiers  and  people  to  live  together 
in  the  Town,  a  committee  should  be  appointed  to  request  their  imme- 
diate removal.  A  committee  of  fifteen  was  accordingly  raised  for  that 
purpose,  and  the  Governor  and  Council,  being  in  session,  were  imme- 
diately waited  upon  by  that  Committee,  and  received  answer,  by  the 
Lieut.  Governor,  that  he  had  no  authority  to  remove  the  soldiers,  nor 
could  it  be  done  except  by  the  orders  of  the  General  at  New  York ;  that 
the  Council  also  desired  their  removal,  and  Col.  Dalrymple  had  con- 
sented to  take  the  responsibility  of  removing  the  29th  regiment  to  the 
Castle,  that  being  the  one  to  which  the  soldiers  belonged  who  had 
fired  on  the  people,  and  had  the  fights  at  the  Ropewalks. 

When  this  was  reported  to  the  Meeting,  the  answer  was  voted  to  be 
unsatisfactory  ;  one  individual  only  dissenting.  Then  a  committee  of 
seven  was  chosen  out  of  the  former  committee,  consisting  of  Samuel 
Adams,  John  Hancock,  William  Molineaux,  William  Phillips,  Joseph 
Warren,  Joshua  Henshaw  and  Samuel  Pemberton.  This  committee 
was  instructed  to  carry  the  vote  of  the  Town  to  the  Governor  and. 
Council,  which  was,  That  their  former  answer  "was  by  no  means 
satisfactory,  and  that  nothing  less  will  satisfy  than  a  total  and  imme- 
diate removal  of  the  troops."  Mr.  Adams  was  Chairman,  and  he  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  such  intrepidity,  consummate  ability  and 
firmness,  as  not  only  to  secure  the  object  then  demanded,  but  also 
the  admiration  of  the  world  through  all  coming  ages.  The  Committee 
were  received,  as  before,  by  the  Li^ut.  Governor,  who  returned  a  simi- 
lar answer,  —  that  he  had  not  the  power  to  comply.  But  Mr.  Adams 
showed,  conclusively,  though  briefly,  that  by  the  Charter  he  had  the 
power.      Mr.    Hutchinson,  not   being   able   to    meet   the    argument 


784  FUNERAL    OF    THE    VICTIMS.  [1770. 

advanced,  consulted  Col.  Dalrymple  in  a  whisper,  and  then  remarked, 
that  one  of  the  regiments  should  be  sent  away.  "At  this  critical 
moment,"  says  Tudor,  "  Mr.  Adams  showed  the  most  noble  presence 
of  mind.  The  officers,  civil  and  military,  were  abashed  before  him. 
They  shrank  from  the  arrogance  they  had  hitherto  maintained,  and 
their  reliance  upon  standing  armies  forsook  them,  while  the  Speaker, 
seeming  not  to  represent,  but  to  personify  the  universal  feeling  and 
opinion,  with  unhesitating  promptness  and  dignified  firmness,  replied, 
'If  the  Lieutenant  Governor  or  Colonel  Dalrymple,  or  both  to- 
gether, HAVE  AUTHORITY  TO  REMOVE  ONE  REGIMENT,  THEY  HAVE  AUTHORITY 

to  remove  two  ;  and  nothing  short  of  the  total  evacuation  of  the 
Town  by  all  the  regular  troops,  will  satisfy  the  public  mind,  and 
preserve  the  peace  of  the  province.'  " 

This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  Col.  Dalrymple  pledged  his  honor 
that  the  troops  should  be  removed,  and  that  immediately  ;  and  they 
were  removed  agreeably  to  promise. 

On  Thursday  following  the  massacre,  as  it  is  called,  took 

place  the  funeral  of  those  who  were  killed,  for  which  great 
preparations  had  been  made.  Most  of  the  shops  were  closed  for  the 
day,  and  the  bells  of  the  Town  were  effectually  tolled,  as  were  those 
of  Charlestown  and  Roxbury.  There  was  an  immense'  assemblage  ; 
more,  it  was  said,  than  had  ever  come  together  on  any  former  occa- 
sion in  the  Town.  The  four  hearses  formed  a  junction  in  King- 
street,  upon  the  spot  where  the  tragedy  took  place  ;  thence  the 
procession  proceeded  through  the  main  street,  six  deep,  followed  by  a 
long  train  of  carriages,  belonging  to  the  principal  people  in  the  Town. 
The  four  bodies  were  deposited  in  one  grave,  "in  the  middle  of  the 
ground."* 
M  The  people  of  the  Town,  by  a  Committee  duly  appointed, 

proceeded  at  once  to  collect  a  full  account  of  the  affair  of  the 
fifth.  Another  was  raised  to  write  to  Thomas  Pownall,  Esq.,  to  give 
the  earliest  possible  notice  in  England  of  what  had  happened,  to  pre- 
vent the  effect  of  any  adverse  statements,  which  they  had  very  good 
reason  to  apprehend  would  reach  that  country  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment.  This  Committee  consisted  of  the  same  seven  gentlemen  who, 
with  Samuel  Adams  at  their  head,  had  effected  the  removal  of  the 
troops  from  the  Town,  and  they  reported  a  letter  the  same  day.  The 
other  Committee  were  James  Bowdoin,  Joseph  Warren  and  Samuel 
M  Pemberton.       They  reported  on  the  19th  following.       Their 

Report  and  accompanying  documents  were  afterwards  printed, 
to  which  they  gave  this  title :  —  "A  Short  Narrative  of  the  Horrid 
Massacre  in  Boston,"  f  &c. 

*  The  following  verses  were  composed  and  Long  as  in  freedom's  cause  Che  wise  contend, 

circulated  on  the  occasion  :  —  Dear  to  y°ur  country  shall  your  fame  extend, 

While  to  the  world  the  lettered  stone  shall  tell 

"  Well-fated  shades  !  let  no  unmanly  tear  How  Caldwell,  Attucks,  Gray  and  Maverick  fell." 

From  Pity's  eye  distain  your  honored  bier  : 

Lost  to  their  view,  surviving  friends  may  mourn,  f  It  consisted  of  about  100   pages    octavo. 

Yet  o'er  thy  pile  shall  flames  celestial  burn  ;  There  was  a  reprint  of  it  in  N.  York  in  1840. 


APPENDIX. 


NO  I. 

THE     BOOK     OF     POSSESSIONS 

OF   THE   INHABITANTS   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BOSTON. 

A  Manuscript  volume,  bearing  the  above  title,  is  in  the  City  Clerk's  office,  and  was  compiled, 
probably,  in  pursuance  of  an  Order  of  the  General  Court  of  April  1st,  1634.  In  an  original 
MS.  memorandum,  made  by  Isaac  Addington,  that  gentleman  says,  "  When  I  was  appointed 
Clerk  of  the  County  Court  in  1672,  I  found  such  a  book  in  that  office,  entitled  on  the 
cover,  '  Possessions  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston.'  "  Mr.  Addington  adds  that  while  he 
was  in  office  persons  often  came  to  consult  the  work,  but  he  did  not  see  its  "  validity." 

As  to  the  validity  of  the  Book  of  Possessions,  I  will  suggest  that,  for  about  twenty  years 
after  Boston  was  settled,  there  had  been  some  litigation  and  much  confusion  about  estates, 
owing  to  a  want  of  system  in  transfers  and  a  regularity  in  recording  them  ;  such  matters  not 
then  having  been  systematized.  There  was  not  at  that  time  any  book  or  books,  for  regularly 
recording  transfers  of  real  estate,  of  which  I  am  aware.  The  first  book  or  volume  in  our 
office  appears  to  have  been  commenced  about  1653,  and  the  second,  Mr.  Edward  Eawson 
says,  in  his  own  hand,  was  begun  April  7th,  1654.  Hence,  in  the  absence  of  a  County  Reg- 
istry, the  Book  of  Possessions  was  caused  to  be  compiled,  which  stood  as  a  basis  of  all  after 
transfers,  and  has  been  regarded  as  a  sort  of  Dooms  Day  Book.  My  friend,  N.  I.  Bowditch, 
Esq.,  concurs  with  me  in  my  estimate  of  the  work. 

The  persons  whose  possessions  are  described  were  not  all  of  them  original  settlers  on  the 
peninsula.  There  had  been  a  constant  change  of  occupants  for  the  twenty  years  before 
named,  and  it  is  not  easy  at  this  day  to  designate  the  original  possessors  in  the  majority  of 
cases.  Many  had  died,  and  many  had  gone  to  other  parts,  and  their  places  were  filled  by 
others. 

In  laying  a  copy  of  the  Book  of  Possessions  before  my  readers  it  is  necessary  to  observe 
that  the  original  is  preserved  entire,  so  far  as  its  facts,  dates,  names,  etc.,  are  concerned.  I 
have  omitted  all  tautologies,  all  words  not  necessary  for  a  clear  understanding  of  the  matter, 
and  abridged  or  abbreviated  words  and  names  which  occur  very  frequently.  The  abbrevia- 
tions will  be  generally  understood  at  sight,  and  do  not  require  a  particular  explanation. 

Unless  otherwise  mentioned,  the  persons  and  property  are  to  be  considered  as  belonging  to 
Boston  proper. 

The  names  of  persons  and  places  are  spelled  as  in  the  original. 

It  may  facilitate  the  perusal  of  the  work  to  note  the  following  abbreviations  :  bnd.,  bound 
or  bounded  ;  pel.,  parcel ;  ab.,  about,  more  or  less  ;  a.,  acre  or  acres  ;  E'ly.,  Easterly  ;  E'd., 
Eastward,  and  so  of  the  other  points  of  the  compass;  gr.,  granted. 


Winthrop,  Mr.  Deane.  —Farm  at  Pullen  Pt.,  ab.  120  a.,  Mr.  PierceN,  the  Bay  and  Fisher's 
Cove  W.  Pullen  Pt.  S,  the  Sea  E.  —  26  (10)  1649.  Bridget  and  William  Pierce  gr.  Mr. 
Deane  W.  their  farm  at  P.  Pt.  (join.  sd.  D.  W.)  ab.  100  a. ;  by  deed  14  (11)  1647.  Wits. 
Wm.  Aspinwall,  Jno.  Evered. 

Bellingham,  Richard,  Esq. — 1.  House  and  lot,  ab.  |  a.,  the  St.  E,  Christ.  Stanley,  Jno. 
Biggs,  James  Browne,  and  Alexr.  Becke,  S,  Josha.  Scotto  W,  Mr.  Wm.  Tynge  N.  —  2. 
Gard.  plot,  Mr.  Jno.  Cotton  and  Danl.  Maude  N,  the  Highw.  E,  Jno.  Coggan  S.  —  3. 
Marsh,  Jno.  Hills  and  the  Highw.  W,  the  Common  Marsh  N,  Jno.  Lowe  E,  Hen.  Sy- 
monds,  Jno.  Hills  and  the  Cove  S. 

99 


786  APPENDIX. 

Fowle,  Thomas.  —  House  and  gard.,  Walt.  Sinet  S,  Thos.  ButolphE,  the  High-st.  W,  Jacob 
Leger  N. 

Hibbins,  Mr.  "William.  —  1,  House,  gard.  and  'stable,  Mr.  Jno.  Winthrop  W,  Richd.  Sher- 
man and  pt.  of  Fort-st.  S,  the  Spring-gate  N,  Jno.  Spoore  E.  —  2.  At  Mud.  r,  6  score  a. 
Mr.  Tho.  Oliver  N,  Edwd.  Bendall,Tho.  Snowe  and  Wm.  Tahnidge  W,  Boston  Common  S, 
Roxbury  bounds  SE.  —  3.  Also  25  a.  marsh  at  Mud.  r.,  bnd.  by  Charles  r.  and  a  creek  in 
form  of  an  isthmus.  —  4.  Also  house  and  farm  ab.  350.  a.  at  Mud.  r.,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  S, 
Cambridge  bounds  NW,  Dedham  bounds  SW. 

Gibones,  Maj.  Edward.  —  1.  Dwell,  h.,  other  housing  and  garden,  the  St.  on  the  W  and 
N,  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson  E  and  S.  —  2.  House  and  lot,  Jno.  Smith  E,  Robt.  Nash  W,  the  St. 
S,  the  Cove  or  Mill-pond  N.  John  Milom,  Cooper,  gr.  E.  G.,  merch.,  \  of  the  Water 
Mill  or  Mills  and  appurtenances  by  deed  12  (8) ,  1649.  Wits.,  Jno.  Davis,  Jno.  Mills.  Ackn. 
bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  15  (8)  1649. 

Haugh,  Mr.  Atherton.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  E  and  N,  Arthur  Perry  W,  Fran- 
cis Lyle  S.  — 2.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Hibbins  E,  the  Common  W,  Richd.  Sherman  N, 
the  St.  S. 

Cotton,  Mr.  John.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  £  a.,  with  an  a.  adjoining,  Sudbury-street  E, 
Edwd.  Bendall  N,  Centry  Hill  W,  Mr.  Bellingham  and  Daniel  Maude  S. 

Tyng,  Mr.  William.  —  1.  House,  close,  garden,  great  yard  and  little  yard  before  the  hall 
window,  Mr.  Richd.  Bellingham  and  the  St.  that  goes  to  the  Dock  S,  Benj.  Thwing  and 
Wm.  Wilson  W,  Geo.  Burden,  Fra.  Dowse,  Jer.  Houtchin,  Sarah  Knight  and  Saml. 
GreamesN,  John  Glover,  Wm.  Hudson,  Jr.,  Geo.  Burden,  and  Hugh  Gunnison  and  the  St. 
E.  —  2.  In  the  Mill-field  marsh,  18  yards  and  4  rods  wide  from  the  ditch,  and  so  all  the  depth 
of  the  Marsh.  David  Phippeni  on  the  ditch  NE,  the  highway  SE,  the  marsh  granted  to  the 
Milne  SW,  Thomas  Marshall  and  John  Oliver,  NW. 

Keatne,  Capt.  Robert.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Market-st.  N,  the  High-st.  W,  Richd. 
Fairebanks  S,  Mr.  Hudson  E.  —  2.  Garden,  John  Spoore  E,  Wm.  Pell  N,  and  Robt.  Rice  N. 

Wilson,  Mr.  John.  —  House  and  barn,  two  gardens  and  a  yard,  Water-st.  S,  Anth.  Stod- 
dard and  Wm.  Francklin  E,  the  Cove-st.  and  Maj.  Edwd.  Gibons  N,  Maj.  Gibons,  Wm. 
Courser  and  John  Coggan  W. 

Dunster,  Mr.  [Henry.]  —  House  and  yard,  Thomas  Hawkins  W  and  N,  and  the  St.  E 
and  S. 

Newgate,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  f  a.,  Henry  Fane  N,  the  New-field  W  and  S, 
Anne  Hunne  vidi  Geo.  Hunne,  Ed. 

Maitd,  Daniell, — House  and  garden,  Mr.  Bellingham  Sand  W,  Mr.  Cotton  N,  and  the 
St.  E. 

Oliver,  Mr.  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Richd.  Fairebanks  and  Capt.  Robt.  Keayne 
N,  Wm.  Courser  and  the  Lane  E,  the  Spring  gate  S,  the  St.  W.  —  2.  Also  \h,  a.  in  the 
New-field,  Richd.  Fairebanks  S,  Marsh  W,  Richd.  Carter,  S.  —  3.  Garden  plot,  Robt.  Scott 
E  and  W,  James  Pen  and  John  Kenrick  N. 

Howen,  Robert.  —  House  and  garden  ab.  |  a.,  Sudbury-st.  NE,  Robt.  Meeres  SE,  Anne 
Hunne,  vid.  Geo.  Hunne  NW,  Val.  Hill  SW. 

Leverit,  Mr.  Thomas.  —  House  and  garden,  Mr.  John  Winthrop  E,  St.  and  Robt.  Scott  N, 
marsh  of  Mr.  Winthrop  S,  the  Old  Meetingh.,  Robt.  Scott,  Mr.  Henry  Weebb  and  Thos. 
Parsons  W.  David  Selleck  gr.  to  Mr.  Thos.  L.  ab.  1  a.,  Richd.  Parker  and  Edwd.  Hutchin- 
son W,  Mr.  Stoughton  S,  Thos.  L.  W,  in  the  New-field,  deed  20  (12)  1645  ;  ackn.  bef. 
Mr.  Winthrop,  Dep.  Gov.,  30  (1)  1646.  — 7  (12)  1650.  John  Milom  gr.  Capt.  John  Lev- 
eret betn.  45  and  50  feet  in  length,  near  the  Mill  and  by  the  Mill-creek  NE,  and  Thos. 
Marshall  towards  the  S,  with  liberty  of  ingress  and  egress  to  the  Mill-creek,  with  vessels 
not  prejudicing  the  Mill-stream,  deed  27  (6)  1648. 

Jackson,  Edmund.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Lane  S,  John  Leverit  E,  John  Mellowes  N, 
Sudbury-st.  W.  — 2.  Ab.  3  a.  in  the  New  field,  Valentine  Hill  S,  Robt.  Meeres  W,  Geo. 
Burden  N,  David  Sellick  E.  — 17  (5)  1645.  John  Davies  gr.  to  Edm'd.  J.  10  ft.  wide  40  ft. 
long,  which  was  again  sold  to  Hez.  Usher,  1  (12)  1646.  —  5  (8)  1646,  sd.  J.  Davies  gr.  to 


APPENDIX.  787 

sd.  E.  J.  his  dwell,  li.  and  yard,  Mr.  Wilson  N,  Edm'd  J.  E,  Market  Place  S,  John  Coggan 
W,  deed  5  (8)  L64[6]  ;  ackn.  hof.  John  Winthrop,  Gov.,  G  (8)  1G4G,  which  is  also  sold  to 
Hozekiah  Usher,  1  (12)  1G46. 

Copp,  William.  —  House  and  lot  of  £  an  a.  in  the  Mill-field,  Thos.  Butolph  SE,  John  Button 
NE,  Marsh  SW,  River  NW. 

Mellowes,  Joun.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Edmund  Jackson  S,  John  Leveret  E,  John  Cole 
N,  St.  W.  —  2.  At  Braintree  132  a.,  James  Browne  N,  John  Davies  S,  John  Webb  and  the 
Rocky  Common  W,  the  mouth  of  Monotaquit  river  and  the  Bay  E.  —  3.  Eight  a.,  John 
Webb,  Capt.  James  Browne  and  Wm.  Wendell  N,  Monotaquit  river  SW. —  4.  Marsh  4£  a., 
Jas.  Browne  N,  Zac.  Bosworth  W,  and  Monotaquit  river  SE. 

Goodwin,  Edward.  —  House  and  lot,  ab.  £  a.,  John  Swecte  SE,  Thomas  Buttolph  NW, 
and  SW,  the  Bay  NE.  House  and  garden  bought  of  Sampson  Shore ;  sd.  Sampson 
S.  SE  and  NW,  Matthew  Chaffie  NE,  Christopher  Gibson  SW,  with  privilege  of  well  and 
landing  on  sd.  Shore's  wharf;  deed  5  (11)  1G48,  before  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  Pub.  —  Samp- 
son Shore  gr.  Edwd.  Goodwin  his  garden,  Thos.  Faulconer  SW,  the  Cove  SE,  Mr.  John 
Clerk  and  Math.  Chaffie  NE,  the  St.  NW  ;  deed  22  (10)  1G49.  —  1,  (2)  1649.  Sampson 
Shore  gr.  Edw.  Goodwin,  house  and  garden,  bnd.  SE  and  NW  with  his  land,  Math.  Chaffie 
NE,  Chr.  Gibson  SW,  with  privilege  of  well  and  landing ;  deed  5  (11)  1648,  in  presence 
of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub.     This  is  again  sold  to  Nathaniel  Adams. 

Fish,  Gabriel.  —  House  and  yard,  John  Davies  S  and  W,  Valentine  Hill  N,  the  St.  E. 

Sweete,  John.  — House  and  lot,  ab.  1£  a.,  Edwd.  Goodwin  NW,  Isaac  Grosse  SE,  Christopher 
Stanly  SW,  the  Bay  NE.  This  is  sold  to  Wm.  Wicks.  —  17  (1)  1648.  Mark  Hawes  gr. 
J.  S.  the  shop  formerly  John  Milom's,  and  ground  to'rds  the  sea  14  8-12  feet  wide,  and  in 
length  as  far  as  sd.  Milom  had  any  right ;  also  that  ground  on  the  back  side  16£  feet  wide, 
and  in  length  26  feet,  per  assignment  dated  7  (9)  1647.  Ackn.  before  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not. 
Pub.     This  is  assigned  to  John  Farnham. 

Pease,  Henry.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Lane  E,  the  St.  S,  John  Leveret  W,  the  Cove  N.  — 
2.  Farm  at  Braintree,  the  Common  N  and  W,  James  Everill  S  and  E.  —  3.  One  and  §  a. 
marsh  at  the  Mount,  compassed  E,  W  and  S  by  Jas.  Everill 's  marsh,  a  salt  bay  N. 

Seaberry,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  £  a.,  Isaac  Grosse  NW,  Walter  Merry  SE  and  SW, 

the  sea  or  bay  NE. 

Smith,  John. —  House  and  garden,  the  St.  S,  John  Davies  E,  Maj .  Edwd.  Gibones  W,  the  Cove  N. 

Merry,  Walter.  —  House  and  lot,  ab.  an  a.,  John  Seaberry  and  Isaac  Grosse  NW,  John 
Sweet  SW  and  SE. 

Dayies,  John.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  James  Johnson  N,  Gabriel  Fish  and  Val.  Hill  E,  John 
Smith  W,  the  St.  S.  —  2.  At  Braintree  36  a.,  John  Mellowes  N,  Zacheus  Bosworth  S,  John 
Webb  W,  Monotaquid  r.  E.  —  3.  One  a.  of  marsh,  Zaccheus  Bosworth  N  and  W,  Monotaquid 
r.  S.  —  Mr.  John  Wilson  sold  to  John  Davies  45  ft.  front  to  the  St.,  and  40  ft.  deep,  sd.  Wil- 
son's garden  N  and  E,  the  Market  Stead  S,  John  Coggan  W,  deeds  5  (2)  1644  and  29  (2)  1645. 
Ackn.  before  John  Winthrop,  Gov'r.,  23  (8)  1646.  In  which  writing  John  Davies  is  bound 
to  make  and  maintain  the  fence  between  Mr.  Wilson  and  him,  and  not  to  annoy  him  with  any 
stincks  or  jackes.     This  was  sold  to  Edmd.  Jackson  afterwards. 

Beamsley,  William.  —  1.  House  and  House  lot,  ab.  £  a.,  Anne  Tuttle  S  and  SW,  the  Bay  E, 
Isaac  Grosse  N  and  NW.  — 2.  At  Muddy  river  16  a.,  bnd.  with  John  Biggs  E,  Thos.  Grubb 
W,  Cedar  Swamp  S,  Marsh  and  River  N. —  Wm.  Phillips  gr.  to  Wm.  B.  land  in  the  Mill 
field,  238  ft.  long  (towards  the  SW)  80  ft.  wide,  and  NW  60  ft.,  Mrs.  Mary  Hawkins  SE, 
Richd.  Bennet  SW,  my  own  land  NW  and  NE  ;  deed  6  (5)  1650. 

Johnson,  James.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Hawkins  NE,  the  St.  SE  and  SW,  Cove  NW. 

—  2.  Garden  near  the  Common,  John  Leveret  N,  Geo.  Burden  S,  Anthony  Harker  E,  and 
the  Common  W.  —  3.  An  a.  in  the  New-field,  John  Biggs  N,  Francis  Loyall  W,  Zacheus 
Bosworth  S,  Thos.  Clarke  E.  — 4.  Also  |  a.  of  marsh  and  upland,  the  Cove  N  and  E,  John 
Smith  W,  John  Davies  S. 

Tuttle,  Anne.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Wm.  Beamsley  N,  Nehemiah  Bourne  S,  the  Bay  E. 

—  2.  Farm  at  Rumney  Marsh,  John  Coggan  N,  Saml.  Cole  S,  the  Sea  E,  highway  W.  — 
House  and  garden,  Wm.  Teft  E,  Thomas  Foster  S,  Geo.  Griggs  W,  the  Mill-st.  N, 


788  APPENDIX. 

Cheevers,  Bartholomew.  —  House  and  garden,  the  St.  SE,  the  Cove  N¥,  Robt.  Hull  NE. 

Bourne,  Nehemiah.  — House  and  garden,  Anne  Tuttle  N,  Capt.  Hawkins  S,  the  Bay  EandN. 

Arnold,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Munt  E,  the  St.  S,  highw.  N,  John  Jackson  W. 

Hawkins,  Capt.  Thomas.  —  House  and  garden,  Capt.  Bourne  N,  the  Bay  E,  Edward  Bendall 
S.  —  Edwd.  Bendall  gr.  Capt.  H.  land  beginning  40  ft.  to  the  N'd  of  that  lot  which  was  Mr. 
Robt.  Thompson's,  and  so  to  Maj.  Neh.  Bourne's  lot,  running  with  a  straight  line  accord- 
ing as  Maj.  Bourne's  pales  run  from  the  seaside  (towards  the  E)  to  the  rails  of  Christ.  Stan- 
ley Wd,  the  S'ly  side  running  near  parallel  to  this ;  deed  30  (11)  1645.  Executed  in  pres. 
of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub. 

Jackson,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  John  Arnold  E,  the  St.  S,  Highw.  N,  Robert  Hull  W. 

Savadge,  Ens.  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Bay  E,  Edwd.  Bendall  N,  the  Lane  S,  Chr. 
Stanley  W.  —  2.  Earm  at  Braintree,  in  two  parts ;  one  38£  a.  rocky  ground  Wd,  Jas.  Everill 
N,  Ricd.  Cooke  S,  a  salt  Bay  E  ;  the  other,  26  a.  rocky  ground  E'd,  Wm.  Werdall  and  Geo. 
Hunne  Wd,  Jas.  Everill  N,  Richd.  Cooke  S.  —  3.  Also  1|  a.  of  marsh,  Oliver  Mellowes  E 
and  N,  Rich.  Cooke  W,  Monotaquit  river  S. 

Oliver,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  £  a.,  Val.  Hill  NE  and  SE,  Jno.  Pierce  and  Jno. 
Knight  SW,  the  St.  NW. 

Grosse,  Edmund.  — House  and  lot,  the  Lane  N,  Saml.  Cole  S,  Isaac  Cullimer  W,  the  Bay  E. — 
This  was  sold  to  John  Anderson. 

Werdall,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  John  Milom  SW,  John  Hill  NE,  the  St.  NW, 
highway  SW.  —  2.  At  Braintree  20  a.,  John  Mellowes  S,  Geo.  Hunne  N,  a  rocky  bottom 
and  Monotaquit  river  W,  Jas.  Browne,  Richd.  Cooke  and  Tho.  Savage  E. 

Cole,  Samuel.  — House  and  garden,  Edmd.  Grosse  N,  the  Bay  E,  Isaac  Cullimer  SW. 

Hill,  John.  —  1.  House,  Henry  Symons  E,  Mr.  Bellingham  N,  the  St.  W,  Cove  S.  —  2.  Small . 
lot,  i  a,  Sampson  Shore  NE,  John  Milom  SW,  the  St.  NW,  the  Cove  SE. 

Clarke,  Mr.  Thomas.  —  Warehouse  and  house  lot,  the  Cove  and  Thos.  Joy  S,  Isaac  Cullimer 
W,  Tho.  Joy  NW,  Isaac  Cullimer  NE. 

Marshall,  Thomas.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  £  a.,  the  marsh  SE,  the  St.  SW  and  NW, 
John  Pierce  or  John  Knight  NE.  —  John  Milom  gr.  Tho.  M.  land  near  the  Water-mill, 
Mill-creek  NE,  Tho.  Marshall  SW,  the  highw.  NW,  John  Milom  SE  ;  being  76  ft.  on  that 
side  next  Tho.  Marshall,  and  74  at  the  Creek,  30  on  the  SE  side,  and  44  on  the  NWside  ;  with 
liberty  of  egress  and  regress  in  sd.  Creek  with  boats,  lighters  and  other  vessels.  That  Tho. 
M.  shall  not  build  any  nearer  the  Creek  than  the  now  dwelling-house  of  the  sd.  Milom,  and 
that  he  shall  not  hinder  the  mills  going  by  any  vessel  in  the  Creek ;  dated  2  (3)  1648.  Ackn. 
bef.  Mr.  Richd.  Bellingham,  8  (6)  1848. 

Jot,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  lot,  ab.  &  a.,  and  another  house  adjoining  Mr.  Thos.  Clarke  N  W, 
NE,  and  SE,  the  Cove  SW.  —  2.  One  a.  between  Isaac  Cullimer  NE,  Richd.  Rawlins  SW, 
Christopher  Stanley  NW,  Mr.  Clarke  SE. 

Lowe,  John.  — House  and  garden,  the  marsh  N  and  E,  the  Cove  S,  Mr.  Bellingham  W. 

Rawlins,  Richard.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  1|  a.,  Isaac  Cullimer  SW,  Thos.  Joy  NE,  Mr. 
Clarke  SE,  Christ.  Stanley  NW. 

Symons,  Henry.  —  House  and  lot,  Mr.  Bellingham  NE,  John  Hill  W,  the  Cove  S. 

Cullimer,  Isaac.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  |  a.,  Richd.  Rawlins  NE,  Chris.  Stanley  NW,  Era. 
Hudson  and  Barthol.  Pasmer  SW,  the  Cove  SE.  —  2.  Another  house  and  lot,  ab.  1|  a. ,  Christ. 
Stanley,  Saml.  Cole,  and  the  way  NE,  the  Bay  SE,  Mr.  Clarke  and  Richd.  Rawlins  SW. 
Chr.  Stanly  NW.  — 12  (7)  1650.  Bartholomew  Palmer  sold  John  Sweete  land  below  the 
higw.  next  the  water  side  ;  deed  1  (10). 

Milom,  John.— House  and  garden,  John  Hill  NE,  Val.  Hill  SW,  Wm.  Werdall  NW,  the 
Cove  SE. 


APPENDIX.  789 

Pasmer,  Bartholomew.  —  House  and  garden,  ah.  j  a.,  Isaac  Cullimer  NE,  John  Gallop  SW, 
Cove  SE,  Fra.  Hudson  NW. 

Piiippkni,  David.  —  House  and  lot,  Valent.  Hill  NE,  Goto  SE,  Mr.  Wm.  Tynge  SW,  John 
Oliver  NW.  —  15  (12)  1050.  John  Milom  gr.  to  David  P.  land  in  length  L02  It.,  in  breadth 
at  the  highway  9J  ft.,  Barthol.  Barlow  SW,  David  Phippeni  NE,  highway  SE;  deed  7  (12) 
1649,  executed  in  pres.  of  John  Gore. 

Hudson,  Francis.  — House  and  garden,  ah.  £  a.,  Isaac  Gullamer  NE,  Barthol.  Pasmer  SE,  Jno. 
Gallop  SW,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  NW. 

Cole,  John. — House  and  garden,  John  Mellowes  S,  Nathl.  Chappell  N,  John  Leveritt  E,  the 
Lane  W. 

Chaffie,  Matthew.  —  House  and  lot,  John  Gallop  NE,  Samp.  Shoare  SW,  Tho.  Mekins  NW, 
the  Cove  SE. — Mr.  John  Clarke,  late  of  Newbury,  now  of  Boston,  gr.  Mat.  Chaffie,  ship- 
wright, a  farm  ab.  400  a.,  between  Merrimack  and  Newbury  rivers,  in  Newbury,  Co.  Essex, 
with  the  houses,  buildings,  &c.  ;  deed  29  (7)  1649.  Executed  in  pres.  of  Robert  Saltonsall, 
John  Davies.     Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub. 

Chappell,  Nathaniel.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  ^a.,  John  Cole  S,  John  Leveret  E,  the  Cove  N, 
the  Lane  W. 

Gallop,  John.  — House  and  garden,  Mat.  Chaffie  SW,  Fra.  Hudson  NE,  the  Cove  SE,  and 
the  Way  NW. 

Hawkins,  James.  — House  and  garden,  Wm.  Kirkby  S,  Richd.  Sanford  W'ly.  — John  Milom 
had  gr.  him  26  (12)  1646,  which  he  gr.  Jas.  Hawkins,  marsh  lot  NE,  by  a  small  parcel  of 
marsh  reserved  for  a  wharf,  the  highway  SE,  Mr.  Bellingham  SW,  a  small  parcel  of  marsh 
reserved  for  a  wharf,  NW,  being  on  the  NE  50  ft.,  on  the  SE  60  ft.,  on  the  SW  120  ft.,  on 
the  NW  115  ft.,  with  liberty  for  sd.  James,  his  heirs,  &c,  to  bring  any  vessels  into  sd.  creek, 
or  the  branches  thereof,  and  to  land  goods  on  sd.  marsh  or  wharf,  &c,  per  deed  28  (12) 
1648,  executed  in  pres.  of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub. 

Shoare,  Sampson.  —  House  and  garden,  Mat.  Chaffie  NE,  Cove  SE,  John  Hill  SW,  Street  NW. 
—  Richd.  Hawghton  gr.  Sampson  Shoare,  tailor,  his  dwellh.  and  gard.,  Mr.  Thos.  Clarke  N, 
John  Anderson  S  and  E,  Highw.  W.  Deed 27  Oct.  1651,  in  pres.  of  W.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub. 

Kirkby,  William House  and  garden,  James  Hawkins  N,  the  Lane  SE,  Richard  Sanford 

W'ly. 

Sanford,  Richard. — House  and  lot,  ab.  one  acre,  Robert  Meeres  W,  Richard  Parker  N, 
James  Hawkins  and  Wm.  Kirkby  Ely,  Street  W. 

Meeres,  Robert.  — 1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  NE,  Edwd.  Bendall  SE,  Robt.  Howen  NW, 
Val.  Hill  SW;  deed  22  (7)  1648.— 2.  In  the  New-field,  2  a.,  Edwd.  Jackson  E,  Robert 
Turner  W,  Richd.  Cooke  S,  Geo.  Burden  N.  — 3.  In  the  New-field  h  a.,  Tho.  Scotto  S'd, 
James  Hawkins  E'd,  Mr.  Richd.  Parker  N'd,  Richd.  Meeres  W'd.  Granted  and  confirmed 
to  Robt.  Meeres  by  James  Penniman,  as  was  also  the  first  parcel ;  deed  22  (7)  1648.  Sealed, 
&c.  bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Fanes,  Henry.  —  House  and  garden,  Sudbury  St.  E'ly,  the  Lane  N,  the  New-field  W,  Mr. 
John  Newgate  S. 

Houtchin,  Jeremy.  —  House  and  garden,  ab.  \  a.,  Sudbury  St.  SW,  Wm.  Wilson  SE,  the 
Lane  NW,  Thomas  Makepeace  and  Wm.  Wilson  NE, 

Makepeace,  Thomas.  —  House  and  garden,  Jeremy  Houtchin  SW,  Wm.  Wilson  S,  the  St.  W'ly, 
the  Lane  N'ly. 

Thwing,  Benjamin.  —  House  and  garden,  Sudbury  St.  SW,  Wm.  Wilson  NW  and  NE,  Joshua 
Scotto  SE. 

Wilson,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  E,  Thomas  Makepeace  and  Geo. 
Bates  N,  Sudbury  St.  SW,  Benj.  Thwing  S.  — 2.  In  the  New-field  2£  a.,  Richd.  Parker  E, 
John  Ruggle  W,  Zac.  Bosworth  S,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  N. 

Scotto,  Joshua.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  abt.  £  a.,  Sudbury  St,  SW,  Benj.  Thwing  NW,  Mr. 


790  APPENDIX. 

Bellingham  NB,  Alex'r.  Beck  SE.  —  2.  In  the  New-field  2  a.  —  7  (3)  1646.  Mr.  Kich'd 
Bellingham  gr.  Joshua  S.  £  the  marsh  formerly  gr.  him  by  the  Town,  between  John  Lowe'fc 
and  Mr.  Symonds ;  deed  4  (4)  1644.  — 30  (3)  1650.  Jas.  Everill,  for  £24,  gr.  Joshua  S. 
marsh  lately  Mr.  Bellingham's,  in  form  of  a  triangle,  bnd.  on  one  angle  by  pt.  the  marsh  of 
the  sd.  Everill,  being  140  ft.,  on  the  other  angle  by  land  of  ¥m.  Francklin,  being  147  ft.  ; 
on  the  3d  angle  by  the  back  part  of  the  house-lot  of  Good.  Evans,  with  6i^.  ft.  at  the  lot 
of  Joshua  S.,  at  the  E  end  ;  deed  3  (3)  1650,  ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Bellingham. 

Beck,  Alexander.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  S,  Jas.  Browne  E,  Mr.  Bellingham  N, 
Josh.  Scotto  W.  — 2.  In  the  New-field  1  a.,  Tho.  Munt  E,  the  water  N,  Maj.  Edwd.  Gib- 
ons  W  and  S.  — 3.  A  small  pel.  first  gr.  for  a  house-lot,  John  Leverit  S,  Henry  Pease  E, 
a  small  creek  W,  Cove  N.  Tho.  Woodward  gr.  Alex'r.  B.  at  Muddy  r.  ab.  4.J  a.,  Richd.  Car- 
ter SE,  Wm.  Lamb  SW,  Nathl.  Woodward  and  Robt.  Root  NW  ;  deed  11  Nov.  1651.  In 
pres.  of  John  Angier  and  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Biggs,  John.  —  House  and  yard,  James  Browne  W,  Mr.  Bellingham  N,  Tho.  Hawkins  E,  Yal. 
Hill,  Tho.  Buttolph,  Chr.  Stanley  and  Centry  Hill-st.  S. 

Browne,  James.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  John  Biggs  E,  Mr.  Bellingham  N,  Alex'r.  Beck  W, 
Centry  Hill-st.  S.  —  2.  In  the  New-field  £  a.,  the  Common  S,  Mr.  Wilson's  garden  NE, 
Andw.  Messinger  NW.  —  3.  In  the  New-field  £  a.  more,  Richd.  Fairebanks  N,  Isaac  Alling- 
ton  E,  Alex'r.  Beck  W,  Thos.  Clark  S.  — 4.  At  Braintree  26  a.,  Richd.  Cooke  N'd,  John 
Mellowes  S'd,  Bay  E'd,  common  rocky  ground  W'd.  —  5.  Also  8  a.  John  Webb  W'd,  John 
MelloAves  S'd,  Wm.  Wardall  W'd,  Richd.  Cooke  N'd.  —  6.  Also  1  a.  marsh,  Monotaquit  r. 
E,  Zac.  Bosworth  W. 

Hawkins,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  yard,  Val.  Hill  N,  the  St.  E,  John  Biggs  W,  Mr.  Henry 
Dunster  and  Centry  Hill-st.  S.  —  2.  A  £  a.  towards  Charlestown,  Jas.  Johnson  SW,  Cove 
NW,  John  Button  NE,  St.  SE.— 2  (7)  1648.  John  Pierce  gr.  Tho.  H.  his  house-lot  wh. 
he  lately  purchd.  of  Mr.  Val.  Hill ;  deed  12  (7)  1648. 

Buttolph,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Val.  Hill  S,  the  St.  E,  John  Biggs  W,  Chr.  Stan- 
ley N.  —  2.  Abt.  1^  a.,  (first  laid  out  for  gardens)  ;  Highw.  S,  a  lot  wh.  lies  common  E'd, 
Jacob  Leaguer,  Walter  Sinet  and  the  Lane  N'd,  Mr.  Fowle  and  Robt.  Woodward  W'd.  — 
3.  In  the  Mill-field  abt.  4£  a.,  the  Bay  NE,  Nicholas  Parker  and  Val.  Hill  NW,  Chr.  Stanley 
S.  —  4.  Abt.  1  a.,  compassed  with  Chr.  Stanley's  ground.  —  5.  Abt.  £  a.,  the  Causew.  NE, 
Wm.  Copp  NW,  marsh  SW.  —  6.  At  Pulling  Pt.  25  a.,  the  Sea  NE,  Mr.  Pierce  SE,  Jas. 
Pen  NW,  John  Webb  and  John  Oliver  SW.  —  7.  Also  ab.  7  a.  marsh,  his  own  upland  E, 
River  W,  Edwd.  Hutchinson,  Jr.,  S,  Jas.  PenN.  —  8.  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.  gr.  Thos.  B.  5  a. 

in  the  New-field,  Richd.  Cooke  E,  Jas.  Johnson  W,  Wm.  Wilson  S, Davies,  apothecary, 

N  ;  deed  16  (4)  1646,  ackn.  same  day  bef.  Winthrop,  Gov. 

Stanley,  Christopher.  —  And  Wm.  Phillips  his  successor.  — 26  (6)  1648.  Chr.  Lawson  gr. 
Wm.  Phillips  in  the  Mill-field,  abt.  2£  a.,  the  Highw.  to  Charlestown  NW,  Causew.  W,  Wm. 
Phillips  SE,  Thos.  Ruck  and  Chr.  Lawson  NE  ;  deed,  bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall  and  John  Spoore, 
23  (4)  1648  ;  wh.  sd.  Phillips  gr.  Susan  his  wf.  for  life.  — Richd.  Bennet  gr.  Wm.  Phil- 
lips 2  or  3  a.,  Wm.  P.  and  Chr.  Lawson  NW,  land  of  Wm.  P.  and  land  lately  exchgd.  with 
sd.  Phillips  SW,  Wm.  P.  SE,  the  river  and  sund.  small  lots  NE ;  deed  26  (6)  1648,  bef. 
Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P.  — 10  (4)  1650.  Thos.  Clarke  of  Dorchester,  merch.,  gr.  Chr.  S., 
tailor,  land  in  Boston-neck,  being  pt.  of  house-lot  once  belong,  to  Wm.  Weekes,  contg. 

abt.  60  poles,  Isaac  Cullimer  SW,  Thos.  Clarke  NW, Rawlins  NE,  the  Sea  SE,  thro. 

wh.  are  two  highways,  one  towards  the  Mill-hill  12  ft.  broad,  the  other  36  ft.  to  the  lower- 
most highw.,  thence  to  low-water  mark  30  ft.  ;  deed  30  (2)  1644.  In  pres.  of  John  Strat- 
tan  and  Robt.  Jeoffreys. — Edwd.  Bendall  gr.  Chr.  S.  land  bnd.  by  an  highway  SW,  Capt. 
Hawkins  NE,  Lieut.  Savage's  pales  SE,  Mr.  Stanley's  rails  NE  ;  deed  20  (10)  1645.  Wits. 
Samuel  Bellingham. — Edwd.  Tyng  gr.  Mr.  Stanley  abt.  2  a.  wh.  was  allotted  Mr.  Bauls- 
ton,  and  sold  by  him  to  Mr.  Cornewell,  of  whom  the  sd.  Edwd.  bo't  it,  and  made  sale 
thereof  to  Mr.  Stanley,  dated  26  (10)  1643. 

Gunnison,  Hugh.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  SE,  Geo.  Burden  NE,  Wm.  Hudson,  Jr. 
NW,  Wm.  Ting  W'd.  —  10  (4)  1650.  Robt.  Saltonstall  gr.  Hugh  G.  50  a.  in  Salem,  near 
Mr.  Downing's  farm,  late  the  land  of  Richd.  Walker  of  Salem  ;  deed  25  (5)  1647.  In  pres. 
of  Rich.  Stileman,  John  Bushnell  and  Wm.  Aspinwall. 

Glover,  John.  —  House  and  yard,  theSt.  SE,  Geo.  Burden  SW,Wm.  Hudson,  Jr.,  NWandNE. 

Burden,  George.  —  1.  House  and  yard,  the  St.  S'd,  Hugh  Gunnison  W'd,  Wm.  Hudson, 


APPENDIX.  701 

Jr.,  N'd,  John  Glover  E'd.  —  2.  Garden  near  the  Common,  Jas.  JolinBon  N,  Henry  Webb 
S,  Thos.  Clarke  E,  the  Common  W.  —  3.  In  the  New-field  5£  a.,  Richd.  FaircbanksN,  John 
Mellowes  W,  Edmund  Jackson  S,  marsh  E. 

Hudson,  William,  Jr.  — House  and  garden,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  SW,  Saml.  Greames  and  the  Lane 

NE,  the  St.  SE. 

Greames,  Samuel.  —  House  and  yard,  the  Lane  NE,  Wm.  Hudson,  Jr.,  SE,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  SW. 
Sarah  Knight  NW. 

Knight,  Sarah.  —  House  and  garden,  Saml  Greames  S'd,  the  Lane  E'd,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  W'd, 
Jeremy  Houtchin  N'd. 

Dowse,  Francis. — House  and  yard,  the  Lane  E'd,  Jeremy  Houtchin  S'd,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng 
W'd,  Geo.  Burden  N'd. 

Bates,  George.  — House  and  garden,  Wm.  Wilson  S,  Geo.  Burden  E,  Anne  Hunne  N,  Thos. 
Makepeace  W. 

Hunne.  —  Anne  vid.  [videlicet]  George  Hunne.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Georges  E  and  S, 
Tho.  Makepeace  W,  the  Lane  N.  —  2.  Abt.  £  a.  in  the  New-field,  Robt.  Howen  S,  the  St. 
E.  —  3.  At  Braintree,  31  a.,  Tho.  Savage,  James  Everill  and  Capt.  Richd.  Wright  W,  Wm. 
Werdall  S,  and  N  by  the  rock  that  lies  common. 

Button,  John.  —  1.  Three  houses,  garden  and  yard,  abt.  1  a.,  the  Cove  SE,  the  Lane  SW, 
Jas.  Everill  NW,  Nicholas  Willis  NE.  — 2.  In  the  Mill-field  1  a.,  Charles  r.  N'ly,  marsh 
SW,  John  Shaw  NE  and  SE. 

Willis,  Nicholas.  —  House  and  garden,  John  Button  SW,  the  St.  E,  Thos.  Painter  N'ly, 
Jas.  Everill  W'ly. 

Barrell,  George.  —  House  and  lot,  not  &  an  a.,  Thos.  Painter  S,  Nicholas  Willis  W,  Jas. 
Everill  N,  the  St.  E. 

Painter,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Geo.  Barrell  N,  Nichols.  Willis  SW,  the  St.  E'd.  — 
2.  At  Mud.  r.  20  a.,  Ralph  Goultrop  E,  Wm.  Toy  W,  Griflith  Bowen  S,  John  Leverit  N.  — 
25  (1)  1649-50.  Robt.  Wing  gr.  Thos.  Painter  his  dwell-h.  both  old  and  new  built,  Ralph 
Mason  N,  the  High-st.  E,  Henry  Web  W,  the  Lane  S;  deed  18  (3)  1648.  Wits.  John 
Mainard,  Job  Judkin,  Philemon  Portmert  [Pormort.]  This  is  again  "  aliened  "  to  Eph. 
Hunt.  —  Richd.  Bellingham  sold  to  Tho.  Painter  marsh  next  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  on  the  W, 

on  the  S  the  Highw.,  E Hawkins,  and  Ri.  Bellingham  N  ;  in  breadth  to  the  St.  abt.  46 

ft.,  in  breadth  to  the  N  abt.  14  ft.,  same  length  with  Wm.  Hudson's  pales.  Also  sold  to 
Eph.  Hunt. 

Everill,  James.  —  1.  House  and  house-lot,  the  St.  E'ly  and  N'ly,  the  Lane  SW,  John  Button, 
Nicholas  Willis  and  Geo.  Barrell  SE.  —  2.  At  Braintree,  farm  of  88  a.,  Tho.  Savage,  and 
rocky  ground  undisposed  of  S'ly,  Geo.  Hunne  W'ly,  Henry  Pease  and  a  swamp  N'ly,  his 
own  marsh  NE.  —  3.  Also  2|  a.  marsh,  a  salt  bay  NE,  and  partly  by  Henry  Pease's  marsh, 
SW  by  his  own  upland,  and  upland  of  Hen.  Pease.  — 4.  Tho.  Savage  gr.  Jas.  E.  26  a.  at 
Braintree,  rocky  ground  E,  Richd.  Cooke  S,  Wm.  Werdall  and  Geo.  Hunne  W,  Jas.  Everill 
N.  Also  If  a.  marsh,  Monotacut  SE,  Richd.  Cooke  SW,  Oliver  Mellowes  N  ;  deed  15  (11) 
1645  ;  bef.  Winthrop,  Dep.  Gov.  ;  19  (11)  1645.  — 5.  John  Shaw  gr.  Jas.  E.  land  at  the 
Dock,  in  front  on  the  dock  abt.  40  ft.,  E.  by  Josha.  Scotto,  Edmd.  Jackson  W,  the  Cove  S, 
Highway  N,  with  the  cellar-frame,  &c.  25  (8)  1648.  Ackn.  bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Re- 
corder. 

Coggan,  Mr.  John.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson  N  and  E,  the  St.  W.  and  S. — 
2.  Abt.  £  a.,  Mr.  Bellingham  N'd,  Mr.  Wilson  S'd,  burying-place  E,  New-field  W. 

Leverit,  John.  —  House  and  yard,  Richd  Parker  S  and  W,  the  St.  N  and  E. 

Francklin,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  the  St.  E  and  N,  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson  W,  Jno.  Leverit 
and  Ant.  Stoddard  S. 

Nash,  Robert.  — 1.  House  and  yard,  N  and  W,  [?]  Val.  Hill  S,  Edwd.  Bendall  E.  —  2.  House- 
lot  of  1  a.,  Maj.  Edwd.  Gibones  E,  the  Lane  W,  the  St.  S,  Cove  N.  — Wm.  Phillips  gr. 
Robt.  N.  land  near  the  New  Meeting-house,  abt.  60  ft.  wide,  and  6  score  ft.  long,  more  or 


792  APPENDIX. 

less,  as  now  staked  out ;  NW,  SW  and  SE  on  sd.  Wm.  Phillips,  and  the  river  NE  ;  by  deed 
26  (1)  1650.  — Susan  P.  wf.  of  sd.  Wm.  P.  released  to  Robt.  N.  all  her  right  in  sd.  land 
by  deed  26  (1)  1650.  It  was  again  sold  sd.  Wm.  P.  28  (6)  1650,  by  sd.  Nash.  Mr.  Aspin- 
wall,  N.  P.  —  5  (8)  1650,  John  Milom  gr.  Ro.  Nash  \  his  dwell-h.  near  the  mill,  with 
wharf  and  land  appertaining  ;  deed  2  (8)  1650.  In  pres.  of  Jo.  Bushnell,  Ri.  Waite,  Wm. 
Aspinwall. 

Foxcroft,  Mr.  George.  —  House-lot,  the  Cove  N,  Edwd.  Bendall  E  and  S,  Robt.  Nash  N. 

Bendall,  Edward. — 1.  House  and  \  a.,  Mr.  Foxcroft  and  Robt.  Nash  W,  Mr.  Hill  S,  the 
Cove  N  and  E.  —  2.  House  and  garden,  with  2  a.  adj.,  Sudbury-st.  E,  Robt.  Meers  N,  Mr. 
Cotton  S  and  W.  —  3.  House  and  lot,  Capt.  Hawkins  N,  Lt.  Savage  S,  the  Bay  E.  This 
was  by  him  sold  to  Anchor  Ainsworth. 

Tyng,  Edward.  —  House,  yard,  warehouse  and  brewhouse,  the  Bay E,  Valentine  [Hill?]  Hen- 
ry Webb  and  pt.  of  the  Cove  N,  Jas.  Oliver  W,  the  St.  S.  At  Braintree  217£  a.  upland, 
94  a.  meadow,  53|  a.  swamp,  as  by  plot  made  in  1640,  by  Mr.  John  Oliver,  bnd.  N.  by  a 
swamp  bottom  ptng.  betn.  him  and  Mr.  Edward  Hutchinson,  and  also  by  a  pond  and  Geo. 
Burden.  — 18  (10)  1650,  Jane  Harwood  and  Nathl.  Bishop,  attorneys  to  Geo.  Harwood, 
gr.  Edwd.  Tyng  the  dwell-h.  of  sd.  George,  and  land,  thereto  belong.,  at  the  end  of  the  land 
which  joineth  the  house  and  land  of  Mr.  Thos.  Oliver  ;  deed,  Dec.  1650.  Signed,  Jane 
Harwood's  mark  and  a  seal  and  Nath.  Bishop  and  seal.  Wits.  Robert  Reinolds,  Nathl  Rei- 
nolds  and  Wm.  Aspinwall. 

Oliver,  James. — House  and  yard,  Edwd.  Tyng  E,  Valentine  Hill  N,  David  Sellick  W,  the 

St.  S. 

Sellick,  David.  —  House  and  garden,  Jas. Oliver  E,  Val.  Hill  N,  Mr.  Pierce  W,  the  St.  S. — 
House  purch'd  of  Christ.  Lawson,  formerly  Henry  Symonds,  and  a  garden,  the  St.  W'd, 
the  common  marsh  tor'd  the  N  and  E,  John  Hill  and  Nathl  Long  tor'ds  the  S,  together  with 
a  lane  of  10  ft.,  leading  to  sd.  garden  ;  also  the  wharf  or  lane  lying  afore  sd.  house  42 
ft.  wide,  and  56  ft.  long  ;  by  grant  of  Gen.  Court.  This  by  deed  20  (11)  1645.  Acknl. 
bef.  Mr.  Hibbins  same  day.  —  Edwd.  Wells  gr.  David  S.  his  house  and  garden,  Samson 
Shore  NE,  the  Cove  SE,  John  Milom  SW,  John  Hill's  garden  NW  ;  by  deed  11  (7)  1647; 
ackng.  bef.  Winthrop.  Govr.  14  (7)  1647. 

Pierce,  William.  — House  and  garden,  David  Sellick  E,  Isaac  Grosse  and  St.  N,  Wm.  Davies, 
Jr.,  and  St.  S,  Edwd.  Bendall,  Val.  Hill  and  Wm.  Davies  W. 

Grosse,  Isaac.  —  1.  House,  Wm.  Pierce  S  and  E,  Edwd.  Bendall  W,  the  Cove  N.  —  2.  House 
and  garden,  abt.  £  a.,  Wm.  Beamsley  S,  the  way  W,  the  Bay  and  John  Sweete  N'ly. — 
3.  House  and  garden,  John  Seaberry  S,  John  Sweete  N,  Walter  Merry  W,  and  the 
Bay  E. 

Davies,  William,  Jr.  —  House,  Wm.  Pierce  E  and  N,  Valent.  Hill  W,  the  St.  S. 

Hudson,  William,  Sen.  —  1.  House  and  yard,  the  St.  N,  the  Bay  E,  Mr.  Winthrop  S,  Wm. 
Davies,  Sen.,  W.  —  2.  In  the  New-field  abt.  5  a.,  Richd.  Cooke  E,  Mr.  Tho.  Clarke  W. 
Sold  to  Thos.  Buttolph.  —  3.  Garden  to'rd  Fort  Hill,  Robt.  Scott  E,  Nathl.  Eaton,  Richd. 
Hogg  and  Fra.  East  W,  Amos  Richardson  S,  Nicholas  Parker  N. 

Davies,  William,  Sen.  —  1.  House,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  E,  the  St.  N,  Mr.  Winthrop  S  and 
W.  —  2.  House  and  abt.  |  a.,  the  water  SE,  Richd.  Gridley  SW,  NW,  and  NE.  —  3.  One 
a.,  Jacob  Eliot  E  and  S,  Mr.  Colbourne  W,  the  sea  N.     This  lies  in  Mr.  Colbourne's  field. 

Scott,  Robert.  —  House,  Mr.  Thos.  Leverit  E  and  S,  the  St.  W  and  N.  — 2.  A  garden,  Capt. 
Robert  Keine  E,  Thos.  Oliver  W,  John  Webb  N.  — 3.  A  garden,  Mr.  Thos.  Leverit  E,  Hen- 
ry Webb  S,  the  St.  W  and  N.  — 4.  A  garden  plot,  Jacob  Leger  E,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  W, 
Nicholas  Parker  and  Jas.  Pen  N,  Edwd.  Bates  S. 

Parsons,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  the  Lane  W,  Hen.  Webb  N,  James  Davies  E,  the 

Swing-gate  S. 

Davies,  James.  —  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Leverit  N,  the  marsh  E,  Wm.  Parsons  W,  the 
Spring-gate  S. 

Webb,  Henry.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Market-place  N,  the  Old  Meeting-house  and  Lane 
E,  the  Highway  S,  Mr.  Hudson  W.  —  2.  Garden,  John  Leverit  E,  the  Highway  and  Robt. 


APPENDIX.  7  Do 

Scott  N,  the  Lane  W,  Mr.  Thus.  Oliver  S.  —  3.  Garden,  Robt.  "Wing  and  Ralph.  Mason  E, 
tho  Lane  S,  Geo.  Burden  N,  the  Cove  W. 

Fairebankes,  Richard.  — House  and  garden,  Capt.  Keine  N  and  E,  Mr.  Oliver  S,  and  the  High- 
st.  W.  —  2.  Garden,  Win.  Aspinwall  S  and  E,  Zac.  Bosworth,  John  Synderland,  Richd. 
Cooke,  John  Lugg  and  Arthur  Perry  N,  the  Common  W.  —  3.  In  the  New-field  4  a.,  Mr. 
Tho.  Oliver  N,  Geo.  Burden  and  Hen.  Pease  S,  Isaac  Allington,  Alexr.  Beck  and  James 
Browne  W,  the  River  E.  —  4.  In  the  Fort-field  6  a.,  Mr.  Hibbins  NE,  Robt.  Turner  SW, 
John  Spoore  W,  the  Common  N,  Richd.  Gridley  SE. 

Corser,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Thos.  Oliver  S  and  W,  Capt.  Robt.  Keine  N, 
and  the  Lane  E. — James  Evcrill  gr.  W.  C.  house-lot,  Robt.  Porter  SE,  the  Street  NE, 
Win.  Tyng  and  Evan  Thomas  NW  ;  deed  22  (6)  1649,  bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Leverit,  John.  — House  and  yard,  Richd.  Parker  S  and  W,  the  Street  N  and  E. 

Parker,  Richard.  —  House,  barn  and  yard,  the  Marketstead  E,  John  Leverit  N,  Prison  yard 
W,  Richd.  Truesdale  and  the  Meeting-house  S.  — 18  (8)  1651.  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop  by  ord. 
from  his  bro.  Maj.  Steph.  W.,  gr.  Mr.  Richd.  Parker  that  house  in  the  yard  that  belonged 
to  his  father's  dwelling-house  by  the  Spring,  SE  from  sd.  dwell-h.,  with  40  ft.  of  ground  front- 
ing the  Spring,  and  backward  to  the  pales  of  the  garden,  datd.  7  Dec.  1650.  Wits.  Michael 
Powell,  Valentine  Hill.  [Then  follows  an  abstract  of  Mr.  Steph.  Winthrop's  letter  to  Mr. 
Adam  W.,  authorizing  the  sale  ;  dated  Feb.  6th,  1650.] 

Truesdale,  Richard.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Richd.  Parker  N,  Val.  Hill  S,  the  Prison  yard 
W,  the  Meeting-house  E.  — 2.  In  the  New-field  |  a.,  the  Common  S,  Nathl.  Eaton  N,  Zac- 
cheus  Bosworth  W,  Thos.  Millard  E. 

Hill,  Valentine.  —  House  and  garden,  the  Street  E,  the  Meeting-house  and  Richd.  Trues- 
dale N,  Capt.  Robt.  Sedgwick  S,  the  Prison  garden  W.  —  Another  house  and  backside,  John 
Biggs  W,  Thos.  Buttolph  N,  Thos.  Hawkins  S,  the  Street  E. 

Sedgwick,  Maj.  Robert.  —  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Clarke,  Robt.  Turner  and  the  St.  E,  Mr. 
Hutchhjson  S,  Valentine  Hill  N,  Henry  Messinger  W. 

Hutchinson,  Mr.  Richard.  —  House  and  garden,  the  Street  E  and  S,  Thos.  Scotto  W,  Mr.  Sedg- 
wick N. 

Scotto,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Burying-place  W,  Henry  Messinger  N,  the  Street 
S,  Mr.  Richd.  Hutchinson  E.  —  2.  At  Muddy  r.  4  a.  upland,  Wm.  Beamsley  and  Thos. 
Grubb  S,  Richd.  Sanford  and  Alexr.  Beck  N,  the  Cedar  swamp  W'd,and  his  own  marsh  E. 
—  3.  Also  1  a.  marsh  at  Muddy  r.,  Charles  r.  E,  Richd.  Sanford,  Thos.  Grubb  and  his  own 
upland  W,  Jacob  Eliot  S'd. 

Messinger,  Henry. — House  and  garden,  the  Street  W'd,  Richd.  Crychley  N,  Thos.  Scotto 
and  the  Burying-place  S,  Maj.  Sedgwick  E. 

Crotchley,  Richard.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Street  N  and  W,  Richd.  Tapping  E,  Henry 
Messenger  S.  — 2.  In  Mr.  Coleborne's  field  2  a.,  Jacob  Eliot  E  and  W,  Richd.  Parker  S, 
Wm.  Salter  N.  — It  is  to  be  understood  that  both  the  house  and  garden,  and  also  the  2 
acres  do  belong  [to]  the  wife  and  children  of  William  Dinely,  although  they  be  put  under 
the  name  of  Richd.  Croychley,  who  only  possesseth  them  in  the  right  of  his  wife  and  her 
former  husband's  children.  —  Nathl.  Williams  gr.  Richd.  Critchley  his  house  and  land 
thereto  belonging,  the  Street  N,  the  Prison  E,  Hen.  Messinger  S,  Richd  Critchley  W.  By 
deed  22  (12)  1648.  —  This  house  and  land  last  named,  being  formerly  the  possession  of 
Richd.  Tapping,  [said  Tapping]  did  acknowlg.  himself  satisfied,  and  did  release  unto  Nathl. 
Williams  all  his  right  therein,  5  (11)1649.     Test.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Robt.  Meeres. 

Tapping,  Richard.  — House  and  garden,  Richd.  Croychley  W,  the  Prison  E,  Street  N,  Hen. 
Messenger  S.  — Henry  Bridgam  gr.  Richd.  Tapping  the  house  wherein  sd.  Richd.  now  lives, 
and  half  the  lot  as  now  it  is  marked  out,  Thos.  Millard  S,  Arthur  Perry  W,  the  High- 
street  E,  sd.  Henry  Bridgham  N,  as  by  deed  12  (11)  1648  ;  in  pres.  of  Wm.  Aspinwall, 
N.  P. 

Gillom,  Benjamin.  —  House  and  garden,  Benj.  Ward  W,  Mr.  Wm.  Hibbins  S,  John  Compton 
and  the  Cove  E,  the  Marsh  N.  —  Also  house  and  lot,  Wm.  Deming  W'd  and  N'd,  Robt. 
Turner's  pasture  E,  the  Lane  SE. 

100 


*T94  APPENDIX. 

Ward,  Benjamin.  — House  and  abt.  1  a.,  Nathl.  Woodward  the  younger  W,  Benj.  Gillom  E, 
Mr.  Hibbins  S,  Edwd.  Hutchinson  and  the  Marsh  N. 

Compton,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  the  Cove  E,  Benj.  Gillom  W,  the  Fort  Hill  S,  Benj. 
Gillom  N. 

Woodward,  Nathaniel.  —  House  and  garden,  Benj.  Ward  and  Edwd.  Hutchinson  E,  the 
Marsh  N  and  W. 

Hutchinson,  Edward. — House  and  yard,  Benj.  Ward  E  and  S,  Nathl.  Woodward  W,  the 

Marsh  N. 

Sherman,  Richard.  — House  and  garden,  Mr.  Hibbins  N  and  E,  Mr.  Atherton  Haugh  S,  the 
Green  W. 

Spoore,  John.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Hibbins  W,  Creek  N,  Marsh  E,  Street  S.  —  2. 
Abt.  1£  a.,  Richd.  Fairebanks  E,  Robt.  Turner  S'd,  Street  N,  Capt.  Robt.  Keine  and  Wm. 
Pell  W.  —  Henry  Bridgham  gr.  John  S.  his  dwell-h.  and  lot  as  now  marked  out,  Richd. 
Tapping  S,  Arthur  Perry  W,  Mr.  Haugh  N,  the  High-st.  E  ;  as  by  deed  13  (11)  1648  ;  in  pres. 
of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Pell,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  John  Spoore  E,  the  Street  N,  Capt.  Keine  S,  Miles  Robt. 
Rice  W. 

Dinsdale,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  Robt.  Rice  E,  Street  N,  John  Kenrick  W,  Robt. 

Scot  S. 

Rice,  Robert.  —  House  and  garden,  Wm.  Pell  E,  Wm.  Dinsdale  W,  Capt.  Keine  S,   the 

Street  N. 

Kenrick,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  Wm.  Dinsdale  E,  James  Pen  W,  the  Street  N  and  S. 

Pen,  James.  —  House  and  garden,  John  Kenrick  E,  Street  N,  Richd.  Parker  W. 

Parker,  Nicholas 1.  House  and  garden,  Jas.  Pen  E,  the  Street  N,  Nathl.  Bishop  W,Robt. 

ScotS.  —  2.  At  Rumneymarsh  260  a.,  Jno.  Newgate  N  and  E,  Mr.  Bellingham  and  the 
Creek  S,  Charlestown  bounds  W.  —  3.  Also  at  Rumneymarsh  abt.  20  a.,  Saml.  Cole  E  and 
N,  John  Newgate  W  and  S.  —  4.  In  the  Mill-field  2  a.,  Thos.  Buttolph  SE  and  SW,  Val. 
Hill.  NW,  the  Water  NE. 

Bishop,  Nathaniel.  —  House  and  garden,  Nicholas  Parker  E,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  S,  John 
Stevenson,  Richd.  Waite  and  Edwd.  Fletcher  W,  the  Street  N. 

Stevenson,  John.  —  House  and  yard,  Nathl.  Bishop  E,  Street  N,  Robt.  Remolds  W  and  S. — 
Richd.  Parker  gr.  John  S.  land,  Richd.  Truesdale  and  the  Meeting-house  yard  S,  his  own 
landN,  E,  and  W;  as  by  deed  5  (11)  1646.  Wit.  Tho.  Roberts.  —  This  was  again  sold 
to  Richd.  Astwood.  —  James  Everill  gr.  John  S.  a  house-lot,  Wm.  Hayward  SE,  Wm.  Tyng 
S,  Robt.  Porter  NW,  the  Street  NE,  as  pr.  deed  22  (6)  1649.  Before  Wm.  Aspinwall, 
N.  P. 

Bosworth  Zaccheus. — 1.  House  and  garden,  the  Street  W  and  N,  Richd.  Fairebanks  S, 
John  Synderland  E.  — 2.  In  the  New-field  2  a.,  the  Common  S,  Richd.  Truesdale  E,  Jane 
Parker  W,  Wm.  Wilson  and  John  Ruggle  N.  —  3.  In  the  New-field  1*  a.,  Thos.  Millard  S, 
James  Johnson  N,  Edmund  Dennis  E,  Richd.  Sherman  W.  — 4.  At  Braintree  51  a.,  rocky 
Common  and  Richd.  Cooke  N,  John  Mellowes,  John  Davies  and  Monotaquit  r.  S,  John 
Mellowes  and  Jas.  Browne  W,  Zac.  Bosworth,  John  Davies  and  John  Mellows  E. 

Synderland,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  Zacc.  Bosworth  W,  Street  N,  Richd.  Fairebanks  S, 
Richd.  Cooke  E'ly.  — 15  (6)  1650.  Whereas  John  Gallup  deceased,  gr.  John  S.  land  9 
rods  wide,  more  or  less,  and  20  rods  long,  more  or  less,  the  St.  SE,  the  Mill-dam  (where  it 
is  but  8  rods  wide)  NW,  Francis  Hudson  E'ly,  Mr.  Coale  W'ly  ;  also  a  pel.  80  ft.  long, 
36  ft.  wide,  the  St.  N'd,  John  Sweete  S'd,  John  Gallop  W'd,  John  Synderland  E'd,  Meheta- 
bel  Gallop,  wf.  of  sd.  John,  confirmed  the  same  by  deed  27  Feb.  1649. 

Cooke,  Richard.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  John  Synderland  W,  the  St.  N,  Richd.  Fairebanks 

S.  John  Lugg  E 2.  Garden,  the  Common  W.  Danl.  Maud  S,  Wm.  Aspinwall  N,  and 

Ephraim  Pope  E. — This  is  again  sold.  —  3.  In  the  New-field  a  pel.,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen., 
W,  Val.  Hill  E.  —  4.  At  Braintree  35  a.,  Tho.  Savage  N'ds,  Jas.  Brown  S'ds,  the  Bay  E'ds, 


APPENDIX.  795 

rocky  ground  W'ds.  —  5.  Abt.  7  a.  more,  Tho.  Savage  N,  Jas.  Browne  and  Jno.  Webb  S, 
Wm.  Werdall  W.  —  G.  Also  1\  a.  marsh,  Tho.  Savage  and  Monotaquit  r.  E,  Jno.  Daviee  and 
Oliver  Mellowes  W. 

Lugg,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  Richd.  Cooke  W,  Richd.  Fairebanks  S,  Arthur  Perry  E, 
the  Street  N. 

Pery,  Arthur.  —  House,  yard  and  garden,  John  Lugg  W,  Richd.  Fairebanks  S,  Street  N,  Mr. 
Haugh,  Francis  Loyall,  Thos.  Grubb  and  Thos.  Millard  E. 

Lyle,  Francis.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Haugh  N,  Street  E,  Arthur  Perry  W,  Thos.  Mil- 
lard S.  —  2.  In  the  New-field  £  a. 

Millard,  Thomas.  — House  and  garden,  Fra.  Lyle  N,  Tho.  Grubb  S,  Arthur  Perry  W,  Street 
E.  — 2.  In  the  New-field  £  a.,  Richd.  Truesdale  W,  Tho.  Scotto  E,  Nathl.  Eaton  N,  the 
Common  S.  — 3.  In  the  New-field  1  a.,  Jane  Parker  W,  Wm.  Wilson  E,  Zace.  Bosworth, 
Jno.  Ruggle,  and  Edwd.  Dennis  N  and  S.  —  Zaccheus  Bosworth  gr.  Tho.  M.  ab.  1  a.  in 
Centry-field,  Edwd.  Hutchinson  N,  the  Common  S,  Tho.  Millard  E,  Zacc.  Bosworth  W  ;  as 
by  deed  10  Oct.  1651.     In  pres.  of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P.  and  Ralph  Roote. 

Aspinwall,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Richd.  and  Tho.  Grubb  N,  Common  W,  High- 
st.  E,  Richd.  Cooke  and  Eph.  Pope  S.  — 2.  At  Mud.  r.  9  a.,  surrounded  with  the  Cedar- 
swamp  and  Nathl.  Woodward  the  elder.  —  3.  At  Hogg  Island  1  a.  upland,  and  §  a. 
marsh,  bo't  of  Mr.  Ormsbie.  —  Concerning  the  Windmill,  see  the  great  book  of  Records  of 
copies,  &c.  —  Wm.  Davies,  apothecary,  gr.  Wm.  A.  abt.  £  a.,  the  land  of  sd.  Aspinwall  S 

and  E,  Common  W,  Zacc.  Bosworth,  Baker,  Richd.  Cooke,  Robt.  Wright  and 

Bomsted  N,  as  by  deed  11  Nov.  1652.     In  pres.  Jno.  Sanford. 

Grubb,  Thomas.  — House  and  garden,  Tho.  Millard  N,  Arthur  Perry  W,  Wm.  Aspinwall  S, 
High-st.  E. 

Pope,  Ephraim.  —  House  and  garden,  Wm.  Aspinwall  N,  Richd.  Cooke  W,  Edmund  Dennis  S, 
High-st.  E. 

Dennis,  Edmund.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Eph.  Pope  N,  Edmd  Jacklin  S,  Street  E,  Richd. 
Cooke  and  Danl.  Maud  W.  —  2.  In  the  New-field  £  a.,  Jno.  Ruggle  E,  Zac.  Bosworth  W, 
Tho.  Millard  S,  Mr.  Tho.  Clark  N.  —  3.  A  small  pel.,  Jas.  Everill  E'ds,  the  Lane  and  St. 
SW  and  NW.-4.  At  Braintree,  ab.  20  a.,  Tho.  MetsonE,  Alexr.  Plimley  W'ds,Val.  Hill 
S'ds. 

Jacklin,  Edmund.  —  House  and  garden,  Edmd.  Dennis  N,  Wm.  Townsend  S,  Street  E,  Danl. 
Maud  W.  — -22  (3)  1647.  Richd.  Cooke  gr.  Edmd.  J.  £  a.,  Wm.  Aspinwall  N,  Daniel 
Maud  S,  Common  W,  Eph.  Pope  E  ;  by  deed  10  (2)   1645  ;  wits.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

—  22  (3)  1647.  Danl.  Maud  gr.  Edmd.  J.  the  same  £  a.,  Richd.  Cooke  N,  Common  W, 
Richd.  Sherman  S,  Edmd.  Jacklin  E ;  by  deed  13  (8)  1643.  Wits.  Hutavill  Nutter  and 
Edwd.  Starbuck,  Elders  of  the  Ch.  at  Dover. 

Townsend,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  Edmd.  Jacklin  N,  Jane  Parker  S,  Street  E,  Danl. 
Maud  W. 

Parker,  Jane. —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  E  and  S,  Wm.  Townsend  N,  Richd.  Sherman  W. 

—  2.  In  the  New-field  k  a.,  Thos.  Millard  E'ds,  David  Sellick,  Nathl.  Chappell,  Jacob  Leger 
and  Mr.  Pope  S'ds,  Wm.  Bamsley,  Richd.  Sherman  and  Zac.  Bosworth  NW. —  3.  Also 
40  a.  at  Muddy  r.  —  Jane  P.  the  wid.  of  Richd.  P.  intending  to  marry,  did  by  deed  of  gift 
give  Margaret  her  dau.  out  of  her  house-lot  21  ft.  square  in  the  angle  at  the  meeting  of 
the  streets  ;  then  all  her  house  and  lot,  the  £  a.  in  the  New-field,  and  40  a.  at  Mud.  r.  to  her 
sons;  viz.,  to  John  P.  her  eldest,  half;  the  other  half  equally  bet.  Thomas  and  Noah,  by 
deed  15  (5)  1646  ;  same  day  acknolg.  bef.  the  Governor. 

Blott,  Robert.  —  House  and  garden,  the  St.  E  and  N,  Mr.  Flint  S,  Jno.  Leverit  W. 

Flint,  Mr.  — — .  —  House  and  garden,  Robt.  Blot  N,  John  Leverit  W,  Street  E,  Anthony  Har- 
ker  S.  — House  and  garden,  Anthony  Harker  N,  Thos.  Clarke  S,  Street  E,  Geo.  Burden  W. 

Harker,  Anthony.  —  House  and  garden,  Street  E,  James  Johnson  W,  Mr.  Flint  N,  and  Mr. 
Flint  S. 

Clarke,  Thomas.  —  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Flint  N,  Henry  Webb  and  Geo.  Burden  W,  Street 
E,  Ralph  Mason  §. 


796  APPENDIX. 

Mason,  Ealph.  — House  and  garden,  Thos.  Clarke  N,  Henry  Webb  W,  Street  E,  Robt.  Wiisg 
S.  —  This  is  sold  to  Thos.  Painter.  —  21  (12)  1645.  Isaac  Perry  gr.  Ralph  M.  10  a.,  more 
or  less,  at  Mud.  r.,  Ralph  M.  S,  Thomas  Scotto  N,  Mr.  Hibbins  W  ;  by  deed  20  (10)  1645, 
before  Mr.  Winthrop. 

Wing,  Robert.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  S  and  E,  Henry  Webb  W,  Ralph  Mason  N. 

—  2.  Also  £  a.  the  River  W,  Mr.  Pope  S,  James  Everill  and E. 

Carter,  Richard.  —  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Oliver  N,  Common  W,  Street  E,  Jacob  Leger  S. 

—  Wm.  Parsons  gr.  Richd.  C.  abt.  an  a.,  Robert  Wing  and  Ralph  Mason  E,  the  Lane  S, 
Common  W,  Geo.  Burden  N  ;  by  deed  2  (9)  1646,  bef.  Winthrop,  Gov.  —  2  (1)  1647.  Wm. 
Aspinwall  gr.  Richd.  C.  his  lot  at  Mud.  r.,  abt.  9  a.,  Nathl.  Woodward,  Sen.,  to'rdNW, 
Cedar  Swamp  on  the  other  side  ;  by  deed  7  (1)  1647.  — 4  (11)  1648,  Richd.  Gridley  gr. 
Richd.  C.  his  lot  at  Spectacle  I.,  abt.  3  a.,  on  the  hithermost  part  of  the  Eastern  Specta- 
cle ;  by  deed  2  (11)  1648,  in  pres.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Leger,  Jacob.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Coleborne  S,  Common  W,  Street  E,  Richd.  Carter 
N.  — 2.  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Thos.  Fowle  S,  Street  W,  Robt.  Woodward  N,  Thos.  But- 
tolph  E.  —  3.  Abt.  an  a., Chaplaine  E,  Richd.  Parker  N,  Common  S,  Mr.  Pope  W. 

Coleborne,  Mr.  William.  —  House  and  garden,  the  High-st.  E,  the  Lane  and  Edwd.  Belchar 
S,  Jacob  Leger  N. 

Belchar,  Edward.  —  House  and  garden,  Mr.  Colborne  E  and  N,  the  Lane  S,  Wm.  Talmage  W. 

Talmage,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  St.  S,  Edwd.  Belchar  E,  Thos.  Snow  N  and 
W.  —  2.  Garden,  Robt.  Walker  W,  Jacob  Eliot  E  and  S,  the  Street  N. 

Walker,  Robert.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Snow  E,  Common  N,  St.  S,  Wm.  Briscoe  W. 

—  2.  Garden,  Thos.  Snow  E,  Common  N,  &c,  bounded  before.  —  3.  Garden,  Wm.  Talmage 
E,  Street  N,  John  Cranwell  W,  Jacob  Eliot  S. 

Briscoe,  William.  —  House  and  garden,  Robt.  Walker  E,  Common  N,  Street  S, Flacke 

W.  —  24  (4)  1651.  Thos.  Alcock  of  Dedham  gr.  Wm.  B.  abt.  20  a.,  Edmd.  Grosse  E, 
Edwd.  Belchar  W,  half  a  mile  from  Mr.  Hibbins'  farm  ;  by  deed  in  the  year  1644. 

Roote,  Ralph.  —  House  and  garden,  John  Cranwell  E,  John  Cranwell  and  Richd.  Croychley 
S,  Wm.  Salter  W,  the  Street  N. 

Salter,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Ralph  Roote  E,  Common  W,  Street  N,  Jacob  Eliot 
and  Richd.  Croychley  S.  —  2.  In  Mr.  Colborne's  field  1  a.,  Jacob  Eliot  S  and  E,  the  Bay  W, 
Common  N.  —  3.  At  Mud.  r.  8  a.,  Robt.  Burden  W,  Wm.  Briscoe  E,  Nathl.  Woodward, 
Sen.,  N,  Jacob  Eliot  S.   Again  sold  Ed.  Devotion. 

Eliot,  Jacob.  —  House  and  garden,  the  Highway  E,  the  Lane  N,  Wm.  Talmage  W,  Mr. 
Colborne's  field  S. 

Bourne,  Garret.  — House  and  garden,  Edwd.  Rainsford  E,  the  Marsh  S,  Street  W  and  N. 

Cranwell,  John.  —  House  and  garden,  Ralph  Roote  W,  Robt.  Walker  E,  Street  N,  and  on 
the  S  2  a.  belonging  to  it ;  wch.  2  a.  has  the  garden  N,  Mr.  Roe  E,  Mr.  Richd.  Croychley 
W  and  S. 

Rainsford,  Edward.  —  House  and  garden,  Garret  Bourne  W,  David  OfHey  E,  Street  N,  Cove  S. 

Offley,  David.  — House  and  garden,  Edwd.  Rainsford  W,  the  Lane  E,  Street  N,  Cove  S. 

Roe,  Mr.  Owen.  —  House  and  garden,  Street  N,  Lane  W,  Cove  S,  John  Pelton  E. 

Pelton,  John.  — House  and  house-lot,  Owen  Roe,  W,  Street  N,  Cove  S,  the  Marsh  E. 

Bowen,  Griffith.  — House  and  garden,  the  St.  S  and  W,  Miles  Reading  E, Cole  N. 

Cole, .  — House  and  garden,  Griffith  Bowen  S,  the  St.  W,  Miles  Reading  E,  John  Od- 

linN. 

Odlin,  John. —  House  and  garden,  the  St.  W,  Miles  Reading  E, Cole  S,  Walter  Sinet  N. 

— 12  (8)  1650.    John  Bateman  gr.  Jno.  O.  house  and  lot  (lately  bo'tof  Jno.  Cuddington), 


APPENDIX.  797 

sd.  Jno.  0.  N,  Grif.  Bowcn  S,  the  High-st.  W,  Richd.  Wilson  E,  by  deed  10  (8)  1650. 
Test.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Jno.  Guddington. 

Sinet,  Walter.  —  House  and  garden,  Jno.  Odlin  S,  the  St.  W,  Thos.  Buttolph  and  Miles 
Reading  E,  Jacob  Leger  N. 

Woodward,  Rouert.  —  House  and  garden,  Jacob  Leger  S,  Thos.  Buttolph  E,  the  High-st.  W, 
the  Lane  N. 

Wheeler,  Thomas.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  the  Lane  S,  High-st.  W,  the  Watering-place  E, 
Wm.  Blantaine  N.  —  2.  At  Mud.  r.  15  a.,  Mr.  Hibbins  W,  Cambridge  bounds  N,  Robt.  Hall 
E,  Hen.  Fane  S. 

Blantaine,  William.  —  1.  House  and  garden,  Thos.  Wheeler  S,  John  Ilurd  N,  the  St.  W,  the 
Watering-place  E.  —  2.  House-lot,  Jno.  Serch  W,  Wm.  Briscoe  E,  the  St.  S,  Common  N. 
—  Wm.  Havies,  gunsmith,  gr.  Wm.  B.,  carpenter,  abt.  £  a.,  Thos.  Bel  W,  the  Mill-st.  N, 
Geo.  Griggs  E,  Wm.  Blantaine  S  ;  by  deed  2  7(4)  1646.  Acknlgd.  same  day  bef.  Jno.  Win- 
throp,  Gov. 

Hurd,  John.  — House  and  garden,  Wm.  Blantaine  S,  the  High-st.  W,  Gaml.  Waite  E,  Robt. 
Hull  N. 

Hull,  Robert.  —  House  and  garden,  Jno.  Hurd  S,  the  High-st.  W,  Job  Judkin  N,  Gaml. 
Waite  E. 

Judkins,  Job. — House  and  garden,  Robt.  Hull  S,  Elizabeth  Purton  N,  the  St.  W,  Gamaliel 
Waite  E. 

Woodward,  Nathaniel  (the  elder).  —  House  and  garden,  the  Mill-lane  S,  the  High-st.  W, 
Jno.  Palmer,  Jr.,  E,  Jno.  Marshall  N. 

Marshall,  John. — House  and  garden,  Nathl.  Woodward,  Sen.,  S,  Richd.  Hogg  N,  Amos 
Richardson  E,  the  Street  W. 

Hogg,  Richard.  — House  and  garden,  Jno.  Marshall  S,  Nathl.  Eaton  N,  Amos  Richardson 
and  Wm.  Hudson  E,  Street  W.    "  Aliened  "  to  Jno.  Lake. 

Eaton,  Nathaniel.  —  House  and  garden,  Richd.  Hogg  S,  Fra.  East  N,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  E, 
the  St.  W. 

East,  Francis.  —  House  and  garden,  Nathl.  Eaton  S,  Charitie  and  Richard  Waite  N,  Wm. 
Hudson  and  the  St.  E. 

White,  Charity.  —  House  and  small  yard,  Fra.  East  S  and  E,  the  St.  W,  Richd.  Waite  N. 

Waite,  Richard.  —  House  and  garden,  Charity  White  and  Fra.  East  S,  Edwd.  Fletcher  N, 
the  St.  W,  Nathl.  Bishop  E. 

Fletcher,  Edward.  — House  and  garden,  Richd.  Waite  S,  Robt.  Remolds  N,  the  High-st.  W, 
Nathl.  Bishop  E. 

Reinolds,  Robert. — House  and  garden,  Edwd.  Fletcher  S,  the  High-st.  W,  the  Fort-st.  N, 
John  Stevenson  E. 

Palmer,  John,  Jr.  — House  and  yard,  Nathl.  Woodward,  Sen.,  W,  the  Mill-st.  S,  Aaron  Rich- 
ardson E,  John  Marshall  N. 

Richardson,  Amos.  —  House  and  garden,  Jno.  Palmer,  Jno.  Marshall  and  Richd.  Hogg;  W, 
the  Street  S,  Jno.  Palmer,  Sen.,  E,  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  and  Robt.  Scott  N.  —  FrancisSmith 
gr.  Amos  R.  2  a.,  bo't  of  Edmd.  Jacklin  and  Richd.  Sherman,  Wm.  Aspinwall  N,  the  Com- 
mon W,  the  St.  S,  Jane  Parker,  Wm.  Townsend,  Edmd.  Jacklin,  Edmd.  Jackson  and  Eph. 
Pope  E  ;  by  deed  22  (3)  1647.    Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Palmer,  John,  Sen.  —  House  and  garden  or  house-lot,  Amos  Richardson  W,  Gaml.  Waite  E, 
Robt.  Scot  and  young  Wm.  Hudson  N,  the  Mill-st.  S. 

Waite,  Gamaliel.  —  House  and  lot,  Jno.  Palmer  W,  Mr,  Thos.  Oliver  N,  Benj.  Negoos  E'ly, 


798  APPENDIX. 

the  Mill-st.  S.  —  Also,  a  garden  plot,  Richd.  Hollich  E,  Eliz'th.  Purton  TV,  Wm.  Blantaine 

S,  the  St.  N. 

Negoos,  Benjamin.  —  House  and  lot,  Gaml.  Waite  W,  Maded  Engles  E,  Mill-st.  S,  Mr.  Oli- 
ver W. 

Engles.  Madid.  —  House  and  lot,  Mr.  Scott  N,  Benj.  Negoos  W'd,  Wm.  Deming  E'd,  the 
Millstead  S'd. 

Deming,  William.  —  House  and  lot,  Capt.  Keine  N,  Madid  Engles  W,  and  Benj.  Gillom  E'ly, 
and  the  Lane  SE.. 

Gridley,  Bichard.  —  House  and  lot,  the  Street  S  and  W,  the  Bay  E'ly,  Jno.  Harrison  N'ly. 
—  Also  a  lot,  Robt.  Turner  NW,  Jno.  Harrison  SW,  the  Bay  SE,  the  Fort  NE. 

Harrison,  John.  —  House  and  lot,  Richd.  Gridley  S'ly,  the  Bay  E'ly,  Bichd.  Gridley  N'ly, 
Robt.  Turner  W'ly. 

Baxter,  Nicholas.  —  House  and  lot,  the  Street  or  Lane  N  and  W,  Edwd.  Browne  and  the 
Bay  E,  Matthew  Jyons  S'ds. 

Browne,  Edward.  — House  and  garden,  Nicholas  Baxter  N'ly  and  W'ly,  the  Bay  E'ly,  Mat- 
thew Jyons  S'ly. 

Jyons,  Matthew.  —  House  and  lot,  the  Lane  W'd,  Nich.  Baxter  and  Edwd.  Browne  N'd,  the 
Bay  E'd,  Wm.  Netherland  [Letherland  ?]  S'ds. 

Letherland,  William. — House  and  lot,  the  Lane  W'd,  the  Bay  E'd,  Matthew  Jyons  N'd, 
Abel  Porter  and  the  Cove  S'd. 

Teft,  William.  —  House  and  lot,  the  Cove  S,  the  Lane  E,  the  Mill-st.  N,  Thos.  Munt  and 
Tuttle  W'd. 

Munt,  Thomas,  —  House  and  lot,  Wm.  Teft  E  and  N,  the  Cove  S,  Jona.  Negoos  W'd. 

Negoos,  Jonathan.  —  House  and  lot,  Thos.  Munt  E,  Thos.  Foster  W,  Wm.  Teft  N,  the  CoveS. 

Foster,  Thomas. —  House  and  lot,  Jona.  Negoos  E,  Richd.  Woodhouse  W,  Mrs.  Tuttle  N,  the 
CoveS.  —  Sold  to  Wm.  Browne.  —  30  (7)  1639,  Boston  gr.  Thos.  Foster,  the  gunner  at 
Castle  Island,  a  great  lot  at  the  Mount  for  6  heads,  upon  condition  expressed  for  Mount 
Wollaston  lands  ;  being  49  a.  ;  land  of  Mr.  Haugh  N'd,  Benj.  Keaine  W'd,  Fr.  Lyall  S'd, 
Nathl.  Williams  and  Fra.  Lyall  E'd.  If  it  be  aliened  from  the  town,  they  require  2  a. 
in  7  to  be  returned  to  the  Town,  or  2s.  4d.  instead. 

Woodhouse,  Richard. —  House  and  House-lot,  Thos.  Foster  E,  Jno.  Vyall  W,  Geo.  Griggs  N, 
the  Cove  S. 

Griggs,  George.  —  House-lot,  Mrs.  Tuttle  E,  Wm.  Davis  W,  Jno.  Viall  S,  the  Mill-st,  N. 

Bell,  Thomas.  —  House  and  lot,  Wm.  Davies  E,  Richd.  Hollich  W,  Wm.  Blantaine  S,  the 

Street  N. 

Hollich,  Richard.  —  House  and  lot,  Thos.  Bell  E,  Gaml.  Waite  W,  Wm.  Blantaine  S,  the 

Street  N. 

Lawson,  Christopher.  —  20  (11)  1645, Richd. Bellingham,  Esq.,  gr.  Chr.  L.  £  the  marshland 
anciently  gr.  to  him  by  the  Town,  between  his  own  house  wh.  he  bo't  of  Mr.  Symonds  and 
Jno.  Lowes,  by  deed  4  (4)  1644.  Wits.  Saml.  Bellingham,  Thos.  Lake.  —  Thos.  Buttolph 
gr.  Chr.  L.  abt.  4&  a.  in  the  Mill-field,  the  Bay  NE,  Nich.  Parker  and  Val.  Hill  NW,  Chr. 
Stanley  S ;  by  deed  20  (6)  1646.   Ackng.  bef.  Jno.  Winthrop,  Gov. 

Nanney,  Robert. — David  Selleck  gr.  R.  N.  his  house  and  garden,  with  10  ft.  wide  for  a 
way  to  sd.  garden  (formerly  purchased  of  Chris.  Lawson)  also  10  ft.  of  the  wharf  in 
breadth  from  Jno.  Hills,  and  in  length  from  the  Dock  to  his  house ;  Jno.  Hills  and  St. 
W'ly,  the  Marsh  N'ly,  the  Marsh  and  Nathl.  Long  E'ly,  the  Cove  S'ly,  by  deed  25  (1)  1646. 
Acknlg.  same  day  bef.  Winthrop,  Dep.  Gov.  David  Selleck  gr.  also  6  ft.  more  of  the  wharf 
next  the  former  10  ft.,  deed  29  (5)  1648.  —  Paul  Allistre  gr.  R.  N.  his  dwellhi£-h.  taken  in 
execution  of  a  judgment  agt.  Richd.  Straine,  land  of  Thos.  Lake  SW,  Arthur  Perry  NE, 


APPENDIX. 


799 


Robt.  Wing  NW,  the  Cove  SE,  in  breadth  31  ft.,  together  with  the  land  and  wharf  to  sd. 
house  belonging;  by  deed  10  (7)  1650. 

Fletcher,  Mr.  Roger.  —  Jeremy  lloutchin,  tanner,  gr.  R.  F.,  late  of  London,  merch.,  his 
dvvell-h.  garden  and  orchard,  and  tan-pits,  Benj.  Thwing  S,  Jno.  Ruggle  and  Wid.  llunne 
E,  Sudbury-st.  W,  the  Lane  N  ;  also  a  pel.  of  land,  Jno.  Newgate  SW,  Mrs.  Staughton  NW, 
Highway  NE,  Thos.  Ludkin  SE  ;  by  deed  2G  (4)  1646  ;  ackng.  same  day  bef.  Mr.  Richd.  Bel- 
lingham. 

Busbie,  Nicholas.  —  Edmd.  Jacklin  gr.  N.  Busbie,  worsted  weaver,  dwell-h.  and  garden,  abt. 
£  a.,  Edmd.  Dennis  N,  Wm.  Townsend  and  the  High-st.  E,  Edmd.  Jacklin  W  ;  by  deed  22 
(G)  1646,  ackn.  bef.  Gov.  Jno.  Winthrop,  Esq. 

Hailestone,  Willlam. —  Edwd.  Fletcher  gr.  W.  Hailestone,  late  of  Taunton,  tailor,  pt.  his 
dwell-h.,  viz.  the  N  end,  being  13  ft.  N  and  S,  26  ft.  E  and  W,  or  thereab.,  with  £  his  gar- 
den, Thos.  Painter  N,  High-w.  E,  Nathl.  Woodward  and  Edwd.  Fletcher  S,  the  High-st. 
and  Edwd.  Fletcher  W  ;  by  deed  29  (6)  1646  ;  ackn.  bef.  the  Gov.  same  day. 

Siirtmptox,  Henry.  — 28  (7)  1646.  Anth.  Stoddard  and  Jno.  Leverit  sold  H.  Shrimpton,  bra- 
zier, dwell-h.  and  garden,  the  Water-st.  S,  the  New-st,  E,  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson  W,  Jno.  Par- 
ker N  ;  by  deed  9  (5)  1646.    Ackn.  26  (7)  1646,  bef.  Jno.  Winthrop,  Gov. 

Page,  Abraham.  —  Jno.  Stevenson  gr.  his  house  and  yard  to  A.  P.,  Nathl.  Bishop  E,  the 
Fort-st.  N,  Robt.  Reinold  S  and  W  ;  by  deed  22  (8)  1646.  Ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Jno.  Winthrop, 
Gov.,  same  day.  — This  is  sold  to  Jno.  Hansett. 

Hansett,  John.  —  Abra.  Page  gr.  Jno.  H.,  of  Roxbnry,  house  and  yard  in  Boston,  Nathl. 
Bishop  E,  the  Fort-st.  N,  Robt.  Reinold  S  and  W  ;  by  deed  28  (8)  i646.   Ackn.  as  above. 

Usher,  Hezekia.  — Edmund  Jackson  gr.  H.  TJ.  his  house  and  garden,  Mr.  Jno.  Wilson  N  and 
E,  the  Marketstead  S,  Jno.  Coggan  W  ;  25  ft.,  front  on  the  St.  40  ft.  deep  ;  by  deed  1  (12) 
1646.   Ackn.  bef.  Jno.  Winthrop,  Gov.   2  (12)  1646. 

Wicks,  William.  — 12  (1)  1646.  Jno.  Sweete  gr.  Wm.  W.  house  and  garden,  Thos.  Ankor 
SE,  Chr.  Stanley  SW  and  NE,  by  deed  25  (12)  1644.  Ackn.  12  (1)  1646,  bef.  Gov.  Win- 
throp. 

Phippeni,  Joseph.  — House-plot  wh.  was  formerly  Anchor  Ainsworth's,  and  by  Hen.  Rashley, 
attorney  to  sd.  Anchor,  sold  to  J.  P.,  by  deed  30  (1)  1647.   Ackn.  bef.  Gov.  Winthrop. 

Jephson,  John.  — Jas.  Oliver  by  virtue  of  will  of1  Jno.  Oliver,  decsd.,  gr.  J.  J.  the  house  and 
garden  formerly  Jno.  Oliver's ;  Val.  Hill  SE  and  NE,  the  St.  NW,  Jno.  Pierce  and  Jno. 
Knight  SW  ;  as  also  the  lot  of  Thos.  Marshall  wh.  (for  1  rod  length  abutteth  on  the  SW,  at 
the  S'ly  end  of  Jno.  Knights  and  Joseph  Pierce's  lot)  ;  by  deed  30  (2)  1647.  Ackn.  same 
day  bef.  the  Gov'r. 

Anderson,  John.  — Edwd.  Grosse  gr.  John  A.,  shipwright, his  dwell-h., next  Geo.  Harlsall's, 
as  by  deed  1  (3)  1647.   Ackn.  bef.  Gov'r.  20  (3)  1647. 

Smith,  Francis.  —  Edmd.  Jacklin  gr.  F.  S.  ab.  1£  a.,  by  him  formerly  purchsd  of  Danl.  Maud 
and  Richd.  Cooke,  Wm.  Aspinwall  N,  the  Common  W,  Richd.  Sherman  S,  Wm.  Townsend, 
Edmd.  Jacklin,  Edwd.  Dennis  and  Eph.  Pope  E  ;  by  deed  22  (3)  1647  ;  bef.  Wm.  Aspin- 
wall, N.  P.  — Richd. Sherman  gr.  F.  S.  ^  a.,  sd.  Fra.  Smith  N,  the  Common  W,  the  St.  S, 
Isaac  Parker  E  ;  by  deed  22  (3)  1647  ;  bef.  W.  A.,  N.  P.  —  Wm.  Hudson,  Jr.,  gr.  Fr.  Smith 
his  pt.  in  the  dwell-h.  of  Wm.  Hudson,  Sen.,  being  £46  (the  whole  being  £130)  ;  by  deed 
12  (7)  1648  ;  W.  A.,  N.  P.  — John  Milom,  cooper,  gr.  F.  S.  his  pt.  in  the  same,  £40  ster- 
ling, deed  29  (12)  1637.  —  Wm.  Chamberlaine  assignd  F.  S.  his  house  and  ground,  formerly 
bo't  of  sd.  Francis  ;  the  Lane  N,  High-st.  E,  Richd.  Carter  S,  the  Common  W  ;  assignmt. 
5  (11)  1648.  — 18  (2)  1651.  Ambrose  Leech  gr.  F.  S.  land  in  breadth  bet.  the  house  wh. 
is  Joseph  Wormall's  and  the  land  of  sd.  Francis,  being  at  the  St.  8  or  9  ft.,  and  so  accord- 
ing to  the  range  by  the  end  of  sd.  Wormall's  house  to  the  wharf  or  Cove  ;  by  deed  16  (2) 
1651.   Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Clarke,  Arthur. — Henry  Pease,  planter,  gr.  A.  Clarke,  carpenter,  land,  42£  ft.  wide  on 
front,  and  8£  long  on  SW  side,  the  other  side  91£,  and  the  end  38  ft.  ;  bnd.  SE  by  the 
Street,  Mrs.  Paine  SW,  his  own  lot  NE  and  NW  ;  by  deed  23  (4)  1647.  Ackn.  bef.  Mr. 
Nowel,  5  (5)  1647.  — Wm.  Tyng  gives  £  his  5  rods,  bet.  Goodm.  Fippenys  and  the  bridge  to 
his  cousin  Jno.  Francknlyn,  forever  ;  dated  15  (11)  1652.  — Testimony  of  Wm.  Francklin  a. 


800  APPENDIX. 

ab.  45  ;  being  by  occasion  at  Mr.  Wni.  Tyngs  house  upon  15  (11)  1652,  heard  sd.  Tyng 
say  £  the  5  rods  before  the  highway  bet.  the  Bridge  and  goodm.  Fippenies  he  did  give  his 
cousin  Jno.  Francklin,  and  would  confirm  it  by  deed  ;  this  on  oath  1  (12)  1652,  before  Mr. 
Hibbins.  — This  deed  of  gift  within  written  by  Capt.  Wm.  Tyng's  owne  hand,  I  "Wm.  Phil- 
lips, Jr.,  testify  that  it  was  did.  to  my  bro.  Jno.  Francklin  by  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  in  my  prence. 
Wits,  my  hand  this  1  (12)1652. 

Lippincot,  Richard.  —  Wm.  Hailestone,  tailor,  gr.  Richd.  L.,  barber,  his  house  and  garden, 
Thos.  Painter  N,  the  High-st.  and  Edwd.  Fletcher's  garden  W,  the  Highw.  E,  Nathl.  Wood- 
ward E,  Edwd.  Fletcher  S  ;  by  deed  31  (5)  1647.    Ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Endecot  10  (6)  1647. 

Vyall,  John.  —  House  and  garden  of  £  a.,  Richd.  Woodhouse  E,  Highway  W,  Geo.  Griggs 
N,  the  Marsh  and  Cove  S. 

Browne.  William. —  Thos.  Foster  gr.  W.  B.,  late  of  Salem,  his  house  and  garden,  Jona.Ne- 
goos  E,  Geo.  Griggs  N,  Richd.  Woodhouse  W,  the  Cove  S ;  by  deed  13  (8)  1647.  Ackn.  bef. 
Gov.  same  day. 

Beamont,  Thomas. —  Thos.  Foster  gr.  T.  B. ,  of  London,  mariner,  49  a.  at  Mount  Wolaston,  Ath- 
erton  Haugh  N,  Benj.  Keaine  W,  Fra.  Lyle  S,  Nath.  Williams  and  Fra.  Lyle  E  ;  bv  deed  9 
(8)  1647.  Acknowl.  bef.  Gov.  29  (8)  1647.  —Also  he  gr.  a  highway  of  6  ft.  bet/Barnab. 
Fawer,  James  Mattox,  Arthur  Perry  and  his  own,  at  the  head  of  the  lots,  14  (1)  1648. 

Chamberlaine,  William.  — Fra.  Smith  gr.  Wm.  C.  his  house  and  garden,  with  the  shop  and 
out-housing,  the  Lane  N,  the  Common  W,  High-st.  E,  Richd.  Carter  S  ;  by  deed  30  Oct.  1647. 
Ackn.  9  (9)  1647,  bef.  Mr.  Hibbins. 

Fawer,  Barnabas.  —  Val.  Hill  gr.  B.  F.  house-lot,  the  Cove  SE,  the  Lane  NE,  Jas.  Mattocks 
SW,  his  own  NW,  by  deed  23  (9)  1646.    Ackn.  bef.  Wm.  Hibbins  14  (7)  1647. 

Mattox,  James.  —  Val.  Hill  gr.  J.  M.  a  house-lot,  Arthur  Perry  SW,  the  Cove  SE,  Barnabas 
Fawer  NE,  his  own  land  NW ;  by  deed  23  (9)  1646.  Ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Wm.  Hibbins  14  (1) 
1618  :  he  also  gr.  a  high-way  of  6  ft.  at  the  head  of  the  lots  of  Bar.  Fawer,  Jas.  Mattox 
and  Arthur  Perry,  14  (1)  1647. 

Turner,  Robert.  — Val.  Hill  gr.  R.  Turner,  shoemaker,  house  and  garden,  Thos.  Buttolph  N, 
Thos.  Hawkins  S,  John  Biggs  W,  the  Street  E  ;  by  deed  1  (10)  1644.  Ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Bel- 
lingham  10  (2)  1648. 

Clarke,  Christopher.  ■ — Nichls.  Willis  gr.  C.  C,  mariner,  his  house  and  garden,  Jno.  Button 
SW,  the  Street  E,  Thos.  Painter  N'ly,  Jas.  Everill  W'ly ;  by  deed  12  (3)  1648.  Wits.  Wm. 
Aspinwall,  Jas.  Allison. 

Nash,  James.  —  John  Milom  gr.  Jas.  N.,  of  Weymouth,  marsh  40  ft.  wide,  front,  the  Mill 
Creek  SW,  the  High-w.  NW,  Mr.  Wm.  Tyng  NE  and  SE.  as  far  as  low-water  mark ;  by 
deed  7  (4)  1648.    Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Lake,  John.  — 14  (4)  1648.  Richd.  Hogg  gr.  J.  L.  his  house  and  garden,  John  Marshall  S, 
Nathl.  Eaton  N,  Amos  Richardson  and  Wm.  Hudson  E,  the  High-st.  W  ;  by  deed  21  (8) 
1645.  Wit.  Philemon  Pormort.  —  Sold  to  Thos.  Wiborne. — Thos.  Wiborne  gr.  J.  L.  11 
perches,  m.  or  1.,  Robt.  Reinolds  N  and  E,  Edwd.  Fletcher  S,  the  High-st.  W  ;  by  deed  26 
(4)  1648.    In  pres.  of  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Wiborne,  Thomas.  —  John  Lake  gr.  T.  W.  his  dwell-h.  and  garden,  John  Marshall  S,  Nathl. 
Eaton  N,  Amos  Richardson  and  Wm.  Hudson  E,  the  High-st.  W  ;  by  deed  14  (4)  1648.  Bef. 
Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Phillips,  John. —  John  Milom  gr.  J.  P.  his  dwell-h.,  shop  and  garden,  John  Hill  NE,  the  Lane 
SW,  Thos.  Yow  NW,  the  Cove  SE,  by  deed  16  (4)  1648.   Before  Wm.  Aspinwall,  N.  P. 

Browne,  Henry.  —  Wm.  Douglas  gr.  H.  B.,  of  Limehouse,  mariner,  pt.  of  his  house-lot,  abt. 
56|  perches,  in  front  at  the  sea  31  ft.,  in  front  to'rd  the  Street  abt.  5  rod  3  ft.,  Joseph  Bas- 
ter,  the  River  and  Wm.  Douglas  NE,  Wm.  Douglas  and  the  Street  SE,  Wm.  Phillips  and 
SW,  Joseph  Baster  and  Thos.  Anchor  NW  ;  by  deed  20  (4)  1648.     W.  A.,  N.  P. 

Douglas,  William.  — Walter  Merry,  in  behalf  of  self  and  Thos.  Anchor,  gr.  W.D.,  cooper, 
dwell-h.  bet.  the  lots  of  Jno.  Sweete  and  Jno.  Seabury,  with  the  shop  that  was  Thos.  An- 
chor's, and   ground  thereto  belong.  ;  by  deed  1  (3)  1646.    Ackn.  bef.  Mr.  Bellingham,  15 


AI'I'UNDIX. 


801 


(4)  1648.  Walter  Merry  gr.  W.  I),  one  little  house  with  the  house  late  in  tenure  of  Jno. 
Nowgrove,  adjoining  the  former  ;  by  deed  12  (1)  1017.  Aden.  lid'.  Mr.  Hdlingliam  15  (1) 
1G48. 

Baker,  John.  —  1  (5)  1G48.  Jos!'|>li  Phfppani  gr.  Jno.  B.  £  his  houseJot  20  ft.  wide,  Thos. 
Savage  S,  Wro.  Phillips  W,  sd.  Phippeni  N,  the  Bay  E  ;  by  deed,  dlvd.  in  pres.  W.  A.,  N.  P. 

Davies,  William.  — Val.  Hill  gr.  Wm.  Davies,  apothecary,  abt.  4  a.  in  the  New-field,  Jas. 
Pen  N,  Jno.  Biggs  and  Jas.  Pen  W,  Robt.  Turner  E,  Thos.  Buttolph  S  ;  by  deed  2  (G)  1048. 
Win.  A.,  N.  P. 

Bennet,  Richard.  —  Wm.  Phillips  and  wf.  Susan  gr.  R.  B.  2  or  3  a.  in  the  Mill-field,  their 
own  land  NW,  SW  and  NE,  Riehd.  Bennet  and  Wm.  Phillips  SE  ;  by  deed  20  (0)  1048  ;  bef. 
W.  A.,  N.  P.  —  Thos.  Clark,  inerch.  gr.  R.  B.  £  a.  in  the  Mill-field,  the  farm  and  barn 
yard  of  sd.  Riehd.  NE,  the  St.  SE,  Wm.  Phillip  SW  and  NW,  by  deed  12  (1)  1650  ;  bef. 
Wm.  A.,N.  P. 

Straine,  Richard.  —  Val.  Hill  gr.  R.  S.  abt.  1  a.,  Mr.  Nathl.  Eldred,  Mr.  Jno.  Oliver  and  the 
High-w.  SW,  Arthur  Perry  NW  and  NE,  the  great  Cove  SE  ;  by  deed  27  Aug.  1648.  Ackn. 
by  Mr.  Hill  bf.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  25  (7)  1648.    Wits.  Henry  Shrimpton,  Thos.  Bomsted. 

Michell,  George.  — Joseph  Phippeni  gr.  G.  M.  house  and  lot,  Capt.  Thomas  Hawkins  N,  Jno. 
Baker  S,  the  Bay  E,  Wm.  Phillips  W  ;  deed  10  (8)  1648  ;  bef.  W.  A.,  N,  P. 

Langdon,  John. — Nathl.  Woodward,  Jr.,  gr.  J.  L.  hisdwell-h.  and  garden,  Riehd.  Waite  S, 
Edwd.  Fletcher  N,  Nathl.  Bishop  E,  the  High-st.  W  ;  deed  16  (8)  1648  ;  bef.  Wm.  A.  and 
Robert  Button. 

Rice,  Joanes.  —  Robert  Burnam  gr.  Jones  Rice  a  house-lot,  Robt.  Burnam  S,  old  Rawlins  N, 
theHighw.  E,  Wm.  Phillips  W  ;   by  deed  27  (9)  1648  ;  bef.  Wm.  Aspinwall,  Not.  Pub. 


APPENDIX. 


NO.   II. 

ANCIENT     OBJECTS     AND     LOCALITIES. 

To  do  full  justice  to  this  department  of  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston  would 
require  a  volume  of  considerable  magnitude,  at  the  present  time,  and  one  of  far  greater  com- 
prehensiveness, at  the  end  of  fifty  years  from  now,  provided  the  spirit  or  organ  of  destructive- 
ness  should  gather  strength  in  time  to  come,  as  it  has  for  some  fifty  years  past,  among  those 
who  have  the  power  to  exercise  it.  I  refer  to  the  continual  changes  of  the  names  of  Streets, 
Lanes,  Alleys,  &c.  Not  but  what  changes  are  sometimes  necessary  and  highly  proper.  But 
reference  is  here  made  to  those  changes  of  names  having  no  other  foundation  than  a  whim,  for 
which  no  good  reason  has  been  or  ever  can  be  assigned.  For  example  ;  what  possible  advan- 
tage could  be  expected  from  changing  Pudding-lane  to  Devonshire-street?  There  should  be 
a  statute  imposing  a  penalty  for  every  such  unreasonable  proposal.  It  would  be  my  decision, 
in  the  case  of  Pudding-lane,  that  the  culprit  should  never  be  allowed  again  to  taste  any  more 
pudding  "  during  his  natural  life  "  !  Such  innovators  do  not  consider  that  they  are  destroy- 
ing all  historical  associations  ;  that  they  make  the  task  of  the  historian  an  endless  one  ;  that 
they  insult  the  valuable  citizen  who  undertakes  to  make  correct  Directories,  and  confound 
and  confuse  every  stranger  who  honors  the  City  by  his  presence. 

Who  does  not  take  sincere  pleasure  in  reading  any  portion  of  English  history,  when  the 
scene  is  laid  in  London,  to  meet  with  the  well-known  names  of  Temple-bar,  Cheapside,  Thread- 
needle-street,  Charter-lane,  Old  Bailey,  Bolt-court,  Soho,  Distaff-lane,  Leadenhall-street,  Shad- 
well,  Mile-End,  Pall-Mali,  &c.  &c?  Many  of  these  have  come  down  from  a  period  not 
reached  by  records,  and  nothing  would  more  displease  the  good  substantial  citizens  of  that 
Metropolis  than  a  proposition  to  have  any  of  them  obliterated,  or  others  substituted  in  their 
stead.     So  it  is  hoped  it  will  soon  be  in  Boston. 

The  following  list  is  but  a  meagre  abstract  of  a  MS.  collection  of  much  extent,  and  is  all 
that  room  can  possibly  be  spared  for  in  this  Appendix ;  but,  as  meagre  as  it  is,  it  has  cost 
great  labor,  and  it  is  believed  it  will  be  found  useful.  My  general  plan  was  to  give  all  the 
names  which  had  gone  out  of  use,  and  to  show  what  the  present  names  are  of  those  places  and 
objects  once  known  by  other  names  ;  also,  to  give  the  names  now  borne  which  were  early 
bestowed  or  acquired.  In  many  instances  I  have  fixed  the  dates  of  origin  and  change.  This 
could  be  done  in  a  majority  of  cases,  but  has  been  only  partially  attempted  in  this  brief  analy- 
sis. Hence  completeness  must  not  be  looked  for,  and  exactness  is  only  approximated  through- 
out. It  is  possible  I  may  carry  out  my  plan  at  some  future  day,  in  a  separate  volume  ;  but  I 
make  no  promise.  I  may  also  make  a  supplement  to  this  Article,  at  the  end  of  my  second 
volume,  should  I  publish  another.  This  will  depend  on  the  countenance  of  the  Public,  and 
the  continuance  of  health. 


Adams  Street.  —  That  part  of  Eilby-st.  from  Liberty  sq.  to  Milk-st.  1806  to  1825. 

Adams'  "Wharf.  —  Owned  by  Samuel  Adams,  father  of  Gov.  Saml.  Adams.     On  maps  from 

1722  to  1777.     Now  Tileston's  wharf. 
Admiral  Vernon  Tavern.  —  In  King-st.    In  1743,  Peter  Faneuil  had  a  warehouse  opposite. 

About  this  time  it  was  kept  by  Richd.  Smith.     In  1775,  it  was  kept  by  Mrs.  Mary  Bean. 

The  sign  was  a  portrait  of  Admiral  Vernon.     Its  site  was  near  highwater-mark. 
Aikin's  Lime-kiln.  — In  Lynn-st.  at  Lyme-alley,  in  1732. 
Alden's  Lane.  — So  named  from  Capt.  John  Alden.     See  p.  500. 
Alford's  Corner.  —  Cor.  Century  and  Beacon  sts.  1728. 


Al'PENDIX.  803 

Alford's  Wharf.  —The  next  N.  of  tho  foot  of  King-st.  in  1673.     Butler's  in  1769. 

Allen's  Corner.  —  In  Ann-st.  eorner  of  Wentworth's  lane,  1732. 

Allen's  Farm  House.  —  Northerly  end  of  Green-st.  in  1708. 

Allen's  Wharf.  —  At  the  South  End,  foot  of  Allen's  lane,  next  S.  of  Bennet-st.  1777. 

Almshouse.  —The  Town  appointed  persons  to  receive  Capt.  Keayno's  legacy  of  £100,  and  Mr. 

Webb's  of  £100,  with  several  other  gifts,  for  erecting  an  Almshouse,  and  to  agree  with  work- 
men to  erect  one,  31  (1)  1662.     It  was  burnt  in  1682,  on  what  is  now  called  Park-st.     One 

was  built  in  1800,  at  the  head  of  Loverett-st.,  and  called  the  New  Almshouse.     This  stood 

25  years.     Deer  Island  is  now  its  location. 
Almshouse  Wharf.  — Near  the  Almshouse  at  Craigio's  Bridge. 

American  Coffee  House.  —  In  King-st.  1774,  whore  the  Massachusetts  Bank  now  is. 
Amory's  Wharf.  —At  tho  East  end  of  Castle-st.,  1777,  on  which  Amory  had  a  still-house. 
Anchor  Tavern.  —  Committees  of  the  General  Court  used  to  meet  there,  1601. 
Ann  Street.  — So  named  in  honor  of  Queen  Anne.     In  1708,  "  from  the  Conduit  in  Union-st. 

over  the  bridge  to  Elliston's  cor.,  lower  end  of  Cross-st."     Changed  to  North-st.  in  1853. 
Anstram's  Corner.  —  Near  the  Conduit,  at  the  end  of  the  Fish  Market,  1708. 
Apple  Island.  —  Between  Snake  and  Green  Islands  ;  2£  miles  from  Long  wharf. 
Apthorp's  Island.  — A  part  of  Calf  Island. 

Armory.  — Mentioned  in  the  Town  Records  30  (3)  1659,  but  not  located. 
Asylum  for  Indigent  Boys.  —  Charter,  cor.  of  Salem-st.,  where  Gov.  Phips  once  lived. 
Athenaeum.  —  In  Pearl  near  High-st.  till  1848.     It  originated  in  1806. 
Atkinson  Street.  —  So  named  from  the  ancient  Atkinson  family.     From  Cow-lane  to  Milk- 

st.  in  1732.  Now  disgraced  by  the  name  of  Congress-st.,  1855. 
Auchmuty  Street.  —  Part  of  what  is  now  Essex-st.  —  See  p.  693. 
Auction  Hall. — "In  King-st.  close  by  the  Town-house."     John  Gerrish  occupied  it  in 

1769.  v 

Austin's  Long  Room.  —  In  King-st.  1736.     Auctions  were  held  in  it. 
Avery  Street.  —  Hog-alley,  Sheafe's  la.  —  See  Hog  Alley. 
Aves'  Corner.  —  Corner  of  Lynn-st.  and  Henchman's  lane. 
Back  Street.  —  From  Stanbury's,  nigh  the  Mill  Bridge,  to  Mr.  Gee's  cor.  in  Prince-st.  1708. 

Since  Salem-st. 
Baker's  Ship-Yard.  —  At  the  North  End,  next  N  of  Rucks,  1722.     So  1777. 
Ballantine's  Corner.  —  Hanover-st.  cor.  Marshall's  lane,  1732. 
Ballard's  Wharf. —  Near  the  North  Battery,  1769. 
Ball's  Alley.  —  Centre-st.,  p.  728. 

Barrett  Street. —  Wentworth's  lane.     In  1831,  from  83  Ann  to  Fulton-st. 
Barrett's  Wharf.  —  Near  the  foot  of  Cross-st.  1769.     See  p.  687. 
Barrill's  Corner.  —  In  Newbury-st.  cor.  Sheafe's  lane,  1732. 
Barton's  Point.  —  Termination  of  Leverett-st.     Formely  Blackstone's  Point. 
Bath  Street.  —  See  Horn  Lane. 
Battery  Alley.  —  From  Charter-st.  by  Mr.  William  Parkman's  into  Ship-st.,  nigh  the  North 

Battery,  1708.  —  From  Parkman's  Corner  in  Ship-st.  W  to  North-st.,  1732.    Battery-street. 
Battery  March.  —From  Hallaways  [Hollowell's]  Cor.  by  the  end  of  Milk-st.  by  the  Battery, 

to  the  lower  end  of  Gibb's  lane. 
Baxter's  Corner.  —  Summer-st.  cor.  South,  1708. 

Beach  Street.  —  The  way  below  Eliot's  Barn  in  Orange-st.,  Eastward  by  the  sea  side,  1708. 
Beacon.  —  In  the  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  Boston,  the  highest  of  the  hills  was  selected 

for  a  Beacon.     This  gave  the  name  of  Beacon  Hill.     See  p.  327-8. 
Beacon  Hill.  —  The  State  House  stands  upon  the  southern  part  of  Beacon  Hill.     It  was  at 

first  called  Centry  Hill.     See  page  685. 
Beacon  Street.  —  So  named  from  its  vicinity  to  Beacon  Hill,  over  the  southern  spur  of  which 

it  passes.     The  name  was  confirmed  by  the  Town  in  1732  ;  at  which  time  it  extended  only  to 

the  present  State  House  grounds. 
Beard's  Corner. — High-st.  cor.  Long-lane,  1708. 
Beer  Lane.  —  Bridge's  lane,  then  Richmond-st.  in  1708.     Shaw  says  it  was  anciently  called 

Bur-lane  ;  if  so,  it  was  a  corruption  of  Beer-lane,  so  named,  doubtless,  from  Beer-lane  in 

London. 
Belcher's  Lane.  —  Southerly  from  Gibb's  lane  on  Fort  Hill,  passing  by  Drinker's  to  the  Rope- 
walk,  1708.     High-st. 
Belcher's  Wharf.  —  Second  from  Long  whf.  N  side,  1722,  1769.     This  was  Gov.  Belcher's. 

There  was  another  Belcher's  whf.  at  the  North  End,  1727. 
Belknap  Street.  —  Belknap's  lane  1797,  Belknap-st.  1803,  Irving-st.  1855.     In  1800,  betw. 

the  late  Gov.  Hancock's  and  John  Joy's  to  Cambridge-st. 
Belknap's  Yard.  —  Between  Queen  and  Brattle  streets.     Cornhill-st.  was  cut  through  it. 
Bell  Alley.  —  From  Wadsworth's  cor.  in  Middle-st.  E  to  the  North  Ch.  1708  ;  so  in  1732. 

From  Mrs.  Barret's  cor.  E.  to  the  Old  North  Square,  1800. 
Belmont  Street,  -r-  Gibb's  lane,  which  see. 


804  APPENDIX. 

Bendall's  Dock.  —  Where  Quincy  Market  now  is.  So  named  from  its  principal  owner,  Edwd. 
Bendall.     There  was  also  a  Bendall-st.     See  p.  504. 

Bennet  Street.  — The  same  now.     Bennet's  wharf  was  at  the  foot  of  Bennet-st.  1777. 

Berry  Lane.  —  At  Hudson's  Point,  from  Leverett-st.  to  the  water,  1769.  Berry's  Ship-yard 
near  the  same,  1769.     So  1777. 

Berry  Street.  —  From  the  Meeting-house  in  Federal-st.  to  Atkinson-st.  It  hore  this  name 
till  1845.  It  is  now  Channing-st.  Said  to  have  been  named  Bury-st.  by  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, who  came  from  Bury  in  Lancashire,  England. 

Bethune's  Corner.  —  Northern  termination  of  Newbury,  cor.  Summer-st.  in  1732. 

Bible  and  Dove. —  Sign  at  N.  Proctor's  Bookstore,  1741. 

Bible  and  Three  Crowns.  —  Sign  at  T.  Henchman's  Bookstore  in  Ann-st.  1728. 

Bible  and  Heart.  — Heart  and  Crown  before  1775.  —  See  Heart  and  Crown. 

Bill's  Corner.  — In  Ship-st.  cor.  Whitebread  alley,  1732. 

Bird  Island.  —  About  a  mile  from  Long  wharf.  A  considerable  island  in  1630,  but  has  dis- 
appeared. In  1794  it  was  dry  at  low  tide.  It  was  between  Noddle's  and  Governor's  Islands. 
See  p.  183. 

Bishop's  Alley:  —  From  Clark's  cor.  in  Summer-st.  NW  to  Brown's  Cor.  in  Milk-st.  1732- 
1800.     Now  Hawley-st. 

Black  Boy  and  Butt.  —  Jonathan  Williams'  sign,  op.  the  Brazen  Head  in  Cornhill,  1733. 
It  existed  in  1760.     A  noted  wine-store. 

Black  Horse  Lane.  —  Mention  is  made  of  it  in  1698.  A  part  of  what  is  now  Prince-st.  It 
bore  the  original  name  as  late  as  1765. 

Blackstone's  Point.  —  Since  Barton's  Point,  which  see.  It  received  its  original  name  from 
Wm.  Blackstone,  the  first  settler  of  Boston.     See  p.  96. 

Blackstone  Street.  —  Formerly  Royal's  alley,  which  see.  The  great  Street  now  called  after 
Blackstone,  was  opened  about  1834. 

Blind  Lane.  —  From  the  New  South  Church  at  Church  Green,  westerly  to  Pond-st.  1708. 
So  in  1732.     Called  Bedford-st  in  1800. 

Blue  Anchor.  —  A  noted  tavern,  for  fifty  years  before  the  Revolution.  Locality  not  ascer- 
tained.    There  are  to  this  day  Blue  Anchor  signs  in  London. 

Blue  Ball.  —  The  sign  at  Josiah  Franklin's  shop  in  Hanover,  cor.  Union  st.,  where  it  is 
believed  Dr.  Franklin  was  born.     The  building  was  standing  in  1824. 

Blue  Bell.  —  The  house  of  Nathaniel  Bishop  was  so  called  in  1673.  Perhaps  in  Bishop's 
alley. 

Blue  Dog  and  Rainbow.  —  Sign  of  James  Vincent,  silk-dyer,  in  Cambridge-st. ,  near  the 
Bowling  Green,  1729.     Vincent  was  from  London. 

Blue  Gate. — See  Crown  and  Blue  Gate. 

Blue  Glove.  —  Sign  of  Philip  Freeman's  Bookstore  in  Union-st.  1762. 

Board  Alley.  —  Hawley-st.,  so  called  in  1792. 

Bolt's  Lane.  —  Changed  to  Winter-st.  1708.     Paved  about  1743. 

Borland's  Corner.  —  Milk-st.,  cor.  Long-lane,  1708. 

Boston  Aqueduct  Company.  —  Formed  1795,  for  bringing  water  from  Jamaica  Pond  in  Rox- 
bury  to  the  Town. 

Boston  Library.  —  Incorporated  1794.     In  Franklin-st.,  over  the  Arch. 

Boston  Museum.  —  "  Feb.  28th,  1804,  just  opened  by  Philip  Woods,  at  the  large  five-story 
building  over  No.  6,  north  side  of  the  Market."  In  1807  Mr.  Woods  was  at  No.  8  Market 
Square  with  his  Museum  ;  in  1809,  No.  5  Dock  Square.  This  Museum  was  discontinued  in 
1822.  —  See  Columbian  Museum. 

Boston  Pier.  —  Long  wharf  was  formerly  so  called. 

Boston  Stone.  —  A  well  known  point  in  Marshall-st.  since  1737.  The  Stone  was  originally  a 
paint-mill,  and  was  imported  from  England,  about  1700.  It  is  hollow,  and  of  a  conical 
form,  of  the  capacity  of  about  two  barrels.  The  grinder  to  it  was  for  a  time  lost ;  but,  being 
found  in  the  neighborhood,  was  restored  to  its  fellow.  It  is  of  cylindrical  form,  and  about 
one  and  an  half  foot  in  diameter.  Thus  fixed  it  stood  for  about  100  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  period  its  appearance  was  somewhat  changed  by  the  erection  of  the  present  buildings 
upon  the  site  adjacent  to  it.     It  was  sometimes  used  as  a  starting-point  for  surveyors. 

Boston  Theatre.  —  Stood  at  the  cor.  of  Federal  and  Franklin  sts.,  fronting  the  former.  Built 
1794,  burnt  Feb.  2d,  1798,  re-built  same  year.  This  was  Boston's  first  Theatre.  When  it 
was  built,  and  for  some  time  after,  there  was  no  building  very  near  it,  so  that  when  it  was 
burnt  no  other  structure  was  destroyed.  After  other  Theatres  were  built  in  the  Town,  this 
was  usually  called  the  Federal-street.  Theatre,  for  the  sake  of  distinction.  Its  walls  were  of 
brick.  A  distillery  occupied  the  site  on  which  it  was  built,  and  the  ground  was  all  open 
from  the  rear  of  the  Theatre  to  Hawley-st.,  and  used  as  a  pasture.  It  was  often  called  by 
play-goers,  Old  Drury.  It  stood  till  May,  1852,  when  it  was  sold,  and  the  ground  on  which 
it  stood  was  immediately  covered  with  capacious  warehouses.  The  last  play  acted  in  "  Old 
Drury  "  was  on  the  8th  of  May,  1852,  having  the  appropriate  name  of  Speed  the  Plough. 
It  had  been  on  the  decline  for  several  years,  owing  to  the  rise  of  other  houses.    Tt  came  near 


APPENDIX.  805 

being  destroyed  by  a  mob  on  the  19th  Dec.,  1825  ;  occasioned  by  the  imprudence  of  Edmund 
Kean.     The  Handel  and  Haydn    Six-,  hired  and  converted  it  into  a  music  hall,  and  named  it 

the  Odeon,  about  1837.    See  Odeon. 

Bowdoin's  CORNER.  —  Comer  of  Southack's  court  and  Trcniont-st.  1782. 

Bowe's  Coknkk. —  Union-st.  cor.  Salt-lane,  1708. 

Bowling  Green.  —  The  space  between  Oambridge-st.,  Lli<-  Mill  Pond,  and  Sudbury-st.  1722. 

Noylkton  Alley.  —  In  1770  a.  parage  leading  from  Oornhill  to  Brattle-st.   See  p.  777. 

Boylston  Street.  —  Anciently  Prog-lane,  whicn  see ;  also  p.  720. 

Brattle  Street —  (s  thus  described  in  1 70S  :  —  »  The  way  from  the  middle  of  Wing's  lane 
to  Mr.  Column's  Church,  thence  the  two  ways,  viz.,  southerly  to  Queen-st.  and  easterly  to 
Dock  Square."  In  1782:—  "From  Dock  Square  between  Hutchinson's  and  Colson'n  to 
Brattlc-st.  Church,  thence  S  to  Queen-st.  and  N  to  Wing's  lane."  In  1800  :  —  "  Between 
King's  Tavern  and  Tuckerman's  store  to  Dr.  Thacher's  Church,  thence  N  to  Wing's  lane." 

Brazen  Head,  The.  —  See  p.  050.     Long  a  noted  sign  in  ancient  Cornhill. 

Breedon's  Wharf.  —  Capt.  Thomas  Breedon  had  a  grant  of  a  wharf,  or  a  site  on  which  to 
erect  one,  prior  to  30  (4)  1002,  for  21  years.  At  this  date  the  Town  granted  him  an  addi- 
tional ten  years'  occupancy. 

Brewsters  The.  —  Islands  belonging  to  Hull,  to  which  Town  they  were  granted  about  1044 
by  the  Gen.  Court.  They  were  claimed  by  Boston  people  afterwards.  Contain  about  25 
acres. 

Brick  Alley.  —  Crooked-lane  formerly. 

Bridge's  Lane.  —  See  Beer  Lane. 

Bridewell.  —  See  Almshouse. 

Briscoe's  Corner.  —  Marlborough-st.  cor.  Rawson's  lane,  1708.     So  in  1732. 

British  Coffee  House. — In  King-st.  kept  by  a  Mr.  Ballard,  1762.     P.  731. 

Broad  Street.  — See  Marlborough-st. 

Broad  Street.  —  The  way  through  the  Town  from  the  Neck  was  at  first  called  the  Broadway, 
Broad-street,  and  often  simply  the  Way.     What  is  now  Washington-st. 

Broad  Street.  —  The  present  Broad-street  was  built  in  1806.  It  was  anciently  Flounder- 
lane,  which  see.  Broad  is  one  of  the  most  spacious  streets  in  the  city,  being  70  feet  in 
width. 

Bromfield  Lane.  — Rawson's  lane  till  1796.     Changed  to  Bromfield-st.  in  1829.    See  p.  598. 

Brookline.  — A  part  of  Boston  till  1705.     Anciently  Muddy  River.     See  p.  531. 

Brown's  Corner.  — In  Milk-st.  cor.  Bishop's  alley,  1732. 

Buck,  Sign  of  the. — Robert  Pattishall's  in  Marlborough-st.  1733. 

Buck  and  Breeches.  —  Joseph  Belknap's  sign  in  Ann-st.  near  the  Draw  Bridge,  1758. 

Bull's  Corner. — Summer-st.  cor.  Sea,  1708. 

Bull's  Wharf. — Foot  of  Summer-st. 

Bunch  of  Grapes  Tavern.  —  "In  King-st.  just  below  the  Town  House,  1724."  —  Kept  by 
Wm.  Coffin,  1731,  by  Col.  Joseph  Ingersoll  in  1764-9.  On  the  present  site  of  the  N.  Eng. 
Bank. 

Bury  Street.  —  Miscalled  Berry-st.,  which  see.     Also  p.  576. 

Butler's  Corner.  —  The  cor.  made  by  King-st.  and  Merchants'  Row,  1724. 

Butler's  Dock.  —  From  Merchants'  Row  to  Spear's  wharf. 

Butler's  Wharf.  —  Was  next  N.  of  Long  wharf  in  1722. 

Byles'  Wharf.  —  On  the  E  side  of  the  Neck,  near  Castle-st.  1777. 

Cabinet  and  Chest  of  Drawers.  —  Mr.  John  Maverick's  in  Micldle-st.  1733  ;  where  he  sold 
"  choice  good  silver  and  gold  lace,  silver  buttons,  thread,  and  cloths." 

Cambridge  Street.  —  So  named  in  1708,  and  then  described  as  "  leading  from  Emmons'  Cor- 
ner, passing  by  Justice  Lynde's  pasture,  and  thence  westerly  to  the  Sea." 

Carnes'  Court.  —  In  Ann-st.  1767. 

Castle  Island.  —  About  2£  miles  from  Long  wharf.  As  early  as  1634,  a  kind  of  fort  was 
erected  upon  it,  which  consisted  of  earthen  embankments.  Shaw  says  its  first  commander 
was  Capt.  Simpkins.  There  was  a  Capt.  Nicholas  Simpkin  at  a  later  period.  The  Island 
contained  about  eight  acres,  as  estimated  in  the  time  of  Capt.  Edward  Johnson.  On  this 
Island  has  always  been  the  chief  fortification  of  Boston.  On  the  accession  of  King  William 
it  was  named,  in  honor  of  him,  Castle  William,  or  Fort  William.  After  the  Revolution  it 
received  its  present  name,  Fort  Independence. 

Castle  Street.  —  In  1732,  crossed  Orange-st.  E  and  W,  and  extended  each  way  "  to  the  Sea." 
Now  E  and  W.  Castle-st. 

Castle  Tavern.  — In  Mackerel-lane,  cor.  Crab-lane.  Mentioned  in  1675,  and  in  1693,  as  of 
brick.     Not  a  tavern  in  1708. 

Castle  William.  —  The  fort  on  Castle  Island  was  so  called  from  the  accession  of  William  and 
Mary  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Causeway.  —  One  formerly  connected  the  N  and  W  portions  of  the  Town. 

Centre  Street.  —  From  Hanover  to  Ann,  laid  out  in  1773,  probably.     See  p.  728. 


806  APPENDIX. 

Centry  Haven.  — See  p.  514. 

Gentry  Hill.  —  Afterwards  Beacon  Hill. 

Centry  Street.  —  "  The  way  leading  from  Beacon-st.  between  Capt.  Alford's  land  and  Madam 
Shrimpton's  pasture,"  1708.  —  Other  streets  have  been  called  Centry  or  Century-st.,  as  a 
part  of"  Sudbury,  part  of  Queen,  and  the  whole  of  Park. 

Cerwithy's  Corner. — In  Prince-st.  cor.  Salem,  1708  ;  so  1732. 

Chambers  Street.  —  In  1732,  from  Cambridge  to  Green-st. 

Change  Alley.  —  Now  Change-avenue,  formerly  Pierce's  alley. 

Change  Avenue.  —  From  54  State  to  Market  Sq.  Formerly  Pierce's  alley,  then  Flagg-a.,  then 
Change-avenue. 

Channing  Street.  —Formerly  Bury,  then  Berry-st. 

Chardon  Street.  —  So  named  from  Peter  Chardon,  an  eminent  merchant,  who  lived  at  the 
cor.  Cambridge  and  Chardon  streets,  on  the  spot  where  the  Bowdoin  Square  Church  now 
stands. 

Charlestown  Bridge.  —  Extends  from  the  foot  of  Prince-st.  to  Charlestown,  built  in  1785-6  ; 
1503  feet  long,  42  broad,  said  to  have  cost  £15,000  "lawful  money."  Its  corporate  name 
is  Charles  River  Bridge.     See  p.  605. 

Charlestown  Ferry.  —  From  the  first  settlement  of  the  Town  to  the  completion  of  the 
Charles  River  Bridge,  a  Ferry  was  maintained  over  Charles  river  to  Charlestown,  nearly 
upon  the  same  line  now  occupied  by  the  Bridge. 

Charter  Street.  —  "  Northwesterly  from  Mr.  Rainsford's  cor.  in  North-st.  towards  the  Ferry- 
point  at  Charlestown,"  1708.  Same  in  1732.  So  named,  probably,  on  the  grant  of  the  new 
Charter  of  William  and  Mary. 

Chauncy  Place.  —  The  Place  leading  to  the  First  Church,  from  Summer-st.  now  (1856)  made 
a  part  of  Chauncy-st. 

Checkley's  Entry.  —  Ann-st.  cor.  Swallow's  alley,  1732. 

Cheever's  Wharf.  — "  Capt.  Cheever's  wharf  at  the  North  End,"  1746. 

Chelsea.  —  A  part  of  Boston  till  1738.     See  p.  604. 

Church  Square.  —  An  open  space  around  the  Old  or  First  Church,  when  it  stood  in  Cornhill, 
afterwards  Cornhill  Square. 

Clarke's  Corner.  —  Numerous  corners  have  borne  this  name  from  an  early  period  of  the 
Town's  history ;  and  several  at  the  same  time. 

Clarke's  Square.  —  The  space  afterwards  called  North  Square. 

Clark  Street.  —  Formerly  Foster-st.,  which  see.     From  337  Hanover  to  Commercial-st. 

Clarke's  Wharf.  —  A  little  to  the  south  of  the  foot  of  Fleet-st.,  1722.  Afterwards  Hancock's 
whf.,  noted  in  the  early  revolutionary  troubles. 

Clough  Street.  —  That  part  of  the  present  Tremont-st.  betw.  Boylston  and  Hollis  sts.,  1769 
to  1775. 

Coffin's  Field.  — All  that  oblong  space  betw.  Essex,  Short,  Summer  and  South  sts.  in  1777. 

Cold  Lane.  —  Now  Portland-st.  In  1708,  "  from  Hanover-st.  NW'ly  to  the  Mill  Pond."  In 
1732,  "  from  Harris'  cor.  in  Hanover-st.  to  the  Mill  Pond."  So  in  1800.  Called  Cole  lane, 
1709.     Changed  to  Portland-st.  before  1816. 

Cole's  Garden.  —  Afterwards  Boylston's.     See  p.  726. 

Colson's  Lane.  —  "  Near  the  Great  Trees  at  the  South  End,"  1746. 

Colson's  Stone  House.  —  In  Dock  Sq.  bet.  Cornhill  and  Brattle  sts.,  1732. 

Columbian  Museum.  —  Near  the  head  of  the  Mall,  cor.  Bromfield-lane.  Established  by  Daniel 
Bowen  in  1795.  He  commenced  an  exhibition  of  wax  figures  in  1791,  opp.  the  Bunch  of 
Grapes  in  Ann-st.  It  was  burnt  15  Jan.,  1803.  Mr.  Bowen  then  opened  another  at  the 
cor.  of  Milk  and  Oliver  sts.,  May  following.  In  1806,  Mr.  B.,  in  connection  with  Wm.  M. 
S.  Doyle,  erected  an  extensive  building  of  five  stories  in  Tremont-street,  bet.  the  Chapel 
burying-ground  and  Court-st.  This  was  burnt  16  Jan.,  1807.  Another  small  edifice  was 
soon  erected,  and  this  Museum  was  kept  up  till  1  Jan.,  1825,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  New 
Eng.  Museum.  Daniel  Bowen  died  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  29  Feb.  1856,  aged  96.  He  was 
uncle  to  the  late  Abel  Bowen,  publisher  of  the  Picture  of  Boston,  Snow's  History,  the  Bos- 
ton News-Letter,  &c. 

Common,  The.  —  Received  its  name  from  the  fact  of  its  being  common  land,  land  common  to 
all  the  inhabitants.  It  is  a  reservation  out  of  the  original  grant  to  the  Massachusetts 
Company  ;  and  was  held  by  the  Government  of  said  Company  for  the  common  benefit  of 
the  Company  and  their  successors.  It  was  originally  much  larger  than  it  now  appears, 
having  been  curtailed  by  grants  of  parts  of  it,  until  it  was  thought  by  those  in  ofiice  to  be 
sufficiently  reduced  in  size  to  be  in  just  proportion  to  the  settled  parts  of  the  Town.  See 
page  530.  There  were  several  common  fields  which  were  granted  to  the  people  from  time 
to  time.  The  wooden  fence  around  the  Common  was  burnt  for  fuel  when  the  British  troops 
occupied  the  Town  in  the  Revolution.  It  was  a  common  cow-pasture  within  the  present 
century. 

Common  Burying-ground. — South-westerly  part  of  the  Common,  set  apart  soon  after  the 
Revolution. 

Conant's  Island.  —  So  called  in  1632.  in  which  year,  April  3d,  it  was  granted  to  Gov.  Win- 


APPENDIX.  807 

tlirop  iov  a  garden,  and  after  that  it  went  by  tlie  name  of  the  Governor's  Garden,  then  Gov- 
ernor's Island. 
Concert  Hall.     See  p.  641. 
Concert  Room.  —  In  Wing's  lane,  1733. 
Conduit. — In  Dock  Sq.     See  p.  350. 
Congress  Street.  —  Formerly  Loverctt's  lane,  also  Quaker-lane.     It  received  the  name  of 

Congress-st.  1788. 
Cook's  Court.  —  The  way  back  of  the  South  Grammar  School,  1784. 
Cooper's  Allev.  —  From  Milk-st.  to  Water-st,  1708.     Afterwards  Miller's  lane,  then  Adams- 

st.  now  Kilby. 
Copper  Street.  —  From  the  foot  of  Levorett  by  the  water  to  Poplar,  1807  ;  changed  to  Brigh- 

ton-st.  in  1820. 
Copp's  Hill.  —  See  pages  141,  549-50. 
Corn  Court.  — "  The  way  leading  from  Justice  Palmer's  warehouse  in  Corn  Market  up  to 

Moorcock's  buildings,"  1708.     "  Opposite  the  S  side  of  Faneuil  Hall,"  1803.     Same  now. 

In  1784,  up  by  Dr.  Noyes'. 
Cornfield.  —  "The    sign  of  the    Cornfield,"  near   the    Mill    Bridge,   1733.     In  Union-st. 

1763. 
Cornhill.  —  Fort  Hill  was  so  called  at  one  time  ;  then  the  section  of  the  Main-st.  from  School- 

st.  to  "  Clark  the pewterer's  shop."     This  was  in  1708.     In  1732,  the  same  space  is  de- 
scribed, "from  Marlborough-st.  to  Colson's  stone  house."     The  name  was  transferred,  in 

1828,  to  what  is  now  Cornhill.     See  Market-st. 
Cornhill  Square.  — Church  Square  in  Cornhill  took  this  name  about  1809. 
Corn  Market. —  "  From  the  Sun  Tavern  in  Dock  Sq.  E.  to  Merchant's  Row,"  1732.     "  Be- 
tween King-st.  and  Dock  Sq.  on  Pierce's  alley."     It  was  the  same  in  1708. 
Cotton  Hill.  — So  named  from  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  John  Cotton.     See  Index. 
Court  Square. — In  King-st.  1763.     See  Half  Square  Court.     Since  the  completion  of  the 

New  Court  House  (now  the  City  Hall)  in  1811,  the  square  on  its  S  front,  has  been  so 

called. 
Cove.  —  The  several  coves  about  the  Town  are  simply  so  called  in  the  early  records,  but  in 

time  The  Cove  was  that  where  Quincy  Market  now  stands. 
Cowell's  Corner.  —  In  Newbury,  cor.  West  st.  1708.     So  in  1732. 
Cow  Lane.  —  "  From  Mory's  cor.  in  Summer-st.  NE  to  Fort  Hill,"  1708.     Changed  to  High- 

st.  about  1803. 
Crab  Alley.  —  "  The  way  back  of  late  Read's,  pump  and  bl.  maker,  to  Vose's  Wood- wharf," 

1800.     From  Liberty  Square  to  Broad-st.,  1817. 
Crab  Lane.  —  "  From  the  house  formerly  the  Castle  Tavern,  in  Mackerel-lane,  by  Halloway's 

wharf  to  the  sea,"  1732.     Part  of  what  is  now  Kilby-st. 
Creek  Lane.  —  "  From  Brooks's  cor.  in  Marshall's  lane,  by  Mr.  Bulfinch'sto  Scottow's  alley," 

1708.     "  From  Scottow's  alley  to  Boston  Stone,"  1800.     Since  Creek  Square. 
Creek  Square.  —  South  side  Mill  Creek,  back  of  Union  and  Ann  sts.,  since  1803. 
Crescent.  —  Franklin-st.  at  first  called  The  Crescent,  then  Franklin-place. 
Cromwell's  Head.  —  Tavern  in  School-st.,  kept  by  Anthony  Bracket  in  1760,  by  his  widow 

from  1764  to  1768,  by  Joshua  Bracket,  1789.     Building  No.  19  and  21  are  nearly  upon  the 

site. 
Crooked  Alley.  —  From  Cow  to  Belcher's  lane,  or,  "  by  Wharton's  house  in  Cow-lane  east- 
erly into  Harrison's  Ropewalk."    1708—1732. 
Crooked  Lane.  — In  1708,   "  the  way  from  Mr.  Powning's  cor.  by  Dock  Sq.  southerly  into 

King-st."     So  in  1769.     Now  Wilson's  lane. 
Cross  Street.  — "  From  the  Mill  Pond  south-easterly,  by  the  late  Dea.  Phillips'  stone  house 

to  the  sea,"  1708.     From  the  N  end  of  Ann-st.  to  the  Mill  Pond,  1732.     Now,  from  Com- 

mercial-st.  to  Endicott-st. 
Cross  Tavern.  —  On  the  cor.  of  Cross  and  Ann  streets,  1732. 
Crown  and  Blue  Gate.  — Mr.  John  Checkley's  sign,  1732,  "  over  against  the  W  end  of  the 

Town  House,"  where  he  sold  books. 
Crown  and  Comb.  —  Richard  Billing's  sign,  in  Cornhill  near  the  Post  Office,  1760. 
Crown  and  Sceptre.  —  A  noted  sign  in  Back-st.,  1768. 
Crown  Coffee  House.  —  At  the  foot  of  King-st.,  1724. 
Custom  House.  — Before  the  Revolution  it  stood  in  State-st.,  on  the  E  cor.  of  Royal  Exchange 

lane,  where  the  Union  Bank  now  stands.     Perez  Morton  afterwards  lived  there.     See  p. 

780. 
Daforn's  Corner.  —  See  Mackerel  Lane.     Mrs.  DafForn's  cor.  in  Milk-st.,  1708. 
Daggett's  Alley.  —  Battery-al.  so  called  as  late  as  1807. 
Dalton's  Lane.  — That  part  of  Leverett's  lane  bet.  Water  and  Milk  sts.     So  named  for  Peter 

Roe  Dalton,  the  first  Cashier  of  the  Massachusetts  Bank,  1784. 
Dalton's  Row.  —  In  Dalton's  lane. 
Dassett's  Alley.  —  From  Brattle  Sq.  southerly  to  Court-st.     Now  Franklin  Avenue.     See  p. 

520.    Miscalled  Dorset's  Alley  from  1803  to  about  1815,  when  it  received  its  present  name. 


808  APPENDIX. 

Davies'  Lane. — That  part  of  what  is  now  Beacon-st.  from,  the  State  House  yard  to  near 
Walnut-st.,  then  Allen's  orchard. 

D'Acosta's  Pasture. — The  space  betw.  Milk  and  Summer  sts.,  and  fr.  Bishop's  alley  to 
Long-lane,  1777. 

Deering's  Corner.  —  In  Cornhill,  cor.  Queen-st.  1708-1732. 

Deer  Island.  —  On  23  (12)  1662,  "  John  Shaw  having  assigned  his  lease  of  Deer  I.  to  Sir 
Thomas  Temple,  who  desireth  to  renew  said  lease,  which  is  granted  him  for  21  years."  It 
is  \\  miles  from  Long  whf.  The  New  Almshouse  has  been  located  here  since  its  removal 
from  Barton's  point,  in  1825. 

Devonshire  Street.  —  First  so  called  in  1784.  Previously  Pudding-lane,  which  see.  De- 
scribed in  1800,  "  from  Abiel  Smith's  in  State-st.  S  to  Water-st. 

Distillhouse  Square.  —  From  the  foot  of  Hawkins-st.,  round  by  Ivers,  to  Sudbury-st.  1800. 

Doane  Street.  —  First  so  called  in  1807.     Nearly  corresponding  to  what  was  Lobster-alley. 

Doble's  Wharf  —  Afterwards  Noble's  whf. 

Dock.  —  The  Cove  at  Dock  Sq.  was  The  Dock,  The  Cove,  6fc. 

Dock  Square.  —  The  place  around  The  Dock,  thus  laid  down  in  1708.  "  The  Sq.  from  the 
house  of  Eliakim  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  to  Mr.  Pemberton's  cor.,  on  one  side  ;  and  from  Ken- 
ney's  shop  to  Mr.  Meer's  cor.  on  the  other  side."  In  1732,  "  From  Colson's  stone  house  to 
the  Sun  Tavern,  thence  to  Jackson's  &  Brook's  cors.,  and  back  to  Hutchinson's." 

Dog  and  Pot.  —  An  ancient  sign  in  Fish-st.  at  the  head  of  Barrett's  whf. 

Dorset's  Alley.  —  See  Dasset's  Alley. 

Drake's  Wharf.  — Sea-st.  1826.     Formerly  Capen  &  Drake's. 

Draw  Bridge.  —  In  Ann-st.     Ordered  to  be  re-built  in  1686. 

Draw  Bridge  Street.  —  Afterwards  Ann-st. 

Dummer's  Corner.  —  "  Justice  Dummer's  cor.  in  King-st.,  cor.  Mackrill-la.,"  1708.  "  Dum- 
mer's  cor.  in  School-st.,  cor.  Governor's  alley,"  1732. 

Dyer's  Wharf.  —  On  "  the  back  of  the  Town  Dock."     Wm.  Stow  kept  a  store  there  1755. 

Eagle.  —  The  sign  of  Eleazer  Phillips'  Bookstore,  in  Newbury-st.  1712. 

Edes'  Ship-yard.  — Near  the  E  end  of  Flounder-la.  1722;  afterwards  Tileston's  wharf. 

Edwards'  Corner.  —  In  Fish-st.  cor.  Wood-lane,  1732. 

Elbow  Alley.  — In  1708,  from  Ann-st.  bet.  the  late  Capt.  Lake's  and  Nanney's  buildings,  to 
Mr.  Indicot's  shop  in  Cross-st.  It  was  a  quarter  of  a  circle,  cutting  off  the  S'ly  cor.  of  Ann 
and  Cross  sts.     Does  not  appear  in  maps  after  1769. 

Elephant.  —  Benjamin  Landon's  sign  at  the  lower  end  of  King-st.  1733. 

Eliot's  Corner.  —  In  Orange,  cor.  Esses  st.  1732. 

Ellis'  Corner. — In  Newbury,  cor.  Winter  st.  1732. 

Elliston's  Corner.  —  Lower  end  of  Cross,  cor.  Ann  st.  1708. 

Elm  Street.  —  Wing's  lane  till  1799.     From  Dock  Sq.  to  Hanover  st. 

Emmons'  Corner.  —  Cor.  Sudbury  and  Cambridge  sts.  1708.     So  in  1732. 

Endicott  Street.  —  Opened  about  1836.  From  Hanover  and  Salem  sts.  to  Charlestown 
Bridge.     A  part  of  the  ancient  Old  Way. 

Essex  Street.  —  Same  now.  Described  in  1708,  "  easterly  from  Dea.  Eliott's  cor.  in  Orange- 
st.,  by  the  late  Dea.  Allen's,  to  Windmill  point."     So  in  1732. 

Everton's  Corner.  — ■  Near  Scarlet's  whf.  in  Ship-st.  1708. 

Exchange.  —  The  lower  part  of  the  Town  House  formerly,  and  then  that  of  the  Court  or  State 
House. 

Exchange  Coffee  House.  — The  most  imposing  building  of  its  time,  having  cost  about  500,000 
dollars.  It  was  burnt  3  Nov.  1818,  and  rebuilt  not  long  after.  It  was  taken  down  in  1854, 
and  an  immense  free-stone  structure  erected  on  the  spot,  which  was  finished  in  May,  1855, 
and  called  The  City  Exchange. 

Exchange  Lane.  — Shrimpton's  la.  till  1803. 

Exchange  Street.  —  Exchange-lane  till  1816. 

Faireweather's  Corner.  —  Corner  of  School  and  Tremont  sts.  1708. 

Faneuil's  Corner.  —  In  King-st.  cor.  Merchants'  Row,  1732. 

Faneuil  Hall.  —  See  pages  610,  611. 

Faneuil  Hall  Square.  —  Same  as  Corn  Market,  which  see. 

Faust's  Statue.  —  Long  the  sign  of  a  printing-house  in  Newbury-st. 

Federal  Street.  —  Long-lane  till  1788.     See  p.  576. 

Ferry  Way.  —  Part  of  Lynn-st.  In  1708,  "  along  the  shore  from  Hudson's  point  SW'ly  to 
the  Mill  stream  by  Mr.  Gee's  building  yard."  ■  In  1732,  "from  the  W  end  of  Lynn-st. 
round  the  beach  to  Ferry  wharf." 

Ferry  Wharf.  —  At  Hudson's  point. 

Fields.  —  Ungranted  spaces  or  lots  belonging  to  the  Town,  during  the  early  period  of  its  set- 
tlement ;  as,  the  Fort-field,  at  or  about  Fort  Hill ;  the  Mill-field,  about  the  Windmill  on 
Copp's  Hill ;  the  New-field,  between  Cambridge-st.  and  Poplar-st.  on  the  Cove ;  Centry 
Hill  field,  at  Beacon  Hill,  &c. 

Fish  Market. — In  1708,  "  from  Antram's  cor.  nigh  the  Conduit,  NE'ly  by  the  side  of  the 


APPENDIX.  809 

Dock,  to  Mr.  Winsor's  warehouse. "  In  1732,  "  from  Pitt's  cor.  in  Ann-st.  round  the  Dock 
to  Pitt's  whf." 

Fisii  Street.  —  "  From  Mount  joy 'b  cor.  lower  end  of  Cross-flt.,  N'ly  to  the  sign  of  the  Swan,  by 
Scarlet's  whf.  1708."     North-st. 

Fitch's  Alley.  —  Sec  Pierce's  Alley. 

Fitciie's  Lane.  —  The  way  op.  Mrs.  Carter's  into  Cambridge-st.  1800.     See  Stoddard  Street. 

Fitche's  Corner.  — In  Union-st.,  end  of  Marshall's  lane,  1708.  So  in  1732.  Capt.  Fitch's 
cor.  in  King-st.  cor.  Pierce's  alley. 

Flagg  Alley.  —  So  called  from  1828  to  1840.  From  60  State-st.  to  Market  Sq.  Change- 
avenue. 

Flag-Staff.  —  A  noted  one  in  Liberty  Square,  called  Liberty  Pole,  and  at  Liberty  Tree  ;  one 
raised  on  the  Common  28  Juno,  1837,  120  feet  in  height. 

Fleet  Street.  —  In  1708,  "  from  Williams'  cor.  nigh  Mr.  Jonas  Clark's,  E'ly  to  the  Sea  by 
Scarlet's  whf."  In  1732,  "  at  the  N  end  of  Fish-st.  from  Scarlet's  whf.  W  to  the  upper  end 
of  Middle-st."  In  1800,  "  from  Scarlet's  whf.  to  Mr.  Murray's  meeting-house."  Now  (185G) 
from  349  Hanover-st.  to  Eastern  Rail-r.  whf.  Its  name  is  doubtless  from  old  Fleet-st.  in 
London. 

Flounder  Lane.  —  From  the  foot  of  Summer-st.  NE'ly  by  the  water,  "  with  the  turn  up  to 
the  Ropewalk,"  1708.  From  Bull's  to  Adams'  whfs.  1722.  So  1732.  Name  not  used 
after  1803.     Now  the  S  end  of  Broad-st. 

Fore  Street.  —  An  early  name  for  Ann-st.,  or  a  part  of  it ;  probably  the  part  opposite  Back- 
st.     I  do  not  find  it  so  called  upon  any  of  the  maps. 

Forts.  —  See  Fortification,  Fort  Hill,  Battery,  &c. 

Fort  Hill.  —  See  Index. 

Fort  Independence.  —  See  Castle  Island. 

Fort  Strong.  —  On  Noddle's  Island,  built  in  1814,  and  named  in  honor  of  Gov.  Strong. 

Fort  Warren.  —  On  Governor's  Island. 

Fort  William.  —  Or  Castle  William.     See  Castle  Island. 

Foster  Street.  — From  Richard's  cor.  in  Ship-st.  W  by  the  New  North  Ch.  to  North-st.  1732. 
Now  Clark-st. 

Foster's  Wharf.  — Next  S  of  Rowe's  whf.  ;  formerly  Wheelwright's. 

Four  Point  Channel.  —  Near  the  end  of  Long  wharf. 

Fox  Hill.  —  Several  small  knolls  were  known  by  this  name  in  early  times.  The  principal  is 
on  the  shore  of  the  Back  Bay,  laid  down  on  the  map  of  1722,  in  a  line  with  the  Great 
Tree  and  West-st.  —  On  a  map  of  1777  there  is  a  Fox  Hill  to  the  N  of  Beacon-st.  near  the 
water. 

Franklin  Avenue.  —  Formerly  Dassett's  alley.  Ben.  Franklin  served  his  time  in  a  printing- 
office  standing  at  the  head  of  this  alley  in  Court-st.  ;  hence  the  present  name.  The  change 
of  name  was  about  1815. 

Franklin  Place.  —  Laid  out  in  1792,  through  Greenleaf's,  formerly  D'Acasta's  pasture,  and 
was  built  as  it  now  appears  in  1793-4,  and  at  first  called  The  Crescent.     Now  Franklin-st. 

Franklin  Street.  —  From  47  Marlboro'  to  Hawley-st.,  formerly  Vincent's  lane.  Now  from 
184  Washington  to  Federal  st.     Name  applied  to  the  whole  in  1846. 

Frary's  Corner.  —  The  late  Capt.  Frary's  cor.  in  Orange-st.  and  Frog-lane,  1708. 

Freeman's  Wharf.  —  Near  the  foot  of  Sliding-alley  NE  of  the  Ferryway,  1792.     So  1769. 

Freemasons'  Arms.  —  Name  given  to  the  Green  Dragon  tavern  in  1764,  but  it  did  not  long 
obtain. 

Friend  Street.  —  Formerly  Friends-st.  Opened  before  1769.  "From  Noble's  cor.  to  the 
Mill  Pond,  1800." 

Frizzell's  Corner.  —  In  Garden  Court  in  1708. 

Frog  Lane.  —  "  From  the  late  Capt.  Frary's  cor.  [in  Orange-st.]  W'd  to  the  bottom  of  the 
Common,  with  a  turn  S'ly  down  to  the  sea,"  1708.  "  From  Well's  cor.  in  Orange-st.  W  to 
the  Sea  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common,"  1732.     Called  Boylston-st.  1809. 

Front  Street.  —  Built  in  1806-7,  near  three  fourths  of  a  mile  in  length,  perfectly  straight, 
and  70  feet  wide.  From  Rainsford's  lane  to  South  Boston  bridge.  Changed  to  Harrison- 
avenue  in  honor  of  Gen.  Harrison,  in  1841. 

Gallop's  Alley.  —  "  From  Fish  to  Middle  st.  bet.  land  of  John  Clark,  Esq.,  and  the  suc- 
cessor of  Samuel  Gallop,  deceased,"  1708.  Changed  to  Mechanic-st.  1825. 

Gallop's  Island.  —  Between  Lovell's  and  Rainsford's  islands,  six  miles  from  the  City.  Con- 
tained about  16  acres  in  1649,  and  then  belonged  to  Capt.  John  Gallop,  and  valued  at  £12. 

Gallows.  —  Before  the  Revolution  there  was  a  permanent  Gallows  on  the  Neck  near  the  pres- 
ent burying-ground,  and  on  the  E  side  of  the  highway. 

Garden.  —  See  Public  Garden. 

Garden  Court.  —  "  Northerly  from  Madam  Winsley's  cor.  betw.  Col.  Foster's  and  Mr.  Friz- 
zell's into  Fleet-st."  1708.  In  1732,  from  Bell-alley  cor.  North  to  Fleet-st.  Name  retained. 
See  p.  700. 

Garden  Street.  —  Laid  out  about  1800.  From  Cambridge  S  to  May  st.  1803.  Now  from 
114  Cambridge  to  Myrtle  st. 

102 


810  APPENDIX. 

Gardner's  Corner.  —  In  Fish-st.  cor.  Sun-court,  1732. 

Gat  Alley.  — Hiller's  lane,  sometimes  so  called. 

Gee's  Corner.  —  Prince,  cor.  Back  st.,  1732. 

Gee's  Ship-Yard.  —  At  the  foot  of  Prince-st.  1722.     So  1732. 

George's  Island.  — Six  and  an  half  miles  from  the  City. 

George  Street.  —  In  1732,  from  Beacon,  nearly  to  Cambridge  st.  In  1784,  from  Capt.  Mac- 
Kay's  still-house,  S'ly  by  Box's  to  Gov.  Hancock's  stables.     Now  Hancock-st. 

George  Tavern.  —  On  the  Neck,  near  Roxbury  line.  The  Gen.  Court  sat  there  in  1721. 
Simon  Rogers  kept  it  from  1730  to  1734,  in  which  last  year  (7  April)  he  died.  In  1769  it 
was  taken  by  Edwd.  Bardin  from  N.  York,  and  called  the  King's  Arms.  One  Gideon  Gard- 
ner preceded  him. 

Gibbin's  Ship- Yard.  —  On  the  E  side  of  the  Neck,  near  the  Fortification,  1722.     So  1777. 

Gibbon's  Court.  —  Out  of  Newbury-st.  W,  1784.     In  1816,  bet.  7  and  8  Newbury-st. 

Gibbs'  Lane.  —  From  Belcher's  to  Cow-lane,  1708.     Belmont-st.  1845. 

Gibbs'  Wharf.  —  Near  what  is  now  Fort  Hill  whf. 

Glidden's  Ship- Yard.  —  Near  Fish-st.  before  the  Revolution. 

Golden  Ball.  —  Dock  Sq.,  near  the  head  of  Green's  whf.,  1760. 

Golden  Cock.  —  In  Ann-st.  1733.  John  Cutler's  sign,  who  kept  hard  ware  "  over  against 
Dr.  Ashton's,  in  Marlborough-st."  1762. 

Golden  Eagle.  — In  Dock  Sq.  1758.    Kept  by  Lewis  Deblois  in  1769. 

Golden  Fleece.  —  In  King-st.  1749,  near  Mr.  Jotham  Maverick's.  Ebenezer  Lowell's  store 
in  1762. 

Golden  Key.  —  Nathaniel  Abrahams'  sign  in  Ann-st.  1761.    He  kept  English  goods. 

Governor's  Alley.  —  "From  Dummer's  cor.  in  School-st.  SW  to  Rawson's  lane,"  1732. 
Changed  to  Province-st.  in  1833. 

Governor's  Island.  —  See  Conant's  Island. 

Granary. — In  the  Common  where  Park-st.  now  is,  at  or  near  the  site  of  Park-st.  Church.  It 
was  a  long  wooden  building,  calculated  to  contain  12,000  bushels  of  grain. 

Gray's  Lane.  —  "  From  Belcher's  to  Cow-lane,"  1732.     Included  in  Atkinson-st.  1816. 

Gray's  Ropewalk.  —  In  the  vicinity  of  Atkinson-street. 

Gray's  Wharf.  —  Near  the  foot  of  Gray's  lane  in  1722,  then  called  Gray-alley.  Russell's 
wharf,  1794. 

Green's  Corner.  —  Queen-st.  cor.  Hiller's  lane,  1732. 

Green  Lane.  —  Salem-st.  was  so  called  at  one  period. 

Green's  Lane.  — A  part  of  what  was  afterwards  Atkinson-st. 

Green  Dragon.  —  Sign  of  a  noted  tavern  in  Union-st.  John  Cary  was  licensed  to  keep  it  5 
Oct.  1697.  Joseph  Kilcler  kept  it  in  1734,  who  came  from  "  The  Three  Cranes  "  in  Charles- 
town.     See  Freemasons'  Arms.     Its  last  vestiges  disappeared  about  1854. 

Green  Street.  —  "  The  way  on  that  side  of  the  livery-stable  in  Justice  Lynde's  pasture  to  Mr. 
Allen's  farm-house,"  1708.  "From  Wells'  cor.  in  Cambridge-st.  NW  to  Barton's  Point," 
1732. 

Greenough's  Alley. —  From  Lynn-st.  through  Greenough's  ship-yard,  SW  to  Charter-st.,  1732. 

Greenough's  Ship-Yard.  —  At  the  North  End,  foot  of  Greenough's  alley,  1732.     So  1777. 

Gridley's  Lane. — From  Belcher's  to  Cow-lane,  1732.  So  in  1708,  but  described,  —  "the 
way  from  John  Roberts'  house  in  Cow-lane,  E'ly  by  Capt.  John  Bonner's  into  the  rope- 
walk."     Changed  to  Gridley-st.  about  1824. 

Gridley  Street.  —  Formerly  Gridley's  lane. 

Griffin's  Wharf.  —  James  Griffin  kept  on  it  1760,  and  William  Griffin,  1769.  The  wharf 
where  the  Indians  destroyed  the  tea,  16  Dec.  1773.     Called  Liverpool  whf.  since  about  1815. 

Half  Square  Court.  —  "  From  King-st.  by  the  house  of  Isaac  Addington,  Esq.,  with  the  re- 
turn into  Pudding-lane,"  1708.  In  1732,  "from  Maccarty's  cor.  turning  into  Pudding- 
lane."     About  what  is  now  the  City  Exchange. 

Hallowell's  Corner.  — Milk,  cor.  Battery-march  st.,  1732 — 1769. 

Hallowell's  Ship- Yard.  — Between  the  foot  of  Milk  and  Battery-m.  st.,  1732 — 1769. 

Hallowell's  Wharf.  —  On  Crab-alley. 

Hamilton  Avenue.  —  Named  in  1823.  —  See  Quincy  Lane. 

Hamilton  Place.  — So  named  about  1806.     Here  stood  the  old  Manufactory-house. 

Hamilton  Street.  — So  named  about  1808.     Formerly  Sconce-lane. 

Hancock  Street.  — Named  for  the  Patriot  John  Hancock,  before  1800.  "  From  Joseph  Rip- 
ley's house  in  Cambridge-st.,  S'ly  by  B.  Austin's  to  the  late  Gov.  Hancock's  stables."   1800. 

Hancock's  Wharf.  —  Previously  Clark's  whf.,  which  see. 

Hanover  Street.  —  Between  Houchin's  cor.  and  the  sign  of  the  Orange-tree,  N'ly  to  the  Mill 
bridge,  1708.     Extends  now  from  Court-st.  to  Chelsea  ferry. 

Hanover  Square.  —  Corner  of  Essex  and  Newbury.     See  pp.  713,  716,  717. 

Harris'  Corner. —  In  Hanover-st.  cor.  Cold-lane,  1732. 

Harrison  Avenue.  —  See  Front-st.     Now  from  Essex  to  Northampton-st. 

Harrison's  Ropewalk.  —  See  Crooked  Alley. 


APPENDIX.  811 

Haurod's  Corner. —  In  Prince-st.  cor.  of  Salem,  1782. 

Hart's  Suit-Yard.  —  At   the   North   End.     Here  the  Continental  frigate  was  built,  about 

171»5. 
HARVARD  STREET.  —  Original  name  of  Hollis-st.      Harvard's  wharf  was  at  the  foot  of  it. 

Hat  and  Helmet.  —  The  sign  of  Daniel  Jones,  furrier.  Newbury-st.,  1758. 

Hugh's  Corner.  —  In  Marlborough-st.  cor.  School,  170*. 

Hawkins  Street.  —  From  Bill  and  Smith's  cor.  into  Cambridge-st.,  1732.  In  1800,  from  about 
the  middle  of  Sudburv-st.  to  Distill-house  Sq.      Familiarly  known  as  Tattle-st. 

Hawley  Street.  —  So  named  in  L800.     From  Trinity  Church  in  Summer-st.  to  Milk-st. 

Haymarket  Theatre.  —  A  large  wooden  building,  on  what  is  now  Tremont-et.,  just  N  of  the 
Winthrop  House,  open  12L>  Dee.  17' Mi  ;  said  then  to  he  the  most  spacious  and  convenient 
Theatre  in  America.  The  late  James  A.  Dickson,  a  well-known  merchant  in  Cornhill, 
then  made  his  first  appearance  upon  the  stage.  He  died  April  1st,  1853,  a*.  70.  It  con- 
tinued but  six  years,  being  then  sold  and  demolished  at  an  expense  of  700  dollars.  Great 
danger  Avas  apprehended  from  its  liability  to  take  fire.  It  took  it  name,  probably,  from 
being*  built  upon  the  site  of  a  hay-market. 

Heart  and  Crown.  — Sign  of  T.  Fleet's  printing-office,  cor.  Cornhill  and  Watcr-st.,  1748.  In 
1703,  Thomas  and  John  Fleet  kept  there.  They  published  the  Boston  Evening  Post,  with 
an  engraving  of  the  Heart  and  Crown  in  the  centre  of  the  heading.  After  the  Revolu- 
tion it  was  changed  to  the  Bible  and  Crown.     Now  124  Washington-st. 

Henchman's  Lane.  — From  Aves'  cor.  in  Lynn-st.  S  to  Charter-st.,  1732.  Changed  to  Hench- 
man-st.,  1850.     From  35  Charter  to  Commercial  st. 

High  Street.  —  Cow-lane.  Took  the  name  of  High-st.  1803.  "  The  High-st."  is  mentioned 
as  early  as  1645.     See  Index. 

High  Wat.  —  Several  of  the  principal  ways  were  so  denominated  during  the  early  settlement 
of  the  Town. 

Hiller's  Lane.  —  From  Pollard's  cor.  in  Brattle-st.  through  Mr.  Belknap's  yard  into  Queen- 
st.,  1708  ;  sometimes  Gay-alley.  In  1800,  from  Prentice's  cor.  by  Gore's  painting-yard  to 
Court-st.     Took  the  name  of  Brattle-st.  1821. 

Hill's  Wharf. —  Next  Scarlet's  in  1671 ;  another  at  the  foot  of  South-st.,  1732. 

Hog  Alley.  —  In  1708,  the  new  al.  bet.  Mr.  Blyn's  and  Durant's,  in  Newbury-st.,  W'ly  to  the 
Common.  An  attempt  to  shut  it  up  was  made  in  1763,  being  complained  of  as  a  nuisance  ; 
but  the  attempt  did  not  succeed.  It  soon  after  took  the  name  of  Sheaf's  lane,  which  it  bore 
till  1827.     Now  Avery-st. 

Hog  Island.  —  Bet.  Noddle's  isl.  and  Chelsea,  2i  miles  from  Long  whf.  June  4th,  1687.  "The 
lightning  awfully  shattered  a  tree  there."  Thomas  Cornell  sold  it  (or  3  a.  of  it)  in  1639 
to  Edwd.  Tyng. 

Holland's  Coffee  House.  —  Near  cor.  Howard  and  Court  sts.,  1723.  Ephraim  Holland  kept 
it  till  ab.  1830.     See  Pemberton  House. 

Hollis  Street.  —  Formerly  Harvard-st.     Changed  to  its  present  name  in  1731.     Page  589. 

Holyoke  Street.  —  From  Dr.  Byles'  house  to  Wm.  Foster's,  late  Powell's,  1784.    Tremont-st. 

Horn  Lane.  —  From  Milk,  N  to  Water  st.,  1708,  between  Maj.  Walley's  and  Mr.  Bridgham's 
land.  Bath-st.  1807,  on  account  of  the  baths  in  it.  See  Tanner's  Lams,  which  was  its 
proper  name.     Called  Horn-la.  from  its  crookedness. 

Houchin's  Corner.  —  N  cor.  Queen  and  Hanover  sts.,  1708. 

House  of  Industry.  —  At  South  Boston.  It  succeeded  the  old  Almshouse,  which  was  at  Bar- 
ton's Point,  ab.  1821. 

Howard  Street.  —  Formerly  Southack's  court,  which  see. 

Hudson's  Lane.  —  So  called  from  William  Hudson.  Between  Elder  Pen's  and  Mr.  Wilson's 
Garden,  1658.     Wing's  la.  1708.     Elm-st.  1799. 

Hudson's  Point.  —  The  extreme  NW  point  of  the  Town.     See  Index. 

Hull  Street.  —  Southerly  from  Snow  Hill  to  Salem-st.,  1708. 

Hutchinson  Street.  —  From  Cow-la.  to  Milk,  1732.     So  1796.    Pearl-st.  1800.   See  p.  699. 

Hutchinson's  Wharf.  —  Between  Clarke  and  Scarlet's  whfs.,  1722.     So  1777. 

Indian  Queen  Tavern.  —  In  Bromfield-la.  Had  a  sign  of  an  Indian  Queen  for  a  long  period. 
The  present  Bromfield  House  occupies  the  spot.  It  was  a  noted  stage-tavern  in  days  of 
stages.  Isaac  Trask  kept  it,  and  after  him  his  widow,  Nabby,  till  1816.  Then  the  late  well- 
known  Simeon  Boyden.     Preston  Shepard  in  1823. 

India  Street.  —  Built  about  1807. 

Inner  Temple.  —  In  Prison-lane,  1727.  The  name  was  probably  given  by  Caleb  Spurrier,  and 
continued  but  a  short  time. 

Island  of  Boston.  — *  All  N  of  Mill  Creek  was  formerly  so  designated. 

Ireland's  Wharf.  —  "A  good  wood  warffe,  near  the  North  Battery,  commonly  called  Ire- 
land's warffe,"  1729. 

Jackson's  Corner.  —  In  Dock  Sq.  at  the  head  of  Town  Dock,  1732.  There  was  at  the  same 
time  a  cor.  at  the  Mill  creek  in  Ann-st.  of  the  same  name. 

Jephson's  Corner,— -In  Marshal's,  cor.  Creek  lane,  1732. 


812  APPENDIX. 

Joylieu  s  Lane.  — From  Water  to  Milk  st.  1708,  "  the  name  by  which  it  hath  been  formerly 
known."     Written  Jolliff's,  1732.     Devonshire-st.  1796. 

Kennyr's  Corner.  —  In  Dock  Square,  1708. 

Kenrick's  Wharf.  —  On  the  E  side  of  Town  Dock,  1652. 

Kilby  Street.  —  Mackerel-la.  till  ab.  1769. 

King's  Arms.  —  The  George  Tavern  took  this  name,  1769.  See  George  Tavern.  In  1650 
Hugh  Gunnison,  vintner,  owned  a  house  "  known  by  the  name  of  the  sign  of  the  King's 
Arms,"  which  with  lands,  brew-house,  &c,  he  mortgaged  to  John  Sampson,  Henry  Shrimp- 
ton,  and  Wm.  Brenton,  for  £600.  In  1746,  John  Kneeland,  "  near  the  Town  Dock,"  had  a 
store  with  a  sign  of  the  King's  Arms. 

King's  Head.  —  Tavern  "by  Scarlet's  whf.,"  burnt  in  1691.  Rebuilt.  James  Davenport 
kept  it  1755,  or  another  of  the  same  sign,  and  his  widow  1758. 

King  Road.  — A  road-stead  for  ships  near  Castle  Island.     Now  President's  road. 

King  Street.  —  "From  Cornhill,  including  the  ways  on  each  side  of  the  Town-house,  east- 
erly to  the  Sea,"  1708.  "  From  the  W.  end  of  the  Town-house  to  Long  whf.,"  1732.  Called 
State-st.  in  1784. 

Kneeland  Street.  —  From  Orange-st.  to  the  water,  next  S  of  Beech-st.,  1777.  Kneeland's 
whf.  at  the  foot. 

Lamb  Tavern.  —  The  sign  of  the  Lamb  is  mentioned  as  early  as  1746.  In  1760  Col.  Doty's 
was  the  sign  of  the  Lamb.  In  1826,  Edward  Kingman,  Jr.,  kept  the  Lamb  Tavern,  396 
Washington-st.     It  was  discontinued  as  a  tavern  soon  after. 

Leverett's  Lane.  —  From  Maccarty's  cor.  in  King-st.  to  Elder  Bridgham's  warehouse  in 
Water-st.  1708.     After  1788,  Congress-st.     Called  at  one  time  Quaker-lane. 

Leverett  Street.  —  So  named  before  1769.    From  Tucker's  cor.  to  the  New  Almshouse,  1800. 

Leverett's  Wharf.  — ■  At  the  foot  of  what  is  now  State-st.,  on  the  S  side. 

Liberty  Hall.  —  About  Liberty  Tree.     P.  738. 

Liberty  Pole.  —  A  lofty  flag-staff  several  years  standing  in  Liberty  Sq.  Removed  about  the 
close  of  the  last  war  with  England. 

Liberty  Square.  —  The  space  at  the  termination  of  Kilby,  Water,  and  Adams  sts.  1803. 

Liberty  Tree.  —  Cor.  Essex  and  Newbury  st.  See  p.  693,  703.  It  was  cut  down  about  the 
last  week  in  August,  1775,  by  a  party  of  British,  led  by  one  Job  Williams.  One  of  the 
party  lost  his  life  by  accident  on  the  occasion.     It  made  14  cords  of  wood. 

Lighthouse.  —  Built  at  Beacon  Island,  1715.  See  p.  553.  One  on  Minot's  Ledge  was  de- 
stroyed in  a  terrible  storm  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  April,  1851,  and  two  men  in  it. 
Arrangements  to  rebuild  it  made  in  1855. 

Lighthouse  Tavern.  —  In  King-st.,  1718,  on  the  S  side  opposite  the  Town-house.  There  was 
one  at  the  North  End  in  1763.     See  p.  664. 

Lime  Alley.  —  From  the  burying-place  in  Charter-st.  to  Aikin's  lime-kiln  in  Lynn-st.,  1708. 
From  Aikin's  lime-kiln  in  Lynn-st.  SW  to  the  new  burying-place,  1732.  Now  from  Charter 
to  Commercial. 

Link  Alley.  —  From  the  Sign  of  the  Star  in  Hanover,  N'd  behind  Capt.  Everton's,  1708.  From 
the  Star  Tavern  N  to  the  mill,  1722.  From  Frobusher's  cor.  in  Hanover,  the  back  way  to  the 
Mills,  1784. 

Liverpool  Wharf.  —  Formerly  Griffin's,  which  see. 

Lobster  Alley.  —  From  Kilby-st.  to  the  water,  on  or  near  the  present  Doane-st. 

Logwood  Tree.  —  A  tavern  sign  in  Lynn-st.,  1732,  kept  by  Joshua  Pierce. 

London  Bookstore.  —  Head  of  King-st.  N  side,  1762,  kept  by  James  Rivington.  Kept  by 
Mien  &  Fleeming,  in  1768. 

London  Coffee  House.  —  Benj.  Harris  sold  books  there  in  1689. 

Longacre  Street.  —  Bet.  Winter  and  School,  next  the  Mall,  1777,  now  Tremont. 

Long  Island.  —  Between  Nix's  Mate  and  Spectacle  Isl.,  41  miles  from  the  City.  Long  Island 
Light  is  on  its  NE  head,  "over  against  Nix's  Mate."  William  Joy  owned  land  there  in 
16-i3,  and  sold  2  a.  of  it  to  Leonard  Buttells.  John  Gallop  owned  4  a.  of  it,  1649.  The 
Long  Island  House,  an  elegant  hotel,  was  erected  there  previous  to  1853. 

Long  Lane.  —  From  Cow-lane  to  Milk-st.,  afterwards  Federal,  which  see. 

Long  Wharf.  —  See  p.  536. 

Love  Lane. — In  1708,  NW'ly  from  Capt.  Stephens'  cor.  in  North-st.  into  Bennet-st.  So 
named  from  a  family.  Mrs.  Susanna  L.  owned  an  estate  at  the  cor.  of  Bennet  and  Tileston 
sts.,  which  she  sold  in  1712,  on  which  now  stands  the  Eliot  school.  Changed  to  Tileston-st. 
ab.  1820. 

Lovel's  Island.  —  Betw.  Long  Isl.  and  Great  Brewster,  6^  ms.  from  the  city  ;  perhaps  reed,  its 
name  from  William  Lovel,  who  was  here  as  early  as  1635.  Hull  had  it  by  grant  in  1652, 
but  did  not  possess  it  in  1663.     One  George  Worthylake  lived  on  it  in  1734. 

Lynde  Street.  —  From  Cambridge  to  Green  st.,  so  named  from  the  Lynde  family.  In  1708, 
"  Justice  Lynde 's  pasture  "  extended  across  from  one  of  those  streets  to  the  other.  Laid  out 
and  named  ab.  1732.  "The  late  Simon  Lynde's  mansion-house"  was  at  the  northerly 
termination  of  Tremont-st.,  1708.  At  the  same  time  "  Justice  Lynde's  corner"  was  in 
Hanover-st,  cor.  Wing's  lane. 


APPENDIX.  813 

Lynn  Street.  —  From  the  North  Battery,  NW  'ly  to  the  Ferry-way  at  Hudson's  point,  1708. 

In  1784,  from  tho  North  Battery  to  the  Old  Ferry-way  at  Hudson's  point  where  the  new  74 

is  on  tho  stocks. 
Maccarty's  Corner.  —  Cor.  of  King-st.  and  Levcrett's  lane,  1708.     Sec  Half  Square  Court. 
Mackrill  Lane.  — In  1708,  "  the  way  leading  from  Justice  hummer's  cor.  in  King-st.,  pass- 
ing over  the  bridge  as  far  as  Mr.  Daforn's  cor.  in  Milk-st."      In  1732,  from  King  to  Water 

St.     Very  narrow  till  the  great  fire  of  17G0. 
MacNeil's  Ropbwalk.  —  Along  llutcliinson-st.,  between  it  and  Atkinson,  before  and  during 

the  Revolution. 
Mall.  —  About  1790,  the  Mall  is  thus  described  :     "  It  is  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Common  ; 

in  length  1410  feet  ;  divided  into  two  walks  parallel  to  each  other,  separated  by  a  row  of 

trees.     On  the  outside  of  each  walk  is  also  a  row  of  trees  which  agreeably  shade  them." 

In  1807,  "  a  public  walk,  GOO  yds.  in  length,"  &c. 
Manley's  Buildings.  —  In  Elbow-allej'  in  1708. 
Manufactory  House.  —  See  Genfral  Index. 

Margaret  -Lane.  —  The  way  about  the  middle  of  Sheaffe-st.  down  to  Prince-st.,  1784. 
Market  Place.  —  About  the  Dock.     Same  as  Market  Square. 
Market  Street.  —  Afterwards  Cornhill,  which  see. 
Marlborough  Street.  —  In  1708,  the  Broad-st.,  from  Penneman's  cor.  head  of  Summer-st.,  to 

Haugh's  cor.  School-st.     Now  Washington-st. 
Marshall's  Lane.  —  In  1708,  from  Capt.  Ballentine's  cor.  near  the  Mill  bridge,  to  the  cor. 

of  Capt.  Fitche's  tenement  in  Union-st.     So  in  1732.     Also  from  Webb's  cor.  E  to  Creek- 
lane.     Marshall-st. 
Marsh  Lane.  —  From  Bradford's  in  Dock  Sq.  E  to  Creek-lane. 
Market  Street.  —  What  is  now  Cornhill  was  named  Market-st.  in  1817  ;  being  then  newly 

laid  out.    See  Cornhill. 
May  Street.  —  Revere-st.     It  had  borne  its  original  name  about  100  years,  and  now  (1855) 

changed  for  no  good  reason. 
Mechanic  Street.  —  See  Gallop's  Alley. 

Meer's  Corner.  —  On  the  S'ly  side  of  Dock  Sq.,  cor.  of  Corn  Market,  1708. 
Melyne's  Corner.  —  In  1708,  the  N'ly  termination  of  Common-st. 
Merchants'  Row.  —  In   1732,   fom   Faneuil's   cor.  in   King-st.  "round   to  Woodmansie's 

wharf."     Capt.  George  Mead's  warehouse  was  in  M.  R.  in  1724,  also  Mr.  Wm.  Clarke  ; 

Tidmarsh  &  Appleton,  in  1727. 
Merry's  Point.  —  The  point  on  which  was  built  the  North  Battery;   "  highly  finished  "  in 

1666.     Now  Battery  wharf.     Here  was  also  Merry's  wharf.     There  was  a  Merry's  wharf  at 

the  foot  of  Fleet-st.  in  1796. 
Middle  Street.  — In  1708,  from  the  Mill  bridge  N'ly  to  Jonas  Clarke's  cor.,  at  the  end  of 

Bennet-st.     In  1815,  from  Mill  creek  to  North-st.     Called  Hanover-st.  1825. 
Middlecott  Street.  —  From  Joseph  Coolidge's   in  Cambridge-st.  up  to  Joseph  Callender's, 

1800.     Bowdoin-st.  1825. 
Milk  Street.  —  So  named  probably  from  Milk-st.  in  London.     Described  in  1708,  "  from  the 

South  Meeting-house,  passing  by  Mr.  Borland's  and  Madam  Oliver's  down  to  the  Sea  by 

Halloway's "     [Hallowell's.] 
Miller's  Lane.  —  In  1807,  from  Liberty  Sq.  to  Milk-st.  — See  Cooper's  Alley. 
Mill  Bridge.  — In  Hanover-st.,  over  the  Mill  creek      It  was  of  wood  till  1793,  when  one  of 

stone  was  substituted. 
Mill  Creek.  —  Extended  from  the  Harbor  to  the  Bay  or  Mill  pond,  nearly  upon  a  line  with 

the  present  Blackstone-st. 
Mill  Field.  —  On  Copp's  Hill,  about  the  Windmill.     See  Index. 
Minot's  Court.  —  From  Union-st.  SW'ly,  bet.  the  buildings  of  the  late  Capt.  Clarke,  1708. 

From  Royal's  house  in  Dock  Sq.  W,  1732.     From  Grant's  cor.  in  Union-st.  up  to  Faxon's, 

1800.     Scott-st. 
Minot's  Ledge.  —  Rendered  memorable  by  the  destruction  of  a  Light-house  erected  on  it  in 

1843  by  the  U.  S.  government.     It  stood  upon  iron  posts,  and  in  a  storm  of  almost  unpar- 
alleled rage,  April  16th,  1851,  it  disappeared.     Two  men  were  lost  in  it,  Joseph  Wilson  and 

Joseph  Antonio,  a  Portuguese.     It  is  about  20  miles  from  the  city. 
Minot's  T.  —  A  wharf  on  the  N'ly  side  of  Long  w.  and  connected  with  it.     It  took  its  name 

from  its  form,  and  an  early  proprietor.     George  Minot  occupied  a  warehouse  on  it  in  1754. 
Moon  Island.  —  Between  Thompson's  and 'Hangman's  isls.,  4|  miles  from  the  city.     The 

property  of  Dorchester. 
Moon  Street.  —  From  the  North  Meeting-house  N'ly  by  Capt.  Barnard's  to  Fleet-st.  1708, 

From  Mountfort's  cor.  in  Fish-st.  by  the  E  side  of  the  North  Ch.  to  Fleet-st.  1732.    So  1784. 
Moorcock's  Buildings.  —  In  Corn  Court,  1708. 
Morey's  Corner.  —  In  Summer-st.  cor.  Cow-lane,  1732. 
Morrill's  Corner.  —  In  Middle-st.  cor.  Prince,  1708,  1732. 
Mountfort's  Corner.  —  Fish,   cor.   Moon,   1732.      Another,  cor.  Pierce's  alley  and  Dock 

Sq.  1708. 


814  APPENDIX. 

Mountjoy's  Corner.  —  Fish  and  Anne,  1708.  _   , 

Mount  Whordom.  —  Between  Beacon  Hill  and  the  Bay  ;  near  what  is  now  Louisbourg  Sq. 
Muddy  River.  —  Part  of  Boston  till  1705.     Now  Brookline. 
Museum.  —  See  Boston,  Columbian,  and  New  England  Museums. 

Nanney's  Buildings.  —  In  Elbow-alley,  1708  ;  "the  late  Capt.  Lake"  lived  opposite,  in  the 

same  alley. 
Nassau  Street.  — So  named  in  1788.    In  1796,  from  Gooch's  cor.  in  Orange-st.  to  Mr.  West's 
house,  thence  to  Wm.  Foster's,  at  the  foot  of  the  Mall.     So  called  till  1824,  when  it  took 
the  name  of  Common-st.     A  new  st.  from  Front  to  Ash,  made  abt.  1826,  took  the  name  of 
Nassau,  which  it  retains. 

National  Theatre.  —  Established  about  1832,  on  the  Mill  Pond  land,  by  W.  and  T.  L.  Stew- 
arts. It  passed  the  same  year  into  the  hands  of  "Wm.  Pelby,  who  made  great  additions  to 
it,  and  gave  it  its  present  name.  It  was  burnt  21  April,  1852,  and  soon  after  rebuilt.  At 
first  it  was  called  the  American  Amphitheatre. 

New  Boston.  —  The  section  of  the  Town  Wly  of  Beacon  Hill. 

Newbury  Street.  —  In  1708,  from  the  cor.  of  the  house  near  Dea.  Eliot's  cor.  in'Orange-st., 
into  Town  by  the  house  of  Saml.  Sewall,  Esq.,  to  Dr.  Oakes'  cor.  In  1732,  from  Eliot's 
cor.  NNE  to  Bethune's  cor.  at  Summer-st.     Washington-st. 

New  Cornhill.  —  Now  Cornhill,  which  see.  It  was  laid  out  in  1817.  In  1828  the  name  was 
changed  to  Cornhill. 

New  England  Museum.  —  Formed  in  1825,  from  the  old  Columbian,  E.  A.  Greenwood,  pro- 
prietor. It  was  in  Court-st.  betw.  Brattle  and  Cornhill.  Moses  Kimball  purchased  it  in 
1839,  which  was  the  foundation  of  his  present  splendid  establishment,  opened  in  1846. 

Nix's  Mate.  —  Nix's  Island,  mentioned  1636.  In  that  year  John  Gallop  had  12  acres  of  it 
granted  him  forever,  "if  the  island  be  so  much."  There  is  a  tradition  that  it  took  its 
present  name  from  the  execution  thereon  of  the  murderer  of  one  Capt.  Nix;  which  mur- 
derer was  Mate  to  the  Captain.     It  is  6  miles  from  the  City. 

Noah's  Ark.  —  Samuel  Dashwood's  sign,  in  Marlboro '-st.,  near  Seven-Star-lane,  in  1769.  He 
kept  English  and  India  goods. 

Noble's  Wharf.  — On  the  site  of  Seares'  Ship- Yard,  which  see. 

Noddle's  Island.  — East  Boston.  On  it  was  living  Samuel  Maverick  when  Boston  was  set- 
tled. See  Index.  Thomas  Clarke  was  living  on  it,  1661  ;  John  Burch  claimed  it  in  1652. 
It  was  at  one  period  called  Williams  Island.  In  1814  it  was  fortified  by  strong  works, 
called  Fort  Strong.     It  is  about  |  of  a  mile  from  Battery  wharf. 

Nook's  Hill.  —  Noted  in  revolutionary  annals.  It  is  the  NW'ly  extremity  of  South  Boston, 
and  commanded  the  Town.  Washington  sent  men  to  take  possession  of  it  on  March  9th, 
1776,  two  days  before  Boston  was  evacuated. 

North  Battery.  —  See  Merry's  Point  and  Index. 

North  Centre  Street.  —  At  first  called  Centre-st.,  which  see. 

North  Street.  —  N'ly  from  the  E'ly  end  of  Bennet  near  Mr.  Jonas  Clark's,  to  the  Sea,  1708. 
From  Clark's  cor.  across  Lynn-st.  to  the  Sea,  1732.  It  now  embraces  Ann-st.  ;  the  latter 
name  no  longer  existing  there,  which  had  been  in  use  about  150  years. 

North  Square.  —  Formerly  Clarke's  Square. 

Nut  Island.  —  Between  Petteck's  and  Germantown,  7k  miles  from  the  city. 

Oakes'  Corner.  —  Corner  Summer  and  Newbury  sts.     Residence  of  Dr.  Oakes. 

Odells.  —  A  noted  place,  in  1708,  in  Cooper's  Alley. 

Odeon.  —  In  1835  the  Federal-st.  Theatre  was  hired  for  religious  services  and  music  ;  opened 
May  18th.     Here,  in  Oct.  following,  a  silver  vase  was  presented  to  Daniel  Webster. 

Old  Way.  —  From  the  NW'ly  end  of  Cross-st.,  N'ly  by  Vering's  house  near  the  Mill  Pond, 
1708.  It  was  a  foot-way  from  "  the  centre  of  the  Town  to  the  foot  of  Snowhill-st."  Long 
since  closed  up. 

Oliver's  Bridge.  —  That  at  Oliver's  Dock,  perhaps  ;  at  the  foot  of  Water-st. 

Oliver's  Dock.  —  "  Peter  Oliver's  Dock  formerly  ran  up  as  high  as  where  Merchants'  Hall 
now  [1817]  stands  ;  the  lower  part  of  State-st.  running  along  the  edge  of  the  Dock."  Isaac 
Dupee  kept  there  in  1724. 

Olive  Street.  —  From  Belknap  to  Charles,  1803  ;  Sumner-st.  in  1825.  Changed  to  Mount 
Vernon-st.  in  1833. 

Oliver  Street.  —  From  Milk-st.  up  to  Fort  Hill,  "where  Mr.  Daniel  Oliver  now  (1708) 
dwells."     Name  retained. 

Orange  Street.  —  "  The  Broad-st.  or  Highway  from  the  Old  Fortifications  on  the  Neck  lead- 
ing into  the  Town,  as  far  as  the  cor.  of  the  late  Dea.  Eliot's  house,"  1708.  An  order  for 
paving  42  rods  of  it  was  made  in  1715. 

Orange  Tree.  —  A  noted  sign  at  the  head  of  Hanover-st. ,  1708.  N'ly  termination  of  Tremont- 
st.  in  1732.     A  Mrs.  Wardwell  kept  it  in  1724. 

Paddy's  Alley.  —  So  named  from  Capt.  William  Paddy,  whose  residence  was  there.  He  died 
in  1658.     From  Ann  to  Middle-st.     North  Centre-st. 

Pantheon  Hall.  —  In  Washington-st.  cor.  Boylston  Sq.     Called  Adams'  Hall,  1856. 

Pakkman's  Corner.  —  In  Ship-st.  cor.  Battery-alley,  1708-1732. 


APPENDIX. 


815 


Pemberton's  Corner.  —  Cor.  Wing's  la.  and  Dock  Sq.,  1708.     Mrs.  Pemberton's  in  Ann-st., 

cor.  Swing-bridge-lane,  1708. 
Pemberton's  Hill.  —  When!  Pemberton  Sq.  now  is.     The  hill  was  digged  down  in  1835  ;  sold 

for  house-lots  at  auction,  7  Oct.,  same  year. 
Pemberton  House.  —  In  Howard,  near  Court  st.,  many  years  a  noted  tavern.     It  was  before 

called  Holland's  Cotleo  House ;  ceased  to  bo  a  tavern  in  1853  ;  burnt  10  Feb.,  1854. 
Penneman's  Corner.  —  Head  of  Summer,  making  the  S'ly  cor.  of  Marlboro'  st.,  1708. 
Perbenton  Island.  — Brewster's  and  Lovett's  islands,  with  Perbenton's,  gr.  to  Hull,  1052,  but 

taken  from  it  in  1603. 
Perra way's  Alley.  —  Called  also  Ball's  al.    Centre-st. 
Pest  House. — There  was  one  on  the  Point  where  West  Boston  Bridge  was  afterwards  built. 

At  the  foot  of  Cambridge-st. ,  1784. 
Phillips'  Corner.— Cor.  Cornhill  and  Water-st.  1732.     The  late  Dea.  Phillips'  stone  house 

in  Cross-st.,  1708. 
Phipp's    Corner.  —  Charter  and  Salem  sts.,  1708.    Here  Gov.  Sir  William  Phips  resided. 
Pierce's  Alley.  — From  King-st.  into  Corn  Market,   1732.    Fitehe's  alley  in  1800.     Flagg- 

alley  from  1828  to  1840,  then  Change-alley. 
Pine  Apple.  —  The  sign  of  the  Pine  Apple  was  in  Ann-st.,  1724. 
Pitts  Lane.  —  Opp.  Ladd  &  Saunders  in  Green-st.,  down  to  Todd's  &  Coolidge's,  1784.    Pitts 

st.  1820. 
Pitts  Wharf.  — At  the  E'ly  end  of  the  Fish  Market. 
Platt's  Corner.  —  Southerly  end  of  Union-st.  in  1708. 
Point  Alderton.  —  Supposed  to  have  been  so  named  from  Isaac  Allerton.     A  part  of  Hull, 

9£  miles  from  Boston. 
Point  Shirley.  —  Part  of  Chelsea.     Anciently  Pullin  Point,  which  see.     Changed  to  Shirley 

in  honor  of  Gov.  Shirley. 
Pollard's  Corner.  —  Brattle-st.,  cor.  Gay-alley,  1708.    So  1732. 
Pool's  Wharf.  —  Foot  of  Central-st.     Here  Sir  Edmd.  Andross  landed  when  he  came  to 

assume  the  Government  of  the  Colony. 
Pond  Lane.  — Pond-st.,  which  see. 
Pond  Street.  — E'ly  from  Wheeler's  Cor.  in  Newbury-st.,  by  the  Town's  watering-place,  as 

far  as  Capt.  Dyer's  barn,  1708.     Bedford-st. 
Poor  House.  —  One  on  Fort  Hill,  1732. 
Portland  Street.  —  See  Cold  Lane. 

Post  Office.  —  At  the  corner  of  Queen-st.  and  Cornhill  in  1784. 
Pound.  —  One  formerly  stood  on  what  is  now  Park-st.,  where  the  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.'s, 

house  is. 
Powder-horn  Hill.  —  In  Chelsea,  about  4  miles  from  the  City,  220  feet  in  height.    It  is  early 

mentioned  on  the  Town  Records.    Sometimes  called  Powder-house  Hill. 
Powder  House.  —  See  Index. 
Powder  Hill.  — See  Index. 
Powning's  Corner.  —  See  Crooked  Lane. 

President's  Road.  —  The  Ship-road  near  the  Castle  ;  called  King  Road  before  the  Revolution. 
Prince  Street. — From  Morrell's  cor.  in  Middle-st.,  by  David  Norton's,  to  the  salt  water, 

1708.     Probably  so  named  to  honor  the  Royal  family.     There  are  many  places  so  named  in 

London  and  other  cities. 
Prison  Lane.  —  See  pp.  480,  512.     Queen-st. 
Proctor's  Lane.  — In  1800  from  Clap's  cor.  in  Fish  to  Middle  st. 
Province  Hospital.  —  At  New  Boston  before  the  Revolution. 
Province  House.  —  See  Index. 
Public  Garden.  —  Principally  made  land  on  the  W'ly  side  of  the  Common.     It  was  granted 

by  the  City  for  a  Public  Garden,  26  Oct.,  1837. 
Pudding  Lane. —  From  the  Exchange  in  King-st.,  passing  by  Mrs.  Phillips',  into  Water-st.. 

1708.     Doubtless  so  called  from  a  street  of  the  same  name  in  London.     After  the  Revolu- 
tion it  was  changed  to  Devonshire-st. 
Pullin  Point.  —  See  p.  147.     Point  Shirley,  Chelsea.     Taken  from  Boston  in  1738. 
Pulling's  Wharf.  —  Next  N  of  the  foot  of  Cross-st.,  1769. 
Purchase  Street.  —  In  1769,  from  Summer-st.  to  Tilley's  lane.     In  1784,  up  by  Col.  Dawes' 

to  Hubbard's  wharf. 
Quaker  Lane.  —  So  called  from  the  Quaker  Meeting-house.     See  p.  504-5.     Now  Congress-st. 
Queen  Street.  — From  Mr.  Dering's  cor.  in  Cornhill   to  Houchen's  at  the  upper  end  of  Han- 

over-st.,  1708.     Changed  to  Court-st.  in  1784. 
Queen's  Head.  —  In  1732,  Joshua  Pierce,  innholder,  allowed  to  remove  his  license  from  the 

sign  of  the  Logwood-tree  in   Lynn-st.   to  the  Queen's  Head,  near  Scarlet's  whf.,  where 

Anthony  Young  last  dwelt. 
Quincy  Lane.  —  From  95  Broad  to  Hamilton  st.     Changed  to  Hamilton-av.  1823.     The  first 

name  having  stood  not  above  two  years. 


816  APPENDIX. 

Rainsford's  Corner.  —  North,  cor.  Charter,  1708.     So  1732. 

Rainsford's  Island.  —  Seep.  442.     Sometimes  called  Hospital  Island,  as  the  City  Hospital  is 

thereon  situated.     First  used  for  a  hospital  about  1737. 
Rainsford's  Lane.  —  From  the  late  Elder  Rainsford's  cor.  in  Essex-st.  to  Beach-st.,  thence  to 

the  sea,  1708.  « Included  in  Front-st.  in  1825. 
Rawson's  Lane.  — So  named  from  the  Province  Secretary,  Edwd.  Rawson,  who  died  27  Aug., 

1693.     See  Bromfield  c,rREET. 
Razor  and  Crown.  —  c  irael  Franklin's  sign  in  1766.     He  dealt  in  hardware. 
Red  Cross.  —  Vvoh      y,  a  Tavern,  kept  by  John  Osborn,  1746. 
Red  Lion  Tavern.  —  Noticed  as  early  as  1676,  and  as  late  as  1766.     It  was  at  the  North  End. 

Perhaps  by  Red  Lion.  Wharf.     See  Index. 
Red  Lion  Wharf.. —  Next  north  of  Richmond-st.,  at  an  early  period. 

Richards'  Corner. — 'Garnet  of  Ship  and  Foster  sts.,  1708.    So  1732.    Cor.  Whitebread-alley. 
Richmond  Street. — *W  from  Middle  to  Back  st.,  late  (1807)  Bridge  lane. 
Robbinson's  Alley.  —  The  passage-way  in  North-st.  from  Hunt's  corner,  1784. 
Roebuck  Passage.  — From  the  Town  Dock  to  Ann-st.     In  use  from  abt.  1815  to  1825.     So 

named  from  the  Roebuck  Tavern. 
Ropewalks.  —  See  Index. 
Round  Lane.  —  From  LoDg-la.  E'ly  to  Atkinson-st.,  1732.    Changed  to  Williams-st.  in  1821  ; 

probably  in  memory  of  Capt.  John  Foster  Williams. 
Rowe's  Field.  —  Between  Pond  and  Essex  sts.,  1777. 
Royal  Exchange  Lane.  —  So  called  from  the  Royal  Exchange  Tavern,  to  which  it  led  from 

Dock  Sq.,  called  Exchange-st.  after  the  Revolution. 
Royal  Exchange  Tavern.  —  In  King-st.    Noticed  1727.     The  Columbian  Bank  now  occupies 

the  spot. 
Royal's  Alley.  —  From  Simpkins'  cor.  in  Ann-st.  E  to  the  wharf,  1732.     Does  not  appear 

in  1803,  but  the  name  was  in  use  in  1800. 
Ruck's  Corner.  —  In  Charter,  cor.  Salem  st.,  1732.     Ruck's  wharf,  at  the  North  End,  1722- 

1777. 
Rumney-Marsh.  —  In  Chelsea.     So  named  from  Rumney-Marsh  in  Kent,  England.     Called  by 

the  Indians  Winnisimmet. 
Russell's  Wharf.  —  Formerly  Gray's,  now  Russia  wharf.     It  took  the  name  of  Russell  from 

Mr.  Thomas  Russell,  who  owned  it. 
Salem  Street.  —  In  1708,  "  from  Cerwithy's  cor.  in  Prince,  to  Mr.  Phipp's  cor.  in  Charter  st." 

In  1732,  from  Ruck's  cor.  in  Charter,  to  Harrod's  cor.  in  Prince  st.     Called  Green-lane  at 

one  period. 
Salt  Lane.  —  From  Bowes'  cor.  in  Union-st.  E  to  Creek-lane,  1708.     So  1732. 
Salutation  Alley.  —  "  Down  by  the  Salutation  [tavern]  into  Ship-st,"  1708.    From  Ship-st., 

at  the  Salutation  Tavern,  W  to  North-st.,  1732. 
Salutation  Tavern. — In  Ship-st.  cor.  Salutation-alley.     So  named  from  a  sign  of  much  ele- 
gance at  that  day,  which  represented  the  meeting  of  two  gentlemen  dressed  in  the  height  of 

fashion,  small  clothes,  and  cocked  hats,  and  in  the  act  of  shaking  hands.     In  1731,  Samuel 

Green,  innholder  at  Pool's  wharf,  had  liberty  to  remove  to  the  Salutation.     In  1773,  Wm. 

Campbell  kept  it,  who  died  suddenly  in  a  fit  the  same  year. 
Savage's  Court.  —  From  Webster's  Arch  in  Cornhill,  W'd,  1732.      Afterwards  Williams' 

Court.     Capt.  Savage's  cor.  was  in  Dock  Sq.,  cor.  Shrimpton's  lane.     In  1708,  Capt.  Ha- 

bijah  Savage's  was  in  Ann-st.,  cor.  Scottow's  alley. 
Scarlet's  Wharf.  —  On  "  25.10.  1671,  John  Skarlet  had  libertie  to  wharfe  before  the  ground 

he  bought  of  Nathl.  Fryer,  and  is  to  be  20  fte.  easterlie  from  the  lowermost  cor.  of  Mr. 

Hill's  wharf."     At  the  foot  of  Fleet-st.,  1673. 
School  Alley.  —  Opposite  the  North  Gram.  School  into  Prince-st.,  1784. 
School-house  Lane.  —  School-st.     So  named  from  the  school-house  in  it. 
School  Street. — From  Haugh's  cor.  in  Marlboro '-st.,  by  the  Latin  Free  School  to  Whet- 
comb's  cor.  [in  Tremont],  1708.     So  1732. 
Sconce  Lane.  —  From  the  N'ly  side  of  Fort  Hill,  E'ly  by  the  old  Brewhouse  to  Battery-march, 

1708.     Took  its  name  from  the  Sconce  or  South  Battery.     Sconce-st.,  1784.     The  name 

ceased  after  1800.     Hamilton-st. 
Scott  Court.  —  Formerly  Minot's  court.     Changed  to  Scott  or  Scott's  court  ab.  1803. 
Scottow's  Alley.  —  By  Capt.  Habijah  Savage's  in  Ann-st.  NW  to  Creek-lane,  1708.     From 

Checkley's    Entry  in  Ann-st.   NW  to   Creek-la.,  1732.      So  named   from   Capt.   Joshua 

Scottow. 
Sea  Street.  — From  the  bottom  of  Summer-st.  S  to  Windmill-point,  1732. 
Sears'  Ship- Yard.  —  Between  Clark's  and  Halsey's  wharves,  1722. 
Selby's  Coffee  House.  —  On  Long  wharf,  1724. 

Seven  Star  Lane.  —  Summer-st.  was  often  so  called  from  ab.  1758  to  the  Revolution.     Prob- 
ably from  the  tavern,  sign  of  the  Seven  Stars.     There  was  the  Sign  of  the  Seven  Stars  near 

the  Drawbridge,  in  1763,  William  Whitwell,  grocer,  ironmonger,  &c. 


[graved  "by  B  "W  Smith 


€161 AMICUS  (0I1II€  ST » 


APPENDIX.  817 

Sukafe's  Lane.  —  From  Ban-ill's  cur.  ia  Newbury-st.  to  the  Common,  1732.     Avory-st.     Seo 

Hog  Alley. 
Sheath  Street.  —  From  Salem,  NW  to  Snow  st.  1732.     Same  now. 
Sheep  Lane.  —  Hog-alley  was  so  called  in  1789. 
Sheep  Market.  —  At  the  W  end  of  Faneuil  Hall. 
Suip-in-distress.  —  An  ancient  tavern  "nearly  opposite  Moon-st." 

Snip  Street.  — From  Bverton'a  cor.,  near  Scarlet's  wharf,  to  the  Nortli  Battery,  1708. 
Ship  Tavern.  —  Cor.  of  Clark  and  Ann  sts.,  kept  in  L666-7  l»y  John  Vials.     See  p.  373. 
Shirley  Battery  —  In  1775  was  on  tho  E  side  of  ( 'astle  Island. 
Short  Street.  —  The  next  S  of  Bainsford's  lane,  running  to  Pond-st.,  1732. 
Shrimpton's  Lane.  —  From  Capt.  Savage's  cor.  in  Dock  Sq.  to  Madam  Shrimpton's  cor.  in 

King-st.,  1708.     Took  the  name  of  Exchange-lane  ab.  1803.     Now  Exchange-st. 
Sister  Street.  —  From  Bound-la.  N  into  Bury-st.,  1732. 
Six  Sugar-loaves.  — John  Qnanc's  sign  in  Union-st.,  1733. 
Slate  Island.  —  Near  Hull,  9|  miles  from  the  city.     Granted  to  Hull  in  1G52. 
Sliding  Alley.  — From  Charter,  down  by  Benj.  Williams,  in  Lynn  st.,  1708.    Foster-st.,  1803. 
Snake  Island.  —  Between  Apple  Isl.  and  Point  Shirley,  34  miles  from  the  city. 
Snowiiill  Street.  —  From  Frairie's  cor.  in  Prince-st.  to  the  Old   Ferry-way,  by  Hudson's 

point,  1708. 
Southack's  Court. — From  Bowdoin's  cor.  W,  1732.    From  Kirk  Boot's  W,  by  Mrs.  Carter's 

boarding-house,  1800.     Howard-st.,  1821. 
South  Bennet  Street.  — Formerly  Bennet-st.,  then  S.  Bennet,  and  now  again  Bennet. 
South  Bow.  —  See  Index. 

South  Street.  — From  Baxter's  cor.  in  Summer-st.  S'ly  by  Dea.  Allen's  to  the  Sea,  1708. 
Spear's  Wharf.  —  The  third  N  of  Long  wharf.     Called  Nathaniel  Spear's  wharf,  1769. 
Spectacle  Island.  —  Called  Saml.  Bill's  Isl.  in  1693;  was  then  well  wooded  with  "large 

timber  trees."     Between  Castle  and  Long  Island,  3|-  miles  from  the  City.  —  See  p.  796. 
Spring  Garden.  —  "  Over  against  the  Powderhouse  "  in  1724.     On  the  Common,  about  half 

way  from  the  Frog  Pond  to  the  intersection  of  Beacon  and  Charles  sts. 
Spring  Lane.  — From  a  tenement  of  Capt.  Clarke,  near  the  lower  end  of  School-st.,  to  Wins- 
low's  cor.  in  Joyliff's  lane,  1708.     Spring-st. 
Staniford  Street. — From  Cambridge,  N'ly  to  Green,  1732. 
Star  Tavern.  —  In  Hanover-st.  cor.  Link-alley,  1708.    So  1732. 
State  Arms.  —  A  noted  tavern  in  King-st.  cor.  Shrimpton's  lane.     "  The  Ordinary  where  the 

Magistrates  used  to  diet,"  1653.     Owned  by  Henry  Shrimpton,  1666. 
State  Street.  —  Formerly  King-st.,  which  see. 
Stationers'  Arms. — Thomas  Hancock's  Bookstore  in  Ann-st.  was   known  by  that   name 

in  1729. 
Stephens'  Corner.  —  In  North-st.  cor.  Love-lane,  1708,  1732. 
Stillman  Street. — So  named  for  the  Kev.  Dr.  S.  Stillman,  ab.  1821.     From  Back-st.  to 

Mill  pond. 
St.  Luke's  Head.  — A  Druggist's  sign  in  Marshall's  lane  before  the  Bevolution. 
Stoddard's  Lane.  — From  Cambridge-st.  SW  into  Southack's  court,  1732.   Stoddard-st.,  1833. 

Fitche's  lane  previously. 
Sudbury  Street.  —  From  the  sign  of  the  Orange-tree,  by  Mr.  Stephen  Minot's,  to  the  Mill 

pond,  1708  ;  to  Cold-lane,  1732. 
Suffolk  Hotel.  — In  Elm-st.  in  1821,  on  the  S.  side,  and  kept  by  Edwd.  Kingman.    It  ceased 

to  be  a  hotel  ab.  1825. 
Summer  Street.  —  From  Dr.  Oake's  cor.  in  Newbury-st.,  passing  by  the  house  of  Capt. 

Thomas  Clarke,  to  the  Sea,  1708  ;  from  Bethune's  cor.  in  1732. 
Sumner  Street.  —  Named  in  honor  of  the  popular  Gov.  Increase  Sumner,  but  was  soon  ex- 
changed for  a  foreign  name,  in  violence  of  good  taste.     "  From  Bogers'  cor.  round  the  new 

State  House,  SW  by  Beacon  Hill,"  1800.     In  1833  it  was  erased. 
Sun  Court.  —  SE'ly  from  the  North  meeting-house  into  Fish-st.,  1708. 
Sunken  Island.  —  Between  Long  and  Pettick's  Isls.  6£  miles  from  the  city. 
Sun  Tavern. — In  Cornhill,  1755,  kept  by  Capt.  James  Day.     One  in  Corn-court,  Dock  Sq., 

1724.  Kept  by  Samuel  Mears,  who  was  "  lately  deceased  "  in  1727.    One  in  Battery-march- 

st.  for  many  years  previous  to  the  late  improvements. 
Swan  Tavern.  — By  Scarlet's  wharf,  1708.     In  Fish-st.,  near  Scarlet's  wharf,  1732.     One  at 

the  South  End  in  1784. 
Swing  Bridge.  —  Between  Merchants'  Bow  and  the  lower  end  of  Woodmansie's  wharf,  1708. 

Over  the  Town  Dock.     Kemoved  and  the  Dock  filled  up  about  1790. 
Swing  Bridge  Lane. — Between  Capt.  Winsor's  and  Mrs.  Pemberton's,  in  Ann-st.,  to  the 

wharves  by  the  Swing   Bridge,  1708.     From  the  Golden  Key,  in  Ann-st,  to  the  Swing 

Bridge,  1784. 
Tanner's  Lane. — In  1708,  from  Water-st.,  betw.  Maj.  Walley's  and  Mr.  Brigham's  land, 

into  Milk-st.     Beceived  its  name  from  the  tanneries  in  that  locality.     Afterwards  called 

Horn-lane,  then  Bath-st. 

103 


818  APPENDIX. 

Tattle  Street.  —  A  nick-name  of  Sudbury-st.  about  100  years  ago. 

Thistle  and  Crown.  — Sign  at  the  lower  end  of  Wing's  lane,  1728. 

Thompson's  Island.  —  Between  Moon  Isl.  and  Dorchester,  3£  miles  from  Boston.  —  See  Index. 
In  1650  John  Thompson,  of  London,  sold  it  to  Joseph  Jackson  and  Hugh  Browne,  of  Bristol, 
Eng.     At  one  period  it  belonged  to  Dorchester.     In  1834  it  was  annexed  to  Boston. 

Thompson's  Ship- Yard.  —  On  the  N  side  of  the  North  Battery,  1722.     So  1777. 

Three  Crowns.  — A  noted  sign  in  Fish-st.,  1733. 

Three  Doves.  —  William  Blair  Townsend's  sign,  1758,  &c,  in  Marlboro'-st.,  W  side,  next  the 
cor.  of  Broomfield-st.     John  Boyle  the  bookseller  kept  next  door  to  it  in  1773. 

Three  Horseshoes.  —  A  noted  inn,  "  near  the  Common,"  kept  by  a  Mrs.  Glover,  who  died 
abt.  1744.     Wm.  Clears  kept  it  in  1775.  , 

Three  Kings.  —  Thomas  Knights'  sign  in  Cornhill,  1762-70  ;  English  and  W.  I.  goods. 

Three  Nuns  and  Comb.  —  "  Opposite  the  Town-pump  in  Cornhill."  Samuel  Hardcastle  kept 
there  in  1758  ;  a  tobacconist.     John  and  Thomas  Stevenson  moved  there  in  1762. 

Three  Sugar-loaves  and  Canister.  —  John  Meritt's  sign,  grocer,  in  King-st.,  near  the  Town- 
house, 1733.     Near  Thomas  Bromfield,  glover,  in  King-st.,  1746. 

Tileston  Street.  —  So  named  for  Master  John  Tileston,  whose  school-house  was  at  the  cor.  of 
Tileston  and  N.  Bennet  sts.,  where  now  stands  the  Eliot  school.  —  See  Love  Lane. 

Tileston's  Wharf.  —  Next  north  of  Adams'  wharf  in  1769. 

Tillet's  Lane.  —  From  Belcher's  to  Cow-lane,  1732.     From  Cow-lane  to  Purchase-st.  1769. 

Tontine  Buildings.  —  In  Franklin-st.,  begun  in  1793.  The  arch  leading  to  Summer-st.  is  the 
centre  of  them. 

Town  Pump.  —  One  stood  near  the  cor.  of  Queen-st.  and  Cornhill,  before  and  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. 

Townsend's  Corner.  —  The  southern  termination  of  Tremont-st.  in  1708. 

Trask's  Wharf.  —  Between  Harvard  and  Bennet  sts.,  1796. 

Treat's  Wharf.  —  Robert  Ritchie  had  a  warehouse  on  it,  1757,  next  Messrs.  Melvils. 

Tremont  Street.  —  From  the  mansion  of  the  lata  Simon  Lynde,  Esq.,  by  Capt.  Southack's,  to 
Col.  Townsend's  cor.,  1708.  In  1732,  from  Common-st.,  by  Jeckyl's,to  the  Orange-tree.  In 
1824  it  was  named  Common-st.,  changed  back  again  in  1829,  and  included  Nassau.  Extended 
to  Roxbury  line  in  1831,  and  opened  Oct.,  1832. 

Tudor's  Wharf.  —  "  Dea.  Tudor's  "  whf.,  next  S  of  Lewis',  1762. 

Tun  and  Bacchus.  —  James  Townsend's  sign,  1733,  N  side  of  King-st. 

Turk's  Head.  —  A  sign  on  Scarlet's  whf.,  1724. 

Turn-again  Alley.  —  In  1708,  from  Common-st.,  on  the  N  side  of  Madam  Usher's  house,  E  by 
Hamilton-place,  1807.     There  is  a  Turn-again  lane  in  London  at  this  day. 

Two  Sugar-loaves.  —  William  Patten's  sign,  grocer,  in  Cornhill,  1760.  Also  John  Dobel's  in 
King-st.,  1760-2. 

Tyler's  Corner.  —  In  Ann-st.,  at  Swing  Bridge  lane,  1732 

Tyng's  Wharf.  —  On  the  E'ly  side  of  the  Town  Dock.  Owned  by  John  Kenrick,  and  sold  by 
him  in  1652. 

Unicorn.  —  There  were  several  Unicorn  signs  formerly.  William  Rand,  apothecary,  near  the 
Town  Dock,  1733.     One  in  Cornhill,  1744. 

Union  Street.  —  From  Piatt's  cor.  NW'ly,  by  the  Green  Dragon,  to  the  Mill  pond,  1708.  From 
the  Conduit  at  Dock-head,  NW,  as  above,  1732. 

Ursuline  Convent.  —  Mount  Benedict,  Somerville.     Burnt  11  Aug.,  1834. 

Usher's  Lane.  —  Noticed  1677.     Capt.  Usher's,  at  the  head  of  Short-st.,  1708. 

Valley  Acre.  —  On  a  spur  of  Beacon  Hill.     See  Index. 

Vincent's  Lane.  —  From  Marlboro'-st.  to  Bishop's  alley,  opened  ab.  1792.  Ambros  Vincent 
lived  there.     Franklin-st. 

Wadsworth's  Corner.  —  In  Middle-st.,  cor  Bell-alley,  1732. 

Wale's  Corner.  —  In  Middle-st.,  cor.  Prince,  1708,  1732. 

Walnut  Tree.  —  Sarah  Decoster's  sign,  in  Milk-st.,  near  Dr.  Sewall's  meeting-house,  1755. 

Washington  Buildings.  —  The  stone-front  buildings  on  the  E  side  of  Washington-st.,  erected 
in  1825.  &  & 

Washington  Gardens.  — In  Common-st.,  near  West ;  on  a  part  of  which  now  stands  the  Ma- 
sonic Temple. 

Washington  Street.  —  So  named  in  1789,  in  honor  of  a  visit  of  Washington.  It  extended  at 
first  only  from  Roxbury  line  to  Orange-st. 

Water  Street.  —  From  Cox  the  butcher's  shop  in  Cornhill,  by  Maj.  Walley's,  to  Oliver's 
Corner,  1708.     From  Phillip's  cor.  in  Cornhill  to  Mackerel-lane,  1732. 

Webster's  Arch.  —  In  Cornhill.     See  Savage's  Court. 

Well's  Corner.  —  In  Orange-st.,  cor.  Frog-lane,  1732;  another,  at  the  same  time,  in  Cam- 
bridge, cor.  Green  st. 

Well's  Wharf.  —  Arnold  Wells'  at  the  South  End,  1762. 

Wentworth's  Lane.  —  From  Allen's  cor.,  in  Anne-st.,  E  to  the  Wood  wharf,  1732.  Name  not 
in  use  in  1800.     Barrett-st.  1831. 


APPENDIX.  819 

Wentworth's  Wharf.  —  Next  N  of  Mill  crook,  1722,  &c. 

West  Street.  —  From  Cowell's  cor.  in  Nowbury-st.  to  the  Common,  1708.    So  1752.  So  now. 

West  Hill.  —  At  the-  foot  of  Beacon  Hill,  next  tho  water,  a  little  north  of  Beacon-st. 

Wheeler's  Corner.  —  In  Newbury-st.,  cor.  Blind-lane,  1732. 

Wheeler's  Point. —  Windmill  point.     Foot  of  Sea-st.     See  Index. 

Wheelwright's  Wharf.  —  "  By  the  South  Battery,"  1702.     Afterwards  Foster's  wharf. 

Whipping-post.  —  One  stood  inKing-st.,  near  the  cor.  Pudding-lane.     Removed  about  1750, 

and  culprits  were  whipped  near  tho  same  spot  upon  the  top  of  a  cage,  in  which  they  were 

conveyed  from  the  jail.     Public  whippings  discontinued  about  1800. 
Whitebread  Alley.  —  From  Bill's  cor.  in  Ship-st.  W  to  North-st.,  1732.     Bartlett-st.,  1826. 
Whitehorn's  Wharf. — Afterwards  Gi-iffin's,  now  Liverpool.     George  Whitehorn,  mariner, 

owned  the  whf.  before  1722,  who  was  dead  in  1724. 
White-horse  Tavern.  —  "  At  the  South  End,"  1724,  where  Hayward  Place  now  is.   Kept  by 

Joseph  Morton,  17G0-4. 
Wilson's  Lane.  —  From  King-st.  to  Dock  Sq.,  1732.   Named  for  the  Rev.  John  Wilson  of  the 

First  Church. 
Williams'  Court.  —  Formerly  Savage's  court,  which  see. 
Williams  Street.  —  Named  for  Capt.  John  Foster  Williams,  who  lived  in  it  in  1789.     See 

Round  Lane. 
Wiltshire  Street.  —  From  Allen's  house,  up  by  Phillips  &  Winthrop's  new  Ropewalk,  1784. 

Chambers-st.,  1812. 
Winnisimmet  Ferry.  —  "  One  and  |  miles  and  803  yards  across  from  Mill-creek."  Winnisimmet, 

now  Chelsea. 
Windmills.  —  See  Index. 
Wing's  Lane.  —  From  Mr.  Pemberton's  cor.,  at  the  head  of  Dock  Sq.,  to  Justice  Lyde's 

[Lynde's?]  cor.  in  Hanover-st.,  1708.     See  Hudson's  Lane. 
Winslow's  Corner.  —  Foot  of  Spring-lane,  cor.  JoylifFs,  1708. 

Winter  Street.  —  From  Elis'  cor.  in  Newbury-st.  to  the  Common,  1708.     Provision  for  pav- 
ing, 1743. 
Wood  Lane.  —  By  the  house  of  the  late  Capt.  Timothy  Prout,  deceased,  from  Middle-st.  to  the 

sea,  1708.     See  Procter's  Lane. 
Woodmansy's  Wharf.  —  At  Dock  Sq.,  1708.  The  name  continued  on  maps  in  1769.  On  Page's 

map  of  1777  it  is  miscalled  Woodman's  wharf. 
Work  House.  —  See  Index.  In  1686,  John  Search  gave  £10  "  towards  a  stock  to  be  laid  out 

in  the  Work-house."     See  Alms  House. 


Errata.  —  P.  3,  n.  t,  r.  Martyr's  Decades.  P.  35,  2d  IT,  I. 11,  r.  December.  P.  37  dele  I.  10,  2d  V.  P.  51,  2d  IT,  I.  2,  r. 
Peter  Palfrey.  P.  68, 1.  12  of  «.,  r.  1588.  P.  85,  dele  n.  §.  P.  90,  I.  6,r.  George  Alcock.  P.  164,  I.  6,  2d  1T r.  Elias  (?)  Mav- 
erick. P.  171,  /.  7,/or  first,  r.  second.  P.  175,  I.  15  of  foot,  r.  Symmes.  P.  182,  r.  1635  at  top  ;  I.  2  of  foot,  for  Henry 
Wane  r.  Ilenry  Fane,  and  dele  [Vane],  same  I.  and  n.'§.  P.  206,  I.  7,  3d  IT,  r.  Van  Twiller.  P.  208,  I.  2,  2d  IT,  for  twenty 
r.  two.  P.  239,  1.  18,  r.  Thursday.  P.  273,  n.  \,  I.  4  and  5,  change  places  of  Hopkins  and  Eaton.  P.  292,  lsc7.  of  Con- 
tents, for  Dudley  r.  Endicott.  P.  310,  I.  15,  r.  James  Astwood.  P.  315,  I.  10,  r.  easterly.  P.  320,  I.  5  of  foot,  for  Dud- 
ley r.  Endicott,  /.  6,  for  Endicott  r.  Dudley.  P.  371,  last  I.  n.  J,  1673.  P.  378,  2d  I.  2d.  col.  r.  1673.  P.' 384,  /.  1,  n.,for 
installed  r.  deceased.  P.  387,  n.,  1.  7,  r.  79  years  old.  P.  400,  I.  6  of  n.  for  grandson  r.  nephew.  P.  433,  n.  *,  after  and 
stood,  in  I.  18,  r.  on  what  is  now  Stillman-street,  and  dele  the  rest  of  the  sentence.  P.  462,  n.  *,  I.  2,  for  Thomas,  r.  John  ; 
I.  4,  for  John  r.  Thomas  •,  same  I.  for  He  r.  John.  P.  472, 1.  6,  r.  Thomas  Shepcott.  P.  497,  l-  1,  r.  Philip  English.  P.  548, 
after  I.  19  of  n.  insert  John  Norton,  10  Oct.,  1633,  d.  15  Dec,  1652,  a.  67  ;  /.  20,  r.  Davenport  ;  /.  30,  r.  16  Mar.  P.  556 
and  7,  r.  Christ  Church.  613,  n.  t,  1 1-  2d  col.,  after  Leonard  was  the,  insert  uncle  of  the.  P.  659,  n.  *,  I.  4,  r.  449.  P. 
672,  1. 11  of  foot,  r.  1774.  688,  I.  4  of  foot,  r.  1664.  P.  698,  I.  9  of  foot,  for  decease  r.  discourse.  P.  726,  /.  16  of  2d 
col.  of  n.,  f.  E.  H.  Leffingwell.    P.  751,  /.  3,  n.  *,for  Peter  Kemble,  f.  Robert  Tuite  Kemble. 


MAP  OF  BOSTON,  1733. 

BY    WILLIAM    PRICE. 

When  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston  was  all  printed  but  the  Index,  a 
Map  of  the  Town,  of  the  above  date,  was  put  into  the  Author's  hands  by  his 
friend,  David  Pulsifer,  Esq.,  who,  at  the  same  time,  expressed  much  regret  that 
circumstances  had  prevented  his  doing  so,  as  was  his  intention,  at  a  much  earlier 
period  ;  said  Map  having  been  loaned  by  him  to  another  individual. 

On  a  comparison  of  this  Map  with  that  of  1722,  and  also  with  that  of  1769, 
there  appears  conclusive  evidence  that  the  three  are  from  the  same  plate  ;  that 
of  1733,  and  that  of  1769,  showing  that  the  plate  was  altered  to  suit  their  respect- 
ive dates.  See  note  to  page  772  of  this  History  ;  which  note  was  printed  before 
the  Author  was  in  possession  of  the  Map  of  1733.  The  difference  between  this 
and  that  of  1769  is  less  than  between  that  of  1722  and  1733  ;  that  is  to  say, 
judging  from  the  contents  of  each,  the  Town  progressed  more  between  1722  and 
1733,  than  it  did  between  1733  and  1769.  Hence,  during  eleven  years,  according 
to  the  Maps  of  1722  and  1733,  the  Town  advanced  in  importance  more  than  in 
thirty-six  years  of  a  later  period. 

On  Captain  Bonner's  Map  (of  1722)  but  three  trees  appear  on  the  Common ; 
two  in  front  of  and  near  Bridewell  (which  stood  a  little  above  the  centre  of  the 
present  Park-street)  ;  the  other,  considerably  to  the  south  of  the  hill,  by  the 
Frog-pond ;  so  much  so  that  it  could  hardly  have  been  meant  for  the  Great  Tree 
which  now  stands  and  for  a  long  time  has  stood  near  that  Pond.  On  Price's,  of 
1733,  the  three  trees  occupy  the  same  localities  as  on  Bonner's,  and  there  appears 
a  row  of  sixteen  trees  along  the  Mall.  This  row  had  then  been  lately  planted, 
probably.  See  page  592.  Another  row,  which  appears  on  the  Map  of  1769,  was 
no  doubt  planted  in  1733.     See  ibid. 

Among  the  statistics  recorded  in  this  Map  (1733),  the  number  of  houses  in  the 
Town  is  stated  to  be  "  about  4000  ;  inhabitants  about  18,000  ;  two  Churches 
of  England,  eight  Congregational  Meeting-houses,  one  French,  one  Anabaptist, 
one  Irish,  one  Quaker,  and  a  very  handsome  Town  House,  where  the  Courts  are 
held.  The  Town  and  Country  daily  increasing.  In  the  year  1723  were  built  in 
New  England  above  seven  hundred  sail  of  ships  and  other  vessels,  most  of  which 
are  fitted  out  at  Boston.  There  are  in  one  year  cleared  out  of  this  port  at  the  Cus- 
tom House,  about  1200  sail  of  vessels,  which  may,  in  some  measure,  shew  the 
great  trade  of  this  flourishing  Town  and  Country." 

Although  this  Map  bears  date  1733,  it  may  have  been  issued  one  or  two  years 
earlier,  for  the  two  last  figures  of  its  date,  namely,  the  33,  is  the  work  of  the 
pen,  and  not  of  the  engraver,  and  the  latest  date  among  its  statistics  is  1731. 
Hence  there  may  be  many  editions  of  it,  to  suit  the  time  and  demand.  Such  tricks 
of  venders  of  similar  articles  are  not  yet  out  of  fashion.  Therefore  if  maps  from 
Bonner's  plate  come  to  light  with  dates  between  1731  and  1769,  there  may  be 
nothing  new  on  them,  or  nothing  much  affecting  their  importance. 


INDEX. 


Explanation.  —  An  Index  of  the  Engravings  is  placed  at  the  beginning  of  the  History.  A  Dictionary  of  Places,  or  of 
Objects  and  Localities,  is  comprised  in  Appendix  No.  II.,  at  page  802,  &c. 

Names  of  persons  spelled  differently  are  not  entered  under  the  various  spellings,  unless  the  difference  is  thought  sufficient 
to  mislead  the  reader.  Such  names  are  usually  entered  under  the  most  common  spelling  ;  as  Brown  and  Browne,  Green 
and  Greene,  &c.  But  if  the  spelling  differs,  as  in  Phelps  and  Felps,  Philbrook  and  Filbrook,  &c,  then  such  names  are 
entered  separately,  although  they  refer  to  the  same  individual. 

Christian  names  are  generally  given,  but  when  a  number  of  them  occur  on  a  page,  belonging  to  the  same  family,  they  are 
sometimes  omitted,  except  those  of  the  heads  of  such  family. 


Abbot,  Frances,  25 ;  John  L.,  540 ;  Jo- 
seph, 415  ;  Samuel,  764. 

Abenaquis,  war  with,  510. 

Aberdecest  (Indian),  40. 

Aberginians,  Eastern  Indians,  57. 

Abeskiest  (Indian),  40. 

Abey,  Thomas,  414. 

Abingdon,  Lord,  750 — 1. 

Abraham,  Nathaniel,  665, 810  ;  William, 
567  ;  Zachery  (Indian),  402. 

Acrod,  John,  317. 

Adams,  Abraham,  490  ,  Alexander,  302, 
347  ;  Charles  Frederick,  634  ;  David, 
508  ;  Elizabeth,  534  ;  Henry,  250,  492, 
675  ;  John,  Capt.,  459,  504 ;  John, 
Pres.,  on  Feudal  Law,  690 ;  on  ori- 
gin of  the  Revolution,  657,  661  ;  on 
Episcopacy,  665  ;  on  Samuel  Adams, 
667,  671 ;  counsel  for  the  Patriots, 
713  ;  of  Boylston  descent,  726,  758  ; 
on  the  case  of  Corbett,  766 ;  on  a 
Repeal  Celebration,  769,  771  ;  de- 
fends Hancock,  755 ;  settles  in  Bos- 
ton, 758  ;  John  of  Plymouth,  36  ;  Mat- 
thew, 634,  675  ;  Nathaniel,  335,  341, 
349,  418,  787  ;  Samuel,  552,  613,  623, 
802  ;  Samuel,  Gov.,  marriage,  &c, 
534  ;  political  writer,  627  ;  account  of 
671 ;  without  a  price,  672  ;  his  char- 
acter by  Jefferson,  ib. ;  by  Dr.  Jenks, 
673  ;  portraits  of,  672  ;  slandered, 
719 — 20 ;  brings  forward  John  Han- 
cock, 721 ;  Clerk  of  General  Court, 
734  ;  Letter  to  Hillsborough,  740  ; 
toasted  in  Philadelphia,  757  ;  Appeal 
to  the  World,  771 — 2  ;  noble  conduct 
after  the  massacre,  783 — 4  ;  Richard, 
230,  414 ;  Thomas,  54,  62,  73 ;  Wil- 
liam, 236,  504,  634. 

Adderly,  William,  161. 

Addington,  Isaac,  434,  441,  445,  472, 
483—5,  506,  524,  543,  553,  810. 

Agamang  (Indian),  405. 

Ahanmanpowet  (Indian),  412. 

Ahaton  (Indian),  397,  456. 

Ainsworth,  Anchor,  799. 

Aires,  Thomas,  316. 

Alarm-list,  of  1733,  596. 

Albemarle,  George,  Duke  of,  317. 

Albye,  Benjamin,  250. 

Alcock,  George,  90  ;  Mr.,  147,  170,  230  ; 
John,  329  ;  Thomas,  233,  327,  336, 
342. 

Alden,  Elizabeth,  384  ;  John,  36,  133, 
384,  490,  498—500  ;  Nathaniel,  641 ; 
William,  580. 

Aldersey,  Samuel,  54,  62,  70,  72—3. 

Alderton,  Point,  45,  553. 

Aldrich,  George,  250. 


Alexander,  Andrew,  47  ;  Robert,  455  ; 
William,  Sir,  43,  47. 

Alexander  (Indian),  brother  of  King 
Philip,  365,  400. 

Alford,  Benjamin,  472,  486  ;  Capt.,  806  ; 
William,  395. 

Allare,  Louis,  536. 

Allen,  Bouzoun,  327,  492,  503,  506,  522  ; 
Barnabas,  687,  Ebenezer,  687  ;  Henry, 
318,  347,  423, 457  ;  Hope,  327  ;  James, 
236,  336,  452  ;  John,  380,  385,  49S, 
508,  538,  548,  607,  632  ;  Joseph,  519  ; 
Jeremiah,  339,  538  ;  Ralph,  357  ;  Si- 
lence, 357  ;  Thomas,  679  ;  William, 
57  ;  family  of,  339. 

Allerton,  Isaac,  36,  43, 86,  114,  183,  186, 
790,  793,  815  ;  John,  36. 

AUeyn  Edward,  428  ;  Mary,  692  ;  Sam- 
uel, 665. 

Alley,  Hugh,  623. 

Alliset,  John,  487,  492. 

AUyce,  William,  250. 

Almanacs,  242  ;  Clough's,  513,  523  ; 
Foster's, 424;  Franklin's,  565;  Green's, 
474,  748  ;  Sherman's,  242,  396,  425, 
431,  767  ■,  Tulley's,  473—4,  522—3. 

Alms-house,  527,  803. 

American  Independence,  349,  352,  757. 

American  House,  707. 

American  Magazine,  618. 

Amherst,  Gen.,  645,  653,  659;  John, 
645 ;  William,  645. 

Ames,  Nathaniel,  677  ;  Richard,  752 — 7  ; 
Samuel,  459. 

Amey,  Joseph,  567. 

Amory,  Jonathan,  642,  764  ;  John,  657  ; 
Amory's  wharf,  803. 

Anabaptists,  258,  290, 292,  299,  301,  378, 
433,  820. 

Ancient  Objects  and  Localities,  802. 

Anderson,  David,  409  ;  James,  456  ; 
John,  307,  331,  395,  455,  788,  789, 
799. 

Andrews,  Benjamin,  757  ;  John,  243, 
349,  427,  665  ;  Richard,  171  ;  Robert, 
414  ;  Thomas,  54,  131, 171 ;  William, 
520  ;  Zechariah,  489. 

Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  visits  Boston,  442  ; 
failed  to  take  away  the  Charter  of 
Connecticut,  448  ;  opinion  of  Indian 
deeds,  456,  470  ;  Gov.  of  Mass.,  473  ; 
puts  the  Press  under  restraint,  474  ; 
his  extortions,  475  ;  goes  against  the 
Indians,  478  ;  accused  of  treachery, 
479  ;  his  government  overthrown,  481 
— 6  ;  residence,  517;  815  ;  Anne,  death 
of,  480  ;  Elisha,  477. 

Andrus,  William,  557. 

Angel  Gabriel,  the  ship,  lost,  185. 


Angel,  John,  14. 

Anger,  Ames,  schoolmaster,  560  ;  John, 

790. 
Anglesey,  Arthur,  Earl  of,  317. 
Ankor,  Thomas,  799,  800. 
Anne,  Queen,  proclaimed,  526,  dies,  550. 
Annan,  David,  576. 
Annesley,  Samuel,  460,  462,  466,  473. 
Antinomians,  148, 175, 218,  219, 222,  244, 

255,  290,  314,  355,  361. 
Anti-stamp  Fire  Society,  665. 
Antonio,  Joseph,  813. 
Antrobus,  William,  317. 
Appleton,  John,  376,  447,  526  ;  Samuel, 

411,  413,  414,  490,  766  ;  family,  765. 
Apthorp,  Charles,  583,  611,  631 ;  death 

of,   664;    652,   664;   East,   471,  518, 

536,  665  ;  John,  647,  664,  752. 
Aquetneck_  supposed  voyage   to,  108  ; 

Aquida,  254. 
Aquittamaug,  John  (Indian),  569. 
Arabella,  Arbella,  the  ship,  70—1,  587. 
Arbuckle,  William,  455. 
Arbuthnot,  John,  583. 
Archibald,  Edward,  779. 
Archer,  Gabriel,  12,  14  ;  John,  54 ;  Mr., 

70,  74,  76  ;  John  Rose,  a  pirate,  570. 
Archives,  Boston  has  none,  565. 
Argal,  John,  34  ;  Samuel,  85. 
Arexus,  an  eastern  Chief,  572. 
Armada,  the  Spanish,  overthrown,  7  ; 

invincible,  263. 
Armine,  Elizabeth,  68,  306. 
Arminians,  616. 
Armitage,  Thomas,  185. 
Arnold,   Andrew,   54  ;    Benedict,  274  ; 

Barrichia,  514 ;    Edward,   249,   259  ; 

Goodman,  332  ;  John,  250,  274,  503, 

523,  558,  788. 
Arratt,  John,  235. 
Arundel,  Earl,  15,  34. 
Artillery  Company,  origin  of  the  Ancient 

and  Honorable,  235 — 6. 
Ashton,  Dr.,  810. 
Askew,  Robert,  626. 
Aspinwall,  Catherine,  707  ;  William,  193, 

785,  795. 
Astwood,  James,    310,   331 ;    Richard, 

795. 
Atherton,   Humphrey,   275 ;    killed  by 

accident,  361. 
Atkins,  Thomas,  431,  548  ;   Capt.,  ex- 
hibits a  Polar  bear,  596. 
Atkinson,  Theodore,  253,  318,  331,  341, 

414,  707  ;  William,  573. 
Attucks,  Crispus,  781—2,  1784. 
Atwood,  Harman,  268  ;  John,  427,  549  ; 

Oliver,   534  ;    Samuel,   779  ;    Sarah, 

549. 


822 


INDEX. 


Aubert,  Thomas,  voyage,  3. 

Auchniuty,  Robert,  marriage,  594,  600  ; 
in  the  Land  Bank  enterprise,  613,  619, 
746,  766. 

Auchmuty-lane,  686,  693. 

Audebert, ,  652  ;  Isaiah,  652. 

Audley,  John,  190. 

Aurora  Borealis,  first  seen,  559. 

Austin,  Anne,  342,  343  ;  Benjamin,  657, 
678,  702,  810  ;  Box  and  A.,  650  ;  Sam- 
uel, 657,  731—2. 

Averill,  James,  351. 

Avery,  Christopher,  342,  383  ;  John,  657, 
659,  695,  767. 

Aves,  John,  431 ;  Samuel,  493  ;  Aves' 
corner,  803. 

Award,  Richard,  235. 

Awashanks  (Indian),  squaw,  398. 

Ayscough,  Sir  George,  321. 

Babbington,  Abraham,  316. 

Babcock,  Nathaniel,  418. 

Bachelder,  Alexander,  Ann,  87 ;  Ste- 
phen, arrival,  140  ;  accused,  144  ; 
falsely,  152  ;  John,  a  juror  at  the  trials 
for  witchcraft,  502. 

Back  Bay,  proposed  improvements  of, 

VIII. 

Backhouse, ,  54. 

Backus,  Isaac,  historian,  230,  258,  274 
—5,  239,  301—2,  303,  324,  326,  378, 
3S0,  424,  618. 
Bacon,  John,  384  ;  Josiah,  574  ;  Mary, 

692. 
Badger,  Joseph,  601. 
Baffin,  William,  discoverer,  29,  32. 
Bailey,  Jacob,  634  ;  John,  236,  464,  498, 

548  ;  Thomas,  462. 
Bail-stow,  Giorge,  582. 
Baker,  Christina,  5S2  •,  Daniel,  25  ;  Eb- 
enezer,  415  ;  Francis,  628  ;  John,  368, 
319,  351,  427  ;  Joshua,  593  ;  Joseph, 
567,  695  ;  Josiah,  559  ;  Richard,  409  ; 
Simuel,  527  ;  Thomas,  445,  547,  5S2 ; 
William,  230,  327,  427. 
Baker's  bread,  regulated,  486,  599. 
Balch,  John,  51,  57  ;  William,  608,  769. 
Baldwin,  Cyrus,  767  ;  Thomas,  616. 
Baldwin  Place,  616. 
Ballantine,  John,  427,  455,  514,  518,  543, 

803  ;  Capt.,  813. 
Ballard,  Daniel,  54 ;  Jarvis,  509  ;  John, 
534,  731  •,  Joseph,  567  ;  Martha,  509  ; 
Ballard's  wharf,  803  ;  Mr.,  805. 
Ball,  Mr.,  his  ship,  193  ;  Robert,  596. 
Balston,  James,  350,  790;  Jonathan,  2S6, 
313  ;  William,  176,  183,  189,  190,  193, 
194,  225,  229,  233,  241,  531. 
Baltimore,  Lord,  278. 
Bancroft,  George,  53  ;    unjust  towards 

the  Indians,  273. 
Bancroft,  one,  154,  273. 
Banister,  Thomas,  504,  518,  529. 
Bangs,  Edward,  36  ;  Samuel,  652. 
Bank  of  Credit,  551,  577  ;  Land  Bank, 

613  ;  bills,  491,  523,  659. 
Bankes,  Richard,  468,  471. 
Bankrupt  law,  518. 
Bankruptcies,  frequent,  6S2,  719. 
Bant,  William,  665. 
Baptist  Churches,  346,  375,  379,  380, 

382—3,  615. 
Barbut,  William,  536. 
Barber,   Daniel,   726 — 7  ;    Peter,  455  ; 

Nathaniel,  731. 
Barker,  John,  660  ;  Thomas,  547. 
Bardin,  Edward,  810. 
Barlow,  Bartholomew,  789. 
Barkley,  William,  154. 
Barnaby,  Ruth,  638—9. 
Barnam,  Rickard,  414. 
Barnard,    John,    431  ;     James,     544 ; 
Thomas,  486  ;  Nathaniel,  735  ;  Thom- 
as, 486  ;  Capt.,  813. 
Barney,  Jacob,  186,  378. 
Barnes,  James,  504,   522,   536  ;    John, 
567,  533  ;    Matthew,   333,   336,  342, 
349,  465  ;   Nathaniel,  434  ;    Samuel, 
318  ;  Thomas,  652. 
Barnsdell,  William,  596. 
Barre,  Isaac,  a  friend  to  the  Colonies, 
653,  689,  703—5,  711,  768,  771,  724 
—5,  729. 


Barrell,  James,  426 ;  John,  291,  318, 
333,  335  ;  George,  241,  250,  253  ;  Col- 
burn,  687. 

Barnett,  John,  342,  344,  657,  756 ;  Josh- 
ua, 651 ;  Nathaniel,  665  ;  Samuel,  547, 

550,  557. 

Barnet,  Dr. ,  685. 

Barrington,  Thomas,  284 ;   Lord,  551 ; 

Viscount,  655. 

Baron,  Capt. ,  363. 

Barrow,  George,  567. 

Bartholomew,   Stephen,  489 ;   William, 

230  237  428. 
Bartle'tt,  W.  H.,  artist,  339  ;  William  S., 

634  ;  Robert,  336. 
Bartol,  C.  A.,  602. 

Barton,  James,  508  ;  John,  522 ;  Mar- 
garet, 568. 
Basin,  Richard,  508. 
Basket,  Mark,  630. 
Bass,  Alden,  590  ;  Henry,  695  ;  Samuel, 

577,  268  ;  William,  318. 
Bassett,  James,  780  ;  William,  36. 
Baster  [Baxter  ?]  Joseph,  395. 
Batt,  Paul,  414—15,  427  ;   tan  house, 

342. 
Bateman,  John,  154,  312,  319,  320,  331, 

336,  796  ;  Joseph,  418  ;  William,  317. 
Bates,  Edward,  229,  235,  792  ;  George, 

789,  791  ;  James,  342. 
Bath,  William,  Earl  of,  34. 
Bathurst,  John,  317,  447. 
Batter,  Edward,  230. 
Battery  March,  street,  632. 
Battery,  the,  320,  348,  615. 
Batterson,  James,  533. 
Bayley,  Benjamin,  395  ;  Capt.,  2S3 — 4  ; 

Joseph,  440. 
Bayns,  Mr.,  159. 
Baxter,  248,  263,  318, 395  ;  Joseph,  800  ; 

Mr.,  465,  803  ;  Nicholas,  798  ;  Paul, 

652  ;  sister,  341 ;  Richard,  496. 
Beacon  Hill,  141,  433,  470,  482,  593,  619, 

685  ;  tar  barrel  on,  744 — 5. 
Beacon  Island,  553. 
Beale,  B.,  395  ;  William,  36,  497. 
Beamont,  Thomas,  800. 
Beamsley,  William,  235,  312,  319,  320, 

347—8,  787,  793. 
Bean,  Mary,  802. 
Beard,  Thomas,   57  ;    Beard's   Corner, 

803. 
Bear,  Polar.     See  Atkins.     Bears  near 

Boston,  572. 
Beatson,  R.,  Memoirs,  624. 
Beaton,  James,  652. 
Beauchamp,  Mr.,  36. 
Beaver  Brook,  named,  137. 
Beaver,  the  ship,  748. 
Beck,  Alexander,  235,  254, 291,  318,  320, 

785,  790,  793. 
Beckford,  William,  689,  725,  762. 
Bede,  the  historian,  101. 
Bedgood,  Jeffrey,  567,  597,  600. 
Beecher,  Thomas,  54,  79,  88,  170  ;  Ly- 
man, 699. 
Beckman's  Hist.  Inventions,  263. 
Beer  Lane,  588,  803. 
Beers,  Richard,  407, 409,  410. 
Belcher,  Gregory,  248;  Andrew,  293, 403, 

514,  523,  525,  539  ;  dies,  557  ;  R.  W., 

630  ;    Edward,   181,   196,   319,   796  ; 

Elizabeth,  293;  Jonathan,  403,   539, 

551,  583,  585,  589,  594,  613,  688  ; 
John,  534 ;  Joseph,  336,  607  ;  Jo- 
siah, 384. 

Belcher's  Wharf,  630,  803. 

Belknap,  Abigail,  567  ;  Jeremy,  14 — 16, 

19,  21,  26,  39,  44,  49,  130,  224,  256, 

282,  526,  577  ;  Joseph,  350,  384,  511, 

512,  560,  756,  805  ;   Nathaniel,  567  ; 

Belknap's  yard,  811. 
Bell,   Daniel,  250  ;  David,  ib.  ;  James, 

521 ;  Thomas,  235,  317,  320,  798. 
Bells  of  Churches,  of  New  and  Old  North, 

545—6  ;   Peal  of  8,  568  ;  for  King's 

Chapel,  471. 
Bell-ringers,  appointed,  558,  569. 
Bellamont,  Earl,  Governor,  516  ;  arrival, 

517  ;  death  of,  518. 
Bellamy,  John,  529  ;  Samuel,  pirate,  556. 
Bellingham,  Richard,  54,  62,  174,  176, 

182,  184, 189,  230,  234,  248,  253,  257, 


259,  267,  294,  295,  312,  315,  317,  334 
—5,  339,  368,  375,  380,  385,  394  ;  453, 
785  ;  Samuel,  790  ;  Henry,  176. 

Benbowe,  John,  317. 

Benbrook,  James,  573. 

Bendall,  Edward,  229,  234—5,  241,  245, 
250,  253,  257,  262—3,  268,  278,  286, 
311,  312,  318,  319,  341,  504,  786,  788, 
791—2  ;  John,  190,  229. 

Benjamin,  John,  190  ;  Joseph,  ib. 

Benk,  Menasses,  427. 

Bennet,  George,  336  ;  Henry,  176  ;  John, 
503,  590  ;  Richard,  259,  333,  357,  373, 
787,  790  ;  Peter,  414 ;  Spencer,  507  ; 
Bennet's  Wharf,  804. 

Bentley,  William,  347. 

Berdt,  Dennis,  725,  737. 

Beresford,  Henry,  418. 

Berkley,  Sir  William,  311. 

Bernard,  Francis,  appointed   Governor. 
654  ;   family,  654—5  ;   measures  op. 
posed,  676  ;  small-pox  regulation,  677 
did  not  understand  his  position,  705 
opposed  to  the  Stamp  Act,  723,  727 
opposed  by  the  General  Court,  728 
tar  barrel  affair,  744 — 5  ;  disturbed  by 
a  Convention  of  the  people,  746  ;  man- 
ufactory house  affair,  751 ;  created  a 
Baronet,   757  ;    portraits,  ib. ;  other 
difficulties  with  the  Gen.  Court,  762  ; 
sails  for  England,  tb.  ;  rude  allusions 
to,  768  ;  Otis's  accusation,  770  ;  burnt 
in  effigy,  772  ;  indicted,  774. 

Berners,  Lord,  80,  733. 

Bernon,  Gabriel,  529,  536. 

Berry,  Ebenezer,  601  ;  Henry,  601  ; 
John,  286,  301 ;  Richard,  307. 

Bertrand,  Ensign,  763. 

Besse,  sufferings  of  the  Quakers,  342 — 3, 
352—3,  356—7,  361,  369,  394,  429, 
504. 

Bewett,  Hugh,  252. 

Bibbles,  John,  234,  253. 

Bible,  of  the  French  Church,  489  ;  first 
printed,  630. 

Bickner,  Joseph,  418. 

Biddle's  Memoir  of  Sebastian  Cabot,  2. 

Biddolph,  Sir  Theophilus,  317. 

Bigelow,  John  P.,  103. 

Biggs,  John,  151,  229,  235,  259,  785,  790. 

Bilbowes,  ship's  stocks,  98  ;  Indians  in, 
141. 

Bill,  Dorothie,  245,  250;  James,  250, 
342,  423  ;  Richard,  644,  807  ;  Thomas, 
395  ,  Bill  and  Smith,  811 ;  Samuel, 
817. 

Billings,  Joseph,  521,  415. 

Billington,  Francis,  108  ;  John,  36,  107. 

Bing,  Admiral,  585. 

Bilson, ,  54. 

Birchall,  John,  342. 

Birch's  Life  of  Boyle,  317. 

Bird  Island,  183,  281,  320,  570. 

Bird,  Simon,  341  ;  Thomas,  250. 

Bishop,  Nathaniel,  804. 

Bishop's  Alley,  583,  595. 

Biscon,  Isaac,  536. 

Bishop,  Bridget,  500  ;  Capt. of  the 

Fortune,  686  ;  John,  504 ;  Nathaniel, 
320,  792,  794  ;  Townsend,  230. 

Bishop's  New  Eng.  Judged,  343,  355. 

Bissell, ,  567. 

Bitfield,  Samuel,  250,  331. 

Black-horse  lane,  514  ;  alley,  686. 

Blackstone,  William,  assessed  in  1628, 
50 ;  invites  the  settlers  to  Shawmut, 
95;  first  settler  of  Boston,  96;  death  of, 
97  ;  freeman,  107  ;  sells  his  lands  in 
Boston,  530  ;  his  release  lost,  600. 

Blackstone's  Beach,  278  ;  Point,  97,  239, 
531 ;  River,  96  ;  Spring,  97. 

Blakiston,  J.,  284. 

Blake,  Edward,  350,  652  ;  Increase,  652  ; 
John,  350,  390 ;  annals,  70,  84. 

Blagden,  George  W.,  384. 

Blagne,  Henry,  350. 

Blanchard,  Joshua,  580,  618,  677. 

Blancher,  William,  302. 

Blandford,  ship,  585. 

Blantaine,  William,  248,  250,  302,  312, 
318,  337,  342,  350,  797. 

Blashwait,  William,  458. 

Blessing  of  the  Bay,  first  vessel,  128. 


INDEX. 


823 


Bligh,  Thomas,  332. 

BHsh,  Abraham,  .'.is,  560. 

Bliss,  nut.  Disc  nirse,  no,  310  ;  Reho- 
both,  96-7, 120. 

Bliss,  Thomas,  250. 

Block  Island,  expedition  against,  107, 
201,  Indian  name,  202;  belonged  to 
Massachusetts,  234  ;  deputation  from, 
237. 

Blodget,  Samuel,  677. 

Blome's  Britannia,  292,  130,  027. 

Bloomfleld's  Hist.  Norfolk,  340. 

Blott,  Robert,  795. 

Blount,  Anthony,  527,  507. 

Blower,  Thomas,  501; ;  Sampson  S.,  777. 

Blue  Bull,  sign  or  the,  402,  638. 

Blue  Hills,  belong  to  Boston,  321. 

Blyn,  Mr.,  811. 

Boardman,  Mr.,  502,  728. 

Bodman,  Joseph,  427  ;  Sara,  384. 

Body  of  Liberties,  259. 

Bogel,  Alexander,  414. 

Boilan,  William,  02S  ;  residence,  758  ; 
procures  Bernard's  letters,  762,  771. 

Bolton's  Hist.  Westchester,  210,  251. 

Bomazeen,  imprisoned,  510. 

Bompasse,  Edward,  36. 

Bomsted, ,  795. 

Bouaventure,  George,  ship,  88. 

Bond,  Dennis,  302  ;  William,  409. 

Bonetta,  ship,  748. 

Bonighton,  Richard,  60. 

Bonner,  John,  plan  of  Boston,  537,  550, 
566,  772,  810,  820. 

Book  of  Possessions,  785. 

Books,  burning  of,  343. 

Booksellers,  numerous,  521,  682. 

Boone,  Nicholas,  528,  552. 

Boone's  Corner,  556. 

Boott,  Kirk,  817. 

Borden,  George,  793. 

Boreman,  Felix,  55. 

Borington,  Bartholomew,  176. 

Borland,  Francis,  72,  455,  649  ;  Jane, 
72  ;  John,  455,  518  ;  Mr.,  804,  813. 

Boscawen,  Edward,  317. 

Bosquain,  Adam,  523. 

Boston,  metropolis  of  a  vast  country,  1 ; 
events  which  led  to  its  settlement,  2 — 
8  ;  name  on  a  map  of  1614,  21  ;  Smith 
prevented  from  settling  at,  25  ;  ex- 
plorations adjacent  by  Plymouth  men, 
43-6  ;  by  Winthrop  and  others,  86-7  ; 
its  first  settler,  Blackstone  invites  the 
emigrants  to  settle  on  Shawmut,  95-6  ; 
Shawmut  named  Boston,  98  ;  date  of 
its  settlement,  99 ;  origin  of  name, 
101  ;  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  100-1  ; 
first  General  Court  at,  106  ;  ancient 
Indian  settlement,  119  ;  claims  land 
in  Ct.,  126  ;  ship-building  begun  at, 
129  ;  the  first  meeting-house,  104, 142  ; 
its  fortifications,  164 ;  jealousy  in 
England  of  its  prosperity,  172  ;  its 
records,  173  ;  maps  of,  550,  566,  772, 
820  ;  commerce  begins,  266,  628  ; 
governors  required  to  reside  in,  339  ; 
land  transfers,  to  be  recorded,  347  ; 
royal  commissioners  arrive  in,  369  ; 
commissioners'  account  of,  377  ;  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians,  456-7  ;  order 
about  its  records,  &c,  507,  514,  599  ; 
attempt  to  become  a  city  fails,  535  ; 
its  latitude  and  longitude,  553  ;  pro- 
posal for  a  market-house  fails,  555  ; 
succeeds,  596 ;  described  by  Moll, 
557  ;  has  no  archives,  565  ;  surveyed 
by  Bonner,  566  ;  early  called  a  city, 
569  ;  town-meetings  opened  with 
prayer,  570,  632  ;  its  Sunday  laws, 
577  ;  divided  into  wards,  588,  600  ; 
watchmen  to  cry  the  time  of  night, 
599  ;  proposal  to  make  it  a  county, 
599  ;  Chelsea,  taken  from,  604  ; 
townships  granted  to,  604  ;  described 
by  Oldmixon,  608  ;  taken  possession 
of  by  the  King's  trops,  747  ;  appeal  to 
the  world,  771 ;  evacuated  by  the 
troops,  784 ;  Book  of  Possessions, 
785  ;  often  called  a  city,  569. 

Boston  Museum,  804. 

Boston  Marine  Society,  616. 
Boston  Gazette,  638. 


Boston  Stone,  t,li< ■,  sol. 

Boston  'I'h. "id-,  sol. 

Bosway,  William,  418. 

Boswovth,    Bphralm.    616;    Nathaniel, 

381  ;  Zacch  ius,  189,229,  285,787,  794. 
i:  items,  R-jlations  of  the  World,  5. 
1;  lucher,  Tb  imas,  616. 

Boulderson, ,667. 

I!  .mid,  James,  Ephraim,  616. 
Bourchier,  Lord  Berners,  1 1,  so,  733. 
Bourle,  William,  41 1. 
Bourne,   Garret,   285,386,   412,    700; 

Melatlah,  657,  729,  782,  788  ;  Nehe- 

mlah,  10L  259,  270,  289,  2:1.1,  787-8. 
Bouterlck,  Samuel,  414. 
Boutinau,  James,  414,  044,  657,  770; 

Stephen,  489. 
Bowditch,  Nathaniel  I.,  785. 
Bowdoin,  Elizabeth,  72  ;  James,  72, 4S8, 

520,  611,  033,  753,  784. 
Bowen,  Abel,  Picture  Boston,  311,  505, 

KS0  ;   Daniel,  S00. 

Bowen,  Griffin,  245,  2S5,  791  ;  Penuel, 
552. 

Bowers,  Elizabeth,  429  ;  Jerathmeel,  734. 

Bowes,  Nicholas,  648  ;  William,  764. 

Bowles,  John,  400  ;  Joshua,  652. 

Bowling  Green,  607  ;  another,  805. 

Bowman,  Jonathan,  591,  593. 

Bowry,  Richard,  55. 

Box,  Mr. ,  merchant,  650. 

Boyce,  Catherine,  683  ;  Daniel,  662  ; 
John,  652. 

Boyd,  John  P.,  456. 

Boydell,  John,  559. 

Boyden,  Simeon,  811. 

Boyer,  James,  5S0  ;  Peter,  657. 

Boyle,  Alexander,  455 ;  John,  818  ; 
Robert,  313,  316—17,  375-6. 

Boyle's  Chronology,  655. 

Boylston,  John,  657,  729  ;  Peter,  526  ; 
Thomas,  556-7,  744 ;  Zabdiel,  561, 
56S,  580  ;  his  death  and  family,  726. 

Boynton,  Francis,  176,  1S8  ;  Sir  Mat- 
thew, 181,  1S7. 

Boys,  Antipas,  340,  376. 

Brackenbury,  John,  418  ;  Richard,  57. 

Bracket,  Anthony,  807  ;  Mary,  384 ; 
Peter,  250  ;  Richard,  189. 

Bradley,  John,  599  ;  the  astronomer,  633. 

Bradbury, ,161;  Jabez,  633;  John, 

753. 

Braddock,  Gen.  Edward,  614,  628,  639, 
644. 

Bradford,  William,  one  of  the  Pilgrims, 
36  ;  voyage  to  Massachusetts,  43  ;  on 
early  settlers,  50  ;  on  a  capital  execu- 
tion, 107-8  ;  about  Thos.  Morton,  113  ; 
Letter  to  Winthrop,  131  ;  visit  to  Bos- 
ton, 137  ;  visited  at  Plymouth,  145  ; 
at  Boston  about  trading  at  Connecti- 
cut, 155  ;  about  the  Quakers,  345. 

Bradford,  Mr. ,  645  ;  Captain,  764  ; 

Gamaliel,  753  ;  John,  744,  756  ; 
Joseph,  658  ;  Moses,  427  ;  Robert, 
332,  427  ;  Mr.,  813. 

Bradford,  Alden,  520  ;  Life  of  Mayhew, 
666. 

Bradish,  Ebenezer,  678  ;  one,  a  pirate, 
518. 

Bradshaw,  Job,  55  ;  Joseph,  55. 

Bradstreet,  Simon,  of  the  Mass.  Com- 
pany, 55  ;  Assistant,  77  ;  at  Charles- 
town,  92 ;  joins  the  church,  93 ; 
secretary  of  the  colony,  94  ;  at  Gen. 
Court  in  Boston,  106,  110,  118—19  ; 
Assistant,  139,  152-3  ;  of  the  banish- 
ing Court,  230  ;  on  the  Churchmen, 
295-6  ;  commiss.  of  the  U.  Cols.,  308  ; 
on  long  hair,  315  ;  embassy  to  Eng- 
land, 358  ;  petitioner,  376  ;  on  the 
Baptists,  380 ;  on  the  Quakers,  429, 
440 ;  moderate  partisan,  445  416  ; 
Counsellor,  473  ;  active  against  An- 
dross,  483-4  ;  again  Governor,  ib.  ; 
death  of,  512 ;  a  descendant,  363  ; 
Anne,  446. 

Bradstreet,    Dudley,    473,    574,     645 ; 

Mercy,  293  ;  Simon,  Jr.,  574. 
Brailsford,  widow,  652. 
Brainard,  David,  363,  623,  624. 
Braintree,  separated  from  Boston,  248. 
Bram,  Benjamin,  427. 


Brand,  Thomas,  57  i   William,  343. 

Brand's  Vntlqulties,  437. 

Brattle,  Catherine,  020  ;  Elizabeth,  293, 
ll.i;  Thomas,  rebuilds  First  Church, 
1  12  ;     Petitl r,   370  ;    of  Old   S  .nth 

Church,  3si  ;  Selectman,  423;  gives 

: .hi  1  1  King'    Chapel,  471  ;  on 

Witchcraft,  496;  gives  land  for  a 
Church,  -".is  ;  on  non-import,  commit- 
ter, 764. 

lii-attlc,  ('apt.  Thom.-i  ,  117,  434,  430, 
447  ;  dies,  440  ;  William,  142,  557, 
5:1.".,  0':;. 

Brattle-street  Church,  518—19. 

Bray,  George,  000. 

Brayley  ami  Britton,  Hist.  Essex,  101. 

Bread,  weight  of  regulated,  486,  599. 

Breek,  Elizabeth,  407,  720  ;  John,  532  ; 
Margaret,  648  ;  widow,  465. 

Breedon,  Francis,  487  ;  Thomas,  304, 
372,  374,  370,  805. 

Breet,  Sarah,  339. 

Brend,  William,  352. 

Brenton,  Jahleel,  506 ;  William,  174, 
181-2,  186.  189,  100,  104-0,  201,  233- 
5,  245,  313,  328,  331,  333,  335,  341, 
347,  349,  500,  812. 

Brereton,  Sir  William,  12—14,  55,  07, 
76-7,  95. 

Brewster,  Fear,  36  ;  John,  574  ;  Jona- 
than, 36  ;  Margaret,  428  ;  Patience, 
36  ;  William,  36,  145. 

Brewster  Islands,  235,  375,  3S1,  805. 

Briant,  Robert,  418. 

Brickhead,  Thomas,  55. 

Bridewell,  820. 

Bridge,  Benjamin,  580 ;  Christopher, 
471  ;  John,  230  ;  Robert,  315  ;  Samuel, 
503^i,  521,  532;  Thomas,  534,  548; 
William,  161. 

Bridge,  Charles  River,  560,  605,  612, 
664. 

Bridgham,  Henry,  333,  336  ;  James, 
Joseph,  493,  506  ;  Elder,  812. 

Bridgman's  Memorials,  315,  480. 

Brigdon,  Elizabeth,  533 — 34  ;  Katherinc, 
634. 

Briggs,  Clement,  36. 

Brigham,  Peter,  642. 

Bright,  Francis,  55,  57  ;  G?orge,  56S. 

Brimmer,  Herman,  665,  673. 

Brinley,  Francis,  395,  594  ;  death  of, 
714  ;  family,  718  ;  Hon.  Francis,  557. 
626  ;  Nathaniel,  594  ;  Thomas,  469, 
594,  626. 

Brinsley,  Lawrence,  317. 

Brisanton,  Thomas,  418. 

Briscoe,  Daniel,  268  ;  William,  796 ; 
Mr.,  805. 

Britteridge,  Richard,  36. 

Broadbent,  Mr.,  480. 

Brocket,  Richard,  241. 

Brocke,  John,  385,  443. 

Brocklebank,  Samuel,  418. 

Brockwell,  Charles,  471. 

Brodhead's  Hist.  New  York,  180,  251, 
368,  391. 

Bromdon,  Mr.,  395. 

Bromfield,  Arthur,  598  ;  Edward,  317, 
492,  504,  529,  59S,  607,  624,  643,  669 ; 
Mary,  643,  669. 

Brooke,  John,  34,  42,  88,  187. 

Brookfield,  attack  upon,  405-6. 

Brookline,  origin  of  name,  531  ;  sepa- 
rates from  Boston,  ib. 

Brooks,  ,  161  ;  Robert,  336  ;  Wil- 
liam, 323  ;  William  G.,  675  ;  Brook's 
Corner,  807. 

Brookin,  William,  Mary,  87. 

Brooksup,  Joane,  357. 

Broome,  George,  350. 

Broughton,  Thomas,  332,  336,  341,  350  ; 
John,  418. 

Brown,  Anne,  72  ;  Asa  W.,  87  ;  Capt. 

,   15  ;  Edmund,   236,   385,  493  ; 

Edward,  490  ;  Henrv,  800  ;  Hugh,  57, 
818  ;  James,  318,  399,  412,  785,  787, 
790  ;  John,  41,  55,  57,  62,  65,  67,  73, 
251,  534,  602,  657  ;  Josiah,  363  •,  Ju- 
dith, 357,  363  ;  Killam,  55  ;  Mary, 
72 ;  Peter,  36  ;  Robert,  52  ;  Samuel, 
55,  57,  62,  65,  67,  72-3,  353  •,  William, 
483,  526-7,  800. 


824 


INDEX. 


Brownists  27,  52,  118,  290. 

Bruce,  Ca'pt. ,  746  ;  David,  455. 

Bruff,  William,  336. 

Brunuing,  a  bookseller,  462. 

Buck,  Eleazer,  executed,  490  ;  James, 

534. 
Bucket,  Mary,  36. 
Buckingham's  Magazine,  186  ;  Polyan- 

thos,  54S  ;  Marquis  of,  34. 
Buckland,  "William,  131. 
Bucknall,  Jacob,  652. 
Buckminster,  Joseph  S.,  519. 
Buco,  Pequot,  405. 
Bufham,  Joshua,  352 — 3. 
Buley,  John,  19. 
Bulfinch,  Charles,  552,  568  ;  623,  685  ; 

family,  663  ;  Mr.,  807. 
Bulgar,  Richard,  224,  235. 
Bulkley,  Mr.,  222,  469  ;    Edward,  236, 

385,  436,  473  ;  Joseph,  Peter,  396  ; 

Richard,  490. 
Bull,   Dixy,   147  ;   Henry,  229  ;  Jerah, 

413  ;  John,  472,  4S7  ;  William,  655. 
Bullivant,   Benjamin,  464,  467—8,  471, 

474,  4S1,  4S4,  517. 
Bullocke,  Erasmus,  235. 

Bumstead,  John,  626  ;  ,  795. 

Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern,  581,  597,  650. 
Burch,  John,  814  ;  William,  732,  737. 
Burcher,  Edward,  36. 
Burden,  George,  235,  241,  248,  259,  267, 

278,  320,  386,  691,  790  ;  Sarah,  357. 
Burditt,  James  W.,  564. 
Burdock,  Capt.  of  the  William  and  Jane, 

153. 
Burgess,    Elizeus,  Governor  of  Mass., 

551  ;  James,  418  ;  John,  319  ;  Wil- 
liam, 5. 
Burke's     Baronetcies,    250 ;     Landed 

Gentry,  355. 
Burke,  Edmund,  689,  768. 
Burleigh,  Capt.  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  79. 
Burnaby,  John,  259  ;  Ruth,  6S8. 
Burnham,  Thomas,  323. 
Burnell,  Samuel,  521,  528  ;  William,  268. 
Burnet,  familv,  578,  581—2  ;  David,  652  ; 

Gov.  William,  575,  581. 
Burrill,  George,  349,  427  ;  James,  418  ; 

John,  312  ;  Samuel,  508. 
Burroughs,  Edward,  356  ;  Francis,  460, 

518,  595  ;  George,  500  ;  James,  427  ; 

Jeremiah,  161,  287  ;  William,  523. 
Burslin,  John,  50. 
Burton,    Boniface,    386;    David,    294 

John,  352  ;  Joseph,  294  ;  Ralph,  645 

Stephen,  294,  445,  594  ;  Thomas,  294 
Bushnall,  Francis,  223,  235,  251,  376 

John,  790. 
Busby,  Nicholas,  312,  799. 
Bushel,  John,  598. 
Bushord,  Richard,  55. 
Butcher,  Robert,  532. 
Bute,   Lord,   563,   690,   714  ;    burnt    in 

effigy,  716. 
Butler,   Alford,   687  ;   John,   487,  471  ; 

Matthew,   544  ;    Stephen,   313,   318  ; 

Walford,  687. 
Butler's  Hudibras,  40, 309,  687. 
Butler's  Row,  630. 
Butman,  John,  319. 
Buts,  Thomas,  6  ;  Sir  William,  6. 
Buttles,  Leonard,  318,  248,  250,  254,  259, 

286,  812. 
Buttolph,  Leonard,  318  ;  Nicholas,  257  ; 

Thomas,  102,  255,  259,  278,  307,  790. 
Button,  John,  229,234,  253—4,278,312, 

318,  327,  374,  550,  787,  790—1  ;  Mat- 
thias, 57  ;  Robert,  227,  320. 
Bybie,  Annie,  423. 
Byfield,  Adoniram,  160, 287  ;  Nathaniel, 

478,481—2,484,509,514,  520,  522—3, 

526,  523,  582,  592—4,  626  ;  Richard, 

593. 
Byles,  John,  Josiah,  525  ;  Mather,  wife 

of,  536  ;  poem  on  the  King,  575  ;  on 

Gov.  Burnet,  581  ;  minister  of  Hollis- 

st.  Church,  590  ;  his  Ch.  contribution, 

614 ;    on    the   earthquake,   640 ;    on 

redress   of  grievances,   748  ;    Sutton, 

590  ;  wharf,  805  ;  811. 
%lot,  Robert,  32. 

Cabot,  John,  Sebastian,  discoveries,  1 — 6. 


Cade,  Jack,  his  rebellion  referred  to,  80. 

Cage,  Daniel,  25. 

Cages  for  criminals,  42S,  506,  577,  819  ; 
for  Indians,  377. 

Cakebread,  Thomas,  236. 

Calamy,  Edmund,  172,  288,  593. 

Caldwell,  Benjamin,  765  ;  James,  782 — 4. 

Callicott,  Richard,  214,  230,  428. 

Calef,  Robert,  496, 498,  500,  528,  531—2, 
568,  734 ;  Joseph,  56S,  650,  813 ; 
Samuel,  757  ;  Winter,  652,  778. 

Callender,  Elisha,  381,  605  ;  Ellis,  379, 
3S1,  427,  432,  534, 605  ;  death  of,  6S0  ; 
William,  547. 

Calender's  Hist.  Discourse,  118,  122, 
229—30. 

Calvert,  Sir  George,  42. 

Camden's  Britannia,  101—2,  218,  583. 

Camden,  Lord,  723 — 5,  768. 

Camock,  Thomas,  144. 

Campbell,  C,  618  ;  Duncan,  455,  462  ; 
John,  518,  528,  538  ;  Lord  William, 
753  ;  Wiliam,  816. 

Canada,  settlement  of,  16  ;  French  name 
of  N.  Eng.,  27  ;  trade  to,  305  ;  em- 
bassy to,  319  ;  captives  there,  430  ; 
expedition,  491,  505, 535,  539  ;  procla- 
mation to,  510. 

Caner,  Henry,  471,  691. 

Canon,  John,  36. 

Canon,  some  received  from  London,  734. 

Canonchet,  taken  prisoner,  405,  412. 

Canonicus,  129,  200,  203,  303,  306. 

Canterbury,  Archbishop  of,  666. 

Capen,  Henry,  Hopestill,  687  ;  John, 
340,  345,  490. 

Captain,  a  seventy-four,  645. 

Carr,  Maurice,  746,  782  ;  Patrick,  782  ; 
Robert,  Sir,  368—9,  372. 

Card,  William,  440. 

Carder,  Richard,  disarmed,  229,  275 — 6. 

Caring,  Edward,  230. 

Caron,  Joseph,  55. 

Carpenter,  William,  274. 

Carlton,  Bishop,  Remembrances,  104. 

Carol,  Michael,  652. 

Carter,  James,  156  ;  Lydia,  459  ;  Ralph, 
427  ;  Richard,  245,  250,  318,  786,  790, 
795—6. 

Carthagena,  expedition,  619. 

Carthew,  John,  418,  427,  503,  525. 

Cartwright,  George,  368—73,  453,  479. 

Caryll,  Joseph,  287,  380,  452,  551,  629. 

Cary,  Samuel,  471 ;  John,  810. 

Casey,  John,  414. 

Cushman,  Robert,  Thomas,  36. 

Casson,  Edward,  55. 

Castell,  William,  287. 

Castle  Island,  order  for  a  fort  on,  172 ; 
affair  of  the  colors,  192  ;  in  ruins,  269, 
280  ;  repaired,  285  ;  men  for,  2S6  ; 
loan  of  Maverick,  291,  296  ;  a  bell  for, 
347  ;  appropriation  for,  351  ;  order 
about  salutes,  381 ;  burnt,  396  ;  be- 
sieged, and  taken  from  Andross,  483  ; 
named  Castle  William,  531  ;  a  chap- 
lain, 545  ;  death  of  the  gunner,  596  ; 
quarantine  regulations,  604  ;  a  hos- 
pital, 685  ;  about  120  cannon  mounted, 
772. 

Catchmay,  Sir  Richard,  34. 

Candler,  Lieut.  R.  N.,  679. 

Caulkin's  Hist.  New  London,  100,  126, 
198. 

Cazneau,  Andrew,  760  ;  Mr. ,  652. 

Cecil,  Sir  Robert,  10, 

Census.     See  Population. 

Center  Haven,  360. 

Centry  Haven,  514. 

Centry  Hill,  7S6,  790. 

Centurion,  frigate,  524. 

Chadderton,  Dr. ,  100,  512. 

Chaddock,  John,  279—80. 

Chadwick,  James,  414. 

Chaffe,  Matthew,  235,  243,  285,  303, 
318,  789. 

Chalkley,  Thomas,  504. 

Challounge,  Henry,  voyager,  16. 

Chalmers'  Annals,  16,  52 — 3,  55,  58,  61 — 
2,  282,  438,  440. 

Chambers,  Charles,  772  ;  John,  605  ; 
William,  571. 

Chamberlain,  Alexander,  567  ;  Edmund, 


414  ;  John,  327,  357  ;  Mellen,  54  ; 
William,  505,  800. 

Chamberlayne's  Pres.  State,  430,  458. 

Champion,  Richard,  589. 

Champlain,  Samuel  de,  names  Mount 
Desert,  85. 

Chandler,  George,  34  ;  John,  307  ;  Wil- 
liam, 440. 

Chandler's  Crim.  Trials,  500,  502. 

Channing,  William  E.,  576—7. 

Chapman,  Jacob,  268  ;  Thomas,  418, 
601. 

Chappell,  Andrew,  241 ;  John,  418  ; 
Nathaniel,  241,  789. 

Chard,  Hellen,  490  ;  Thomas,  418. 

Chardon,  Peter,  518,  611,  617,  806. 

Charity,  ship,  37,  38,  188,  190. 

Charles,  brigantine,  529. 

Charles  River,  mistakes  of  early  voya- 
gers about,  22,  46,  82—3,  87—9. 

Charles  I.,  names  New  England,  27  ; 
beheaded,  315,  450  ;  saintship  of,  631. 

Charles  II.,  death  of,  557  ;  on  costume, 
105  ;  on  N.  Eng.  coinage,  330  ;  inter- 
feres for  Quakers,  356  ;  demands  the 
charter,  446  ;  portrait,  668. 

Charles,  ship,  79,  87, 140. 

Charlestown,  settlement  of,  57 — 9  ;  Wini- 
throp's  company  there,  92 — 4. 

Charlevoix,  Nov.  Fra.,  3,  496. 

Charlton,  Robert,  55. 

Charnock's  Biog.  Nav.,  571,  624. 

Charon's  Ferry,  215. 

Charter,  183,  359,  362, 367—9  ;  vacated, 
446  ;  explanatory,  772. 

Charter-street,  498. 

Chase,  John,  440  ;  Thomas,  665,  695  ; 
William  H.,  363. 

Chatham,  Lord,  768. 

Chattam,  Catherine,  357. 

Chauncy,  Charles,  362,  390 ;  George, 
393  ;  Sarah,  491  ;  family,  393,  670  ; 
Stamp-act  sermon,  725  ;  Elizabeth 
Greenleaf,  760 ;  against  Whitfield, 
60S  ;  Isaac,  629. 

Checkley,  family,  459  ;  Aun,  525  ;  An- 
thony, 395,  396,  434,  509  ;  death  of, 
534  ;  Elizabeth,  535  ;  John,  Robert, 
Samuel,  459  ;  John,  807  ;  522,  532, 
552,  614,  311,  471,  493,  503,  506,  639  ; 
Mary,  535  ;  Rev.  S.,  death  of,  774. 

Cheesman,  Edward,  570. 

Chedley,  Mr. ,  259. 

Cheever,  Bartholomew,  333,  427 — 8,  652, 
788  ;  Ezekiel,  514,  523,  526—7,  534, 
548,  604  ;  Joshua,  544  ;  Richard,  418, 
503  ;  Samuel,  236,  543  ;  Thomas,  613  ; 
Capt.,  806. 

Chelsea,  made  a  town,  604  ;  small-pox 
there,  632. 

Chesebrough,  Nathaniel,  126  ;  Samuel, 
William,  126,  139,  181—2,  234,  531. 

Chester,  ship,  622. 

Chester,  Dorcas,  363  ;  Leonard,  ib. 

Chesterfield,  Earl  of,  633. 

Chesy,  Samuel,  418. 

Chichele,  Henry,  90. 

Chichester,  William,  342. 

Chickataubut,  sells  Nantasket,  41  ;  resi- 
dence, 44 ;  visits  Boston,  121,  125  ; 
complains  of  injuries,  131  ;  joins  the 
Narragansets  to  fight  the  Pokanokets, 
138  ;  again  at  Boston,  141 ;  dies  of 
small-pox,  165  ;  his  successor,  280  ; 
killed  in  a  war  with  the  Mohawks, 
387  ;  his  son  gives  a  deed  of  Boston, 
456. 

Child,  Isaac,  452 ;  John,  297,  427 ; 
Richard,  440  ;  Robert,  292,  294—8. 

Chilton,  James,  36. 

Chimney-sweepers,  474  ;  order  about, 
536. 

Chisell,  Walter,  25. 

Chism,  William,  626. 

Chizeau,  Adam,  687. 

Choate,  John,  613. 

Chochichawick,  Andover,  278. 

Christ  Church,  568,  691. 

Christison,  Wenlock,  357,  504. 

Christmas,  celebration  of  forbidden, 
358. 

Christopher,  Richard,  521,  523. 

Church,  Dr.  Benjamin,  685,  758,   769  ; 


INDEX. 


825 


Ool.  Benjamin,  132,398,  401,  415,478, 

480  ;  480,  529,  712,  788,  758. 
Church  of  Kngland.  See  Episcopalians. 
Ohurohes :  — 

Brattle-street,  518—19. 

Christ  Church,  507—8. 

Oroswell's.    See  ^bench  Church. 

Federal-street,  570—7. 
First  Church,  141—2,  541,  547—8. 
First  BaptiBt,  433. 
First  Ohiversalist,  015. 
French  Church,  487 — 9. 
llollis-stnvl,  51)0—1. 
Irish  Church.    See  Federal  Street. 
King's  Chapel,  407—72. 
Mather's,  425,  015. 
Morehead's.     See  Federal  Street. 
New  Brick  Church,  558. 
New  North      "       544—7. 
New  South       "       551—2. 
Old  North.    Sec  Second  Church. 
Old  South,  383—0. 
Roman  Catholic,  489. 
Sandernanian,  680. 
Second  Baptist,  615. 
Second  Church,  310—11. 
Trinity  Church,  583. 
Churchill,  Arabella,  71 ;  Chas.,  540  ;  654. 
Churchill's  Voyages,  79. 
Churchman,  John,  301. 
Cincinnati,  Society  of,  042. 
Clap,  David,  84, 1S5  ;  John,  613  ;  Roger, 
78,  82—3,  106,  109,  141,  147,  483  ; 
Clap's  Corner,  815. 
Clarendon,  Earl  of,  70,  79,  231,  317,  367, 

447,  526. 
Clarke,  Arthur,  291,  799 ;  Benjamin, 
648  ;  Christopher,  342,  428,  434,  657, 
800  ;  Deborah,  594  ;  Francis,  540  ; 
George,  317  ;  Harry,  471  ;  John,  235, 
325—0,  351,  380,  424,  455,  468,  519, 
543,  548,  602,  6S5,  782,  787,  809  ; 
Jonas,  534,  594,  809  ;  Joseph,  424 ; 
Jonathan,  757  ;  Josiah,  469  ;  Mary, 
351 ;  Matthew,  623  ;  Peaceful,  418  ; 
Perice,  492  ;  Richard,  36,  293  ;  Robert, 
471 ;  Timothy,  503,  511,  514,  518,  521, 
526—7,  531,  556;  Thomas,  36,  227, 
248,  250,  278,  294,  320,  327,  331,  333, 
335—6,  341,  346—7,  363,  368,  394—5, 
397,  418,  422,  434,  453—4,  518,  521, 
592,  7S7,  790,  793,  814 ;  Thomas  M., 
583,  791 ;  Walter,  505  ;  William,  151, 

518,  521,  540,  507,  632, 644  ; ,  55, 

229,  319,  322,  554,  813,  817. 
Clark's  Ship-yard,  373  ;  street,  373, 426, 

544. 
Clarkson,  Alderman,  74  ;  David,  629. 
Clay,  Joseph,  381. 

Claydon,  Barnabas,  55, 57  ;  Jasper,  540. 
Cleer,  John,  414  ;  William  (Clears),  818. 
Clemens,  Augustus,  395  ;  the  ship,  269. 
Clesbe,  John,  427. 
Cleveland,  Duke  of,  232. 
Cleverly,  Stephen,  677,  695. 
Clewley,  Joseph,  607. 
Clifford,  George,  278. 
,   Clifton,  Hope,  356. 
Clock,  one  proposed  for  the  Town,  320  ; 
one  for  Dock  Square,  331 ;   one  or- 
dered, 556. 
Clopton,  Thomasin,  72. 
Clouston,  William,  455. 
Clough,  Ebenezer,  544,  548,  590  ;  John, 
350,  427,   552,   590  ;    Samuel,   523  ; 
Thomas,  590. 
Clough's  Almanac,  513,  523. 
Clud,  Edward,  316. 
Coaches,  first  used,  386. 
Cobb,  Benjamin,  652. 
Cobbet,  Thomas,  130,  198,  385. 
Cochran,  William,  455. 
Cocke,  Nicholas,  503. 
Cockle,  James,  petition,  608. 
Coddington,  John,   796—7  ;  Mrs.,  90 ; 
Nathaniel,  227  ;  William,  56,  77,  80, 
110,  118—9,  122—3,  139,   153,   174, 
170, 180, 189,  212,  228,  234,  237,  245, 
291,  302. 
Codman,  Hepzibah,  431. 
Coffin,  376  ;  Shubael,  721 ;  William,  583. 

597,  805. 
Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  440 — 1. 

104 


Ooggan,  John,  opened  the  first  store, 
166  ;  selectman,  174  ;  freeman,  &c, 
181,  (89,  285,  241,  268—4,  791. 

CoggeshaU,   John,   171,    174,    L84,   189 

—90,    193—5,  201,  218,  225,  229,  283, 

285. 
Coin,  regulations  about,  888)^—80,  866  ; 
coining  ordered  to  be  discontinued, 
871. 

Colborn,  William,  55,  93,  100,  120,  189, 
176,   181—3,   189,    193— 4,    225,    230, 
237,   243,  240,  253—4,  259,  285,  291, 
302,  307,  811,  796. 
Cole,  Alexander,   455  ;    Clement,    246, 
316  ;  Hezekiah,  652  ;  John,  300,  519, 
787,  789  ;    Peter,  101  ;    Robert,  139, 
151,  267,  342  ;  Samuel,  kept  lirst  Inn, 
166,   194—5,   204,    220,   232,    235—0, 
311,  318—19,  333,  335—0,  345,  347, 
349,  351,  511,  573,  796. 
Collicott,  Richard,  236. 
College,    Cambridge,    account    of,  377, 

772. 
Collier,  Thomas,  3S1 ;  William,  273. 
Collimore,  Isaac,  193,  195,  235,  285,  333, 

347—8,  351,  788. 
Collins,  Daniel,  503  ;  Christopher,  250  ; 

John,  250,  349,  708  ;  William,  258. 
Collinson,  Peter,  637. 
Colman,  Benjamin,  236,  481,  519,  542, 
546,  548,  556,  573,  585,  589,  597,  600 
— 1,  605,  610,  614  ;  John,  518,  560. 
Colors,  cross  cut  out  of  the,  168 — 9, 353. 
Colson,  Adam,  593  ;   Christopher,  55  ; 

David,  593,  595  ;  Colson's-lane,  806. 
Colson's  Stone  House,  542,  593. 
Columbian  Museum,  806. 
Comby,  Robert,  544. 
Commissioners,  of  Charles  II.,  complain 
that  the  regicides  are  protected,  359  ; 
arrival  of,   368  ;  proceedings,   369 — 
378. 
Common,  rights  of  inhabitants  to  the, 
303  ;  no  more  land  to  be  granted  out 
of  the,  253  ;  no  person  to  sell  his  right 
of   Commonage,   303  ;    the  Quakers 
hanged  there,  355  ;  place  for  gallants, 
392  ;  origin  of,  530 — 1 ;  spinning  affair 
on,  561 ;  game  of  long  bullet  on,  forbid, 
569 ;  to  be  taken  care  of  by  Select- 
men, 592  ;  Common-street,  603  ;  Iron 
fence,   593  ;  boat  burnt  there,  736  ; 
troops  encamped  on,  747  ;  execution 
of  a  soldier  on,  752  ;  horse-racing  on, 
756 — 7  ;  order  about  a  powder-house 
on,  &c,  631 ;  lease  of  lands  at  the 
foot  of,  ib. ;  described,  806 ;  no  per- 
sons to  ride  to  and  fro  about  it  on 
Sundays,  511. 
Compton,  John,  229,  313,  318,  793. 
Conant,  Christopher,  36  ;  Hannah,  363  ; 
Roger,  43, 48,  51—2,  57,  130, 139, 170, 
263. 
Concert  Hall,  641,  753. 
Concord,  Gen.  Court  at,  678,  685. 
Condy,  Jeremiah,   381,   615;   Thomas, 

418  ;  William,  437. 
Conduit,  erected,  331 ;  334. 
Coner,  William,  36. 
Coney,  John,  347,  427,  486,  504,  512, 

759. 
Conflans,  Admiral,  647. 
Congress,  a  Continental  proposed,  690. 
Congress-street,  505. 
Congregationalists,  820. 
Corners,  George,  158  ;  John  and  others, 

ib. 
Conneball,  John,  418. 
Connecticut,  emigration  to,  176 — 8. 
Conned,  Thomas,  245. 
Consert,  Cornelius,  410. 
Consociation  of  churches,  362. 
Conway,    Gen.  Henry    Seymour,   679, 

703—5,  721,  725,  768. 
Cooke,  Alice,  363 ;  Edward,  55  ;  Elisha, 
68,  395,  434, 445,  447,  456,  483—4,  524 
—7,  537,  553,  555,  557,  581,  603  ;  Fran- 
cis, 36  ;  George,  275,  287  ;  John,  269, 
471 ;  Joseph,  230  ;  Mary,  68  ;  Middle- 
cott,  603  ;  Nicholas,  534  ;  Richard, 
307,  331,  340,  715,  788—9,  793—4 ; 
Cook's  Wharf,  550. 
Cool,  Jacob,  414. 


Cooley,  Henry,  395. 
Coolldge.  Josi  i'li,  664,  818. 
Cooper,  David,  25 ;  Michael,  23;  Sam- 
uel,  519,  522,    608,    648,  664,   070, 

720;  Thomas,  321,  593,  618  ;  Wil- 
liam, 519,  546,  614,  618,  020,  079, 
704,  750,  771. 

Oopeland,  Bphraim,  000;  John,  843, 
851. 

Copley,  John,  Singleton,  707,  73:;,  757. 

Oopp,    David,  427,   514,   549  ;    Good  ill,, 

549;    John,    456;    Jonathan,    549; 

William,  259,  307,  818. 

HoppV  Mill,  II  ..J  11,422,522,  548—9, 
709. 

Coote,  Charles,  Richard,  510  ;  Thomas, 
599. 

Corbet,  Michael,  705—6  ;  Miles,  284. 

Corey,  Giles,  500  ;  John,  759  ;  Martha, 
500. 

Corman,  Indian  ambassador,  405,  412. 

Corn,  price  of,  regulated,  480. 

Cornell,  Thomas,  241,  811. 

Corner,  John,  735. 

Cornhill,  fortified,  139  ;  Washington- 
street,  531 ;  great  fire  in,  541 ;  a  clock 
for,  556. 

Cornwall  Henry,  571. 

Cor  win,  Alice,  428  ;  George,  439;  Jona- 
than, 498,  500,  526  ;  Thomas,  428. 

Coryate,  Thomas,  466. 

Cosser,  Hercules,  William,  455. 

Costume,  Catholic,  104  ;  Puritan,  104, 
682. 

Cotta,  John,  427,  532  ;  Peter,  652. 

Cotton,  Hill,  329,  470,  512. 

Cotton,  John,  103  ;  escapes  to  New  Eng- 
land, 157,  159  ;  other  events  in  his 
history,  160,  167,  170,  176—7,  180, 
183,  195,  218,  220,  225,  227—8,  230, 
232,  239,  244,  257,  263,  267,  271,  290, 
299,  307, 322,  332,  339,  363,  366  ;  John 
of  Hampton,  423  ;  of  Newton,  473  j 
Dep.  Secretary,  696  ;  Mary,  363  ;  Me- 
riel,  634  ;  Rowland,  68, 158  ;  Seaborn, 
161,  236,  356  ;  William,  157,  320,  327, 

332,  341,  347. 

Counties,  division  of  the   colony  into, 

278. 
Courant,  the  newspaper,  564. 
Courser.  William,  253,  262,  307,  330—1, 

333,  341,  455,  786,  790,  793. 
Court-house.     See  Town-house. 
Cousins,  Capt.,  cast  away,  632. 

Cove,  the,  241,  2S6,  332  ;  Cove-street, 
786. 

Coventry,  Henry,  439. 

Coverley,  Nathaniel,  printer,  672. 

Covey,  James,  250. 

Cowell,  Edward,  418,  556  ;  Cowell's  Cor- 
ner, 807. 

Cow-Lane,  473. 

Cowin,  Elizabeth,  384. 

Cowland,  Alice,  354,  356. 

Cox, ,  818,  293  ;  Joseph,  395  ;  Na- 
thaniel, 665  ,  Robert,  396  ;  William, 
652. 

Coxall,  John.    See  Coggeshall. 

Coysgarne,  Joseph,  518. 

Coytmore,  Capt.  Thomas,  72  ;  Voyage, 
268   ^88 

Crabtree,  John,  235,  248. 

Crackford,  Daniel,  567. 

Crackston,  John,  36. 

Cradock,  George,  567,  594. 

Cradock,  Mathew,  chosen  Governor,  55  ; 
proposes  to  remove  the  Government 
of  the  Mass.  Comp.  to  N.  Eng.,  67  ; 
an  Assistant,  73  ;  his  plantation,  119  ; 
treatment  of  his  agent,  127  ;  com- 
manded to  surrender  the  Patent,  172  ; 
another  agent  of,  347. 

Cradle  of  Liberty,  613. 

Crafford, ,  imprisoned,  484. 

Crafts,  Samuel,  490  ;  Thomas,  690  ;  Wil- 
liam, 520. 

Craige,  Andrew,  557  ;  David,  552. 

Cramme,  John,  235. 

Crampton,  Samuel,  19. 

Crandal,  John,  322,  325. 

Crane,  Benjamin,  414 ;  Robert,  55. 

Cranfield,  Gov.  Edward,  447. 

Cranwell,  John,  235. 


826 


INDEX. 


Crawford,  Elizabeth,  663;  John,  455, 
484 ;  Mungo,  663. 

Creeke,  Edward,  331,  337,  427  431,  509. 

Creighton,  "William,  456. 

Crentch,  David,  418. 

Crispe,  Richard,  220. 

Critchley,  Richard,  250,  335,  341. 

Croad,  John,  529. 

Crocker,  Hannah  Mather,  492. 

Crosby,  John,  583  ;  Simon,  247. 

Croslet,  Edward,  523. 

Cross,  St.  George's,  cut  out  of  the  Eng- 
lish colors,  168—9,  353. 

Cross,  Obed,  652. 

Croswell,  Andrew,  488  ;  William,  567. 

Cromwell,  John,  418  ;  Oliver,  "  paint  me 
as  I  am,"  273  ;  jeered  by  Chalmers, 
282  ;  a  puritan,  289  ;  court  of,  346  ; 
death  of,  354,  450, 363,  594  ;  Thomas, 
300,  304,  320—1,  331 ;  346. 

Crowmer,  William,  80. 

Crowne,  John,  354,  360  ;  William,  ib. 

Crowninshield,  Benjamin  W.,  538. 

Croychley,  Richard,  793. 

Crozier,  Dr. ,  685. 

Cudworth,  Benjamin,  695,  754. 

Cullen,  James,  418. 

Cullimer,  Isaac.    See  Collimore. 

CuUoden,  ship,  293. 

Culpeper,  Lord  Thomas,  441 — 2. 

Cumings,  Anne,  767  ;  Alexander,  384  ; 
Archibald,  592  ;  David  (Cumins),  487. 

Cunningham,  Andrew,  455  ;  John,  557  ; 
Nathaniel,  596,  600,  606,  611 ;  Ruth, 
692 ;  William,  590. 

Currier,  Martha,  executed,  500. 

Curtis,  George,  248  ;  Philip,  351. 

Cushing,  161 ;  Ebenezer,  652  ;  Thomas, 
447,  504,  595,  607,  611,  658,  669,  682, 
713,  719—20,  732,  733—4,  757—8. 

Cushman,  Robert,  36. 

Custom-house,  447. 

Cuthbertson,  Cuthbert,  36,  41. 

Cuting,  John,  340. 

Cutler,  David,  557  ;  John,  417, 633,  810  ; 
Timothy,  614,  657  ;  dies,  691. 

Cutshamakin,  Indian  Chief,  280. 

Dabney,  John,  616. 

Dacre,  Francis,  Lord,  80,  301. 

Dafforn,   Isaac,  652 ;  Mrs.,   807  ;   Mr., 

Daggett,  William,  497. 

Daille,  Pierre,  487—8,  523  ;  Paul,  488. 

D'Aillebout,  Gov.  of  Canada,  319. 

Dalhonde,  Lawrence,  561. 

Dall,  William,  455. 

Dalrymple,  William,  746—7,  751,  782, 
784. 

Dalton,  Peter  Roe,  807. 

Damerill,  John,  329. 

Dana,  Richard,  644,  683,  712,  717,  738, 
744,  750,  758,  771,  727. 

Dand,  John,  294,  296,  297. 

Dancing,  law  against,  322  ;  school,  599. 

Danforth,  John,  336,  339,  508,  525  ; 
Mary,  363  ;  Samuel,  236,  306,  397, 
643,  653,  753  ;  Thomas,  363,  380, 
389,  416,  443,  447,  479,  483,  490,  502  ; 
William,  363. 

Daniels,  Jo.,  474  ;  John,  601 ;  Timothy, 
567. 

Danson,  George,  429,  437. 

D'Anville,  Duke,  622. 

Darbie,  William,  55. 

Darley,  Henry,  55. 

Darling,  Capt.,  610. 

Darroll,  John,  601. 

Darryfall,  Barnabie,  190,  243. 

Dartmouth,  Lord,  725,  768. 

Dashwood,  Capt.,  764 ;  Samuel,  814. 

Dassett,  John,  250,  442,  519  ;  Alley,  ib., 
808. 

Davenport,  Addington,  214,  227,  471 ; 
519,  553,  555,  583  ;  Benedict  A.,  76  ; 
Benjamin,  518,  520  ;  James,  618,  749, 
812,  Jane,  525  ;  John,  55,  65,  70,  76, 
157—8,  216,  222,  227,  231,  237,  347, 
362,  369,  383,  408,  427,  443,  453,  548  ; 
Nathaniel,  413—14  ;  Richard,  57,  201, 
213,  268,  288  ;  Truecross,  285. 

Davis,  Benjamin,  687 ;  Edward,  652, 
657  ;  George,  327  ;  Humphrey,  434 ; 


James,  278,  318,  286,  235,  337,  351, 
443  ;  John,  243,  259,  787  ;  Joseph, 
521;  Nathaniel,  413  ;  Richard,  55  ; 
Samuel,  487,  492;  Solomon,  732; 
Susanna,  687  ;  William,  307,  313,  320, 
341,  389,  347,  384  ;  others,  39,  49,  286, 
336,  351,  395,  652  ;  241,  253,  335,  340, 
347,  373,  384,  388,  423. 

Davison,  Nicholas,  127. 

Davy,  Humphrey,  439,  447. 

Dawes,  Story,  601 ;  Susannah,  384 ; 
Thomas,  520,  731,  756  ;  William,  347, 
384 ;  Col.,  815. 

Dawbeney,  Oliver,  6. 

Dawson,  George,  429  ;  Henry,  259,  418, 
487. 

Dawstin,  Josiah,  127. 

Day,  James,  590  ;  Jane,  660  ;  Stephen, 
first  printer,  240,  254;  Wentworth, 
259,  817. 

Dayley,  Charles,  317. 

Dealings  with  the  dead,  536. 

Deane,  Charles,  102,  344  ;  James,  371 ; 
John,  180, 194,  427, 446,  579  ;  Joseph, 
653  ;  Stephen,  36  ;  Thomas,  369,  371, 
376,  409,  439  ;  William  R.,  370. 

D'Aulnay,  Mons.,  266,  270,  283,  303. 

Deblois,  Gilbert,  677,  767  ;  Lewis,  641, 
810  ;  Stephen,  520,  641,  677. 

De  Berdt,  Dennis,  771. 

Decoster,  Sarah,  818. 

Deeble,  Jeremy,  429. 

Dee,  Dr.  John,  593. 

Deering,  Henry,  511,  513,  526,  536,  557. 

Deer  Island,  147,  183,  195,  267,  286, 
311,  318,  342,  356,  379,  457,  479,  556. 

De  Ewes,  Sir  Simon,  114. 

Defence,  the  ship,  186. 

Delano,  Philip,  36. 

De  la  Tour,  Charles,  270. 

De  la  Ware,  Lord,  68. 

De  Monts,  voyage,  1,  6. 

Dell,  George,  306,  342. 

Deming,  William,  798. 

Denning,  William,  196. 

Dennis,  Edmund,  795  ;  Edward,  234—5, 
318 ;  James,  431. 

Dennison,  Anne,  346  ;  Daniel,  230,  380  ; 
Elizabeth,  68  ;  George,  126  ;  Stephen, 
287. 

Dermer,  Thomas,  17,  24—5,  29,  30, 
32—4. 

Deshon,  Moses,  612. 

Deval,  Peter,  633. 

Devaux,  Peter,  536. 

Devil,  Indians  ruled  by  the,  38  ;  pecu- 
liar notions  respecting,  149  ;  the  father 
of  the  Jesuits,  150  ;  one  dispossessed 
of  a,  201 ;  the  ancient  enemy  of  free 
grace,  225  ;  a  disturber  of  the  peace, 
241 ;  public  schools  instituted  to  coun- 
teract him,  308  ;  appears  at  a  synod 
in  a  snake,  310 ;  busy  in  making 
witches  at  Springfield,  323  ;  stirs  up 
the  Anabaptists,  378  ;  Capt.  Alden's 
escape  from  the,  499  ;  deal  with  devil 
and  fear  witchcraft,  516;  duels  are  the 
devil  all  over,  579 ;  the  patriots  ac- 
cused of  raising,  706 ;  represented 
among  stamp  officers,  693 ;  Liberty 
boys  to  be  driven  to  the,  754. 

Devonshire-street,  509,  553,  690. 

Dewer,  Samson,  Thomas,  427. 

Devotion,  Edward,  796. 

Dewing,  Francis,  566. 

Dexter,  John  H.,  406  ;  Richard,  267  ; 
Samuel,  581,  657,  677,  753  ;  Thomas, 
127. 

Dickinson,  Isaac,  56 ;  John,  731 ;  the 
Samuel  Adams  of  the  Middle  States, 
731;  768-9. 

Digby  Kenelm,  Sir,  465  ;  Thomas,  25. 

Diggs,  Dudley,  Sir,  32,  34,  42. 

Dighenton,  James,  414. 

Dimoke,  Elizabeth,  733. 

Dindly,  Joseph,  418. 

Dinely,  William,  226,  333,  235,  793. 

Dinsdale,  William,  318,  333,  335,  341, 
350,  794. 

Diodat,  Francis,  317. 

Directory,  first,  of  Boston,  188,  538. 

Discovery,  the  ship,  32. 

Disney,  Henry,  540. 


Diving-bell,  251,  263. 

Dix,  Anthony,  36,  147. 

Dixon,  James  A.,  811. 

Dixwell,  John,  544. 

Dixey,  William,  57. 

Doane,  George  W.,  583  ;  John,  502, 
652 ;  Samuel,  658,  712  ;  Thomas,  552. 

Dobbs,  Arthur,  338. 

Dobel,  John.  818. 

Dobson,  Capt.,  305. 

Dockett,  John.  317. 

Dock  Square,  432,  542,  597. 

Dodge,  William,  57. 

Doggett,  Ebenezer,  652 ;  Samuel,  431, 
557  ;  Thomas,  558. 

Dolbeare,  Benjamin,  756;  Edmond,  652. 

Dolbery, ,  395. 

Domett,  Joseph,  657. 

Doolittle,  John,  333,  342. 

Dorley,  Ebenezer,  552. 

Dorchester,  settled,  84 ;  named,  86 ; 
celebration,  768  ;  Lord,  62. 

Dorety, ,  181. 

Dormer,  Diana,  540. 

Dorrell,  John,  49,  57—8. 

Dorr,  John,  552. 

Dorset,  Earl  of,  160. 

Dotey,  Edward,  36  ;  Col.,  812. 

Doubt,  Nyott,  685. 

Doughty,  Francis,  267. 

Doutch,  Robert,  348. 

Douglass,  Henry,  320  ;  Dr.  William,  op- 
poses inoculation,  561 — 2  ;  on  mobs, 
597  ;  Whitfield,  610  ;  Shirley's  Louis- 
burg  expedition,  621  ;  death  of,  623  ; 
William,  253,  320,  350,  800. 

Douglass'  Summary  Hist.  &c,  138,  178, 
305,  342,  405,  476,  563,  586,  597,  614, 
621,  623. 

Doux,  Francis,  427. 

Dowden,  Joseph,  521. 

Dowdney,  Richard,  352. 

Downe,  Thomas,  490  ;  William,  592. 

Downes,  Edmund,  19,  157,  193,  374, 
460. 

Downing,  Emanuel,  55,  70,  72, 122,  299, 
790. 

Dowse,  Francis,  248,  786,  791 ;  Joseph, 
583 ;  Thomas,  729. 

Doyle,  William,  M.  S.,  806. 

Dragon,  sloop,  509. 

Drake,  Francis,  Sir,  8—12,  20,  29,  30 ; 
carries  potatoes  to  England,  560  ; 
John,  and  family,  509 ;  John,  Esq., 
34  ;  John,  Sir,  and  family,  52. 

Draper,  John,  and  Richard,  and  Sam- 
uel, 513,  520,  525,  589,  591,  661, 
666—7. 

Drawbridge,  335,  348  ;  accident  at,  356  ; 
fire  near,  492  ;  order  about,  514,  543. 

Dreror,  Splende,  414. 

Drew,  John,  742. 

Drinker,  Edward,  378,  380,  418—19  ; 
Elizabeth,  John,  Philip,  378  ;  Mr., 
803. 

Drowne,  Shem,  615. 

Drums,  used  to  summon  people,  189, 
278  ;  laws  proclaimed  by  beat  of,  345  ; 
drum-heads  paid  for  by  the  town, 
291. 

Drury,  Hugh,  335,  341,  347. 

Duckworth,  Charles,  419. 

Dudley,  Anne,  72,  512  ;  Dean,  92,  334  ; 
Joseph,  to  treat  with  the  Indians, 
405  ;  to  purchase  Boston,  456 ;  wel- 
comesDunton,  461 ;  President  of  New 
England,  472  ;  imprisoned,  4S5  ;  made 
Governor,  524  ;  superseded,  551  ; 
Judge,  569  ;  Colonel,  581 ;  Mary,  72  ; 
Paul,  445,  553  ;  Samuel,  72  ;  Thomas, 
of  the  Mass.  Company,  55,  70  ;  Assist- 
ant, 73  ;  undertaker,  75  ;  at  South- 
ampton, 77  ;  Letter  to  the  Church  of 
England,  79 — 80  ;  sails  for  New  Eng- 
land,  80  ;  Letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Lincoln,  88 — 91  ;  Dep.  Governor,  94  ; 
108—12  ;  122  ;  at  Watertown  about  an 
opinion,  129  ;  censures  Winthrop,  133 ; 
difficulty  thereupon,  133 — 6  ;  another, 
164;  Governor,  169;  Colonel,  244; 
death,  334  ;  William,  582. 

Duel,  on  the  Common,  579 — 80  ;  law  re- 
specting duels,  580. 


INDEX. 


827 


Duer,  Thomas,  342. 

Dugdale,  Lieut.,  679  ;  Capt.,  686. 

Dugdale,  the  antiquary,  102—3,  652. 

Dumaresq,  Philip,  5S3. 

Dummer,    Alice,    686 ;    Hannah,   330 
Jeremiah,  492,   529,   541,   551,   585 
defence  of  New  Eng.  Charters,  689 
Richard,  139,  184,  248,  249  ;  William, 
317, 572,  580—1,  585,  594,  728  ;  Jus- 
tice, 813. 

Dun,  Cteorge,  316  ;  William,  490. 

Dunbar,  David,  603  ;  Jeremiah,  688. 

Duncan,  Nathaniel,  186, 230, 236  ;  P.  351. 

Dundas,  Ralph,  679. 

Duningc,  Jonathan,  418. 

Dunkom  Nathaniel,  333. 

Dunster,  Henry,  242,  786. 

Dunton,  John,  459—67  ;  death  of,  595. 

Dupee,  Isaac,  814. 

Dupru,  Estienne,  271. 

Dupuis,  John,  487. 

Durant,  Edward,  597  ;  William,  311. 

Durbridge,  Mr. ,  55. 

Durell,  Thomas,  561,  570,  571. 

Dutch,  Robert,  348. 

Dutchfield,  Mr.,  259. 

Duties,  excise,  taxes,  631 ;  parliament- 
ary, 676  ;  stamp  duties,  677. 

Dyer,  Giles,  445,  471,  486,  514,  525  ; 
Mary,  354—6  ;  Nicholas,  552  ;  Wil- 
liam, 189,  226,  229,  235,  492  ;  Capt., 
815. 

Earle,  John,  593  ;  Samuel,  521. 

Earlom,  the  engraver,  654. 

Earthquakes,  237—8,  280,  354,  366,  387, 
514,  575,  577,  5S5,  640,  742. 

East,  Benjamin,  31S  -,  Francis,  235,  318, 
797  ;  John,  431. 

Eastburn,  Manton,  583. 

Easty,  Mary,  executed,  500. 

Easton,  John,  429. 

Eaton,  Asa,  568  ;  Francis,  36  ;  Nathan- 
iel, 792—3,  797  ;  Samuel,  237  ;  The- 
ophilus,  55,  62, 70, 73,  75,  77, 231,  237, 
273  ;  Thomas,  394. 

Eckley,  Joseph,  384. 

Eddy,  John,  132  ;  Mr. ,  782. 

Edes,  Benjamin,  695  ;  Hannah,  534 ; 
Thomas,  661 ;  William,  57  ;  dies,  767. 

Edes  and  Gill,  print  the  Stamp  Act,  666, 
689. 

Edgar,  ship,  541. 

Edgecomb,  Richard,  Sir,  34. 

Edmonds,  James,  55,  57  ;  Robert,  429. 

Edwards,   Alexander,   687 ;    Benjamin, 

558  ;     John,     821  ;     Mr. ,    307  ; 

Robert,  321 ;  Samuel,  658. 

Eells,  Nathaniel,  617. 

Egarton,  Anne,  Sir  Thomas,  72. 

Elbridge,  Thomas,  431. 

Election,  manner  of  proceeding  at  an, 
184. 

Election  Sermon,  the  first,  170. 

Electricity,  experiments  in,  638. 

Elias,  frigate  368. 

EHot  Andrew,  502 ;  Asaph,  427,  521, 
545,  614,  685  ;  Benjamin,  533  ;  Eph- 
raim,  558  ;  Francis,  235  ;  Gilbert,  Sir, 
313  ;  Jacob.  189,  233,  237,  291,  312, 
318,  342,  347,  423,  792,  796  ;  John,  90, 
106,  128,  136—8,  145,  148,  161,  178, 
180,  213,  224,  253,  259,  302,  305,  312 
—13,  319,  334,  358,  366.  380,  421,  466, 
521,  545,  547  ;  John,  Jr.,  449  ;  John 
F.,  747  ;  others,  320,  337,  384,  519, 
577,  61S,  665  ;  Deacon,  804. 

Ellery.    See  Illert. 

Elliston,  George,  521. 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  5,  9,  10, 12,  31,  662. 

Elkins,  Henry,  229,  235. 

Ellicott,  Thomas,  427. 

Ellis,  Edward,  427,  633;  Charles  M., 
90  ;  George  E.,  228,  230  ;  Rufus,  548. 

Elphinstone,  William,  639. 

Elliston, ,  803. 

Else,  Roger,  335. 

Elsynge,  Henry,  269. 

Elton,  Romeo,  117. 

Emblen,  John,  381. 

Emerson,  Ralph  W.,  311  ;  William, 
Hist.  First  Church,  163,  520,  548. 

Emery,  Jonathan,  414. 


Emmcs,  Henry,  511,  525. 

Enions,  Samuel,  427  ;  Emmons'  Corner, 
805. 

Endicott,  John,  one  of  the  original  Mass. 
Company,  63  ;  appointed  Governor, 
55 ;  sails  for  N.  Eng.,  56 ;  sends 
home  Episcopalians,  65  ;  receives 
Winthrop's  Company,  86;  again  ap- 
pointed Governor,  94  ;  takes  Morton, 
113  ;  denounces  veils,  167  ;  affair  of 
the  colors,  167 — 9,  184  ;  idolatrous 
French,  271 ;  fears  for  the  decline  of 
Salem,  283  ;  Serg.,  Maj.  General,  292  ; 
again  Governor,  315 ;  requested  to 
reside  in  Boston,  339  ;  author  of  Amer- 
ican Independence,  353  ;  treatment 
of  Quakers,  355—7  ;  dies,  370  ;  John, 
Jr.,  339  ;  Zerubbabel,  376. 

Engine,  fire,  first,  431 ;  house  for,  525  ; 
one  of,  1733  ;  described,  593. 

Engles,  Madid,  798  ;  William,  552.  See 
Ingles. 

English,  Philip,  497  ;  Thomas  36  ;  Wil- 
liam, 332,  347. 

Enstone,  Edward,  471. 

Epinow,  a  Cape  Indian,  18 — 23,  33. 

Episcopalians,  first  society  of,  formed, 
467  ;  disturbances  with,  292—8  ;  820. 

Erving,  Edward  S.,  627  ;  George,  657  ; 
John,  628,  644,  657  ;  mobbed,  736  ; 
753;  William,  455. 

Eustis,  Benjamin,  520  ;  William,  628. 

Evans,  Goodman,  790. 

Evelith,  Joseph,  502. 

Evelyn,  Sir  John,  594. 

Evered,  John,  alias  Webb,  257,  785. 

Everett.  Edward,  161,  375,  519,  564; 
Oliver,  552. 

Everill,  James,  195,  234,  245,  259,  302, 
307,  311,  318,  331,  348,  427—8,  787, 
790  ;  John, 

Everton,  William,  521  ;  House,  654 ; 
Capt.,  812,  817. 

Ewar,  Thomas,  230. 

Ewstead,  Richard,  57. 

Exchange,  the,  521. 

Execution,  first  in  New  England,  40  ; 
for  witchcraft,  308,  500  ;  for  infanti- 
cide, 240—1  ;  for  piracy,  490—1,  570, 
573  ;  of  Quakers,  355. 

Exeter,  founded,  218. 

Eyers,  John,  482,  503,  514. 

Fabian,  Robert,  1. 

Fairbanks,  182,  189  ;  Jonas,  321,  333  ; 

Richard,  193,  195,  229,  234,  241,  245, 

247,  793. 
Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas,  110, 147, 188. 
Fairfield,  Daniel,  492,  511 ;  John,  487  ; 

Mrs.,  761 ;  Nathaniel,  590  ;  William, 

712. 
Falmouth,  Earl  of,  231. 
Famalists,  129,  148, 175,  218,  226. 
Fane,  Henry,  182,  786,  789. 
Faneuil,  Andrew,  527,  536,  540,  612; 

Benjamin,  536,  583  ;  Peter,  536,  580, 

610  ;  dies,  612,  802. 
Faneuil  Hall,   611 ;    burnt,   656,   663  ; 

illuminated,  729  ;   soldiers  quartered 

in,  747,  751. 
Fanning,  William,  440. 
Farewell,  George,  484,  486. 
Farlow,  George,  378. 
Farmer,  John,  killed,  414. 
Farnesid,  Mr.,  341. 
Farnham,  John,  335—6, 378—9,  504,787. 

Faron  ,  813. 

Farrington,  John,  414. 
Faulkner,  Lady,  654 ;  Thomas,  787. 
Fawer,  Barnabas,  54,  302,  800  ;  Benja- 
min, 312,  318  ;  Gypon,  508. 
Fawkes,  Guy,  662. 
Fayerweather,  John,  409,  416,  434,  450, 

457,  483,  518,  600,  661 ;  Thomas,  190, 

235,  557,  595. 
Fay,  William,  268. 
Feake,  Elizabeth,  251  ;  Robert,  137—8, 

170  ;  Island,  152. 
Featley,  Daniel,  287,  290. 
Federal-street,  639, 682  ;  Church,  576—7. 
Felt,  Joseph  B.,  715  ;    Annals,  52,  86, 

329—30,  497. 
Fencing,  school  for,  464. 


Fenno,  J.,  Poems  of,  690. 
Fenwick,  George,  273,  301. 

Fergusson, ,  477. 

Fermace,  Alice,  227. 

Fermin,  Giles,  201. 

Feme,  Captain,  191. 

Ferries,  115,  188,   320,  327,  332,   521, 

543. 
Field,  Robert,  231  ;  Mr.,  782. 
Fields,  common,   persons  appointed   to 

take  charge  of,  190. 

Filcher,  Mr. ,  48. 

Fillmore,  John,  Millard,  570. 

Finch,   Abraham,   John,    206  ;    Henry, 

418  ;  Mons.,  30. 
Fines,  Charles,  80. 

Finnessey, ,  652. 

Fippeny,  Joseph,  799. 

Fires,  190,  334,  425,  431,  436,  442,  452, 

492,  508,  521,  525,  528,  541,  571,  590, 

627,  633, 648—9,  656,  660, 663,  686—7, 

691,  728,  756. 
Fire-engines,  425,  431,  493,  593,  691. 
Firewards,  542. 
Fireworks,  722 — 3. 

First  Church,  141—2  ;  burnt,  541  ;  re- 
built, 547—8. 
Fish,  Gabriel,  222,  787  ;  Samuel,  589  ; 

Thomas,  502  ;  William,  ib. 
Fisher,  Daniel,  342,  427,  447—8  ;  Ebene- 

zer,  484  ;  John,  Joshua,  726  ;  Mary, 

339,  342—4. 
Fisher's  Cove,  785. 
Fiske,  Moses,  236. 
Fitch,  Benjamin,  521,  560,  726  ;  Edward, 

317  ;    James,   335  ;    Jeremiah,    472, 

487 ;     John,    628  ;     Richard,     235 ; 

Thomas,  293,  317,  436,  518,  332,  555, 

592,  596,  599  ;  Capt.,  809,  813. 
Flacke,  Cotton,  253,  312,  796. 
Flag,    New    England,    330 ;    used    at 

Bunker  Hill,  ib. ;  trouble  about  one 

at  the  Castle,  191—2. 
Flagg,  William,  520. 
Flanders  mares,  importation  of,  185. 
Flavell,  Goodwife,  Thomas,  36. 
Flax,  cultivation  of,  599. 
Fleet,  John  and  Thomas,  547,  589,  641, 

666,  689,  811. 
Fletcher,  Edward,  250,  254,  268,  307, 

321,  327,  331,  797  ;  Moses,  36  ;  Roger, 

799. 
Flint,  Alice,  333  ;  Henry,  250,  295,  325, 

380  ;  Josiah,  236,  795  ;  Thomas,  234, 

315,  325,  414. 

Flood,  Edward,  36  ;  John,  445. 

Fordich,  Samuel,  414. 

Floyd,  Evan,  525  ;  John,  336  ;  Richard, 

316,  318. 

Flucker,  Thomas,  651,  712. 

Fly,  William,  pirate,  573. 

Flyer,  Francis,  55. 

Fogg,  John  H.,  160. 

Folkes,  Martin,  633. 

Foote,  family,  206  ;  Mr.,  335. 

Forbes,  Alexander,  414  ;  James,  767. 

Forde,  widow,  36  ;  Edward,  55. 

Forrest,  Mr.,  752. 

Forster,  Edward,  686—7  ;  William,  642, 

645. 
Fort,  268  ;  Narraganset,  414  ;  Fort-field, 

181,  234,  253  ;  Fort  Hill,  named,  139, 

141,  187,  190,  245,  285,  290,  339,  347 

—8,  473,  484,  607,  650,  694,  697,  792  ; 

windmill  on,   523  ;   Fort-street,  786  ; 

Fort  William,  531. 
Forth,  John,  Mary,  72. 
Fortification,  at  the  South  End,  537  ; 

others,  615. 
Fortune-teller,  461,  514. 
Fosdick,  David,  591  ;  John,  534. 
Foster,  Benjamin,  537  ;  Bossinger,  557  ; 

Edward,  6S6— 7  ;  John,  227,  317,  424, 

483, 492,  526,  538  ;  Hopestill,  589—90'; 

Thomas,    379,    527,   787,   798,    800 ; 

Miles,  429  ;  Nathan,  652  ;  William  S., 

350  ;  524  ;  652,  811. 
Fowle,  Daniel,  635  ;   Jacob,  427  ;   Mr. 

,   623  ;    Thomas,  246,   250,   291, 

294—5,  297,  299,  786,  790. 
Fox,  John,  242  ;  Lucas,  79  ;  Fox  Hill, 

254,  319,  569  ;  Fox  Point,  479. 
Foxcroft,  George,  55,  62,  792  ;  Francis, 


828 


INDEX. 


481,  518,  769  ;  Thomas,  93,  179,  471, 
487,  548,  566,  587,  601,  60S,  614,  653  ; 
family,  759. 

Foxley,  William,  334. 

Foy,  Mrs.,  465. 

Francis,  Convers,  117,  190. 

Frankland,  Henry,  613  ;  Lady,  742. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  Mr.,  death  of,  573  ; 
Benjamin,  Dr.,  on  emigration,  249  ; 
birthplace  not  in  Milk-st.,  492  ;  an 
apprentice,  564  ;  begins  to  write,  564 
— 5  ;  his  uncle  dies,  573  ;  in  Phila- 
delphia, 618  ;  on  the  Louisbourg  ex- 
pedition, 621  ;  a  Free  Mason,  630  ; 
noticed  by  Matthew  Adams,  634  ; 
discoveries,  in  electricity,  637  ;  birth- 
place, 638,  804  ;  on  the  Stamp-act, 
714  ;  remuneration  for  services,  771 ; 
Henry,  525 ;  James,  559,  563—5  ; 
John,  565  ;  postmaster,  636,  799,  800  ; 
Josiah,  804  ;  Samuel,  816  ;  Mr.,  601 ; 
William,  268,  278,  283,  286,  291,  319, 
327,  331,  335,  791. 

Frarye,  Theophilus,  384,  427,  457,  469, 
503  ;  Thomas,  492,  522,  809. 

Frazer,  Simon,  Thomas,  645. 

Frazon,  Joseph,  Samuel,  513,  518. 

Freake,  John,  227,  376,  453. 

Frederick  III.,  of  Denmark,  550. 

Freeborne,  William,  229. 

Freeland,  William,  652. 

Freeman,  Constant,  742  ;  Edmund,  354  ; 
Philip,  804. 

Freemasonry,  introduced,  595,  629,  772  ; 
celebrations,  629. 

Freemen,  what  constituted  them,  106 — 
7  ;  number  of,  434. 

Free  Schools,  276,  279,  286,  342,  349, 
457,  479,  486,  511,  521 ;  writing,  557. 

French  Church,  487 — 8  ;  Protestants, 
262—3,  820. 

French,  Edward,  317  ;  Robert,  455. 

Friend,  John,  253. 

Friends'  Meeting-house,  652. 

Frizell,  John,  545,  606,  809. 

Frobisher,  Sir  Martin,  7,  8,  10,  17,  29  ; 
William,  812. 

Frost,  Mr. ,  267. 

Frothingham,  Benjamin,  652  ;  Nathan- 
iel L.,  167,  548  ;  Richard,  Hist.,  58, 
77,  S3,  87,  92—3,  161,  308,  375  ;  Wil- 
liam, 230. 

Fryar,  Nathaniel,  351. 

Frye,  Love,  293  -,  Peter,  293. 

Fuller,  Arthur  B.,  545  ;  Bridget,  36  ; 
Edward,  36  ;  John,  414 ;  Samuel, 
25—6,  36,  133,  145  ;  Thoma3,  the 
facetious,  79  ;  Worthies,  176. 

Fullerton,  John,  and  others,  652. 

Fur  Company  formed,  231. 

Funerals,  reform  in  garments,  362,  366  ; 
scarfs  forbidden  at,  582  ;  679—80  ; 
first  prayer,  at  a,  594. 

Gace,  John,  55. 

Gage,  John,  151 ;  Thomas,  head-quar- 
ters, 520  ;  applied  to  for  troops,  740  ; 
notice  of,  750  ;  reviews  troops  on  the 
Common,  753  ;  returns  to  New  York, 
ib.  ;  indictment  against,  774. 

Gager,  Deacon,  97  ;  William,  91,  93, 
100. 

Gain,  Thomas,  616. 

Gale,  Theophilus,  465. 

Gallard,  William,  186. 

Gallop,  Benjamin,  490  ;  John,  157,  195 
—8,  200,  215,  234  ;  243,  250,  285,415, 
789,  794,  812,  814  ;  Joseph,  418  ;  Sam- 
uel, 418,  809. 

Gallop's  Point,  278,  230,  320. 

Gallows,  the,  339,  34S,  708. 

Gamble,  Capt. ,  750. 

Gannett,  Ezra  S.,  577. 

Gardner,  Andrew,  329, 652  ;  Christopher, 
Sir,  119,  127—8  ;  Gideon,  810  ;  Hor- 
red,  352  ;  John,  583,  652 ;  John  L., 
538  ;  John  S.  J.,  583  ;  Joseph,  413 
—14 ;  Lyon,  178,  187—9,  197,  200, 
202,  205  ;  Richard,  36,  43  ;  Samuel, 
544  ;  Sylvester,  649,  685  ;  Thomas, 
48,  57,  349,  414,  726  ;  Mr. ,  55. 

Garfield,  Benjamin,  490. 

Garney,  Andrew,  529. 


Garret,  Capt.,  351 ;  Deborah  and  others, 
113  ;  Kichard,  106,  111,  112. 

Garrold,  Henry,  245. 

Gaskin,  Samuel,  352. 

Gatchell,  Lncrease,  567. 

Gates,  Horatio,  673  ;  Simon,  329  ;  Thom- 
as, 34. 

Gauden,  Henry,  55 — 6. 

Gay,  Ebenezer,  601 ;  Martin,  756. 

Gaylor,  Samuel,  451. 

Gedney,  Bartholomew,  473,  483,  498, 
500. 

Gee,  Joshua,  311,  504,  544,  560,  614  ; 
Gee's  corner,  803. 

Gelston,  Dr.  S.,  685. 

General  Court,  constituted,  63  ;  change 
in  time  of  holding  of,  138  ;  attended 
by  all  Freemen,  169  ;  Quarterly  Gen- 
eral Court,  186  ;  hog  case,  260 — 1  ; 
proceeding  in  favor  of  Parliament, 
321 ;  order  about  apparel,  ib. ;  au- 
thorizes coming  money,  329  ;  abol- 
ished, 476  ;  removed  to  Salem,  584  ; 
board  of  members,  337  ;  burnt  out, 
678,  685 ;  at  Concord,  678  ;  proposes 
a  Congress,  690  ;  debates  open  to  the 
public,  727  ;  at  Cambridge,  761. 

George  I.,  accession  of,  550  ;  dies,  575  ; 
II.,  575,  584,  594;  dies,  655;  III., 
accession  of,  655. 

George,  John,  481,  507,  518, 536  ;  David, 
290. 

Gerrish,  Benjamin,  391,  473,  544  ;  John, 
521,  536  ;  Joseph,  463  ;  Samuel,  599  ; 
William,  449  ;  Gerrishes,  376. 

Gery,  Mr. ,  463. 

Gideon,  John  Lewis,  735. 

Gibbs,  Benjamin,  384,  391 ;  Elizabeth, 
3S4 ;  John,  567  ;  Mary,  587  ;  Robert, 
376,  525—6  ;  William,  35, 157. 

Gibbins,  John,  567,  583  ;  William,  521; 
Dr.,  642. 

Gibbons,  Ambrose,  60,  107,  331 ;  Henry, 
590  ;  Edward,  139,  184  ;  his  services, 
200  ;  land  granted,  233,  235,  243  ; 
representative,  245,  278  ;  purchase  of 
estate,  250  ;  sells  it,  253  ;  Selectman, 
259  ;  Indian  agent,  267  ;  in  the  French 
interest,  271 ;  on  fortifications,  286  ; 
Justice  of  Peace,  290 ;  Major,  303  ; 
losses,  305 ;  lands,  786 ;  John,  338  ; 
Mrs.,  270  ;  Sarah,  243,  252. 

Gibson,  Benjamin,  520  ;  Christopher, 
320,  787  ;  Edmund,  Bishop,  583  ; 
James,  619  ;  John,  307,  318  ;  Robert, 
343  ;  Samuel,  604 ;  William,  427,  455. 

Giffen,  John,  652. 

Gifford,  William,  334. 

Giggles,  Thomas,  214. 

Giles,  Sir  Edward,  34. 

GiU,  John,  616,  638  ;  Obadiah,  503,  521. 

Gilbert,  Bartholomew,  14  ;  Humphrey, 
Sir,  9,  29.  31 ;  John,  17,  349  ;  Raw- 
leigh,  17,  '34 ;  Thomas,  250  ;  William, 
427. 

Gill,  John,  403,  607,  616,  638  ;  513,  521  ; 
Moses,  726,  731,  764;  Obadiah,  395, 
431,  492,  503. 

Gilfoy,  Mr. ,  571. 

Gillam,  Benjamin,  235,  253,  350,  436, 
442,  452  ;  Joseph,  395  ;  Robert,  234, 
318. 

Gillard,  John,  139. 

Gillon,  Mr. ,  464. 

Gillman,  Anne,  293 ;  Benjamin,  241 ; 
Ezekiel,  418  ;  Joseph,  395. 

Givan,  John,  455. 

Gladwing,  John,  55,  440. 

Gleison,  Thomas,  338. 

Glen,  George,  652  ;  Robert,  601. 

Glide,  John,  418. 

Glover,  Elizabeth,  72  ;  Goody,  496—7  ; 
Habakkuk,  335,  347,  376 ;  John,  55, 
230,  786  ;  Joseph,  242 ;  Nathaniel, 
551 ;  Robert,  509  ;  Mrs.,  818. 

Glynn,  Sergeant,  768  ;  Henry,  772. 

Goban,  Donald,  455. 

Godfrey,  Edward,  144. 

Goffe,  Charles,  57  ;  Christopher,  514  ; 
John,  472,  534,  544;  Thomas,  Dep. 
Governor,  55,  62,  67,  70,  73,  75,  77, 
588—9  ;  William,  358—9. 


Goldthwait,  Ezekiel,  644,  657 ;  John. 
544  ;  Thomas,  623. 

Goldsmith,  John,  590  ;  Ralph,  356—7. 

Gooch,   Col.  ,  678  ;    James,  521 ; 

John,  657. 

Good,  Sarah,  executed,  500. 

Goodall,  Mary,  Richard,  378. 

Goodland,  Captain,  255. 

Goodman  and  Goodwife,  who  were  so 
called,  111. 

Goodwin  Edward,  253,  787  ;  John,  161, 
495,  548,  652  ;  Samuel,  641  ;  Thomas, 
160—1 ;  William,  170. 

Goodyear,  Stephen,  363. 

Gookin,  Daniel,  about  Indians,  31, 178, 
378,  397  ;  comes  to  Boston,  281 ;  hi3 
Hist.  Collections,  317 ;  protects  the 
Regicides,  359  ;  Assistant,  363  ;  ap- 
pointed to  oversee  printing,  366  ; 
against  the  Baptists,  380  ;  services  in 
Philip's  war,  404  ;  abused  for  taking 
the  part  of  the  Indians,  410  ;  his  life 
threatened,  416  ;  Samuel,  540. 

Goose,  Capt.,  452 ;  carter,  341 ;  sur- 
veyor, 335. 

Gore,  John,  520,  757,  787  ;  Samuel, 
wounded,  776  ;  painter,  811 ;  Thom- 
as, 409. 

Gorges,  Edward,  Lord,  34  ;  Ferdinando, 
Sir,  15  ;  unfortunate,  23  ;  his  efforts 
to  colonize  New  England,  31 ;  em- 
ploys Dermer,  33  ;  enlists  Sir  W. 
Alexander,  47  ;  his  agency  for  the 
Massachusetts  Company,  53 ;  sends 
over  Neale,  111  ;  his  claim,  128  ; 
plantation  at  Agamentacus,  196  ;  that 
plantation  not  invited  to  join  the  oth- 
ers, 269  ;  Maine  restored  to  him  by 
the  King,  438  ;  Henry,  249  ;  Robert, 
comes  to  New  England,  42 ;  son  of 
Sir  Ferdinando,  53  ;  his  patent,  58  ; 
Thomas,  at  Boston,  249  ;  some  account 
of  the  family,  249—50. 

Gorham,  John,  489. 

Gorton,  Samuel,  takes  the  part  of  Mian- 
tonimo,  273  ;  his  settlement  at  Shao- 
met,  274  ;  brought  prisoner  to  Boston, 
275—7  ;  interpreter,  399,  412. 

Goslin,  Jane,  John,  25  ;  Thomas,  72. 

Gosnold,  Bartholomew,  8,  12,  14,  17. 

Gouge,  Edward,  471  ;  Thomas,  464,  407. 

Gould,  Daniel,  356  ;  Edward,  350  ;  Mary, 
379  ;  Robert,  507  ;  Thomas,  375,  378 
—9,  525  ;  widow,  660. 

Goultrop,  Ralph,  791. 

Gove, ,  463  ;  John,  756. 

Governor's  Garden,  364 ;  Island,  1S3, 
235,  240. 

Goweu,  Simon,  414. 

Graham,  James,  455,  479,  486,  652. 

Graford,  Thomas,  507. 

Grafton's  Chronicle,  7. 

Grafton,  Duke  of,  613. 

Granary,  810  ;  at  the  North  End,  594. 

Granary  Burial  Ground,  459,  488,  592, 
594,  603,  605. 

Grand  Jury,  the  first,  186. 

Granger,  Samuel,  dies,  596. 

Granger's  Biographical  History,  52,  79, 
187,  477. 

Grant,  Alexander,  455  ;  Edward,  395  ; 
James,  71,  455—6  ;  John,  40,  88,  140, 
161 ;  Joseph,  504  ;  Moses,  520  ;  Sam- 
uel, 657,  813. 

Grattan,  Thomas  C,  456. 

Graves,  John,  351 ;  Thomas,  55, 57,  129, 
139, 154,  163,  178,  185,  281,  567. 

Gray,  Edward,  665, 692  ;  Elizabeth,  692  ; 
Ellis,  311,  585,  614;  Harrison,  601, 
632,  644,  649,  659,  692,  703,  712—13, 
715  ;  Henry,  52,  235,  253  ;  John,  41, 
52,  135, 778  ;  Samuel,  killed,  782, 784 ; 
Winthrop,  772. 

Greames,  Samuel  [Graine  1  245  ;  Grame  1 
250],  791  [Grymes?  241]. 

Greaton,  John,  678. 

Green,  Bartholomew,  422,  462,  521,  523, 
525,  528,  533,  559,  591;  Benjamin, 
707  ;  Francis,  757  ;  James,  427,  534 ; 
John,  58,  275,  342,  440,  573,  652,  657, 
782 ;  Joshua,  707  ;  Joseph,  436,  467, 
683  ;  Nathaniel,  529,  598,  603  ;  Rich- 
ard, 39,  336, 341, 347—8  ;  Rufus,  583  ; 


INUEX. 


829 


Samuel,  303,  420,  001,  816  ;  Timothy, 

774. 
(i.vnirlhV,  I'Mward,  330,  342,  348  ;  Eliz- 
abeth, 700. 
Greenfield,  Mr.  ,104;    Greenfield 

Hill,  216. 
Greenhill,  Anthony,  621,  452  ;  William, 

161. 
Greouleaf,    Daniel,   054  ;    Mary,   370  ; 

Stephen,  054,  005,  737,  745,  751,  707, 

775  ;  William,  077,  731,  756. 
Greenough,  ('apt.,  504;  John,  534,  712, 

756,  7S2. 
Greenwood,  Samuel,  431;  E.  A.,  814; 

K.  \y.  P.,  463— 9,  471,  552. 

Gregson,  XI las,  273. 

Grenville,  Henry,  579;  George,  hung  in 

effigy,  70S,  716  ;  declares  the  Bosto- 

nians  rebels,  714. 
Gregory,  Alexander,  001. 
Gridley,  Jeremiah,  589,  601.  604,  018, 

642,  007,  713  ;  dies,  720  ;  John,  770  ; 

Richard,  190, 220, 229. 234, 241  [broth- 
er?]; 253,  307,  331,  336,  347—8,  798. 
Grifeth,  William,  427  ;  Bowon,  796. 
Griffin,  James,  583,  649,  810  ;  Joseph, 

418  ;  Richard,  4J0  ;   William,  010. 
Griggs,  George,  100,  235,  241,  302,  318, 

787,  798  ;  Joseph,  400  ;  William,  427, 

513,  521,  523. 
Grindal,  Edmund,  93,  553. 
Griswold,  llufus  W.,  Republican  Court, 

577. 
Grose,  Clement,  350, 436  ;  Edmund,  248, 

250,  788  ;  Isaac,  224,  229,  233,  235, 

245,  248,  250,  307,  787, 792  ;  Matthew, 

487  ;  one,  431. 
Grosvenor,  Cyrus  P.,  381. 
Grushea,  Captain,  567. 
Grubb,  Thomas,  181,  233,  235,  245,  278, 

302,  318,  787,  793,  795. 
Guile,  Noah,  523. 
Guillim,   John,   Banner  displayed,   80, 

157,  313,  509. 
Guilman,  Ezekiel,  418. 
Gulthorp,  Ralph,  268. 
Gunhouse,  order  to  repair  the,  729. 
Gunnison,  Hugh,  229,  233, 267,  312, 319, 

786,  790,  812. 
Gurden,  Brampton,  68. 
Guttridge,  John,  267  ;  Robert,  532. 
Guy,  John,  42. 
Gwin,  David,  525. 

Hakluyt,  George,  30 ;  Richard,  1,  2,  4, 

7, 10,  32. 
naddington,  "Viscount,  34. 
Hagar,  John,  414. 
Hagburne,  Abraham,  259. 
Hahaton.    See  Ahaton. 
Hailton.    See  Hilton. 
Hailshall,  George,  327. 
Hailestone,  William,  303,  799,  800. 
Hair,  protest  against  wearing  long,  315. 
Hale,  John,   645  ;  Mathew,   Sir,   554 ; 

Nathan,  646 ;   Robert,   613  ;    Roger, 

668  ;  Warwick,  Sir,  34, 161. 
Hales,  John,  236,  385,  502. 
Half  Square  Court,  553. 
Hall,   Andrew,  680;   Capt,   650,   652, 

623  ;  John,  5,  7,  25,  165,  349,  521  ; 

Mr.,  617, 767  ;  Nathaniel,  520;  Robert, 

682 ;  others,  350,  414,  677. 
Hall's  ship-yard,  648,  650. 
Hallowell,  Benjamin,  630,  632,  657,  686, 

696  ;  his  house  destroyed,  699—700  ; 

Ward  Nicholas,  726,  736,  737  ;  Wil- 
liam, 395. 
Halsill,  George,  302,  307,  319—20. 
Halsey,  James,  546,  558. 
Hamberye,  Mr. ,  227, 332  ;  William, 

318  ;  Miss,  342. 
Hamblin,  Clement,  418  ;  David,  190. 

Hamblo,  Mrs. ,  332. 

Hames,  Mark,  342. 

Hamock,  John,  567,  583. 

Ham  matt,  Charles,  547. 

Hammond,  Thomas,  341,  447. 

Hamilton,  James,  651 ;  Marquis  of,  34. 

Hamilton,  Place,  561. 

Hampden,  John,  100. 

Hanbury.    See  Hamberye. 

Hancock,   John,   donation    to    Brattle- 


street  Church,  520;  notice  <>f,  878  j 
hi*  Ml»i i >  Balls  without  stamped  clear- 
ance, 711;  Selectman,  712;   CO dt- 

tee,  718i  Representative,  710;  slan- 
dered, 720 ;  anecdote  of,  721  ;  John, 

Rev.,  48—0,  227,  081  ;  Thomas,  031, 

048,  050,  081,  0S.r),  .SI 7. 
Handsoombe,  Thomas,  55,  67. 
Hansett,  John,  234. 

Hanson's  Hist.  Dauvrrs,  86. 

Harberf,  John,  250;  Sylvester,  331. 

Harbye,  John,  68. 

Harcourt.  Robert,  8,  9  ;  Richard,  Sir,  80. 

Hardcastie,  Samuel,  818. 

Hardy,  Thomas,  6,  151. 

Harden,  Edward,  415  ;  Richard,  427. 

Harding,  Robert,  174, 180, 105,  210,  233, 
235,  244—5,  313,  318  ;  Richard,  243  ; 
Thomas,  348. 

Harker,  Anthony,  190,  235,  318,  341, 
795. 

Harley,  Thomas,  58. 

Harlow,  Edward,  17,  18,  23. 

Harper,  Robert,  356. 

Harrctt,  Robert,  55. 

Harridon,  Andrew,  570. 

Harrington's  Century  Sermon,  421. 

Harris,  Benjamin,  812 ;  Daniel,  526  ; 
Henry,  471 ;  Luther  M.,  700  ;  Mary, 
534  ;  Owen,  545—0,  558  ;  Robert,  507  ; 
Samuel,  687  ;  Thaddeus  M.,  582  ; 
Thaddeus  W.,  402  ;  Thomas,  352,  508  ; 
William,  493;  William  Thaddeus, 
44. 

Harrison,  Capt.,  453  ;  Edward,  302  ; 
Rev.  Mr.,  311 ;  John,  rope-maker, 
381—2,  572,  798  ;  Joseph,  Collector, 
735. 

Harrod,  Thomas,  440. 

Hart,  John,  349. 

Hartford,  Indian  name  of,  123. 

Hartley,  Thomas,  652  ;  William,  418. 

Hartsall,  George,  799. 

Harvard  College,  founded,  241 — 2  ;  de- 
scribed, 377  ;  rebuilt,  393  ;  Stoughton 
Hall  built,  502 ;  burnt,  678  ;  struck 
with  lightning,  742 ;  first  professor- 
ship, 681. 

Harvard,  John,  242. 

Harvey,  John,  414,  459. 

Harwood,  Charles,  471 ;  George,  55,  62, 
73,  76,  111—12,  233  ;  Thomas,  347, 
490. 

Harker,  Anthony,  787,  795. 

Harnden,  Robert,  394. 

Haskell,  Samuel,  567. 

Hasting,  Samuel,  490. 

Hatch,  Estes,  535,  621,  734 ;  Jabez, 
641. 

Hathorne,  John,  490,  498—9,  526  ;  Wil- 
liam, 230,  292,  363,  418,  423,  447. 

Hatton,  George,  471. 

Haugh,  Atherton,  157,  183,  188,  212, 
652,  794  ;  Daniel,  236  ;  Mr.,  813. 

Haugh,  Haulgh.    See  Hough. 

Haughton,  Richard,  789. 

Haverhill,  surprised  by  the  French  and 
Indians,  534. 

Hawes,  Dr.  Joel,  Cent.  Discourse,  177  ; 
Mark,  787. 

Hawke,  Sir  Edward,  647. 

Hawkins,  James,  235,  245,  312,  789  ; 
John,  Sir,  6  ;  Mary,  787  ;  Richard, 
30,  34  ;  Thomas,  Capt.,  235,  271,  287, 
307,  312,  334,  336  ;  hanged,  491  ; 
Thomas,  790. 

Hawlaws,  Henry,  Indian,  405. 

Hawthorne.    See  Hathorne. 

Hayes,  Captain,  596  ;  James,  317. 

Hayle,  Mary,  336. 

Haywood,  John,  430,  445 ;  Haywood 
House,  598  ;  William,  794. 

Haymarket  Theatre,  811. 

Haynes,  John,  Gov.,  157,  164, 178, 184, 
206,  214,  263. 

Hazelton,  Charles,  398. 

Hazel,  John,  326. 

Head,  John,  767  ;  Mr. ,  660  ;  Henry 

(Hed),  525. 

Healths,  drinking  of,  abolished,  105. 

Healy,  George,  428  ;  Nathaniel,  414. 

Heard,  Henry,  525;  John  T.,  642; 
Isaac,  Sir,  355,  649  ;  William,  170. 


Heart  and  Crown,  006,  811. 

Heath,  Ellas,  618;  Richard,  431;  Wil- 
liam, 170  ;  a  pious  merchant,  403,  467. 

Heathoot.  George,  804. 

Heathfleld,  Lord,  318. 

Heaton,  Nathaniel,  2:::.. 

Hedge,  Master,  308. 

Henchman,  Daniel,  820,  805;  marches 
against  the  Indians,  402;  a  friend  of 
the  Christian  Cndlans,  404;  marches 
again, 410;  atMaj.  VVillard's  burial, 
425;  publisher,  53::,  599  ;  member  or 
a  i-'ii'-  Society,  567 ;  printed  the  first 
Bible,  630  ;  his  family,  017— S  ;  Rich- 
ard, 523,  047  ;  Hezekiah,  503. 

Homier, ,  567. 

Henshaw,  Joshua.,  040,  651 ;  Selectman, 
678,  731  ;  committee  about  Beacon 
Hill,  085 ;  of  a  Committee  I  i  wait  on 
Gov.  Bernard,  737 — S  ;  to  instruct  the 
Representatives,  75s  ;  to  consider  the 
Bernard  Letters,  &c,  771  ;  to  demand 
the  removal  of  the  troops,  783. 

Hentz,  Caroline  Lee,  363. 

nerle,  Charles,  247. 

Hcrne,  Captain,  524. 

Herrick,  Henry,  57,  502. 

Hersey,  Daniel,  050. 

Heslerigge,  Sir  Arthur,  187. 

Hewes,   Joshua,   504 ;    Mr.   ,  57  ; 

Samuel,  652  ;  Solomon,  568. 

Hewson,  George,  John,  Thomas,  55. 

Hewsted,  Robert,  250. 

Heyman,  John,  381 ;  Nathan,  440. 

Hibbins,  Anne,  346  ;  William,  245,  253, 
250,  269,  278,  285,  334,  346,  786, 
793—4. 

Hiccock  191. 

Hichbone,  David,  320,  335,  347  ;  Thom- 
as, 508. 

Hickes,  Margaret,  E,obert,  36. 

Hickling,  William,  489,  665. 

Hicks,    John,  779  ;    Mrs.   ,  466  ; 

Zachariah,  617. 

Higginson,  Francis,  55,  57,  79,  91,  347, 
366 ;  John,  200,  236,  317,  385,  498, 
529  ;  Stephen,  552. 

High-street,  473,  515,  786. 

Hilbourne,  Thomas,  429. 

Hill,  Alexander,  756  ;  Henry,  521,  552, 
756  ;  James,  427  ;  John,  14,  132,  278, 
285,  291,  313,  318,  381.  427,  470,  503, 
600,  691,  729,  753,  778,  792;  John, 
Gen.,  539 ;  Samuel,  557 ;  Thomas, 
341,  455,  593,  665,  679;  Valentine, 
786,  789,  792—3  ;  Willis,  Earl  of  Hills- 
borough, 740. 

Hills,  John,  785,  788,  789  ;  Hills'  Wharf, 
550. 

Hillier,  Joseph,  481,  521,  571;  Hillers 
lane,  810. 

Hillsborough,  Earl  of,  740,  742. 

Hilton,  Edward,  50,  00  ;  William,  36, 
455. 

Hinks,  John,  473. 

Hinckley,  David,  538  ;  Thomas,  646. 

Hirst,  Eliz.,  670  ;  Grove,  543,  549,  557, 
574,  648  ;  Mary,  648  ;  Samuel,  574. 

Hoar,  Bridget,  425,  429  ;  Master,  6  ; 
Joanna,  449;  William,  329,  437  j 
others,  1,  763. 

Hobart,  Edward,  445 ;  Jeremiah,  363  ; 
Peter,  363. 

Hobby,  William,  471. 

Hobson,  Capt.,  17,  23. 

Hodgdon,  Benjamin,  632. 

Hodges,  Capt.  ,  152,  183;  Hum- 
phrey, 429. 

Hodgson,  John,  316. 

Hodson,  Daniel,  55  ;  Thomas,  685. 

Hoff.    See  Hough. 

Hoffman,  John,  616. 

Hog,  controversy,  257,  260  ;  Island,  233, 
245,  248,  253,  259,  604 ;  Hog-reeves, 
to  be  quickened,  486. 

Hogge,  Richard,  250,  792,  797. 

Hog  Island,  233,  259. 

Hogscote  Island,  329. 

Hoil,  Arthur,  455. 

Holbrook,  Abia,  684 ;  John,  447,  636  ; 
Samuel,  557,  660. 

Holden, ,  301—2;  Randal,  275—6, 

302. 


830 


INDEX. 


Holder,  Christopher,  251,  256,  343. 

Holeton,  Joseph,  414  ;  Robert,  235. 

Holgrave,  John,  170. 

Holland,  Christopher,  351  ;  Ephraim, 
811 ;  John,  302  ;  Lord,  294  ;  Samuel, 
545. 

Hollege,  Richard,  245,  318,  341. 

Hollich  (Holledge),  245,  318,  341,  798. 

Hollingworth,  William,  497. 

Hollis,  Thomas,  457,  489,  590;  Hollis- 
street,  585 ;  Hollis-street  Church, 
589—90. 

Holman,  Edward,  36  ;  John,  144,  236. 

Holly,  Horace,  591. 

Holmes,  Abiel,  620  ;  Capt.,  550  ;  Eben- 
ezer,  603 ;  Eliza,  534  ;  Obadiah,  325 
—26  ;  Oliver  W.,  620 ;  Robert,  126 ; 
Samuel,  418  ;  William,  145,  756. 

Holyoke,  Elizar,  490,  522;  Dr.  91; 
Samuel,  684  ;  Edward  A.,  91. 

Homes,  Joseph,  427,  445. 

Homans,  John,  590. 

Homer,  William,  520. 

Hongougsaniyonde,  Indian,  659. 

Honywell,  Goodman,  492. 

Hood,  Thomas,  527  ;  Lawrence,  534  ; 
Samuel,  Com..  753,  763,  766. 

Hooke,  Francis,  443,  479  ;  Mary,  479. 

Hooker,  John,  583  ;  Thomas,  157,  161, 
164,  177,  180,  184,  186,  217,  222,  303, 
306. 

Hoop  petticoats,  days  of,  573,  583. 

Hooper,  Robert,  644  ;  William,  583,  601, 
640. 

Hooton,  Elizabeth,  357  ;  John,  567.  See 
Houghton. 

Hopehood,  Indian,  479. 

Hopkins,  Capt.,  737  ;  Edward,  231 ; 
John,  583,  665  ;  Mary,  548  ;  Mat- 
thew, 309. 

Hord,  John,  245. 

Horrocks,  Elizabeth,  James,  159. 

Horsey,  Elizabeth,  Hercules,  68. 

Hospital,  Rainsford  Island,  604  ;  Insane, 
681  ;  others,  556,  685. 

Houckin,  Jeremy,  312,  318,  327,  331, 
333,  335—6,  339,  349,  452,  786,  789, 
791  ;  Houckin's  Corner,  815. 

Hough,  Atherton,  157,  183,  188,  236—7, 
253-4,  259,  786  ;  Daniel,  236  ;  Wil- 
liam, 525  ;  Hough's  End,  408. 

Houghton,  Henry,  57  ;  Richard,  Sir, 
158  ;  Robert,  190—1,  316  ;  Rowland, 
593,  599  ;  Tower,  158  ;  William,  396. 

House  of  Correction,  ordered,  144. 

Houses,  regulation  about  building,  194. 

How,  Elizabeth,  500  ;  Israel,  590  ;  Jo- 
seph, 342. 

Howard,  George,  414,  540  ;  James,  427, 
John,  567  ;  Mary,  458,  540  ;  Richard, 
57  ;  Robert,  518  ;  Samuel,  782  ;  Sim- 
eon, 602. 

Howe,  Daniel,  230  ;  Joseph,  552,  687  ; 
William,  Sir,  311. 

Howell,  James,  290  ;  two  drowned,  578. 

Howen,  Robert,  253,  786,  789,  791; 
widow,  286. 

Howland,  John,  36,  43,  186. 

Howlet,  Thomas,  151. 

Hoyte,  Simon,  57. 

Hubbard,  Ann,  293  ;  Benjamin,  230 ; 
Enoch,  504  ;  Thomas,  518,  600,  631, 
634,  643,  649  ;  William,  death  of,  530. 

Hucken,  Thomas,  236. 

Hucksters,  complaints  against,  555. 

Hudibras,  52,  593. 

Hudson,  Francis,  334, 435, 493, 530, 789  ; 
Henry,  18,  279  ;  James,  267—8  ;  318  ; 
Miss,  342  ;  Ralph,  234  ;  Samuel,  493  ; 
Thomas,  534,  William,  181,  189,  194, 
241,  245,  250,  253,  289,  307,  313,  318, 
337,  340,  348,  387—8,  454,  493,  530, 
786,  789—90—2,  811. 

Hudson's  Point,  560. 

Huen,  Jacob,  440. 

Hues,  Sargeant,  286  ;  Hue's  Cross,  146. 

Huffe,  William,  504.     See  Hough. 

Hughes,  Samuel,  657. 

Huguenots,  arrival  of,  487. 

Hull,  Elizabeth,  248,  329,450—1 ;  Han- 
nah, 329,  586  ;  Isaac,  329,  378  ;  John, 
Mint-master,  328,  331,  341,  366,  384, 
433,  442,  469,  507, 586  ;  death  of,  449  ; 


Judith,  329,  384,  452;  Mary,  329; 
Richard,  234  ;  Robert,  196,  229,  246, 
250,  307,  329,449—50  ;  death  of,  451  ; 
797. 

Hull-street,  549. 

Hulton,  Henry,  732. 

Humphrey,  David,  687  ;  John,  52,  55, 
62,  70,  72—3,  77,  139,  153,  166,  177, 
210,  214,  263,  266, 317  ;  Susan,  172. 

Hunlock,  Joanna,  504. 

Hunne,  Anne,  786,  788  ;  George,  235, 
786,  788. 

Hunnewell,  Jonathan,  492,  552. 

Hunt,  Elizabeth,  620;  Ephraim,  320, 
545,  791  ;  John,  384,  557,  665 ; 
Shrimpton,  557  ;  Thomas,  17,  20,  23, 
112  ;  another,  513,  650  ;  Hunt's  Cor- 
ner, 816. 

Hunting,  Samuel,  417. 

Huntington,  Joshua,  384. 

Hurd,  Goodman,  320 ;  Jacob,  648 ; 
John,  245,  250,  312,  797;  Joseph, 
427  ;  Nathaniel,  708. 

Hurlstone,  Nicholas,  79, 86,  88, 178, 184. 

Huske,  Ellis,  598  ;  General,  598  ;  John, 
679,  708. 

Huson,  Mr. ,  70. 

Hutchins,  Thomas,  55,  62,  72. 

Hutchinson,  Anne,  ber  parentage,  175  ; 
controversy  with,  218 — 229  ;  banish- 
ment and  death,  228 — 9  ;  Edward, 
196,  227,  234,  245,  250,  313,  318,  323, 
332,  340,  342,  345,  359,  364,  404,  411, 
447,  454,  511,  526,  531,  557,  596,  610, 
640,  796  ;  killed,  406 ;  Elisha,  434, 
456,  478,  490,  492,  527,  786?  790,  792  ; 
death  of,  557  ;  family  pedigree,  227  ; 
Foster,  Judge  of  Probate,  713  ;  Ralph, 
227,  349  ;  Richard,  229,  245, 286, 316  ; 
Thomas,  his  ancestry,  175  ;  connec- 
tion with  the  Olivers,  293 ;  on  the 
treatment  of  Episcopalians,  295  ;  631 ; 
on  the  origin  of  the  Revolution,  657  ; 
threatened  by  a  mob,  694  ;  opposed 
to  the  Stamp  Act,  697  ;  his  house 
destroyed,  699 ;  letters  intercepted, 
712  ;  resigns,  as  Judge  of  Probate, 
712 ;  cause  of  enmity  to  Samuel 
Adams,  719 ;  expelled  the  Council, 
727  ;  at  the  manufactory  house,  751 ; 
receives  the  Province  Seal  from  Gov. 
Bernard,  and  is  constituted  Governor, 
763 ;  conduct  of  the  merchants 
towards,  775. 

Hyde,  Lord.  447  ;  Lady  Anne,  726. 

Hyslop,  William,  576,  641,  652. 

Hyrick,  William,  245. 

Ians,  Matthew,  229,  235,  341,  798. 

Illery,  Isaac,  414. 

Ilsley,  Isaac,  414. 

Impressments,  624 — 6,  735. 

Inches,  Henderson,  657,  731,  738,  741, 
754,  764. 

Ince,  Mr. ,  351. 

Indecott,  John,  427,  471. 

Independence,  American,  348,  353, 
655  ;  birth  of,  668. 

Independent  Advertiser,  begun,  627. 

India  Warf,  394. 

Indian  Bible,  362,  366,  421.  ■ 

Indian  Chronicle,  421. 

Indian  Queen  Tavern,  598. 

Indians,  first  in  England,  1  ;  first  in 
France,  3  ;  Gosnold's  interview  with, 
13  ;  five  taken  to  England  by  Wey- 
mouth, 15  ;  fight  with  Harlow's  men 
at  Cape  Cod,  18  ;  twenty-four  kid- 
napped by  Hunt,  20  ;  escape  of  Epa- 
now,  23  ;  their  treatment  of  Captain 
Smith,  28 ;  Capture  a  French  ship, 
30  ;  pestilence  among,  31,  36  ;  kill 
Capt.  Dermer,  33 — 4 ;  described  by 
T.  Morton,  38  ;  plot  to  cut  off  Wes- 
ton's Colony,  39 — 40  ;  about  Boston, 
44 — 6,  57,  83  ;  complain  of  injuries, 
119  ;  visit  Boston,  121 — 2  ;  a  deputa- 
tion from  Connecticut,  123 ;  Narra- 
gansets  at  Boston,  141  ;  troubles,  143, 
365  ;  some  disarmed,  263  ;  war  be- 
tween the  Massachusetts  and  Mo- 
hawks, 387  ;  treaty  with  the  Wam- 
panoags,  389  ;  Philip's  war,  397 — 425  ; 


deed  Boston  to  the  inhabitants,  456 — 
7  ;  war  with  the  Eastern,  510  ;  de- 
stroy Haverhill,  504 ;  war  in  the 
East,  571 ;  fear  from  the  Mohawks, 
249. 

Ines  [Jions,  Ians,  &c]     See  Ians. 

Ingalls,  Edmund,  57. 

Ingersoll,  Jared,  695 — 6  ;  Joseph,  805  ; 
Richard,  57  ;  Ingersoll's  tavern,  731. 

Ingerson,  Daniel,  652  ;  George,  534. 

Ingham,  North,  567. 

Ingles  [Inge],  James,  455 ;  Maudit, 
241,  318,  342,  347.     See  Engles. 

Inglish,  WilUam,  332,  427.  See  Eng- 
lish. 

Ingraham,  William,  25,  427. 

Inhabitants.    See  Population. 

Inman,  Ralph,  742,  677. 

Inns.    See  Ordinaries. 

Inoculation,  introduction  of,  561 ;  op- 
posed, 562. 

Insane  Hospital,  founded,  681. 

Insurance  Office,  established,  571. 

Inspectors  of  Customs,  burnt  in  effigy, 
731. 

Intemperance,  prevalence  of,  634. 

Invincible,  Armada,  263. 

Ipswich,  settled,  150 — 1. 

Ireland,  contribution  of  to  New  England, 
424  ;  emigrants  from  sold,  335,  342. 

Ireland,  William,  336,  347. 

Irish  Church,  820. 

Iroquois  Indians,  319. 

Irving.     See  Erving. 

Ironside,  Mr. ,  55. 

Ironsides,  Cromwell's  at  Marston  Moor, 
289. 

Islebius,  John,  218. 

Isle,  Sables,  253,  257. 

Isle,  Shoales,  12,  21,  50,  85,  185,  260, 
268. 

Isle,  Wight,  18,  75,  79,  81,  88,  312,  424. 

Ivers,  Thomas,  568. 

Iyans.    See  Ians. 

Jack  Straw,  123. 

Jacklene,  Edmund,   243,   253—4,  798  ; 

Samuel,  427,  521,  532  ;  Thomas,  612. 
Jackson,  Capt.,  239,  300  ;  Dr.,  497,  685  ; 

Edmund,  312,  318—20  ;  Edward,  235, 

245,   620  ;  Francis,   550,   705  ;  John, 

235,  318,  788  ;  Jonathan,  653  ;  Joseph, 

678,   712,    731,   734,   737,   754,   818  ; 

Mary,  620,  650,  653  ;  Susanna,  379  ; 

Thomas,  521  ;  William,  653,  767. 
Jacob,  George,  500  ;  John,  417  ;  Mary, 

692. 
Jail,  the,  635  ;  burnt,  756. 
James,  Gawdy,  351. 
James  I.,  his  accession,  12  ;  ancestor 

of  the  Georges,  550  ;  II.    proclaimed, 

457  ;  occasions  new  troubles,  475 — 6  ; 

portrait  of,  668. 
James,  Thomas,  148 — 9  ;  Gawdy,  351. 
Jameson,  Andrew,  455. 
Janeway,  James,  541  ;  William,  287. 
Janson,  Sir  Bryan,  55,  77. 
Jarvis,   Charles,   363  ;  Nathaniel,   558, 

574  ;  Robert,  652,  686  ;  Jarvis  estate, 

623. 
Jarmon,  Sypron,  431. 
Jay,  John,  418  ;  Thomas,  416. 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  672. 
Jeffrey,    Benjamin,    652 ;     John,   595 ; 

Judge,  458  ;  William,  37,  113. 
Jeffries,   David,  Town  Treasurer,   518, 

556,  678,  756  ;  Robert,  790  ; ,  50, 

107. 
Jekyll,  John,  591—2  ;  818. 
Jemison,  James,  318, 327  ;  William,  418. 
Jencks,  Joseph,  326,  335,  340. 
Jenkins,  Lionel,  Sir,  446,  477  ;  Robert, 

567. 
Jenks,  William,  D.D.,  673. 
Jenner,  David,  518  ;  Thomas,  460. 
Jennings,  Abraham,  33. 
Jennlson,  Samuel,  249,  251,  360  ;  Wil- 
liam, 201,  228,  236. 
Jenny,  John,  36. 
Jephson,    Benjamin,    652;    John,   521, 

652,  799  ;  Thomas,  652. 
Jervis  ;  Mrs.,  677  ;  Robert,  567. 
Jesop,  John,  210. 


INDEX. 


831 


Jesuits,  law  against,  307. 

Jethro,  Indian,  420. 

Jewell,  Samuel,  342  ;  Thomas,  250. 

Jewett,  Temperance,  252. 

John,  AugusUn,  418  ;   Indian,  408. 

Johns,  Henry  Vandyke,  583. 

Johnson,  Abraham,  loo  ;  Arhella,  death 
of,  91  ;  Francis,  55  ;  Edward,  50,  185, 
202,  204,  222,  236,  275,  814,  322,  828, 
.•342,  308,  881 ;  Isaac,  of  the  Mass. 
Company,  55,  02,  05,  70,  72,  75,  77, 
80,  00 ;  death  Of  his  lady,  91 ;  at 
Charlestown,  98 ;  advised  a  removal 
to  Shawmut,  09  ;  death  and  burial, 
99—100  ;  Isaac,  Capt.,  404,  413,  470  ; 
James,  787,  700,  791,  705 ;  another, 
98,  100,  107,  180,  235,  241,  243,  259, 
278,  312,  320,  349;  John,  139,  170, 
342,  378,  455  ;  Marmaduke,  306  ; 
Peter,  241  ;  Robert,  100  ;  Samuel, 
427,  532,  060 ;  Thomas,  400  ;  Wil- 
liam, 479, 490;  Johnson  Burial-ground, 
605,  612. 

Johonnot,  Andrew,  489,  566  ;  Daniel, 
534 ;  Francis,  630. 

Jones,  Anna,  72 ;  David,  418  ;  Daniel, 
811  ;  Isaac,  400  ;  John,  186,  567  ; 
John  Coffin,  609  ;  J.  Winter,  3,  5 ; 
Margaret,  303,  308,  322;  Matthew, 
318  ;  Philip,  10  ;  Richard,  308  ;  Ro- 
ger, 418  ;  Thomas,  302—3,  309,  342  ; 
William,  427,  567. 

Jordan,  Thomas,  456. 

Josias  (Indian),  2S0,  387  ;  sells  Boston, 
456  ;  paid  for  acknowledgment,  457. 

Josselyn,  Henry,  239 — 40  ;  John,  44  ; 
visit  to  Boston,  238—9,  244,  390—1, 
396. 

Joy,  M.,  6  ;  233,  268,  286  ;  John,  803  ; 
Thomas,  297,  788  ;  William,  812. 

Joy's  Buildings,  142. 

Joyce,  Mr.  ,  55. 

Joyliffe,  John,  notice  of,  423,  430,  434, 
456,  480,  482,  492. 

Judd,  Roger,  427. 

Judkin,  Jobe,  259,  791,  797  ;  Samuel, 
418. 

Julien's  Restaurant,  650. 

Junius,  defends  Gen.  Amherst,  645  ; 
cited,  689  ;  on  Gen.  Conway,  704. 

Jurian,  John,  317. 

Jurors,  how  to  be  chosen,  525.  See 
Grand  Jcrt. 

Juxon,  William,  594. 

Jyans.    See  Ians. 

Kane,  Richard,  540. 

Kast,  Dr. ,  685. 

Keat,  Benjamin,  771. 

Keayne,  Benjamin,  245,  250  ;  Robert, 
93,  180,  189,  194,  230,  233,  235,  237, 
243,  245—7,  260—1,  271,  287,  291, 
303,  308,  334,  336,  342,  346,  349,  786, 
792,  803. 

Keeling,  Samuel,  293,  518,  555. 

Keith,  George,  524  ;  William,  Sir,  583. 

Kelt,  James,  455. 

Kellond,  Thomas,  373,  376. 

Kean,  Edmund,  805. 

Keen,  William,  518. 

Kemble,  Capt.,  750  ;  Henry,  414 ;  Rob- 
ert Tuite,  751 ;  William,  414. 

Kempenfelt,  Admiral,  742  ;  Col.  M., 
540. 

Kempthorne,  Simon,  343. 

Kempton,  Manasses,  36. 

Kendall,  Mr. ,  395. 

Kennedy,  William,  455,  623. 

Kennelly,  Thomas,  630. 

Kennet,  Hist.  England,  cited,  458. 

Kenney,  Samuel,  534. 

Kenrick,  George,  185 ;  John,  248,  331, 
786,  794,  818. 

Kent,  Benjamin,  713,  729,  738,  744; 
Hannah,  504. 

Kenwood,  Peter,  583. 

Kerby,  Henry,  418  ;  Richard,  357  ; 
William,  318. 

Kerke,  Jarvis,  55. 

Keyley,  Edward,  302. 

Keys,  Mr. ,  601. 

Keyser,  Thomas,  279,  288. 

Kidby,  Lewis,  250 ;  Richard,  ib. 


Kldd,  Capt.  William,  his  piracies,  618. 
Kidder,  Frederic,  170,  842;  S.,  303; 

Joseph,  810. 
Kieft,  Gov.  William,  251. 
Klffln,  William,  255,  826,  .".7s. 
Kllby,   Christopher,   ooo,  686  ;    John, 

504,   510—20;   Xh as,   006;  Kilby- 

street,  566  ;  named,  600. 
KUburn,  Samuel  S.,  607. 
Kilcup,  Roger,  518. 

Killeran,  Capt. ,  652. 

Kimball,  John,  4K2  ;  Moses,  814. 
Klne,  John,  395;  William,  492. 
King-street  Tragedy,  386,  532  ;  tumult, 

780. 
King,  Isaac,  414 ;   James,  567  ;  T.  S., 

591. 
Kingman,  Edward,  812,  817. 
King's  Chapel,  439,  444,  404,467,  572, 

646—7,  649. 
Kingsley,  Stephen,  234,  235,  245. 
Kinsman,  Pelatiah,  546. 
Kirk,  David,  300  ;  Percy,  457,  459,  475, 

540  ;  Thomas,  735. 
Kirkley,  William,  250,  789. 
Kirkland,  John  Thomson,  96,  552  ;  Sam- 
uel, 15. 
Kirkwood,  James,  639,  717. 
Kissing,  one  fined  for,  516. 
Knap,  Elizabeth,  351. 
Kneeland,  Henry,  559  ;  John,  455,  712, 

812  ;    Samuel,   533,   574,   633,   774  ; 

Kneeland  and  Green,  630. 
Knight,  Charles,  414  ;  Isaac,  70  ;  John, 

440,  652,  788  ;  Macklin,  286,  347,  383  ; 

Richard,  267;   Robert,  384;    Sarah, 

786,  791 ;  Thomas,  653,  677  ;  Walter, 

41,  57,  62 ;  376. 
Knyvet,  Catherine,  733. 
Knowles,  Charles,  624,  625  ;  James  D., 

616. 
Knollys,  Hanserd,  220,  242,  254,  256, 

378. 
Knolton,  Thomas,  441. 
Knopp,  Nicholas,  119. 
Knox,  Thomas,  776. 
Kutshamokin  (Indian),  200,  204,  263, 

305,  387. 

Ladd, ,  815. 

Lake,  Margaret,  198  ;  Mary,  363,  459 ; 

John,  800;    Thomas,  294,  338,  340, 

364,  395  ;  Captain  in  Philip's  War, 

410  ;  killed,  422  ;  his  parentage,  423  ; 

owned    lands   early  in  Boston,   798, 

814. 
Lamb,  James,  652  ;  William,  790. 
Lambert,  Robert,  378  ;  William,  580. 
Lamson,  Joseph,  418  ;  Roger,  527. 
Lancaster,  James,  394. 
Landaff,  Bishop  of,  19. 
Lander,  Daniel,  490. 
Land  Bank,  613,  720. 
Landon,  James,  379. 
Lane,  John,   525;   William,   318,  342, 

442. 
Langam,  George,  19. 
Langdon,    Benjamin,    427  ;    Ephraim, 

684. 
Langham,  Mary,  350  ;  Thomas,  679. 
Langley,  Daniel,  490. 
Lanman,  James,  520. 
Lanquet,  Thomas,  his  Chronicle,  2. 

Larkin,  Mr. ,  484. 

Larabee,   Benjamin,  661  ;    John,  dies, 

661 ;  Richard,  ib. 
Larnet,  William,  230. 
Lash,  Robert,  547—8. 
Lathrop,  John,  his  arrival,   175,   310, 

548  ;    John,   of   the   second  church, 

311. 
La  Tour,  Mons.  de,  178,  183,  266,  270, 

279,  281,  283,  292,  300,  303,  338. 
Latin  School,  230,  514,  523,  526. 
Latonice,  Esther,  488. 
Laud,  Archbishop,  113,  393. 
Laughton,  Goodman  and  wife,  323. 
Lawrence,  Amos,  480  ;  Governor,  651 ; 

John,  160  ;  Timothy  B.,  102. 
Lawson,  Admiral,  231 ;   Charles,  427  ; 

Christopher,  302,  790  ;  Deodat,  498  ; 

John,  508,  798  ;  Roger,  527. 
Lawton,  Henry,  652. 


Leach,  Amhros,  799  ;  Andrew,  455  ; 
John,  770  ;  Lawrence,  57. 

Leader,  John,  207,  342;  Thomas,  327, 
841,847. 

Leger,  Jacob,  706  ;  John,  241  ;  Francis, 
686. 

Learned,  Isaac,  414. 

Leavltt,  Christopher,  80, 118,  270,  327  ; 
Thomas,  60. 

Lebrees,  Mr. ,  077. 

Lechfbrd,  Thomas,  95,  242,  250,  257, 
•-'Oil;  death  of,  691. 

Lechmere,  Thomas,  Lord,  72  ;  and  Thom- 
as, mi  i. 

Leuhiiiurc's  Point,  001. 

Leddra,  William,  349,  352. 

Lediard's  Naval  History,  540. 

Lee, ,  161 ;    Henry,  347  ;   Thomas, 

545,  558,  605  ,  William,  550. 

Leffingwell,  E.  11.,  726. 

Legg,  Capt.,  512;  Samuel,  467,  514, 
518,  523. 

Leighton,  Thomas,  456. 

Leister,  Edward,  36. 

Le  Mercier,  Andrew,  488,  506,  661. 

Leonard,  George,  613. 

Lenox,  Duke  of,  34. 

Lepair,  Andrew,  652. 

Leslie,  Captain,  686. 

Letherland,  William,  229,  250,  530. 

Leverett,  Anna,  402  ;  Hudson,  329  ; 
John,  245,  259,  289,  339,  373,  381, 
394,  412,  431,  439,  481,  524,  594,  756, 
759,  786,  791,  793  ;  Sarah,  436,  594  ; 
Thomas,  157,  159,  162,  174,  182,  189, 
193,  201,  233,  235,  237,  279,  305,  333, 
346,  368,  379—80,  380,  786,  792. 

Leverett's  Lane,  603. 

Levy,  Robert,  429. 

Lewis,  Ezekiel,  514,  611, 677  ;  Harriet  A. 
T.,  607,  638  ;  Humphrey,  55  ;  John, 
351 ;  Thomas,  559,  616  ;  322. 

Lewis'  Hist,  of  Lynn,  57,  122,  171,  369, 
387,  472,  484. 

Ley,  Jame3,  Lord,  231 — 2. 

Leyland,  Adam,  537. 

Liberty  Hall,  738  ;  Liberty  Boys,  754. 

Liberty  Tree,  inscription,  703  ;  pruned, 
715,  731 ;  effigies  hung  on,  708,  763  ; 
history  of,  716  ;  destroyed,  812. 

Library,  circulating,  507,  682. 

Licences  for  retailing  liquors,  525. 

Lidget,  Charles,  481—2  ;  M) . ,  371. 

Light  House,  553,  596 ;  Sign  of  the, 
664. 

Lightning,  strikes  a  windmill,  260  ;  kills 
Capt.  Davenport,  285,  369  ;  strikes 
Hollis-street  Church,  590. 

Lightning-rods  first  used,  691. 

Lillie,  Theophilus,  597,  677,  767,  776. 

Lioll,  Mr.  Surgeon,  289. 

Lippencott,  Richard,  286,  800. 

Linchorne,  Henry,  Robert,  318  ;  Wil- 
liam, 414. 

Lincoln,  Countess  of,  88,  122—3. 

Lincoln's  Hist,  of  Hingham,  307. 

Lindall,  Timothy,  536 ;  Lindall-street, 
505. 

Lindon,  Awguston,  331. 

Linnen  Wheele,  560. 

Linzee,  Susanna,  763. 

Littlefield,  John,  249. 

Little,  John,  Indian,  601  ;  hanged,  411. 

Livermore,  George,  489,  629. 

Livingston,  William,  47. 

Lloyd,  Henry,  734 ;  J.,  685  ;  Rebecca, 
293. 

Lobden,  Nicholas,  652. 

Locke,  John  G.,  548  ;  Robert,  343, 
345. 

Lockwoofl,  Mr. ,  139. 

Lockyer,  Mr. ,  dies,  528. 

Locusts,  153. 

Lodge,  Edmund,  71 ;  Lodge's  Peerage 
of  Ireland,  517. 

Logan,  Alexander,  455. 

Lok,  Michael,  4. 

London,  great  fire  in,  452. 

Londonderry,  settled,  560. 

Long  Acre  street,  561. 

Long  Lane,  576,  639,  682. 

Long  Wharf,  origin  of,  536. 

Long,  Nath.,  792  ;  Long's  Ordinary,  239. 


832 


INDEX. 


Longley, ,  68. 

Lord,  Dr. ,  685  ;  Melvin,  592. 

Loring,   Benjamin,   660  ;    Daniel,   532 ; 

James  S.,  669,  672  ;  Isaac,  590  ;  John, 

455  ;  John,  Dr.,  779  ;  Jonathan,  523  ; 

Joshua,  734,  772  ;  Nathaniel,  559. 
Lortng's  Boston  Orators,  612,  708. 
Lorphelin,  Peter,  437. 
Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution, 

689. 
Lothrop,  Thomas,  407  ;  killed,  410. 
Lotteries,  grant  for,  authorized,  632,  644, 

656  ;    suppressed,  558  ;   law  against, 
591. 

Louden,  Richard,  490. 

Louder,  Jonathan,  293. 

Loudon,  Lord,  643. 

Louis,  Monsieur,  303. 

Louisbourg,   Expeditions  against,   619, 

641,  645. 
Love,  John,  235,  526  ;  Master,  70  ;  Su- 
sanna, 543,  557,  812  ;  William,  317  ; 

Love-lane,  531  ;  street,  543. 
Lovell,  Daniel,  250  ;  James,  684  ;  John, 

604,  612,  6S4. 
Lovell's  Island,  157,  291,  812. 
Lovewell,  John,  571 — 2. 
Lowe,  John,  79,  81,  86,  233,  235,  250, 

259,  267,  286,  300,  318,  334,  785,  788, 

790  ;  Joseph,  414,  798. 
Lowd,  Solomon,  418. 
Lowell,  originally  Lowle,  427,  376,  749  ; 

Charles,   D.D.,  602  ;    Ebenezer,  810  ; 

John,  427,  665  ;  family  of,  740. 
Loyall,  Francis,  795. 
Lubbuck,  James,  574. 

Lucas,  Augustus,  575  ;  Dr. ,  768. 

Luddam's  ford,  145 — 6. 

Ludkin,  William,  318,  331. 

Ludlow,  Roger,  43,  79,  92,  95,  106, 110, 

118,  124,  129,  152—3,  169,  184,  214, 

217,  263,  267. 
Luff,  John,  793. 
Luke,  Samuel,  52. 
Lunt's  Century  Sermon,  43. 
Luscomb,  Humphrey,  472 ;   Mr.  , 

468. 
Lusher,  Eleazer,  363,  379. 
Luther,  Capt.,  287. 
Lutwyche,  Lawrence,  583. 

Lurford, ,  248. 

Luxon,  Capt.,  239. 

Lyall,  Francis,  241,   245—6,  795,   786, 

798,  800. 
Lyde,   Byfield,   591,    594  ;    Catherine, 

626  ;  Edward,  457,  471. 
Lydgett,  Capt.,  468. 
Lyle.     See  Lyall. 
Lyman,  Caleb,  544  ;  Goodman,  147. 
Lynde,  Benjamin,  293  ;    Edward,  ib.  ; 

Joseph,  479,  426  ;  Samuel,  348,  463, 

490,  493,  506,  509,  513—14 ;  Simon, 

376,  433,  456,   818  ;    Lynde-st.,  602, 

812. 
Lynn,  Henry,  195. 
Lynn-st.,  548,  599. 
Lyndhurst,  Lord,  293. 
Lyon,  Joseph,  418. 

Macauley,  Catherine,  768. 

Maccarty,   Florence,   468,   575  ;   Thad- 

deus,   518,  558 ;  Maccarty's   Corner, 

463,  810. 
Machiavel,  Indians  equal  to,  204. 
Makrenell,  James,  418. 
Mackay,  Alexander,  753,  758  ;  William, 

756. 

Mackie,  ,  275. 

Mackintosh,  Peter,  700,  701,  709,  711. 

Mackowmes,  Alexander,  455. 

Macktallome,  Malcolm,  445. 

Madokawando  (Indian),  479. 

Magna  Britannia,  6, 102—3,  594,  669. 

Magunumba  (Indian),  572. 

Mainard,  John,  791. 

Maitland's  Hist,  of  London,  26, 102,  507. 

Maitland,  Col.,  under  Gen.  Gage,  750. 

Major,  R.  H.,  8. 

Makepeace,  Thomas,  234,  245,  256,  789. 

Malbon.  John,  55,  57. 

Malcom,   Andrew,    464 ;    Daniel,    568, 

657  ;  moh  leader,  736 — 7  ;  dies,  737 
—8,  744. 


Maline,  Jacob,  503. 

Mall,  the,  820. 

Manatanoo  (Indian) _  412. 

Mann,  Edmund,  652 ;  John,  437  ;  Jo- 
siah,  418. 

Manchester,  Earl  of,  289. 

Manley,  William,  418. 

Mansel,  Sir  Robert,  34,  78,  85. 

Mansfield,  Elizabeth,  93  ;  John,  Sir,  93, 
178,  190,  241,  723. 

Manstrye,  Nathaniel,  55. 

Manufacture  of  cotton  goods  begun, 
271  ;  spinning  ordered  by  law,  340  ; 
Manufactory  bank,  613  ;  complained 
of  in  England,  688  ;  General  Court 
moves  in,  730  ;  of  printing  presses, 
types,  guns,  &c,  769. 

Manufactory  House,  561,  660  ;  ordered 
to  be  sold,  719  ;  refused  to  the  army, 
751—2. 

Maps,  550,  566,  772,  820. 

Marbury,  Edward,  175,  226—7,  253, 
287. 

Marchant,  John,  250. 

Maremount,  30,  49,  114, 116. 

Margeson,  Edward,  36. 

Mariana,  43,  47. 

Marie,  Monsieur,  303 — 4. 

Mariat,  Obadiah,  466  ;  Powers,  678. 

Marine  Society,  616. 

Marion,  John,  427,  490,  503,  506,  513, 
521,  529,  572  ;  Joseph,  571,  597,  600, 
652  ;  Samuel,  427. 

Marion-st.,  572. 

Market,  the  first,  166,  334,  474,  555, 
596,  610—11. 

Market-st.,  786. 

Marks,  Roger,  414. 

Marlborough,  Duke  of,  71, 231,  531, 539, 
551. 

Marlborough-st,  531. 

Marrett,  John,  583. 

Marriages,  order  concerning,  474,  508. 

Marriner,  Joseph,  527. 

Marsh,  Daniel,  756. 

Marshall,  Mr.,  180,  250,  253,  312,  327, 
331,  342,  350,  486,  518  ;  Christopher, 
224  ;  Henry,  559  ;  John,  Deacon,  395, 
466  ;  John,  Capt.,  711, 735  ;  dies,  736  ; 
Samuel,  414  ;  Thomas,  70,  188,  195, 
226,  229,  235,  241,  268,  286,  290,  303, 
312,  318,  320,  335,  341,  349,  557,  786, 
788. 

Marshall's  Lane,  532. 

Marston,  Eliza,  72. 

Martha's  Vineyard,  named,  14  ;  affair 
with  Indians  at,  23. 

Martin,  Christopher,  36  ;  Edward,  431, 
518,  543  ;  John,  235,  452  ;  Susannah, 
500. 

Martyr,  Peter,  1. 

Mary,  Queen,  dies,  507. 

Mascarene,  Paul,  572. 

Mascononomo,  35,  86,  130,  280. 

Masham,  William,  284. 

Mason,  Arthur,  374,  464,  486,  490  ; 
Henry,  351  ;  Hugh,  396,  418,  454  ; 
Joanna,  384 ;  Jonathan,  652,  657, 
756 ;  Ralph,  127,  235,  318,  427,  791, 
793,  795  ;  Robert,  427,  473  ;  Samuel, 
427  ;  Mason  and  Lawrence,  492. 

Masonic  celebration,  629  ;  temple,  654. 
See  Freemasonry. 

Mason's  Hall,  686,  772. 

Massachusetts  Bank,  561. 

Massachusetts  Resolves,  762. 

Massachusetts  Frigate,  621. 

Massachusetts  Gazette  and  News-Letter, 
661,  708. 

Massachusetts,  origin  of  name,  43  ;  Com- 
pany formed,  52  ;  Patent  of,  53  ;  In- 
dians, 121  ;  claims  in  Connecticut, 
126  ;  interferes  with  Rhode  Island, 
272—7  ;  coins  money,  329. 

Massacre  of  Indians,  40,  287  ;  of  inhab- 
itants in  King-st.,  780 — 4. 

Massasoit,  Indian,  262,  364—5,  399. 

Masseton, ,  652- 

Masters,  Mr. ,  138—9,  471,  652  ; 

Matapan,  22,  183. 

Matataog  (Indian),  405. 

Matchet,  John,  737,  764. 


Mather,  Church,  615  ;  Church  of  the 
Mathers,  310. 

Mather,  Cotton,  describes  Boston,  102, 
431,  514  ;  on  John  Cotton,  158, 161 ; 
minister  of  the  Old  North  Church, 
311  ;  of  the  Society  for  Propagating 
Gospel,  317  ;  makes  an  Almanac,  329  ; 
on  Mr.  Norton's  death,  360  ;  member 
of  the  Royal  Society,  438  ;  John  Dun- 
ton's  notice  of,  461  ;  on  Andross,  476  ; 
agency  in  the  Revolution  of  1689,  485  ; 
Calef's  animadversions  on,  501,  507  ; 
promotes  inoculation,  562  ;  dies,  579  ; 
Eleazer,  380  ;  Eliakim,  329. 

Mather,  Increase,  wrote  a  Preface  to 
Torrey's  Election  Sermon,  396  ;  mar- 
riage with  a  sister  of  Thomas  Lake, 
423  ;  calls  a  Synod,  432  ;  a  great  part 
of  it,  438  ;  speech  against  a  surrender 
of  the  Charter,  448  ;  President  of  Har- 
vard College,  457  ;  opposes  Andross, 
476  ;  sent  to  England  as  Agent  of  the 
Colony,  477  ;  audience  with  the  King  ; 
return  to  Boston,  498  ;  deplores  the 
departed  glory  of  New  England,  524  ; 
attacks  Franklin's  Courant,  564;  urged 
to  compile  a  Hist,  of  N.  Eng.,  426  ; 
dies,  569  ;  Nathaniel,  310,  477;  Rich- 
ard, 178,  185,  203,  247,  262,  267,  381, 
453. 

Matthew  (Indian),  421. 

Matthews,  Admiral,  571 ;  John,  543  ; 
Marmaduke,  240. 

Mathurine,  Capt.,  750. 

Matoonas  (Indian),  389,  420. 

Mattocke,  James,  241,  341,  800  ;  Mary, 
293  ;  Samuel,  508. 

Maude,  Daniel,  54,  185,  187,  230,  234, 
794—5. 

Maverick,  Elias,  allowance  for  service, 
148  ;  buries  Indians,  164  ;  land  grant- 
ed, 235  ;  of  a  committee  at  Rumney 
Marsh,  320  ;  John,  arrival  of,  78  ; 
arbiter  between  Dudley  and  Winthrop, 
134  ;  another  John,  805 ;  Jotham, 
810  ;  Samuel,  57,  60,  82  ;  visited  by 
Winthrop,  87  ;  merchant,  148  ;  re- 
turns from  Virginia,  194  ;  visited  by 
Lord  Ley,  232  ;  visited  by  Josselyn, 
238  ;  has  a  grant  of  land  from  Boston, 
250  ;  prosecuted,  259  ;  loan  towards 
fortifications,  291  ;  fined,  296  ;  a 
King's  Commissioner,  368,  453  ;  ac- 
cuses one  of  treason,  374 — 5  :  daugh- 
ter Hooke,  479  ;  one  killed,  782,  784. 

Mawer,  Ephraim,  546  ;  William,  194, 
235,  250,  253. 

Maxwell,  James,  455  ;  John,  518. 

Mayflower,  the  ship,  36,  73,  79,  87—8, 
145,  186,  205,  339. 

Maypole,  49. 

May,  Samuel,  756. 

Mayhew,  Experience,  602  ;  Jonathan, 
minister  of  the  West  Church,  his  pa- 
rentage, 602  ;  sermon  on  unlimited 
submission,  631  ;  on  the  earthquake, 
640  ;  controversy  with  Apthorp,  666  ; 
charged  with  causing  the  Stamp  Act 
Riots,  698  ;  Thanksgiving  sermon  on 
the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  725  ; 
dies,  ib. ;  Matthew,  518  ;  Thomas, 
lost  at  sea,  351. 

Maylam.    See  Mylom. 

Mayo,  John,  55,  311. 

McArdell,  I.,  627. 

McCombe,  Henry,  363. 

McCulIoch,  Thomas,  455. 

McDaniel,  Hugh,  567. 

McDaniel,  John,  455. 

McDowal,  Sturgis,  455. 

McKay,  Mr.,  his  Great  Republic,  304  ; 
Capt.,  810. 

McKeen,  William,  455. 

McLelan,  Alexander,  456. 

McMasters,  James,  767. 

McMullens,  William,  772. 

McNeil,  Archibald,  778  ;  widow,  652. 

Mead,  James,  550. 

Meakins,  Thomas,  189. 

Meares,  Barnabas,  317  ;  James,  519  ; 
John,  512  ;  Richard,  789  ;  Robert, 
235,  250,  786,  789,  792  ;  Samuel,  817  ; 
Thomas,  789. 


INDEX. 


833 


Mccom,  Benjamin,  645. 

Mecumeh  (Indian),  140.  See  Mianto- 
nimo. 

Mead,  George,  813  ;  James,  650. 

Medcalfe,  Mehitabell,  529. 

Meech,  John,  57. 

Meetings,  people  compelled  to  attend, 
259. 

Meeting-houses,  not  allowed  to  be 
churches,  141. 

Diets,  John,  bookseller,  682,  767  ;  burnt 
in  efligy,  772  ;  mobbed  and  flies  to 
England,  773,  812. 

Mellon, ,  652. 

Mellows,  Edward,  230  ;  John,  786—7, 
790—1  ;  Oliver,  229,  235,  241,  788, 
791,  796. 

Melville,  Allan,  557  ;  Thomas,  455,  690  ; 
Messrs.,  818. 

Melyne,  Jacob,  490. 

Mercey,  Mr.,  jailer,  484. 

Merchant,  William,  779. 

Meredith,  Sir  William,  768. 

Meriam,  John,  445. 

Mericke,  Goodwife,  324  ;  James,  429. 

Meritt,  John,  818. 

Merry,  James,  427  ;  John,  186  ;  Rich- 
ard, 224  ;  Walter,  245—6,  285,  302, 
312,  318,  320,  348,  532,  787,  792. 

Messinger,  Alexander,  790  ;  Ebenezer, 
486,  601  ;  Henry,  250,  286,  291,  331, 
427,  793  ;  John,  427  ;  Simeon,  427  ; 
Thomas,  504. 

Messervey,  George,  702. 

Methodists,  origin  of  the  sect,  609. 

Mettoons,  Philip,  408. 

Miantonimo  comes  to  Boston,  129;  again, 
140—1 ;  a  friend  to  the  English,  200  ; 
at  Boston,  203,  205,  234,  251  ;  gives 
intelligence  of  the  Pequots,  212  ;  in- 
sulted, 251 — 2  ;  suspicions  against, 
groundless,  254,  272  ;  put  to  death, 
274. 

Michelson,  Edward,  355  ;  Mr.,  769. 

Micklethwait,  John,  317. 

Middlecott,  Madam,  466  ;  Richard,  440, 
492,  508. 

Middle-st.,  meeting-house,  583. 

Mighill,  John,  440. 

Milom,  Humphrey,  327  ;  John,  243, 
278,  286,  307,  319,  320,  786,  788,  792, 
799. 

Milburne,  Peter,  55,  70,  79,  81,  88. 

Miles.    See  Myles. 

Mildmay,  William,  72. 

Miles,  John,  381 ;  Sarah,  429. 

Miliken,  John,  574. 

Mill  Bridge,  349  ;  Cove,  336 ;  Creek, 
174,  286  ;  field,  190,  234  ;  the  new,  ib. 

Millpond  Mills,  revert  to  the  Town,  691. 

Mills,  Edward,  286,  596  :  John,  248, 
250,  431,  786. 

Millard,  Thomas,  191,  246,  793,  795. 

Miller,  Dr.,  666  ;  John  L.,  455  ;  Joseph, 
on  electric  fire,  638  ;  Robert,  418  ; 
Sydrach,  55 — 7  ;  William  Turner, 
378. 

Milner,  Tempest,  317. 

Minot,  George,  813 ;  John,  126,  407, 
726  ;  Stephen,  285,  518,  523,  817. 

Mint,  establishment  of,  328  ;  Mint  Mas- 
ter, 366. 

Mirack,  Margaret,  440. 

Miriam,  John,  492. 

Mitchell,  Barnard,  55  ;  Benjamin,  634  ; 
Experience,  36  ;  Matthew,  185,  203, 
366,  380,  382  ;  Nahum,  Hist.  Bridge- 
water,  400. 

Miter,  Robert,  25. 

Mob,  outrages  by,  625,  735. 

Moffatt,  John,  557,  601. 

Mohawks.    See  Indians. 

Mohegans.    See  Indians. 

Molineaux,  William,  657,  774,  752,  758, 
764,  783. 

Moll,  Herman,  Geography,  557. 

Momentauge  (Indian),  456. 

Momowalluck  (Indian),  214. 

Mompesson,  Sir  Giles,  34. 

Money,  Thomas,  534. 

Monk,  Christopher,  782;  George,  463, 
567 ;  James,  463  ;  Monk's  Corner, 
463. 

105 


Monoco  (Indian),  420. 

Mi loufch,  Duke  of,  105,458,  460,  462. 

Monopet  (Indian),  18. 
Monster  of  Monsters,  035. 

Uontier,  James,  528;  536. 

Montague,  Mary  Wortley,  563;  Lord, 
537,  595. 

Monroe,  I'res.  James,  664. 

Montgomery,  Earl,  302. 

Montowampate  (Indian),   122,  130,  143. 

Moody,  Caleb,  440  ;  Eleazer,  507  ; 
Joshua,  230,  548  ;  Samuel,  566  ; 
Thomas,  455,  461. 

Moor,  Ephraim,  546,  558  ;  Hush, 
652  ;  James,  455,  652 ;  John,  250, 
346,  428. 

Moores,  John,  427  ;  William,  601. 

Morecock,  Sarah,  726. 

Morgan,  Bennet,  36  ;  one,  462. 

Moorhead,  John,  575 — 6. 

Morley,  Robert,  55. 

Morris   [Maurice],  Secretary,  453  ;  Mr. 

,  524  ;  Col. ,  645  ;  Richard, 

191—2  ;  236. 

Morse,  Charles  H.,  54  ;  Mrs.,  441 ;  Eph- 
raim, 427  ;  Mary,  542  ;  William,  440. 

Mortimer,  Edward,  463  ;  Mrs.,  463, 467. 

Morton,  Charles,  461,  466  ;  George,  36  ; 
Mrs.,  647  ;  Perez,  807  ;  Joseph,  819  ; 
Thomas,  36  ;  arrives  at  Plymouth,  37  ; 
comes  to  New  England  with  Weston, 
48  ;  trouble  with  Plymouth  people,  49 
— 50  ;  ordered  to  be  taken  up,  94  ; 
further  account  of  him,  113  ;  set  in 
bilboes,  114  ;  his  notice  of  Winthrop, 
132. 

Mory,  Mr.,  807. 

Mosley,  Anne,  402  ;  Edward,  Sir,  68  ; 
Mary,  251 ;  Samuel,  Capt.  in  Philip's 
war,  402 ;  in  the  Narraganset  fight, 
413  ;  Marches  for  Lancaster,  416  ; 
Commissioner  under  Andross,  439  ; 
family  of,  408. 

Mosse,  John,  341. 

Moulton,  Robert,  57, 170, 183  ;  Mr.,  460. 

Mountfort,  Benjamin,  471,  507, 522  ;  Ed- 
mund, 395  ;  George,  522  ;  Jonathan, 
546,  558  ;  John,  534  ;  family,  522  ; 
Mountfort's  Corner,  813. 

Mountjoy's  Corner,  809. 

Mourning  dresses,  change  in,  679,  680. 

Mousall,  Ralph,  230. 

Mowall, ,  567. 

Mower,  Ephraim,  546,  558. 

Moxley,  Alice,  509. 

Muddy  river,  set  off  from  Boston,  531. 

Muffs,  when  introduced,  688. 

Muggleton,  Lodowick,  328,  337,  343. 

Muggot, ,  652. 

Mulberry-trees,  premium  for  raising, 
769. 

Mullekin,  Hugh,  455  ;  Isaac,  John,  Na- 
thaniel, 363. 

Mullins,  William,  36, 189,  316. 

Mumford,  William,  429,  505. 

Mundersal,  Vincent,  652. 

Munnings,  George,  201. 

Munsell's  Annals  of  Albany,  620. 

Munte,  Thomas,  196,  318,  320,  341,  348, 
788,  790,  798. 

Munthorp,  Benjamin,  471. 

Murray,  Capt,,  736  ;  James,  767  ;  Wil- 
liam, 557  ;  Murray's  Barracks,  777. 

Museum.    See  Columbian  Museum. 

Musgrave,  Philip,  559. 

Mushauwomuk,  Indian  name  of  Boston, 
467. 

Mushnall,  Martha,  235. 

Muskerry,  Lord,  231. 

Musket  balls,  to  pass  for  money,  184. 

Muzzy,  Benjamin,  574  ;  John,  ib. 

Mycall,  John,  629. 

Myles,  Samuel,  471,  567. 

Mylom,  John,  195,  235,  243,  286,  506, 
592. 

Myrick's  History  of  Haverhill,  635. 

Nabors,  James,  348. 

Nanepashemet  (Indian),  44 — 5. 

Nanny,  Robert,  342,  798. 

Nanfan,  Catherine,  516. 

Nantasket,  a  fort  ordered  there,  150—1. 


Nanuntanon  (Indian),  412. 

Narraganset  Indians,  number  of,  200  ; 
Swamp  fight,  342. 

Nairn,  James,  800  ;  John,  427  ;  Robert, 
268,  307,  810. 

Nason,  Eliae,  613. 

Naumkeag.    See  Salem. 

Neal,  Henry,  250;  Walter,  111,  147. 
158;  William,  429  ;  widow,  455;  the 
Historian,  160,  219,  383,  485,  531. 

Needham,  Anne,  •".■r>:i ;  John,  149.  409: 
Nicholas,  288  ;  William,  245,  250,  427 

Neff,  Job,  405. 

Negus,  Jonathan,  233,  241,  243,  253, 
303,  798  ;  Benjamin,  250,  318,  798  ; 
Jabesh,  486. 

Negroes,  slaves,  623,  647  ;  disorderly, 
631  ;  duty  on  imported,  605  ;  instruc- 
tion of,  582  ;  trade  in,  582 ;  not  al- 
lowed in  celebrations,  710  ;  numbers 
in  town,  714  ;  executions,  632  ;  killed, 
577  ;  sold,  659  ;  whipped,  757. 

Nelson,  John,  482— 3,  540  ;  Temple,  641. 

Nettleham  Epistles,  768. 

New  Boston,  170 ;  church,  602,  648  : 
hospital,  766. 

New  Brick  Meeting-house,  303. 

Newbury,  Walter,  505. 

Newcastle,  Duke  of,  686. 

Newdigate,  John,  293. 

New  Brick  Church,  formed,  558. 

New  England,  its  discovery  by  the 
Northmen  merely  speculative,  1  ;  its 
coast  seen  by  Verazzani,  4  ;  its  early 
fishery,  6  ;  owes  its  settlement  to  the 
success  of  Drake,  8  ;  attempts  to  col- 
onize it,  14 — 17  ;  Smith's  voyaeres  to, 
18 — 29  ;  visited  by  Sir  Richard  Hawk- 
ins, 30 ;  pestilence  carries  off  the 
natives,  31  ;  voyages  to,  34 ;  first 
permanent  settlement  in,  35  ;  New 
England  Flag,  330 ;  Jonas,  297  ; 
Salamander,  ib. ;  proposed  hist,  of 
by  the  Author,  38  ;  by  J.  Mather,  426. 

New  England  Courant,  563 — 4. 

New  England  Weekly  Journal,  574. 

New  North  Church,  544 — 7. 

New  South  Church,  551—2. 

Newspapers,  age  of  commenced,   528 
those  before  the  Revolution  contract 
with  others  since,   734  ;    first  semi- 
weekly,  ib. 

American  Magazine,  618. 
Boston  Chronicle,  733. 
Boston  Evening  Post,  589. 
Boston  Gazette,  559. 
Boston  Weekly  Journal,  574. 
Boston  Gazette  and  Co.  Journal,  638. 
Boston  Gazette  and  Weekly  Adver- 
tiser, 633. 
Boston  Weekly  Magazine,  617. 
Boston  Weekly  Post  Boy,  598. 
Christian  History,  617. 
Independent  Advertiser,  627. 
Weekly  Rehearsal,  589. 

Newman,  John,  418. 

Newell,  Ebenezer,  534 ;  Mary,  378 ; 
Timothy,  520,  657,  731,  737. 

Newgate,  John,  194—5,  235,  237,  246, 
253,  320,  336,  786,  789,  794 ;  Nathan- 
iel, 278. 

News-Letter,  first  Newspaper,  528. 

New  Style,  adopted,  633. 

Newton,  Anthony,  250  ;  Ellen,  36;  John, 
418,  427  ;  Thomas,  500,  527—8. 

Newton,  settlement  of,  111,  133. 

Nicol,  John,  504,  508. 

Nichols,  Ely,  443  ;  John,  525 ;  Richard, 
368,  372,  391,  479. 

Nicholson,  Francis,  728. 

Nicholas,  Austin,  36  ;  Henry,  218. 

Nicholson,  Francis,  470. 

Nickles,  James,  645. 

Niles,  Samuel,  note  on  his  history,  203. 

Ninigret  (Indian),  comes  to  Boston,  215  ; 
visits  the  Dutch  at  New  York,  333  ; 
expedition  against,  336  ;  sends  a  dep- 
utation to  Boston,  409  ;  they  execute 
a  treaty,  412. 

Noakes,  Robert,  492. 

Noble,  Arthur,  634,  660  ;  Thomas,  331 ; 
Mr.,  809. 


834 


INDEX. 


Noddle,  William  ;  Noddle's  Island  sup- 
posed to  have  been  named  from  him, 
479.     See  Maverick,  Samuel. 

Noell,  Martin,  of  London,  317. 

Non-importation  decision,  679 — 80  ; 
agreement,  706  ;  revived,  732  ;  action 
of  the  town,  758,  764. 

Norden,  Robert,  242  ;  Samuel,  327,  342, 
347,  427,  549  ;  Sarah,  549. 

Norfolk  County,  towns  composing,  278. 

Norman,  Richard,  14,  57,  80. 

Norris,  Edward,  292. 

Norsey  Bark,  188. 

North  Battery,  302,  327  ;  order  for  re- 
pairing, 348  ;  appropriation  for  ex- 
tending, 532,  631. 

North  Burying-ground,  enlargement 
proposed,  531. 

North  Grammar  School,  644. 

North  Writing  School,  606,  617,  644. 

Northern  Lights,  observed,  559. 

Norton,  David,  815  ;  Freegrace,  411 ; 
Humphrey,  352 ;  John,  236 ;  ap- 
pointed to  answer  Pynchon's  book, 
318  ;  his  Heart  of  New  Eng.  Rent, 
344  ;  manner  of  his  death  ;  358,  366 
— 7  ;  Mrs.,  gives  land  to  the  Old  South 
Church,  384,  469  ;  Richard,  336  ; 
Walter,  Capt.,  killed,  166. 

Nowell,  Increase,  55,  58,  62,  74,  77,  92, 
97,  106,  110,  118,  123,  129,  134,  138, 
152,  230,  267,  294,  315,  554 ;  Samuel, 
236,  447,  478. 

Noyes,  Belcher,  712  ;  John,  423  ;  Oliver, 
555  ;  family,  536,  659  ;  Nicholas,  376, 
49S  ;  widow,  652  ;  Dr.,  556,  807. 

Nurse,  Rebecca,  executed,  500. 

Nutt, ,  a  pirate,  taken,  570. 

Nutter,  Hutavill,  795. 

Nye,  Philip,  55,  70,  74,  76, 157, 160, 380, 
593. 

Oakes,  Edward,  404  ;  Richard,  189  ; 
Samuel,  580  ;  Thomas,  464,  486,  524, 
532,  628  ;  Urian,  236,  393,  447,  553  ; 
Dr.,  814. 

Oateley,  Mr. ,  259. 

Oaths,  contest  about,  184  ;  uncertainty 
of,  494—5. 

Obbatinewat  (Indian),  pilot  to  the  pil- 
grims, 44. 

Obelisk,  on  the  Common,  722;  burnt,  724. 

Obison,  John,  534  ;  William,  ib. 

Occum,  Samson,  734. 

Ochterlony,  Sir  David,  649. 

Odlin,  John,  229,  235,  244,  302,  318, 
530  ;  Elisha,  Peter,  427. 

Offield,  Joseph,  55. 

Offlay,  Amelia,  Stephen,  655  ;  David, 
241,  246,  442,  796. 

Ogden,  Elizabeth,  Thomas,  68. 

Ogilby,  John,  his  America,  328. 

Ogilvie,  George,  687. 

Oglethorp,  James,  592,  608. 

Olcott,  Thomas,  336.    See  Alcock. 

Old  Brick  Church,  659.  See  First 
Church. 

Oldham,  John,  36  ;  at  Nantasket,  41 ; 
driven  from  Plymouth,  48  ;  his  grant, 
58 — 9  ;  representation,  139,  170  ;  his 
house  burnt,  143  ;  journey  to  Con- 
necticut, 163  ;  killed,  198—201. 

Oldmixon,  John,  12,  316,  607. 

Old  North  Church,  310—11. 

Old  South  Church,  383—5  ;  taken  by 
Episcopalians,  469. 

Old  State-house.  350.    See  Town-house. 

Old  Style,  mistaken,  396 ;  New,  633. 
See  Style. 

Old  Tenor,  explained,  651. 

Old  Wharf,  394—5,  532. 

Oliver,  Andrew,  611,  623,  643,  645,  650, 
652,  658  ;  distributor  of  Stamps,  690  ; 
his  house  attacked,  694  ;  resigns,  696  ; 
at  Liberty-tree,  611—12  ;  Letter,  712  ; 
786  ;  Daniel,  317,  507,  518,  521,  526, 
536,  560,  591,  814  ;  Isaac,  652;  James, 
278,  331,  333,  335,  340,  341,  347,  357, 
379,  381,  792  ;  John,  233,  235,  237, 
242,  259,  278,  286,  292,  331,  336,  384, 
620,  652,  786,  788,  790  ;  Nathaniel, 
486,  491,  522,  594,  604  ;  Peter,  452  ; 
Thomas,  148,  176, 182, 189, 193,  195, 


201,  229,  235,  237,  245,  259,  303, 307, 
469,  528,  532  ;  pedigree,  293. 

Oliver's  Dock,  436,  550,  571. 

Oliver's  Bridge,  650,  652. 

Oneko  (Indian),  274. 

Onge,  Frances,  117. 

Onyou,  John,  250. 

Opdam,  Admiral,  231. 

Ordeway,  John,  440. 

Ordinary  (Tavern),  first,  166  ;  regula- 
tions of,  240. 

Organ,  first  in  the  town,  471. 

Oring,  Robert,  558. 

Ormsby,  Edward,  241  ;  widow,  235  ; 
Mr.,  795. 

Orris,  John,  508  ;  Jonathan,  418. 

Osamekin  (Indian),  237,  257,  262. 

Osborne,  Danvers,  Sir,  643  ;  John,  610  ; 
644,  652  ;  816  ;  Thomas,  378. 

Otis,  Allyne,  757  ;  Harrison  Gray,  692  ; 
Horatio  N.,  294,  668,  692  ;  James, 
notice  of,  667 — 8  ;  portrait  in  an  al- 
manac, 673  ;  memorial  to  Gov.  Ber- 
nard, 713  ;  address  at  Faneuil  Hall, 
656  ;  representative,  658  ;  vindication 
of  House  of  Represents.,  661,  682  ; 
opposes  Writs  of  Assistants,  667  ;  his 
pedigree,  692  ;  Rights  of  the  British 
Colonies,  680  ;  delegate  to  a  Conti- 
nental Congress,  690  ;  on  the  Virginia 
Resolutions,  695 ;  address  to  Lord 
Gordon,  703  ;  negatived  by  Bernard, 
727  ;  opposes  non-importation,  732  ; 
influence  over  the  people,  738 — 9  ; 
toasted  in  Philadelphia,  757  ;  compli- 
ment from  England,  768  ;  affray  with 
Robinson,  770—1  ;  John,  294,  692  ; 
Joseph,  752  ;  Samuel  Allyne,  692. 

Otway,  Thomas,  631. 

Owaneco  (Indian),  274. 

Owen,  John,  Dr.,  362, 367, 452,  493,  593, 
629  ;  Thomas,  380. 

Oxenbridge,  John,  236,  380,  548,  669. 

Oxnard,  Thomas,  630. 

Oyster  River,  bloody  fishing  at,  509 — 10. 

Pacey,  Mrs.,  336,  342. 

Packenet,  James,  489. 

Packets,  line  of  between  England  and 
America  contemplated,  688. 

Paddock,  Adino,  734,  756. 

Paddy,  Samuel,  354  ;  William,  340  ; 
selectman,  241,  347,  349  ;  paid  for  re- 
pairing Battery,  348  ;  death  of,  353  ; 
an  Alley  named  for  him,  354. 

Pafflyn,  John,  250. 

Pageants,  law  against,  642 — 3. 

Page,  Abraham,  779  ;  John,  482,  718  ; 
Nicholas,  376,  405,  442,  482,  508. 

Paine,  Moses,  318,  321,  449,  490  ;  Rob- 
ert, 497  ;  Robert  Treat,  631,  777  ; 
Thomas,  195  ;  William,  542,  560. 

Painter,  Henry,  287  ;  Thomas,  195,  791. 

Palfrey,  John  Gorham,  519—20  ;  Peter, 
57,  139  ;  Thomas,  652  ;  William,  652. 

Palmer,  Abraham,  57,  170,  191,  230, 
482  ;  Bartholomew,  788—9  ;  Edward, 
246  ;  Francis,  36  ;  George,  336  ;  John, 
139, 189,  253,  291,  486,  797  ;  Richard, 
781 ;  Samuel,  466  ;  Thomas,  507,  519, 
596,  610  ;  Walter,  57  ;  William,  36, 
126,  245  ;  Justice,  807. 

Palsous,  Thomas,  455. 

Panton,  Lieut.,  killed,  765 — 6. 

Paoli,  Paschal,  757,  768. 

Paper,  manufacture  of,  769. 

Paper  Mill,  first,  648. 

Paper  Currency,  491  ;  votes,  493. 

PapiUon,  Peter,  558,  564. 

Paris,  Christopher,  318  ;  Samuel,  497, 
498. 

Parish,  Mr.,  ,  266. 

Parker,  Alice,  500  ;  Capt.,  421  ;  David, 
782 ;  Jane,  795  ;  James,  418,  618  ; 
Jacob,  520  ;  John,  331,  347—8,  603, 
710  ;  John  Wells,  603,  710  ;  Nicholas, 
291,  327,  790,  792,  794  ;  Richard,  246, 
250,  327,  340,  786,  789,  793  ;  Samuel, 
421,  583,  623  ;  William,  245. 

Parks.  Mr.,  126,  342;  Edward,  316; 
Nicholas,  302  ;  William,  245,  396. 

Parr,  Thomas,  569. 

Parkhurst,  Thomas,  459. 


Parkman,  Elias,  548,  583  ;  Francis,  505, 

544  ;  Samuel,  613  ;  William,  503,  544, 

545,  548. 
Parnell,  Francis,  546,  558. 
Parsons,   Ebenezer,   547  ;    Hujih,    322, 

324 ;  Joseph,  427,  518  ;  Mary,  322— 

3  ;  Sarah,  576  ;  Thomas,  786  ;  Usher, 

97,  620,  649  ;  William,  286,  489,  792, 

795. 
Partridge,  Alexander,  290  ;  Daniel,  29, 

279  ;  Oliver,  690,  715  ;  Ralph,  196  ; 

Samuel,   756,   764 ;    Gov.    [William], 

607. 
Passaconaway  (Indian),  279,  286. 
Pastree,  John,  525. 
Patch,  Mary,  57,  151. 
Patten,  William,  818. 
Patterson,  Robert,  782. 
Pateshall,  Richard,  644  ;  Robert,  341, 

644,  805. 
Patey,  Peter,  529. 
Patten,  William,  25,  567. 
Paving  of  streets,  349,  396,  527,  534, 

551,  644,  804. 
Paxton,    Charles,    Commissioner,   599, 

666,  737. 
Payson,  Joseph,  590. 
Peacocke,  Samuel,  427. 
Peake,  William,  317. 
Peapes,  Richard,  278  ;  John,  350. 
Pearson,  Peter,  357,  548. 
Pearse,  Joseph,  427, 445,  ;  William,  348. 
Pease,  Hannah,  87  ;    Henry,  245,  254, 

787,  790—1,  793  ;  Mr.,  677  ;  Samuel, 

290. 
Peabody,  John,  502. 
Pechmo  (Indian),  18. 
Peck,   Eleazer,   652  ;    John,  652,  687  ; 

Thomas  Handasyd,  489,  508,  552,  557, 

677,  756  ;  William  Augustus,  660. 
Pecker,  Daniel,  559,  685  ;  James,  558. 
Peirce,  Mr.,  36,  157,  174  ;   Nathaniel, 

427  ;  William,  257  ;  Michael,  417. 
Peksout  (Indian),  40. 
Pelby,  William,  814. 
Pelham,  Herbert,  55,  278,  286,  292,  316, 

351. 
Pell,  Edward,  545,   558  ;  WiUiam,  229, 

235,  545,  786,  794. 
Pelton,  John,  796. 
Pemberton,   Ebenezer,    236,    311,   384, 

528,  532,  543  ;    George,   567  ;    John, 

195,  235 ;    James,  333,  349  ;  Sarah, 

384  ;  Samuel,  731,  738,  754,  777,  783 

—4  ;  Mrs.,  815. 
Pemberton  Square,  119. 
Pembroke,  Elkanah,  519  ;   Earl  of,  34, 

302. 
Pendleton,  Bryan,  439. 
Penhallow,  John,  527  ;  Samuel,  620. 
Penn,    Admiral,   340  ;     Christian,   36  ; 

James,  181,  189,  193,  233,  235,  237, 

286,  291,  302,  307,  312,  318,  320,  385, 

390,  786,  790,  792,  794  ;  William,  337, 

378,  494  ;  Elder,  811. 
Penney,  William,  427,  431. 
Penniman,  James,  789. 
Pepperrell,  William,  622,  633,  649. 
Pequots,  variations  of  the  name,  178  ; 

war  with,  197—209. 
Perkins,  Edward,  652  ;  James,  652,  657, 

513  ;  John,  117,  130,  157,  623,  685 ; 

Thomas,  502  ;  William,  151,  159,  615, 

685. 
Perks,  Stephen,  567. 
Perley,  Thomas,  502. 
Perry,  Abraham,  259  ;  Arthur,  241,  248, 

250,  278,  291,  302,  786,  793,  795,  798  ; 

George,   652 ;   Isaac,  235 ;    Richard, 

55,  62,  70  ;  Seth,  384,  427. 
Pessacus  (Indian),  280. 
Peters,  Hugh,   55,  178,  186,  188,  190, 

240,  252  ;  Thomas,  191. 
Pettit,  Thomas,  235. 
Petty,  Sir  William,  615. 
Peyton,  Bazaleel,  303,  311. 
Phelps,  Hannah,  356  ;  Nicholas,  252—3, 

356. 
Phippen,  David,  259,  286,  312,  786,  789  ; 

Joseph,  799  ;  Sarah,  329. 
Philip,  King  (Indian),  41,  57,  196,  216, 

293,  355,  378,  387  ;  war  with,  393— 

424. 


INDEX. 


835 


Phillips,  Benjamin,  652  ;    Elizur,  634 ; 

Qillain,  567,  580  ;  George,  55,  80,  90, 

92,   94,   110,   121,   141;  Henry,   348, 

861,  320,  679  ;  John,  566,  670  ;  652, 

649,   651,   658,   800  ;  Nicholas,   640  ; 

Samuel,  236,  385,  506,  518,  523,  633  ; 

Thomas,  525  ;  William,  318,  320,  624, 

612,  620,  685,  731,  737,  767,  783,  787, 

790  ;  Zechariah,  406  ;  Deacon,  807. 
Philosophical  Society  established,  438. 
Philpot,  Margaret,  378  ;  William,  268. 
Phinley,  Alexander,  795. 
Phips,  John,  507  ;  Margaret,  ib.  ;  Sam- 
uel, 540  ;  Spencer,  507,  582,  621,  728, 

734  ;  William,  Sir,  491,  498,  500,  510, 

524,  557,   633 ;    death,  ami   epitaph, 

507,  728  ;  Phipp's  Corner,  816. 
Pickworth,  John,  132  ;  Samuel,  414. 
Pierce,   Anna,  707  ;  Isaac,  644  ;  John, 

36,    171,   251,    267,    601,    788,   790  ; 

Joshua,     812,    815  ;     Michael,    417  ; 

William,  58,  88,   108,  116,  123,  126, 

136,  144  150, 152, 171,  234,  242,  245, 

358,  785,  792. 
Pierpont,  John,  591 ;  Robert,  490,  750. 
Pigeon,  Henry,  567. 

Pike, ,  447  ;  Joseph,  440. 

Piggot,  Christopher,  334,  342  ;  Nathan- 
iel, 582. 
Pilbeam,  James,  319. 
Pilgrims,  arrive  at  Plymouth,  35. 
Pillory,  view  of  one,  437  ;  659. 
Pinetree,  badge,  600  ;  coins,  330  ;  flag, 

330. 
Pipon,  John,  483. 
Pirates,  first  on  the  coast,  147,  490 — 1, 

492,  529,  556,  570,  573. 
Pitcher,  Jonathan,  414. 
Pitney,  James,  331. 
Pitt,  William,  supposed  friendship,  724, 

725  ;  Turnover  Pitt,  721. 
Pittman,  Richard,  348. 
Pitts,  James,  649,  753  ;  John,  518. 
Place,  Thomas,  250. 
Plaisted,  John,  574. 
Plaistow,  Josias,  131. 
Tlatts,  Thomas,  529,  534  ;  Piatt's  Corner, 

818 
Plough  Patent,  129. 
Plommer,  Samuel,  427. 
Plumley,  Alexander,  246. 
Plymouth,  settlement  of,  35  ;  names  of 

those  who  arrived  in  the  three  first 

ships,  36. 
Pocahontas,  what  Capt.  Smith  says  of,  28. 
Pocoek,  John,  55. 
Poffer,  George,  250. 
Polar  Bear,  one  exhibited,  596. 
Pole,  William,  647. 
Pollard,  Anna,  98  ;  Benjamin,  603, 621 ; 

Samuel.  427  ;  William,  98,  227,  348, 

350  ;  Pollard's  Corner,  811. 
Pollock,  Thomas,  456. 
Pomeroy,   John,   753  ;  J.,  618  ;   Mehit- 

able,  525. 
Pometacom,    afterwards    King    Philip, 

364. 
Pomham.    See  Pumham. 

Pond,  Doctor ,  332. 

Pond  Lane,  645  ;  street,  588. 

Pound,  Thomas,  490. 

Poole,  Benjamin,  574  ;  Fitch,  657,  757  ; 

John,  348,  395  ;  Jonathan,  411,  417  ; 

William,  348. 
Poole's  Wharf,  473. 
Poor,   society  for  employing  the,   &c, 

632. 
Pope  Day,  celebration,  662,  708,   752, 

772. 
Pope,  Ephraim,  794 — 5. 
Pope's  Dunciad,  515. 
Popham,   Capt.,  17  ;  Francis,  Sir,  20, 

34  ;  George,  31  ;  John,  Sir,  16,  29. 
Popkin,  John  S.,  577  ;  John,  660. 
Population  :  — 

in  1639,  data  for,  244. 

"  1674,  1500  families,  296. 

"  1679,  near  400  freemen,  434. 

"  1680,  about  86S  taxable  polls,  435. 

"  1687,  taxable  polls  were  1447,  474. 

"  1698,  more  than  7000  inhab.,  514. 

"  1710,  about  18,000,  537. 

"  1717,  about  12,000,  557. 


in  1721,  by  "  perlustration,"   10,670, 

563. 
"  1722,  about  12,000,  566. 
"  1728,  taxable  polls  3000,  682. 
"  1733,         "        "        3500, 696. 
"     "   ,  number  of  souls  18,000,  820. 
"  1742,        "        "  "    615. 

"  1752,        "        "        15,731,714. 
"  1765,        "        "        16,000,    " 
"  1769,         "        "        20,000,  772. 

Pormort,  Philemon,  182,  224,  230,  235, 
791. 

Porter,  Abel,  235,  318  ;  Eliphalet,  602  ; 
Robert,  793  ;  William  S.,  177. 

Porters,  fees  and  badges  regulated,  600. 

Post  Boy,  636. 

Post  Office,  first,  195,  242,  247  ;  affairs 
of,  430,  528,  538,  550,  636,  698  ;  Brit- 
ish, 430  ;  routes  established,  541  ;  in 
Cornhill,  636. 

Portland,  Earl  of,  231. 

Potatoes,  introduction  of,  560. 

Porteous,  Robert,  455.' 

Potock  (Indian),  405,  414. 

Port  Royal,  227  ;  earthquake  at,  493, 
514.  554. 

Port  Royal,  expedition  against,  533. 

Pound,  ordered  at  Rumneymarsh,  348. 

Potter, ,    652 ;    Robert,     275—6 ; 

William,  248. 

Povy,  Thomas,  arrives,  524. 

Powder  Hill,  147,  248  ;  house,  532,  591. 

Power,  Nicholas,  275,  277 ;  Thomas, 
765. 

Powell,  Gov.,  651 ;  John,  657  ;  Michael, 
793;  Thomas,  534;  William,  756; 
811. 

Powhatan,  of  Virginia,  28,  125. 

Pownall,  Thomas,  614  ;  Governor,  643, 
648  ;  pedigree  of,  654  ;  view  of  Boston, 
655  ;  friend  of  Boston,  771,  784. 

Powning,  Daniel,  580  ;  Henry,  333,  341, 
427  ;  Mr.,  807. 

Pratt,  Aaron,  41 ;  Benjamin,  631,  667, 
669,  713—14  ;  Ephraim,  41 ;  John, 
55,  504  ;  Joshua,  36  ;  Phinehas,  39, 
41,  2S8  ;  Timothy,  427. 

Prayer,  first  at  Town-meeting,  570  ;  at 
a  funeral,  594. 

Praying  Indians,  409,  416—17. 

Preble,  Mr. ,  760. 

Prence,  Thomas,  36,  133. 

Prescott.  Benjamin,  293, 602  ;  Col.,  774  ; 
Thomas,  780,  782. 

Preston,   George,   504  ;  Mr. ,  512 ; 

Thomas,  780,  782. 

Prentice,  Thomas,  402 — 4,  414 ;  Pren- 
tice's Corner,  811. 

Price,  Henry,  630  ;  Matthew,  342 
Richard,  376  ;  471,  509,  594  ;  Roger! 
471,  583,  614 ;  Thomas,  567,  586, 591 
William,  map  of  the  town,  566—7,  612! 
772,  820. 

Prince,  Caleb,  652 ;  Christopher,  659 
Edward,  480  ;  Francis,  480  ;  Thomas 
in  England,  149  ;  value  of  his  labors 
156  ;  minister  of  the  Old  South,  384. 
546,  574,  614  ;  Christian  History,  617 
pedigree,  637—8  ;  death  of,  646. 

Priest,  Degory,  36. 

Priggs,  William,  567. 

Pring,  Martin,  8,  14,  16. 

Printing,  first,  241 ;  house,  burnt,  521 ; 
restrictions  upon,  366,  474  ;  construc- 
tion of  presses,  769  ;  types  manufac- 
tured, ib. 

Printz,  John,  287. 

Prison.    See  Jail. 

Privateering,  509,  660. 

Proctor,  Edward,  544  ;  Elizabeth,  500  ; 
George,  ib. ;  John,  616—17,  684 ; 
Nathaniel,  469,  489. 

Prothero,  George,  5S5. 

Prout,  Joseph,  512,  521,  523,  526,  532, 
560;  Timothy,  395,  457,  472,  486, 
492,  606—7,  819. 

Province  House,  517. 

Province,  John,  652. 

Prudden,  Mr. ,  207. 

Pryer,  Matthew,  251. 

Public  Schools.    See  Schools. 

Pudeater,  Ann,  500. 

Pulcepher, ,  536. 


Pulsifer,  David,  820. 

Pullcn,  John,  567. 

1'ullin,  Point,  why  so  named,  147  ;  cattle 
kept  there,  182  ;  in  Chelsea,  604. 

1'uliston,  Thomas,  55. 

Pumham  (Indian),  '272,  281,  286. 

I'urefoy,  William,  302. 

Puritans,  fathers  of  New  England,  62, 
158,  380. 

Purton,  Elizabeth,  233,  235,  245,  798. 

Putnam  Joseph,  652. 

Pyiichon,  Agnes,  90 ;  Dr.,  662  ;  John, 
90,  411,  453—4,  473  ;  Joseph,  455  ; 
William,  55,  62,  65,  70,  73,  77,  106, 
110,  119,  124,  139  ;  Treasurer  of  the 
Colony,  143  ;  Assistant,  152  ;  at  Bos- 
ton, 217  ;  294  ;  his  book  ordered  to  be 
burnt,  318  ;  investigates  a  case  of 
witchcraft,  322  ;  returns  to  England. 
319  ;  dies,  ib. 

Quaiapen  (Indian),  405. 

Quaker  Meeting-house,  652. 

Quakers,  arrival  of  some,  342 ;  laws 
against,  344 ;  seized  and  whipped, 
351 — 3 ;  some  executed,  355  ;  some 
whipped,  357  ;  complain  to  the  King, 
359  ;  the  King  annuls  the  laws,  360 — 
1  ;  others  arrive,  428  ;  one  goes  into 
the  Old  South  Church  with  sackcloth, 
&c,  429  ;  other  affairs,  504,  604,  820. 

Quann,  John,  630,  817. 

Quaunapohut  (Indian),  402. 

Quanonshit.     See  Canonchet. 

Quarles,  Francis,  239. 

Queen,  Anne,  death  of,  550,  662. 

Quelch,  a  pirate,  executed,  529. 

Quick,  Alice,  652—3. 

Quincy,  Edmund,  170,  174,  183,  449— 
50,  531,  620,  732,  737,  777  ■  Daniel, 
329,  449  ;  Josiah,  450,  678,  738,  777  ; 
Samuel,  738,  777  ;  pedigree  of  the 
family,  449—50,  495. 

Rachell,  John,  567. 

Radnor,  Lord,  446. 

Rainsborow,  William,  289. 

Rainsford,  Edward,  193,  229,  250,  318, 

335,  442,  796  ;  Elizabeth,  384  ;  John, 

431  ;  Solomon,  ib. 
Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  8—10,  15,  29,  31, 

71,  123. 
Ramsay,  Alexander,  455. 
Ramsden,  Anne,  John,  68. 
Rand,   Bartholomew,  557  ;  James,  36  ; 

Robert,  588  ;  William,  818. 
Randall,  William,  588. 
Randolph,  Edward,  436,  439,  442,  447, 

467—8,  472,  484  ;  Peyton,  768. 

Rasdale,  Mr. ,  48. 

Rashley,  Henry,  799. 
Rastall,  Sergeant,  6. 
Ratcliffe,  Philip,  115  ;  his  ears  cut  off, 

127,  135  ;  Robert,  36,  468—71. 
Ravenscroft,  Mr.,  468,  484. 
Rawlins,  Caleb,  431,  486  ;  Jasper,  336, 

347  ;  John,  488,  790  ;  Richard,  241, 

788. 
Rawlinson,  John,  287. 
Rawson,  Edward,  329,  368,  384  ;  death 

of,  816 ;  Grandall,  457,  553  ;  Rachel, 

384 ;  Rebecca,  554. 
Ray,  Daniel,  132,  632. 
Raymond,  John,  413. 
Raynor,  John,  389,  534. 
Rea,  Daniel,  557  ;  John,  630. 
Read,  Brackley,  652  ;  Esdras,  241,  427  ; 

James,   593 ;    John,   250,   604,   665  ; 

Joseph,  768—9;  Thomas,  348,  652,  807. 
Reading,  Miles,  796. 
Rebels,  Boston  people  denounced  as,  in 

Parliament,  714—15,  720. 
Redman,  interpreter,  287. 
Redknap,  Joseph,  472. 
Reeve,  John,  328,  339. 
Regicides  protected  in  Boston,  360. 
Religion,  decline  of,  634. 
Remak,  Daniel,  652. 
Revell,  John,  70,  73,  75. 
Revenge  Church,  the,  558. 
Revenue  laws,  evasion  of,  692. 
Revenue,  officers  of  the,  reproached,  738. 
Revolution  of  1689,  480 — 484. 


836 


INDEX. 


Revere,  Paul,  547,  666,  672,  724,  747. 
Reynolds,  Capt.,  418,  492;  Nathaniel, 
374,  427,  492 ;  Robert,  235,  253,  291, 
312,  797. 
Rhode  Island,  boundary  between  it  and 
Plymouth  settled,  138  ;  its  first  Gov- 
ernor, 175  ;  settled  by  people  from 
Boston,  218  ;  their  names,  229 ;  mo- 
lested by  Boston,  254 — 5  ;  not  included 
in  the  Union  of  1643,  269  ;  Charter  of 
arrives,  284 ;  protected  by  the  gov- 
ernment in  England,  301 ;  how  pro- 
cured of  the  Indians,  306  ;  first  news- 
paper in,  565 ;  joins  Boston  in  the 
non-importation  system,  679. 
Mice,  John,  652;  Philip,  259;  Robert, 

229,  786,  794. 
Rich,  Sir  Nathaniel,  34  ;  Robert,  277. 
Richards,  Henry,  582  ;  John,  364,  430, 
434,  446,  483—4,  490,  500,  502,  512  ; 
809. 
Richardson,  Amos,   291,  336,  339,  384, 
792,  797  ;  Benjamin,  440,  520  :  Capt., 
227,  284—5  ;  Ebenezer,  776—7  ;  Eze- 
kiel,   230  ;  James,   756  ;    John,   236, 
547  ;    Joseph,    652  ;    Joshua,    440  ; 
Richard,  313,  318  ;  Thomas,  505. 
Rickford,  James,  652. 
Ricraft,  Josiah,  77. 
Rider,  Eliza,  342  ;  Thomas,  334. 
Rideout,  William,  567. 
Ridgdale,  John,  36. 
Ridghill,  William,  492. 
Ridley,  Master,  6. 
Rigby,  Ferdinando,  301. 
Riggs,  Sergeant,  216. 
Riordon,  Capt.,  776. 
Ripley,  George,  418  ;  Joseph,  810. 
Ritchie,  Robert,  818. 
Riviagton,  James,  682,  812. 
R  iach,  Joseph,  334  ;  Nicholas,  567. 
11  /berts,  John,  Lord,  317,  810  ;  Dr.,  685  ; 

S.,  518,  570. 
It  ibertson,  John,  253. 
.1  ibi  is,   Chandler,   310 — 11  ;    Richard, 

440  ;  William,  418. 
A  ibiason,  Andrew,  550  ;  Col.,  750  ;  Da- 
vi .1,  534 ;  George,  431.  507  ;  James, 
335;   John,  246,  732,  770;  William, 
^55— 6,  358. 
A  >ble,  Samuel,  563  ;  Thomas,  553,  558, 

563  ;  William,  493,  563. 
R  ickett,  Richard,  250. 
R  icking-ship,  the,  303. 
Rockingham,  Marquis  of,  725,  768. 
Rjcroft,  Edward,  25,  29,  33. 
Roe,  Lawrence,  55  ;  Owen,  55,  188,  193 
—4,  796  ;  Robert,  79  ;  Stephen,  471  ; 
Thomas,  Sir,  78—9. 
Rogers,  Ezekiel,  269,  618,  627  ;  David, 
250  ;  Daniel,  263, 287  ;  Gamaliel,  636  ; 
George,  227  ;  John,  150, 160,  257,  457, 
566  ;  Nathaniel,  160,  196,  227,  767  ; 
Simon,  268,  336,  810  ;  Thomas,  36  ; 

Timothy,  464  ; ,  70,  305,  652. 

Rolfe,  Benjamin,  534  ;  Daniel,  414. 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  489. 

Romanists,  law  against,  307. 

Ramer,  Col.,  531. 

Rooke,  Sir  George,  537. 

Root,  Ralph,  235,  307,  342,  796  ;  Robert, 

790. 
Rope-dancing,  not  allowed,  599. 
Rope-maker,  the  first,  375,  382. 
Ropewalks,  382  ;  affrays  at  the,  777—8, 

382  ;  Gray's,  677. 
Roper,  Ephraim,  418. 
Rose,  George,  153,  250  ;  John,  750. 
Rosewell,  Henry,  Sir,  52. 
Rosier,  James,  14. 
Rositer,  Edward,  55,  73,  79,  91. 
Rounds,  Mark,  414. 
Rouse,  John,  351—3  ;  William,  523. 
Rovell,  William,  55. 
Rowe,   John,  649,  657,  700,   703,   719, 

721,  731,  735,  737,  741,  744,  756. 
Rowland,  Elizabeth,  293. 
Rowlandson,  Mary,  417. 
Roxbury,  name,  when  given,  89. 
Roy,  Alexander,  456. 
Royal  Exchange  Tavern,  579. 
Royal,  Isaac,  753,  813. 
Roydon,  Marmaduke,  19. 


Ruck,  John,  227,  526, 606  ;  Thomas,  335, 
433,  790. 

Ruddock,  John,  644,  678,  683,  712,  731, 
738,  752,  754,  758,  777. 

Rudston,  Barbara,  68. 

Rudyer,  Benjamin,  302. 

Ruggle,  George,  234—5  ;  John,  116,  789, 
794  ;  Samuel,  611  ;  Timothy,  690,  715, 
730. 

Rule,  Margaret,  493. 

Rumney  Marsh,  312,  335,  341,  347,  349, 
445,  474,  503  ;  bridge  at,  254 ;  Rum- 
ley-Marsh,  320,  331,  333,  335;  free 
school  at,  521 ;  Chelsea,  604,  787. 

Rupert,  Prince,  282,  423. 

Rust,  Henry,  327. 

Russell,  Benjamin,  590  ;  Chambers,  633  ; 
James,  355,  490,  524,  526,  659,  735  ; 
John,  378,  381,  433  ;  Richard,  355, 
357,  363,  381,  615  ;  Thomas,  379,  816  ; 
William  S.,  145. 

Ryall,  John,  353;  Joseph,  508;  Wil- 
liam, 57. 

Sables,  Island,  voyage  to,  257,  488 

Sackville,  Lord  George,  715,  725. 

Saffin,  John,  456,  472. 

Sagadahock,  settlement  at,  17. 

Sagamore,  James  (Indian),  122,  165 ; 
John,  57, 119,  122, 138, 143, 147, 164 ; 
Sam,  421 ;  hanged,  423. 

Saint  Botolph,  Church,  101—3. 

Saint  Christophers,  268. 

Saint  George's  Cross  mutilated,  192. 

Saint  John,  Oliver,  284,  363. 

Saint  Patrick,  the  ship,  188,  191—2. 

Saints  of  Boston,  Ward's  account  of,  516  ; 
a  Tory's  account  of,  720. 

Sale,  Ephraim,  427,  487,  490 ;  Francis 
(Sales),  564  ;  John,  293. 

Salem,  called  Naumkeag  by  the  Indians, 
47  ;  English  settle  there,  56 — 7  ;  dis- 
turbed by  witches,  497  ;  Gen.  Court 
held  at,  584. 

Salem  Canada,  granted  Edward  Tyng 
and  others,  641. 

Salisbury,  Benjamin,  652  ;  Earl  of,  34  ; 
Samuel,  764. 

Salisbury,  settlement  of,  238  ;  import- 
ance of,  431. 

Salter,  Eneas,  552  ;  Mary,  384 ;  Mat- 
thew, 652  ;  Richard,  678  ;  Sampson, 
652  ;  Thomas,  552,  652  ;  William,  229, 
235,  241,  251,  253,  257,  351,  384,  563, 
749,  793,  796. 

Saltpetre-house,  order  for  building,  268. 

Saltmarsh,  Mr.,  677. 

Saltonstall,  Dorothy,  606  ;  Nathaniel, 
473  ;  Richard,  Sir,  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Company,  55,  62 ;  pedigree  of, 
68  ;  an  Assistant,  77  ;  settles  Water- 
town,  95  ;  returns  to  England,  122, 
137  ;  indemnifies  Indians  for  injury 
by  his  cattle,  147  ;  moves  the  prose- 
cution of  slavers,  288  ;  dissents  from 
proceedings  against  Episcopalians, 
296  ;  against  long  hair,  315  ;  against 
the  severities  to  Rhode  Island,  326  ; 
Robert,  256,  789. 

Samneld,  John,  181,  189,  193—4,  229, 
233,  235. 

Samford,  Richard,  347,  350. 

Samon,  Goodwife,  349. 

Sampson,  Edward,  418  ;  John,  190,  812. 

Sandemanians,  686  ;  Sandeman,  Robert, 
687. 

Sanderson,  Robert,  329,  342. 

Sanford,  Bridget,  336  ;  Peleg,  227,  486  ; 
Richard,  789,  793  ;  William,  293. 

Sandys,  Sir  Edwin,  42. 

Sargent,  Digory,  427  ;  Henry,  613  ;  Lu- 
cius M.,  489,  536  ;  Peter,  371, 483,  486, 
500,  511—12,  524,  526. 

Sassacus,  chief  of  the  Pequots,  slain, 
214. 

Sassamon.     See  Wussassamon. 

Satan.     See  Devil. 

Sauguaram  (Indian),  572. 

Saunders,  John,  39,  40;  Martin,  234, 
318  ;  Robert,  335,  815. 

Savage,  Abijah,  560  ;  Arthur,  537,  557, 
567;  Ephraim,  503,  506,  532,  542; 
Elizabeth,  87  ;  James,  86,  149,  156, 


196,  201,  221,  244,  266,  273,  296,  337  ; 
Mary,  384  ;  Perez,  403,  414  ;  Samuel 
Phillips,  657,  816  ;  Thomas,  195,  285, 
312,  331,  335,  347,  349,  351,  376,  395, 
403,  431,  439,  504,  788. 

Savel,  widow,  652. 

Saville,  Sir  George,  768. 

Say  and  Seale,  Lord,  80, 107,  317,  354, 
360. 

Saybrook,  fight  near,  with  Indians,  205. 

Sayer,  R.,  654. 

Sayward,  Jonathan,  657. 

Scalps,  Indian,  first  brought  to  Boston, 
404  ;  reward  for,  571. 

Scarlet  Letter,  origin  of,  461,  508. 

Scarlet,  John,  253,  445,  816;  Samuel, 
376,  453. 

Scarlet's  Wharf,  394,  534,  574. 

Scates,  Mr.,  jailer,  484. 

Schools,  a  master  for,  appointed,  182  ; 
land  appropriated  for  the  mainten- 
ance of,  267  ;  salary  of  master  of,  286  ; 
school-house  to  be  mended,  291 ;  Pub- 
lic Schools  provided  by  law,  267,  307 
—8,  479  ;  Town  School,  331 ;  Writing 
School-house  to  be  built,  512,  588  ; 
one  on  the  Common,  556,  639  ;  one  at 
the  North  End,  557  ;  a  Spinning- 
school,  560  ;  Evening-school,  596  ; 
Committee  for  visiting,  606  ;  state  of 
schools  in  1741,  617 ;  report  of,  in 
1749,  628  ;  in  1757,  644  ;  Private 
Schools,  644 — 5 ;  effects  of  schools, 
682  ;  Salaries  of  Masters  in  1764, 
684  ;  other  provisions,  342, 349. 

Schooler,  James,  456  ;  Robert,  456  ; 
William,  hanged,  234,  456. 

Schooners,  their  origin,  550. 

Scollay,  James,  601 ;  John,  455, 493,  508, 
657,  678,  756. 

Sconce,  the,  481,  548.  See  South 
Battery. 

Scott,  Gov.,  628  ;  James,  762  ;  John. 
601  ;  Katharine,  355  ;  Mary,  353, 
356  ;  Patience,  353  ;  Robert,  235,  245, 
254,  786,  792 ;  Richard,  416  ;  Ser 
geant,  320  ;  Thomas,  429. 

Scotch  prisoners,  339  ;  Scotch  Irish  em 
igrants,  560  ;  slaves,  342. 

Scotch  Charitable  Society,  454. 

Scottow,  John.  318,  427  ;  Joshua,  106, 
159,  161,  167,  200,  250,  286,  331,  335, 
338,  349,  372,  384,  512,  542,  785,  789 
—90  ;  Richard,  349  ;  Thomas,  233, 
235,  302,  789  ;  245,  286,  793  ;  Thom- 
asine,  233,  235. 

Scruggs,  Thomas,  57. 

Scythes,  improvements  in,  331. 

Seaborne,  John,  245. 

Sea-coal,  importation  of  proposed,  557. 

Seale,  Humphrey,  55  ;  John,  165. 

Seal,  Colonial,  472,  801. 

Search,  John,  259,  291,  428,  819. 

Searls,  Mrs.,  453. 

Sears,  Alexander,  544 — 6,  558 — 9  ;  Ann, 
72  ;  David,  72,  716,  733  ;  Robert,  418, 
716  ;  pedigree  of,  733. 

Seeker,  Thomas,  666. 

Second  Church,  310—11. 

Sedgwick,  Robert,  230,  236,  290,  299, 
304. 

Seely,  Robert,  336—7,  414. 

Selbey,  Thomas,  534. 

Selectmen,  origin  of,  173—4,  278. 

Sellecke,  David,  278,  286,  792. 

Sellen,  Thomas,  241  ;  Sellon,  Mr.,  633. 

Senate,  origin  of  the,  262. 

Senot,  Walter,  318,  345.    See  Sinnot. 

Sentry-field,  259. 

Sentry-hill,  253,  259. 

Separatists,  the,  113, 127. 

Sequin  (Indian),  206. 

Sewall,  Bessie,  323—4  ;  Elizabeth,  329  ; 
Hannah,  329  ;  Joseph,  533,  546,  584, 
590,  614,  759;  Jonathan,  580,  613; 
Nathaniel,  283  ;  Samuel,  98,  100,  315, 
317,  329  ;  a  judge  at  the  witch  trials, 
500—3,  512,  553,  560 ;  death  of,  586. 

Seymour,  Edward,  34  ;  Henry,  Sir,  52  ; 
Lord,  458. 

Shaomet  (Warwick,  R.  I.)  besieged  and 
taken,  274—6. 

Shapley,  Nicholas,  450. 


INDEX. 


837 


Sharp,  Robert,  250  ;  Samuel,  of  the 
Massachusetts  Company,  55,  67,  60, 
73,  118, 12-J — 15 ;  death  of,  347  ;  Thom- 
as, 55,  73,  93,  111,  115,  120,  260; 
William,  520. 

Shattuck,  Samuel,  351—2,  356—7  ;  Wil- 
liam, 331,  352. 

Shatton,  Sampson,  276. 

Shaw,  Fearnot,  418,  487,  492;  Francis, 
568  ;  John,  318,  341,  791. 

Shawmut,  not  seen  by  Smith,  22  ;  Black- 
stone  at,  50,  87  ;  English  invited  to 
settle  on,  95 — 6  ;  named  Boston,  98  ; 
origin  of  the  name,  457. 

Sheafe,  Herman,  317  ;  Jacob,  331  ; 
James,  575,  580  ;  Sampson,  442,  486  ; 
William,  737. 

Sheffield,  Lord,  34,  589. 

Shearer,  Thomas,  427,  455. 

Sheepscott,  John  (Indian),  610. 

Shelley,  widow,  234. 

Sheltou,  Sampson,  233,  347. 

Shepcott,  472. 

Shepherd,  John,  414  ;  Preston,  811 ; 
Samuel,  380,  385  ;  Thomas,  178,  186, 
211,  236,  393—4. 

Sherburne,  Joseph,  685. 

Sheriff,  William,  72  ;  Maj.,  750. 

Sherlock,  James,  480,  484,  486. 

Sherman,  James,  508,  568  ;  Rev.  John, 
382,  385,  393—4  ;  Mrs.,  257,  260  ; 
Philip,  229,  234;  Richard,  248,  286, 
794,  799;  Samuel,  241,  246,  253; 
Thomas,  216  ;  William,  55. 

Shew,  Joseph,  427. 

Shippe,  Margaret,  592. 

Shippen,  Edward,  295,  429,  435,  505. 

Ship-building,  614,  242,  820. 

Shirley,  William,  Governor,  613  ;  plans 
an  expedition  against  Louisbourg, 
619  ;  is  successful,  622 ;  pedigree, 
627 ;  returns  from  England,  634 ; 
confers  with  Gen.  Braddock,  639 ; 
succeeds  Braddock,  644 ;  saluted, 
759  ;  James,  316 ;  Thomas,  614  ; 
Francis,  614. 

Sholan  (Indian),  421. 

Shore,  George,  539  ;  Sampson,  259,  285, 
302,  789  ;  Samuel,  342. 

Short-alley,  661. 

Short,  Capt.  Richard,  506. 

Shove,  Sampson,  427. 

Shower,  John,  466. 

Shortriggs,  William,  491. 

Shoshanim  (Indian),  421. 

Shrimpton,  Epaphras,  507  ;  Henry,  227, 
245,  250,  299,  349,  799,  812 ;  Jona- 
than, 293,  341 ;  Samuel,  410,  456,  479, 
483,  506,  511  ;  Madam,  817. 

Shute,  James,  551 ;  Samuel,  317  ;  Gov- 
ernor, 556—7,  558,'  586,  688,  728. 

Sidewalks,  footways,  348. 

Sibley,  John,  57. 

Sicklerdam,  John,  490. 

Sigourney,  Andrew,  489. 

Silverwood,  Joshua,  414. 

Sill,  Joseph,  418,  528,  592. 

Simson,  Alexander,  427. 

Simsbury,  burnt  by  Indians,  417. 

Simonds,  Henry,  278,  691,  785,  788,  790, 
792  ;  Samuel,  269,  363,  379,  380,  394. 

Simmons,  Moses,  36. 

Simpkins,  Nicholas,  805,  816. 

Simpson,  Jonathan,  552,  557  ;  Saville, 
471  ;  Shubael,  ib. ;  Sydrack,  161. 

Singing,  in  churches,  520  ;  and  reading 
line  by  line,  discontinued,  547  ;  matter 
of  discussed,  566  ;  in  the  streets,  618. 

Sinnot,  Walter,  241,  250,  318,  335,  345, 
797. 

Skelton,  Samuel,  55,  57,  86  ;  William, 
19, 167. 

Skillings,  Captain,  776. 

Skinner,  George,  567 ;  Thomas,  379, 
437. 

Slator,  Lionel,  599  ;  widow,  660. 

Slaughter-houses,  order  about,  504. 

Slaves,  not  allowed  from  Africa,  288  ; 
Scotch  and  Irish  sold  for,  342  ;  not 
above  20  in  the  colony,  441  ;  attempt 
to  substitute  white  servants  for,  525  ; 
increased  traffic  in,  574  ;  advertised 
for  sale,  574,  647,  659  ;  a  tory  writer 


taunts  the  Bostonians  for  holding,  729  , 
Representatives  instructed  to  urge  the 
abolition  of,  728 — 9  ;  attempt  to  excite 
them  to  murder  their  masters,  754. 

Smallbroke,  Bishop,  610. 

Small,  John,  750,  752,  758. 

Small-pox,  164,  238,  375,  377,  382,  491, 
614,  526,  561,  568,  586,  632,  672,  685 
—6,  766. 

Smalhraod,  Mr.,  70. 

Smibert,  John,  601. 

Smith,  Adam,  25 ;  Arthur,  25,  431  ; 
Erasmus,  317  ;  Francis,  227, 342,  799  ; 
George  G.,  566  ;  Isaac,  520,  692,  764  ; 
James,  604  ;  James,  Capt.,  228,  455, 
766  ;  John,  245,  278,  294—6,  357,  455, 
490,  496,  533,  583,  595,  631,  787  ; 
John  (Capt.),  9,  17—29  ;  first  Gov- 
ernor of  New  England,  42  ;  55  ;  Mar- 
garet, 356—7  ;  Matthew,  250  ;  Mat- 
thias, 418  ;  Richard,  342,  350  ;  Rich- 
ard (Maj.),  404,  413,  485;  Robert, 
350  ;  Thomas,  32,  286,  293,  313,  318, 
336,  726  ;  Thomas  (Capt.),  529  ;  Wil- 
liam, 428,  470  ;  Zachary, 389. 

Smith's  Barracks,  777. 

Smithwick,  James,  665. 

Snelling,  George,  302. 

Snider,  Christopher,  776. 

Snow  Hill,  549,  817. 

Snow,  Nicholas,  36  ;  Thomas,  196,  235, 
786  ;  Zachary,  414. 

Snow,  the  great,  555. 

Soames,  John,  429,  505,  508  ;  Joseph, 
414. 

Socononoco  (Indian),  272,  281,  286. 

Somerby,  Daniel,  414  ;  Horatio  G.,  355  ; 
others,  376. 

Somerset,  Duke  of,  52. 

Sons  of  Liberty,  694,  711,  715,  717,  719, 
740,  746,  768. 

Soule,  George,  36. 

Southack,  Cyprian,  529,  539,  593. 

Southampton,  Earl  of,  34,  317. 

South  Battery,  531,  548,  569,  650.  See 
Sconce. 

South  Boston,  707. 

South  Burial-place,  556. 

South  Church.    See  Old  South. 

South  Row,  638. 

Southcote,  Richard,  52,  83  ;  Thomas,  52, 
55,  62, 130. 

Souther,  Mr.,  319. 

Southwick,  Casandra,  352  ;  Josiah,  352, 
429  ;  Lawrence,  351. 

Southworth,  Alice,  36. 

Sowerby,  John,  567. 

Sowers,  Roger,  334. 

Spalle,  Thomas,  318. 

Sparhawk,  Nathaniel,  753. 

Sparrow,  Joseph,  518. 

Speakman,  Thomas,  652  ;  William,  583. 

Spear,  David,  652  ;  Thomas,  652. 

Spectacle  Island,  231,  234,  253,  318, 
561. 

Speed,  Thomas,  317. 

Spencer.  John,  139,  186  ;  Roger,  507  ; 
William,  170,  236. 

Spicer,  sister,  509. 

Spilsbury,  John,  326. 

Spinning-school,  proposed,  560 — 1  ;  leg- 
acy for  the  support  of,  591  ;  reopened, 
660. 

Spooner,  George^  757  ;  John,  293,  650, 
657. 

Spoore,  John,  241,  250,  786,  790,  793. 

Spot  Pond,  137—8. 

SpoweU,  William,  347,  351. 

Sprague,  Dr.,  685  ;  Francis,  36  ;  John, 
623  ;  Ralph,  57,  230,  447  ;  Richard, 
57,  230  ;  Samuel,  601 ;  William,  57. 

Spring-gate,  786  ;  Spring-lane,  480. 

Spring,  Henry,  490. 

Sprigg,  Joshua,  652. 

Springfield,  witchcraft  breaks  out  at, 
322. 

Sprint,  Mr.,  160. 

Spry,  Richard,  622,  753. 

Spurr,  John,  326, 414  ;  William,  713. 

Spurrier,  Caleb,  811. 

Spurstowe,  William,  55,  68,  70. 

Squanto  (Indian),  43 — 6. 

Squaumaug  (Indian),  387,  397. 


Bqneb,  Captain,  22,  78,  82,  87—8. 

Squire,  Philip,  379,418,432. 

Btacy,  Hugli,  36  ;  Thomas,  418. 

Stage-coaches,  travelling  in  commenced, 
064;  one  to  Marblehead,  758. 

Stagg,  Captain,  279,  282,  289. 

Staines,  Richard.  418. 

Stalling,  Edward,  25,  33. 

Stamp-act,  colonial, 689  ;  parliamentary, 
689  ;  arrival  of  stamps,  705  ;  stamps 
of  1775,  689,  715  ;  one  burnt  in  King- 
street,  717  ;  Burke's  account  of  the 
stamp  act,  689;  skimp  officers  hung 
in  effigy,  693;  stamp  act  repealed, 
718,  721  ;  repeal  jubilee,  722  ;  repeal 
thanksgiving,  725  ;  celebration,  731. 

Stanbridge,  Edward,  567. 

Stanbury,  Thomas,  259,  318,  803. 
Standish,  Barbara,  36  ;  Miles,  35—6,  40, 

43,  48—9,  110,  133,  154,  339,  347. 
Staniford,  John,  612. 
Stanley,  Christopher,  190,  253,  285,  312, 

318,  320,  785,  787,  790. 
Stanton,    Joseph,     405 ;     Mary,     352 ; 

Thomas,  126,  224. 
Stanyon,  Anthony,  235,  259. 
State-house,  architect  of,  664. 
Stavers,  Bartholomew,  664. 
Stayner,  Mrs.,  687  ;  Thomas,  317. 
Stebbin,  John,  323  ;  Martin,  307,  327, 

331 ;  Rowland,  323. 
Steele,    John,    597,    631  ;    Mrs.,    641  ; 

Thomas,  455,  493  ;  William,  316. 
Sterling,  John,  363,  652. 
Stetson,  John,  520  ;  William,  235. 
Stevens,    Erasmus,   544  ;    Henry,   259, 

347  ;    James    H.,    734 ;    John,   278  ; 

Robert,    250  ;     Samuel,     268,    707  ; 

Thomas,  55,  70  ;  812. 
Stevenson,  John,  96,  307,  347,  652,  818  ; 

Marmaduke,     354—6  ;     Mary,    96  ; 

Richard,  794. 
Steward,  Hee.,  318  ;  James,  36. 
Stewart,  James,  455,  652. 
Stileman,  Elias,  57,  381 ;  Richard,  790. 
Stiles.    See  Styles. 
Stillman,  Samuel,   433  ;   his  stamp-act 

sermon,  725. 
Stirling,  Lord,  47. 
Stocker,    Samuel,    414 ;    Thomas,  335, 

342. 
Stocks,  the,  242,  246,  525  ;  a  stamp  put 

in  the,  717. 
Stoddard,  Anthony,  245,  250,  267,  235, 

312,  318,  320,  327,  349,  430,  434,  447, 

537,  752,  786,  791  ;  Mary,  384,  527  ; 

Sampson,  511,  513,  529  ;  Simeon,  317, 

504,   518,   525 ;  Thomas,   639  ;    Wil- 
liam, 597,  600,  613. 
Stone,  Edward,  652  ;  Hugh,  351  ;  John, 

150,  153,  157,  161,  166,  178,  197,  201, 

217,  316  ;  Samuel,  415  ;  Thomas,  414. 
Storer,   Ebenezer,  520,  707  ;  Elizabeth, 

449  ;  George,  664  ;  Richard,  161,  248, 

449. 
Storms,  great,  541,  571,  875. 
Story,  Augustine,  60,  159  ;  George,  257, 

265 ;    Rowland,    445  ;     Sarah,    159  ; 

William,  654,  695—6,  699. 
Stoughton,  Israel,   170,   178,  198,   210, 

213,  216,  230,  236,  287,  289,  307,  436, 

446,  496,  524  ;  William,  456,  464, 483, 

500,   502,   510  ;  death  of,   510  ;  728, 

786. 
Stow,  Baron,  616  ;  John,  his  Chronicle, 

1,3. 
Stowers,  Nicholas,  57. 
Strafford,  Wentworth,  Earl  of,  187,  191. 
Straine,  Richard,  798. 
Strange,  John,  318. 
Stratton,     Elisha,     429 ;     John,     790  ; 

Richard,  461 ;  Thomas,  573. 
Streets,  laid  out,  253  ;  order  for  record- 
ing, 525  ;  carried  into  effect,  533 — 4. 
Strickline,  John,  57. 
Strong,  John,  525  ;  Simeon,  363. 
Stuart,  Arabella,  71 ;  W.,  814. 
Stuyvessant,  Peter,  307. 
Style,  change  in  the,  633. 
Styles,  Ezra,  249,  359,  388  ;  John,  440 ; 

Matthias,  287. 
Sudbury,  attacked  by  Indians,  416. 
Suffolk,  Earl  of,  540. 


838 


INDEX. 


Sumner,  Benjamin,  520  ;  James,  520  ; 

John,   341 ;    Samuel,   772  ;    William, 

409  ;  William  H.,  751. 
Sunday-laws,  557  ;  disregarded,  622. 
Sunderland,  Richard,  68 — 9. 
Sutliff,  Dr.,  24. 
Sutton,  Richard,  418. 
Swaine,  Jeremiah,  414,  490  :  William, 

260. 
Swan,  James,  455. 
Swazie,  Stephen,  492. 
Swanzey,   Philip's  War  begins  at,  401 

—2. 
Sweet,  John,  285,  293,  395, 428,  78S,  792, 

794,  800. 
Sweetser,   Benjamin,  378  ;   John,  ib. ; 

Joseph,  ib.  ;  Mrs.,  379. 
Swett,  Joseph,  161,  336. 
Swift,  Samuel,  710,  713. 
Swingbridge,  175,  656. 
Swingbridge-lane,  532. 
Switchell,  Abraham,  414. 
Sylvester,  John,  583. 
Symmes,  Thomas,  557,  566, 308  ;  Zecha- 

riah,  175,  308.  380,  385. 
Symonds.    See  Simonds. 
Syndall,  Samuel,  347. 
Synderland,  John,  327,  793^. 
Synods,  310,  362,  383,  385,  432,  438. 

Tabb,  Nicholas,  652. 

Tailor,  William,  Gov.,  518,  551,  582.  594, 

728. 
Taitson  (Indian),  405. 
Talbot,  John,  524  ;  William,  327. 
Talbye,  Dorothy,  241. 
Talcott,  John,  170. 
Talmage,  William,  196,  235,  254,  347, 

786,  796. 
Tantor,  Joseph,  409. 
Tappin,  Elizabeth,  384  ;  Richard,  384. 
Tar-and-feathering,  a  case  of,  772. 
Tar-barrel,  disturbance  about  one,  744. 
Tarne,  Miles,  254,  259. 
Tartarien,  John,  487. 
Tate  and  Brady,  psalms  of,  introduced, 

546,  629. 
Taverns.    See  Ordjxaeies. 
Taxation,  parliamentary,  cause  of,  675 

— 6  ;  inseparable  from  representation, 

680  ;  news  respecting,  679  ;    reasons 

against,  684. 
Tay,  John,  427  ;  Josiah.  418,  427,  490, 

513,  521—2. 
Tayer,  Thomas,  250. 
Taylor,  Gillum,  726  ;  Isaac,  534  ;  James, 

492—3,  503,  513,  520—1,  526 ;  John, 

580,  767  ;  Madam,  469  ;  Phoebe,  72  ; 

Robert,  185,  238  ;  Richard,  267,  318, 

332,  341,  347  ;  William,  376,  439,  521. 
Tayntor,  Robert,  459. 
Tea,  introduction  of,  561 ;  tax  on,  631 ; 

combination  against  the  use  of,  751 ; 

destroyed  at  Griffin's  wharf,  810. 
Teal,  Mary  Louisa  E.,  607. 
Teams  Gosprit,  525. 
Teffe,  William,  241,  245,  250,  253,  787, 

798. 
Temple,  John,  427,  482,  732  ;  Robert, 

567,  628,    685  ;    Thomas,    Sir,    374, 

452. 
Tench,  William,  36. 
Ten-hills,  farm  at,  119. 
Thacher,  Anthony,  145,  186;  Dorothy, 

733  ;  Elisha,  717  ;  James,  186,  708  ; 

Margaret,  384;    Mr.,  236,  532,  595, 

436 ;  Oxenbridge,  667,  674,  682,  713, 

720;    Peter,  519,  543,  545;    Samuel 

Cooper,  552—3 ;   Thomas,  236,  383, 

393. 
Thaxter,  Adam  W.,  673  ;  Jacob,   660  ; 

Samuel,  582. 
Thayer,   Arodi,   755  ;    John  E.,   333  ; 

Richard,  331 ;  Samuel,  351. 
Theatre,  in  Faneuil  Hall,  612  ;  disturb- 
ance at  a,  631 ;  set  up  by  the  soldiers, 

756  ;  first  Boston,  804. 
Thebe  (Indian),  killed,  404. 
Theodolite,  invention  of  a,  599. 
Third  Church,  385.     See  Old  Sooth. 
Thomas,  Edward,  507  ;  Evan,  140,  254, 

259,  307,  332,  340,  384;    Nathaniel, 

526. 


Thompson's  Island,  35,  50,  282,  310. 

Thomson,  James,  657  ;  John,  455  ;  Mrs., 
50  ;  Pishey,  102  ;  Samuel,  763  ;  Thom- 
as, Robert,  316,  788  ;  William,  657. 

Thorn,  Robert,  7,  9. 

Thorncomb,  Andrew,  462. 

Thorndike,  Herbert,  147  ;  Israel,  151 ; 
John,  151 ;  Paul,  ib. 

Thornton,  John,  102  ;  John  W.,  151, 161, 
422—3  ;  Thomas,  493,  532  ;  Timothy, 
486,  492,  503—4,  506,  534. 

Three  Doves,  tavern,  642. 

Three-hill  marsh,  268. 

Three  Turk's-heads,  tavern,  664. 

Thresher,  Francis,  525,  527,  531,  534, 
560. 

Throgmorton,  John,  116,  228. 

Thropp,  John,  418. 

Thursday  Lecture,  167. 

Thurston,  Benjamin,  384;  Elizabeth,  ib. ; 
Thomas,  343. 

Thurston,  Mr.,  477. 

Thwing,  Benjamin,  268  ;  Colonel,  652 ; 
James,  652  ;  Nathaniel,  678,  712. 

Ticknor,  William  D.,  542. 

Tide,  an  extraordinary  one,  569. 

Tidmarsh,  Giles,  567  ;  Giles  Dulake, 
580,  813. 

Tilden,  Thomas,  36. 

Tileston,  James,  558  ;  John,  684. 

Tillet,  Edward,  534. 

Tilley,  Abigail,  587  ;  Edward,  36,  205  ; 
John,  36,  48,  57,  205  ;  William,  384, 
512. 

Timmins,  John,  686. 

Tindale,  Sir  John,  72  ;  Margaret,  72. 

Ting,  Benjamin,  786,  789  ;  Edward,  192, 
238,  246,  248,  253,  278,  312,  319,  327, 
379,  413,  428,  621,  790,  792,  811; 
death  of,  640  ;  John,  557,  632  ;  Jona- 
than, 473  ;  785,  789,  793,  800 ;  Wil- 
liam, 194,  245,  259,  268,  271,  307. 

Tinker,  Thomas,  36. 

Tippen,  Thomas,  567. 

Tippet,  Nicholas,  471. 

Titcomb,  Elizabeth,  440  ,  Lydia,  ib. 

Tithingmen,  428. 

Tituba  (Indian),  498. 

Tomlins,  Mary,  567  ;  Edward,  170,  236. 

Tomlinson,  Robert,  630. 

Tompson,  Abigail,  Anne,  247  ;  Benja- 
min, ib. ;  James,  652  ;  William,  242, 
247,  250. 

Topan,  Susan,  440. 

Tory,  origin  of  name  of,  664. 

Torrey,  Mr.,  650  ;  Samuel,  236,  285,  397, 
5S0  ;  WiUiam,  363,  652,  712  ;  death 
of,  767. 

Tower,  Barnabas,  185,  187  ;  William, 
486. 

Town  Bull,  331  ;  Clock,  492,  556  ;  Cove, 
275  ;  Dock,  174—5,  463,  481,  519, 
598. 

Town  Clerk,  first  chosen,  259. 

Town  Clock,  move  about  one,  556. 

Town  House,  349,  550,  625,  669,  717, 
820. 

Townsend,  Benjamin,  552  ;  Charles, 
against  the  Stamp  Act,  689,  715  ; 
dies,  732  ;  Elias,  544  ;  George,  715  ; 
James,  818  ;  Penn,  293,  317,  463,  472, 
486,  492,  503,  511,  514,  518,  526—7  ; 
Peter,  525 ;  Shippie,  687  ;  Solomon, 
544—6,  558  ;  William,  229,  235,  795  ; 
William  B.,  642,  677. 

Toy,  William,  247,  791. 

Tracy,  Phineas  L.,  726 — 7  ;  Stephen, 
36',  161. 

Training-field,  the,  532. 

Training,  the  great,  258. 

Trask,  Isaac,  811 ;  Mary,  356—7  ;  Wil- 
liam, 57, 186,  213,  216  ;  William  B., 
470,  489,  518. 

Travis,  Richard,  427. 

Treat,  Andrew,  574. 

Treaty  with  Indians,  527,  572. 

Trecothic,  Barlow,  771. 

Trees,  planted  on  the  Neck,  342 ;  at 
Wheeler's  Point,  507  ;  on  the  Common, 
592,  693,  820. 

Trelawney,  William,  6. 

Trevoyre,  William,  35. 

Triangular  Warehouse,  the,  166,  174. 


Trimountain  (Boston),  92,  98. 

Trinity  Church,  583,  686. 

Trott,  Bernard,  376,  490  ;  Joshua,  343  ; 

Thomas,  534,  590. 
Trout,  Captain,  639. 
Troutbeck,  John,  471. 
Trowbridge,  Caleb,  293  ;  Thankful,  534. 
Truesdale,  Richard,  384,  793. 
Trucks,  regulations  for,  560. 
Tryon,  Mr.,  467. 
Tucke,   Adam,    567,   580  ;    John,   ib. ; 

Master,  6  ;  Robert,  580. 
Tucker,  James,  652 ;  John,  486  ;  Levi, 

616  ;    Robert,   707  ;    Thomas,    409  ; 

812. 
Tuckerman,  John,  487,  492,  805. 
Tuckfield,  Master,  6. 
Tuffneale,  Richard,  55. 

Tufts,  John,  566  ;  ,  161. 

Tulley,  John,  almanacs,  473 — 4,  522 — 3. 
Turen,  George,  243  -r  Daniel,  319,  347, 

434. 
Turell,  Colburn,  490  ;  Daniel,  351,  395, 

456,  479,  486;   Ebenezer,  316,  556; 

Joseph,   756 ;    Mr.,    520  ;    a  pirate, 

570. 
Turfery,  George,  468,  471. 
Turner,  Ephraim,  375,  376  ;  John,  36  ; 

Joshua,  379  ;  Lewis,  630  ;  Nathaniel, 

170,  201,  236  ;  Robert,  233,  235,  245, 

268,  302,  318,  332,  336,  .341,  798,  800  ; 

William,  378,  418,  427,  493,  507,  525. 
Tuttell,  Anne,  787—8,  798  ;  John,  331, 

336,  342  ;  Richard,  189,  193,  235,  241, 

243,  245,  336  ;  widow,  268  ;   Zacha- 

riah,  518—19. 
Twining,  William,  418,  791. 
Tyler,   Andrew,   648  ;    Frances,    760  ; 

John,  760  ;  Joseph,  756,  760  ;  Royal, 

658,   682,   686,   735,    738,   753,   756; 

Thomas,  557,  756  ;  William,  600,  648. 
Tileston,  James,  546. 
Tyley,  Samuel,  571. 
Tyng.     See  Tins. 

Udal,  Mr.,  murdered,  160. 

Umbrellas,  first  used,  660. 

Umpames,  Plimouth  men,  398. 

Uncas  (Indian),  goes  with  the  English 
against  the  Pequots,  207  ;  visits  Bos- 
ton, 238  ;  exposed  by  Miantonimo, 
265  ;  takes  that  Chief  prisoner,  273. 

Underbill,  John,  99,  130,  143—4,  170, 
174,  178,  189,  191,  197,  201,  205,  208, 
213,  218,  228,  231,  235,  242,  245,  251, 
256. 

Underwood,  Thomas,  230. 

Union  Club,  694. 

United  Colonies,  origin  of  the,  269. 

Universal  Meeting-house,  first,  615. 

Upham,  Charles  W.,  495,  620  ;  Phineas, 
414. 

Upsal,  Nicholas,  337,  339,  345,  355, 
504. 

Uring,  Nathaniel,  537,  539,  555. 

Usher,  Capt.,  818  ;  Hezekiah,  327,  336, 
340,  417,  423,  436,  786—7,  799  ;  John, 
435,  462,  473,  484  ;  Madam,  818. 

Valley-acre,  593. 

Van,  Ann,  70  ;  Jeoffrey,  ib. 

Vandike,  Anthony,  315,  668. 

Van  Renssellaer,  Killian,  620. 

Van  Twiller,  Wouter,  206. 

Vane,  Sir  Henry,  178,  182,  186, 188,190, 

192,  195,  197, 199,  201,  205,  211,  221, 

231—2,  235,  284,  206,  314,  332. 
Vans,  Hugh,  600. 
Vardy,  Luke,  579,  627. 
Varney,  John,  648. 
Vassal,  Leonard,  567,  5S3  ;  Samuel,  55, 

62, 65,  70, 172,  290,  296, 301 ;  WiUiam 

5,  62,  65,  73,  293. 
Vaudreuil,  General,  652. 
Vaughau,  George,  60  ;  William,  619. 
Veils,  dissensions  about  wearing,  167. 
Ven,  John,  55,  62,  69,  70,  72—3. 
Venables,  Admiral,  340. 
Venner,  Henry,  567  ;  Thomas,  318. 
Verazzani,  John,  1,  4,  12. 
Vernon,  Admiral,  571 ;  Daniel,  227. 
Verrin,  John,  525  ;  Vering's,  814. 
Vespucius,  Americus,  1. 


INDEX. 


839 


Vetch,  Samuel,  640. 

Vial],  John,  250,  318,  333,  350,  373,  817. 

Viekers,  John,  77. 

Vinal,  John,  684. 

"Vincent,   Ambros,  818  ;    James,   804  ; 

Nathaniel,   105,   178  ;    Sarah,    572  ; 

Thomas,  452. 
Vines,  Richard,  31,  60,  285. 
Virginia  Company,  24,  32. 
Voters,   qualifications  of,   729 ;    paper 

votes  first  used  at  elections,  184. 

Waban  (Indian),  305. 

Wade,  Armigil,  6  ;  William,  6,  55. 

Waddell,  William,  276. 

Wading  river,  387. 

Wadsworth,  Benjamin,  142,  236,  542, 
596,  548,  552,  603,  759  ;  Joseph,  560, 
599  ;  Samuel,  142,  143,  418,  603. 

Wager,  Sir  Charles,  570. 

Wages,  regulation  of,  163. 

Wahginnacut  (Indian),  123. 

Waite,  Gamaliel,  229,  797  ;  Richard,  229, 
234—5,  252,  331,  4S9,  792  ;  Samuel, 
235. 

Wakefield,  Obadiah,  427. 

Wakeman,  Samuel,  25S. 

Wainwright,  John,  582  ;  Jonathan  May- 
hew,  583  ;  Mary,  574  ;  Mr.,  556. 

Waldo  Benjamin,  576,  764  ;  Cornelius, 
537,  600,  603  ;  John,  546,  559,  595, 
657  ;  Joseph,  731,  756  ;  Samuel,  600, 
603,  611. 

Walcutt,  Thomas,  339. 

Waldron,  Richard,  31,  412;  William, 
311,  559. 

Walford,  Thomas,  50,  57—8,  83, 95, 115, 
125  ;  family  of,  87. 

Wales,  Goodman,  336,  348  ;  Nathaniel, 
185  ;  Thomas,  414. 

Walker,  Anne,  252 ;  Benjamin,  518  ; 
Capt.,  596  ;  Edward,  665  ;  George, 
Admiral,  429  ;  Hovenden,  Sir,  541  ; 
Isaac,  312,  318,  342,  658,  707  ;  John, 
229,  590  ;  Mr.,  782  ;  Nehemiah,  759  ; 
Peter,  227  ;  Richard,  189,  252,  790  ; 
Robert,  235  ;  Samuel,  573  ;  Thomas, 
349,  427,  492,  513,  590. 

Walkins,  Robert,  235. 

Wallaston,  Captain,  43,  49, 259  ;  Mount, 
settlement  at,  48 — 9  ;  broken  up,  94 — 
5,  98  ;  a  boundary  of  Boston,  318. 

Wallen,  Ralph,  36. 

Waller,  Goodman,  348  ;  Henry,  55,  70, 
77,  90  ;  Robert,  796  ;  William,  302. 

Wallav,  Abiel,  631  ;  Elizabeth,  491  ; 
John,  371,  434, 491,  507,  522,  594,  759, 
811 ;  Lydia,  491 ;  Sarah,  670  ;  Thomas, 
491,  652,  756,  764  ;  family  of,  670. 

Wallis,  Mr.,  652. 

Walsingham,  Sir  Francis,  10. 

Walter,  Henry,  321  ;  Nehemiah,  161, 
166,  236,  317,  488,  529  ;  William,  583, 
686. 

Walton,  Shadrack,  540. 

Wamesits  (Indians),  some  killed,  387. 

Wampanoags  (Indians),  43  ;  relations 
of  the  Nipnuks,  138  ;  war  with  the, 
397-4:24. 

Wampatuck,  Josias,  456 — 7. 

Wampum,  value  of,  326. 

Wamsutta  (Indian),  362,  364. 

Wanalancet  (Indian),  293. 

Wanton,  Edward,  395,  504—5  ;  Gover- 
nor, 72. 

Ward,  Artemas,  734  ;  Benjamin,  235, 
307,  312,  318,  336,  349,  793  ;  Edward, 
515 ;  Elizabeth,  68  ;  John,  68,  287, 
385,  579  ;  Mary,  579  ;  Nathaniel,  55 
—6,  141,  169, 174,  257,  259  ;  Robert, 
567  ;  Samuel,  230,  236. 

Warden,  Francis,  652. 

Wardens,  church,  567. 

Wardell,  Nathaniel,  623  ;  Thomas,  182, 
224,  229,  235  ;  William,  224,  229,  233, 
235,  788. 

Wards,  the  Town  divided  into  eight, 
588  ;  into  twelve,  600. 

Wardwell,  Samuel,  500  ;  Mrs.,  814. 

Ware,  Henry,  311  ;  William,  324,  351. 

Warham,  Rev.  Mr.  John,  40,  78,  134. 

Warner,  Francis,  317  ;  John,  275—6, 
414  -,  Thomas,  Sir,  268. 


Warren,  Abraham,  259  ;  Ebenezer,  707  ; 
Frances,  317  ;  Humphrey,  395,  439  ; 
John,  707  i  Joseph,  (173—4,  707,  738 
741,  744,  758,  771,  783 — 1  ;  Peter,  Sir, 
622,  641  ;  family,  707  ;  William,  490. 

Warwick,  Earl  of,  84,  58,  111,  100,  172, 
274,  277,  801. 

Warwick,  R.  I.,  beseiged  and  taken, 
275—6. 

Washington,  George,  568,  283,672,814  ; 
almanac  likeness  of,  673  ;  portrait  of, 
613  ;  Sir  I.  Heard's  researches  for  his 
pedigree,  649  ;  street  named  for,  818. 

Washburn,  Emory,  262;  John,  55. 

Watchmen,  first  established,  189  ;  time 
to  watch,  523  ;  to  cry  the  time  of 
night,  599. 

Water-bailiffs,  appointment  of,  194,  445. 

Water  Engines.     See  Engines. 

Waterhouse,  David,  483,  696. 

Waterman,  Benoni,  574 ;  Richard,  57, 
275—6  ;  Thomas,  647,  772. 

Water  mill,  196,  320. 

Waters,  Goodman,  334  ;  652. 

Waterston,  Robert,  456  ;  Robert  C,  167. 

Watertown,  landing  at,  83 — 4  ;  settled, 
89. 

Watkins,  Elizabeth,  504  ;  Mary,  504. 

Watts,  Robert,  601. 

Watson,  James,  595,  601  ;  John  F.,  his 
Annals,  378,  494  ;  John  C,  583  ;  Mr., 
464  ;  Thomas,  25. 

Watts,  Edward,  567  ;  Isaac,  578,  605, 
629  ;  Samuel,  Hon.,  547,  613,  640 ; 
Samuel,  490  ;  Solomon,  414,  490. 

Waugh,  Dorothy,  343,  352. 

Way,  Aaron,  336,  350  ;  George,  55, 115  ; 
Henry,  116,  144  ;  Richard,  427. 

Wayland,  Francis  P.,  271. 

Weatherhead,  Mary,  413. 

Web,  Edward,  529  ;  Francis,  55,  57, 
132  ;  Henry,  234—5,  253,  267,  307, 
786,  791,  803  ;  Joseph,  652 ;  John, 
545,  587,  609,  614,  787,  793  ;  John, 
brazier,  257,  327,  341,  350,  356,  790  ; 
Mr.,  320,  587;  Richard,  318,  348; 
Thomas,  55  ;  family,  569,  813. 

Webber,  George,  534. 

Webcowet  (Indian),  338. 

Webster,  Benjamin,  414 ;  Daniel,  814  ; 
George,  534  ;  James,  455  ;  Noah,  130  ; 
196,  263  ;  Samuel,  363. 

Weden,  Edward,  267,  341 ;  Joseph,  427. 

Wedgewood,  John,  216. 

Weeks,  Joseph,  490  ;  William,  790. 

Weetamoo  (Indian),  400. 

Weever,  John,  Funeral  Monuments,  80, 
158. 

Weights  and  Measures,  regulation  of, 
531. 

Welch,  John,  657. 

Welcomb,  Peter,  514. 

Weld,  Joseph,  230,  236,  284  ;  Thomas, 
70,  134,  140,  148—9,  180,  191,  218— 
19,  221,  228,  253,  301,  363. 

Welden,  Robert,  118. 

Welford,  Charles,  655. 

Welles,  Arnold,  647,  657,  713,  744,  764  ; 
Daniel,  60,  132,  224,  250  ;  Edward, 
792  ;  Henry,  695 ;  John,  647  ;  Sam- 
uel, 595,  631,  643.  657,  703  ;  Thomas, 
418. 

Welsteed,  William,  490,  493,  518  ;  Wil- 
liam, Rev.,  311,  521,  585,  614. 

Wenborne,  William,  333,  336. 

Wendell,  Abraham,  580  ;  Evart  Janson, 
619  ;  Jacob,  293,  595—6,  600,  604, 
611,  620,  633,  634,  644  ;  Isaac,  652 ; 
John,  293,  619,  756  ;  William,  787. 

Wendell's  Wharf,  650. 

Wentworth,  John,  572  ;  Samuel,  293  ; 
William,  60. 

Wesaguscus.    See  Mount  Wallaston. 

Wesley,  Charles,  John,  460,  609  ;  Sam- 
uel, 460,  466. 

West,  Francis,  36,  42  ;  John,  486  ;  Ke- 
ziah,  687  ;  Mr.,  482  ;  Mary,  687  ; 
Mrs.,  652  ;  Nicholas,  55  ;  Samuel, 
590. 

West  Church,  601—2,  649. 

Westbrook,  Martha,  87. 

Westcote,  Thomas,  52. 

Westmorland,  James,  331. 


Weston,  Francis,  170, 275, 276  ;  Thomas, 

36-9. 
Wethersfleld.  murders  there,  206. 
Weymouth,  George,  15—16. 
Whalley,  Edwardj  358—9. 
Wharton,  Edward,  350,  504,  807  ;    P., 

284  ;  Richard,  370,439,  473. 
Whately,  John,  652  ;  Robert,  664  ;   160. 
Wheeler,  Francis,  Sir,  470,  506  ;  George, 

691  ;     Henry,    559  ;    Joseph,    427  ; 

Thomas,  196,  229,  241,  246,  285,  405 

—0,  797  ;   William,  580,  593. 

Wheeler's  Point,  406,  507,  550. 
Wheelock,  Eleazer,  734. 

Wheelwright,  Hannah,  459  ;  Jeremiah, 
339,  435—6  ;  John,  57,  60,  183,  212  ; 
founds  Exeter,  218,  224  ;  settled  at 
the  Mount,  220  ;  tried  fur  heresy,  222  ; 
banished,  223  ;  married  a  Hutchinson, 
227 ;  wrote  Mercurius  Americanus, 
229  ;  family  of,  435—6. 

Wheelwright's  wharf,  752. 

Wessaguscusset,  state  of  in  1733,  37. 

Whetcomb,  Simon,  53,  55,  62,  65,  70 ; 
James,  376,  409,  439. 

Whichcote,  Charles,  55. 

Whig  and  Tory,  origin  of,  664. 

Whipping,  practice  of,  573,  659. 

Whipple,  John,  417. 

Whippo,  James,  534. 

Whitbourne,  Richard,  29. 

White,  Anna,  68  ;  Benjamin,  552  ; 
Charity,  285,  797  ;  Edmund,  55  ; 
Francis,  548  ;  John,  48,  51,  52,  55, 
65,  71,  74,  287,  335,  341—2  ;  Joseph, 
548  ;  M.,  395  ;  Peregrine,  530  ;  Ralph, 
55  ;  Richard,  55  ;  Samuel,  68,  753  ; 
Thomas,  230,  546,  652  ;  William,  570, 
576. 

White  Angel,  the  ship,  128—9. 

White  Bear,  first  exhibited,  596. 

White  Horse  Tavern,  596,  659. 

Whitefield,  George,  489,  574,  608,  61S, 
652,  686. 

Whitehorn,  George,  518,  819. 

Whiting,  Caroline  Lee,  Dorothy,  &c, 
363  ;  Ebenezer,  617  ;  Samuel,  219,  236, 
262,  363,  366,  385  ;  Stephen,  601  ; 
William,  256,  262  ;  family  of,  363. 

Whitman,  Zachariah  G.,  236  ;  Abiah, 
546. 

Whitmore,  408  ;  Madam,  461  ;  Edward, 
659  ;  William  H,  640,  673. 

Whitwell,  William,  331,  342,  658,  731, 
756,  816  ;  Bartholomew,  418. 

Whitworth,  Mr.,  685. 

Wibird,  Richard,  620. 

Wiburne,  Thomas,  333. 

Wickabaug  Pond,  English  cut  off  at, 
196,  405—6. 

Wickes,  6  ;  John,  275—6  ;  William,  787, 
799. 

Widows,  number  of  in  1698,  514. 

Wieer,  William,  636. 

Wiggin,  Thomas,  60. 

Wigglesworth,  Edward,  642  ;  Michael, 
236  ;  Samuel,  595,  608. 

Wight,  Ebenezer,  590. 

Willbee,  Mary,  259. 

Wilbore,  Samuel,  181,  193,  229,  234—5, 
241,  531  ;  Thomas,  33£. 

Wildes,  Sarah,  500. 

Wilford,  Martha,  68. 

Wilkes,  John,  723,  725,  768,  772;  a 
child  named  for,  757  ;  almanac  like- 
ness of,  673  ;  Wilkes  and  Liberty, 
664  ;  William,  195. 

Wilkins,  John,  493  ;  Mrs.,  466  ;  Rich- 
ard, 461—2. 

Willard,  John,  500  ;  Josiah,  293,  557, 
582,  643  ;  Paul,  363 ;  Samuel,  417, 
461,  498,  508,  524,  529,  533,  643  ;  Si- 
mon, 230,  236,  328,  335,  363,  380,  406, 
420—1,  532. 

William  and  Mary,  proclaimed  in  Bos- 
ton, 485  ;  their  charter,  498. 

William  the  Third,  accession  of  to  the 
throne  of  England,  507  ;  death  of, 
526. 

Williams,  Benjamin,  817  ;  Capt.,  20  ; 
Daniel,  493  ;  Francis,  288  ;  Freeborn, 
118  ;  Hugh,  336,  341 ;  James,  547  ; 
Job,  812  ;  John,  736  ;   John  Foster, 


840 


INDEX. 


16, 816, 819  ;  Jonathan,  657,  629, 732  ; 
Joseph,  117,  234,  545  ;  Joseph,  Esq., 
653,  752  ;  Mary,  604  ;  Nathaniel,  245 
—6,  349,  526,  604  ;  Robert,  492,  557, 
652 ;  Roger,  arrival  of,  117  ;  his 
principles,  124  ;  at  Plymouth,  145  ;  on 
veils,  167  ;  on  oaths  ;  banished,  187  ; 
his  kindness  in  return,  199,  203  ;  his 
fearful  embassy,  204  ;  Samuel,  707  ; 
Solomon,  605  ;  Thomas,  36,  126  ;  Wil- 
liam, 457,  601. 

Willis,  Edward,  456,  472,  486  ;  George, 
256  ;  John,  181 ;  Michael,  312,  318, 
348  ;  Nathaniel,  253  ;  Nicholas,  182, 
235,  245,  253,  791 ;  Thomas,  170 ; 
William,  33,  227,  527. 

YVilloughby,  Francis,  375,  379, 390, 596  ; 
William,  375. 

Willy,  Mr.,  462. 

Wilmot,  George,  777. 

Wilson,  Agnes,  567  ;  Alexander,  576 ; 
Anne,  429  ;  George,  357  ;  Jacob, 
241,  245,  250  ;  John,  his  church 
formed,  93 ;  removes  to  Shawmut, 
97  ;  his  meeting-house,  104  ;  salary  of, 
110 ;  returns  to  England,  122  ;  arbi- 
ter between  Dudley  and  Winthrop, 
134  ;  grant  of  land  to,  176,  786  ;  gar- 
den of,  811  ;  connections,  180  ;  returns 
from  England,  186  ;  chaplain  in  the 
Pequot  war,  213  ;  returns,  217  ;  bitter 
against  Antinomians,  219,  &c.  ;  death 
of,  382 ;  John,  Capt.,  754 ;  Joseph, 
813  ;  Lambert,  57  ;  Mary,  293,  643  ; 
Richard,  797  ;  William,  229,  508,  789  ; 
William,  D.D.,  93. 

Winbourne,  William,  312. 

Winchell,  James,  378—81. 

Winchester,  Alexander,  233,  234. 

Winchip,  Edward,  490  ;  Major,  84. 

Windmills,  523,  550,  607. 

Windmill  Hill,  282,  569. 

Windmill  Point,  1S8,  196,  260,  285.  291, 
331,  641. 

Windresse,  William,  540. 

Wing's  Lane,  526,  588,  632. 

Wing,  John,  504—5  ;  Robert,  791,  793, 
795  ;  William,  245,  259. 

Winnicowett,  Hampton,  settled,  238, 
285. 

Winnepoykin,  David  (Indian),  457. 

Winnisimet,  122  ;  its  orthography,  126 ; 


Indians  of,  die,  164 ;  a  ferry  to,  188. 

Winsley,  John,  395  ;  Madam,  809. 

Winslow,  Edward,  36,  131,  178,  202, 
210,  213,  227,  273,  294,  296,  302,  305, 
316,  339—40,  365,  395,  400,  416,  580, 
595 ;  Gilbert,  36  ;  Isaac,  687  ;  John, 
36,  376,  480,  633  ;  Josiah,  155,  202, 
294 ;  Joshua,  593,  707,  732 ;  Job, 
400  ;  Nathaniel,  652 ;  William,  601, 
809,  817. 

Winsor,  Joshua,  427,  499,  532  ;  Justin, 
70,  93,  145,  414;  Robert,  death  of, 
557. 

Winter,  William,  325, 557. 

Winthrop,  Adam,  72, 137,  317,  320, 331, 
362,  364,  383,  486,  492,  555,  611 ; 
Alice,  72  ;  Anna,  72,  733  ;  Augustus, 
72  ;  Bazil,  72  ;  Benjamin,  72  ;  Deane, 
72,  336,  785 ;  Elizabeth,  72 ;  Fitz 
John,  72  ;  Francis,  72 ;  George,  72  ; 
Granville  T.,  72,  216  ;  Henry,  72,  88  ; 
Jane,  72  ;  James  Bowdoin,  72  ;  Jesse, 
521 ;  John,  Gov.,  55, 65  ;  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Company,  70  ;  chosen  its 
Governor,  73  ;  sails  for  New  England, 
80  ;  his  voyage,  81 — 86  ;  elected  Gov- 
ernor by  the  people,  94  ;  removes  to 
Shawmut,  97  ;  abolishes  drinking 
healths,  105  ;  interview  with  Lndians, 
121,  125  ;  builds  the  first  ship,  128  ; 
correspondence  with  Gov.  Bradford, 
131 — 2  ;  charges  against  by  Gov. 
Dudley,  133  ;  censured,  134  ;  the  is- 
sue, 135 — 6  ;  visit  to  Plymouth,  145  ; 
his  death  and  character,  312 — 15  ; 
John,  Jr.,  72  ;  settles  Ipswich,  150  ; 
returns  from  England,  186  ;  settles  in 
Connecticut,  187—8  ;  John  Still,  72  ; 
Joseph,  72  ;  Judith,  72,  374  ;  Martha, 
72  ;  Robert  C,  72,  315  ;  Waitstill,  72, 
405,  473, 483,  502,  529  ;  death  of,  557. 

Wise,  Jeremiah,  589  ;  John,  351. 

Wiseman,  James,  250. 

Wisner,  Benjamin,  384,  468—9,  584, 
609,  624. 

WiswaU,  Enoch,  293 ;  Ichabod,  479  ; 
Oliver,  652  ;  Peleg,  684. 

Witchcraft,  308,  314,  322,  324,  339,  493 
— 4. 

Walcott,  Rebecca,  509. 

Wonohaqueham  (Indian),  119,  122 — 3, 
130, 143. 


Wood,  Mark,  418  ;  Philip,  804  ;  Rich- 
ard, 127,  178,  329  ;  William,  37,  39, 
44,  57,  133. 

Wood,  order  about  preserving,  181 — 2  ; 
at  Deer  Island,  195. 

Woodbridge,  Benjamin,  579  ;  Dudley, 
ib.  ;  John,  230,  286,  440. 

Woodhouse,  Richard,  800. 

Woodbury,  Humphrey,  57  ;  John,  51, 
57,  186. 

Wooddy,  Richard,  234, 248, 331, 349, 409. 

Woodenhead,  affair  of  the,  776. 

Woodgate,  Mr.,  55. 

Woodhouse,  Richard,  234. 

Woolnough,  Joshua,  317. 

Woodman,  Edward,  230. 

Woodmansey,  John,  331,  335,  376,  395, 
435. 

Woodward,  George,  234 ;  John,  253 ; 
Nathaniel,  189—90,  234—5,  246—7, 
797  ;  Robert,  790,  797  ;  Samuel,  553  ; 
Thomas,  285,  790. 

Worcester,  William,  224,  417. 

Workhouse  proposed,  603  ;  built,  598. 

Wormall,  Joseph,  318,  351  ;  William, 
534. 

Worthington,  Francis,  484. 

Worthylake,  George,  812. 

Wowaus  (Indian),  421. 

Wowequa  (Indian),  274. 

Writing-school.     See  Schools. 

Wright,  Alexander,  456  ;  Captain,  504 ; 
George,  250  ;  Hannah,  357  ;  Henry, 
418  ;  Lydia,  429  ;  Master,  6  ;  Mary, 
357,  504 ;  Nathaniel,  55,  62,  68,  70, 
72—3,  75  ;  Richard,  139,  183,  190, 
245,  791  ;  Robert,  347,  795  ;  Thomas, 
60  ;  William,  36,  60. 

Written  Tree,  248. 

Writs  of  Assistance,  656—667. 

Wyatt,  Robert,  342. 

Wyman,  Ross,  and  others,  336. 

Wynche,  Mr.,  55. 

Yale,  David,  294  ;  Elihu,  ib. 

York,  Duke  of,  231,  268,  725  ;  Dr.,  G41 ; 
Mr.,  463. 

Yougust,  Dr.,  685. 

Young,  Alexander,  339  ;  Anthony,  815 ; 
Mr.,  635,  756  ;  Thomas,  738  ;  Wil- 
liam, 580,  593. 

Yow,  Thomas,  800. 


No.  I.] 


[25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 

OLIVER    L.    PERKINS,    56    CORNHILL. 


George  C.  Rand,  Printer,  Cornhill,  Boston. 


NOTE. 

The  Author  hopes  that  the  length  of  his  introductory  chapters  will  not  be  complain- 
ed of  by  the  patrons  of  the  work.  It  appeared  to  him  to  be  highly  necessary  to  bring 
together  the  facts  which  had  such  an  immediate  and  important  bearing  upon  the  settling 
of  New  England  ;  the  history  of  the  Capital  of  which,  necessarily  involving  the  same 
considerations,  would  be  incomplete  without  them.  The  reader  of  this  number  of  the 
History  of  Boston,  will  find  many  new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work ;  and 
that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such 
historical  and  antiquarian  investigations.  He  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions  upon 
several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to 
notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  cer- 
tainly not  made  them  for  the  sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because 
they  differ  from  others.  Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit, 
but  invites  his  friends  and  all  others  interested  in  the  history  of  the  City,  to  communi- 
cate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he 
has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover. 
There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those 
disposed  an  opportunity  to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if 
they  feel  sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


PROPOSALS  BY  OLIVER  L.  PERKINS, 

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HISTORY    AND    ANTIQUITIES 

0  F 

BOSTON, 

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Dorchester,  Early  History  of,  by  S.  G.  Drake,  .50 

Dow  (Lorenzo)  Polemical  Reflections,  .25 

Drake  (N.)  Essays  on  the  Rambler,  &c,  5  vols.  cr.  8vo,  3.00 

"      (Sir  F.)  Life  from  Biog.  Britannica,  sin.  fo.,  2.00 

«           «        "     by  Barrow,  8vo,  2.50 

"      (S.  G.)  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  18mo,  1.00 

»  "      Biog.  &  Hist.  Inds.  of  N.  Amer.  extra  ed.  3.50 

"          "      same,  ordinary  edition,  2.00 

Dudley  (D.)  Genealogy  of  the  Family  of  D.,  1.00 

During  (H.)  Remarks  on  the  U.  S.  A.,  cr.  8vo  .50 

Duxbury,  History  of,  by  Winsor,  8vo,  1.75 

Eaton  (A.)  Hist.  Christ's  Ch.  Boston,    8vo,  .25 


1.00 

.26 

.25 

.25 

4.50 

1.00 

175 

.25 

1.75 

.15 

.50 


Ellis  (C.  M.)  Hist.  Roxbury,  Ms.  8vo, 
Everett  (E.)  Oration  at  Charlestown,  1828, 
"  "        "  Concord,  1825, 

"  Selections  from  the  works  of,  1839, 

Farmer  (J.)  Gencag.  Reg.  First  Letters  of  N.  E., 
Fessenden  (G.  M.)  Geneal.  of  the  Bradford  Family, 
Pramingham,  History  of,  by  Barry, 
Freeman  (J.)  Review  of  Morse's  Geog.,  8vo, 
Frothingham  (R.)  Hist.  Siege  of  Boston, 
Gannett  (E.  S.)  Ser.  on  death  J.  Davis, 
Greenleaf  (M.)  Statistical  View  of  Maine, 
Greeville  (Fulke)  Maxims,  Characters,  &c,  1757,  8vo,  1.25 

Griffin  (E.  D.)  Ser.  Ded.  Ch.  Park  St.,  1810,  8vo,  .25 

Groton,  Hist,  of  the  Town  of,  by  Butler,  8vo,  2.50 

Guthrie  (W.)  Gen.  Hist.  World,  13  vols.  8vo,  1764,  6.00 

Hale  (S.)  Annals  of  Keene,  N.  H.,8vo,  new  ed.  .75 

Hale  (I.  J.)  Ladies'  Magazine,  9  vols.  8vo,  4.00 

Hanson  (J.  W.)  Hist.  Nomdgowock,  &c,  12mo,  1.25 

Harris  (T.)  Life  Com.  Bainbridge,  8vo,  -50 

Harris  (W.  T.)  Col.  of  Epitaphs  in  Cambridge,  .75 
"                     "               "            Watertown,  (in  press)  1.00 

Haverhill,  History  of  H.,  Ms.,  by  Myrick,  .75 

Howe  (N.)  Last  Voyage  of  Sir  John  Ross,  8vc,  2.00 

Hull,  Notes  on  the  Sea  Shore,  &c,  1848,  8vo,  .25 

Hull  (Gen.  Wm.)  Defence  bef.  Court  Martial,  8vo,  .50 

«           «           Mems.  Camp'n.  N.W.  Army,8vo.  .50 

Humphrey  (H.)  Indian  Rights,  &c,  12mo,  .12 

Hunt  (J.)  Ser.  at  fun.  Mrs.  Gill,  8vo,  imp.  -50 

Indian,  Report  on  a  Memorial  of  the  Seneca  I.,  .25 

Janeway  (J.)  Address  to  the  Citizens  of  London,  &c. ,  .50 

«             Token  for  Children,  &c,  1771,  -50 

«       (John)  Memoirs  of,  &c,  1824,  -50 

Kelly  (H.  J.)  Account  of  Oregon,  1831,  8vo,  .25 

Knight  (H.  C).  Letters  from  the  S.  and  W.,  8vo,  .25 

Lawrence  (W.). Lectures  on  Physiology,  &c.,  8vo,  1-00 

Lewis  (A.)  History  of  Lynn,  8vo,  100 

"             Poems,  ,a8 

Long  Island,  History  of,  by  Thompson,  8vo,  1.00 

Lowell  (J  )  Eulogy  on  Jas.  Bowdoin,  4to,  1791,  -25 

Maiden,  Historv  of  Cent.  Anniversary,  1850,  1-00 

"      Two  Discourses  at  in  1804,  -25 

Massachusetts,  Debates  in  Convention  of  1788,  8vo,  1.50 
Mather,  Memoir  of  Dr.  C.  M.  and  Pedegree  of  the  Family,  .50 

M'Culloh  (J.  H.)  Researches  on  America,  1817,  8vo,  .50 

Messinger  (R)  Sentiments  of  Resignation,  -50 
Montgomery,  Death  of  Gen.  at  Quebec,  a  Tragedy,  1777  1.00 

Moody  (C.  C.  P.)  Biog  of  the  Moody  Family,  .38 

Moore  (C.  W.)  Cent.  Discourse  to  St.  John's  Lodge,  .25 

Newbury,  History  of,  by  Coffin,  8vo,  1.50 

New  Hampshire,.  Festival  of  the  Sons  of,  8vo,  .75 

Newton,  History  of  the  Town  of,  by  Homer,  8vo,  -50 

New  York,  Description  of,  by  Danton,.  8vor  -7.5 
"          Hist,  of  Pureb.  and  Settl't.  of  W.  N.  T.,  8vo,  1.50 

«<          Documents  rel.  to  House  of  Refuge-,  8vo,  .75 

Ogilley  (J.)  Hist.  Asia, fol,  1673,  2-00 
Osgood  (D.)  Solemn  Protest  agt.  Decl.  War,  a  Ser.,  8vo,    .20 

Otis  Genealogy  of  the  Family  of  O.,  1-50 

Pickering  (T.)  Corresp.  with  Sullivan,  &c,  8vo,  .^> 

Pittsfield,  Hist,  of,  by  D.  D  Field,  8vo,  map,  .25 

Plymouth,  Hist,  of,  by  Thacher,  12mo,  •?& 

Prescott  (N.  H.)  Mem.  of  J.  Pickering,  8vo,  .^5 

Quincy  (J.)  Mems.  of  Saml.  Shaw,  8vo,  1  W 

"          History  of  the  Boston  Atheneum,  8vo,  1  to 

Rehoboth,  Hist,  of,  by  Bliss,  1-00 

Robbing  (C.)  Hist.  Second  Ch..  Boston,  l.au 

Ripley  (E.)  History  of  Concord  Fight,£vo,  ■& 

Bobbins  (C  )  Hist  Second  Church,  8vo.,  1.50 

Shrewsbury,  Hist,  of,  by  Ward,  ^W 

Sparks  (J. )  Letters  on  the  Episcopal  Church,  l.UO 

Stoddard  (J . )  Journal  of  an  Expedition  to  Canada,  .50 

Sprague  (C.)  Curiosity,  a  Poem,  8vo,  -25 

Temple  ( J  H.)  Hist.  Whately,  8vo,  .25 

Thayer  (E. )  Hist.  14  Families,  8vo,  1.25 

Town,  (S.)  System  of  Speclutive  Masonry,  12mo.,  1.05 

Ward!  Hist.  Family  of,  8vo,  2.00 

Warren,  Annals  of,  by  Eaton,  12mo,  1-5U 

Union,  Hist,  of,  by  Libby,  8vo,  1-20 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


The  want  of  a  new  History  of  Boston,  has  for  a  long  time  been  felt.  That  of  Dr.  Snow,  of  which 
the  first  edition  wajs  published  in  1825,  and  the  second  in  1828,  has,  for  a  long  time,  been  out  of  print,  and 
it  is  now  only  in  rare  instances  that  it  can  be  obtained  by  those  who  wish  to  possess  it.  Besides  which, 
this  work,  though  a  good  one  for  its  day,  has,  in  several  particulars  at  least,  been  far  surpassed  by 
the  later  histories  of  some  of  our  sister  cities  and  towns.  A  new  work  therefore,  which,  retaining  all  that 
is  valuable  in  Snow's  History,  and  including  such  new  matter  in  relation  to  our  early  history  as  has  since 
been  gathered,  should  also  continue  the  narrative  to  a  later  period,  seems  to  be  very  much  needed  at  this 
time,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  hailed  with  pleasure  by  all  who  feel  an  interest  in  the  history  of  our  city. 
A  work  of  this  kind,  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  announcing,  has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
Esq.,  author  of  the  "  Book  of  the  Indians,  "  and  several  other  well  known  works  of  an  Historical  nature. 
No  one  could  be  obtained  for  this  undertaking  who  would  bring  to  the  task  qualifications  superior  to  Mr. 
Drake.  He  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  resident  of  this  city,  and  its  history  has  always,  during  his  resi- 
dence among  us,  been  a  subject  of  special  interest  to  him.  Whatever  he  undertakes  he  does  thoroughly, 
as  all  his  previous  works  bear  witness. — Boston  Journal,  14th  June,  1852. 

We  learn  that  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  of  this  city — who  has  long  been  favorably  known  to  that 
part  of  the  community  having  a  taste  for  historical  studies — has  undertaken  to  compose  a  new  work  on  the 
history  of  Boston.  A  book  of  this  kind  is  much  needed  at  the  present  day.  In  the  proposals  for  publish- 
ing the  work,  which  are  before  us,  it  is  stated  that  the  History  of  Boston  by  tb*  late  Dr.  Caleb  H.  Snow 
will  be  the  basis  of  the  present  undertaking.  This  work  has  long  been  inaccessible,  except  through  the 
public  libraries ;  and,  though  a  very  valuable  one,  had  deficiencies,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  work  com- 
posed at  a  time  when  historical  research  in  our  community  was,  as  it  were,  in  its  infancy. — Post,  14th  June, 
1852. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a  History  of  Boston,  on  the  basis  of  that  of  the  late  Dr. 
C  H.  Snow,  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will  soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed,  has 
been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the  well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this  de- 
partment of  literature.  The  manuscript  left  by  Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new  edition 
of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be  incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  qualifications 
of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our  city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably  no  single 
individual  in  the  commnnity,  who  knows  so  well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of  historical 
works  ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well  able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his  country's  history.  For  several  years  he  was  the  editor  of  the 
New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this  city,  of  whose 
character  it  would  be  superfluous  here  to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this  work  have  been 
marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  research,  which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, — and  we  have' no 
doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his  History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  our  future  historians. — Dally 
Advertiser,  June  10th,  1852. 

A  circular  has  been  addressed  to  our  citizens,  by  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  containing  proposals  to  publish  by 
subscription  a  History  of  Boston,  on  the  basis  of  the  work  of  a  similar  title  by  the  late  Dr.  Caleb  H.  Snow. 
Mr.  Samuel  G.  Drake  is  named  as  the  editor  of  the  proposed  volume.  Mr.  Drake  has  ample  qualifications 
for  the  service,  as  his  writings  in  that  department  of  literature  attest.  Mr.  Drake  has  obtained  all  the  pa- 
pers of  Dr  Snow,  and  will  thus  be  able  to  avail  himself  of  many  valuable  materials  for  the  work.  The 
publisher  announces  his  intention  to  produce  the  book  in  an  elegant  style  of  execution,  in  every  respect 
worthy  the  metropolis  of  New  England.  We  commend  the  volume  to  the  attention  of  all  classes  of  our 
fellow  citizens. — Atlas,  24th  June,  1852. 

In  the  year  1825  there  appeared  an  octavo  volume  published  by  Mr.  Abel  Bowen,  and  written  by  Dr. 
Caleb  H.  Snow,  called  The  History  of  Boston.  Mr.  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  a  few  months  since,  purchased  of 
the  representatives  of  Mr.  Bowen  their  interest  in  Snow's  History,  with  a  view  of  bringing  out  a  new  edi- 
tion of  the  work,  with  notes  and  additions,  under  the  editorial  superintendence  of  Mr.  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
For  this  work  Mr.  Drake's  previous  studies  and  turn  of  mind  had  especially  fitted  him.  To  the  early  history 
of  New  England  he  has  devoted  himself  with  that  earnest  and  persevering^ndustry  which  only  a  sincere  love 
of  the  subject  could  inspire. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the  project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in  books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr.  Drake 
has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation  of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added  directly 
or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for  an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted  with  the 
character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has  read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt  that  he 
is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he  has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Drake's  History  of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  substantial 
value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy  for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the  sake 
of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both  for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of  the 
two  hundred  and  thirty  years  which  have  ripened  the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  consequent  temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book,  it 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to  the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a  mod- 
est and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat  neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedigrees  of 
his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  2Zd  June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

Mr.  S.  G.  Drake,  of  Boston,  proposes  to  publish  a  new  history  of  Boston.  No  man,  we  think,  in  our  ac 
quaintance,  is  better  qualified  for  the  work.  There  ought  to  be  a  new  history.  The  last,  (Dr.  Snow's)  was 
a  very  good  one  for  the  time  in  which  it  was  written ;  but  having  all  the  advantages  of  Dr.  Snow's,  besides 
the  collections  he  has  himself  made,  and  the  helps  of  his  literary  friends,  Mr.  Drake  must  produce  a  better 
work.  Of  Dr.  Snow's  book,  we  speak  conscientiously,  in  the  words  of  a  late  writer, '  G  S.  H.',  which  we 
interpret  to  be  G.  S.  Hillard,  Esq.  w  N  ^ 

The  copyright  of  Snow's  History  has  been  purchased,  and  placed  at  Mr.  Drake's  disposal ;  but  he  will  not 
re-print  Dr.  Snow's  work  with  additions.  He  will  avail  himself  of  the  facts  of  that  work,  but  he  will  re 
write,  that  he  may  introduce  into  those  parts  devoted  to  the  earlier  time,  such  facts  as  he  has  himself  brought 
out  of  the  womb  of  the  past.  We  urge  it  upon  every  man  to  subscribe  for  Mr.  Drake's  work.  In  doing 
so,  they  will  assist  a  worthy  man,  who  has  not  reaped  the  fruit  from  all  the  fields  he  has  planted.  But 
not  on  that  account  solely,  but  because  .Mr.  D.  will  bring  out  a  better  work  than  any  of  its  predecessors, 
do  we  ui-ge  men  to  subscribe.  Frothingham,  the  present  Mayor  of  Charlestown,  has  given  us  a  fine  his- 
tory of  that  ancient  town.  L.  R.  Paige,  Esq.,  will,  we  hope,  soon  permit  the  world  to  see  his  erudite  and 
elaborate  history  of  Cambridge  ;  and  when  Drake's  new  History  of  Boston  is  fully  written,  we  shall  feel 
that  a  large  vacuum  is  filled  up. —  Trumpet,  3  July,  1852. 


No.  II.  1 


[25  CENTS. 


■Jmi.  KILBlinU    DLL. 


BOSTON: 

OLIVER    L.    PERKINS,     56     CORN  HILL, 


Geo.  C.  Rand,  Printer,  Cornhill. 


Stereotyped  by  Hobart  &  Robbing. 


PROPOSALS   BY   OLIVER  L.   PERKINS, 

TO    PUBLISH    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY     SAMUEL     G.     DRAKE. 


The  Publisher,  having  purchased  of  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Abel  Bowen,  all  their  right 
in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  and  the  Plates  formerly  used  in  the  same,  has  made  exten- 
sive preparations  to  bring  out  a  new  work,  in  an  elegant  style  of  execution,  in  every 
respect  worthy  of  the  Metropolis  of  New  England,  at  the  present  time. 

The  great  demand  for  Snow's  History  of  Boston  for  many  years  past  is  well 
known,  and  the  want  of  a  good  History  of  the  City  is  everywhere  felt. 

To  supply  the  deficiences  in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  (rendered  very  considerable  by 
the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication,)  the  Publisher  has  the  satisfaction  to  announce 
that  he  has  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Drake,  whose  qualifications  in  this  department 
of  Literature  are  well  known  and  acknowledged,  and  who  will  bring  to  the  task,  not 
only  a  vast  accumulation  of  the  rarest  materials,  but  an  experience  of  above  a  quarter 
of  a  century  in  such  pursuits. 

The  Editor  is  also  in  possession  of  all  the  Notes  and  Corrections  left  by  Dr.  Snow, 
in  an  interleaved  copy  of  his  work,  and  many  other  papers  intended  to  have  been  used 
in  a  new  edition. 

CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  Interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper.  Pica  Type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

OFFICE    OF    PUBLICATION,    56    C OENHILL ,    UP    STAIES. 


NOTE. 

The  Author  hopes  that  the  length  of  his  introductory  chapters  will  not  be  complained 
of  by  the  patrons  of  the  work.  It  appeared  to  him  to  be  highly  necessary  to  bring 
together  the  facts  which  had  such  an  immediate  and  important  bearing  upon  the  settling 
of  New  England ;  the  history  of  the  Capital  of  which,  necessarily  involving  the  same 
considerations,  would  be  incomplete  without  them.  The  reader  of  this  number  of  the 
History  of  Boston,  will  find  many  new  facts ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work;  and 
that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such 
historical  and  antiquarian  investigations.  He  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions  upon 
several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to 
notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  cer- 
tainly not  made  them  for  the  sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because 
they  differ  from  others.  Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit, 
but  invites  his  friends  and  all  others  interested  in  the  history  of  the  City,  to  communi- 
cate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he 
has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover. 
There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those 
disposed  an  opportunity  to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if 
they  feel  sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


To  the  Sons  of  New  England,  everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historical  Genealogical 
Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

Mm   feglanit  JBfetoriral  imfr  ienealngical  Ulster, 

AND 

ANTIQUARIAN    JOURNAL. 

wbb  #ni  abwiqvabiah  vbbiobigab 

PUBLISHED     IN     THE     UNITED     STATES! 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community 
at  large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  JYew 
England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  ovies  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that 
object.     It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  Yovfor  support. 

The  New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many,  as  unpardonable  and  degrading  at  this  enlightened  stage  0( 
society  in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can 
be  judged,  the  Founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property 
or  titles  to  nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an 
element  of  vast  importance  yet  to  be  developed  by  these  investigations,  is  really  believed, —  an  element 
which  will  eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  oan  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical, 
researches,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject  j  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology  ; 
for  it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid 
every  one  having  a  desire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiqui- 
ties of  his  country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  enquiries  with  the  prospect  of 
success,  but  to  make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication  ;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your 
patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows: 

1.  Lists  of  Births  Marriages  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain 

important  facts  illustrative  of  History,  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances ;  —  Such  portions  of  old  English  History,  Geneal- 

ogies  and  Antiquities,  as  may  he  thought  necessary  for  the  illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasion- 
ally entire  Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  &c.s 

belonging  to  the  earliest  times  to.which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  — to  be  accompanied,  when  prac- 
ticable, with  engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ; — Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  &c. 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  devices,  with  sufficient  explanations  of  the  terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England,  before  1700 ; 

showing  from  what  places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  descendants  in  this  country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  lineage  and  descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest 

dates  to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  time,  with  their  branches  and  connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,   Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all 

denominations,  of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
•  Officers,  and  other  persons  of  distinction. 

SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G,  Drake,  56  Cornhill,  Boston,  (up  stairs,)  to  whom  all  com- 
municati>  s  should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz:  in  January,  April,  July,  and 
Octobee  ^f  each  year;  At  TWO  DOLLARS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Bost  n,  1  January,  1853. 

S.  B.  —  There  are  now  completed  six  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  seventh  begins  with  the  first  of  January,  1853;  — 
aft'ordi      a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression 
with  c  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.    A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the 
work  are  on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity 
bound,  or  in  numbers. 


i 


NOTICES    OF    THE    PRESS. 


History  op  Boston,  No.  I.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  — 
Boston  bids  fair  to  make  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  opulent 
cities  in  the  world.  Its  early  history  therefore,  is  becoming 
a  matter  of  absorbing  interest.  We  wish  to  go  back  to  the 
founders  of  the  city  — we  are  anxious  to  know  something 
about  Sebastian  Cabot,  John  Verazzani,  Jaques  Cartier,  Sir 
Humphrey  Gilbert,  the  father  of  American  Colonization, 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  Richard  Hakluyt,  the  chivalric  Captain 
John  Smith,  Captain  Gosnold,  Sir  Ferdmando  Gorges,  the 
founder  of  Maine.  To  obtain  this  knowledge,  it  is  necessary 
to  read  many  books,  examine  numerous  documents,  faded 
and  time-worn.  Besides,  very  few  persons  have  the 
education,  leisure,  or  opportunity  to  hunt  up  the  vestiges,  and 
trace  the  foot-prints  of  our  early  history.  We  are  constantly 
occupied.  We  have  no  time  to  read  many  books,  nor  to  sit 
decidhering  old  parchments.  We  cannot  cater  in  the  liter- 
ary market ;  we  must  take  the  food  provided  for  us  by  the 
hands  of  others,  or  else  live  at  hap-hazard,  lean  and  hungry 
as  we  may  be  for  knowledge.  — .The  public,  therefore,  owe  a 
great  and  lasting  obligation  to  that  man,  who,  with  untiring 
industry,  deep  research,  a  clear  head,  and  an  honest  endeavor 
to  find  the  truth — collects  historic  facts  and  presents  them 
to  the  reader  in  a  neat  and  convenient  form.  Of  this  char- 
acter is  the  first  number  of  the  "  History  of  Boston,"  by  Mr. 
Drake  ;  and  if  this  is  a  faithful  harbinger  of  the  work,  it 
promises  to  be  exceedingly  valuable. —  Boston  Courier,  lli/i 
October,  1852. 

History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake—*  *  *  * 
The  writer  is  well  known.  His  qualifications  as  a  historian 
are  undoubted,  and  the  result  of  his  labors  require  no 
pledge.  In  the  number  before  us  we  have  the  introductory 
chapters  mainly  occupied  with  a  rapid  survey  of  the  early 
discoveries,  which,  step  by  step,  led  to  the  settlement  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  founding  of  Boston.  The  interest  of 
the  volume  can  hardly  fail  to  increase  as  it  proceeds. 
Every  generation  of  our  ancestors  was  agitated  by  new  and 
striking  questions  and  events,  many  of  which  were  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  general  history  of  the  colonies. 
No  other  city  of  the  Continent  has  a  history  so  interesting 
and  important.  We  rejoice  that  a  work  like  this  is  under- 
taken, and  we  desire  that  our  citizens  may  testify  their  ap- 
probation of  the  attempt  by  a  liberal  patronage.  An  exten- 
sive list  of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  biographical  and 
genealogical  facts. —  Watchman  §•  Reflector,  SOlh  Sept.,  1852. 

A  New  History  op  Boston.  —  We  have  seen  the  first 
part  of  a  proposed  work  under  the  title  of  "  The  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake."  The 
work  is  published  by  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  It  is  intended  that 
it  shall  be  completed  in  about  sixteen  parts,  each  containing 
forty-eight  pages,  in  royal  octavo,  and  that  it  shall  be  illus- 
trated with  at  least  one  hundred  engravings  ;  the  paper, 
type,  and  execution  being  of  the  very  best.  The  first  part 
gives  proof  of  thoroughness  of  research  and  the  fulness  of 
information  which  the  author  promises  shall  characterize 
the  work.  He  begins,  not,  like  Prince,  with  the  beginnings 
of  all  things,  but  with  the  first  voyages  of  Europeans  to 
the  waters  which  bathe  this  peninsula.  Making  a  faithful  use 
of  all  the  facts  which  painstaking  antiquarianism  has  authen- 
ticated, he  is  not  so  dry  or  diffuse  as  to  exceed  the  patieuce 
of  any  reader  who  has  a  heart  for  the  theme.  Boston  is 
worthy  of  a  devoted  chronicler,  and  as  this  work  progresses 
we  shall  doubtless  make  frequent  mention  of  it. —  Christian 
Examiner,  Nov.,  1852. 

The  History  op  Boston.  By  S.  G.  Drake. —  We  have 
looked  over  the  pages  of  the  first  number  of  this  work  with 
much  pleasure,  and  from  its  beautiful  appearance  it  must 
make  an  attractive  book.  This  number  is  devoted  to  a  sur- 
vey of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements  on  th"  coast 
of  New  England,  and  it  gives  evidence  of  great  research, 
and  among  the  materials  for  the  early  history  of  >our  coun- 
try, we  note  some  some  references  to  rare  manuscripts  that 
have  never  been  published.  We  judge  the  matter  could  not 
be  in  better  hands  than  the  veteran  editor  who  has  been  so 
long  in  the  Antiquarian  field.  All  that  seems  now  wanting, 
to  have  a  history  worthy  of  our  city,  is  for  our  wealthy  men 
(and  their  name  is  legion)  to  come  forward  and  subscribe 
freely,  not  for  single  copies,  but  put  down  for  tens  or  twenties, 
as  it  will  make  just  the  kind  of  book  that  a  liberal  man 
would  wish  to  give  away  as  a  memento  to  some  friend  who 
would  long  appreciate  it. —  Boston  Daily  Bee,  3d  Sept ,  1852. 

History  of  Boston,  No.  I.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. — 
This  work  is  founded  on  the  well  known  "  History  of  Bos- 
ton," by  the  late  Dr.  Snow,  but  is  greatly  enlarged  and  im- 
proved by  the  accomplished  autiquarian  whose  name  appears 
on  the  tide  page.  It  is  to  appear  in  numbers,  and  is  issued 
in  a  style  of  great  typographical  elegance,  with  copious  pic- 
torial illustrations.  The  number  before  us  exhibits  wide  re- 
search and  excellent  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  Editor. 
We  are  glad  that  the  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  Eng- 
land has  fallen  into  such  competent  hands  ;  judging  from 
the  present  specimen,  the  work  will  be  a  treasury  of  anti- 
quarian lore  and  curious  reminiscences  ;  we  shall  look  with 
interest  for  the  appearance  of  the  successive  numbers. 
Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.)—  N.  Y.  Tribune,  \i)lh  Sept.,  1852. 


"History  op  Boston."  By  Sam'l  G.  Drake. —  royal  8vo, 
48  pages.  This  is  the  first  number  of  what  promises  to  bo 
a  most  valuable  as  well  as  beautiful  history  of  Boston.  The 
basis  of  it  is  to  be  Snow's  History  of  Boston.  The  deficien- 
cies of  that  history  are  to  be  supplied,  and  the  work  brought 
down  to  the  present  time,  by  the  editorial  labors  of  Mr. 
Drake,  favorably  known  to  the  community  as  the  author  of 
the  "  Book  of  Indians,"  and  other  literary  labors,  and  cele- 
brated for  his  antiquarian  taste  and  lore.  The  work  is  in 
most  competent  hands,  and  our  citizens  may  confidently 
expect  a  history  of  the  city  which  shall  be  as  full  and  com- 
plete as  labor  and  learning  can  snake  it.  The  work  is  to  be 
comprised  in  16  numbers,  of  48  pages  each,  handsomely 
printed,  and  illustrated  with  a  beautiful  panoramic  view  of 
Boston  and  its  environs,  and  numerous  portraits  of  distin- 
guished individuals,  and  other  objects  of  interest.  Price  25 
cents,  only,  a  number. —  Daily  Ere.  Trav'r,  16t/i  Sept.,  1852. 

Drake's  History  op  Boston,  No.  I. —  An  antiquary  by 
profession,  Mr.  Drake  has  for  many  years  devoted  much 
time  and  labor  to  the  collection  of  original  materials  towards 
the  history  of  New  England.  His  valuable  works  on  the  abo- 
rigines of  this  country  have  met  with  an  extended  sale,  and 
have  reached  many  editions.  The  remark  which  Hakluyt 
applies  to  old  John  Stow,  that  be  was  a  "  diligent  preserver 
of  antiquities,"  may  be  said  in  truth  and  with  emphasis  of 
Mr.  Drake.  And  as  Stow's  "  Survey  of  London  "  has  con- 
nected his  name  forever  with  that  famous  city  of  the  Old 
World  ;  so  we  trust  that  Drake's  History  of  Boston  may  be 
the  means  of  worthily  and  honorably  associating  his  mem- 
ory with  this  city  of  the  New  World.  This  first  number  is 
introductory  to  the  History  of  Boston,  and  we  shall  await 
with  interest  the  numbers  that  are  yet  to  appear. —  Cambridge 
Chronicle  Id  October,  1852. 

History  op  Boston,  No.  I.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. — 
The  first  number  of  this  work  has  just  been  issued  from  the 
press.  This  number  is  devoted  to  a  statement  of  the  earliest 
discoverers  of  New  England  ;  and  this  is  done  with  a  com- 
pactness and  a  comprehensivenejss_jvIikhwe  have  not  seen 
in  any  other  form,  and  makes^an'appro^mate-Jieg'inning  of 
the  history  of  the  city.  Mr.  Drake  is  peculiarly  qualified 
to  write  the  History  of  Boston.  He  has  been  for  several 
years  editor  of  the  "  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register,"  and  is  the  author  of  several  Histoiical  Works. 
He  has  the  same  indomitable  perseverance  in  historical  re- 
search, that  his  world-renowned  namesake  had  in  navigation. 
He  has  ploughed  the  sea  of  History,  and  fathomed  the 
depth  of  antique  lore  in  his  gatherings  of  material  for  the 
"  History  of  Boston,"  by  which,  volume  after  volume  has 
been  added  and  placed  upon  the  shelves  of  his  study.  Mr. 
Drake  will  bring  out  of  this  a  rare,  curious,  and  exc  eedingly 
valuable  work.     N.  Y.  Christian  Inquirer,  Ath  Dec,  1852. 

Drake's  History  op  Boston. —  The  first  number  of  this 
important  publication  has  just  made  its  appearance.  The 
well  known  reputation  of  the  Author,  Mr.  Samuel  G. 
Drake,  A.  M.,  who  has  gained  so  much  reputation  lor  his 
voluminous  and  reliable  History  of  the '  Indians,  is  a  suffi- 
cient guarantee  that  his  department  will  be  well  filled. 
This  number  is  got  up  in  the  most  elegant  stj  le.  1 1  is  a 
credit  to  the  good  taste  and  enterprise  of  the  Publisher,  Mr. 
0-  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill. —  Witness  §'  Advocate  lut/i  Sept. 

The  History  of  Boston. —  We  have  received  the  first 
number  of  this  work,  which  is  beautifully  printed  in  |ro\al] 
octavo  form,  on  large  type  and  fine  paper.  A  good  history 
of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum.  Dr.  Snow's  work  first 
published  some  twenty  [27]  years  since,  is  now  entirely  out 
of  print.  That  however  is  inadequate  to  the  requirements 
of  the  present  time.  We  are  glad  that  Mr  Drake  has  un- 
dertaken this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable  antiquary, 
and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his  task.  He  will  by  no 
means  merely  reprint  Dr.  Snow's  work,  but  will  retain  of  it 
only  what  is  valuable,  and  at  the  same  time,la\  ing  all  access- 
ible resources  under  contribution.  We  are  suie  that  Mr. 
Drake  will  give  the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough 
research  and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guarantee  of 
this  in  his  previous  publications.  Old  Colony  Memorial.  Id 
September,  1852. 

History  op  Boston,  No.  I. —  This  number  consists  of  ac- 
counts of  the  discoveries  mtlde  by  the  early  navigators  to 
these  shores,  illustrated  with  portraits  ot  Cabot,  A.  ( razzani, 
Cartier,  Gilbert  Smith  and  others.  These  accounts  are 
drawn  from  original  authorities,  and  the  lea'der  will  find 
here  many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and  to 
our  local  history.  A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted. 
Mr.  Drake  has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works,  have  thrown  in 
his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and  to  these  are  to  be 
added  the  copious  collection  for  a  new  edition  of  his  work, 
left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From  these  sources,  this  laborious,  care- 
ful, and  experienced  author  will  present  a  publication  that 
will  be  a  most  valuable  record  of  Boston.  Jt  will  be  a  per- 
manent and  substantial  work,  which  every  citizen  of  Boston, 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess. —  Boston  Post,  'liik 
September,  1852 


No.  III.] 


[25  CENTS. 


:**=—" 'E.E.FOX.  SC 


BOSTON: 
OLIVER   L.   PERKINS,   56    CORNHILL. 


CAMBRIDGE:    PRINTED    BY    METCALF   AND    COMPANY. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOBART   AND   ROBB1NS. 


PROPOSALS  BY  OLIVER  L.  PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING  BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

€\it   33xatnrq   atrit  ItitqttitftH  nf  ®n«tnn 

By    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


The  Publisher,  having  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Abel  Bowen  all  their  right 
in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  and  the  Plates  formerly  used  in  the  same,  has  made  exten- 
sive preparations  to  bring  out  a  new  work,  in  an  elegant  style  of  execution,  in  every 
respect  worthy  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England,  at  the  present  time. 

The  great  demand  for  Snow's  History  of  Boston  for  many  years  past  is  well 
known,  and  the  want  of  a  good  History  of  the  City  is  everywhere  felt. 

To  supply  the  deficiencies  in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  (rendered  very  considerable  by 
the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication,)  the  Publisher  has  the  satisfaction  to  announce 
that  he  has  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Drake,  whose  qualifications  in  this  department 
of  literature  are  well  known  and  acknowledged,  and  who  will  bring  to  the  task,  not 
only  a  vast  accumulation  of  the  rarest  materials,  but  an  experience  of  above  a  quarter 
of  a  century  in  such  pursuits. 

The  Editor  is  also  in  possession  of  all  the  Notes  and  Corrections  left  by  Dr.  Snow, 
in  an  interleaved  copy  of  his  work,  and  many  other  papers  intended  to  have  been  used 
in  the  new  edition. 

CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

O*  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be  issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 


NOTE. 

The  Author  hopes  that  the  length  of  his  introductory  chapters  will  not  be  complained 
of  by  the  patrons  of  the  work.  It  appeared  to  him  to  be  highly  necessary  to  bring 
together  the  facts  which  had  such  an  immediate  and  important  bearing  upon  the  settling 
of  New  England  ;  the  history  of  the  Capital  of  which,  necessarily  involving  the  same 
considerations,  would  be  incomplete  without  them.  The  reader  of  this  number  of  the 
History  of  Boston  will  find  many  new  facts ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and 
that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such 
historical  and  antiquarian  investigations.  He  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions,  upon 
several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to 
notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  cer- 
tainly not  made  them  for  the  sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because 
they  differ  from  others.  Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit, 
but  invites  his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  history  of  the  City,  to  communi- 
cate to  him  any  thing  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he 
has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover. 
There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those 
disposed  an  opportunity  to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if 
they  feel  sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


To   the   Sons   of  New   England   everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic-Genealogical 

Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

Jim4S%M  IBatairel  atii  tealngiral  %t$An, 


ANTIQUARIAN    JOURNAL. 

THE    ONL1T    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICAL 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES  I 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community  at 
large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New  England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that  object. 
It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support. 

The  New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be  judged, 
the  founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles  to 
nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an  element  of  vast 
importance  yet  to  be  developed  by  these  investigations,  is  really  believed,  — an  element  which  will 
eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  can  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researched,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology;  for 
it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
one  having  a  desire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  :  — 
1 .    Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain  im- 

ponant  facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  -  Such  Portions  of  old  English  History,  Genealogies, 

and  Antiquities  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occas.onally  entire 
Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  value. 

4  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements    Costumes ,  &c  be- 

longing "o  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  -  to  be  accompanied,  when  practicable, 
with  Engravings. 

5  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ;  -  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c. ,  &c. 

6.    Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 
for  their  Emblazonry. 

7  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England  before  1700  ; 

slowin"  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families  from  the  earliest  Dates 

to  whi™h  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,.Ministers  and  Churches  of  all  De- 

nominations of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction. 

SAMUEL.    G.   DRAKE,  Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  56  Cornhill,  Boston  (up  stairs),  to  whom  all  com- 
munications should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz.  in  January,  April,  July,  and 
October,  of  each  year ;  at  TWO   DOLLAES  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N  B  There  are  now  completed  six  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  seventh  was  begun  on  the  first  of  January,  18S3 ;  — 
affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression  with 
a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the  work  are 
on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  bound,  or 
in  numbers. 


NOTICES    OF   THE    PRESS. 


"  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainly  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  of  research.  The  au- 
thor we  think,  must  feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only 
laid  'open  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  strictest  scrutiny.  The  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light  the 
nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this  part 
of  New  England  was  settled.  He  has  with  great  care  gone 
step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England, 
until  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That 
old  pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneously 
placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here  takes  his 
proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  patentees,  Mr. 
Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and  though  we 
perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  inaccuracies  (though 
generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long 
standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and  Win- 
throp,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed  with  great 
gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"  Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there  is 
one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Weymouth 
for  New  England ;  one  of  Winthrop  from  the  Isle  of  Wight ; 
first  interview  with  the  Indians;  portrait  of  John  Davenport; 
autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly 
to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston."  —  Transcript,  Jan.  24,  1853. 

"The  History  of  Boston.  No.  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
Boston,     pp.  48.  ...,.,»., 

"  We  rejoice  that  a  work  of  this  description  is  fairly  before 
the  public.  It  is  a  book  to  be  read  by  every  Bostonian,  —  to 
be  handed  down  from  sire  to  son  so  long  as  the  Trimountain 
city  shall  endure.  . 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  the  peculiar  faculty  of  making  facts  read 
aright.  Matter,  considered  by  many  dry  and  diffuse,  is  here 
brought,  as  by  a  mental  microscopic  lens,  into  a  pleasing, 
proper  shape,  suitable  to  be  read  and  digested  by  the  wisest  as 
well  as  the  most  ordinary  minds.  Controverted  points  are 
elucidated,  and  important  historical  subjects  set  before  us  in 
a  new  light.  Every  page  of  this  History  of  Boston  comes  to 
us  laden  with  the  fruits  of  a  patient,  truth-loving  research; 
and  no  one  can  arise,  we  think,  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the 
work,  however  wise  he  may  have  been  before,  without  adding 
something,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  his  stock  of  historic 
knowledge.  If  the  author  occasionally  sets  a  new  piece  of 
cloth  on  to  an  old  garment,  he  does  not,  in  Scripture  phrase, 
'  take  away  from  the  old  and  make  the  rent  worse.'  On  the 
contrary,  the  additional  part  gives  strength  and  durability  to 
the  whole.  Many  interesting  facts  and  circumstances  con- 
nected with  the  movements  of  the  first  settlers  are  here  faith- 
fully chronicled,  from  the  times  of  Morton  of  Merry-Mount, 
to  that  of  Blackstone  of  Shawmut ;  with  a  succinct  account 
of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  of  the  old  Patents  and  the 
Charters;  voyages  of  Endicott  and  Winthrop  ;  settlements  at 
Cape  Ann,  Salem,  Charlestown,  Dorchester,  &c.  That  moot- 
ed question,  '  Who  was  the  first  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts 1 '  seems  to  be  here  most  satisfactorily  settled.  There 
appears  no  escaping  the  conclusion,  that  Endicott,  and  not 
Winthrop,  was  the  first  Governor ;  and  the  former  was  in 
reality  acting  under  his  commission,  long  before  the  latter 
was  chosen  even,  by  the  Company  in  England."  —  S.  Boston 
Gazette. 

"  The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  'diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  il- 
lustrate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen,  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston.  — 
There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious  remi- 
niscences and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book  must 
be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust 
that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  —  Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 

" History  of  Boston,  No.  I.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  —Boston 
bids  fair  to  make  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  opulent  cities 
in  the  world.  Its  early  history,  therefore,  is  becoming  a 
matter  of  absorbing  interest.  We  wish  to  go  back  to  the 
founders  of  the  city, — we  are  anxious  to  know  something 
about  Sebastian  Cabot,  John  Verazzani,  Jaques  Cartier,  Sir 
Humphrey  Gilbert,  the  father  of  American  Colonization, 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  Richard  Hakluyt,  the  chivalric  Captain 
John  Smith.  Captain  Gosnold,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  the 
founder  of  Maine.  To  obtain  this  knowledge,  it  is  necessary 
to  read  many  books,  examine  numerous  documents,  faded 
and  time-worn.  Besides,  very  few  persons  have  the  educa- 
tion, leisure,  or  opportunity  to  hunt  up  the  vestiges  and  trace 
the  footprints  of  our  early  history.  We  are  constantly  occu- 
pied. We  have  no  time  to  read  many  books,  nor  to  sit  de- 
ciphering old  parchments.  We  cannot  cater  in  the  literary 
market ;  we  must  take  the  food  provided  for  us  by  the  hands 


of  others,  or  else  live  at  haphazard,  lean  and  hungry  as  we 
may  be  for  knowledge.  —  The  public,  therefore,  owe  a  great 
and  lasting  obligation  to  that  man,  who,  with  untiring  indus- 
try, deep  research,  a  cear  head,  and  an  honest  endeavor  to 
find  the  truth,  collects  historic  facts  and  presents  them  to 
the  reader  in  a  neat  and  convenient  form.  Of  this  character 
is  the  first  number  of  the  '  History  of  Boston,'  by  Mr. 
Drake  ;  and  if  this  is  a  faithful  harbinger  of  the  work,  it 
promises  to  be  exceedingly  valuable."  —  Boston  Courier, 
October  11,1852. 

"History  of  Boston.    By  S.  G.  Drake. — 

The  writer  is  well  known.  His  qualifications  as  an  historian 
are  undoubted,  and  the  result  of  his  labors  requires  no  pledge. 
In  the  number  before  us  we  have  the  introductory  chapters 
mainly  occupied  with  a  rapid  survey  of  the  early  discoveries, 
which,  step  by  step,  led  to  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts 
and  the  founding  of  Boston.  The  interest  of  the  volume  can 
hardly  fail  to  increase  as  it  proceeds.  Every  generation  of  our 
ancestors  was  agitated  by  new  and  striking  questions  and 
events,  many  of  which  were  intimately  connected  with  the 
general  history  of  the  colonies.  No  other  city  of  the  Conti- 
nent has  a  history  so  interesting  and  important.  We  rejoice 
that  a  work  like  this  is  undertaken,  and  we  desire  that  our 
citizens  may  testify  their  approbation  of  the  attempt  by  a 
liberal  patronage.  An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhabitants 
of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by 
biographical  and  genealogical  facts." — Watchman  and  Reflec- 
tor, Sept.  30,  1852. 


"  A  New  History  of  Boston.  —  We  have  seen  the  first 
part  of  a  proposed  work  under  the  title  of  '  The  History  and 
Antiquities  of  Boston,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake.'  The  work  is 
published  by  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  It  is  intended  that  it  shall 
be  completed  in  about  sixteen  parts,  each  containing  forty- 
eight  pages,  in  royal  octavo,  and  that  it  shall  be  illustrated 
with  at  least  one  hundred  engravings ;  the  paper,  type,  and 
execution  being  of  the  very  best.  The  first  part  gives  proof 
of  thoroughness  of  research  and  the  fulness  of  information 
which  the  author  promises  shall  characterize  the  work.  He 
begins,  not,  like  Prince,  with  the  beginnings  of  all  things, 
but  with  the  first  voyages  of  Europeans  to  the  waters  which 
bathe  this  Peninsula.  Making  a  faithful  use  of  all  the  facts 
which  painstaking  antiquarianism  has  authenticated,  he  is 
not  so  dry  or  diffuse  as  to  exceed  the  patience  of  any  reader 
who  has  a  heart  for  the  theme.  Boston  is  worthy  of  a  de- 
voted chronicler,  and  as  this  work  progresses  we  shall  doubt- 
less make  frequent  mention  of  it." — Christian  Examiner, 
Nov.,  1852. 

"The  History  of  Boston.  By  S.  G.  Drake. — We 
have  looked  over  the  pages  of  the  first  number  of  this  work 
with  much  pleasure,  and  from  its  beautiful  appearance  it  must 
make  an  attractive  book.  This  number  is  devoted  to  a  sur- 
vey of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements  on  the  coast  of 
New  England,  and  it  gives  evidence  of  great  research  among 
the  materials  for  the  early  history  of  our  country,  and  we 
note  some  references  to  rare  manuscripts  that  have  never  been 
published.  We  judge  the  matter  could  not  be  in  better  hands 
than  the  veteran  editor  who  has  been  so  long  in  the  antiquari- 
an field.  All  that  seems  now  wanting,  to  have  a  history 
worthy  of  our  city,  is  for  our  wealthy  men  (and  their  name  is 
legion)  to  come  forward  and  subscribe  freely,  not  for  single 
copies,  but  put  down  for  tens  or  twenties,  as  it  will  make  just 
the  kind  of  book  that  a  liberal  man  would  wish  to  give  away 
as  a  memento  to  some  friend,  who  would  long  appreciate 
it."  —  Boston  Daily  Bee,  Sept.  3,  1852. 

"History  of  Boston,  No  I.  —  This  number  consists  of 
accounts  of  the  discoveries  made  by  the  early  navigators  to 
these  shores,  illustrated  with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani, 
Cartier,  Gilbert  Smith,  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn 
from  original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here  many 
new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators,  and  to  our  local  his- 
tory. A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work  which  others 
do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the  preparation  of  his  well- 
known  and  valuable  works,  have  thrown  in  his  way  much 
valuable  material ;  and  to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious 
collection  for  a  new  edition  of  his  work,  left  by  Dr.  Snow. 
From  these  sources,  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most  valuable 
record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent  and  substantial 
work,  which  every  citizen  of  Boston,  and  of  Massachusetts, 
ought  to  possess."  —  Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 


ERRATA. 


Page  3,  note  t.  r.  Martyr's  Decades. 
"  12,  I.  3,  2d  IT,  dele  reached,  and  insert  made  a  direct 

voyage. 
"  48,  1st  IT,  dele  within  two  years,  and  insert  in  1636. 
"  51,  I.  2,  2d  TT,  r.  Peter  Palfrey. 
'/'  52,  I.  2  of  top,  r.  shone. 
*"  62,  I.  3  of  foot  of  text,  r.  socage. 
"  68,  I.  12  of  note,  r.  1538. 


No.  IV.] 


[2S  CENTS. 


KLLBLBN    DEL. 


BOSTON: 
OLIVEE  L.  PERKINS,  186  Washington  Street. 

L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 


CAMBRIDGE:    PRINTED    BY    METCALF   AND    COMPANY. 


STEREOTYPED   BY  HOBART  AND   ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS  BY  OLIVER  L.  PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING   BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

By    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 

(JVo.  15  Brattle  Street,  vp  Stairs.) 


The  Publisher,  having  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Abel  Bowen  all  their  right 
in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  and  the  Plates  formerly  used  in  the  same,  has  made  exten- 
sive preparations  to  bring  out  a  new  work,  in  an  elegant  style  of  execution,  in  every 
respect  worthy  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England,  at  the  present  time. 

The  great  demand  for  Snow's  History  of  Boston  for  many  years  past  is  well 
known,  and  the  want  of  a  good  History  of  the  City  is  everywhere  felt. 

To  supply  the  deficiencies  in  the  work  of  Dr.  Snow,  (rendered  very  considerable  by 
the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication,)  the  Publisher  has  the  satisfaction  to  announce 
that  he  has  secured  the  services  of  MR.  Drake,  whose  qualifications  in  this  department 
of  literature  are  well  known  and  acknowledged,  and  who  will  bring  to  the  task,  not 
only  a  vast  accumulation  of  the  rarest  materials,  but  an  experience  of  above  a  quarter 
of  a  century  in  such  pursuits. 

The  Editor  is  also  in  possession  of  all  the  Notes  and  Corrections  left  by  Dr.  Snow, 
in  an  interleaved  copy  of  his  work,  and  many  other  papers  intended  to  have  been  used 
in  the  new  edition. 

CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

QCP  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be  issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

NOTE. 

The  Author  hopes  that  the  length  of  his  introductory  chapters  will  not  be  complained 
of  by  the  patrons  of  the  work.  It  appeared  to  him  to  be  highly  necessary  to  bring 
together  the  facts  which  had  such  an  immediate  and  important  bearing  upon  the  settling 
of  New  England  ;  the  history  of  the  Capital  of  which,  necessarily  involving  the  same 
considerations,  would  be  incomplete  without  them.  The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the 
History  of  Boston  will  find  many  new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and 
that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such 
historical  and  antiquarian  investigations.  He  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions,  upon 
several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to 
notice  them  ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  cer- 
tainly not  made  them  for  the  sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because 
they  differ  from  others.  Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit, 
but  invites  his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  history  of  the  City,  to  communi- 
cate to  him  any  thing  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he 
has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover. 
There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those 
disposed  an  opportunity  to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if 
they  feel  sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


To   the   Sons   of  New  England   everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic- Genealogical 

Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

lkttt~(Btiglimit  IMnriral  aixtt  (toealngiral  lUgMer, 


ANTIQTTAIUAN    JOURNAL. 

THE    DULY    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICA!. 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES  I 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community  at 
large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New  England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that  object. 
It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support. 

The  New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be  judged, 
the  founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles  to 
nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an  element  of  vast 
importance  yet  to  be  developed  by  these  investigations,  is  really  believed,  —  an  element  which  will 
eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  can  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researches,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology ;  for 
it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
one  having  a  desire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain  im- 

portant facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  —  Such  Portions  of  old  English  History,  Genealogies 

and  Antiquities,  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasionally  entire 
Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  Value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  &c.  be- 

longing to  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  —  to  be  accompanied,  when  practicable 
with  Engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ;  —  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  &c. 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  Emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England,  before  1700  ■ 

showing  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest  Dates 

to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all  De- 

nominations, of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction. 

SAMUEL.   O.   DRAKE,  Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  15  Brattle  Street  (up  stairs),  Boston,  to  whom  all  com- 
munications should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz.  in  January,  April.  July  and 
October,  of  each  year ;  at  TWO   DOLLARS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N.  B.    There  are  now  completed  six  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  seventh  was  begun  on  the  first  of  January  1853  • 

affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression,  with 
a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the  work  are 
on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  bound  or 
in  numbers. 


NOTICES    OF   THE    PRESS. 


"The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  —  The  attraction  of 
Mr.  Drake's  History  increases  as  the  work  progresses,  —the 
present  number  being  the  most  interesting  one  yet  issued. 
The  period  of  time  to  which  this  number  is  devoted  — com- 
prising, as  it  does,  the  infancy  of  our  city's  history  —  has,  of 
itseif,  an  unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Drake's 
pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the  settlement  of 
Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  forward  to  near  the  close  of 
1632.  This  was,  of  course,  the  most  critical  period  in  the  ex- 
istence of  the  settlement;  a  season  of  doubt  and  privation 
and  suffering,  less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high  ex- 
pectations that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flattering  ac- 
counts they  had  received  from  these  regions  previous  to  their 
emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a  vivid  picture  of  their 
situation  at  this  time,  and  has  done  justice  to  their  fortitude 
and  perseverance. 

"  There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  that  is  espe- 
cially deserving  of  commendation.  The  author  has  —  when- 
ever he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without  destroying  the  contin- 
uousness  of  his  narrative  — permitted  those  contemporaneous 
authors,  from  whom  he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their 
information  in  their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed 
how  frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous  word 
for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of  an  author,  will 
appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy  here  found. 

"  We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number  which 
we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.  The  account  given  on 
pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest  Meeting-Houses  in  Boston,  is 
quite  interesting. 

"  The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its  pre- 
decessors, deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the  embellish- 
ments are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth  Governor  of  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  a  view  of  the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in 
which  John  Cotton  preached.  We  observe,  also,  that  the  ini- 
tial letters  of  the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  orna- 
niented  with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudley,  and  presume  that  it  is  intended  to  give  the 
arms  of  the  succeeding  governors  in  the  chapters  which  fol- 
low. From  the  specimens  already  published,  we  have  no 
doubt  that  —  if  the  public  will  do  their  part,  by  subscribing 
liberally  for  the  work,  so  that  the  publisher  may  he  able  to 
carry  out  fully  Mr.  Drake's  designs  — the  present  history  of 
Boston  will  be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud." 
'■ — Boston  Transcript,  April  12,  1653. 

"The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Bos- 
ton: Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Nos.  I.,  II.,  III. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  published  the  first  three  numbers  of  his 
'  History  of  Boston.'  The  work  will  be  illustrated  with  at 
least  one  hundred  engravings  of  persons  and  objects  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  an  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  accompanied  by  genealogical  and  biographi- 
cal facts.  The  work  is  to  be  issued  in  about  sixteen  numbers 
or  parts,  of  forty-eight  pages  each,  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
number,  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages. 

"  The  first  number  is  embellished  with  a  splendid  engraving 
of  Boston  and  suburbs,  as  they  now  are,  together  with  a  rep- 
resentation of  all  the  objects  of  interest.  The  second  number 
contains  an  engraving  of  John  Endicott,  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts.  The  third  number  contains  a  panoramic 
view  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  from  Bunker 
Hill  Monument. 

"The  typographical  execution  is  beautiful,  the  type  being 
large,  and  the  work  printed  on  fine  paper,  royal  octavo. 

"The  work  fills  a  gap  in  history,  and  is  much  needed. 
The  only  work  which  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  History  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Snow's,  is  deficient  in  many  particulars,  and  ren- 
dered still  more  so  by  the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication. 

"Mr.  Drake,  the  author,  brings  to  the  work  a  mind  well 
stored  with  historical  material,  and  an  ardent  love  of,  as  well 
as  a  long  experience  in,  antiquarian  and  historical  pursuits. 
No  better  man  could  have  undertaken  the  work.  He  is  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian  Reg- 
ister, a  work  of  great  merit  and  value,  and  is  the  author  of 
several  historical  works.  The  '  History  of  Boston,'  so  far  as 
completed,  contains  many  new  facts,  at  least  they  have  never 
appeared  before  in  any  printed  work.  His  extensive  research 
has  also  enabled  Mr.  Drake  to  correct  the  errors  of  preceding 
writers,  and  to  make  his  work  one  of  the  most  valuable  that 
has  recently  been  issued  from  the  press."  — Nashua  Gazette, 
April  7,  1853. 

"  History  op  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainly  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  of  research.  The  au- 
thor, we  think,  must  feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only 
laid  open  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  strictest  scrutiny.  The  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light  the 
nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this  part 
of  New  England  was  settled.  He  has  with  great  care  gone 
step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England, 
until  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That 
old  pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneously 
placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here  takes  his 


proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  patentees,  Mr. 
Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and  though  we 
perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  inaccuracies  (though 
generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long 
standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and  Win- 
throp, which,  we  should  think  would  be  viewed  with  great 
gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there  is 
one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Weymouth 
for  New  England;  one  of  Winthrop  from  the  Isle  of  "Wight ; 
first  interview  with  the  Indians;  portrait  of  John  Davenport; 
autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly 
to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston."  — Transcript,  Jan.  24,  1853. 

"  The  History  of  Boston.  No.  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
Boston,     pp.  48. 

"  We  rejoice  that  a  work  of  this  description  is  fairly  before 
the  public.  It  is  a  book  to  be  read  by  every  Bostonian,  —  to 
be  handed  down  from  sire  to  son  so  long  as  the  Tri-mountain 
city  shall  endure. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  the  peculiar  faculty  of  making  facts  read 
aright.  Matter,  considered  by  many  dry  and  diffuse,  is  here 
brought,  as  by  a  mental  microscopic  lens,  into  a  pleasing, 
proper  shape,  suitable  to  be  read  and  digested  by  the  wisest  as 
well  as  the  most  ordinary  minds.  Controverted  points  are 
elucidated,  and  important  historical  subjects  set  before  us  in 
a  new  light.  Every  page  of  this  History  of  Boston  comes  to 
us  laden  with  the  fruits  of  a  patient,  truth-loving  research; 
and  no  one  can  arise,  we  think,  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the 
work,  however  wise  he  may  have  been  before,  without  adding 
something,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  his  stock  of  historic 
knowledge.  If  the  author  occasionally  sets  a  new  piece  of 
cloth  on  to  an  old  garment,  he  does  not,  in  Scripture  phrase, 
'  take  away  from  the  old  and  make  the  rent  worse.'  On  the 
contrary,  the  additional  part  gives  strength  and  durability  to 
the  whole.  Many  interesting  facts  and  circumstances  con- 
nected with  the  movements  of  the  first  settlers  are  here  faith- 
fully chronicled,  from  the  times  of  Morton  of  Merry-Mount, 
to  that  of  Blackstone  of  Shawmut ;  with  a  succinct  account 
of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  of  the  old  Patents  and  the 
Charters  ;  voyages  of  Endicott  and  Winthrop  ;  settlements  at 
Cape  Ann,  Salem,  Charlestown,  Dorchester,  &c.  That  moot- 
ed question,  '  Who  was  the  first  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts 1 '  seems  to  be  here  most  satisfactorily  settled.  There 
appears  no  escaping  the  conclusion,  that  Endicott,  and  not 
Winthrop,  was  the  first  Governor;  and  the  former  was  in 
reality  acting  under  his  commission,  long  before  the  latter 
was  chosen  even,  by  the  Company  in  England."  — S.  Boston 
Gazette. 

"  The  History  of  Boston,  Part  n.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  'diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  il- 
lustrate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen,  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston.  — 
There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious  remi- 
niscences and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book  must 
be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust 
that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  — Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 

"  History  op  Boston,  No.  I.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  — Boston 
bids  fair  to  make  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  opulent  cities 
in  the  world.  Its  early  history,  therefore,  is  becoming  a 
matter  of  absorbing  interest.  We  wish  to  go  back  to  the 
founders  of  the  city,  —  we  are  anxious  to  know  something 
about  Sebastian  Cabot,  John  Verazzani,  Jaques  Cartier,  Sir 
Humphrey  Gilbert,  the  father  of  American  Colonization, 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  Richard  Hakluyt,  the  chivalric  Captain 
John  Smith,  Captain  Gosnold,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  the 
!  founder  of  Maine.  To  obtain  this  knowledge,  it  is  necessary 
to  read  many  books,  examine  numerous  documents,  faded 
and  time-worn.  Besides,  very  few  persons  have  the  educa- 
tion, leisure,  or  opportunity  to  hunt  up  the  vestiges  and  trace 
the  footprints  of  our  early  history.  We  are  constantly  occu- 
pied. We  have  no  time  to  read  many  books,  nor  to  sit  de- 
ciphering old  parchments.  We  cannot  cater  in  the  literary 
market ;  we  must  take  the  food  provided  for  us  by  the  hands 
of  others,  or  else  live  at  haphazard,  lean  and  hungry  as  we 
may  be  for  knowledge.  —  The  public,  therefore,  owe  a  great 
and  lasting  obligation  to  that  man,  who,  with  untiring  indus- 
try, deep  research,  a  clear  head,  and  an  honest  endeavor  to 
find  the  truth,  collects  historic  facts  and  presents  them  to 
the  reader  in  a  neat  and  convenient  form.  Of  this  character 
is  the  first  number  of  the  '  History  of  Boston,'  by  Mr. 
Drake  ;  and  if  this  is  a  faithful  harbinger  of  the  work,  it 
oromises  to  be  exceedingly  valuable."  —  Boston  Courier, 
October  11,  1852. 


ERRATA. 

Page  90,  I.  6,  read  George  Alcock. 
"  109, 1.  3,  n.  t,  read  Peirce. 
"  144, 1.  3,  3d  IT,  read  scandals. 


I¥o.  V.] 


{25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 

OLIVEE  L.  PERKINS,  186  Washington  Street. 
L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 


CAMBRIDGE  :    PRINTED    BY   METCALF   AND    COMPANY- 


STEREOTYPED   BY   HOBART  AND   ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
By     OLIVER    L.     PERKINS, 

FOR   PUBLISHING  BY   SUBSCRIPTION 

€\jt   j&Mnrtj   ait  ft   fittqttitwK  nf  %uhn 

By    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

O*  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be  issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 


NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many  new  facts ; 
certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scru- 
tiny of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical  and  antiquarian  investigations. 
The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions,  upon  several  points,  very  different 
from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them  ;  and  while  he 
believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the 
sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others.  Nor 
does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites  his  friends,  and  all 
others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  communicate  to  him  any  thing  they  may 
have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his 
attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage 
in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to 
see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient  inter- 
est in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERR  AT  A. 

In  apology  for  this  large  list  of  Errata  the  Author  begs  leave  to  observe,  that,  owing  to  some  irregu- 
larities at  the  Foundery,  he  was  not  furnished  with  his  usual  revises  ;  and  that,  his  work  being  printed 
at  Cambridge,  he  saw  no  proof  containing  the  Coat  of  Arms,  in  page  157,  which  appears  wrong  side  up. 
Page  140, 1.  3,  note,  for  52,  read  32. 

"     166, 1.  5,  after  committed,  add  several  murders. 

"     171, 1.  7,  for  first,  read  second. 

"     175, 1.  4,  2d  IT,  read  Symmes. 

"     182, 1.  2  of  foot,  read  Henry  Uane. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES    OF    THE    PRESS. 


"The  History  op  Boston.  No.  IV.  By  S.  G.  Drakk. 
The  fourth  pun  of  Mr.  Drake's  History  of  Boston  has  made 
it*  appearance,  bringing  the  narrative  of  events  down  to  the 
year  1636.  The,  history  of  the  town,  at  this  early  period,  is 
bo  closely  interwoven  with  that  of  the  Colony,  that  the  work 
before  ns  might  thus  far  lie  appropriately  Styled  the  '  History 
of  Massachusetts.'  The  author,  in  this  part,  has  given 
some  extracts  from  the  earliest  records  of  the  town;  ami  we 
are  promised  tifac-simile  of  the  ancient  manuscript,  for  the 
next  number. 

"  We  are  pleased  to  notice  that  this  work  is,  1  bus  far,  well 

sustained.    The  letter-press  is   excellent,  and  this nher  is 

embellished   with  plates  and  numerous  well-executed  wood 
cuts. 

"  On  some  points  of  no  great  moment  we  should  possibly 
differ  from  the  author;  but  we  have  no  space  here  to  dwell 
at  length. 

"  In  the  Christian  Examiner  for  May,  page  513.  is  an  extract 
from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Joseph  Hunter,  the  distinguished  His- 
torian and  Antiquary  of  London,  to  Hon.  James  Savage, 
President  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in  which 
he  speaks  of  No.  I.  of  Mr.  Drake's  History  of  Boston.  We 
quote  the  following:  'I  notice  one  thing  of  importance  in 
Mr.  Drake's  book,  namely,  that  he  has  an  error  of  ten  years 
in  the  date  of  the  birth  of  Captain  John  Smith.'  Mr.  Drake's 
statement  is  as  follows:  'From  a  reference  already  made  to 
one  of  his  maps,  it  appears  that  he  was  born  in  1579.'  Now 
it  would  be  remarkable  if  there  were  not  some  mistakes  in 
this  first  part  of  Mr.  Drake's  History,  where  such  a  vast 
number  of  facts  are  brought  together,  but  we  feel  quite  sure 
that  there  is  no  error  here.  In  1616,  Smith  published  his 
'Description  of  New  England,'  which  contained  a  map,  in 
one  corner  of  which  may  be  seen  the  lively  effigies  of  the  re- 
nowned author,  with  this  inscription  :  'iEta  37.  Ao.  1616.' 
This  is  Mr.  Drake's  authority.  Finding  that  Smith  was 
thirty-seven  years  of  age  in  1616,  Mr.  Drake  was  naturally 
led.  by  a  simple  arithmetical  calculation,  to  place  his  birth 
in  1579.  The  inscription  upon  the  map  we  consider  too  of 
the  highest  authority, —  that  of  Smith  himself.  This  map 
was  afterwards  republished  by  him  in  his  '  Generall  His- 
toric,' in  1624,  1626,  and  1627,  some  alterations  being  made 
in  each  edition  (of  the  map)  to  conform  to  the  increased 
knowledge  of  the  country.  It  also  appears,  with  greater 
alterations,  in  some  copies  of  the  General  History  of  date 
1632,  the  year  after  his  death.  In  all  the  editions  of  this 
map  we  find  thfe  same  inscription,  above  quoted,  denoting 
the  age  of  Captain  Smith,  which  he  himself  published  to  the 
world.  Now  Mr.  Hunter  may  have  some  authority  on  this 
point,  which  he  deems  more  reliable  than  the  above.  We 
have  heard  of  intelligent  persons  who  have  erred  slightly, 
perhaps  a  year  or  so,  as  to  the  date  of  their  birth  ;  but  that 
Captain  Smith  could  have  made  an  error  of  ten  years  is  as 
incredible  as  the  statement  that  John  Rogers,  the  proto- 
martyr,  was  ignorant  as  to  the  number  of  his  own  children  a 
few  davs  before  his  death. 

"One  of  the  most  interesting  passages  in  this  number  of  Mr. 
Drake's  elaborate  work,  is  the  account  given  on  the  162d 
page  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  John  Cotton  as  teacher  of  the 
First  Church,  in  1633.  The  narrative  is  given  in  the  quaint 
language  of  the  times.  The  same  year  (1633),  a  small  ship 
called  the  Rebecca,  was  built  at  Medford.  She  was  princi- 
pally owned  in  Boston,  and  her  name  occurs  quite  frequently 
in  business  transactions  of  the  succeeding  years.  This  inter- 
esting number  ends  with  the  record  of  the  election  of  Henry 
Vane  as  Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  in  May, 
1636.  Every  page  of  this  work  bears  marks  of  intelligence, 
industry  and  research,  and  we  renewedly  commend  the  enter- 
prise of  Mr.  Drake  to  the  patronage  of  the  citizens  of  Bos- 
ton."—  Boston  Transcript,  Junell,  1853. 

"The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — The  attraction  of 
Mr.  Drake's  History  increases  as  the  work  progresses,  — the 
present  number  being  the  most  interesting  one  yet  issued. 
The  period  of  time  to  which  this  number  is  devoted  —  com- 
prising, as  it  does,  the  infancy  of  our  city's  history  —  has,  of 
itselCan  unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Drake's 
pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the  settlement  of 
Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  forward  to  near  the  close  of 
1632.  This  was,  of  course,  the  most  critical  period  in  the  ex- 
istence of  the  settlement;  a  season  of  doubt  and  privation 
and  suffering,  less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high  ex- 
pectations that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flattering  ac- 
counts they  had  received  from  these  regions  previous  to  their 
emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a  vivid  picture  of  their 
situation  at  this  time,  and  has  done  justice  to  their  fortitude 
and  perseverance. 

"There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  that  is  espe- 
cially deserving  of  commendation.  The  author  has  —  when- 
ever he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without  destroying  the  contin- 
uousness  of  his  narrative  — permitted  those  contemporaneous 
authors,  from  whom  he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their 
information  in  their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed 
how  frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous  word 
for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of  an  author,  will 
appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy  here  found. 

"  We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number  which 
we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.    The  account  given  on 


pagi     III  to  143,  of  the  Earliest  Meeting- Houses  in  Boston,  is 
qiito  interesting. 

■  The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  iH,  like  its  pre- 
decessors, deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the  embellish- 
ments are  B  large  panoramic  view  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth  Governor  of  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  a  view  of  the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in 
which  John  Cotton  preached.  We  observe,  also,  that  the  ini- 
tial letters  of  the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  orna- 
mented with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
tlirop,  anil  Dudley,  and  presume  that  it  is  intended  to  give  the 
arms  of  the  succeeding  governors  in  the  chapters  which  fol- 
low. From  the  specimens  already  published,  we  have  no 
doubt  that  —  if  the  public  will  do  their  part,  by  subscribing 
liberally  for  the  work,  so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  to 
carry  out  fully  Mr.  Drake's  designs  —  the  present  History  of 
Boston  will  be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud." 
—  Boston  Transcript,  April  12,  1653. 

"  The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Bos- 
ton:  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Nos.  I.,  II.,  III. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  published  the  first  three  numbers  of  his 
'  History  of  Boston.'  The  work  will  be  illustrated  with  at 
least  one  hundred  engravings  of  persons  and  objects  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  an  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  accompanied  by  genealogical  and  biographi- 
cal facts.  The  work  is  to  be  issued  in  about  sixteen  numbers 
or  parts,  of  forty-eight  pages  each,  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
number,  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages. 

"  The  first  number  is  embellished  with  a  splendid  engraving 
of  Boston  and  suburbs,  as  they  now  are,  together  with  a  rep- 
resentation of  all  the  objects  of  interest.  The  second  number 
contains  an  engraving  of  John  Endicott,  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts.  The  third  number  contains  a  panoramic 
view  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  from  Bunker 
Hill  Monument. 

"The  work  fills  a  gap  in  history,  and  is  much  needed. 
The  only  work  which  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  History  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Snow's,  is  deficient  in  many  particulars,  and  ren- 
dered still  more  so  by  the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  the  author,  brings  to  the  work  a  mind  well 
stored  with  historical  material,  and  an  ardent  love  of,  as  well 
as  a  long  experience  in,  antiquarian  and  historical  pursuits. 
No  better  man  could  have  undertaken  the  work.  He  is  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian  Reg- 
ister, a  work  of  great  merit  and  value,  and  is  the  author  of 
several  historical  works.  The  '  History  of  Boston.'  so  far  as 
completed,  contains  many  new  facts,  at  least  they  h,<*ve  never 
appeared  before  in.any  printed  work.  His  extensiyi  jeanb 
has  also  enabled  Mr.  Drake  to  correct  the  errors  of  l  •  seeding 
writers,  and  to  make  his  work  one  of  the  most  valuable  that 
has  recentjv  been  issued  from  the  press."  — Nashua  Gazette, 
April  7,  1853. 

"  HlsfoRY  op  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainly  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  of  research.  The  au- 
thor, we  think,  must  feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only 
laid  open  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  strictest  scrutiny.  The  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light  the 
nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this  part 
of  New  England  was  settled.  He  has  with  great  care  gone 
step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England, 
until  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That 
old  pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneously 
placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here  takes  his 
proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  patentees,  Mr. 
Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and  though  we 
perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  inaccuracies  (though 
generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long 
standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltnnstall  and  Win- 
throp,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed  With  great 
gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there  is 
one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Weymouth 
for  New  England ;  one  of  W'mthrop  from  the  Isle  of  Wight ; 
first  interview  with  the  Indians:  portrait  of  John  Davenport ; 
autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly 
to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston."  —  Transcript,  Jan.  24,  1853. 

"The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  '  diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  il- 
lustrate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen,  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston. — 
There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious  remi- 
niscences and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book  must 
be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust 
that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  — Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 


To   the   Sons   of  New  England   everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic- Genealogical 

Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

Jntt-ftiglmtfr  IIMnnrul  rrait  (toealngiral  Jfa$iftnT 


ANTIQUARIAN    JOURNAL. 

THE    ONLY    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICA!. 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES  ! 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community  at 
large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New  England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that  object. 
It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support. 

The  New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  :"  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  vie v-  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  r  ■  ■  i  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be  judged, 
the  founders  of  this  itution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles  to 
nobility,  but  by  a  si:  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.     That  there  is  an  element  of  vast 

importance  yet  tr  leveloped  by  these  investigations,  is  really  believed,  —  an  element  which  will 

eventually  create     i        era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argumem  1 1  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researches,  to  I  ig  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  I  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology ;  for 
it  is  cr>^'  ^enealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

ne  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
saving        iire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain  im- 

portant facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  —  such  Portions  of  old  English  History,  Genealogies 

and  Antiquities,  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasionally  entire 
Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  Value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  &c.  be- 

longing to  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  —  to  be  accompanied,  when  practicable 
with  Engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ;  —  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  &c. 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  Emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England,  before  1700; 

snowing  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest  Dates 

to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all  De- 

nominations, of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction. 

SAMUEL   <*.   DRAKE,  Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  15  Brattle  Street  (up  stairs),  Boston,  to  whom  all  com- 
munications should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz.  in  January,  April,  July  and 
October,  of  each  year;  at  TWO   DOLLARS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N.  B.    There  are  now  completed  six  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  seventh  was  begun  on  the  first  of  January,  1853  ■ 

affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression,  with 
a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the  work  are 
on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  bound  or 
in  numbers.  ' 


No.  VI.] 


[25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 
OLIVER  L.  PERKINS,  186  Washington  Steeet. 

L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 


CAMBRIDGE:    PRINTED    BY    METCALP   AND   COMPANY- 


STEREOTYPED   BY   HOBART   AND    ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
By     OLIVER     L.     PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING  BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

€\)t   liitftnq   unit   littqttiiuB   nf  USetntt 

By    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

IT  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be  issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 
All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  Street. 


NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many  new  facts ; 
certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scru- 
tiny of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical  and  antiquarian  investigations. 
The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions,  upon  several  points,  very  different 
from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them  ;  and  while  he 
believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the 
sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others.  Nor 
does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites  his  friends,  and  all 
others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  communicate  to  him  any  thing  they  may 
have  to  enable  him  to  cany  out  the  laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his 
attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage 
in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to 
see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient  inter- 
est in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERRATA,   &c. 

In  the  fac-simile  of  the  first  page  of  The  Boston  Records,  designed  to  face  page  173,  the  date 
is  1634. 

Page  206, 1.  15  of  top,  read  Van  Twiller. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


To   the   Sons   of  New   England   everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic- Genealogical 

Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

J/iein-Ciigdinii  BKataraal  mA  ienealngiral  JUgMer, 


ANTIQUARIAN    JOURNAL. 

THE    ONLY    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICAL 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  I 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community  at 
large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New  England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that  object. 
It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support. 

The  New  England  Historic- Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be  judged, 
the  founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles  to 
nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an  element  of  vast 
importance  yet  to  be  developed  by  these  investigations,  is  really  believed,  —  an  element  which  will 
eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  can  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researches,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology ;  for 
it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
one  having  a  desire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain  im- 

portant facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  —  such  Portions  of  old  English  History,  Genealogies, 

and  Antiquities,  as  may  he  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasionally  entire 
Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  Value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  <fec.  be- 

longing to  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  —  to  be  accompanied,  when  practicable, 
with  Engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries ;  —  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  <fec. 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  Emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England,  before  1700  ; 

showing  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest  Dates 

to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all  De- 

nominations, of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction.  ' 

SAMUEL.    O.   DRAKE,  Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  15  Brattle  Street  (up  stairs),  Boston,  to  whom  all  com- 
munications should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz.  in  January,  April,  July,  and 
October,  of  each  year ;  at  TWO   DOLLARS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N.  B.    There  are  now  completed  seven  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  eighth  will  begin  on  the  first  of  January,  1854  ; 

affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression,  with 
a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the  work  are 
on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  bound,  or 
in  numbers. 


NOTICES    OF   THE    PRESS. 


"  In  our  number  for  May  appeared  an  extract  from  a  letter 
from  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter,  the  distinguished  antiquary  of  Lon- 
don, in  which  he  ascribed  to  Mr.  Drake,  in  his  History  of 
Boston,  an  error  of  ten  years  in  the  date  of  the  birth  of  the 
celebrated  Captain  John  Smith.  It  seems  but  justice  to  Mr. 
Drake  to  state,  that  in  this  Mr.  Hunter  was  mistaken ;  and 
in  justice  to  Mr.  Hunter  we  will  add,  that  he  soon  discovered 
the  source  of  his  error,  which  was  duly  acknowledged,  — be- 
ing misled  by  an  inscription  upon  a  Dutch  copy  of  Smith's 
Map  of  New  England." —  Christian  Examiner  for  Sept., 
1853,  p.  310. 

"  The  Chroniclers  op  Boston.  The  capital  of  the  Old 
Bay  State  hath  had  many  chroniclers.  The  first  annalist,  and 
recourse  to  him  is  requisite  before  a  history  of  Boston  can  be 
written,  is  Governor  John  Winthrop,  whose  twenty  years'  notes 
are  of  inestimable  value.  We  find,  moreover,  such  chroniclers 
as  Cotton  Mather,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Charles  Shaw,  Caleb 
Hopkins  Snow,  Abel  Bowen,  Nathaniel  Dearborn,  Jerome  V. 
C.  Smith,  J.  Smith  Homans,  and  the  elder  Josiah  Quincy. 
The  only  writer  among  them  that  has  truly  earned  the  repu- 
tation of  having  prepared  a  connected  history  is  Dr.  Caleb 
Hopkins  Snow,  whose  conscientious  devotion  to  accuracy 
ever  renders  him  a  reliable  authority.  As  his  researches  ex- 
tend only  to  the  immediate  incorporation  of  Boston  as  a  city, 
the  public  has  long  desired  historical  matter  to  the  present 
period.  Dr.  Snow  was  ambitious  to  prepare  a  more  elaborate 
edition,  with  valuable  improvements,  but  consumption  re- 
moved him  to  a  premature  grave,  and  honored  be  his  name. 

"  More  highly  favored  than  the  past  generation,  Bostonians 
may  congratulate  themselves  that  the  desideratum,  as  we 
hope,  is  now  being  accomplished ;  and  as  is  the  choicest 
venison  to  the  huntsman,  and  exquisite  statuary  to  the  sculp- 
tor, so  is  Samuel  G.  Drake's  History  and  Antiquities  of  Bos- 
ton to  the  antiquary,  —  for  the  first  five  numbers  of  his  work 
are  published,  and  the  scenes  and  events  of  its  earliest  days 
are,  as  in  a  panorama,  vividly  presented  to  our  admiring 
view.  We  find  in  our  author  the  very  soul  and  embodiment 
of  old  John  Stow,  the  great  London  chon  icier.  Like  Stow,  he 
has  penetrated  the  depths  of  antiquity,  and  dwelt  more  mi- 
nutely on  our  earliest  history  than  any  of  his  predecessors. 
For  more  than  twenty  years  Mr.  Drake  has  gathered  an  ac- 
cumulation of  historical  and  antiquarian  material,  amply  suf- 
ficient for  two  portly  volumes,  brought  to  light  since  the 
days  of  Dr.  Snow,  that  will  be  of  invaluable  benefit  to  poster- 
ity. While  Drake's  survey  of  Boston,  like  Stow's  great  His- 
tory of  London,  may  be  marked  with  imperfections  obvious 
to  the  careful  critic,  we  know  no  antiquary  more  competent 
to  prepare  such  a  work,  and  it  appeals  for  patronage  neither 
to  the  generosity  nor  magnanimity  of  Bostonians,  but  entirely 
rests  on  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and  the  general  thirst  to  re- 
ceive a  more  particular  history  of  this  ancient  and  patriotic 
city  than  has  ever  been  published. 

"The  present  number  of  this  work  gives  an  interesting 
narrative  of  the  war  with  the  Pequod  Indians.  This  is  the 
first  warlike  contest  in  which  the  people  of  Boston  were  ever 
known  to  have  engaged.  Then  follows  a  history  of  the  An- 
tinomian  controversy,  which  caused  severe  persecutions,  and 
long  agitated  the  town.  We  have  also  the  origin  of  that 
time-honored  military  body,  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Ar- 
tillery Company,  and  some  account  of  Mr.  John  Josselyn, 
who  visited  Boston  in  1638,  when  it  had  not  more  than  twen- 
ty or  thirty  houses,  and  but  one  public  Inn ;  and  who  further 
states  that  there  was  not  then  an  apple-tree  or  pear-tree  in 
the  town.  This  number  contains  several  embellishments, 
besides  an  elegant  engraving  of  John  Winthrop,  the  truly  em- 
inent Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  fac-simile  of  the  first 
page  of  the  town  records  of  Boston,  in  the  handwriting  of 
Governor  Winthrop.  It  is  a  pleasing  coincidence  that  propo- 
sals were  at  the  same  period  issued  for  publishing  the  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,  Old  England,  and  New  England, 
and  that  both  authors  should  have  adopted  the  same  title  for 
their  works  without  any  knowledge  that  either  had  such  an 
undertaking  in  his  mind.  We  hope  some  competent  hand 
will  prepare  sketches  of  all  the  annalists  of  our  city  and  their 
researches  in  regard  to  this  mother  of  New  England  and  eye 
of  America. 

"Shawmut." 

"The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  —  The  attraction  of 
Mr.  Drake's  History  increases  as  the  work  progresses,  — the 
present  number  being  the  most  interesting  one  yet  issued. 
The  period  of  time  to  which  this  number  is  devoted  —  com- 
prising, as  it  does,  the  infancy  of  our  city's  history  —  has,  of 
itself,  an  unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Drake's 
pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the  settlement  of 
Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  forward  to  near  the  close  of 
1632.  This  was,  of  course,  the  most  critical  period  in  the  ex- 
istence of  the  settlement;  a  season  of  doubt  and  privation 
and  suffering,  less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high  ex- 
pectations that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flattering  ac- 
counts they  had  received  from  these  regions  previous  to  their 
emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a  vivid  picture  of  their 
situation  at  this  time,  and  has  done  justice  to  their  fortitude 
and  perseverance. 

"  We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number  which 
we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.    The  account  given  on 


pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest  Meeting-Houses  in  Boston,  is 
quite  interesting. 

"  The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its  pre- 
decessors, deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the  embellish- 
ments are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth  Governor  of  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  a  view  of  the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in 
which  John  Cotton  preached.  We  observe,  also,  that  the  ini- 
tial letters  of  the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  orna- 
mented with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudley,  and  presume  that  it  is  intended  to  give  the 
arms  of  the  succeeding  governors  in  the  chapters  which  fol- 
low. From  the  specimens  already  published,  we  have  no 
doubt  that  —  if  the  public  will  do  their  part,  by  subscribing 
liberally  for  the  work,  so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  to 
carry  out  fully  Mr.  Drake's  designs  —  the  present  History  of 
Boston  will  be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud." 
—  Boston  Transcript,  April  12,  1853. 

"  The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Bos- 
ton:  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Nos.  I.,  II.,  III. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  published  the  first  three  numbers  of  his 
'  History  of  Boston.'  The  work  will  be  illustrated  with  at 
least  one  hundred  engravings  of  persons  and  objects  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  an  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  accompanied  by  genealogical  and  biographi- 
cal facts.  The  work  is  to  be  issued  in  about  sixteen  numbers 
or  parts,  of  forty-eight  pages  each,  at  twenty -five  cents  a 
number,  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages. 

"  The  first  number  is  embellished  with  a  splendid  engraving 
of  Boston  and  suburbs,  as  they  now  are,  together  with  a  rep- 
resentation of  all  the  objects  of  interest.  The  second  number 
contains  an  engraving  of  John  Endicott,  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts.  The  third  number  contains  a  panoramic 
view  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  from  Bunker 
Hill  Monument. 

"  The  work  fills  a  gap  in  history,  and  is  much  needed. 
The  only  work  which  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  History  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Snow's,  is  deficient  in  many  particulars,  and  ren- 
dered still  more  so  by  the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  the  author,  brings  to  the  work  a  mind  well 
stored  with  historical  material,  and  an  ardent  love  of,  as  well 
as  a  long  experience  in,  antiquarian  and  historical  pursuits. 
No  better  man  could  have  undertaken  the  work.  He  is  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian  Reg- 
ister, a  work  of  great  merit  and  value,  and  is  the  author  of 
several  historical  works.  The  '  History  of  Boston,'  so  far  as 
completed,  contains  many  new  facts,  at  least  they  have  never 
appeared  before  in  any  printed  work.  His  extensive  research 
has  also  enabled  Mr.  Drake  to  correct  the  errors  of  preceding 
writers,  and  to  make  his  work  one  of  the  most  valuable  that 
has  recently  been  issued  from  the  press."  — Nashua  Gazette, 
April  7,  1853. 

"  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainly  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  oif  research.  The  au- 
thor, we  think,  must  feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only 
laid  open  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  strictest  scrutiny  ;  the  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light  the 
nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this  part 
of  New  England  was  settled  ;  he  has  with  great  care  gone 
step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England, 
until  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That 
old  pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneously 
placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here  takes  his 
proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  patentees,  Mr. 
Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and  though  we 
perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  inaccuracies  (though 
generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long 
standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and  Win- 
throp, which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed  with  great 
gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there  is 
one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Weymouth 
for  New  England ;  one  of  Winthrop  from  the  Isle  of  Wight ; 
first  interview  with  the  Indians;  portrait  of  John  Davenport ; 
autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly 
to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston."  —  Transcript,  Jan.  24,  1853. 

"The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  '  diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  il- 
lustrate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen.  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston.  — 
There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious  remi- 
niscences and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book  must 
be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust 
that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  — Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 


No.  VII.] 


[25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 
OLIVER  L.  PERKINS,  186  Washington  Street. 

L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 


PRINTED  BT  GEO.  0.  RAND. 


S1ERE0TYPED  BT  HOBAKT  AND  BOBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY     OLIVER     L.      PERKINS, 

FOR   PUBLISHING   BY   SUBSCRIPTION 

BY     SAMUEL     G.    DRAKE. 


-i — —  «  —    » 


CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do 
so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the  time 
of  subscribing. 

^f  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 
All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St. 

NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is  left 
for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical  and 
antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions, 
upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  have 
had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  deductions  to  be 
satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of  novelty,  or  with 
any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others.  Nor  does  he  correct 
the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites  his  friends,  and  all 
others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  communicate  to  him  any 
thing  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he  has 
in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  dis- 
cover. There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers, 
as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see  wherein  it  should  be  other- 
wise, and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to 
proffer  it. 

E  RRAT  A. 

Page  234,  I.  9  of  note,  r.  Everill. 

In  note  t,  p,  247,  I.  8  of  top,  r.  Lancashire ;  /.  13,  r.  1644. 

Note  *,  p.  20,  I.  10,  r.  Anderby. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  Q.  Drake,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


TO    THE    SONS    OF    NEW    ENGLAND    EVERYWHERE. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic-Genealogical 
Society,  a  work  entitled  the 

Mm  €uglaiiu  JSistorirnl  nub  (taealogiral  %t$iftn, 


ANTIQUARIAN     JOURNAL. 

THE     ONLY    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICAL 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community 
at  large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New 
England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that 
object.     It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support- 

The  New  England  Histokic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be 
judged,  the  founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles 
to  nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an  element  of 
vast  importance  yet  to  be  developed  bj  these  investigations,  is  really  believed,  —  an  element  which 
will  eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  can  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researches,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology  \ 
for  it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
one  having  a  desire  to.  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication ;  such  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  : 

1.  Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain 

important  facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquilies,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  —  such  Portions  of  old  English   History,  Genea- 

logies, anri  Antiquities,  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasion- 
■    ally  entire  Tiacts  or  Treatises  whicii  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  Value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the   Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  &c. 

belonging  to  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced  ;  —  to  be  accompanied,  when  prac- 
ticable, with  Engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ;  —  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  &C 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  Emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England",  before  1700; 

showing  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest 

Dates  to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Bi&graphical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all 

Denominations,  of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction. 

SAMUEL    O.    BRAKE,    Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  15  Brattle  Street,  (up  stairs,)  Boston,  to  whom  all 
communications  should  be  addressed.  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz  :  in  January,  April,  Jult,  and 
October,  of  each  year  ;  at  TWO  DOLLABS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N.  B.  There  are  now  completed  seven  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  eighth  will  begin  on  the  first  of  January,  1854;— 
affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression, 
with  a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the 
work  are  on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity, 
bound,  or  in  numbers. 


NOTICES    OF    THE    PRESS. 


"  In  our  number  for  May  appeared  an  extract  from  a  let- 
ter from  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter,  the  distinguisned  antiquary  of 
London,  in  which  he  ascribed  to  Mr.  Drake,  in  bis  history  of 
Boston,  an  error  of  ten  years  in  the  date  of  the  birth  of  the 
celebrated  Captain  John  Smith.  It  seems  but  justice  to  Mr. 
Drake  to  state,  that  in  thi.;  Mr.  Hunter  was  mistaken  ;  and 
in  justice  to  Mr.  Hun.er  vfd  will  add,  that  he  soon  discovered 
the  source  of  his  error,  which  was  duly  acknowledged,  —  be- 
ing misled  by  an  inscription  upon  a  Dutch  lopy  of  Smith's 
Map  of  New  England."  —  Christian  Examiner  for  Sept., 
1853,  p.  310. 

"  The  Chroniclers  op  Boston.  The  wpital  of  the  Old 
Bay  State  hath  had  many  chroniclers.  The  first  annalist, 
and  recourse  to  him  is  rer  -usite  before  a  history  of  Boston  can 
be  written,  is  Governor  oohn  Winthrop,  whose  twenty  years' 
notes  are  of  inestime'le  Ta,<-u  We  find,  moreover,  such  chron- 
iclers as  Cotton  Mather,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Charles  Shaw, 
Caleb  Hopkins  Snow,  Abel  Bowen,  Nathaniel  Dearborn, 
Jerome  V.  C.  Smith,  J.  Smith  Homans  ard  the  elder  Josiah 
Quincy.  The  only  writer  among  them  that  has  truly  earned 
the  reputation  of  having  prepared  a  connected  history,  is  Dr. 
Caleb  Hopkins  Snow,  whose  conscientious  devotion  to  accu- 
racy ever  renders  him  a  reliable  authority.  As  his  researches 
extend  only  to  the  immediate  incorporation  of  Boston  as  a 
city,  the  public  has  long  desired  historical  matter  to  the  pres- 
. ent  period.  Dr.  Snow  was  ambitious  to  prepare  a  more  elabor- 
ate edition,  with  valuable  improvements,  but  consumption  re- 
moved him  to  a  premature  grave,  and  honored  be  his 
■name. 

"  More  highly  favored  than  the  past  generation,  Bostonians 
,aiay  congratulate  themselves  that  the  desideratum,  as  we 
hope,  is  now  being  accomplished ;  and  as  is  the  choicest 
venison  to  the  huntsman,  and  exquisite  statuary  to  the  seulp- 
tor,  so  is  Samuel  G.  Drake's  History  and  Antiquities  of  Bos- 
ton to  the  antiquary,  —  for  the  first  five  numbers  of  bis  work 
are  published,  and  the  scenes  and  events  of  its  earliest  days 
are,  as  in  a  panorama,  vividly  presented  to  our  admiring 
view.  We  find  in  our  author  the  very  soul  and  embodiment 
of  old  John  Stow,  the  great  London  chronicler.  Like  Stow, 
he  has  penetrated  the  depths  of  antiquity,  and  dwelt  more 
minutely  on  our  earliest  history  than  any  of  his  predecessors. 
For  more  than  twenty  ye?>"S  Mr.  Drake  has  gathered  an  ac- 
cumulation of  historical  and  antiquarian  material,  amply 
sufficient  for  two  portly  vrlumes,  brought  to  light  since  the 
days  of  Dr.  Snow,  that  will  be  of  invaluable  benefit  to  pos- 
terity. While  Drake's  Survey  of  Boston,  like  Stow's  great 
History  of  London,  may  be  marked  with  imperfections  obvi- 
ous to  the  careful  critic,  ve  know  no  antiquary  more  compe- 
tent to  prepare  such  a  work,  and  it  appeals  for  patronage 
neither  to  the  generosity  nor  magnanimity  of  Bostonians, 
but  entirely  rests  on  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and  the  general 
thirst  to  receive  a  more  particular  history  of  this  ancient 
and  patriotic  city  than  has  ever  been  published. 

"  The  present  number  of  this  work  gives  an  interesting 
narrative  of  the  war  with  the  Pequod  Indians,  This  is  the 
first  warlike  contest  in  which  the  people  of  Boston  were  ever 
known  to  have  engaged.  Then  follows  a  history  of  the  An- 
tinomian  controversy,  which  caused  severe  persecutions,  and 
long  agitated  the  town.  We  have  also  the  origin  of  that 
time-honored  military  body,  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Ar- 
tillery Company,  and  some  account  of  Mr.  John  Joselyn, 
who  visited  Boston  in  1638,  when  it  had  not  more  than 
twenty  or  thirty  houses,  and  but  one  public  Inn ;  and  who 
further  states  that  there  was  not  then  an  apple-tree  or  pear- 
tree  in  the  town.  This  number  contains  several  embellish- 
ments, besides  an  elegant  engraving  of  John  Winthrop,  the 
truly  eminent  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  fac-simile 
of  the  first  page  of  the  town  records  of  Boston,  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Governor  Winthrop.  '  It  is  a  pleasing  coincidence 
that  proposals  were  at  the  same  period  issued  for  publishing 
the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston,  Old  England,  and 
New  England,  and  that  both  authors  should  have  adopted 
the  same  title  for  their  works  without  any  knowledge  that 
either  had  such  an  undertaking  in  his  mind.  We  hope  some 
competent  hand  will  prepare  sketches  of  all  the  annalists  of 
our  city  and  their  researches  in  regard  to  this  mother  of  New 
England  and  eye  of  America.  „  gHAWMUT-  » 

"The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  No. 
III.  Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  —  The  attraction  of  Mr. 
Drake's  History  increases  as  the  work  progresses,  —  the  pres- 
ent number  being  the  most  interesting  one  yet  issued.  The 
period  of  time  to  which  this  number  is  devoted  —  comprising, 
as  it  does,  the  infancy  of  our  city's  history  —  has,  of  itself, 
an  unusual  !nterest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  propriety 
in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Drake's  pages. 
The  narrative  commences  with  the  settlement  of  Shawmut 
in  1630.  and  carries  us  forward  to  near  the  close  of  1632. 
This  was,  of  course,  the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence 
of  the  settlement ;  a  season  of  doubt  and  privation  and  suf- 
fering, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high  expecta- 
tions that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flattering  accounts 
they  had  received  from  these  regions  previous  to  their  emi- 
gration. Mr.  Drake  has  given  a  vivid  picture  of  their  situa- 
tion at  this  time,  and  has  done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and 
perseverance. 

"  We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number  which 
we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.    The  account  given  on 


pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest  Meeting-Houses  in  Boston,  ig 
quite  interesting. 

''The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its  pre- 
decessors, deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the  embellish- 
ments are  a  large  pauoramic  view  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth  Governor  of  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  a  view  of  the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in 
which  John  Cotton  preached.  We  observe,  also,  that  the 
initial  letters  of  the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are 
ornamented  with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott, 
Winthrop,  and  Dudley,  and  presume  that  it  is  intended  to 
give  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors  in  the  chapters 
which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already  published,  we 
have  no  doubt  that  —  if  the  public  will  do  their  part,  by  sub- 
scribing liberally  for  the  work,  so  that  the  publisher  may  be 
able  to  carry  out  fully  Mr.  Drake's  designs  —  the  present  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be 
proud."  —  Boston  Transcript,  April  12,1853. 

"  The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Bos- 
ton :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  66  Cornhill.    Nos.  I.,  II.,  III. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  published  the  first  three  numbers  of  his 
'  History  of  Boston.'  The  work  will  be  illustrated  with  at 
least  one  hundrsd  engravings  of  persons  and  objects  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  an  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhabi- 
tants of  Boston,  accompanied  by  genealogical  and  biographi- 
cal facts.  The  work  is  to  be  issued  in  about  sixteen  numbers 
or  parts,  of  forty-eight  pages  each,  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
number,  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages. 

"  The  first  number  is  embellished  with  a  splendid  engrav- 
ing of  Boston  and  suburbs,  as  they  now  are,  together  with  a 
representation  of  all  the  objects  of  interest.  The  second 
number  contains  an  engraving  of  John  Endicott,  first  Gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts.  The  third  number  contains  a  pan- 
oramic view  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  from 
Bunker  Hill  Monument. 

"  The  work  fills  a  gap  in  history,  and  is  much  needed.  The 
only  work  which  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  History  of  Boston, 
Dr.  Snow's,  is  deficient  in  many  particulars,  and  rendered 
still  more  so  by  the  lapse  of  time  since  its  publication. 

"'Mr.  Drake,  the  author,  brings  to  the  work  a  mind  well 
stored  with  historical  material,  and  an  ardent  love  of,  as  well 
as  a  long  experience  in,  antiquarian  and  historical  pursuits. 
No  better  man  could  have  undertaken  the  work.  He  is  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian 
Register,  a  work  of  great  merit  and  value,  and  is  the  author 
of  several  historical  works.  The  '  History  of  Boston,'  so  far 
as  completed,  contains  many  new  facts,  at  least  they  have 
never  appeared  before  in  any  printed  work.  His  extensive 
research  has  also  enabled  Mr.  Drake  to  correct  the  errors  of 
preceding  writers,  and  to  make  bis  work  one  of  the  most 
valuable  that  has  recently  been  issued  from  the  press."  — 
Nashua  Gazette,  April  7,  3853. 

"History  of  Boston,  Pabt  n.  By  S.  G.Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  ns  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainty  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  of  research.  The  au- 
thor, we  think,  must  feelaconsciousnessthathehasnot  only 
laid  op#n  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions*, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  Strictest'  scrutiny ;  the  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light 
the  nature^CThe  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this 
part  of  New* England  was  settled ;  he  has  with  great  «are 
gone  step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in 
England,  unlil  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  onthi3  penin- 
sula. That  old  pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been 
erroneously  placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here 
takes  his  proper  place  In  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  paten- 
tees, Mr.  Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and 
though  we  perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  'inaccuracies 
(though  generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many 
errors  of  long  standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  no- 
tice beautifully  drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Salton- 
stall  and  Winthrop,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed 
with  great  gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there 
is  one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Wey- 
mouth for  New  England,  one  of  Winthrop  from  the  Isle  of 
Wight ;  first  interview  with  the  Indians ;  portrait  of  John 
Davenport ;  autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself 
more  strongly  to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the 
Puritans  than  Drake's  History  of  Boston." —  Transcript, 
Jan.  24, 1853. 

" The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.G.Drake.  We 
are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  'diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  subject 
in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen,  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston. 
—  There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious 
reminiscences  and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book 
must  be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we 
trust  that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as 
we  are  sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  —  Bte,  Jan.  25,  1853. 


No.  VIII. 


25  CUNTS. 


K1LBUBN    DEL. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 

O.  L.  PERKINS,  Agent. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

%\t  Jistorg  anlr  l^ttiqratbjs  at  ^staw: 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIOKTIB. 

The  Work  will,  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,'*  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

Em*3  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St, 

NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see 
wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient 
interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


"CI  T)    T>     A    rp     A 

P.  35,  2d  %  I.  11  of  top,  r.  December.    P.  312, 1.  9  of  top,  r.  Isle  of  Wight.    P.  310,  2d  % 
1. 10,  r.  James  Astwood  ?     P.  266,  last  I.  of  contents,  r.  Gorton.     P.  315,  1st  I.  2d  %  r.  easterly. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DEAKe,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  lias  entertained  the 
project  of  writing;  a  history  of  Boston.  He  lias,  with 
tins  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  tlie  latter  ol 
which  some  go  hack  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  die  preparation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  botli 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somew'tiat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 

5rees  of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23d 
une,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  lor  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daihj  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  course  of 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  ociavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving1  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.    His  researches  in  the 

E reparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
ave  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 


valuable  record  ol  Bo8tOD<  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
I  his  beautitnl  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  lor 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  1'ost,  Si-yt.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "  History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  No.  1  :  48  pages,  super  royal 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  Us  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no. 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient cily  ol  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us  ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found-. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work., 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England.  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on. 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
illustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
No.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Drake,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
that  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  II  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  (or  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  historv  by  Dr. 
Snow ;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  original  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted' 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted-  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified1 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amove. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with, 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.    The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 


is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white;  the  type 
large  and  distinct — just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 
ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  5G  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-*ive 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  ot  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  lor  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  While  Dr.  Snow's  book  will  be  the 
basis  of  this  History,  it  will  by  no  means,  be  a  mere 
reprint  of  it  with  additions,  but  will  retain  all  that  is 
valuable  in  that  work,  and  be  enriched  by  laying  all 
accessible  resources  under  contribution.  We  are  sure 
that  Mr.  Drake  will  give  the  public  the  results  of  the 
most  thorough  research,  and  assiduous  care,  and  we 
find  the  guaranty  of  this  in  his  previous  publications. 
The  work  is  published  by  subscription,  we  under- 
stand, and  the  price  is  twenty-five  cents  a  number. 
It  will  make  an  elegant  and  useful  volume. — Old 
Colony  Memorial. 

History  of  Boston,  Part  II.    By  S.  G.  Drake. 

This  number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in 
elegant  style,  as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply 
interesting  period,  the  history  of  which  has  not  before, 
certainly  to  our  knowledge,  been  gone  into,  with  such 
thoroughness  of  research.  The  author,  we  think,  must 
feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only  laid  open 
many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  strictest  scrutiny;  the  author  has  set  in  a 
clear  light  the  nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters, 
under  which  this  part  of  New  England  was  settled  ; 
he  has  with  great  care  gone  step  by  step  from  the 
first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England,  until  he  has 
planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That  old 
pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneous- 
ly placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here 
takes  his  proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the 
old  patentees,  Mr.  Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be 
found  new,  and  though  we  perceive  he  has  committed 
some  few  inaccuracies  (though  generally  unimpor- 
tant.) he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long  standing 
in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and 
Winthrop,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed 
with  great  gratification  by  all  those  connected  with 
them. 

Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings, 
there  is  one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing 
from  Weymouth  for  New  England  ;  one  of  Winthrop 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight;  first  interview  with  the  In- 
dians; portrait  of  John  Davenport;  autographs,  &c. 
No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly  to  Bos- 
tonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston. — Transcript.  Jan.  24, 
1853. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G. 
Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 


trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  con- 
nent  so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee.  Jan.  25,  1853. 

In  our  number  for  May  appeared  an  extract  from 
a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter,  the  distinguished  anti- 
quary of  London,  in  which  he  ascribed  to  Mr.  Drake, 
in  his  history  of  Boston,  an  error  of  ten  years  in 
the  date  of  the  birth  of  the  celebrated  Captain  John 
Smith.  It  seems  but  justice  to  Mr.  Drake  to  slate, 
that  in  this  Mr.  Hunter  was  mistaken  ;  and  in  justice 
to  Mr.  Hunter  we  will  add,  that  he  soon  discovered 
the  source  of  his  error,  which  was  duly  acknowl- 
edged,— being  misled  by  an  inscription  upon  a  Dutch 
copy  of  Smith's  Map  of  New  England. —  Christian 
Examiner,  for  Sept.,  1853,  p.  310. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  The  attrac- 
tion of  Mr.  Drake's  history  increases  as  the  work 
progresses, — the  present  number  being  the  most  in- 
teresting one  yet  issued.  The  period  of  time  to 
which  this  number  is  devoted — comprising,  as  it  does, 
the  infancy  of  our  city's  history — has,  of  itself,  an 
unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr. 
Drake's  pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the 
settlement  of  Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  for- 
ward to  near  the  close  of  1632.  This  was,  of  course, 
the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence  of  the  settle- 
ment ;  a  season  of  doubt,  and  privation,  and  suffer- 
ing, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high 
expectations  that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flat- 
tering accounts  they  had  received  from  these  regions 
previous  to  their  emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a 
vivid  picture  of  their  situation  at  this  lime,  and  has 
done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  thai  is 
especially  deserving  of  commendation.  The  author 
has — whenever  he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without 
destroying  the  continuousness  of  his  narrative — per- 
mitted those  contemporaneous  authors,  from  whom 
he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their  information  in 
their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed  how 
frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous 
word  for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of 
an  author,  will  appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy 
here  found. 

We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number 
which  we  shall^opy  at  some  future  time.  The  ac- 
count given  oirpages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest 
Meeting  Housetin  Boston,  is  quite  interesting. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its 
predecessors,  deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the 
embellishments  are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  a  portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  a  view  of 
the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in  which  John  Cotton 
preached.  We  observe  also  that  the  initial  letters  of 
the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  ornamented 
with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudley ;  and  presume  that  it  is  intended 
to  give  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors,  in  the 
chapters  which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already 
published,  we  have  no  doubt  that — if  the  public  will 
do  their  part,  by  subscribing  liberally  for  the  work, 
so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  carry  out  fully  Mr. 
Drake's  designs — the  present  History  of  Boston  will 
be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud. — Bos- 
ton Transcript,  12  April,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed  ;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  will  be  faithfully  done  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  "  Book  of  the  Indians,''  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  1 1  September,  1852. 


No.  IX. 


25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 
LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 

O.  L.  PERKINS,  Agent. 


DUTTON    ANU    WENTWORTH,  PRINTERS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOBART   AKD   ROBB1NS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


oo:Kri>iTio:Krjs. 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and.  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

'SSi*  ft  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St. 

NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see 
wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient 
interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

ERRATA. 

Page  51,  I.  2,  2d  f,  r.  Peter  Palfrey.  P.  52,  L  2,  r.  shone.  P.  62, I.  3,  of  foot,  r.  socage.  P.  68, 1  12  of 
note,  r.  1588.  P.  90,  /.  6,  r.  George  Alcock.  P.  109,  I.  3,  n.  %,  r.  Peirce.  P.  140,  /.  3,  n.,  for  52,  r.  32.  P. 
144,  I.  3,  3d  IT,  r.  scandals.  P.  166, I.  5,  after  commitied,  add,  several  murders.  P.  171,  I.  7,  for  first,  r. 
second.  P.  173,  the  date  of  the  Fac  Simile  of  the  Records  is  1634.  P.  175, 1.  4  of  2d  IT,  r.  Symmes.  P.  182, 
/.  2  of  foot,  r.  Henry  Waye  ?  and  dele  note  6.  P.  206,  I.  15,  r.  Van  Twiller.  P.  220,  I.  10,  r.  Anderby. 
P.  234,  /.  9  of  note,  r.  Everill.  P.  247, 1.  8  of  note  \,  r.  Lancashire  ;  /.  13,  r.  1644.  P.  266,  last  I.  of  Contents, 
r.  Gorton.  P.  292,  l.  6,  3d  IT,  r.  Keayne.  P.  310,  /.  10,  2d  f,  r.  James  Astwood.  P.  312,  I.  9,  r.  Isle  of 
Wight.  P.  315, 1.  10,  r.  easterly.  P.  355,  n.,  dele  male  in  3d  line,  and,  after  descendants,  add,  of  the  name 
of  Russell  ;  after  and  in,  I.  9,  insert  whose  father  was.     P.  371,  last  I.  of  note,  r.  1673. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DRAKe,  in  the 
Olerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  lias  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  hack  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  prcpaiation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 

5rees  of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23d 
une,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probabl}'  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  >n  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  eur 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  \§th,  1852. 

The  History  or  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  eour>e  rf 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 


valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  ever}'  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  lor 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake.  Boston: 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  ISo.  1  :  48  pages,  super  ro};J 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  setilemont  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us  ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  «-arly 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  maUers  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. 'We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England.  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  roj'al  octavo,  printed  in  large  type  and 
llustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  recei\ed 
So.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Dra'.<e,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
that  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  historv  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  oiiginal  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings— and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  belter  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  thai,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amore. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.     The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 


is  superb  The  paper  is  thick  and  white;  the  type 
large  and  distinct— just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 
ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  priming.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  56  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
43  pages  each,  at  2.5  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages.  | 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Bo.ion  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-ive 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  of  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume — Old  Colony  Memorial. 

History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
This  number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in 
elegant  style,  as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply 
interesting  period,  the  history  of  which  has  not  before, 
certainly  to  our  knowledge,  been  gone  into,  with  such 
thoroughness  of  research.  The  author,  we  think,  must 
feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only  laid  open 
many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  strictest  scrutiny;  the  author  has  set  in  a 
clear  light  the  nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters 
under  which  this  part  or  New  England  was  settled  ; 
he  has  with  great  care  gone  step  by  step  from  the 
first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England,  until  hi  has 
planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That  old 
pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneous- 
ly placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  Lere 
takes  his  proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the 
old  patentees,  Mr.  Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be 
found  new,  and  though  we  perceive  he  has  committed 
some  few  inaccuracies  (though  generally  unimpor- 
tant,) he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long  standing 
in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and 
Winthrop,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed 
with  great  gratification  by  all  those  connected  with 
them. 

Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings, 
there  is  one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing 
from  Weymouth  for  New  England  ;  one  of  Winthrop 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight;  first  interview  with  the  In- 
dians; portrait  of  John  Davenport;  autographs,  &c. 
No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly  to  Bos- 
tonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston. — Transcript.  Jan.  21, 
1353. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.    By  S.  G. 

Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  con- 


nent  so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee.  Jan.  25, 1853. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  The  attrac- 
tion of  Mr.  Drake's  history  increases  as  the  work 
progresses, — the  present  number  being  the  most  in- 
teresting one  yet  issued.  The  period  of  time  to 
which  this  number  is  devoted — comprising,  as  it  does, 
the  infancy  of  our  city's  history — has,  of  itself,  an 
unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr. 
Drake's  pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the 
settlement  of  Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  for- 
ward to  near  the  close  of  1632.  This  was,  of  course, 
the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence  of  the  settle- 
ment; a  season  of  doubt,  and  privation,  and  suffer- 
ing, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high 
expectations  that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flat- 
tering accounts  they  had  received  from  these  regions 
previous  to  their  emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a 
vivid  picture  of  their  situation  at  this  time,  and  has 
done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  that  is 
especially  deserving  of  commendation.  The  author 
has — whenever  he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without 
destroying  the  continuousness  of  his  narrative — per- 
mitted those  contemporaneous  authors,  from  whom 
he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their  information  in 
their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed  how 
frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous 
word  for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of 
an  author,  will  appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy 
here  found. 

We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number 
which  we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.  The  ac- 
count given  on  pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest 
Meeting  Houses  in  Boston,  is  quite  interesting. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its 
predecessors,  deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the 
embellishments  are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  a  portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  a  view  of 
the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in  which  John  Cotton 
preached.  We  observe  also  that  the  initial  letters  of 
the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  ornamented 
with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudley' ;  and  presume  that  it  is  intended 
'o  £  lve  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors,  in  the 
chapters  which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already 
published,  we  have  no  doubt  that — if  the  public  will 
do  their  part,  by  subscribing  liberally  for  the  work, 
so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  carry  out  fully  Mr. 
Drake's  designs — the  present  History  of  Boston  will 
be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud. — Bos- 
ton Transcript,  12  April,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed  ;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  win  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  ''  Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner/or May,  1854. 


No.  X. 


25  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 
O.  L.  PERKINS,  Asrpnt. 


DUTTON    AND    WENTWORTH,  PRINTERS, 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOBART   AKD    ROBBINS, 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in.  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — - 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may- 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

[UH^  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St, 

3STOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  'printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see 
wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient 
interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

ERRATA. 

Page  51,  I.  2,  2d  f ,  r.  Peter  Palfrey.  P.  52, 1.  2,  r.  shone.  P.  62, I.  3,  of  foot,  r.  socage.  P.  68,  I  12  of 
note,  r.  1588.  P.  90, 1.  6,  r.  George  Aieock.  P.  109,  I.  3,  n.  \,  r.  Peirce.  P.  140, 1.  3,  «.,  for  52,  r.  32.  P. 
144,  1.  3,  3d  TT,  r.  scandals.  P.  166, 1.  5,  after  commitied,  add,  several  murders.  P.  171,  I.  7,  for  first,  r. 
second.  P.  173,  the  date  of  the  Fac  Simile  of  the  Records  is  1634.  P.  175, 1.  4  of  2d  IF,  r.  Symmes.  P.  182, 
I.  2  of  foot,  r.  Henry  Waye  1  and  dele  note  §.  P.  206,  I.  15,  r.  Van  Twiller.  P.  220,  I.  10,  r.  Anderby. 
P.  234, 1.  9  of  note,  r.  Everill.  P.  247, 1.  8  of  note  f,  r.  Lancashire  ;  Z.  13,  r.  1644.  P.  266,  last  I.  of  Contents, 
r.  Gorton.  P.  292,  I.  6,  3d  f,  r.  Keayne.  P.  310,  I.  10,  2d  IT,  r.  James  Astwood.  P.  312,'  l.  9,  r.  Isle  of 
Wight.  P.  315, 1.  10,  r.  easterly.  P.  355,  n.,  dele  male  in  3d  line,  and,  after  descendants,  add,  of  the  name 
of  Russell ;  after  and  in,  I.  9,  insert  whose  father  was.    P.  371,  last  I.  of  note,  r.  1673. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DRAKe,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  lias  entertained  ihe 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  1 1 c<  has,  wiih 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  ol 

which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  2,3d 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Comhill.     No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  course  cf 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.     His  researches  in  the 

E reparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
ave  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 


valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
;niil  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  lor 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  l'osl,  Sept,  M,  lo52. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  INo.  1  :  48  pages,  super  ro)al 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us  ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  eaily  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England,  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
Uustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
No.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Drake,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
tbit  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  historv  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  fads,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  oiiginal  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amove. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.    The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 


is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white ;  the  type 
large  and  distinct — -just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 
ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  5G  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages.  | 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-hve 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  of  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume. — Old  Colony  Memorial. 

History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
This  number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in 
elegant  style,  as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply 
interesting  period,  the  history  of  which  has  not  before, 
certainly  to  our  knowledge,  been  gone  into,  with  such 
thoroughness  of  research.  The  author,  we  think,  must 
feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only  laid  open 
many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  strictest  scrutiny  ;  the  author  has  set  in  a 
clear  light  the  nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters 
under  which  this  part  o''  INew  England  was  settled  ; 
lie  has  with  great  care  gone  step  by  step  from  the 
first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England,  until  hi  has 
planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That  old 
pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneous- 
ly placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  Lere 
takes  his  proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the 
old  patentees,  Mr.  Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be 
found  new,  and  though  we  perceive  he  has  committed 
some  few  inaccuracies  (though  generally  unimpor- 
tant,) he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long  standing 
in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up1  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonslall  and 
Winthrop,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed 
with  great  gratification  by  all  those  connected  with 
them. 

Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings, 
there  is  one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing 
from  Weymouth  for  New  England  ;  one  of  Winthrop 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight ;  first  interview  with  the  In- 
dians; portrait  of  John  Davenport;  autographs,  &c. 
No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly  to  Bos- 
tonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston. — Transcript,  Jan.  21, 
1853. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.    By  S.  G. 

Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities.". His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  emi- 


nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  The  attrac- 
tion of  Mr.  Drake's  history  increases  as  the  work 
progresses, — the  present  number  being  the  most  in- 
teresting one  yet  issued.  The  period  of  time  to 
which  this  number  is  devoted — comprising,  as  it  does, 
the  infancy  of  our  city's  history — has,  of  itself,  an 
unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr. 
Drake's  pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the 
settlement  of  Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  for- 
ward to  near  the  close  of  1632.  This  was,  of  course, 
the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence  of  the  settle- 
ment; a  season  of  doubt,  and  privation,  and. suffer- 
ing, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high 
expectations  that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flat- 
tering accounts  they  had  received  from  these  regions 
previous  to  their  emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a 
vivid  picture  of  their  situation  at  this  time,  and  has 
done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  that  is 
especially  deserving  of  commendation.  The  author 
has — whenever  he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without 
destroying  the  continuousness  of  his  narrative — per- 
mitted those  contemporaneous  authors,  from  whom 
he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their  information  in 
their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed  how 
frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synpnymous 
word  for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of 
an  author,  wiil  appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy 
here  found. 

We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number 
which  we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.  The  ac- 
count given  on  pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest 
Meeting  Houses  in  Boston,  is  quite  interesting. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its 
predecessors,  deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the 
embellishments  are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  a  portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  a  view,  of 
the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in  which  John  Cotton 
preached.  We  observe  also  that  the  initial  letters  of 
the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  ornamented 
with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudle}' ;  and  presume  that  it  is  intended 
'o  £  ive  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors,  in  the 
chapters  which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already 
published,  we  have  no  doubt  that — if  the  public  will 
do  their  part,  by  subscribing  liberally  for  the  work, 
so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  carry  out  fully  Mr. 
Drake's  designs — the  present  History  of  Boston  will 
be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud. — Bos- 
ton Transcript,  12  April,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  wi!<  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  *'  Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Dreke  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  ^progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  complet'on. — Christian  Exam- 
inerfor  May,  1854. 


No.  XI. 


2.1  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  18G  Washington  Street. 

O.  L.  PERKINS,  Agent. 


DOTTON    AND    WENTWORTH,  PRINTERS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY    HOBART   AND   ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
tine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra^  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

^  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 


issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St. 

KTOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see 
wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient 
interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERRATA. 

Page  15, I.  5,  n.  \,  for  so,  r.  to.  P.  37,  erase  the  lid  line.  P.  106,  n.  *,  r.  1697.  P.  119,  n.  *,  r.  Scotlow. 
P.  273,  n.  f,  Eaton  and  Hopkins  should  change  places.  P.  400,  n.,  I.  6,  for  grandson,  r.  nephew.  P.  407, 
n.,  erase  all  after  Boston,  and  add,  at  Neponset  village.  P.  433,  n.,  I.  18,  erase  from  stood  to  end  of  sen- 
tence, and  add,  on  what  is  now  Stillman  Street.  P.  462,  n.,  I.  2,  for  Thomas,  r.  John  ;  /.  4,  for  John,  r. 
Thomas  ;  for  He,  r.  John.     P.  472,  1.  6,  r.  Shepcott. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DRAKe,  in  the 
Clerk's  Oflice  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


The  History  of  Boston.  BySam'l  G.  Diake. 
No.  X.     Boston:  Luther  Stevens. 

This  work,  in  its  progress  througli  the  press,  lins 
received  many  commendations,  and  those  too  from 
prisons  whose  judgment  111  mailers  of  lliis  kind  is 
reliable.  The  writer  of  the  present  notice  has  had 
occasion  lately  to  make  researches  into  the  early  his- 
tory of  New  England,  and  he  lias  not  only  read  Mr. 
Drake's  work,  but  he  has  studied  it.  He  stales  but 
the  simple  truth  when  he  says,  that  he  has  been  in- 
debted to  it  both  for  important  facts  and  also  (or  val- 
uable hints.  Although  it  is  the  ''  History  of  Boston," 
yet  the  author  has  occasion  to  notice  occurrences 
which  took  place  in  the  Nonhcrn  Slates,  and  lie  throws 
much  light  on  the  men  and  events  of  bygone  days. 
Fairness  is  a  marked  quality  of  the  book  under  no- 
tice. It  is  also  marked  by  thoroughness  and  com- 
pleteness. There  is  no  slighting  either  in  the  literary 
or  mechanical  part  of  the  work.  It  is  printed  on  good 
paper,  with  clear  type,  a  id  is  profusely  illustrated 
with  engravings  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 

While  it  has  a  peculiar  interest  for  natives  of  Bos- 
ton, wherever  the}' may  now  reside,  it  is  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  worthy  the  patronage  of  all  intelligent 
persons.  In  these  days,  when  books  of  a  transient 
interest  are  advertised  as  having  passed  through  the 
"  tenth"  or  "  fifteenth  thousand,"  it  will  be  a  disgrace 
to  the  land  of  tree  schools  and  of  boasted  intelligence, 
if  this  work  of  Mr.  Drake,  of  real  and  permanent 
value,  does  not  meet  with  a  ready  and  extend ve  sale. 
To  those  who  are  about  purchasing-  a  collection  of 
works  for  the  winter  reading  of  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, we  would  say,  that  they  will  deprive  themselves 
of  valuable  and  interesting  information  if  they  do  not 
obtain  ihe  work  under  notice.  W.  S.  B. 

Chelsea,  Sept  "20th,  1854. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  o( 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  worK  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23rf 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 


cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  ol  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  II is  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  J inie  \'Jlh,  1852. 

The  History  or  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Comhill.     No.  1 . 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  cour.e  <f 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  dravrn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 
valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  for 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "  History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  No.  1  :  48  pages,  super  royal 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England,  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 


'lliistraled  will)  100  engrav'ngs.  We  have  received 
.<!(>.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  'I  hose  who  know  Mr. 
Draxe,  ihe  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  10  be  no  doubt 
th  »t  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  hislorv  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  oiiginal  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
'*  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  otrer  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  tasle,  and  gusto — 
con  amove. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.  The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 
is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white;  the  type 
large  and  distinct — just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 
ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  5G  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages. — 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-'ive 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  of  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  largo  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume  — Old  Colony  Memorial. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.    By  S.  G. 

Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  •'  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  conti- 


nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee.  Jan.  25, 1853. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  The  attrac- 
tion of  Mr.  Drake's  history  increases  as  the  work 
progresses, — the  present  number  being  the  most  in- 
teresting one  yet  issued.  The  period  of  time  to 
which  this  number  is  devoted — comprising,  as  it  does, 
the  infancy  of  our  city's*  history — has,  of  itself,  an 
unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr. 
Drake's  pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the 
settlement  of  Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  for- 
ward to  near  the  close  of  1632.  This  was,  of  course, 
the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence  of  the  settle- 
ment; a  season  of  doubt,  and  privation,  and  suffer- 
ing, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high 
expectations  that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flat- 
tering accounts  they  had  received  from  these  regions 
previous  to  their  emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a 
vivid  picture  of  their  situation  at  this  time,  and  has 
done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  thai  is 
especially  deserving  of  commendation.  The  author 
has — whenever  he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without 
destroying  the  continuousness  of  his  narrative — per- 
mitted those  contemporaneous  authors,  from  whom 
he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their  information  in 
their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed  how 
frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous 
word  for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of 
an  author,  will  appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy 
here  found. 

We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number 
which  we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.  The  ac- 
count given  on  pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest 
Meeting  Houses  in  Boston,  is  quite  interesting. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its 
predecessors,  deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the 
embellishments  are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  a  portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  a  view  of 
the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in  which  John  Cotton 
preached.  We  observe  also  that  the  initial  letters  of 
the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  ornamented 
with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp,  and  Dudley ;  and  presume  that  it  is  intended 
*o  £  ive  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors,  in  the 
chapters  which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already 
published,  we  have  no  doubt  that — if  the  public  will 
do  their  part,  by  subscribing  liberally  for  the  work, 
so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  carry  out  fully  Mr. 
Drake's  designs — the  present  History  of  Boston  will 
be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud. — Bos- 
ton Transcript,  12  April,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been:  needed;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  wili  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the '' Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner for  May,  1854. 


No.  XII. 


23  CENTS. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 

O.  L.  PERKINS,  Agent. 


DUTTON    AND    WENTWORTH,  PRINTERS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOEART   AKD    ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVEK    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — ■ 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

O^  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St, 

NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  'printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  who  are  disposed,  an  opportunity 
to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel 
sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERRATA. 

Page  14, 1.  17,  r.  25th.  P.  120,  l.  17,  r.  portended.  P.  132.  /.  16  of  foot,  r.  as.  P.  142,  I.  10,  r.  it."  P. 
208,  I.  13,  for  twenty,  r.  about  two.  P.  235, 1.  16  of  foot  of  last  note,  r.  Martha  Bushnall.  P.  330,  invert  2d 
engraving.  P.  347,  in  note  \,  I.  2,  after  Denison,  add,  but  he  must  not  be  so  understood  ;  the  fraternity  was 
between  Denison  and  Bradstreet.  P.  351, 1.  15  ofn.  *,  2d  col.,  r.  Dermon  Mahoone.  P.  456,  last  I.  ofn.,  r. 
Sewall's.    P.  497, 1.  1,  r.  Phillip  English. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DRAKe,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


History  and  Antiquities  op  Boston, — No. 
11.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Royal  8vo.  In  this  No. 
the  history  is  brought  down  to  1701— a  marked  period 
in  the  History  of  Boston,  for  that  was  the  year  the 
first  newspaper  ever  issued  in  America  appeared. — 
The  events  of  fifteen  years  are  recorded  in  these 
forty-eight  pages  ;  events,  many  of  which  arc  entirely 
new  to  us,  and  will  doubtless  be  so  to  a  great  majority 
of  readers.  It  was  originally  proposed,  we  believe, 
to  comprise  the  work  in  about  768  pages  ;  528  pages 
are  now  finished.  How  the  author  can  crowd  the 
facts  which  remain  into  the  pages  prescribed,  he 
best  knows.  At  all  events  we  hope  he  will  not  feel 
under  the  necessity  of  abridging  the  work,  for  if  car- 
ried through  as  it  is  thus  far  done,  its.  value  to  all 
classes  of  people  will  be  incalculable.  The  author 
discovers  a  wonderful  acquaintance  with  his  subject; 
so  much  so,  that  the  reader  is  insensibly  led  to  con- 
sider that  he  lived  through  all  the  space  of  which  he 
writes — was  acquainted  with  the  numerous  people 
he  has  had  occasion  to  mention — noted  the  arri- 
val and  departure  of  eminent  personages — saw  the 
celebrations  of  important  events  and  noted  who  were 
present — saw  the  oppressor  Andros  taken  by  the  col- 
lar and  hurried  off  to  prison — notes  a  man  building 
his  house  too  far  into  the  street — not  only  tells  you 
when  a  new  Governor  arrived  in  town,  but  tells  you 
who  he  was  and  where  he  lived — when  paper  money 
was  first  issued,  and  why — the  capture  of  pirates — 
names  of  all  those  executed  for  witchcraft — when  a 
law  was  made  requiring  buildings  to  be  built  of  brick 
or  stone — that  the  Quakers  built  the  first  brick  meet- 
ing-house, and  where — when  the  town  chose  Assess- 
ors, and  when  they  wouldn't  have  anj' — saw  Governor 
Phipps  cane  another  official  in  the  street,  and  gives 
you  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  Sir  William's  tomb — 
who  may  get  married  and  how — schools  and  school- 
houses — how  the  French  threatened  to  come  and  take 
Boston — what  Edward  Ward  says  of  the  town,  and 
what  Pope  says  of  him — and  a  thousand  other  things 
which  we  cannot  refer  to-at  this  time. 

The  number  is  accompanied  by  a  beautiful  steel 
plate  portrait  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton. — 
Transcript. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Sam'l  G.  Drake. 
No.  X.    Boston :  Luther  Stevens. 

This  work,  in  its  progress  through  the  press,  has 
received  many  commendations,  and  those  too  from 
persons  whose  judgment  in  matters  of  this  kind  is 
reliable.  The  writer  of  the  present  notice  has  had 
occasion  lately  to  make  researches  into  the  early  his- 
tory of  New  England,  and  he  has  not  only  read  Mr. 
Drake's  work,  but  he  has  studied  it.  He  states  but 
the  simple  truth  when  he  says,  that  he  has  been  in- 
debted to  it  both  for  important  facts  and  also  for  val- 
uable hints.  Although  it  is  the  "  History  of  Boston," 
yet  the  author  has  occasion  to  notice  occurrences 
which  took  place  in  the  Northern  States,  and  he  throws 
much  light  on  the  men  and  events  of  bygone  days. 
Fairness  is  a  marked  quality  of  the  book  under  no- 
tice. It  is  also  marked  by  thoroughness  and  com- 
pleteness. There  is  no  slighting  either  in  the  literary 
or  mechanical  part  of  the  work.  It  is  printed  on  good 
paper,  with  clear  type,  and  is  profusely  illustrated 
with  engravings  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 

While  it  has  a  peculiar  interest  for  natives  of  Bos- 
ton, wherever  they  may  now  reside,  it  is  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  worthy  the  patronage  of  all  intelligent 
persons.  In  these  days,  when  books  of  a  transient 
interest  are  advertised  as  having  passed  through  the 
"  tenth"  or  "  fifteenth  thousand,  it  will  be  a  disgrace 
to  the  land  of  free  schools  and  of  boasted  intelligence, 
if  this  work  of  Mr.  Drake,  of  real  and  permanent 
value,  does  not  meet  with  a  ready  and  extensive  sale. 
To  those  who  are  about  purchasing  a  collection  of 
works  for  the  winter  reading  of  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, we  would  say,  that  they  will  deprive  themselves 
of  valuable  and  interesting  information  if  they  do  not 
obtain  the  work  under  notice.  W.  S.  B. 

Chelsea,  Sept  '20th,  1854. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.     He  has,  with 


this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  prepaiation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  adtled 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  worK  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewnat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23rf 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register. — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be,— will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  court  e  rf 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  BosT.on  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  SnOw.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 


valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  for 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24, 1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "  History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  INo.  1  :  48  pages,  super  royal 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader—- that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England.  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
illustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
Wo.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Dra'ce,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
that  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully'  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston:  Oliver  L..Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  history  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new.  and  original  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amore. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.  The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 
is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white ;  the  type 
large  and  distinct— just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 


ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity'  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  5G  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages. — 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  wilt  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  tweuty-^ve 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  of  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume. — Old  Colony  Memorial. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G. 
Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  conti- 
nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee,  Jan.  25, 1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  /.—This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed  ;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  wili  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  •' Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vance?, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  astojustifyaclaim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner for  May,  1854. 


If©.  XIII. 


25  CUNTS. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 

O.  L.  PERKINS,  Agent. 


©UTTON   AND   WENTWORTH,  PRINTERS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOBART   AKD    ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOB   PUBLISHING   BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  "Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  snch  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

HSI*  I*  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  twelve  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St. 

NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  who  are  disposed,  an  opportunity 
to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel 
sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERRATA. 

Page  56, 1. 18,/or  children,  r.  family.  P.  187,  n.  t,  r.  Granger.  P.  292, 1st  I.  of  Contents,  for  Dudley,  r. 
Winthrop.  P.  320, 3d  IT,  transpose  Endicott  &  Dudley.  P.  411,  n.  t,  last  L,  dele  the.  P.  548,  n.  *,  after  3d 
IT,  insert,  John  Norton,  ord.  23  July,  1656,  d.  5  April,  1663,  as.  57 :  9tk  f,  same  n.,  r.  12th  March.  P.  182, 
date  at  top,  for  1634,  r.  1635.    P.  556,  &c,  r.  Christ  Church. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-fire,  by  Samuel  G.  Dbako,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


History  of  Boston. — Mr.  Drake  has  brought 
down  his  History  to  about  1730,  in  the  twelfth  num- 
ber recently  issued.  The  early  promise  of  this  work 
is  amply  fulfilled,  and  we  know  of  nothing  of  the  kind 
more  interesting  and  instructive.  He  is  very  happy 
in  the  selection  of  his  facts,  in  which  consists  the  great 
value  of  History,  and  so  presents  them  as  to  give  al- 
most to  every  year  in  the  growth  of  our  City  its  very 
['  form  and  pressure."  This  number  covers  a  most 
interesting  epoch,  and  should  be  in  possession  of  every 
Bostouian. — B.  in  Evening  Transcript,  17  May,  1855. 

History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston, — No 
H.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Royal  8vo.  In  this  No. 
the  history  is  brought  down  to  1704— a  marked  period 
in  the  History  of  Boston,  for  that  was  the  year  the 
first  newspaper  ever  issued  in  America  appeared. — 
The  events  of  fifteen  years  are  recorded  in  these 
forty-eight  pages  ;  events,  many  of  which  are  entirely 
new  to  us,  and  will  doubtless  be  so  to  a  great  majority 
of  readers.  It  was  originally  proposed,  we  believe, 
to  comprise  the  work  in  about  768  pages  ;  528  pages 
are  now  finished.  How  the  author  can  crowd  the 
facts  which  remain  into  the  pages  prescribed,  he 
best  knows.  At  all  events  we  hope  he  will  not  feel 
under  the  necessity  of  abridging  the  work,  for  if  car- 
ried through  as  it  is  thus  far  done,  its  value  to  all 
classes  of  people  will  be  incalculable.  The  author 
discovers  a  wonderful  acquaintance  with  his  subject; 
so  much  so,  that  the  reader  is  insensibly  led  to  con-" 
sider  that  he  lived  through  all  the  space  of  which  he 
writes — was  acquainted  with  the  numerous  people 
he  has  had  occasion  to  mention — noted  the  arri- 
val and  departure  of  eminent  personages — saw  the 
celebrations  of  important  events  and  noted  who  were 
present — saw  the  oppressor  Andros  taken  by  the  col- 
lar and  hurried  off  to  prison — notes  a  man  building 
his  house  too  far  into  the  street — not  only  tells  you 
when  a  new  Governor  arrived  in  town,  but  ttlls  you 
who  he  was  and  where  he  lived — when  paper  money 
was  first  issued,  and  why — the  capture  of  pirates — 
names  of  all  those  executed  for  witchcraft — when  a 
law  was  made  requiring  buildings  to  be  built  of  brick 
or  stone — that  the  Quakers  built  the  first  brick  meet- 
ing-house, and  where — when  the  town  chose  Assess- 
ors, and  when  they  wouldn't  have  any — saw  Governor 
Phipps  cane  another  official  in  the  street,  and  gives 
you  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  Sir  William's  tomb — 
who  may  get  married  and  how — schools  and  school- 
houses — how  the  French  threatened  to  come  and  take 
Boston — what  Edward  Ward  says  of  the  town,  and 
what  Pope  says  of  him — and  a  thousand  other  things 
which  we  cannot  refer  to  at  this  time. 

The  number  is  accompanied  by  a  beautiful  steel 
plate  portrait  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton. — 
Transcript. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Sam'l  G.  Drake. 
No.  X.    Boston :  Luther  Stevens. 

This  work,  in  its  progress  through  the  press,  has 
received  many  commendations,  and  those  too  from 
persons  whose  judgment  in  matters  of  this  kind  is 
reliable.  The  writer  of  the  present  notice  has  had 
occasion  lately  to  make  researches  into  the  early  his- 
tory of  New  England,  and  he  has  not  only  read  Mr. 
Drake's  work,  but  he  has  studied  it.  He  states  but 
the  simple  truth  when  he  says,  that  he  has  been  in- 
debted to  it  both  for  important  facts  and  also  for  val- 
uable hints.  Although  it  is  the  "  History  of  Boston," 
yet  the  author  has  occasion  to  notice  occurrences 
which  took  place  in  the  Northern  States,  and  he  throws 
much  light  on  the  men  and  events  of  bygone  days. 
Fairness  is  a  marked  quality  of  the  book  under  no- 
tice. It  is  also  marked  by  thoroughness  and  com- 
pleteness. There  is  no  slighting  either  in  the  literary 
or  mechanical  part  of  the  work.  It  is  printed  on  good 
paper,  with  clear  type,  and  is  profusely  illustrated 
with  engravings  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 

While  it  has  a  peculiar  interest  for  natives  of  Bos- 
ton, wherever  they  may  now  reside,  it  is  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  worthy  the  patronage  of  all  intelligent 
persons.  In  these  days,  when  books  of  a  transient 
interest  are  advertised  as  having  passed  through  the 
•'  tenth"  or  "  fifteenth  thousand,"  it  will  be  a  disgrace 


to  the  land  of  free  schools  and  of  boasted  intelligence, 
if  this  work  of  Mr.  Drake,  of  real  and  permanent 
value,  does  not  meet  wilh  a  ready  and  extensive  sale. 
To  those  who  are  about  purchasing  a  collection  of 
works  for  the  winter  reading  of  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, we  would  say,  that  they  will  deprive  themselves 
of  valuable  and  interesting  information  if  they  do  not 
obtain  the  work  under  notice.  W.  S.  B. 

Chelsea,  Sept  HOlh,  1854. 

F'or  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  prepaialion 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  maybe  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedU 
grees  of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier^  23d 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  course  f  f 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.    These  accounts  are  draw  n  from 


original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  Tacts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 
valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  for 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  No.  1  :  48  pages,  super  royal 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  proprietj*  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
illustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
Wo.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Dra'<e,  the  author,  can  testify  lo  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
thut  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  history  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  original  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  m?n  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  tasle,  and  gusto — 
con  amore. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.  The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 
is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white ;  the  type 
large  and  distinct— just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 


ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  5G  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages. — 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  tins  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-  ive 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  da}', 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  ol  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  (own 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indelatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  fpr  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  largp  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications^  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume. — Old  Colony  Manorial. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G. 
Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  conti- 
nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee.  Jan.  25,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed ;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  wili  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  •'  Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His'prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  Of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vance, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age  to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner for  May,  1854. 


No.    XIV. 


25  CENTS. 


L  KILBUBN   DEL. 


BOSTON: 
LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 


DUTTON    AND    WENTWOETH,  PRINTERS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY  HOBART   AND   ROBBINS, 


PROPOSALS, 

FOB    PUBLISHING   BY    SUBSCBIPTION 


BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

[JJU55  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  twelve  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St. 


NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  who  are  disposed,  an  opportunity 
to  see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel 
sufficient  interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


ERRATA. 

Page  164,  6  I.  of  2d  IT,  for  Samuel,  should  probably  be  substituted,  Elias.    P.  613,  \st  I.  2d  col.  of  notes,  r. 
"  Leonard  was  uncle  of  the  author." 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-five,  by  Samuel  G.  DEAKe,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts, 


NOTICES  OP  THE  PRESS. 


Bistort  of  Boston. — Mr.  Drake  has  brought 
down  his  History  to  about  1730,  in  the  twelfth  num- 
ber recently  issued.  The  early  promise  of  this  work 
is  amply  fulfilled,,  and  we  know  of  nothing  of  the  kind 
more  interesting  and  instructive.  lie  is  very  happy 
in  the  selection  of  his  facts,  in  which  consists  the  great 
value  of  History,  and  so  presents  them  as  to  give  al- 
most to  every  year  in  the  growth  of  our  City  its  very 
"  form  and  pressure."  This  number  covers  a  most 
interesting  epoch,  and  should  be  in  possession  of  every 
Bostonian. — B.  in  Evening  Transcript,  17  May,  1855. 

History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston, — No 
11.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Royal  8vo.  In  this  No. 
the  history  is  brought  down  to  1701 — a  marked  period 
in  the  History  of  Boston,  for  that  was  the  year  the 
first  newspaper  ever  issued  in  America  appeared. — 
The  events  of  fifteen  years  are  recorded  in  these 
forty-eight  pages  ;  events,  many  of  which  are  entirely 
new  to  us,  and  will  doubtless  be  so  to  a  great  majority 
of  readers.  It  was  originally  proposed,  we  believe, 
to  comprise  the  work  in  about  768  pages  ;  528  pages 
are  now  finished.  How  the  author  can  crowd  the 
facts  which  remain  into  the  pages  prescribed,  he 
best  knows.  At  all  events  we  hope  he  will  not  feel 
under  the  necessity  of  abridging  the  work,  for  if  car- 
ried through  as  it  is  thus  far  done,  its  value  to  all 
classes  of  people  will  be  incalculable.  The  author 
discovers  a  wonderful  acquaintance  with  his  subject; 
so  much  so,  that  the  reader  is  insensibly  led  to  con- 
sider that  he  lived  through  all  the  space  of  which  he 
writes — was  acquainted  with  the  numerous  people 
he  has  had  occasion  to  mention — noted  the  arri- 
val and  departure  of  eminent  personages — saw  the 
celebrations  of  important  events  and  noted  who  were 
present — saw  the  oppressor  Andros  taken  by  the  col- 
lar and  hurried  off  to  prison — notes  a  man  building 
his  house  too  far  into  the  street — not  only  tells  37ou 
when  a  new  Governor  arrived  in  town,  but  tells  you 
who  he  was  and  where  he  lived — when  paper  money 
was  first  issued,  and  why — the  capture  of  pirates — 
names  of  all  those  executed  for  witchcraft — when  a 
law  was  made  requiring  buildings  to  be  built  of  brick 
or  stone — that  the  Quakers  built  the  first  brick  meet- 
ing-house, and  where— when  the  town  chose  Assess- 
ors, and  when  they  wouldn't  have  any — saw  Governor 
Phipps  cane  another  official  in  the  street,  and  gives 
you  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  Sir  William's  tomb — 
who  may  get  married  and  how — schools  and  school- 
houses — how  the  French  threatened  to  come  and  take 
Boston — what  Edward  Ward  says  of  the  town,  and 
what  Pope  says  of  him — and  a  thousand  other  things 
which  we  cannot  refer  to  at  this  time. 

The  number  is  accompanied  by  a  beautiful  steel 
plate  portrait  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton. — 
Transcript. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By Sam'l G.Drake. 
No.  X.    Boston :  Luther  Stevens. 

This  work,  in  its  progress  through  the  press,  has 
received  many  commendations,  and  those  too  from 
persons  whose  judgment  in  matters  of  this  kind  is 
reliable.  The  writer  of  the  present  notice  has  had 
occasion  lately  to  make  researches  into  the  early  his- 
tory of  New  England,  and  he  has  not  only  read  Mr. 
Drake's  work,  but  he  has  studied  it.  He  states  but 
the  simple  truth  when  he  says,  that  he  has  been  in- 
debted to  it  both  for  important  facts  and  also  for  val- 
uable hints.  Although  it  is  the  "  History  of  Boston," 
yet  the  author  has  occasion  to  notice  occurrences 
which  took  place  in  the  Northern  States,  and  he  throws 
much  light  on  the  men  and  events  of  bygone  days. 
Fairness  is  a  marked  quality  of  the  book  under  no- 
tice. It  is  also  marked  by  thoroughness  and  com- 
pleteness^ There  is  no  slighting  either  in  the  literary 
or  mechanical  part  of  the  work.  It  is  printed  on  good 
paper,  with  clear  type,  and  is  profusely  illustrated 
with  engravings  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 

While  it  has  a  peculiar  interest  for  natives  of  Bos- 
ton, wherever  they  may  now  reside,  it  is  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  worthy  the  patronage  of  all  intelligent 
persons.  In  these  days,  when  books  of  a  transient 
interest  are  advertised  as  having  passed  through  the 
"  tenth"  or  "  fifteenth  thousand,"  it  will  be  a  disgrace 


to  the  laud  of  (n  <•  s<  Imols  ;ind  of  boasted  intelligence, 
il  this  work  of  Mr.  Drake,  ol  real  and  permanent 
\  alue,  "Iocs  not  meet  with  a  ready  and  e\i<  nsive  sale. 
To  those  who  are  about  purchasing  a  collection  of 
works  for  the  winter  reading  of  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, we  would  say,  that   thev  will  deprive  themselves 

of  valuable  and  interesting  information  if  they  do  not 
obtain  ihe  work  under  notice.  W.  S.  B. 

Chelsea,  Sept  %0th,  1854. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  ho 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  worK  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23d 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  cours  e  f  f 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  Others.    These  accounts  are  drawn  from 


original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted..,  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 
valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  for 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "  History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Boston  : 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  Wo.  1  :  48  pages,  super  royal 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader— that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  •  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  is  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an~ 
cient  city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  earl}' 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
—Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
illustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
No.  1 ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Drake,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
that  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  of  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  Samuel 
G.  Drake.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  history  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  original  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr-  Drake's  writings — and  net  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  cghscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amore. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.  The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 
is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white ;  the  type 
large  and  distinct— just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 


ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
of  printing.  A.  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  56  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  -cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages. — 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By,Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  tweuty-ive 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  ot  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume. — Old  Coloriy  Memorial. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G. 
Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  conti- 
nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee,  Jan.  25, 1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — Histonj  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  will  be  faithfully  done.  Mr.  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  "  Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated. — 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  11  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  matters,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner for  May,  1854. 


.*r|     K> 


No.  *rj 


[25  CENTS. 


KLLBURN    DEL. 


BOSTON: 

CTH¥Bgr-L.  PBRKflSSs  186  Washington  Street. 

L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 


CAMBRIDGE  :    PRINTED    BY   METCALF   AND    COMPANY- 


STEREOTYPED  BY  HOBART  AND   ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
By     OLIVER    L.     PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING  BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

Cjje   IStfitnrg   unit   SirtqtrittH  nf  iSnfltntt 

By    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS: 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  One  Hundred  Engravings  of  Persons  and 
Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be  appended  to  the  work, 
accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Biographical  facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48  pages  each,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery,  —  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of 
768  pages.  To  be  printed  on  fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers 
will  be  published  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  Work  entire,  when  bound,  may  do  so,  by  paying 
for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate,  at  the  time  of  subscribing. 

HP  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be  issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 


NOTE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many  new  facts ; 
certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is  left  for  the  future  scru- 
tiny of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical  and  antiquarian  investigations. 
The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  conclusions,  upon  several  points,  very  different 
from  those  of  his  predecessors  who  haye  had  occasion  to  notice  them  ;  and  while  he 
believes  his  own  deductions  to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the 
sake  of  novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others.  Nor 
does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites  his  friends,  and  all 
others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  communicate  to  him  any  thing  they  may 
have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his 
attention  to  any  errors  and  omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage 
in  issuing  a  work  of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to 
see  wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient  inter- 
est in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 


EKRATA. 

In  apology  for  this  large  list  of  Errata  the  Author  begs  leave  to  observe,  that,  owing  to  some  irregu- 
larities at  the  Foundery,  he  was  not  furnished  with  his  usual  revises  ;  and  that,  his  work  being  printed 
at  Cambridge,  he  saw  no  proof  containing  the  Coat  of  Arms,  in  page  157,  which  appears  wrong  side  up. 
Page  140, 1.  3,  note,  for  52,  read  32. 

"     166, 1.  5,  after  committed,  add  several  murders. 

"     171, 1.  7,  for  first,  read  second. 

"    175, 1.  4,  2d  1,  read  Symmes. 

"     182, 1.  2  of  foot,  read  Henry  Uane. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty- three,  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
in  the  Clerk's  OfHee  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


To    the   Sons   of  New   England   everywhere. 

There  has  been  commenced,  under  the  patronage  of  the  New  England  Historic-Genealogical 

Society,  a  work,  entitled  the 

lieut-Cttgluiti  IMmntl  nttfr  (©ntenlngiral  lUgtster, 


ANTIQUARIAN    JOURNAL. 

THE    ONLY    ANTIQUARIAN    PERIODICAL 

PUBLISHED  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES  ! 

Although  this  work  is  extensively  patronized  by  the  most  enlightened  and  literary  portion  of  the 
public,  yet  it  is  still  desirable  to  extend  its  circulation,  as  well  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  community  at 
large,  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish  its  design  of  preserving  the  early  records  of  New  England. 

That  these  records  are  fast  going  to  decay  is  a  fact  too  well  known  to  require  even  ordinary  proof. 
To  preserve  them  is  a  duty  every  one  owes  to  his  country.  This  journal  is  mainly  intended  for  that  object. 
It  therefore  has  a  claim  upon  you  for  support. 

The  New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1845,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  proposes  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  illustration  of 
History  and  Biography  in  all  its  branches. 

It  has  long  been  viewed  by  many  as  unpardonable  and  degrading,  at  this  enlightened  stage  of  society 
in  this  country,  that  people  in  general  know  so  little  about  their  ancestry.  And,  so  far  as  can  be  judged, 
the  founders  of  this  institution  were  not  actuated  by  a  prospect  of  hereditary  property  or  titles  to 
nobility,  but  by  a  sincere  desire  to  extend  this  branch  of  knowledge.  That  there  is  an  element  of  vast 
importance  yet  to  be  developed  by  these  investigatipns,  is  really  believed,  —  an  element  which  will 
eventually  create  a  new  era  in  physiological  science. 

No  argument  can  be  required  in  support  of  the  great  and  ultimate  importance  of  Genealogical 
researches,  to  those  minds  which  have  been  directed  to  the  subject ;  yet  if  there  be  any  to  whom  this 
position  is  not  clear,  they  are  recommended  to  consider  History  without  Biography  or  Chronology ;  for 
it  is  contended  that  Genealogy  is  as  essential  to  Biography,  as  Biography  is  to  History. 

It  is  not  only  the  great  aim  of  the  Society  to  collect  and  preserve  all  such  materials  as  will  aid  every 
one  having  a  desire  to  trace  his  ancestry,  or  to  establish  any  facts  in  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  his 
country,  especially  in  its  Local  History,  to  pursue  such  inquiries  with  the  prospect  of  success,  but  to 
make  his  labors  available  by  a  periodical  publication;  suck  as  is  now  offered  for  your  patronage. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  general  Contents  of  the  work  is  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Lists  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths,  from  the  earliest  Town  and  Parish  Records  of  New  England. 

2.  Catalogues  of  Names  found  in  Ancient  Documents,  as  also  the  Documents  themselves,  when  they  are  found  to  contain  im- 

portant facts  illustrative  of  History  and  Antiquities,  or  the  lives  and  actions  of  our  Ancestors. 

3.  Abstracts  of  Wills,  Settlements  of  Estates,  Deeds  and  Conveyances  ;  —  such  Portions  of  old  English  History,  Genealogies 

and  Antiquities,  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  Illustration  of  those  of  New  England.    And  occasionally  entire 
Tracts  or  Treatises  which  have  become  rare  and  are  of  permanent  Historical  Value. 

4.  Descriptions  of  the  Dwellings,  Household  Utensils,  Implements  of  Husbandry,  Warlike  Implements,  Costumes,  &c.  be- 

longing to  the  earliest  Times  to  which  the  Ancestry  of  Families  may  be  traced ;  —  to  be  accompanied,  when  practicable 
with  Engravings. 

5.  Inscriptions  from  Tombs,  Monuments,  and  Tablets  of  Cemeteries  ;  —  Ancient  Epitaphs,  &c,  &c. 

6.  Descriptions  of  Armorial  Bearings,  and  other  Heraldic  Devices,  with  sufficient  Explanations  of  the  Terms  of  Heraldry 

for  their  Emblazonry. 

7.  Biographical  Accounts  and  Memoirs  of  Persons  who  came  to  North  America,  especially  to  New  England,  before  1700  • 

showing  from  what  Places  in  Europe  they  came,  their  Families  there,  and  their  Descendants  in  this  Country. 

8.  Full  and  minute  Genealogical  Memoirs  and  Tables,  showing  the  Lineage  and  Descent  of  Families,  from  the  earliest  Dates 

to  which  they  can  be  authentically  traced,  down  to  the  present  Time,  with  their  Branches  and  Connections. 

9.  Tables  of  Longevity,  Statistical  and  Biographical  Accounts  of  Attorneys,  Physicians,  Ministers  and  Churches  of  all  De- 

nominations, of  Graduates  at  Colleges,  Governors,  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Merchants,  Military 
Officers,  and  other  Persons  of  Distinction. 

SAMUEL    G.   DRAKE,  Editor. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  work  is  published  by  Samtjel  G.  Drake,  15  Brattle  Street  (up  stairs),  Boston,  to  whom  all  com- 
munications should  be  addressed.  —  To  be  issued  Quarterly,  viz.  in  January,  April,  July  and 
October,  of  each  year;  at  TWO  DOLLARS  a  year,  payable,  in  all  cases,  in  advance. 

Boston,  January  1,  1853. 

N.  B.    There  are  now  completed  six  volumes  of  this  work,  and  the  seventh  was  begun  on  the  first  of  January,  1853  ■ 

affording  a  desirable  period  to  commence  taking  the  work,  as  it  is  now  upon  a  thorough  and  settled  plan  of  progression,  with 
a  most  valuable  amount  of  materials  in  the  hands  of  the  Editor.  A  few  complete  sets  of  the  back  volumes  of  the  work  are 
on  hand,  which  will  be  disposed  of  to  new  subscribers,  if  they  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  bound  or 
in  numbers.  ' 


NOTICES    OF   THE    PRESS, 


"  The  History  op  Boston.  No.  IV.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
The  fourth  part  of  Mr.  Drake's  History  of  Boston  has  made 
its  appearance,  bringing  the  narrative  of  events  down  to  the 
year  1636.  The  history  of  the  town,  at  this  early  period,  is 
so  closely  interwoven  with  that  of  the  Colony,  that  the  work 
before  us  might  thus  far  be  appropriately  styled  the  '  History 
of  Massachusetts.'  The  author,  in  this  part,  has  given 
some  extracts  from  the  earliest  records  of  the  town ;  and  we 
are  promised  a  fac-simile  of  the  ancient  manuscript,  for  the 
next  number. 

"  We  are  pleased  to  notice  that  this  work  is,  thus  far,  well 
sustained.  The  letter-press  is  excellent,  and  this  number  is 
embellished  with  plates  and  numerous  well-executed  wood 
cuts. 

"  On  some  points  of  no  great  moment  we  should  possibly 
differ  from  the  author;  but  we  have  no  space  here  to  dwell 
at  length. 

"  In  the  Christian  Examiner  for  May,  page  513,  is  an  extract 
from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Joseph  Hunter,  the  distinguished  His- 
torian and  Antiquary  of  London,  to  Hon.  James  Savage, 
President  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in  which 
he  speaks  of  No.  I.  of  Mr.  Drake's  History  of  Boston.  We 
quote  the  following :  '  I  notice  one  thing  of  importance  in 
Mr.  Drake's  book,  namely,  that  he  has  an  error  of  ten  years 
in  the  date  of  the  birth  of  Captain  John  Smith.'  Mr.;Drake'S 
statement  is  as  follows :  '  From  a  reference  already  made  to 
one  of  his  maps,  it  appears  that  he  was  born  in  1579.'  Now 
it  would  be  remarkable  if  there  were  not  some  mistakes  in 
this  first  part  of  Mr.  Drake's  History,  where  such  a  vast 
number  of  facts  are  brought  together,  but  we  feel  quite  sure 
that  there  is  no  error  here.  In  1616,  Smith  published  his 
'Description  of  New  England,'  which  contained  a  map,  in 
one  corner  of  which  may  be  seen  the  lively  effigies  of  the  re- 
nowned author,  with  this  inscription  :  'iEta  37.  Ao.  1616.' 
This  is  Mr.  Drake's  authority.  Finding  that  Smith  was 
thirty-seven  years  of  age  in  1616,  Mr.  Drake  was  naturally 
led.  by  a  simple  arithmetical  calculation,  to  place  his  birth 
in  1579.  The  inscription  upon  the  map  we  consider  too  of 
the  highest  authority,  —  that  of  Smith  himself.  This  map 
was  afterwards  republished  by  him  in  his  '  Generall  His- 
toric,' in  1624,  1626,  and  1627,  some  alterations  being  made 
in  each  edition  (of  the  map)  to  conform  to  the  increased 
knowledge  of  the  country.  It  also  appears,  with  greater 
alterations,  in  some  copies  of  the  General  History  of  date 
1632,  the  year  after  his  death.  In  all  the  editions  of  this 
map  we  find  this  same  inscription,  above  quoted,  denoting 
the  age  of  Captain  Smith,  which  he  himself  published  to  the 
world.  Now  Mr.  Hunter  may  have  some  authority  on  this 
point,  which  he  deems  more  reliable  than  the  above.  We 
have  heard  of  intelligent  persons  who  have  erred  slightly, 
perhaps  a  year  or  so,  as  to  the  date  of  their  birth  ;  but  that 
Captain  Smith  could  have  made  an  error  of  ten  years  is  as 
incredible  as  the  statement  that  John  Rogers,  the  proto- 
martyr.  was  ignorant  as  to  the  number  of  his  own  children  a 
few  days  before  his  death. 

"  One  of  the  most  interesting  passages  in  this  number  of  Mr. 
Drake's  elaborate  work,  is  the  account  given  on  the  162d 
page  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  John  Cotton  as  teacher  of  the 
First  Church,  in  1633.  The  narrative  is  given  in  the  quaint 
language  of  the  times.  The  same  year  (1633),  a  small  ship 
called  the  Rebecca,  was  built  at  Medford.  She  was  princi- 
pally owned  in  Boston,  and  her  name  occurs  quite  frequently 
in  business  transactions  of  the  succeeding  years.  This  inter- 
esting number  ends  with  the  record  of  the  election  of  Henry 
Vane  as  Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  in  May, 
1636.  Every  page  of  this  work  bears  marks  of  intelligence, 
industry  and  research,  and  we  renewedly  commend  the  enter- 
prise of  Mr.  Drake  to  the  patronage  of  the  citizens  of  Bos- 
ton."—  Boston  Transcript,  Jungll,  1853. 

"The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston :  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  — "The  attraction  of 
Mr.  Drake's  History  increases  as  the  work  progresses,  — the 
present  number  being  the  most  interesting  one  yet  issued. 
The  period  of  time  to  which  this  number  is  devoted  —  com- 
prising, as  it  does,  the  infancy  of  our  city's  history  —  has,  of 
itself,  an  unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Drake's 
pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the  settlement  of 
Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  forward  to  near  the  close  of 
1632.  This  was,  of  course,  the  most  critical  period  in  the  ex- 
istence of  the  settlement;  a  season  of  doubt  and  privation 
and  suffering,  less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high  ex- 
pectations that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flattering  ac- 
counts they  had  received  from  these  regions  previous  to  their 
emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a  vivid  picture  of  their 
situation  at  this  time,  and  has  done  justice  to  their  fortitude 
and  perseverance. 

"There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  that  is  espe- 
cially deserving  of  commendation.  The  author  has  —  when- 
ever he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without  destroying  the  contin- 
uousness  of  his  narrative  —  permitted  those  contemporaneous 
authors,  from  whom  he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their 
information  in  their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed 
how  frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous  word 
for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of  an  author,  will 
appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy  here  found. 

"  We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number  which 
we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.    The  account  given  on 


pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest  Meeting- Houses  in  Boston,  is 
quite  interesting. 

"  The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its  pre- 
decessors, deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the  embellish- 
ments are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth  Governor  of  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  a  view  of  the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in 
which  John  Cotton  preached.  We  observe,  also,  that  the  ini- 
tial letters  of  the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  orna- 
mented with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp,  and  Dudley,  and  presume  that  it  is  intended  to  give  the 
arms  of  the  succeeding  governors  in  the  chapters  which  fol- 
low. From  the  specimens  already  published,  we  have  no 
doubt  that  —  if  the  public  will  do  their  part,  by  subscribing 
liberally  for  the  work,  so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  to 
carry  out  fully  Mr.  Drake's  designs  —  the  present  History  of 
Boston  will  be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud." 
—  Boston  Transcript,  April  12,  1853. 

"  The  History  op  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Bos- 
ton:  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.     Nos.  I.,  II.,  III. 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  published  the  first  three  numbers  of  his 
'  History  of  Boston.'  The  work  will  be  illustrated  with  at 
least  one  hundred  engravings  of  persons  and  objects  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  an  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  accompanied  by  genealogical  and  biographi- 
cal facts.  The  work  is  to  be  issued  in  about  sixteen  numbers 
or  parts,  of  forty-eight  pages  each,  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
number,  making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages. 

"  The  first  number  is  embellished  with  a  splendid  engraving 
of  Boston  and  suburbs,  as  they  now  are,  together  with  a  rep- 
resentation of  all  the  objects  of  interest.  The  second  number 
contains  an  engraving  of  John  Endicott,  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts.  The  third  number  contains  a  panoramic 
view  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  from  Bunker 
Hill  Monument. 

"The  work  fills  a  gap  in  history,  and  is  much  needed. 
The  only  work  which  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  History  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Snow's,  is  deficient  in  many  particulars,  and  ren- 
dered still  more  so  by  the  lapse  of  lime  since  its  publication. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  the  author,  brings  to  the  work  a  mind  well 
stored  with  historical  material,  and  an  ardent  love  of,  as  well 
as  a  long  experience  in,  antiquarian  and  historical  pursuits. 
No  better  man  could  have  undertaken  the  work.  He  is  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian  Reg- 
ister, a  work  of  great  merit  and  value,  and  is  the  author  of 
several  historical  works.  The  '  History  of  Boston,'  so  far  as 
completed,  contains  many  new  facts,  at  least  they  have  never 
appeared  before  in  any  printed  work.  His  extensive  research 
has  also  enabled  Mr.  Drake  to  correct  the  errors  of  preceding 
writers,  and  to  make  his  work  one  of  the  most  valuable  that 
has  recently  been  issued  from  the  press."  — Nashua  Gazette, 
April  7,  1853. 

"  History  op  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake.  This 
number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in  elegant  style, 
as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply  interesting  period,  the 
history  of  which  has  not  before,  certainly  to  our  knowledge, 
been  gone  into,  with  such  thoroughness  of  research.  The  au- 
thor, we  think,  must  feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only 
laid  open  many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  strictest  scrutiny.  The  author  has  set  in  a  clear  light  the 
nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters,  under  which  this  part 
of  New  England  was  settled.  He  has  with  great  care  gone 
step  by  step  from  the  first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England, 
until  he  has  planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That 
old  pioneer  Governoi,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneously 
placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  here  takes  his 
proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the  old  patentees,  Mr. 
Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be  found  new,  and  though  we 
perceive  he  has  committed  some  few  inaccuracies  (though 
generally  unimportant),  he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long 
standing  in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and  Win- 
throp,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed  with  great 
gratification  by  all  those  connected  with  them. 

"Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings,  there  is 
one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing  from  Weymouth 
for  New  England;  one  of  Winthrop  from  the  Isle  of  Wight; 
first  interview  with  the  Indians;  portrait  of  John  Davenport ; 
autographs,  &c.  No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly 
to  Bostonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston."  —  Transcript,  Jan.  24,  1853. 

"  The  History  op  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
metropolis  of  New  England  has  been  undertaken  by  a  gentle- 
man who  is  better  qualified  for  it  than  any  other  man  living. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  distinguished  antiquarian,  and  a  '  diligent 
preserver  of  antiquities.'  His  researches  in  New  England 
history  have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  il- 
lustrate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his  pen,  what  has 
been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  Boston.— 
There  is  no  place  on  this  continent  so  rich  in  curious  remi- 
niscences and  legendary  history  as  Boston.  The  book  must 
be  successful  in  Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust 
that  he  may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame."  — Bee,  Jan.  25,  1853. 


No.  «fc.      III. 


25  CENTS. 


-^~J     ■. — ^LLFOX. 


BOSTON: 

LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 
■O.  It.  PERKINS,  Jtf&d. 


BUTTON    AND    WENTWUKTH,   i-KINTEhS. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   HOBART   AKD    ROBBINS. 


PROPOSALS, 
BY    OLIVER    L.    PERKINS, 

FOR    PUBLISHING    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

BY    SAMUEL    G.    DRAKE. 


CONDITIONS. 

The  Work  will  be  illustrated  with  Several  Hundred  Engravings 
of  Persons  and  Objects  of  the  greatest  interest. 

An  extensive  list  of  the  earliest  Inhabitants  of  Boston  will  be 
appended  to  the  work,  accompanied  by  such  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical facts  as  the  space  allotted  will  allow. 

The  Work  will  be  issued  in  about  16  Numbers  or  Parts,  of  48 
pages  each,  at  Twenty-Five  cents  a  Number,  payable  on  delivery, — 
making,  when  completed,  a  volume  of  768  pages.  To  be  printed  on 
fine  paper,  Pica  type,  Royal  Octavo.  The  numbers  will  be  published 
as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 

Persons  preferring  to  receive  the  work  entire,  when  bound,  may 
do  so  by  paying  for  the  binding  extra,  as  they  may  stipulate  at  the 
time  of  subscribing. 

klUi^  It  is  intended  that  the  future  numbers  of  the  work  shall  be 
issued  once  in  about  six  weeks. 

All  orders  directed,  L.  STEVENS,  Proprietor,  186  Washington  St, 

Jt' 

IKTOTIE. 

The  readers  of  these  numbers  of  the  History  of  Boston  will  find  many 
new  facts  ;  certainly  new  in  any  printed  work  ;  and  that  they  are  facts,  is 
left  for  the  future  scrutiny  of  those  who  wish  to  indulge  in  such  historical 
and  antiquarian  investigations.  The  Author  has  necessarily  come  to  con- 
clusions, upon  several  points,  very  different  from  those  of  his  predecessors 
who  have  had  occasion  to  notice  them ;  and  while  he  believes  his  own  de- 
ductions to  be  satisfactory,  he  has  certainly  not  made  them  for  the  sake  of 
novelty,  or  with  any  satisfaction  merely  because  they  differ  from  others. 
Nor  does  he  correct  the  errors  of  others  in  any  captious  spirit,  but  invites 
his  friends,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  History  of  the  City,  to  commu- 
nicate to  him  anything  they  may  have  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the 
laborious  object  he  has  in  view ;  and  to  call  his  attention  to  any  errors  and 
omissions  they  may  discover.  There  is  a  great  advantage  in  issuing  a  work 
of  this  kind  in  numbers,  as  it  gives  those  disposed  an  opportunity  to  see 
wherein  it  should  be  otherwise,  and  to  lend  their  aid  if  they  feel  sufficient 
interest  in  the  subject  to  proffer  it. 

ERRATA. 

Page  51,  I.  2,  2d  IF,  r.  Peter  Palfrey.  P.  52, 1.  2,  r.  shone.  P.  62, 1.  3,  of  foot,  r.  socage.  P.  68, 1  12  of 
note,  r.  1588.  P.  90, 1.  6,  r.  George  Alcock.  P.  109,  I.  3,  n.  t,  r.  Peirce.  P.  140,  /.  3,  n.,  for  52,  r.  32.  P. 
144,  1.  3,  3d  IT,  r.  scandals.  P.  166, I.  5,  after  committed,  add,  several  murders.  P.  171,  I.  7,  for  first,  r, 
second.  P.  173,  the  date  of  the  Fac  Simile  of  the  Records  is  1634.  P.  175,  l.  4  of  2d  IT,  r.  Symmes.  P.  182 
/.  2  of  foot,  r.  Henry  Waye  1  and  dele  note  §.  P.  206,  I.  15,  r.  Van  Twiller.  P.  220,  I.  10,  r.  Anderby 
P.  234,  /.  9  of  note,  r.  Everill.  P.  247, 1.  8  of  note  \,  r.  Lancashire  ;  I.  13,  r.  1644.  P.  266,  last/,  of  Contents 
r.  Gorton.  P.  292,  1.  6,  3d  IT,  r.  Keayne.  P.  310,  I.  10,  2d  IT,  r.  James  Astwood.  P.  312,  I.  9,  r.  Isle  of 
Wight.  P.  315, 1.  10,  r.  easterly.  P.  355,  n.,  dele  male  in  3d  line,  and,  after  descendants,  add,  of  the  name 
of  Russell ;  after  and  in,  I.  9,  insert  whose  father  was.    P.  371,  last  I.  of  note,  r.  1673. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  by  Samuel  G.  DBAKe,  in  the 
f'erk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  lias  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  hack  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  lie  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  worK  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con- 
sequent temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
'modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  tlie  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  23<a! 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of- Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daihj  Advertiser,  June  19th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    No.  1. 

This  is  the  first  number  of  the  History  of  Boston, 
on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Snow's,  which  is  in  cour.'e  cf 
preparation  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.  It  is  beauti- 
fully printed  in  royal  octavo,  with  finely  executed 
illustrations  after  the  manner  of  Lossing's  elegant 
work,  and  has  an  engraving  representing  Boston  and 
the  surrounding  country  as  seen  from  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument.  It  will  be  illustrated  with  at  least  one 
hundred  engravings.  The  work  will  consist  of  about 
sixteen  numbers  or  parts. 

This  number  consists  of  accounts  of  the  discoveries 
made  by  the  early  navigators  to  these  shores,  illus- 
trated with  portraits  of  Cabot,  Verazzani,  Cartier, 
Gilbert  and  others.  These  accounts  are  drawn  from 
original  authorities,  and  the  reader  will  find  here 
many  new  facts  in  relation  to  these  navigators  and 
to  our  local  history. 

A  history  of  Boston  is  much  wanted.  Mr.  Drake 
has  many  advantages  for  executing  such  a  work 
which  others  do  not  possess.  His  researches  in  the 
preparation  of  his  well  known  and  valuable  works, 
have  thrown  in  his  way  much  valuable  material ;  and 
to  these  are  to  be  added  the  copious  collections  for  a 
new  edition  of  his  work  left  by  Dr.  Snow.  From 
these  sources  this  laborious,  careful,  and  experienced 
author  will  present  a  publication  that  will  be  a  most 


valuable  record  of  Boston.  It  will  be  a  permanent 
and  substantial  work  which  every  citizen  of  Boston 
and  of  Massachusetts  ought  to  possess.  We  trust 
this  beautiful  work  will  be  extensively  subscribed  lor 
by  our  citizens. — Boston  Post,  Sept.  24,  1852. 

New  History  of  Boston.  "History  and  An- 
tiquities of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.Drake.  Boston: 
Oliver  L.  Perkins.  No.  1  :  48  pages,  super  ro^al 
8vo."  On  glancing  at  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
which  has  just  been  issued,  it  strikes  our  mind  forci- 
bly— and  we  think  it  will  so  strike  the  mind  of  every 
candid  reader — that  if  the  work  is  continued  as  it  has 
been  begun,  it  will  not  only  do  great  credit  to  the 
talents,  industry,  and  learning  of  its  author,  but  will 
also  confer  a  lasting  honor  upon  the  city.  The  mon- 
ument to  its  fame  here  commenced  will  be,  by  no 
means,  inferior  to  any  of  its  monuments  of  whatever 
name  or  description.  The  style  of  the  work  i<  ele- 
vated, dignified,  correct,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  important  subject — the  history  of  this  most  an- 
cient city  of  New  England. 

The  propriety  of  beginning  with  an  account  of  the 
early  discoveries  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  Bos- 
ton, will  not  be  questioned,  by  any  who  desire  to  see 
the  history  of  Boston  resting  on  its  proper  foundation. 
This  foundation  is  admirably  laid  in  the  pages  before 
us  ;  and  we  freely  confess  that  we  have  not  yet  seen, 
in  any  other  work,  so  good  an  abstract  of  those  early 
discoveries  in  the  American  seas.  None  but  the  most 
thorough  student  in  that  part  of  American  history 
could  be  master  of  the  sound  judgment  and  just  dis- 
crimination on  these  matters  which  are  here  found. 
There  are  new  points  through  all  Mr.  Drake's  pages, 
— points  which  will  at  once  strike  the  mind  as  new. 
— Evening  Transcript,  22  Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  received  the  first  number  of  this  work, 
and  from  this  specimen,  we  predict  that  the  whole 
will  make  an  attractive  and  useful  volume,  or  vol- 
umes. We  understand  that  it  is  to  be  extended 
through  sixteen  numbers.  This  number  contains  a 
narrative  of  the  early  voyages  and  first  settlements, 
on  the  coast  of  New  England.  The  author  is  well 
known  as  an  antiquarian,  and  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  work  he  has  undertaken. — Puritan  and  Recorder, 
23  Sept.,  1852. 

This  work  is  to  be  comprised  in  sixteen  parts,  on 
fine  paper,  royal  octavo,  printed  in  large  type,  and 
llustrated  with  100  engravings.  We  have  received 
No.  1  ;  and  can  speak  in  decided  commendation  of 
its  typographical  appearance.  Those  who  know  Mr. 
Drake,  the  author,  can  testify  to  his  ample  qualifica- 
tions for  the  satisfactory  fulfilment  of  the  task  he  has 
undertaken.  There  seems,  therefore,  to  be  no  doubt 
that  we  are  to  have  the  annals  of  this  metropolis 
faithfully  recorded,  in  a  volume  worthy  cof  the  sub- 
ject.— Christian  Register,  11  Sept.,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston.  No.  I.  By  SamueJ 
G.Drake.  Boston:  Oliver  L.Perkins. — This  is  the 
first  number  of  the  new  and  anxiously  expected  His- 
tory of  Boston,  proposals  for  which  have  been  some 
months  before  the  public.  Mr.  Drake,  the  compiler, 
has  taken  as  the  basis  of  his  work  the  historv  by  Dr. 
Snow;  but  he  will  not  merely  incorporate  the  latter 
into  his  own,  but,  availing  himself  of  its  facts,  and  a 
vast  accumulation  of  other  materials,  will  produce  a 
new  and  original  work.  To  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake's  writings — and  not  to  know  them 
"  argues  yourself  unknown" — it  is  needless  to  speak 
of  the  accurate,  painstaking,  and  conscientious  man- 
ner in  which  his  work  will  be  done.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  antiquarian  research,  and  is  better  qualified 
for  tasks  of  this  kind  than  any  other  man  in  America. 
Whatever  he  does  is  done  thoroughly,  and  that,  too, 
not  mechanically,  in  the  spirit  of  a  hireling,  or  cold- 
blooded literary  drudge,  but  with  taste,  and  gusto — 
con  amort. 

In  the  present  number  Mr.  Drake  has  given  many 
new  facts  about  Captain  John  Smith,  whose  discover- 
ies in  our  Bay  have  never  before  been  set  forth  with 
fulness  and  accuracy  :  and  many  other  important  and 
striking  facts  have  been  fished  up  from  the  waters  of 
oblivion.  -The  typographical  execution  of  the  History 


is  superb.  The  paper  is  thick  and  white;  the  type 
large  and  distinct — just  suited  to  old  people's  read- 
ing— and  altogether  the  letter-press  is  the  very  luxury 
ol  printing.  A  large  and  brilliant  panoramic  View  of 
Boston  and  Vicinity  adorns  this  number,  which  is  also 
embellished  with  many  exquisite  wood-cuts.  The 
work  will  be  issued  from  56  Cornhill,  in  16  Parts  of 
48  pages  each,  at  25  cents  a  Part — making,  when 
completed,  a  splendid  volume  of  nearly  800  pages.  | 
Yankee  Blade. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
Boston  :  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  56  Cornhill.    Sept.,  1852. 

We  have  'received  the  first  number  of  tins  work 
which  is  beautifully  printed  in  octavo  form,  on  large 
type  and  fine  paper.  The  illustrations  are  well  exe- 
cuted, and  appropriate.  The  whole  work  will  be 
comprised  in  sixteen  numbers  or  parts,  and  will  have 
about  one  hundred  engravings. 

A  good  history  of  Boston  has  become  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Snow's  work,  first  published  some  twenty-'tve 
years  since,  is  now  entirely  out  of  print.  In  its  day, 
this  obtained  a  good  reputation,  and  is  still  valuable 
for  its  facts,  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is,  however,  incom- 
plete, and  will  not  answer  the  requirements  ot  the 
present  time.  Much  light  has  recently  been  thrown 
on  the  early  history  of  our  metropolis,  and  there  is 
now  a  vast  accumulation  of  materials  from  which  to 
make  an  almost  perfect  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  modern  city.  We  are  glad  that  Mr.  Drake  has 
undertaken  this  enterprise.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
antiquarian,  and  possesses  rare  qualifications  for  his 
task.  For  many  years  his  attention  has  been  directed 
to  this  object,  and  he  has  made  large  collections  for 
the  present  use.  We  are  sure  that  Mr.  Drake  will  give 
the  public  the  results  of  the  most  thorough  research, 
and  assiduous  care,  and  we  find  the  guaranty  of  this 
in  his  previous  publications.  The  work  is  published  by 
subscription,  we  understand,  and  the  price  is  twenty- 
five  cents  a  number.  It  will  make  an  elegant  and 
useful  volume  — Old  Colony  Memorial. 

History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G.  Drake. 
This  number  of  the  History  of  Boston  comes  to  us  in 
elegant  style,  as  did  the  former.  It  covers  a  deeply 
interesting  period,  the  history  of  which  has  not  before, 
certainly  to  our  knowledge,  been  gone  into,  with  such 
thoroughness  of  research.  The  author,  we  think,  must 
feel  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  only  laid  open 
many  new  facts,  but  that  he  has  settled  many  ques- 
tions, which  have  heretofore  been  thought  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  strictest  scrutiny;  the  author  has  set  in  a 
clear  light  the  nature  of  the  old  Patents  and  Charters 
under  which  this  part  of  New  England  was  settled  ; 
he  has  with  great  care  gone  step  by  step  from  the 
first  rise  of  the  enterprise  in  England,  until  hi  has 
planted  our  ancestors  on  this  peninsula.  That  old 
pioneer  Governor,  Endicott,  who  has  been  erroneous- 
ly placed  as  second  in  settling  Massachusetts,  Lere 
takes  his  proper  place  in  the  van.  Concerning  the 
old  patentees,  Mr.  Drake  gives  us  much  that  will  be 
found  new,  and  though  we  perceive  he  has  committed 
some  few  inaccuracies  (though  generally  unimpor- 
tant,) he  has  corrected  many  errors  of  long  standing 
in  this  part  of  our  history.  We  notice  beautifully 
drawn  up  pedigrees  of  the  families  of  Saltonstall  and 
Winthrop,  which  we  should  think  would  be  viewed 
with  great  gratification  by  all  those  connected  with 
them. 

Among  a  large  number  of  appropriate  engravings, 
there  is  one  of  Endicott  and  his  company  departing 
from  Weymouth  for  New  England  ;  one  of  Winthrop 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight;  first  interview  with  the  In- 
dians; portrait  of  John  Davenport;  autographs,  &c. 
No  work  can  commend  itself  more  strongly  to  Bos- 
tonians  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  than 
Drake's  History  of  Boston. — Transcript,  Jan.  24, 
1853. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.    By  S.  G. 

Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  con- 


nent  so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as, we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee,  Jan.  '25,  1853. 

The  History  of  Boston.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
No.  III.  Boston:  Oliver  L.  Perkins.  The  attrac- 
tion of  Mr.  Drake's  history  increases  as  the  work 
progresses, — the  present  number  being  the  most  in- 
teresting one  yet  issued.  The  period  of  time  to 
which  this  number  is  devoted — comprising,  as  it  does, 
the  infancy  of  our  city's  history — has,  of  itself,  an 
unusual  interest  for  us.  Hence  there  is  great  pro- 
priety in  the  minuteness  of  detail  to  be  found  in  Mr. 
Drake's  pages.  The  narrative  commences  with  the 
settlement  of  Shawmut  in  1630,  and  carries  us  for- 
ward to  near  the  close  of  1632.  This  was, -of  course, 
the  most  critical  period  in  the  existence  of- the  settle- 
ment ;  a  season  of  doubt,  and  privation,  and  suffer- 
ing, less  endurable  to  the  settlers  from  the  high 
expectations  that  had  been  raised  in  them  by  the  flat- 
tering accounts  they  had  received  from  these  regions 
previous  to  their  emigration.  Mr.  Drake  has  given  a 
vivid  picture  of  their  situation  at  this  time,  and  has 
done  justice  to  their  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

There  is  one  feature,  in  the  work  before  us,  thai  is 
especially  deserving  of  commendation.  The  author 
has — whenever  he  has  been  able  to  do  so  without 
destroying  the  continnousness  of  his  narrative — per- 
mitted those  contemporaneous  authors,  from  whom 
he  has  derived  his  facts,  to  give  their  information  in 
their  own  words.  Those  who  have  observed  how 
frequently  even  the  substitution  of  one  synonymous 
word  for  another  changes  materially  the  meaning  of 
an  author,  will  appreciate  the  scrupulous  accuracy 
here  found. 

We  have  marked  several  extracts  in  this  number 
which  we  shall  copy  at  some  future  time.  The  ac- 
count given  on  pages  141  to  143,  of  the  Earliest 
Meeting  Houses  in  Boston,  is  quite  interesting. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  this  number  is,  like  its 
predecessors,  deserving  of  great  praise.  Among  the 
embellishments  are  a  large  panoramic  view  of  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  a  portrait  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  fifth 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  a  view  of 
the  church  at  Boston,  England,  in  which  John  Cotton 
preached.  We  observe  also  that  the  initial  letters  of 
the  last  three  chapters  of  this  number  are  ornamented 
with  the  coats  of  arms  of  Governors  Endicott,  Win- 
throp, and  Dudley ;  and  presume  that  it  is  intended 
(o  j  ive  the  arms  of  the  succeeding  governors,  in  the 
chapters  which  follow.  From  the  specimens  already 
published,  we  have  no  doubt  that — if  the  public  will 
do  their  part,  by  subscribing  liberally  for  the  work, 
so  that  the  publisher  may  be  able  carry  out  fully  Mr. 
Drake's  designs — the  present  History  of  Boston  will 
be  one  of  which  our  city  may  justly  be  proud. — Bos- 
ton Transcript,  12  April,  1853. 

Valuable  and  Important  Work. — History  of 
Boston.  No.  I. — This  is  a  work  that  has  for  a  long 
time  been  needed  ;  and  has  now  been  commenced  by 
one  whose  reputation  as  an  author  is  a  guaranty  that 
it  wil'i  be  faithfully  done.  Mr,  Drake  is  the  author  of 
the  "Book  of  the  Indians,"  and  of  several  other 
historical  works  that  hold  a  high  rank  in  the  literary 
world.  His  prominent  traits  as  a  writer  are  thorough- 
ness and  accuracy  of  research,  and  his  statements 
always  carry  with  them  the  highest  weight  of  authori- 
ty. It  is  impossible  to  glance  at  the  pages  of  this 
first  number  without  being  struck  with  the  thorough 
manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  investigated.— 
Gazette  and  Chronicle,  1 1  September,  1852. 

Mr.  Drake  has  published  No.  VIII.  of  his  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  Boston,"  the  plan  and  excellencies 
of  which  we  have  before  noticed.  As  the  work  ad- 
vances, we  have  increasing  evidence  of  the  thorough 
and  pains-taking  researches  which  are  bestowed  upon 
its  contents.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  now  brought 
down  to  the  year  1669.  Very  elaborate  notes,  em- 
bracing all  sorts  of  antiquarian  mailers,  heraldic  de- 
vices, rich  steel  engravings,  and  tasteful  wood  cuts, 
make  each  page  valuable  and  attractive.  The  spirit 
with  which  the  plan  has  thus  far  been  pursued  should 
prompt  a  generous  support  of  the  undertaking,  the 
nature  of  which  is  such  as  to  justify  a  claim  for  patron- 
age to  be  extended  to  it  as  it  progresses,  instead  of 
being  deferred  till  its  completion. — Christian  Exam- 
iner for  May,  1 854. 


XVII. 


BOSTON: 
0.     fer^PBflE^frflJ-S. 


C.  C.  P.  Moody,  Printer,  52  Washington  St. 


NOTICES   OF  THE  PRESS. 


The  want  of  a  new  History  of  Boston,  has  for  a  long  time  been  felt.  That  of  Dr.  Snow,  of  which 
the  first  edition  was  published  in  1825,  and  the  second  in  1828,  has,  for  a  long  time,  been  out  of  print,  and 
it  is  now  only  in  rare  instances  that  it  can  be  obtained  by  those  who  wish  to  possess  it.  Besides  which, 
this  work,  though  a  good  one  for  its  day,  has,  in  several  particulars  at  least,  been  far  surpassed  by 
the  later  histories  of  some  of  our  sister  cities  and  towns.  A  new  work  therefore,  which,  retaining  all  that 
is  valuable  in  Snow's  History,  and  including  such  new  matter  in  relation  to  our  early  history  as  has  since 
been  gathered,  should  also  continue  the  narrative  to  a  later  period,  seems  to  be  very  much  needed  at  this 
time,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  hailed  with  pleasure  by  all  who  feel  an  interest  in  the  history  of  our  city. 
A  work  of  this  kind,  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  announcing,  has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake, 
Esq.,  author  of  the  "  Book  of  the  Indians,  "  and  several  other  well  known  works  of  an  Historical  nature. 
No  one  could  be  obtained  for  this  undertaking  who  would  bring  to  the  task  qualifications  superior  to  Mr. 
Drake.  He  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  resident  of  thiscity,  and  its  history  has  always,  during  his  resi- 
dence among  us,  been  a  subject  of  special  interest  to  him.  Whatever  he  undertakes  he  does  thoroughly, 
as  all  his  previous  works  bear  witness. — Boston  Journal,  14th  June,  1852. 

We  learn  that  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  of  this  city — who  has  long  been  favorably  known  to  that 
part  of  the  community  having  a  taste  for  historical  studies — has  undertaken  to  compose  a  new  work  on  the 
history  of  Boston.  A  book  of  this  kind  is  much  needed  at  the  present  day.  In  the  proposals  for  publish- 
ing the  work,  which  are  before  us,  it  is  stated  that  the  History  of  Boston  by  the  late  Dr.  Caleb  H.  Snow 
will  be  the  basis  of  the  present  undertaking.  This  work  has  long  been  inaccessible,  except  through  the 
public  libraries ;  and,  though  a  very  valuable  one,  had  deficiencies,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  work  com- 
posed at  a  time  when  historical  research  in  our  community  was,  as  it  were,  in  its  infancy. — Post,  14th  June, 
1852. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a  History  of  Boston,  on  the  basis  of  that  of  the  late  Dr. 
C.  H.  Snow,  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will  soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed,  has 
been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the  well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this  de- 
partment of  literature.  The  manuscript  left  by  Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new  edition 
of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be  incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  qualifications 
of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our  city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably  no  single 
individual  in  the  commnnity,  who  knows  so  well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of  historical 
works  ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well  able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his  country's  history.  For  several  years  he  was  the  editor  of  the 
New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this  city,  of  whose 
character  it  would  be  superfluous  here  to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this  work  have  been 
marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  research,  which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, — and  we  have  no 
doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his  History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  our  future  historians. — Daily 
Advertiser,  June  10th,  1852. 

A  circular  has  been  addressed  to  our  citizens,  by  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  containing  proposals  to  publish  by 
subscription  a  History  of  Boston,  on  the  basis  of  the  work  of  a  similar  title  by  the  late  Dr.  Caleb  H.  Snow. 
Mr.  Samuel  G.  Drake  is  named  as  the  editor  of  the  proposed  volume.  Mr.  Drake  has  ample  qualifications 
for  the  service,  as  his  writings  in  that  department  of  literature  attest.  Mr.  Drake  has  obtained  all  the  pa- 
pers of  Dr  Snow,  and  will  thus  be  able  to  avail  himself  of  many  valuable  materials  for  the  work.  The 
publisher  announces  his  intention  to  produce  the  book  in  an  elegant  style  of  execution,  in  every  respect 
worthy  the  metropolis  of  New  England.  We  commend  the  volume  to  the  attention  of  all  classes  of  our 
fellow  citizens. — Atlas,  24th  June,  1852. 

In  the  year  1825  there  appeared  an  octavo  volume  published  by  Mr.  Abel  Bowen,  and  written  by  Dr. 
Caleb  H.  Snow,  called  The  History  of  Boston.  Mr.  Oliver  L.  Perkins,  a  few  months  since,  purchased  of 
the  representatives  of  Mr.  Bowen  their  interest  in  Snow's  History,  with  a  view  of  bringing  out  a  new  edi- 
tion of  the  work,  with  notes  and  additions,  under  the  editorial  superintendence  of  Mr.  Samuel  G.  Drake. 
For  thiswork  Mr.  Drake's  previous  studies  and  turn  of  mind  had  especially  fitted  him.  To  the  early  history 
of  New  England  he  has  devoted  himself  with  that  earnest  and  persevering  industry  which  only  a  sincere  love 
of  the  subject  could  inspire. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the  project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in  books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr.  Drake 
has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  preparation  of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added  directly 
or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for  an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted  with  the 
character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has  read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt  that  he 
is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he  has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Drake's  History  of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  substantial 
value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy  for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the  sake 
of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both  for  grave  historj  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of  the 
two  hundred  and  thirty  years  which  have  ripened  the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  consequent  temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to  the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a  mod- 
est and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat  neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedigrees  of 
his  neighbors. — Boston  Daily  Courier,  2Zd  June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

Mr.  S-  G.  Drake,  of  Boston,  proposes  to  publish  a  new  history  of  Boston.  No  man,  we  think,  in  our  ac- 
quaintance, is  better  qualified  for  the  work.  There  ought  to  be  a  new  history.  The  last,  (Dr.  Snow's)  was 
a  very  good  one  for  the  time  in  which  it  was  written  ;  but  having  all  the  advantages  of  Dr.  Snow's,  besides 
the  collections  he  has  himself  made,  and  the  helps  of  his  literary  friends,  Mr.  Drake  must  produce  a  better 
work.  Of  Dr.  Snow's  book,  we  speak  conscientiously,  in  the  words  of  a  late  writer, '  G  S.  H.',  which  we 
interpret  to  be  G.  S.  Hillard,  Esq. 

The  copyright  of  Snow's  History  has  been  purchased,  and  placed  at  Mr.  Drake's  disposal ;  but  he  will  not 
re-print  Dr.  Snow's  work  with  additions.  He  will  avail  himself  of  the  facts  of  that  work,  but  he  will  re- 
write, that  he  may  introduce  into  those  parts  devoted  to  the  earlier  time,  such  facts  as  he  has  himself  brought 
out  of  the  womb  of  the  past.  We  urge  it  upon  every  man  to  subscribe  for  Mr.  Drake's  work.  In  doing 
so,  they  will  assist  a  worthy  man,  who  has  not  reaped  the  fruit  from  all  the  fields  he  has  planted.  But 
not  on  that  account  solely,  but  because  Mr.  D.  will  bring  out  a  better  work  than  any  of  its  predecessors, 
do  we  urge  men  to  subscribe.  Frothingham,  the  present  Mayor  of  Charlestown,  has  given  us  a  fine  his- 
tory of  that  ancient  town.  L.  E.  Paige,  Esq.,  will,  we  hope,  soon  permit  the  world  to  see  his  erudite  and 
elaborate  history  of  Cambridge ;  and  when  Drake's  new  History  of  Boston  is  fully  written,  we  shall  feel 
that  a  large  vacuum  is  filled  up. —  Trumpet,  3  July,  1852. 


No.    XVIII. 


25  CENTS. 


-    BOSTON: 
LUTHER  STEVENS,  186  Washington  Street. 


H.   W.  DUTTON,  PRINTER. 


STEREOTYPED   BY   HOBART   AND    ROBBIKS, 


NOTICES  OF  THE  PRESS. 


History  of  Boston. — Mr.  Drake  has  brought 
down  his  History  to  about  17^0,  in  the  twelfth  num- 
ber recently  issued.  The  early  promise  of  this  work 
is  amply  fulfilled,  and  we  know  of  nothing  of  ihe  kind 
more  interesting  and  instructive.  He  is  very  happy 
in  the  selection  of  his  facts,  in  which  consists  the  great 
value  of  History,  and  so  presents  them  as  to  give  al- 
most to  every  year  in  the  growth  of  our  City  its  very 
"  form  and  pressure."  This  number  covers  a  most 
interesting  epoch,  and  should  be  in  possession  of  every 
Bostonian. — B.  in  Evening  Transcript,  17  May,  1855. 

History  and  Antiquities  of  Boston, — No. 
11.  By  Samuel  G.  Drake.  Royal  8vo.  In  this  No. 
the  history  is  brought  down  to  1704— a  marked  period 
in  the  History  of  Boston,  for  that  was  the  year  the 
first  newspaper  ever  issued  in  America  appeared. — 
The  events  of  fifteen  years  are  recorded  in  these 
forty-eight  pages ;  events,  many  of  which  are  entirely 
new  to  us,  and  will  doubtless  be  so  to  a  great  majority 
of  readers.  It  was  originally  proposed,  we  believe, 
to  comprise  the  work  in  about  768  pages  ;  528  pages 
are  now  finished.  How  the  author  can  crowd  the 
facts  which  remain  into  the  pages  prescribed,  he 
best  knows.  At  all  events  we  hope  he  will  not  feel 
under  the  necessity  of  abridging  the  work,  for  if  car- 
ried through  as  it  is  thus  far  done,  its  value  to  all 
Classes  of  people  will  be  incalculable.  The  author 
discovers  a  wonderful  acquaintance  with  his  subject ; 
so  much  so,  that  the  reader  is  insensibly  led  to  con- 
sider that  he  lived  through  all  the  space  of  which  he 
writes — was  acquainted  with  the  numerous  people 
he  has  had  occasion  to  mention — noted  the  arri- 
val and  departure-  of  eminent  personages — saw  the 
celebrations  of  important  events  and  noted  who  were 

f (resent — saw  the  oppressor  Andros  taken  by  the  col- 
ar  and  hurried  off  to  prison — notes  a  man  building 
his  house  too  far  into  the  street — not  only  tells  you 
when  a  new  Governor  arrived  in  ■  town,  but  tells  you 
who  he  was  and  where  he  lived — when  paper  money 
was  first  issued,  and  why — the  capture  of  pirates — 
names  of  all  those  executed  for  witchcraft — when  a 
law  was  made  requiring  buildings  to  be  built  of  brick 
or  stone — that  the  Quakers  built  the  first  brick  meet- 
ing-bouse, and  where — when  the  town  chose  Assess- 
or and  when  they  wouldn't  have  any — saw  Governor 
Phipps  cane  another  official  in  the  street,  and  gives 
you  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  Sir  William's  tomb — 
who  may  get  married  and  how — schools  and  school - 
houses — how  the  French  threatened  to  come  and  take 
Boston — what  Edward  Ward  says  of  the  town,  and 
what  Pope  says  of  him — and  a  thousand  other  things 
which  we  cannot  refer  to  at  this  time. 

The  number  is  accompanied  by  a  beautiful  steel 
plate  portrait  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton. — 
Transcript. 

Thb  History  of  Boston.  By  Sam'l  G.  Drake. 
No.  X.    Boston :  Luther  Stevens. 

This  work,  in  its  progress  through  the  press,  has 
received  many  commendations,  and  those  too  from 
persons  whose  judgment  in  matters  of  this  kind  is 
reliable.  The  writer  of  the  present  notice  has  had 
occasion  lately  to  make  researches  into  the  early  his- 
tory of  New  England,  and  he  has  not  only  read  Mr. 
Drake's  work,  but  he  has  studied  it.  He  states  but 
the  simple  truth  when  he  says,  that  he  has  been  in- 
debted to  it  both  for  important  facts  and  also  for  val- 
uable hints.  Although  it  is  the  ''  History  of  Boston," 
yet  the  author  has  occasion  to  notice  occurrences 
which  took  place  in  the  Northern  States,  and  he  throws 
much  light  on  the  men  and  events  of  bygone  days. 
Fairness  is  a  marked  quality  of  the  book  under  no- 
tice. It  is  also  marked  by  thoro?ighness  and  com- 
pleteness. There  is  no  slighting  either  in  the  literary 
or  mechanical  part  of  the  work.  It  is  printed  on  good 
»aper,  with  clear  type,  and  is  profusely  illustrated 
with  engravings  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 

While  it  has  a  peculiar  interest  for  natives  of  Bos- 
ton, wheftver  they  may  now  -reside,  it  is  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  worthy  the  patronage  of  all  intelligent 
persons.  In  these  days,  when  books  of  a  transient 
interest  are  advertised  as  having  passed  through  the 
"  tenth"  or  "  fifteenth  thousand,    it  will  be  a  disgrace 


to  the  land  of  free  schools  and  of  boasted  intelligence, 
if  this  work  of  Mr.  Drake,  of  real  and  permanent 
value,  does  not  meet  with  a  ready  and  extensive  sale. 
To  those  who  are  about  purchasing  a  collection  of 
works  for  the  winter  reading  of  themselves  and  fami- 
lies, we  would  say,  that  they  will  deprive  themselves 
of  valuable  and  interesting  information  if  they  do  not 
obtain  the  work  under  notice.  W.  S.  B. 

Chelsea,  Sept  "10th,  1854. 

P'or  many  years  Mr.  Drake  has  entertained  the 
project  of  writing  a  history  of  Boston.  He  has,  with 
this  view,  collected  a  great  amount  of  materials,  in 
books,  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  of  the  latter  of 
which  some  go  back  to  a  very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  colony.  The  investigations  which  Mr. 
Drake  has  had  occasion  to  make  in  the  prepaiation 
of  the  works  already  published  by  him,  have  added 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  knowledge  requisite  for 
an  historian  of  Boston.  No  one  who  is  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Mr.  Drake's  mind,  or  who  has 
read  the  works  already  published  by  him,  will  doubt 
that  he  is  well  qualified  for  the  enterprise  which  he 
has  undertaken. 

The  public  may  be  assured  that  Mr.  Drake's  His- 
tory of  Boston  will  be  a  work  of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial value,  which  every  literary  man  ought  to  buy 
for  its  own  sake,  and  every  citizen  of  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  its  subject.  Mr.  Drake  will  find  matter  both 
for  grave  history  and  amusing  gossip  in  the  annals  of 
the  two  hundred  and  thirty  years  wnich  have  ripened 
the  matronly  beauty  of  our  city.  His  great  difficulty 
will  be  in  the  abundance  of  his  materials  and  the  con. 
sequent  temptation  to  make  an  overgrown  book.  It 
may  not  be  irrelevant  to  say  that  by  subscribing  to 
the  work,  some  material  aid  will  be  extended  to  a 
modest  and  laborious  scholar,  who  has  somewhat 
neglected  his  own  fortunes  in  looking  up  the  pedi- 
grees of  his  neighbors.— Boston  Daily  Courier,  23«J 
June,  1852.  G.  S.  H. 

The  public  will  probably  be  gratified  to  learn  that  a 
History  of  Boston  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will 
soon  be  published.  Such  a  work,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  undertaken  by  Samuel  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the 
well  known  author  of  several  valuable  works  in  this 
department  of  literature.  The  manuscripts  left  by 
Dr.  Snow,  containing  copious  collections  for  a  new 
edition  of  his  history,  have  been  secured,  and  will  be 
incorporated  into  the  present  work.  The  high  quali- 
fications of  Mr.  Drake  for  writing  a  history  of  our 
city,  will  be  acknowledged  by  all.  There  is  probably 
no  single  individual  in  the  community,  who  knows  so 
well  the  wants  or  the  various  classes  of  readers  of 
historical  works ;  and  there  are  few  who  are  so  well 
able  to  supply  those  wants.  He  has,  for  full  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  a  laborious  student  of  his 
country's  history.  For  several  years  he  has  been  the 
editor  of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogi- 
cal Register, — a  quarterly  periodical  published  in  this 
city,  of  whose  character  it  would  be  superfluous  here 
to  speak.  His  contributions  to  the  pages  of  this 
work  have  been  marked  by  a  thoroughness  of  re- 
search, which,  if  carried  into  his  present  undertaking, 
— and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  be, — will  render  his 
History  of  Boston  a  principal  authority  for  future  his- 
torians.— Daily  Advertiser,  June  \§th,  1852. 

The  History  of  Boston,  Part  II.  By  S.  G. 
Drake.  We  are  rejoiced  that  the  labor  of  preparing 
a  history  of  the  metropolis  of  New  England  has  been 
undertaken  by  a  gentleman  who  is  better  qualified  for 
it  than  any  other  man  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a  distin- 
guished antiquarian,  and  a  "  diligent  preserver  of  an- 
tiquities." His  researches  in  New  England  history 
have  made  him  familiar  with  every  fact  that  can  illus- 
trate his  present  works.  And  he  has  entered  upon  the 
subject  in  a  right  spirit.  We  may  expect  from  his 
pen,  what  has  been  so  long  needed,  a  full  and  accurate 
history  of  Boston. — There  is  no  place  on  this  conti- 
nent so  rich  in  curious  reminiscences  and  legendary 
history  as  Boston.  The  book  must  be  successful  in 
Mr.  Drake's  experienced  hands,  and  we  trust  that  he 
may  reap  as  much  pecuniary  profit  from  it,  as  we  are 
sure  he  will  gain  in  fame. — Bee,  Jan.  25, 1853. 


SPECIAL    NOTICE. 


This  number  completes  The  History  and  Antiquities  of  Bos- 
ton, agreeably  to  the  original  Prospectus.  As  it  was  impossible  to 
state  how  far  the  prescribed  pages  would  bring  down  the  work,  no 
period  was  mentioned  in  the  Proposals.  The  main  object  in  view 
was  the  collection  and  preservation  of  a  vast  amount  of  interesting 
and  valuable  information  in  regard  to  the  early  history  of  Boston, 
which,  in  a  few  years,  would  have  been  forever  lost.  It  will  now 
be  seen  that,  to  do  anything  like  justice  to  the  history  of  the  City, 
and  to  bring  it  down  to  the  present  day,  a  Supplementary  Volume 
will  be  required,  equal,  in  amount  of  matter,  to  the  one  now  com- 
pleted. For  such  supplementary  volume,  no  arrangements  have 
been  made ;  and  it  will  depend  entirely  upon  the  patronage  extended 
to  the  volume  now  issued,  whether  another  shall  be  undertaken. 

The  work  is  now  ready" and  for  sale  at  the  office  of  publication, 
186  Washington  Street,  where  any  missing  numbers  can  be  obtained 
to  complete  sets. 

Any  Numbers,  if  in  good  condition,  will  be  received  in  part  pay- 
ment for  a  full  volume. 

LUTHER  STEVENS, 

Publisher  and  Proprietor. 


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9  1994 

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PRINTED  IN  U.S.A. 

BOSTON  COLLEGE 


3  9031    01067578  3 


